Going on the Mission Trip to New Mexico/Texas/Mexico taught me a lot of things. One of the things I learned is that I will always be learning. Sanctification is a necessary part of the Christian life and Christ will continue to change us until we reach glory. I wrote down ten things to share with my church during the Sunday School hour this past Sunday, and I thought I would post them here for others to see. Note that I have not learned how to live out these truths in my life; I have only discovered their existence. Only by God's grace will I be able to apply them to my Christian walk. So, without further ado, here are the top ten things I learned over the past week or so.
1. I have learned that true missions consists of "ordinary" people being faithful to spread Christ's work in the "ordinary" spaces of their day-to-day lives.
2. I have learned what it means to bow as a little child before my heavenly Father, and to lovingly and fully place my trust in Him.
3. I have learned that you need no more than two minutes to share the Gospel with someone.
4. I have learned what it means to be alive because of Christ's work and the Holy Spirit living inside of me.
5. I have learned that spreading the Gospel is not a decisive premeditated act, but rather an uncontrollable outpouring of Christ's love which loved us first.
6. I have learned that we are not and not meant to be alone in the great race for missions, for Christ is with us always and His body of believers is spread across the world.
7. I have learned that the bond of being in the family of God is stronger than any other earthly bond.
8. I have learned what it feels like to be nourished by the Word of God, but to also feel an increasing hunger for its truth.
9. I have learned what it means to "let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity."
10. I have learned that God is greater than I thought, more powerful than I believed, and more loving than I hoped.
These truths I have either been exposed to for the first time, rediscovered, or seen in a different light. May God give you and I the grace and vigor to possess and live out these truths in our lives. All praise to the Great Teacher!
Monday, July 29, 2013
Spaces
Space. The final frontier. Just kidding, that's not the kind of space I'm talking about. Using the first two definitions of "space" found on dictionary.com, the "space" I'm talking about is: "the portion or extent of a three-dimensional realm or expanse in which material objects are located and events occur in a given instance."
Our lives are made up of different expansions of space. Another word you could use for them are "circles". Many of us have our family space, our work space, our significant other space, and so on and so forth. I would estimate that each person has at least twenty different spaces that fill up their lives. All of these spaces involve people to a certain degree.
Let me tell you a story about how space is identified in the arts. Once upon a time, I took a dance class. We learned about four concepts that were called Line, Effort, Space, and Shape. One of our assignments was to choreograph a piece using those four concepts. The "space" concept was illustrating how much space your body did or did not take up within a room. For example, rolling up into a tight ball would take up less space than when doing a jump of some sort. It also depended upon how much space you used in the room.
As sinful human beings, our natural tendency is to curl up into a tight ball and not use up much of our space that has been given to us. We do not engage with the people that surround us, and we keep to ourselves as much as possible. We have our own agenda and that is all that matters to us.
Christians are supposed to be the most joyful of all people, for we have a hope that cannot be shaken. Shall we not dance and jump and spread the gospel to every part of every space that we inhabit?
What about the spaces that seem less important, possibly because they are so small or because we occupy them for so short a time? I tend to react to these spaces in the wrong way by thinking that it's not really that important to engage people if you're only going to know them for a couple weeks or maybe only a couple minutes. But in dance, every space is just as important as the others. In just a few square feet, a dancer can do something truly remarkable. Trust me, I haven't done it, but I've seen it.
What if we don't like the space that we've been put in? God is the one that apportions out where we are to live and who we are to interact with at what point in our lives, and so every space you have been given is according to His purpose. The preaching from last night contained the scripture passage from the book of Luke that was about Jesus healing a demon-possessed man. After being healed, the man wanted to follow Jesus in His journey, but Jesus told him to go back to his home and "declare how much God has done for you." (Luke 8:39). It goes on to say that rather than complaining about not getting to follow Jesus and do the more exciting and uplifting work, the man obeyed Jesus and went proclaiming throughout the whole city the name of his Lord and Savior.
We are to be content with what spaces God places in our lives, and we are to use those spaces to their full extent. Just like the dancer, we can use all of our energy to spread the name of Christ throughout every last inch that we've been given, and seize the opportunities that come our way to share the gospel.
Very few individuals get to travel across the globe and influence thousands of people, but most of us have at least a few spaces to spread Christ's glorious story of what He has done for us. Let us use all of our space. The little spaces of our day-to-day lives are the mission's frontier.
Monday, July 15, 2013
One Liners for All Time
So. There's this song. I have no idea what it's called. I only know one line from it, one line that consists of three words. Why? Because I have a manager at work that likes to sing out that one line quite often. It's only on his word that I believe that these three words are actually part of a song. They are: "Hearts on fire!" I wish I could insert some sort of audio clip in here so you could hear it and share in my blessed agony that comes from hearing one line from a song in your head a bit too often. Alas, you will simply have to have faith as I did that these three words actually do come from a song and in reality do have tremendous relevance to what I am going to talk about today.
I frequently am burdened for the souls of the youngsters in my church's youth group. I pray for them often, but I always find it difficult to talk to them about the gospel because they already know it all. They have been taught well by their parents, teachers, and pastors. Some of them probably know their Bibles better than I do. It's just part of being a part of a Bible-believing and Bible-following church since you were a wee babe. And don't get me wrong; growing up in the church is a very valuable blessing to possess. But sometimes it almost makes it difficult to distinguish between those who are believers and those who are not, especially among the teenagers.
Several of these teenagers that I know who are not professing Christians live their lives very similarly to that of a believer. They can give all the right answers in Sunday School, they speak up to pray at the end of Bible Study, they read their Bible often, and try to be loving and serving to their friends and family. This leads me almost to believe that the Lord has done a work in their lives; that they have been saved. But yet, somehow I know that can't be true.
What distinguishes a non-Christian from a Christian? Or also, what distinguishes a Christian from the rest of the world? There are plenty of nice people out there with good hearts and upright minds who are not true believers.
As I was pondering this question, that one line burst into my head and I heard my manager singing, "Hearts on fire!"
That's it - that's the difference between the believer and the unbeliever. One of them has a heart on fire and the other one doesn't. Right. So what does that look like?
Jeremiah 20:9 says, "If I say, 'I will not mention him [the LORD], or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." Christians cannot stop themselves from speaking about their Lord, for He is their all in all.
This fire within a believer is one that can never be quenched, for it comes from the Holy Spirit: "'He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'" (Matthew 3:11b). Christians should be the most consistent of all people because they continually have the Holy Spirit burning inside of them.
Another characteristic of fire is heat and warmth. Christians should be the most loving people, and those that love truly and with their whole heart, because they will love as Christ loved them.
A use for fire discussed in the Bible was that of refinement and purging. Christians do not stay the same after they are saved, for God gives them a new heart and continues to sanctify them until they reach glory.
True believers have "Hearts on fire!" because they have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, while unbelievers do not. This fire burns bright and powerful all their days. Let us pray as believers that we do not let the fire die down, but that the Lord would rekindle our flame. Our God is a consuming fire; let us be like him. Let the rest of the world see something different and uncanny about us, let them ask about the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15), and may we be burning to give a reason for it.
I just want to quote from another song, one which I do know for a fact is a real song. I have listened to it a whole bunch in the last few weeks, and I just can't seem to get enough of it. It is of my own free will that it is stuck in my head, and not my enthusiastic manager's fault (of which I am now glad of). It is called "Build Your Kingdom Here" by Rend Collective Experiment. I've probably already posted about them before, but they're just so great that I can't help it. The lines from one of the verses are as follows: "Come, set our hearts ablaze with hope, like wildfire in our very souls. Holy Spirit come invade us now." This is my prayer for every believer. Let our hearts burn bright in this dark world.
I frequently am burdened for the souls of the youngsters in my church's youth group. I pray for them often, but I always find it difficult to talk to them about the gospel because they already know it all. They have been taught well by their parents, teachers, and pastors. Some of them probably know their Bibles better than I do. It's just part of being a part of a Bible-believing and Bible-following church since you were a wee babe. And don't get me wrong; growing up in the church is a very valuable blessing to possess. But sometimes it almost makes it difficult to distinguish between those who are believers and those who are not, especially among the teenagers.
Several of these teenagers that I know who are not professing Christians live their lives very similarly to that of a believer. They can give all the right answers in Sunday School, they speak up to pray at the end of Bible Study, they read their Bible often, and try to be loving and serving to their friends and family. This leads me almost to believe that the Lord has done a work in their lives; that they have been saved. But yet, somehow I know that can't be true.
What distinguishes a non-Christian from a Christian? Or also, what distinguishes a Christian from the rest of the world? There are plenty of nice people out there with good hearts and upright minds who are not true believers.
As I was pondering this question, that one line burst into my head and I heard my manager singing, "Hearts on fire!"
That's it - that's the difference between the believer and the unbeliever. One of them has a heart on fire and the other one doesn't. Right. So what does that look like?
Jeremiah 20:9 says, "If I say, 'I will not mention him [the LORD], or speak any more in his name,' there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." Christians cannot stop themselves from speaking about their Lord, for He is their all in all.
This fire within a believer is one that can never be quenched, for it comes from the Holy Spirit: "'He [Jesus] will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.'" (Matthew 3:11b). Christians should be the most consistent of all people because they continually have the Holy Spirit burning inside of them.
Another characteristic of fire is heat and warmth. Christians should be the most loving people, and those that love truly and with their whole heart, because they will love as Christ loved them.
A use for fire discussed in the Bible was that of refinement and purging. Christians do not stay the same after they are saved, for God gives them a new heart and continues to sanctify them until they reach glory.
True believers have "Hearts on fire!" because they have the Holy Spirit living inside of them, while unbelievers do not. This fire burns bright and powerful all their days. Let us pray as believers that we do not let the fire die down, but that the Lord would rekindle our flame. Our God is a consuming fire; let us be like him. Let the rest of the world see something different and uncanny about us, let them ask about the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15), and may we be burning to give a reason for it.
I just want to quote from another song, one which I do know for a fact is a real song. I have listened to it a whole bunch in the last few weeks, and I just can't seem to get enough of it. It is of my own free will that it is stuck in my head, and not my enthusiastic manager's fault (of which I am now glad of). It is called "Build Your Kingdom Here" by Rend Collective Experiment. I've probably already posted about them before, but they're just so great that I can't help it. The lines from one of the verses are as follows: "Come, set our hearts ablaze with hope, like wildfire in our very souls. Holy Spirit come invade us now." This is my prayer for every believer. Let our hearts burn bright in this dark world.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
Angelic Customer Service
This summer I have been working in a retail position in order to keep busy and earn money so I can continue going to school. I have never worked in retail before, so it is a new and enlightening experience. I honestly have never had a "real" job before, so I'm moving up in life. But really, I am enjoying it. I am learning lots of useful stuff about working and life and such.
One of the new experiences I have had with this job is just being around so many people - "the public" - for an extended period of time. I don't even know how many different people I encounter throughout the work day, but it's a lot. Really any customer service job will include this experience, but like I said, it's new for me. The only other time I have experienced this is in large public places, such as the airport or a theme park.
I don't get to spend very much time with these people either. I have never met them before, and yet I have to make conversation and provide good service. I would say the average amount of time I will spend with a customer up at the register is two minutes. How much impact can I really have?
At times my pondering mind is overwhelmed with the amount of stories and emotions that enter the store each day. I often wonder if any of these people are believers, and if I would ever know if they were or not. A verse came to mind the other day, from Hebrews 13:1-2, which says, "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." I believe that this verse applies to all of life, not just in terms of hospitality. Could I have rung up an angel for their electric wine bottle opener at the register? That's a dizzying thought. Whew. But really, people entertained angels and even the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible and did not know it. So crazy. I always think about angels in large public places, but now I think about it almost every day. This is why the writer of Hebrews says for brotherly love to continue, and for us to show hospitality (love and kindness) to strangers. Jesus commands us to "love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return...be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36).
Back to the stories and emotions that are a part of every person that comes in to the store each and every day. Usually you know what's going on with your friends and family, because you're closely involved with many parts of their life. You know when they're going through a hard time, and you're there beside them helping them through it. But with the people that you only encounter for two to five minutes, how much can you really help them? You have no idea where they've been, what they're going through, or how they're really feeling that day. But that's just the point. You have no idea. Doesn't that mean we should everyone with the same amount of kindness, no matter how they treat us?
There was a quote I saw on the internet a while back by J. M. Barrie (author of Peter Pan): "Always be a little kinder than necessary." That strikes me as something we should always be reminding ourselves. I don't think you can ever be too kind. That's not humanity's problem. We either think that this person doesn't deserve kindness or we are too busy or important to deal it out. As believers, we should be challenging ourselves to be kinder than we deem necessary, and to continue raising the bar. Romans 11:22 says, "Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off." May God use His Holy Spirit to work in us the eyes to see the immense love and kindness of Christ towards us, and the hands to transfer that love and kindness to each and every person we encounter in our lives.
I challenge you to be enthusiastic and energetic in your "inconsequential" and "coincidental" relationships, those that you encounter in every day life. Be kinder than necessary; don't brush people off because you believe that you'll never see them again. Be the love and kindness of Christ to all people, whether it's the Mary Kay-caked customer at the register, your annoying younger brother, or the hungover waitress at a run-down diner - or an angel in disguise.
One of the new experiences I have had with this job is just being around so many people - "the public" - for an extended period of time. I don't even know how many different people I encounter throughout the work day, but it's a lot. Really any customer service job will include this experience, but like I said, it's new for me. The only other time I have experienced this is in large public places, such as the airport or a theme park.
I don't get to spend very much time with these people either. I have never met them before, and yet I have to make conversation and provide good service. I would say the average amount of time I will spend with a customer up at the register is two minutes. How much impact can I really have?
At times my pondering mind is overwhelmed with the amount of stories and emotions that enter the store each day. I often wonder if any of these people are believers, and if I would ever know if they were or not. A verse came to mind the other day, from Hebrews 13:1-2, which says, "Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares." I believe that this verse applies to all of life, not just in terms of hospitality. Could I have rung up an angel for their electric wine bottle opener at the register? That's a dizzying thought. Whew. But really, people entertained angels and even the Lord Jesus Christ in the Bible and did not know it. So crazy. I always think about angels in large public places, but now I think about it almost every day. This is why the writer of Hebrews says for brotherly love to continue, and for us to show hospitality (love and kindness) to strangers. Jesus commands us to "love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return...be merciful, even as your Father is merciful." (Luke 6:35-36).
Back to the stories and emotions that are a part of every person that comes in to the store each and every day. Usually you know what's going on with your friends and family, because you're closely involved with many parts of their life. You know when they're going through a hard time, and you're there beside them helping them through it. But with the people that you only encounter for two to five minutes, how much can you really help them? You have no idea where they've been, what they're going through, or how they're really feeling that day. But that's just the point. You have no idea. Doesn't that mean we should everyone with the same amount of kindness, no matter how they treat us?
There was a quote I saw on the internet a while back by J. M. Barrie (author of Peter Pan): "Always be a little kinder than necessary." That strikes me as something we should always be reminding ourselves. I don't think you can ever be too kind. That's not humanity's problem. We either think that this person doesn't deserve kindness or we are too busy or important to deal it out. As believers, we should be challenging ourselves to be kinder than we deem necessary, and to continue raising the bar. Romans 11:22 says, "Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in His kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off." May God use His Holy Spirit to work in us the eyes to see the immense love and kindness of Christ towards us, and the hands to transfer that love and kindness to each and every person we encounter in our lives.
I challenge you to be enthusiastic and energetic in your "inconsequential" and "coincidental" relationships, those that you encounter in every day life. Be kinder than necessary; don't brush people off because you believe that you'll never see them again. Be the love and kindness of Christ to all people, whether it's the Mary Kay-caked customer at the register, your annoying younger brother, or the hungover waitress at a run-down diner - or an angel in disguise.
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