What Can We Do?

Nobody can ignore the fact that we are at war right now, except maybe the politicians.  My friends in France have seen murders in the name of Allah.  Our friends in England are losing their rights.  Atheists are turning to Mohammed instead of Christ.  Its safer.  People all over the world are suffering persecution and the numbers of displaced, murdered, and abandoned Christians are rising.  Congress is calling for the term genocide to be used.  But what can we do?  Yes...vote!  Yes...pray hard! Yes share our faith.

But there is something else we can do.  We must educate, teach, prepare this generation to speak boldly and stand with faith in God and belief in Christ.   Because they can reach others.  And if indeed this is the beginning of the final days as many are saying, if we are facing Apocolyptic times ahead, and I say we are already there across the world, then it is our charge, our desire to reach the final generations for Christ.  Because when Christ left He gave us the command to "Go to all the nations and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you...Matthew 28: 19-20."  I want to say here that  we cannot do this in our own strength and power.  He also made that clear in vs. 18: "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth."  And in vs 20: "and lo I am with you always, even to the end of the age."  He sandwiched the command with His power and His presence-do we need any more than that?  These were his final words on earth.  It was obviously of some importance to Him then.  It should be of great importance to us.

Here are three ministries that I support.  Each of them is seeking to reach this generation-one right here in Huntsville, one in India, and one in Africa.  Please pray for their leaders and consider supporting these front line warriors!

Legacy Christian University, legacyu.net - seeking to bring a high quality Christian education to those who cannot afford the high costs and relocation required elsewhere.  Legacy Christian University is an independent, private Christian college in Huntsville Alabama.  It is just beginning.  Our Mission is to educate students to become kingdom-focused leaders who impact their communities for Christ. Our Vision is to be an institution of higher education founded on Christian values and a Biblical Worldview offering degrees to Christian students in the Tennessee Valley.

Reaching Indians Minstries Inc., RIMI.org, also called Mission India in India- They train leaders at Mission India Theological Seminary in Nagpur India and send them out as missionaries to begin churches.  Their goal is to raise up 100,000 Christian men and women and send them out to every state in India.  Each church start is supported only partly and are urged to develop their own means of funding.  Because of the animosity and persecution of entrenched Hindu leaders, it is difficult and slow work, many pastors are beaten, all are ridiculed and harassed.  On their website you can view testimonies of their students or get the book, The One True God, to see how God has called and touched the people of India and given this generation opportunity to reach the lost of India.

Africa New Life Ministries, ANLM.org is working in Rwanda.  Their ministry is to the poorest areas, where they build schools and Americans support  students with a small amount.  This provides these communities with three things:  each student is fed one meal (in Rwanda most people only eat one meal a day), given clothes and shoes (the clothes are made locally), and are educated (all education is funded by parents in Rwanda and their is no government aid.  ANLM schools are high quality, provide local jobs, provide their facilities on Saturday to community leaders for community events, and host church on Sundays.  All students are taught the gospel message.  Many of their parents are reached with the gospel.  Rwanda knows brokenness (the genocide their and tribal conflicts had devastating affects still present today) and God is there with ANLM to give them renewed hope and healing.

I know some of you may support similar ministries.  I hope so!  Some of us are not called to work directly with students-we aren't gifted teachers.  We also cannot effectiely teach in Africa or India and live there.  But we can support those who do!  Anyone can pray  for or give to these ministries.  

We are not to despair.  We are to continue the work!
Blessings to all of you today and may our Lord give you busy hands and open hearts.

Just Show Up!

     My father passed away in February.  And I learned many things through that process but one thing stood out.  My friends all sent a touch.  Some sent cards.  Some sent texts.  Some met me for lunch.  Some called to chat.  All of them "showed up" when I needed them.  Some thought my mother had passed away and some were hesitant and some were awkward and some had never experienced the death of someone they loved, and none of them knew my father.  But none of that mattered to me.  What mattered to me was that they showed up and showed me that they cared.  What a tremendous blessing to have friends who care.

     Paul sent a fellow named Tychicus, whom he called a beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord to the church in Ephesus when he couldn't go himself (Ephesians 6:21-24). His mission:  "I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are and that he may encourage your hearts."  Paul, at this moment, is chained between two Roman guards.  He has a sense that he won't leave Rome again.  And he has been praying for the works God established through his ministry.  Can you see in your mind this fatherly pastor, battle weary, chained, and desiring to shepherd his little flock he left in Ephesus, and so wanting to bless them?  So what does he do?  He sends someone he trusts to go and encourage the church.  He pours out his love and concerns and passion for their growth as a body of believers in a letter.  He finds a way to show up even though its difficult, even though it seems impossible.  He sends them the letter we read as the book of Ephesians.  Oh my!  He shows up and demonstrates his love for them in such a powerful way that it is never forgotten and has gone on to encourage many, many generations of believers.  Can you see this?  Wow!

     So my friends, I was helped and encouraged by my friends acts of love toward me.  I gained strength and help from them.  I gained permission to grieve from one, I gained encouragement from another, I found sympathy from one that spoke to my heart, and I received, more than anything, the knowledge that I was part of a beautiful body of Christ and He showed up over and over again in the care of my friends.

     So if you ever wonder, "Should I say something?  What can I do?  How do I help someone I know when I have never been through what they are going through?"  Don't let those thoughts hinder you.  Be a friend who cares.  Just a little gesture goes a long way when someone is going through a trial.  Don't worry about "doing it right" and don't worry if your feel awkward or it doesn't come easy.  Just show up!

     And when you are struggling with a trial, don't hide.  Let those you know in.  Ask them for help if you need it.  We are more than conquerors in Christ but we can't do it alone.  We need each other.  And then if your friend doesn't live up to all your expectations, remember how little that really matters.  It is their love and affection so warmly offered that matters.

Happy? New Year

   It is 2016!  For my husband and I it is sort of a mile marker-30 years of marriage, 2 adult children making their way successfully in the world, Greg's career is going strong and I have a few book projects in the works.  So it looks like this year will be a good one.  Of course like everyone else, we have our share of looming problems as well.  My parent's health is failing fast and I  have mild arthritis.  And of course there is the political mess we are in, our nation's morals are disappearing along with our freedom to worship God as we see fit and to set standards for our own children, and the world's continual wars and epic natural disasters only add to the melee'.  It seems all is not right with the world.  In fact the more you watch t.v. the more depressing the picture.  Nobody has any real solutions!

   So how is a person really going to say "Happy New Year!" and mean it.  I do mean it however.  Our happiness is not rooted in this world.  Jesus said, "Do not be afraid!  I go to prepare  a place for you..."  The angels said, "Fear Not! For unto you this day is born a savior."  Paul instructs us not to live in fear because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus and John wrote, "Perfect love casts out fear."  

   

   You  might say, "That's all well and good for later but what about right now...I've got real problems, we all have real problems.  How can I live a happy New Year?"

   David was running from Saul and hiding in caves and depending on God to keep him safe, knowing all along that his circumstances didn't make sense...hadn't God's prophet told him he would be King?  And hadn't he done everything he could to minister to the very man who was out to get him? But all the while he was out there running and hiding, God was teaching him important lessons, one of which I think was how to walk through stress.  And all through his life, even though he made many mistakes, some with tragic consequences, and had many difficulties as a king and as a person, He returned again and again to God.  He wrote songs about those lessons and we are able to see and learn from his own heart and walk with God.  Here are just a few snapshots from those great psalms:

Psalm 33:  Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope for His lovingkindness, to deliver their soul from death, and to keep then alive in famine.  Our soul waits for the Lord:  He is our help and our shield, for our heart rejoices in Him, because we trust in His holy name. Let Thy lovingkindness, O Lord, be upon us, According as we have hoped in Thee (vs. 18-22).

Psalm 34:  I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.  They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.  This poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.  The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them.  O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! (vs. 4-8).

Psalm 37:  The steps of a man are established by the Lord; and He delights in his way.  When he falls, he shall not be hurled headlong; because the Lord is the One who holds his hand.  I have been young, and now I am old; Yet I haven't seen the righteous forsaken, or his descendants begging bread.  All day long he is gracious and lends; and his descendants are a blessing (vs. 23-26).

Psalm 40:  Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders which Thou hast done, and Thy thoughts toward us; there is none to compare with Thee; If I would declare and speak of them, they would be too numerous to count (vs. 5).

   

   There are numerous other examples.  But my point is when we seek out God, worship Him, remember who He is, and remember that His love will abide with us, all the stuff the world throws at us, all the complications and all the disasters, somehow become manageable, for we have a strong tower, a Savior, a mighty God who's love has no end and who will keep us in it here on this earth through all of our trials but more importantly forever!

   

   So I think we can say, with a heartfelt gratitude:  Happy New Year!