October 2007

Missionaries. For different people that word brings forth different thoughts. At different points in my life it has meant different things to me. I used to think of people like my aunt and uncle who many years ago left everything they knew in Southern California and went to live in the Philippine Islands in order to share the truth of Jesus Christ with the people of that nation. I still think of them… but I also think of myself and of you.

Today I got up and put on my black collared shirt, black skirt, and green apron and I went to work. My day consisted of pulling shots of espresso, steaming milk, shaking teas, grinding and brewing coffee, mopping up spills, and serving pastries that will surely clog arteries… But during all of that, there was a spiritual battle taking place. I defended faith in Christ to those who mock it. I asked questions that made them think about their positions. I prayed that God would help me to find ways to relate to people who are so very different than me. I spent the day loving people. Today and everyday I find myself heartbroken for those I encounter who do not believe and have been deceived by false teachings and worldly philosophies. I pray that God will give me wisdom and discernment as I seek to shatter the untruths that their lives are based on and to lead them to an understanding of the truth of the gospel.

Saturdays I drive to South Dallas where many gather to serve and love on people. We pick up trash, paint houses, hug little kids, pray with people in the neighborhood, and visit friends. Some of them know Jesus, some of them are familiar with Jesus but do not personally know him, and others have never encountered him at all… and that is why we are there! To encourage those who know Him to live for him daily and to bring Him into view for those who have never seen Him. Our hearts are filled with joy as we see the difference that Jesus makes in the neighborhood as people come to truly know Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior!

In a few weeks I will be flying to Brazil with many others. When we land, we will hop onto a boat that will take us down the Amazon River. We will go into villages that truly have a need for the message of Christ. We will do VBS with children, go door to door sharing Jesus, and help plant a church in a village that has never had a church! Our hearts will be transformed as we are removed from our culture and we see God in a fresh way, watching Him work in ways we have never seen before.

I say all of this to point out that I am no more a missionary when I am overseas as I am when I am making lattes or walking the streets of South Dallas. We tend to put a heavy emphasis on spiritual preparation when we go on Mission Trips to foreign places… But do we need any less spiritual preparation for our daily lives? Shouldn’t we be equally missionaries - ON MISSION - no matter where we are? Shouldn’t I be just as focused and just as intentional and just as spiritually armed here as I am there (wherever there may be)?

God desires His truth to be known! God desires that all nations praise Him! God desires all Christians to be “missionaries” and to live intentionally focused lives as we reach out to the world around us! As followers of Christ we must live to help others discover truth! We must be a part of God drawing all nations to Himself! We all have gifts that God has given us to use for these tasks. I pray that we don’t waste them.

What do you think of when you hear the word missionary? I pray you think of yourself!

That’s why I am here… in Seminary… and quite possibly in the world… To help others to discover the passions of God’s heart and to learn what it means to be a follower of Christ - a missionary - always on mission!

I so appreciate your prayers as I journey down these roads. I have so very much to learn and it is very rarely easy.

It’s Friday night and I am staying home - alone, watching What Not to Wear, studying for a midterm (kind of), playing around on the internet, eating yogurt, and going to bed early… Granted the rest of my weekend will be busy, but it’s Friday night! In times past I spent Friday nights at home on occassion, BUT I was not happy about it. In college, it didn’t matter how much I had to get done… Friday night was for fun and friends, not for staying home alone! Tonight, it’s a joy though I’m realizing this means … I’m getting oldER!

My 14 year old brother gets pleasure in pointing out that I will soon be halfway to 50. I’m okay with that though because my mom turned 50 this year and while that used to seem old to me, she is still young with much life ahead of her! So, come and get me 50! (But take your time… For now I’m good with being “almost halfway to 50″.)

TGIF!

You can tell a lot about a woman by the contents of her purse (especially a large purse!).

Here’s a glance inside of mine today (or any typical day):

wallet, tide pen, some receipts, my checkbook, my organizer, a bible, two books (Case for Faith by Lee Strobel and Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman), my journal, 4 pens, a pencil, mints, a mirror, nutrigrain bar, ipod, and a blank form, and a case holding: hair ties, bobby pins, a couple lipsticks, another tide pin, a lip gloss, and two little rocks.

What does this say about me?

Wallet — You can tell by looking at it that it needs to be replaced… But I have not yet been able to let go! I got it in Vietnam 3 years ago. Inside my wallet you’ll see that all of my money is facing the same direction and is in order by value. Conclusions = I am very sentimental and slightly OCD.

Tide pen (2) — Conclusions = I spill frequently.

Receipts — Target (2) - I bought a tea kettle, a coffee grinder, and candy. Wal-Mart - I bought groceries. Lots of cheap groceries. Gas station - I put $10 of gas in my car. Conclusions = I bought wedding gifts and candy for kids for Halloween so now I must eat cheap food and put only $10 of gas in my car.

Checkbook — It’s actually in my purse so I must have just paid bills.

My organizer — I try to be organized. Sometimes it works.

A bible, two books (Case for Faith by Lee Strobel and Questioning Evangelism by Randy Newman), my journal, 4 pens, a pencil, — I follow Jesus and love his word. I want to be equipped to defend my faith and able to lead others to an understanding and intimate knowledge of Jesus Christ! If you look in my journal you’ll see that I write a LOT! So, I must have a lot to say! :o) Conclusions = I’m a nerd who loves Jesus! Who caries around all these books everywhere she goes???

Mints — I don’t want to have bad breath. Conclusions = I have decent breath. :o)

nutrigrain bar — Conclusions = I’m always on the go and may need some food to sustain me!

Ipod — Conclusions = I like music and by looking at it you can tell I like lots of types of music.

A blank form — It needs to be filled out by the Registrar. Conclusions = I haven’t had time to take it by the office yet (and maybe I’ve procrastinated slightly as well).

A mirror, and a case holding: hair ties, bobby pins, a couple lipsticks, another tide pin, a lip gloss — Conclusions = I try to look nice (at least sometimes).

What is in YOUR purse?

“The purpose (/counsel - depending on translation) in a man’s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out.” Proverbs 20:5

Have you ever met someone who thought they had all the answers? Or been given advice that was just plain stupid? Of course. Who hasn’t? You sit there and think… “Are you really saying this right now? Am I really listening?”

A good counselor does not give all the answers. Instead he draws out what the person already knows deep within themselves.

Those of us who who know Jesus and follow Him are charged with an incredible purpose in life - to make disciples! But just like none of us want to hear a no-it-all give us advice that we find inapplicable to our situation, so do many believers feel when we throw the gospel in their faces. We are all created with a deep longing for God, but we don’t always know that’s what it is. Our purpose, as disciple makers, is to HELP people discover that they were made for something much bigger than themselves. Our purpose is to help those around us discover their longing for God. It’s there - in the heart like deep water. It just needs to be drawn out by those of us who understand!

Being a part of the family of God never ceases to amaze me. I recently had the amazing privilege of traveling to Pennsylvania where I was reunited with two beautiful young women that I met in Vietnam over four years ago. The occasion for the visit was a wedding and I was to be a bridesmaid. Yes, that’s right. I met this girl over four years ago when we spent 6 life-changing weeks together on the other side of the world. We’d not met before then and hadn’t seen each other since. Those 6 weeks felt like a good year or so - partially because they were full of such rich experiences, partially because they were so draining emotionally, physically, and spiritually, partially because Sara (the girl who just got married) literally almost died, and partially because our lives were forever altered as we walked out of that country, time, and experience with an entirely new perspective on ourselves, our world, our culture, our purpose, and our God. (And that is a ridiculously long sentence filled with an un-called for number of comas…)

In my lifetime - thus far - I have traveled to 28 states and 6 countries. (In a few weeks I will enter my 29th state and 7th country. I‘m pretty excited - not really because of the increase of numbers but because of the experience and life-change I know it will bring.) Throughout my travels, I am repeatedly amazed by the instant bond I find with brothers and sisters in Christ as I’m welcomed into homes of complete strangers and recognized immediately as family. Instantly, we are able to share the deepest part of ourselves with one another as we live for and praise the God who made us and saved us.

Is it possible to spend six weeks with a person and then continue a close and deeply rooted relationship with thousands of miles spanning between you? Many would say no, but I say yes because I have seen what God can do when we put ourselves out there - real, honest, and vulnerable.  I’ve seen that strangers can become forever family in just six weeks.

Thank you God…
… for gaps of culture.
… for teaching us about you through the differences we find in one another.
… for making me your child.
… for making me a part of this world-wide family of believers.
… for friends in far away places.
… for friends you have brought near.
… for the technology that gives us the ability to communicate over distance.
… for real, honest, vulnerable people who have taught me to be as they are and shown me the depth of love that can grow between us when we live our lives in such a manner.

Me, Sara, and Abby - Happy Wedding Day Sara!  Thanks for getting married so we could be together again after 4 years.  (Okay, maybe that’s not WHY you got married… )