I feel like I've got to get better about this blogging thing. Lately, I feel like there is so much tugging at me to improve. I'm striving to exsist in each moment receiving solace in God's grace and what it means to be faithful and obedient right where you are. I have so much to share but struggle knowing where to start and how to communicate.
So, we just got back from taking 11 teenagers to Mission Waco's Poverty Simulation, where we live homeless or in poverty for one weekend. It was my second time to experience the injustices and life of those in poverty or homeless; some by choices, or some by circumstance of a life that has shown them nothing else. The weekend is challenging and holds you accountable to things that we happen to be very passionate about, yet get seperated from where we currently minister and seek to share God's love. Then, there's the struggle...do we lack faith to take risks to live beyond comfort zones that keep us from truly being the light in darkness? If we believe in incarnational ministry...are we living that out? We ask questions, probe the gospel and wrestle with God as he affirms his call and will for our life and leaves us with a peace that comes from freedom in Christ. We have challenged ourself to grasp the newness of life that the New Testement brings. It was the Old Testament that said our tithe to God is 1/10. The New Testement faith was about selfless sacrifice. In a Compassion Video shown over the weekend, I giggled as the speaker sang, maybe we should change the hymn to "One -tenth to Jesus I surrender, One-Tenth to him I freely give...I surrender one-tenth, I surrender one-tenth." It sounds humerous yet transparency, accountability, and the things that the Acts 2 community God intended to be the church seem to be foreign or difficult to embrace.
Just enough Jesus seems adequate for most of society professing christianity...
Christ has redeemed me, loves me unconditionally and has completely changed my life and shows me daily how to live and abide in Him...I don't want to conform to being satisfied with going through the motions of any form of religious tradition. I don't want a lukewarm faith to be what defines my children's hunger for living out the kingdom of God. So, by faith we doing something about it. As always, I do not know how? God has obviously moved mountains before and he makes streams in the desert, therefore I will trust Him. We are clinging to Matthew 6:33
I am wrapping up the last of my Social Work degree; and ironically feel led to pursue and EMT certification on top of it. Ok, will do! Next...the International Justice Mission is an ogranization that fights injustices such as human trafficing, forced prostitution and child labor. Through politics and missions they are exposing the darkness and helping heal hearts and rescue lives all over the world. In April, I am taking my daughter and a teenager I mentor to Washington D.C. to and IJM Global prayer conference and Advocacy training to hear about where God is at work locally and globally. I hope they come back with an awarness that inspires them to change the world, with a broader Christian world view but mostly a broken heart leading to deep compassion. It was the attribute of Jesus that kept him from denying those who needed healing and hope.
So, I committed by faith to that journey. THEN, my husband tells me that we are suppose to go to Haiti and visit and organization that has been building kindredship and God has melted our hearts together with for the past year. When? In April! Oh, well, immediately I am questioning the Washington trip that we have by faith invested in and now with greater faith are proceeding to go. Isn't that what Jesus said, to go! Ok, our yes is on the alter and we will willingly go where you are leading us and our family. In the meantime there are struggles, spiritual warfare in the least expected places.
Please pray for us. A hedge of protection, a steadfast strength and that we would receive faith from God that grows us daily. My children- They are awesome and beautiful, such treasures... God would hold them securly as we will travel quite a bit in April. My husband is currently coaching (1. because he loves investing in youth 2. for extra finances) on top of his pastorship. Then, I am balancing college, as well my first priority, homemaking and temporarily homeschooling a friend's 6th grader that is going through some struggles. For us all to have faith, seek Malachi 6:8 and through prayer have peace for whatever God has in store for our family. The journey is fun and exciting! I will not live asking questions about tomorrow but by faith walk through today loving and trusting...
