20 Seconds of Courage

"Sometimes you just need 20 seconds of courage, of just embarrassing bravery...and I promise you, something great will come of it." - We Bought a Zoo

There is a water hole in North Carolina that I used to visit with my youth group. After about a mile's hike, you come upon a clearing and the welcoming roar of a waterfall. Jutting out in front of the waterfall is a rock about fifteen feet above the water's surface. To get to the rock you have to swim through a strong currant and then pull yourself up onto the slippery stone surface. I followed the other kids, receiving help swimming to the rock and gladly accepting hands pulling me out of the frigid water onto the boulder. I had watched several others jump off the rocks, some of the more athletically inclined performing back flips and fancy dives. "I can jump off this thing," I thought.  

Then I stood upon the ledge.

My stomach flipped. 

The drop looked a lot farther from up here than it did watching from the sidelines. Everything in my body did not want to jump. I had an internal battle right there. I shivered from the swim over, goose bumps covering my body. My teeth chattered. 

A friend came alongside me. Took my hand. "1...2...3!"

Jump.

Falling. Falling. 

I pierced the water and plunged deeper than I expected. It felt like a long time before gravity yanked my body back through the water's surface. I gasped for air...and smiled. "That was so fun!" 

Something about the fear and pushing through it made me feel so alive. 

Obedience is like that. There have been moments when I felt so sure the Lord was telling me to do something...to confess a sin, have a hard conversation, or to talk to someone about Him...and everything in me didn't want to do it. I was terrified. I imagined all the negative things that could happen if I did. But every time I have obeyed I have never once regretted it.

When He calls us to do things, it’s scary. We resist. But when we jump...the result is exciting, invigorating, and rewarding. The greatest reward? Feeling His pleasure. 

Jonathan Edwards, God's Wrath & Love, and the Extremity of the Gospel

Recently I had the opportunity to read several people's responses to Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." The 18th century preacher's sermon gives example after example of God's impending wrath toward sinners, yet in each instance His wrath is withheld for the time being. The time is coming, though, Edwards warns his audience, when mercy will no longer be available and all those outside of Christ will suffer eternally. Yet now, the door of mercy is open and Christ stands, beckoning sinners to come to Him.

Many of these people's reactions to Edwards' sermon showed annoyance, disagreement, and offense. They argued, "A loving God wouldn't send people to Hell," "Everyone makes mistakes but that doesn't make people evil," "If you live a good life and help others God will let you into Heaven," or "God is loving and therefore He will let people into Heaven who deserve it."

I've been sitting on their words for a couple of days. I imagine their responses are probably quite representative of the American opinion at large. Oh America, but what a cheap view of God's love is this! If I am nice to you because you are nice to me how am I showing anything beyond simple civility? But if you rob from me and insult me and I still extend kindness to you, is that not more meaningful? If God's love is demonstrated in that He admits 'good people' into Heaven because they deserve it, how is that love? Is that not simply fairness or obligation?  But if "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us" how great indeed is His love (Romans 5:8)!

So often we avoid the topic of God's wrath like an elephant in the room. But it is only when we comprehend the severity--and justness--of His wrath, and our complete and utter depravity, that we can truly appreciate and adore His love. Only when we behold our own unworthiness can we perceive the generosity of the gift! Oh that we would have eyes to see the beauty of the gospel!

"And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross" (Colossians 2:13-14).

Looking for Home

Thirteen days ago I was on a plane that touched down on the runways of the Orlando airport. I had spent the past 46 days overseas. In some ways, that seems like a short time span. In other ways, it was a lifetime.

Coming back from a summer in Africa, touching down in Orlando, entering through U.S. customs, and riding the tram over the sunny palm tree dotted Florida, I quietly walked ahead. It felt less like a homecoming than I expected. A piece of me remained in that exotic continent. I cannot say I call Africa home. Still, America felt less like home to me than when I had left it a month and a half before. In a way, I felt a loss of place. I had changed. In my time gone, America had changed. My residency here felt a little more temporary. Riding in an AC-furnished vehicle on the interstate away from the airport, I saw America through different eyes. Not bad eyes. I still loved the country of my birth. But I had also experienced love for another continent.

How do you pick up the pieces of life in a place that was once all you knew? I haven’t figured it all out yet, but I think the answer lies in knowing that America—this country that I still ache and pray for—is not my home. Nor is that beautiful, black, vibrant country where I saw God in a new way. I fell in love with Jesus this summer. This loss of a place I feel has an answer. It is found in Him. My home is in Him. 

This verse has been speaking to me:

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches

us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Titus 2:11-14

The age in which we now live is called the “present age.” It is present, it is now, but it is not forever. The verse says, “while we wait”; we are waiting. We are not complete. Not yet. It is common to humans to feel most at home with people they connect with, click with, the group they identify with. We use possessive pronouns—“my friends,” “my family,” “my country.” This is what Jesus has done for us. He gave Himself to redeem us…to purify us for Himself…that He would have a people that are His very own. Bought with His precious blood, we are His. Our hearts will never be at home until they are home with Him.

My parents have always said that homesickness is a good thing because it testifies to the bonds you have with those you miss. I want to be homesick for Jesus. I want to hasten His coming by spreading His gospel to the nations, including this nation in which I now find myself. I want to remember my true home. But I want to make the waiting count. This is not our forever home. But we are here on earth nonetheless. We are here for a reason. And we have work to do.

Photo from en.freejpg.com.ar

MORE PICS

 If you look by the bushes, you can see a monkey!

 Learning an African card game with the missionaries

 Raven and I braved watching a goat get cooked

 Then I tried the goat. That's Papa Jet :)

 This sweet girl braided my hair. 

 African sunset

 Baby wraps!

 Cape Coast slave castle 

Secrets of Success

On our last Sunday on site, our team split up to three different village churches to speak and encourage the local believers. Half our team was sick and had to stay back so three of us went with a missionary to each church. I attended a village church that was only a year or so old. Previously, the village had been unreached. What a privilege to be a part of a developing congregation!

Below is the outline of the message I gave. Once again, it arose simply from what the Lord is teaching me and I don’t pretend to have mastered it. These are points in which I want growth. Perhaps God will use it to encourage you as well. (*I credit much of what I have learned here from the pastor at my home church. I’m so grateful for his biblical teaching).

Joshua 1:1-9

After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Great Sea on the west. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discourage, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Four things stand out to me in this passage.

1)    God is bigger than our circumstances (vs. 1-5). Moses, a mighty man of God, dies. But God isn’t set back. He isn’t distraught. He doesn’t miss a beat. He can use whomever He chooses. And He is faithful to preserve His remnant.

1 Kings 19 tells the story of Elijah, a prophet living during a time of rampant idolatry. He becomes discouraged and wails to God that he alone is the only one left serving the Lord. The Lord reveals to him that in fact, He has reserved 7000 who have not bowed their knees to Baal.

The Lord will do the same in our day. He will always preserve His remnant. My heart has been so encouraged by my time in Ghana. I have seen pockets of the Ghanaian church that is alive and well! God is faithful. He will do it.

2)    We are called to be strong and courageous (vs. 6-9). In the span of a four verses, the Lord repeats this command to Joshua three times. Such a call suggests that the task ahead of him would not be easy. He was about to head into war.

Courage is important to the Lord. Faith is what pleases Him (Hebrews 11:6). In the gospels, we see that what impresses Jesus the most is faith (see Luke 7). The Bible tell us 365 times to not be afraid. The rest of the world fears. We stand out when we don’t.

3)    Abiding in the word is the key to success (vs. 7-8). In America, success is a popular topic. You can read books on it.  You can even pay people to coach you on it. Here in Ghana, success may be about getting an education or a visa to America. But God tells us the secret to success! We need to abide in the word (see Psalm 1). When we mediate on it and obey it, then we will be successful and prosperous (see Ezra 7:10).

Studying the word is an unnoticed discipline. But it is the daily, unnoticed disciplines that make us who we are.

At our last ministry site there were two young men who volunteered with the mission work. One day they will be mighty men of God. Right now, they are being discipled. They are serving. They are doing the tasks nobody else would want to do. One day people will look at them and wonder how they got to be where they are. It is because they are being faithful in the small things.

Exodus 33:10-11 is a telling verse as to why God appointed Joshua to lead the Israelites in Moses’ absence: “Whenever the people saw the pillar of cloud standing at the entrance to the tent, they all stood and worshipped, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. Then Moses would return to the camp, but his young aide Joshua son of Nun did not leave the tent.”

Joshua abided in the presence of the Lord. He was not campaigning among the people. He was seeking an audience of One. Notice that he did this while he was young. Youth, if you have dreams of being great, commit to the secret place. Know the word. Abide in His presence. That is the key to success.  

4)   The presence of the Lord makes all the difference (v. 9). The reason we do not have to fear or become discouraged is because He is with us. That “for” is the hinge word of this verse. If the Lord is with us, we cannot fail. If He is not, we can’t succeed.

Matthew 28:19-20. The reason we can be sent out and carry this gospel to the ends of the earth is because Jesus is with us. We don’t go alone. And His presence makes all the difference.


Photo from http://en.freejpg.com.ar/free/info/100008291/book

Vignettes - July 13

Several days ago I was feeling tired and weary. I withdrew to be with the Lord and in His kindness, He reminded me of a simple truth: Be thankful. Remember the blessings. He brought me to 1 Chronicles 16: 8-12

Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him, tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done.

I began to remember and list blessings the Lord had given. These are just a few…

Holding a little girl, one earbud from my ipod in her ear, one in mine, dancing

Watching souls commit their lives to Christ

Mountains

Shooting star!

Having an ice cream cone when I never expected there to be ice cream

Riding over red dirt roads in the bed of a truck, wind rippling through my hair

Laughing so hard over the silly things

Climbing trees

Monkeys

Little Rhoda falling asleep in my arms

Goats, sheep, chickens, cows

Bucket showers

Falling in love with Jesus

Heart to heart talks

Tears shed over lost loved ones

Playing volleyball and soccer with the kids

Taking pictures and hand-clapping games with the kids

Teaching handshakes to little Ben and T

Watching the Africans dance!

Dancing with them J

Silly songs

Facetiming with my family

Timely texts, phone calls, words of encouragement

The ocean

Passionate prayers

The missionaries, their love for the word, the lost, and the gospel

Worship music

Sunrises and sunsets

Clean laundry

Hard goodbyes

Safe travels

Morning runs and walks

Village churches

Gideon – a 14 year old boy who came to Christ

Awakening again to the joy in Christ