Running With Endurance - July 12

Two weeks from today my team and I will be boarding a plane on our way back to the States. We have less than two weeks left of scheduled ministry. We’ve been at our second site for ministry for a week now. We are tired. It’s tempting to feel burned out.

In a way, this trip reminds me of the Christian life. Like my pastor says, this Christian life isn’t a sprint; it’s a marathon. It’s an endurance race. Moreover, God calls us to run with endurance.

Earlier on this trip, I wrote a message titled “Running with Endurance.” It is even more applicable to me now. As I share it with you, I’m preaching it to myself, praying my heart will live it.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The Christian life is likened to a race. It’s active, intentional, not passive. It’s not something we can be lazy with. It calls for perseverance. This implies that it is not easy. If it were, we would not need endurance. We must keep seeking the Lord, keep praying, keep reading His word, keep living righteously. We are called to abide…or we will never bear fruit (John 15:4).

Many of you are farmers. I don’t know a lot about farming, but it’s my guess that you have to tend the farm on a regular basis if you are to have a successful crop. It wouldn’t be realistic to work the farm for an hour a week and expect bountiful results. Instead, you work diligently so that you can harvest a good reward.

Back home my father coaches a university baseball team. They have to undergo intense training so that when they play their games they are prepared. They wouldn’t have hope of victory if they didn’t practice and practice diligently.

It’s the same way in the Christian life. If we want to see fruit in our lives, if we want to live victoriously, then we must have endurance.

This leads to the question, how do we get endurance?

From this passage in Hebrews, I see two things that will fuel our endurance. Both are found in this single answer: by fixing our eyes on Jesus.

1)    Follow the example He set

·      He endured the cross

·      He endured opposition from sinful men

How did He do it? For the joy set before Him. He knew the pain that He would endure but He also knew the joy that was waiting for Him on the other side. In the same way, when we are feeling fatigue or a lack of motivation or weariness or burn-out, let us remember the joy waiting for us. We have an inheritance in heaven (1 Peter 1:3-4). We will be filled with joy and eternal pleasures (Psalm 16:11). When we are tempted with sin, let us remember that the treasure we have in Christ will be far more satisfying than the temporary pleasure of sin. Consider Hebrews 11: 25-26

[Moses] chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward.

The world tells us to live for the moment. But let us choose the best over the good. Let us live for an eternal reward that won’t perish, fade, or spoil.

2)    Remember that it is Jesus who is the author and perfecter of our faith.

We do have responsibility in this Christian life. But we shouldn’t fall into the thinking that everything depends on us. Jesus is the author of our faith. He is the one who saved us. We did nothing to save ourselves (see Ephesians 2:8-9). He is also the perfecter of our faith. Philippians 1:6 “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (see also Hebrews 10:14). He will see us through. He is the perfecter of our faith. Consider 2 Timothy 2:11-13:

Here is a trustworthy saying: If we died with him, we will also live with him; if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will disown us; if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself.

Even when we are faithless, He is faithful, for he cannot disown himself. He is committed to his purposes. He won’t lie. He has made a guarantee and He will see it through. He is more committed to His purposes than we are. So if we want to be holy, He wants even more for us to be holy. If we want to honor Him, He wants even more for us to honor Him. 2 Timothy 1:9, “[He] has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace.”

Because our salvation does not rest on ourselves, but on God’s purposes, and because we know that He is committed to His purposes and that His purposes are sure, we can run with confidence, with perseverance, with endurance.

I find it interesting that the first 9½ chapters of Hebrews are spent making a case for the supremacy of Christ. It’s not until the last 3½ chapters that the author makes a strong exhortation for endurance. It is because of Jesus that we can have confidence. It is because of Him we can run with endurance. And endurance will never come until we see Him. When we see all that He has done, that He has championed the race ahead of us, and is interceding for us even now, then the burden is lifted. And we can run.

More Pictures

 We rode this truck to one of the remote village churches. It was so fun!

 Worshiping at a village church 

 Raven and Megan praying for a woman

 Praying at a village church 

 Climbing trees!

 Our team (minus Tinese :(

 Feeding monkeys!

Teaching at a school 

The Surpassing Beauty of Christ

How do I put into words the journey on which the Lord has so graciously been leading me? Have you ever seen something or felt something so beautiful that words escaped you and you wish you could just impart the knowing of it to those you love? When I’ve gazed at the Smoky Mountains or stood under the night stars or listened to the sound of snow falling I’ve had those moments. I’ve had a similar experience in my time here and ask for patience as I grapple for words to communicate it to you now.

During my team’s first week or so of on-site ministry, we all encountered challenges. Some faced acute attacks while others simply struggled to fight distractions and be fully present. We faced sickness, as half our team contracted malaria and none of us felt 100% healthy, and one team member even had to leave us for a few days to go to a hospital. We have battled sin in our own lives, feelings of inadequacy when sharing the gospel, and have felt irritated and tired. Through all of these things the Lord has shown Himself faithful. He brought healing. He is delivering. He has provided people to come alongside us. At my weakest moments, when I felt most discouraged, He brought a phone call, a text, or a word of encouragement from a team member.

We have seen Him work in so many ways. During one of our door-to-door evangelism times, two of our girls led a sick man to Christ. A few days later they returned to check on him, prayed for him, and watched him take his last breath. They ushered him into eternity with Jesus!

We have shared the gospel at many schools and with individuals outside of huts. So many have prayed to receive Christ. It is not ours to know how many of those were genuine but the Lord knows. And He is the worthy one we are proclaiming.

We are growing in our own walks with the Lord. We have been so challenged, encouraged, humbled, and inspired by the missionaries here. Their heart for God and for the lost is powerful. The missionaries have taken time to have discipleship sessions with us and have prayed with us and for us. Their service to us has amazed us. Here we were coming to serve on mission and they have catered to our every need and done so with cheerful attitudes. They know Scripture so well and inspire me to learn the word more.

The last week in that village was particularly growing for me. Several challenges seemed to come to a head all at once and I found myself crying out to God for His help. I have felt a dependency on Him here like I never have before. And it is such a sweet place to be. I love leaning on Jesus. He is so strong! On the next to last morning in this town, I woke early, sat outside under a straw pavilion, and looked at the mist-covered mountains. I read His word and it was alive. He filled me with joy in His presence. The last few days of ministry were especially good. I had a love for the children we encountered. I felt my heart knit to that place and pray that one day I’ll be able to return. I loved even the simplicity of the lifestyle there.

Early Friday morning we loaded the van to return to the capital for a few days of “retreat” before we start ministry at our next location. It was hard to say goodbye to the friends we made there. I am so grateful that we got to be there though.

The Lord has been teaching me a lot here. I’ve been reading His word more and praying more than I did back home. I’m seeing how good and beautiful Jesus is and want my life to be spent loving Him with all I am. It’s my prayer that when I return to the States that passion will be “burned on my heart like a seal, that in the famine of His presence, in the flood of persecution, in the comfort of the culture, it’s the real” (John Thurlow, “Fully in Love”). I’ve been reading verses about the joy in Him and also about suffering. It’s my heart to be so satisfied in Him and His joy that my life displays how good He is.

He is our savior, bearing our sins in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). He is the “lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world” (1 Peter 19-20). God willed that through Him we would be saved. “And by that will we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once and for all” (Hebrews 10:10). Because of Him, we have “an inheritance that can never perish spoil or fade” (1 Peter 1:4).

Pictures!

 This was at a village where we shared the gospel. I love these precious children!

 Getting ready to play football! 

 We travelled to this village and had church with them on Sunday. Last year's team came here and planted the church. It was the first time they had ever heard the gospel. Now there is a church!

 I got to speak to these high schoolers. Four committed their lives to Christ!

We taught it many schools like this one. Beautiful children!

These are just a few snapshots. There are so many more than I want to share with you!

June 24, 2015 "The Gospel is Joy and Jesus is Worthy"

This morning I had the privilege of giving the chapel message at a high school. I was excited for that opportunity because I love working with teenagers and have a passion to see them fall in love with Jesus and abandon themselves to Him. Below is a recap of what I shared with them, which has come out of things the Lord has been teaching me over the years and even in recent weeks.

This morning I want to leave you with two things. The first is that the gospel is joy and it is worth giving up everything for. The second is that Jesus is completely worthy of all your devotion.

To begin, I’d like to first clarify terms. What I mean by the phrase, ‘the gospel’ is this: God created you and loves you. But we are sinners and, no matter how hard we strive, cannot make ourselves right before God. So God sent Jesus to bear our sins in His body on the cross so we might die to sin and live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus died as our punishment. God raised Him from the dead and decreed that whoever believes in Jesus and receives Him will live forever with God (John 3:16, 1:12).

With that foundation laid, I want to make a case that the gospel is joy and is worth giving up everything for. Consider Matthew 13:44-46

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Notice two things about this passage. First, in both cases the treasure was at a great cost. Both men sold everything they had to attain their prize. Second, consider the attitude with which they conducted their affairs. The text says, “in his joy [he] went and sold all he had and bought that field” (emphasis mine). They had this joy because they knew that the treasure was infinitely greater than the possessions they were giving up.

It is the same with following Jesus. I am not here to stand before you today to tell you that if you give your life to Christ, all your problems will disappear. If you decide to follow Jesus, you won’t suddenly become rich or have perfect health or never face trials. Actually, the opposite could be true. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” And elsewhere, Jesus tells His followers, “In this world you will have trouble.” If you give your life to Christ, friends could laugh at you. Your family may not understand. You still will experience hardship.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine got sick. We prayed hard that God would heal him. But He didn’t. My friend died. And it was hard. It still is hard. But I can rejoice because he knew Jesus and is with Him now. If I had only believed that the gospel was about God giving us things we want, then my faith would have been shaken. But that’s not what the gospel is about. It’s about Jesus. And He is so much greater than every trial we could ever face. Knowing Him is joy. Philippians 3:8 says, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Even though we struggle, even those we face hardships, those things will be like a single raindrop compared to the ocean in light of the treasure we have in Christ. I can stand before you today and testify that Jesus is the greatest joy in my life, the greatest treasure on earth.

The second thing I want to leave you with today is this: Jesus is completely worthy of all your devotion. Revelation 5:9-10 says of Jesus:

You are worthy…because you were slain and with your blood your purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth.

Jesus is worthy of your affection, your allegiance, your praise, because he bore your sins in His body on the cross. He purchased souls for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. My friends, that includes you. That includes you. Do not think that because we are from America we are special and have our lives all put together. It doesn’t matter where we are from. God purposed that you would be born here, in _______. What matters is that you serve Him.

I want to invite you today to follow Him, to give your lives to Him. Please do not do this lightly. Jesus told those who wanted to follow Him to count the cost. So count the cost. But also know the beautiful, outstanding, immeasurable treasure there is in knowing Christ Jesus.

Village Life - June 21st

I’m writing from my bedroom in compound in a village. There are open windows, mosquito nets, and crickets chirping. I’m waiting to take a bucket shower after a day of sweating and playing in the red African dirt. In the morning I’ll wake up to the sounds of roosters crowing, goats bleating, and women who have already started on the days’ work of cooking and laundry.

Our first few days in the country were slower-paced, helping us acclimate to the new culture. We took drives and walks, absorbing all we could. We people-watched (and got watched by people! – I’ve never been so stared at before). We had devotions and training on the culture. Then, on Tuesday we loaded into a van, opened the windows, and made a 12-hour trip north. We passed through villages and towns and long stretches of countryside with rich vegetation and even some stunning mountains, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. When we arrived we met the missionaries and volunteers who live in this town.

On Wednesday we began our work! We went to a primary school and taught in the classrooms for a couple of hours. When the classes let out, the children swarmed us. Precious black hands covered every inch of my white exposed arms. Personal space ceased to exist! It was fun and new and exciting, but when we talked about the event that night as a team, we felt a quiet dis-settling. We were like celebrities to them. While the attention was fun, we established that we don’t want to simply promote ourselves. If all they see are some friendly white girls (and one black sister!) from America, they’ve gained nothing. We want them to see Christ. The next day, at a different school, we were more prepared. In the classrooms, after giving a school lesson, we shared the gospel and were intentional with our time. Several students prayed to receive the Lord.

On Friday I woke up sick and had to stay back from the school but the other girls had a great time with the kids and had them memorize some Scripture verses. We’re planting the word! That afternoon, I felt stronger (thanks to so many of you who were praying for me!) and was able to join my team for evangelism in a village. We went out in two’s, along with interpreters, and asked people if we could tell them about Jesus. They were incredibly hospitable and open to hearing what we had to say. Some were already believers. Others had heard of Jesus but did not know much about Him. After hearing, several said they wanted to follow Him. While we probably won’t see them again (on earth!), the missionaries will be able to get them Bibles and follow up with them.

Yesterday we played a town soccer game. As it was my first real soccer game, I was object of laughter more than once! It was particularly humbling when the referee told me, “You’re not very good at this game”! But thanks to some of the locals who joined our team, we managed a draw. After the game, we gathered all the children together, preached the gospel, and many wanted to follow Him. That makes all the humility worth it!

Today we drove an hour on bumpy roads out to a rural village where we joined believers for church. A year ago, this village had never heard the gospel, but last year’s team came and preached to them. Now their church is growing.

The Lord is good and we are grateful to be a part of His work. We’ve each had unique struggles. It’s not always easy. And we still need prayer covering. But we serve such a kind, loving Father and in Him there is joy (Psalm 16).