Real People

I can't pin it down to one day or moment per say but I know it happened in one week. My eyes were opened. At that point I thought opened to everything, oh the childness of that for they have continued to be opened as each day passes I see more. What of those who have never had the opportunity to hear the gospel? Not even just that but they don't even have the opportunity. What about the tribes that one no has heard of that want to hear, they are begging for people to come, what of them? What of those others deem "the enemy"...should they not be able to hear the Jesus loves them too? What of those who are 13 and call their neighbors vietnam yet they live in this country of freedom? What of the children who have no life in them because they have never been loved? What of the mothers who are trying to raise her kids all by herself because the father ran? What of the individuals who are tricked into slavery? What of the young girl who throws up because she doesn't believe she's beautiful? what of the boy who was given a semiautomatic gun before he was 5? What of the thousands dieing of preventable diseases? What of the family that lives across the street and is torn by a divorce? What of the marriage that is falling apart because of porn? What of the kids who are loosing their parents because of HIV AIDS? What of the families living in the Indian slums?

I see all these things then I turn around and ask... what of the families who have been blessed to be a blessing yet hoard it? What of the mountains of shoes piled in a closet when a child doesn't have one? What of one more meal out when there are people starving to death not the little phrase we use but literally starving to death? What of the few minutes it would take to stop and talk with the person who lives there on street? What of the cures we have that could save lives? What about Jesus that could save more than just their bodies yet there is no movement - just comfort, safety, materials, money, and...and....

But then once again, my gracious Father grabs me by the hand and opens my eyes a little further to see all the saints around me working for His glory. People who love those little kids who have never been loved to see them come to life. People stop drinking bottle water because some have to walk miles just to get clean water and then who put a well in a village so that they only have to water a couple of feet. People who welcome in college aged students year after year letting them into their lives to experience true discipleship and show them God's heartbeat. People who catch a vision of justice and do anything possible to bring it starting with awareness. People who see their co-workers every week in their home to answer questions and plant the seed. People who pray and pray for each person walking into the abortion clinic. People who move across the sea to live in an apathetic community yet continue to share their lives. People who are in tribes that have spears with their names on it because of sharing Jesus. People who are working big paying jobs yet live off of 40% and give the rest to support those overseas. People who start a manufacturing plant in a third world country to give them jobs and the pay they deserve. People who are on college campuses constantly pouring into the lives of the people around them despite the late night or homework. People who are in the inner city hosting groups around to open their eyes to the real city and to love on the those who live in those neighborhoods. People who are taking whatever job they can to pay of school loans so that they can go to a people group that has never heard the gospel. People who are risking their lives to tell others about Jesus. People whose family has threatened to disown them because of their beliefs. People who work immensely hard so that some day they can be a doctor and offer their services free of charge for those who can't afford it and need it the most. People who have the same audience every week and could tell them exactly what they want to hear but instead challenges them with what God's word really says. People who pray for the God's kingdom to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in Heaven.

To my brothers and sisters, I say thank you for giving your life to Christ no matter the cost. And for those of you who aren't this is your challenge. All of the people I just described are real people in my life.

Beyond Blood

The other day I was reminded of two encounters. One back to March. I met someone for the first time and felt like I knew them. But after talking realized I didn't actually know them only I still felt like I did. Recently this happened again. I met some people and there was no possible way I would have known them anywhere but I felt like I knew them. After spending time with them this bond grew and grew as it had done in march. The only common factor: Christ. There is no way to explain that kind of a bond outside of Christ. It doesn't make any sense - why would one feel so close to another person they have never met. I don't just mean this is a way that we have common hobbies and interests but something that goes beyond even family. It doesn't make sense except when the common denominator is Christ. Both are striving full fledged towards Christ then that kind of a bond makes perfect sense.

Learning How to Die

This morning got up and went rollerblading. It has been years since I have rollerbladed but I just had this urge to do so this morning. As I was pushing my way through the cracks and rocks on the street I fell in love with the gospel again.

I was challenged from a podcast from a church in southern California about the big picture of the gospel not just the cross. The church is going through Titus and the pastor paused on the introduction for a bit. "Paul, a servant of God..." (1:1) In another one of Paul's letters he writes about how we are slaves. Slaves either to righteous and therefore life or to sin and therefore death. It's hard for us to accept this role as Christ followers because we don't think that we were truly slaves to sin before Christ. Growing up in the church sometimes its hard for me to look back and see exactly where I surrendered but over the years of telling my stories and thinking over it and God revealing more and more of Him within it I have a rough estimate and therefore I can see the plans and life that I was pursuing fail time and time again...slave to sin. But then surrender and I am now a slave to Christ for I am not my own but bought by another (1cor. 6:19-20). I was so lost, so engrossed in sin but then Jesus bought me with His death so now I'm good. I can live the way I choose and see Him in heaven...wrong. Now I am a slave to Christ. Then what does Paul say next, "and apostle..." (1:1). Apostle - one who is set apart. When Paul was on the road to damascus and Jesus came to him (acts 9), Paul's sin was shown and then Jesus set him apart. The pastor told this story of a man who went in for an audition. the man got a role in the movie but the man didn't like the role so he left. Is this not like us some times? We surrender our slavery to sin and are happy to become apart of the family of Christ and then we are given our role and we want to leave just like the man at the audition. But remember what Jesus said to Ananias, "the Lord said to him, 'Go, for he[Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.'" (acts 9:15-16) Paul's role: go to the gentiles - sweet, much suffering - "um no thanks" .... accept Paul didn't respond that way he was given his role knew the price that was paid for him and said, I will go.

Have you ever asked, "What is my purpose in life? If I weren't here would it matter?" I'm not trying to be sadistic or emo just asking the questions. Reality: right now God has given me a role and a purpose. I am the best youngest daughter my parents could have. The best student, the best...etc. arrogant much? No, because Christ has put me there in each one of those places specifically. If there was a better daughter that my parents could have had God would have given them her. Or a better student to take my place at the university He would have put them there. How crazy is that? God specifically choose me for each of those roles! The roles you've been given, same thing God choose you! I've always been one to look to the future. At times I justified it so much that there wasn't a second thought. And of course the culture I live in it helped me along as well. Constantly looking to the next thing the next thing I so often miss the role God has placed me in right now. I need to be living gospel moments every day within all the roles I have been given right now. As my brother James said my life is a vapor (James 4:13-14). This doesn't mean I'm going to be lazy and as some say "let go and let God" because following Christ and waiting upon the Lord is not a passive thing but I need to stop trying to fulfill my "casting roles" and live in the ones I have been given and pursue Christ to find the rest He has for me. choice: hot or cold, slave to life or death, follow or not.

God answers prayers

How do you respond once God begins to break your heart for all the things that break His? I just finished watching Hotel Rwanda for the first time. I was conflicted with emotion. My heart breaking again and again, tears streaming down my face, and hatred towards sin welling up. How can people commit genocide? How can people kill at all? As I was watching the atrocities that were in that moment contained by a screen but knowing full well it is life, I was reminded of hope. God is the only one who can truly save, who can fully end this pain. I've said this before and friends have said its crass but its truth, "If we save them from AIDS, malaria, being an orphan, etc. but don't share with them Jesus, the gospel, we are saving them for hell." Ya, it's harsh but its reality! Hell is real and God is the only one who truly save. From all of this world and all that is not. The enemy has dominion right now but...in the movie at one point they spoke of how no one was coming to help, they were cowards, no more. no more. I will go. I will go wherever you lead me. I will go to the darkest places to bring the only hope. Ya, I'm scared but its not about me. This my friends is the biggest justice I can bring to people, real hope - Jesus. this is how I respond. full fledge sprint towards Christ and everything He is about. oh, Father use me and may I be attentive and obedient.

Challenging Questions

What if we take away the cool music and the cushioned chairs? What if the screens are gone and the stage is no longer decorated? What if the air conditioning is off and the comforts are removed? Would His Word still be enough for His people to come together?
excerpt from Radical by David Platt

dirty & burning trash vs. lysol & frebeze

My friend came back from India, I just finished reading about Afghanistan, and I miss Mexico. I really want to be out there, anywhere. I know God has some crazy plan for me I know it. Jesus pull me in draw me close so that I fall more in love with you so that my desires to be overseas arise at Your timing so that until then I can be all here where you have me. the best place for me right now because You have me here. Oh Father pull me in.

Fast Forward Button on Thoughts = snippets

the strikes come through breaches not the front door. freedom not slavery. prayer not whimpy but grand, believing and waiting in expectation. strength will arise as we wait upon the Lord. on fire in love. the comprehenders too far away, porque. patience for the ones everyone loves to love. rid me of myself. use this broken vessel. radical. crazy. extreme. think on these things - Phil 4. arms high and heart abandoned. refine.