God's 'BUT...'

'But...I'm no good at speaking,' Moses countered when God said He wanted to use him to rescue the Israelites.

'But...I am too young,' Jeremiah retorted when he heard God's call.

'But...I am the worst of all sinners,' noted Paul.

How many times do we offer 'Yes, but...' answers to God?

Have we ever considered that God has BUT's for us, too?

Take Samson's mother, for example. She is left unnamed in the Bible and mentioned only as the Wife of Manoah, who was unable to have children. But one day, ''the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.' '' (Judges 13:3)

The very thing she was unable to do, God told her she would do. She was barren, but would conceive; she had not borne children, but would have a son.

How is that possible? As my husband says, 'Those are pretty big but's!'

I was considering what God's 'but' might look like today. What if an angel of the Lord appeared to my mother-in-law, suffering under the effects of her stroke, and said, 'Behold, your  memory is gone and you have lost the joy of living, but you shall make great memories and engage once again with your family and friends.'

Maybe the greater miracle would be me hearing from the Lord, 'Behold, you are not always patient with her and it's a daily struggle to crucify your flesh, but you will be filled with my love and I will use you to help bring the restoration I died to make possible.'

'You are...but...'

God doesn't ignore our reality or ignorantly view our life circumstances through rose-colored glasses. No, he acknowledges, 'You are...' Maybe you are barren, maybe you are poor, maybe you are depressed, maybe you are looking for direction, facing a closed door, needing forgiveness, wanting friends, out of a job. You are...BUT...

The question isn't who WE are, but who HE is. 

Image Credit: Gospel Alliance

The good news of this Advent season is that Emmanuel has come: GOD WITH US. He doesn't tower over us and laugh at our pain, mock our frustration, or remain silent to our questions. Instead, he became one of us  in order to make the impossible possible.

Sinners, granted eternal life.
Those separated from God, brought back into relationship with Him.
Men and women whose good works are but filthy rags, being dressed in robes of righteousness.


'You are, but...'

We have our excuses, yet God gently responds with, 'But I love you. But I'm providing for you.  But I'm guiding you and giving you strength. But I've called you. But I'm faithful. But you and your circumstances are significant to me - you matter.'



What is the 'but' you've been complaining to God about? And what do you think His BUT to you may be?

Like A Child

Small hands digging through a bowl of dusty flour and baking soda, searching for a few more chocolate chips in the batter.

Leaping from the 5th step into Auntie's unexpecting arms.

Using the only words he knows - 'da, da' - and pleading eyes to ask me to do up his jacket before heading outside.

What babysitting my 1 1/2 year old nephew taught me about having faith like a child. 

Playing with sudsy water dripping off the countertop after 'helping' with the dishes.

His face lit up with a smile when I complimented his scribbled picture.

Begging 'uhh! uhh!' with uplifted arms, wanting just to be held close.

Childlike faith.

Believing that my Father gives good gifts to His children, myself included.

Confidence that He'll catch me.

Unashamedly asking for help.

'Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will not enter it.'

Knowing God doesn't really need my help, but He enjoys my presence anyways.

My righteousness, my best efforts, are but filthy rags, yet He smiles at me with pleasure.

The loving, welcome embrace of a Father who is ready to hold me when I come to Him.

When we learn to receive, to rest, to trust...we enter His kingdom. 

Image Credit: Indigo Crossing

Dust to Dust

This past weekend I attended my first funeral in Germany.

Sure, "there is a time for everything," but when the "time to die" (Ecc. 3:1-2) hits, it's never easy.

I didn't know the man very well, but I remember that he laughed often, and seeing his lifeless body  was so surreal. That, combined with yesterday being Remembrance Day and reflecting on many lives laid down, was such a strong reminder that "all come from dust, and to dust all return" (v. 20).

Image Credit: Timo Kahlen

Death seems so daunting, the grave so greedy. And the last breath appears so final. Indeed, if "passing away" is understood as the end, even the Apostle Paul wrote, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die" (1 Cor. 15:32). 

God "he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more" (Psalm 103:14-16). 

If death really is the end, and there is no such thing as resurrection or life afterwards, Paul writes that preaching is useless, our faith is futile, and we believe in vain.

That doesn't sound very hopeful. 

But what if there is something stronger than the power of the grave?

What if a lifeless body returning back to the earth is not a symbol of meaninglessness, but instead of hope and promise? Like how a seed sown in dust, in earth, in soil, does not bear fruit...unless it dies?

 Image Credit: Ladies of Virtue

"The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body" (1 Cor. 15:42-44).

Sounds pretty impossible, doesn't it? How can life come from lifelessness? But I have good news for you: "Death has been swallowed up in victory!"

Jesus Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, and because He lives, we also may live! God Incarnate, through His death, conquered the power of death itself.

Whoever believes in Him has eternal life. What a promise!

This reality provides hope for our life here on this earth. It gives us a purpose, because it shows us God's plan. After an entire chapter where he focuses on the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul concludes: "Therefore, my brothers and sisters..." Therefore, since we know that Christ is risen, since we too will rise, since God has the victory, since the grave has lost its sting, since our faith is not useless, and because of resurrection power... "Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain."

What we do with our lives here on earth is not in vain. The work we do, the people we love, the ways we serve...it matters. In the famous 1 Corinthians 13 chapter we read that "LOVE NEVER FAILS."


And it was exactly THIS great love that took Jesus to the cross. 

GOD…the greatest Being

SO… to the greatest degree
LOVED…the greatest passion
THE WORLD…the greatest company of people
THAT HE GAVE…the greatest act
HIS ONLY SON…the greatest sacrifice
THAT WHOEVER…the greatest opportunity
BELIEVES IN HIM…the greatest decision
SHOULD NOT PERISH…the greatest rescue

BUT… the greatest alternative
HAVE …the greatest possession
EVERLASTING LIFE…the greatest gift 

(adapted from PawCreek) 

 

 

As Faithful as the Sunrise

No matter what time I wake up each morning, I am never, ever surprised that the sun is shining.

Why is that? Why am I never taken aback when I see light, colors, brightness? The question actually is, why SHOULD I be? Not once in my life has the sun failed to shine. There has been winter, and some days have been short, but the sun was always there.

When it's dark at night and I'm fumbling around in the hallway for the light switch, I'm not even a bit concerned. I am certain about something I cannot see: the sun will shine again.

'Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.'

(Hebrews 11:1)

I spent last week helping counsel people at a 'Basixx' Seminar here. The stories they told were not all easy to hear. The world is a broken, ugly place sometimes. But if there's one thing I was reminded of, it's that God is SO MUCH BIGGER, and so, so faithful.

I had to tell myself that again one evening as I got home and discovered that our car battery had died, the lawn mower was broken, our furnace went out on us, my mom-in-law has to stay in the hospital for longer than expected, and a family aquaintance had passed away.

How in the world can God turn this:

into this:

Photo Credit: Wikipedia 

God is a God who 'calls into existence the things that do not exist' (Romans 4:17). With a word from His mouth, the heavens and earth were created. And with a Word He brings to life things in our circumstances as well.

He is still in the business of healing, restoring, leading, providing, loving, directing, creating and transforming. How do I know? He is 'the Father of Lights' with whom 'there is no variation or shadow due to change' (James 1:17).

The days may be short, and it may seem like winter, but His Light is always, always there.

Thanks + Giving + [Always?]

Sun shining; house cozy warm from the heat of the oven, which contains a 12-pound turkey; smell of apple cider and cinnamon candles; husband peeling potatoes and me kneading dough; table set and awaiting guests.

It's Thanksgiving. Autumn is here - my favorite time of the year!

 

There's no way to exactly duplicate a tradition, but we took joy in the newness of Thanksgiving and our first time celebrating it in Germany was a success!  I even managed to come up with a maple leaf - Canadian Pride! :)

Funny how memories are triggered. Memories of family members showing up at our house, of board games, of kids, of lots and lots and lots of (great) food, of getting to use the "special" plates and glasses, of the "go-around-the-table-and-everybody-say-one-thing-they're-thankful-for" round.

Giving Thanks. Because so much has been given to us; it's the least we can do in return. 

But Thanksgiving is more than a day; it's a lifestyle. 

If we only choose joy when we have a full plate, a full stomach, and a full house, are we really giving thanks?

This year my husband and I were confronted with the biblical mandate to REJOICE ALWAYS.

Three days before Thanksgiving, his mom took a fall outside, was rushed to the hospital where it was discovered that she had a complicated wrist and elbow break, had an emergency operation and likely has to remain in the hospital for 3 weeks now.

That wasn't exactly part of the plan. Or at least our plan.

For awhile, I felt guilty for excitedly anticipating food and fellowship, but then the Holy Spirit reminded me, "It's perfect timing to celebrate Thanksgiving." If not now, then when? 

 

The Lord called us here to help bring restoration. And it looked like restoration was happening - my mom-in-law was overcoming the effects of her stroke and was beginning to ride a bike again, re-learning how to write, and becoming more engaged in activities and conversation. And now? She's laying in a hospital bed with metal plates in her arm and can't remember what happened or why she's there.

What does giving thanks look like in this situation? I read a quote from Ann Voskamp the other day which made me think:

"My lips may have said YES to God's grace of a Messiah - 

but my life has said NO to God's gift of this moment."

How is it that we so easily receive God's GIFT of grace, His GIFT of salvation, His GIFT of a Savior...but so often reject His GIFT of each new day? What makes us think we can pick and choose what we get to give thanks for?

And so, in the middle of hospital visits, short nights, telephone calls to family, and conversations with the doctors and nurses, we choose joy.

• We're thankful that in a matter of minutes after calling emergency, we had 5 medical personnel at our doorstep.
• We're thankful for hospital staff working the night shift, so she could receive immediate care.
• We're thankful for friends and family who have stopped in to visit. 
• We're thankful for a praying community of brothers and sisters in the Lord.
• We're thankful that none of this is a surprise to God. 
• We're thankful that God redeemed the situation - my mom-in-law's "room mate" gave her life to the Lord after my husband had a conversation with her about Jesus!

And although the reality of the situation isn't nice, we're allowed to celebrate.

“Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10). Joy is something deeper than circumstances. Receiving each moment with thanksgiving is what allows us to live in joy.

There is another quote that says: "Hope is hearing the music of tomorrow. Faith is dancing to it."

So we "turned up the music" yesterday and enjoyed a feast, knowing God is in control of the end of the story. We're still working on the dancing part, but we believe that God is good and that He's worthy of receiving our thanksgiving. Always.

P.S. Would you pray with us, please? For a quick, miraculous healing, for peace for us as a family, especially my husband's dad, and for the strength to dance? Thank you.

"And take up the shield..."

Hundreds and hundreds of years ago, between 100 and 200 A.D., these stone walls were part of the "Limes" - a Roman wall of military defense that ran along parts of their empire. Thirty thousand soldiers were stationed along the Limes, controlling traffic between the Roman provinces and the area inhabited by Germanic tribes. It lasted until the late 3rd century when they surrendered the Limes due to pressures within the empire, and violent raids by Germanic tribes.

 

My husband and I got to visit this heritage site yesterday, which is now a tourist area in southern Germany. The remaining stone walls are enclosed in glass; nothing special in and of themselves, but one could picture the "Kriege" (wars) that took place on those plains, Roman soldiers positioned in 900 watchtowers along the wall to defend their empire. 

And how did they defend themselves? With these Roman pieces of armor, of course!

These weapons are modern, but were created to intentionally resemble the weapons from long ago as closely as possible. We were allowed to take a try at resembling Roman soldiers, too...

 

 

As I did my best to hold up the 8 kg (approx. 16 lbs) shield, I was overwhelmed by its hugeness. No wonder David felt unfit to fight when Saul dressed him up in armor way too big for him! Add a heavy helmet, tight belt, long sword, and a few other necessities to the whole outfit, and you're set to go! 

My thoughts drifted to Ephesians chapter 6, and the 6 words that I have so often read, have underlined in my Bible, and stored in my memory: "in addition to all this, take up the shield of faith...." Why? Because with it, "you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." These thick shields, made from 3 layers of wood, bound with leather, and sealed with metal, can definitely do some serious flaming-arrow-extinguishing. 

As I noticed how it was big enough to duck behind, I thought of how faith should also be big enough to cover our entire selves, our whole life. Faith isn't a small, wimpy bunch of good wishes that we pull out when we realize there's flaming arrows coming our way. No, it's much, much bigger than that. Faith is a state. We dwell in it, behind it, under it...prepared for when the attacks do come (because we know they will), knowing we are protected.

My husband and I have walked through something in the last couple of weeks that reminded us of the power of the shield of faith. When things happen unexpectedly, when circumstances don't turn out like you'd hoped or expected, when dreams appear to be broken and you're left in pain, take up the shield of faith.

 

There's a psalm (and a song) that says "You are my hiding place." The Name of the Lord is a strong tower, and Christ is our security.

Psalm 32:7
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance."

The shield of faith is big enough to hide ourselves behind. We don't hide out of fear, but hide in the shadow of His wings, dwelling in Him, our resting place, knowing His grace is enough. Faith knows that God is good and that I am loved. Always. Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see (Hebrews 11).  Faith distinguishes the flying arrows of doubt, insecurity, and hopelessness that the devil would try to aim our way, and shields us from his attacks, at the same time opening the door for miracles to happen. Just like it did for the woman who was healed of bleeding and the once paralyzed man who got up and began dancing in praise to God because he BELIEVED that his circumstances weren't too difficult for Jesus Christ.

Jesus himself warned us, "In this world you will have trouble..." Our posture should be one of faith, prepared for attack because we know this earth is still groaning for full redemption, but confident in our Lord who has "overcome the world." Therefore we can take heart, and take up our shields of faith...

What does Prosperity have to do with the Gospel?

An online Google search of the term "prosperity gospel" brings up mega-church pastors’ names such as Joel Osteen, teachings such as "believe and receive," and issues like money and self-improvement.

Depending on what you've heard about this topic, or what your experiences are, this will exert either an "Amen!" from you at this point, or rolling eyes, a groan, or a big question mark. Or, if you’re like me, maybe all of the above.

I’ve heard the discussions (and been part of them); I’ve seen quotes and read blogs and flipped through books. And of course this is a huge topic and there are many facets to it, but I would like to dedicate this post to addressing it from one perspective that is important to me.

First of all, what exactly is the “Prosperity Gospel” and what do those who adhere to this stream of teaching believe and promote? A few of the "theological pillars" associated with this movement include Healing, Wealth, Faith and the Power of Words. A common theme heard in this type of preaching is that if you “sow” financially (by donating to the ministry, mainly), God will “give back” multiple times and you’ll reap a blessed monetary harvest. It’s also believed that God’s will is to bless you with good things - therefore, “prosperity.” And this blessing can be taken ahold of through prayer, through speaking positive hopeful thinking aloud in faith, whether it be related to health, financial need, jobs, relationships, etc.

I haven’t concerned myself too much with the details, but that’s my general understanding of the direction it goes. And what are the biggest objections to this stream of teaching? Here is a quote from someone who opposes the movement, and it summarizes alot of what I’ve heard spoken against the prosperity gospel:

A columnist for the Washington Post wrote an article in which she stated,
   

        "Few theological ideas ring more dissonant with the harmony of orthodox Christianity than a      focus on storing up treasures on Earth as a primary goal of faithful living. The gospel of prosperity turns Christianity into a vapid bless-me club, with a doctrine that amounts to little more than spiritual magical thinking: If you pray the right way, God will make you rich." 

In my understanding, a lot of opposition has to do with people thinking that prosperity shouldn’t be the goal of a Christian. Followers of Christ shouldn't have big houses (Jesus didn’t even have “a place to lay his head”); and nice furniture, expensive cars, big successes, etc. are unnecessary and maybe even sinful, because "there is so much need in this world." How can it be "God's will" for us to live in luxury when so many are barely surviving? How can you say God wants to grant us health when there are innumerable instances of people (Christians, for that matter) dying of cancer, being persecuted, dealing with depression, etc.? And, how can you be sure that God blesses financially when the Bible even says that “money is the root of all evil” (or wait...isn’t it something about the “love of money”?)

So what in the world does Prosperity have to do with the Gospel?

When Jesus came to earth, when Holiness and Love Himself took the form of a human baby and grew up under the parenthood of an earthly father and mother, He made His mission as the Son of God and the Son of Man clear:

Explaining His purpose to the Pharisees who were accusing Him and to the Jews who doubted His miracles, Jesus stated that the reason He came to earth was to bring life in abundance (John 10:10).

And in Luke 4:18 He applies an Old Testament prophecy to Himself which fills in the blanks about what this abundant life looks like:

“The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
    because the Lord has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
    to proclaim freedom for the captives
    and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
    and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
    instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
    instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
    instead of a spirit of despair.” (Jesus quoting from Isaiah 61)

And the writer of one of the gospel books asserts: “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him” (John 3:17). Salvation. Life. Eternal Life. Abundant Life.

THIS is the Gospel. The Good News. The reason why Jesus came.

Is this a “prosperity gospel?” Well, by all means yes!

The reason I believe that prosperity does have something to do with the Gospel is this:

Prosperity is about so much more than money.

If we want to get into what prosperity is, we first have to consider what prosperity is NOT. What is the opposite of the Good News that Jesus was sent to preach, the reason we need the freedom He proclaims and the favor and comfort that He provides?

The reason is that we are poor.

The Merriam-Webster online dictionary defines poverty as: "the state of one who lacks a usual or socially acceptable amount of money or material possession; scarcity; debility." Or from the Oxford dictionary, "the state of being inferior in quality or insufficient in amount." Dictionary.com adds "the state of...having no means of support."

For a long time, I thought 'being poor' meant having no money. I now believe that financial means might be one part of poverty, but it's definitely not the whole picture. A broader description might include aspects such as lack of resources, lack of opportunity, lack of hope.

In fact, when Jesus said He was sent to proclaim good news to the “poor”, the Greek word translated there in Isaiah 61 is ptochos, and means “one who is destitute, afflicted, and lacking.” Basically...helpless. Strong's Concordance defines this use of ptochos as meaning: "of one who crouches; beggarly" or, in a broader sense, "destitute of wealth, influence, position, honors; lowly, afflicted."

The whole gospel is about God’s answer to our human poverty. We were helpless in our sinful state, and “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). In fact, Jesus Christ “for our sake became poor, that we might share in His riches” (2 Cor. 8:9). We lacked the means of salvation; God provided a Savior.


The bottom line? Poverty is about LACK. Not having enough money (but who defines what "enough" is anyways?); not being given enough opportunity (to study, to provide for yourself, etc.); not having the support of friends, community, government; lacking means, lacking hope.

And what is the opposite of Lack? Abundance, Provision, Enough, Plenty, Surplus.

Prosperity.

Prosperity is defined as "a successful, flourishing, or thriving condition." Sounds like abundant life to me!

But don’t get me wrong.

I have been to Africa. I have seen mud huts that large families live in, without sanitation, without light, without access to clean water or food, and I’ve wondered how a culture can be so without abundance. I have been to Mexico and seen a put-together-shanty from leftover aluminum pieces and scrap pieces of wood, where children rejoice at the simple concept of a balloon because they have nothing else to play with, and I’ve felt guilty for my prosperity. And I have been to Vancouver and walked along East Hastings Street, shocked at the rawness of a life caught up in addiction and abuse, wishing I could do more to provide hope.

And, I have returned home from these places, wondering why on earth there are a billion choices of cereal in the grocery aisle, why anyone would waste money on another piece of clothing just to keep up with fashion, and not wanting to let the water run while brushing my teeth because I've seen people without access to something so basic according to my prosperous lifestyle.

I've wrestled with theological questions (and still do), such as the definition of "abundant" and what is “enough.” And at the same time I’ve wondered who sets the standard of “rich.” (By the way, did you know that in Switzerland, if you earn less than 5,000 Swiss Francs a month you’re considered “under the poverty line”?).

And how often have I thought, "Oh, I shouldn't waste this food; there are starving children in Africa..." But how much will MY eating one plate of food really help the millions of people dying of starvation? It requires more than a bad conscience to make a change. It begins with worldview, with a renewal of our thinking, and with lifestyle choices.

Jesus proclaimed, in His mission statement, that the Spirit of the Lord was upon Him and had anointed Him to preach to the poor and bring freedom, healing, comfort, provision. And guess what? His mission hasn’t changed. Now, He wants to accomplish that purpose through us.
It's been our call since the beginning - God told Abraham, "I will bless you, and through you, all nations on earth will be blessed" (Gal 3:8). Since we are Abraham's descendants (Rom 4:16), that is God’s will for us as well.

Blessed to be a blessing.

The Bible is full of examples of abundance, stories of Jesus blessing people more than He needed to, more than they perhaps expected Him to.

• Jesus' first miracle was turning water into 600 liters of wine (the best wine!) at a wedding where people had already had enough to drink after partying for a week
• When Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 men, there were 12 baskets of bread leftover!
• "Toss your nets to the other side" Jesus commanded His discouraged disciples who had been fishing all night without catching anything. And, because of their OBEDIENCE, they brought in so many fish that the boat almost sunk!
• Moved with emotion regarding His good friend Lazarus, Jesus didn't just comfort the sisters, grieve with them, or pass on "spiritual sounding" answers - "This must have been part of my Father's will…." No, He called on the Name of His Father and raised Lazarus from the dead!
• And there are innumerable instances where Jesus healed people - sometimes because they asked and sought, and other times because He just chose to.
• Jesus also received abundantly. When a sinful, looked-down-upon woman came to pour perfume on Jesus' feet, Christ’s disciples were uncomfortable and tried to sound spiritual - "shouldn't that have been sold and the money given to the pour?" Jesus answered by saying she had done a blessed thing.
• And, as I mentioned earlier, the greatest example of all is that "He did not spare His own Son” and is still today willing to “give us all things” (Rom 8:32).

What is the purpose of Him giving us all things? What is the point of prosperity?

“You will be made rich in every way so you can be generous on every occasion” (2 Corinthians 9:11).

We know the Bible verse - "Freely you have received; freely give" (Matt 10:8).  How can we give if we have nothing to start with? How can we be generous if we ourselves are lacking?

The answer to the desperation of this world is NOT Christians becoming poorer!

Please allow me to clarify:

I do NOT believe that Christians are called to an easy life, and I am definitely not saying that our brothers and sisters in third-world nations or persecuted countries are doing something wrong because they don’t have material wealth.

I am AGAINST leaders using manipulation or anything else in order to get money, Aad my heart BREAKS when I see how many people, especially "Christian" leaders in influential positions, are misrepresenting God and leading people astray. Oh Father, help us! No wonder the World has a skewed perspective of the God/Christianity!

I think it is WRONG to try to manipulate God, or think of Him as a "heavenly vending machine" where we just get what we want out of Him (money, blessings, health, relationships, bigger houses, bigger cars, promotions, etc.) It has always been, and will always be, about relationship.

But about that relationship, the Bible says: “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, will not your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him?” (Matt 7:11).

God does give, and He gives generously - Wisdom (James 1), Peace (John 14), Love (1 John), His Spirit (John 3:34), Hope (Rom. 5:5), Finances (Philippians 4:19), Healing from diseases (Psalm 103), Forgiveness (1 John 1:9), Gifts and Talents (1 Cor. 12:11) and many other things.

What would it look like for the Church, the Bride of Christ, to be known for her generosity? We are created “in the image of God,” meaning with the potential to give. What if we were so touched with compassion for the broken, the down and out, those facing lack, that we were moved to action and believed that God wants to use OUR hands and feet to bring about change?

And remember, generosity is not defined by numbers, and giving is about more than finances and posessions. A person with $3,000 may be living a more disobedient lifestyle than someone with $3,000,000 if they are not sharing and investing into the Kingdom of God. And remember the story of the Widow’s Mite? Jesus said the lady who put one penny in the offering plate gave more than all the others, since she gave what she had; it was a sacrifice for her. No matter what our social status is or what our bank account looks like, we are called to give. For some that means giving of time, resources, and listening ear, a helping hand. But I believe our faith needs to reach our chequebooks as well. It’s not our money anyway! The God who “owns the cattle on a thousand hills” has generosly entrusted His resources to us, and asks us to be faithful.

So what does prosperity have to do with the Gospel? The Good News is the story about God meeting our need and equipping us “with everything needed for life and godliness” (2 Pet 1:3) in order that we may serve others with that same generous spirit.

----




Thoughts? Questions? Please feel free to comment and share your own struggles, experiences, perspective!

Blood Donors

Two weeks ago my husband and I went to donate blood at the German Red Cross. They spoil us here in Germany, in that they actually hire a butcher and prepare a big meal for all blood donors as a thank you! Not quite like the juice boxes and granola bars in Canada, eh? :) They are also very intentional about caring for your health (for example they gave me tablets to replenish my iron). We have begun donating regularly, as often as we're allowed, and it's actually really fun and fulfilling!

Sure the needle pricks a bit, but just the thought that we could be helping save another person's life makes it all worth it! I am amazed at the scientific research and technology that makes this all possible, and totally thankful for the complexity of our bodies and how God created us. WOW! We figure it is such a practical way to "love your neighbor."

I have a hard time fathoming how 500mL of this "red substance" can make such a difference in someone else's life. In fact how is it that blood itself holds the power of life? The Bible was way ahead of scientific data and understanding when it said: "the life of a creature is in the blood" (Leviticus 17:11). No blood, no life; but new blood, new life!

Our little experience at the blood donation center reminded me of a t-shirt I once saw someone wearing:

"a blood donor saved my life!"

My life, too, was saved by a blood donor. But it didn't happen to Him through nurses and needles; instead by whips and nails. By piercings in His side, by harassment from His enemies and being spit upon. By a crown of thorns being twisted upon His head and His naked body carrying the weight of a cross up to Golgotha.

"Nothing but the blood of Jesus..."

We sing about it, we read about it, we talk about it, and every time we participate in Communion, or the Lord's Supper, at church, we soberly remember and celebrate it. But what does it actually mean that Jesus gave His blood for us?

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Canada, and I thought for this day I would like to start a series about the blood of Christ, because it is what I'm thankful for. It is the most precious gift we could receive, the foundation of our salvation. It is of course a huge topic, but here are some basics about the power of Christ's sacrifice:

It is the symbol of the New Covenant I have with God (1 Cor. 11:25). Jesus said, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” Blood was also the seal of the Old Covenant that God made with His people, the Israelites...Every sacrifice the priests made and every animal they offered had to do with the spilling of blood, given "for himself and for the sins the people had committed in ignorance (Hebrews 9:7). "Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness" (Hebrews 9:22). Sacrifices were God's way of providing salvation for His people in the Old Testament, but the blood of Jesus was what sealed the New Covenant.

The good news is that now, Jesus doesn't have to offer Himself again and again - His blood sacrifice was once for all (Hebrews 9:25), sufficient to cover our sins...and so much more.

His sacrificial death on the cross was foreshadowed by the Passover event in the Old Testament. When the Lord was about to release His people from the grip of Pharaoh in Egypt, He gave them the command to sacrifice an offering to Him, taking the blood of the animal and marking their doorframes with it. "The blood will be a sign for you on the houses where you are; and when I see the blood, I will pass over you" (Exodus 12:13). In that way, the people of Egypt were struck with the judgments of God while Israel was set free. 

In the same way, the blood of Christ sets us free. When we accept Christ's gift we are marked by His blood, which offers life, protection, and healing. Here are some of the promises of God from the Bible that talk about the power of the blood of Christ and what exactly this New Covenant is:

1 Peter 1:18-19 The blood of Christ "redeems us from the empty way of life..." Before we knew Christ, we lived in death, in hopelessness, in darkness. Now we belong to Christ and are given Hope and Life and Purpose!

Ephesians 1:7 "In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace." We have eternal life! The blood of Christ fulfilled the requirements of the law that nothing and no one else could. Jesus Christ gave His life as a RANSOM (Hebrews 9:15) - setting us free from the effect of sin (which is death) as the power of sin to control us and be our master (Romans 6). 

1 John 1:7 The blood of Christ "purifies us from all sin." That means we are spotless, clean, and no stain of unrighteousness is on us. God sees us as holy, forgiven, perfect in His sight!!! It doesn't matter what we've done or "how bad" we've messed up - Christ's blood was enough to offer forgiveness for ALL.

Ephesians 2:13 We have been "brought near through the blood of Christ." And Jesus reconciled to Himself all things, "making peace through his blood, shed on the cross" (Colossians 1:20). Because of sin humans are separated from God, out of relationship with Him, strangers. But the blood of Christ makes it possible for us to be in God's presence, to "approach Him with freedom and confidence" (Ephesians 3:12, Hebrews 4:16). We can have peace with God.  Jesus is standing next to God, interceding for us (Romans 8:34). What does that mean? It means he "destroyed the barrier, breaking the dividing wall of hostility" that separated us from God, and now stands in the throneroom, holding the door open for us so we may talk to God, hear from Him, be in relationship with Him and experience Him.

What precious promises! Jesus Christ willingly went to the cross, laying down His life and pouring out His blood to give us freedom from sin and peace with God.

And we can be partakers of these promises when we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior. But His blood has power and an effect on our everyday lives as well...

More on that in Part 2!

Standing on the Promises

I will be gone for the next week at a youth camp, themed "Days of Glory." And I truly believe they will be! We serve a great God and I pray that his glory would be displayed - on earth as it is in heaven! Will you pray with me?

Just wanted to share these verses from Psalm 62:

"¹¹ One thing God has spoken,
    two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
¹²     and that you, O Lord, are loving."

Aren't those great promises? God is STRONG and God is LOVING. His power is great, but so is His affection toward us. What the perfect combination!

 Praying that in your own life this week you experience God's strength and His love toward you! 


"Our God is greater, our God is stronger; God you are Higher than any Other. Our God is Healer, awesome in power, our God..."

Like a child...

We are an auntie and uncle again! For the 10th time :-) My brother-in-law and his wife had a baby late this past Sunday evening, and we got to see him yesterday for the first time - Baby Benjamin:

 

He's perfect! And we are thrilled :-)

I was thinking this morning about what a miracle children are. We saw Mogi's brother and his family on Saturday night, and there was Mama...big belly, ready for their new son to come any day. And less than 24 hours later, the child is out of the womb, into the world, has a name, has a family, is self-sustaining (almost). It's incredible!

And then I read this verse out of Ecclesiastes 11:5  - "As you do not know the path of the wind, or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb, so you cannot understand the work of God, the Maker of all things."

That about sums it up! One of the most mysterious attributes of God is His identity as Creator. It evokes such awe and wonder! And I believe that awe and wonder are exactly the right response. As the Psalmist said, "From birth I have relied on you; you brought me forth from my mother’s womb. I will ever praise you" (Psalm 71:6). How can we not praise a God so marvelous, so beyond our understanding?

And his incredible power is coupled with his mighty love. He is pictured in the Bible as a Father, and we as his children. In this regard, little "Benni" is already teaching me some lessons. At this stage he has no choice but to rely on his Mama and Papa to provide for him, protect him, take care of him, nourish him, teach him, help him.

And though we might think we can do otherwise, we are really no different than Baby Benjamin. We are so, so dependent on the grace of God - even for our next breath! Our lives are but a blade of grass that grow up, and then are blown away by the wind. We need our Heavenly Father's protection; we need His hand guiding us and teaching us how to walk; we need His approval, his loving glances toward us; we need His provision.

And the key to receiving God's love and favor? Trust. "Yet you brought me out of the womb; you made me trust in you even at my mother’s breast." (Psalm 22:9) Even when God's ways don't make sense to us...even when we cannot understand his work...even when we throw a fit and wish it were our way instead...even when we have questions...letting go in surrender...choosing not to worry but being content in all circumstances...even in the pain...and also in the good times...faith.

 ...like a child. 

Obedience vs. Faith

I've been challenged lately by a certain thought that I know is applicable in the season of life I'm in right now, and likely in yours too.

The Bible says that "the righteous will live by faith" (Romans 1:17). And I've quoted 2 Corinthians 5:7 many times - " We live by faith, not by sight." So I've been reminded lately...

{Following Jesus is a walk of FAITH, not just a walk of obedience.}

There is a difference.

I can obey without my heart being in it. I can stick to the rules without really caring who made them or what they're there for. 

I can obey without relationship. I can be obedient every day to people that I've never met and live according to standards that are not personal to me at all, such as traffic laws. 

I can obey and still be focused on myself. Think about how children (or pets, for that matter) are trained by rewards––"if I obey, that means I can get something out of this too."

I can obey and still get away with the minimum. Like the story of the child who was moving around and misbehaving at meal time, and when his mother asked him to sit down, he replied, "I might be sitting on the chair but in my heart I'm standing up!"

But walking by faith raises the standard. Walking by faith takes us out of our comfort zones. Walking by faith is supernatural living, whereas often we can be obedient, but it still comes out of our flesh. Obedience and faith are not mutually exclusive, but they are distinct. 

Look at the examples from Hebrews 11, the "Faith Hall of Fame." This chapter is titled in the NIV Bible, "By Faith."

verse 1 - "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." Some days I'm not too certain of the promises of God. How can I experience the fulfillment of His promises if I'm not even sure about them? As v. 6 says, "without faith it is impossible to please God." Generally you can only be obedient to what you see; it's harder to walk in confidence toward something you do not necessarily see. But that's what faith is.

verse 3 - "By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible." Notice those first 4 words again...by faith we understand. At first this seems like a contradiction. Doesn't walking by faith mean the opposite of going along with what's familiar to us? But faith does enable a deeper level of understanding than our normal human reasoning does.

verse 4 - "By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did." See, they were both being obedient, but faith made the difference in how their offerings were accepted.

verse 6 - "Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." Faith perseveres, because it has its eyes on the goal, even if it can't be seen at the time. God rewards those who seek Him whole-heartedly, because He is faithful.

verse 8 - "By FAITH Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, OBEYED and went, even though he did not know where he was going." As I said, obedience can often be concerned with immediate rewards––'what do I get in return?' But Abraham combined his obedience with faith. He did what God told him to, even though he wouldn't receive his reward––the land as his inheritance––until later. In my own life lately I think I've been focusing more on obedience than faith. Many days I've prayed, "Okay God, I've done the right thing by doing what You told me to do, now when are You going to show up and do what You promised?" It's easy to feel like I deserve something because I've been obedient. But as my friend's mom (Elli Zurowski) says, "Since when does obedience make you special?" Why do we think obedience puts us on some type of 'higher plain' spiritually? Obedience should be normal Christian living!

verse 11 - "By faith Abraham, even though he was past age––and Sarah herself was barren––was enabled to become a father because he considered Him faithful who had made the promise." This is another huge difference––often when we walk in obedience we're tempted to give ourselves the glory. But walking by faith means that God does what only He can do, proving Himself faithful and therefore turning eyes toward Him. By faith we are, as Abraham was, enabled...

verse 27 - Moses 'persevered because he saw Him who is invisible.' Faith takes perseverance...it's a walk.

verse 29 - "By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned." The Egyptians had no faith! When we walk by faith we can experience the impossible, because we are giving God an opportunity to work.


verse 40 - "God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." FAITH IS COOPERATING WITH GOD TO SEE HIS WILL DONE.


So...in all this I'm not trying to say that obedience is unimportant. It is very important! It is, as a friend posted on Facebook today, "faith in action." Faith is never passive, and combined with obedience it should be one of the marks of a disciple of Christ! But we're also invited into a journey of faith. A journey that involves a relationship, and that involves our heart and not giving glory to ourselves. A journey that perseveres even when the end seems too far away to pursue. A journey that enables us to experience God's presence and power in our lives, and giving Him the control. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." Faith is trusting in the faithfulness of God.

Is there a situation in your life in which you need to begin operating in faith?

Swing sets and Monkey bars...

A couple weeks before we left for Germany, I babysat two little girls and took them to the park. Little did I know that God had a lesson to teach me by being with them for an hour!

The younger one, two years old, took me by the hand and led me to the swing set. I asked if she wanted to swing but she said no, so I sat down on the swing instead. Giggling, she pushed me from behind and I lifted my feet off the ground so I would move a bit. I dragged my feet in the sand as the swing went backwards so I wouldn't knock her little body over. Meanwhile, the older sister, three years old, had wandered off to the monkey bars. Soon I heard her soft but excited voice, "Kristyn, can you lift me up?" I went over and hoisted her up so she could reach the bars, and held her all the way as she crossed the ones ahead of her.

I had to smile as I thought of the differences in the two girls' personalities––one thinking she was helping me have fun by "pushing" me on the swings, and the other one having fun, but knowing she needed my help. But then I thought...which one of those sisters am I more like? When it comes to my relationship with God (who may not be my babysitter, but he is my Protector and Provider), how do I act with him?

Often I can be like the two-year-old, thinking that I am doing a favor for God, when in fact I am trying to move Someone who is bigger, greater, stronger and more wise than myself. But what I want to be like is the three-year-old, acknowledging that I need my Heavenly Father's help for every step that I take, every challenge that I face. The way the three-year old acted is a good picture of faith. She could have determined that since she couldn't do it by herself, it wouldn't be worth it. Instead, she used every ounce of strength that she had, while at the same time relying completely on me. That is what faith is––not sitting back passively, thinking that God will simply do everything and we can just relax. Nor is it striving on our own strength, refusing to acknowledge that we simply can’t do life alone.

I’ve been reminded every day since being here in Germany that it is not by my strength, nor by my power, but by the Spirit of the Lord that I am able to do what God has called me to (Zechariah 4:6). The days when I fail to acknowledge this are the days that I get the most easily frustrated.

In life, we need to be like the older sister, asking our Heavenly Father to "lift us up." I read Psalm 61 the other day and love verse two, which says, "lead me to the rock that is higher than I." If we are drowning or overwhelmed, we need to find safety, security, and shelter in something that is Higher than ourselves, namely, Jesus Christ––our Solid Rock. To do so isn't a sign of weakness; it's a sign of maturity.

Maybe this song can be an encouragement to you, a reminder of our Father who is "King over the Flood."

{http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHATCAvlqQA&feature=related}

Carrying Twigs

The other day I was walking home from downtown and stopped to observe a bird building its nest. It had in its beak a twig about three times as big as itself, and it was trying to fly up to the tree. It would flutter its wings and get a few feet up into the air, but then landed back down on the snow pile again because it wasn't strong enough to carry the twig. It was almost like it was embarrassed to try in front of me. Whenever I looked at it, it just froze; when I turned away, it would try again. I had the urge to go over and break the small branch in half so it'd be easier for the bird to carry. But then I was afraid I might scare the bird away, or that I would break it into too small of a piece so it wouldn't be helpful for building the nest. So I ended up just walking away and coming home.

But the image stuck in my head, and I figured God might have something to teach me through it. The next day in class Matthew 11:28-30 came up, and I got it. "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

God revealed to me that I'm like that little bird. The saying "don't bite off more than you can chew" becomes more real when I consider this picture. Sometimes I feel like I'm trying to carry something that's way too big for me. It's heavy, it's awkward, it's a burden. But usually it's necessary, it's a building block for my life, character, and ministry, like the twig was for the bird's nest. And God, in his grace, usually does one of two things. Maybe he'll come up to me and break my twig in half so it's easier for me to handle. But I don't find that that happens very often. God usually has a purpose for me to walk through whatever I'm walking through, and he doesn't just "let me off the hook" when things get tough. Usually, he'll respond in another way...Jesus comes up beside me, puts the other end of the twig in his own beak, and flies with me up to the tree! He helps make my burden lighter. 

The rest that Jesus offers us isn't a rest that makes us passive or disengaged. Resting in him does not mean that we have no responsibility. Oswald Chambers says about this verse, “‘...and I will give you rest’--that is, ‘I will sustain you, causing you to stand firm.’ He is not saying, ‘I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.’ But, in essence, He is saying, ‘I will get you out of bed--out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive. I will penetrate you with the spirit of life, and you will be sustained by the perfection of vital activity.” Rest means that we can cease from our own striving and walk in Christ's vital strength.  As we wait (not passively, but with hope and anticipation) upon him, he will renew our strength by joining us in carrying the burden. 


Praying that you find true rest for your souls in him, 
-Kristyn & Mogi