CONNECTIONS

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Robin Lee

Chatting with some friends while tearing off decades-old wallpaper at the last Brighten A Corner Ministry project, a friend told me the greatest story:

A young missionary took his family deep into the jungle of South America to share the gospel with the natives. For well over a year he faithfully, cheerfully served the people and told them about the love of Christ. Over and over he poured out the good news and no one came to the Lord.

After many, many months of fruitless serving, his young son suddenly took ill and passed away. The missionary, suffering and broken, left the village and went into the jungle. He poured out his anguish, crying and wailing the overwhelming heartbreak of a parent who lost his child.

A villager followed him and witnessed the entire scene. The villager then returned to the village and told the people, “He is just like us.”

Soon after, everyone in the village became Christians.

 

I firmly believe that the watching world wants to see authentic faith. Connections are often made in our heartbreak and messiness. Images of perfection can not be related to because perfection can only be found in Christ. Any other claims are imaginary.

If you are waiting to get it all together before you _____________________________ (fill in the blank) then you may never do what you want to do for the Lord, because NO ONE EVER gets it all together.

We have moments/seasons where we can have a lot together. Certainly there are times when life is going more smoothly than other times…but as with all things, that, too, shall pass. Life is in seasons. Faith is clinging to the knowledge that God will use those seasons—all of them—for HIS good.

“All things go to the good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.” Romans 8:28.

All things are not good.

All things don’t go to the good just because you love Jesus.

But when you answer His call, and you love Him, He will use the craziest, messiest, heart-breaking-est things to grow you and show grace to a watching, hurting world. Be willing to share your imperfection with humility and grace. God may use it to connect you with someone who needs exactly what you have to offer.

 

Posted in Robin Lee, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Point B is Irrelevant

Posted on January 25, 2012 by Kristin Miller

Like many of you, Abraham has been on my mind lately. He’s issued me a fresh, jump-off-the-pages-of-Scripture challenge that I just can’t shake. It’s a bit disconcerting because I thought I knew him so well; he was predictable, and honestly, I never really expected anything new from him. But, once in a while, a Bible character might just do that to you.

Bear with me as I try to explain. We must be again reminded of where the Patriarch started: Abraham was presumably minding his own business in Haran when God said in Genesis 12:1: “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.”

God elaborates: “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

It is a well-known and oft-mentioned tenant of Abraham’s story that God remains quite mum on where they are actually going. He says a whole lot of “I wills” but “I will tell you where we are going” isn’t one of them. God makes a boatload of promises to Abraham here and my tendency has always been to focus on the meaning of the promises for Abraham (translation: “what does this have to do with me?”).

The fresh challenge, however, comes when my focus is rescued from my myopic point of view. When looking at the God of the promises instead of the promises themselves, I discovered (thanks to Britt Merrick and his great series on Abraham) that where Abraham and his God were actually going was irrelevant. Irrelevant. The whole journey was about God, not about Point B, thus it was unnecessary to reveal Point B at that time.

Now, we know that in the big picture of redemptive history, of course Point B was not irrelevant. Point B, the Promised Land, was in fact and continues to be the spiritual sum total of all geographical relevance. But when God says to Abraham: Go, and I will…. that had to be enough. That was enough. It was enough because when this God makes an “I will” statement, He is to be taken at His word. Abraham could go, uninformed about a final destination, because in that moment in his journey with God, he must have accepted that without a final destination revealed, God must in fact be the journey. Where they would ultimately end up was God’s department. Abraham was simply called to follow. Follow Me and I will…

Sound familiar? Remember the Rabbi who said to some guys by the lake: “Follow Me and I will make you fishers of men” ? The similarities are striking, particularly the fact that He does not say where they are going either! The Gospels don’t record that anybody asked, but even if they did, don’t you think Jesus might have replied: People, that is irrelevant. I AM the journey. Now let’s go.

Speculation, sure, but when I am deep into my life verse (which happens to be “[Kristin, Kristin,] you are worried and bothered about so many things, but only one thing really matters…” from Luke 10:41), I need to remember this principle of God is the journey. I need to remember that my focus should not be on Point B, it should be on my God. Focusing on Point B only exasperates me anyway. When I become anxious because I have not achieved in some way, or progressed toward Point B, or even figured out what Point B is… this is when I need to remember Abraham and his God. When I am fearful that I am not producing some spiritual outcome or goal, this is when I need to be reminded that the outcome in Abraham’s life was the responsibility of his God and all His “I wills.”

If you ever experience any of my tortured thoughts and feelings, remember that Abraham was called to follow his God into an unknown, not to map out his trip and meet his God at Point B. Perhaps our propensity to do just that was the reason Point B was not revealed. Think about it: when God revealed to Abraham he would have a son with Sarah, son equaling Point B, didn’t they conspire to meet God there and produce their own outcome? That was a bit of a disaster, wasn’t it?

But back to the beginning of Abraham’s story, he was able to follow in faith when his God said “let’s go” because he knew the secret of following God which, in our day of a pervasive overachievement mentality, might just be revolutionary in it’s simplicity: God is the journey.

Someone once said “The journey is the reward.” I’m not sure they really understood how right they were because God goes on to tell Abraham in Genesis 15: “I am your shield, your very great reward.” What else could he possibly need to know?

So relax. Point B is irrelevant. Focus on Him and let’s go!

 

Posted in Kristin Miller | 1 Comment

There. I said it.

Posted on January 19, 2012 by Robin Lee

I am not feeling very radical.

When the book was first introduced, I was in the middle of researching, writing and teaching a 12 week Bible Study on Elijah and Elisha. My head was filled with 1& 2 Kings. I did not have room/make room for another source of input, so I just let it pass by. I would sit as ladies would enthusiastically chat about how the book revolutionized thinking and perspective.

The concept of GLOCAL…serving and praying globally and locally was striking a cord with many, many people. But not me. This really bothered me. I prayed about it. I have asked for the desire to be radical…get radical…do radical…whatever you call it it. It hasn’t happened.

Last Sunday, Pastor Tom said something that helped me put things into perspective: Forced fruit produced Ishmael. Faithful fruit produced Isaac.

Over the last several years God has been incredibly faithful and kind to me, but much of that faithfulness has come in the form of discipline. Over and over again I have submitted my head and my heart to Him to mold; I genuinely fear not being on the path He has for me.

This last summer was—in many ways—to climax of the journey. At the peak, God clearly helped me understand so many lessons I have learned during the seasons of struggle. Applying those lessons to my life is producing fruit. It is fruit of faith, which has me in a season of gratitude and perspective.

Perhaps that is radical enough for me?

One of the most precious things God showed me is that what I currently have on my list of TO-DO’s is good and healthy for me. HE wants me to pursue those things with excellence, as a praiseworthy steward. For me those things are: 

  • My relationship with Him.             
  • My husband and children
  • Extended family
  • Brighten A Corner Ministry
  • Women’s Ministry
  • Friendships

Before Radical, I had prayerfully committed to the Lord to pursue excellence in these things. In addition, I have committed to be grateful. 1000 gifts, applied lessons He has shown me, loving people and loving Jesus…maybe it is Radical after all.

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Signed in Blood

Posted on January 17, 2012 by women

I used to think faith and doubt were mutually exclusive. But after reading in Genesis chapter 15 this morning, I am beginning to doubt that observation.

God had just promised Abram a son. Abram responded to God’s promise with faith and God “reckoned it to him as righteousness.” Then God promised to give Abram the land as his possession. But, instead of responding with a statement of faith, Abram responded with a question tinged with doubt. “O Lord God, how may I know that I will possess it?”

It’s as if Abram was saying: “I believe You can do it . . .  but just in case . . . as a backup plan . . .  just to be sure . . . can I get that in writing . . . signed in blood?”

At this point in the story, I completely get Abram. Maybe that’s because I tend to relate to heroes of the faith when they’re at their weakest.

After all, I know what it’s like to walk the fence between belief and unbelief.

One minute I am walking in complete assurance of God’s promises and then the next minute I waver and wonder . . . will God really do it? What ensues is generally a great tug-of-war between faith and doubt.

God’s response to Abram’s weak and wavering faith offers me hope. Instead of chastising Abram’s doubt, God offered a guarantee. And in Genesis 15:9-18, we get to watch God sign that promise in blood.

Although the ceremony recorded in this passage is unfamiliar to us, it would have been very familiar to Abram. It was a covenant ceremony. It was the sealing of a promise. It was two parties staking their lives on their word. It was sacred.

God called for the animals of the covenant. Abram slew them and laid them opposite the other. What resulted was a blood path. It would have been customary for the two parties of the covenant to clasp hands and walk the blood path together. As they walked the trail of blood, these two individuals would be linked by a promise unto death. “May my blood be shed if I fail in the terms of my promise. Should I fail to keep my word, you have the right to call for my blood.”

The interesting thing about the ceremony in Genesis 15 is that God failed to clasp Abram’s hand. And as Abram fell into a fitful sleep, God walked the blood path alone. By doing so, God not only guaranteed His faithfulness to the covenant, but He also promised to cover any covenant failure on Abram’s part. “May My blood be shed if I fail in the terms of My promises. Should I prove Myself unfaithful, you have the right to call for My blood.  And, should there be any covenant failure on your part, I offer My blood for that as well.”

There’s the gospel again. God doing for us what we could not do for ourselves . . . God covering our covenant failures with His own blood . . . God promising to be faithful, even in the face of our unfaithfulness and doubt.

God’s faithfulness is not dependant upon my belief. Somehow this truth helps dispel my doubt. So, whether I’m on the fence . . . or walking by faith . . . or wavering in unbelief, my faithful God will do as He has promised.

And, as we will see throughout Abram’s story, faith and doubt continue to co-exist, but God’s faithfulness never waivers. He has sealed His promises with His blood. He has walked the covenant blood path with Himself and He alone is faithful.

He has signed His promises in blood. May we take Him at His Word.

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,

for He who promised is faithful.”

Hebrews 10:23

–Janet Ables

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Resolution Review

Posted on January 10, 2012 by Kristin Miller

It’s about a week into the new year and time to do a quick reality check on my well-intentioned resolutions.

Eat less carbs….broken
Make my bed everyday….already blew it
Conquer irrational fear of birds….never going to happen
Get birthday cards and presents sent on time….missed one already
Shave my legs all winter….forget it
Drink less coffee….still trying to determine how much is too much
Relax more….too hard (see previous resolution?)
Exercise consistently….who am I kidding?
Answer my home phone when it rings….can’t bring myself to do it
No perusing of crazy conspiracy websites….no way!

So much for good intentions. There is one resolution, however, and apparently only one, that I have not yet abandoned: read through the whole Bible this year.

I must admit that I am on track only because I started in November, and when I have a morning with nothing pressing, I will read many days worth in one sitting. This has covered me on the mornings when I’ve overslept and there is no possible way to squeeze it in.

My hubby got on board January 2 (late is very often his M.O….I think he might have had a resolution about that). He is discovering all kinds of crazy things in the book of Genesis that he had somehow missed before. It’s fun to compare notes and talk through our thoughts. I think God must love it when we talk about Him and His Word.

So if you’ve taken on this challenge to read the Bible this year, get together with someone and talk about it. It will keep you motivated and accountable. And don’t give up, even if you get behind! Stay with it. It may take you longer than one year but really, that’s not such a bad thing. If you haven’t started yet, it’s never too late to immerse yourself in God’s story. And whether it takes you one year or two, God will honor your efforts, because really, it’s more about pursuing Him than keeping new year’s resolutions.

“’Who is he that will devote himself to being close to Me?’ declares the LORD.”
Jeremiah 30:21 (NIV)

Posted in Kristin Miller | Leave a comment