Compelled For This

What compels one to quit their job at the prime ?
What compels one to put life on hold to chase a calling?
What compels one to travel half way around the world?
What compels one to face a world of unknowns?
What compels one to leave the comforts of home to spend 5 weeks with strangers, different food, no running water , minimal WiFi, and tons of bugs?
What compels one to spend 24/7 loving on the least of these, giving all time and energy to show Gods children they are worthy and loved when everyone else in their life screams the opposite?

THE LOVE OF GOD COMPELS

2 Corinthians 5:
13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are of sound mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ compels us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; 15 and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf.

16 Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer. 17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. 18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation.

20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

This passage explains the reason for my "madness"  to myself and all those around me. Those who support me and those who still consider me crazy. I was talking to a friend this week, who humbly and honestly sat there and told me " I have no desire what so ever to go to Africa ever". This got me thinking and I was blown away by the truth God spoke to my heart in that moment.
FIRST it confirmed for me once again that this calling, and desire God has placed on my heart is real. This overwhelming feeling of HAVING to do something, and go somewhere. Not knowing when , or how, or why but feeling the heaviness that I need to complete a job and be apart of a ministry in this lifetime. Jesus by His grace and mercy has called us each to a specific place, people group, age group, and type of ministry. He has gifted us with different passions, interests , talents, and abilities yet all with the same end goal and purpose. The reconciling of the world to Himself. The spread of His name, His fame, His hope to the ends of the earth. Yes the Lord could complete His task of redeeming His elect to Himself without a single one of us, but for our good and sanctification He allows us a part in it . What a blessing not only for those we minister to but through this process of serving others we for the most part  receive the most ministering to.

SECONDLY I completely was able to process exactly what I was doing and why during this season that the Lord has me in. For years ever since high school I have been a control freak. Always had a plan for every hour, day, week, month, year of my life. Where I would go to college, who I would meet there, when I would graduate, when I thought I would get married, have kids, etc. Much to the opposite God has taken the last couple years and shown me time and time again through the process of BREAKDOWN that His ways are higher , and what He has planned for my  life is far more amazing then anything I could ever plan. Full surrender to the Spirit takes you from a place of comfort and throws you into an adventure of trust, open doors, provision, and the building of new divine relationships. When I sit back and think on all the Lord has been doing and is continuing to work out I am amazed, filled with hope, surrounded by love, all while being guided into the unknown.
When you constantly remind yourself of who you serve , and who your living this life for the scary, unknown, and impossible of this life becomes so small. When times of doubt set in. When funds are short. When you feel nasty sick. When you have to get  close to 20 shots in a matter of a few days. When there are bills to pay. A job to find. Responsibilities to take care of, and decisions to make, through and through Gods peace is there. His faithfulness and proved time and time again. We are called to walk, to trust , to submit, and to follow. No matter what the cost, no matter how we feel and no matter is the call seems just short of impossible.
What has the Lord been calling you to, what ministry has the Lord placed on your heart, what excuses are you currently making as why you can't? These are all things I have to constantly bring before the Lord personally. It is easy to get caught up in comfortable and push aside the hard things, the uncomfortable things to the back burner. I can tell you right now , they never go away, and accepting the challenge of uncomfortable and impossible is sooo fulfilling!!!

For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. For you were straying like sheep, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

1 Peter: 21-25

This song has become the theme verse of my life ever since I started seriously planning my trip to Africa. No matter what the cost Lord we let go of ALL we have just to have ALL of You!

         

Why We Educate Our Girls

This is an incredible article that I was pointed to by my good friend Katie. The subject of this article has come up recently in a handful of theological discussions and is something I feel VERY strongly about. God's will for every woman , as His precious daughter is for them to know and love Him as fully as they can. With their whole heart. We cannot achieve that end if we negate the importance of our woman, and girls to receive a full mature education.

Why We Educate Our Girls 

John Piper 

On April 14, 2014, the terrorist Islamist group called Boko Haram kidnapped over 270 girls, most between ages 16 and 18, from the Chibok Government Girls Secondary School in northeast Nigeria.

Boko Haram means “Western education is sinful.” Part of the motivation behind the attack is their belief that it is sinful for girls to be formally educated at all. Educating girls is a Western effort to undermine the Islamic view of the family.

The leader of Boko Haram, Abubakar Shekau, said in a recording, “Western education should end. . . . Girls, you should go and get married.” He warned that he would “give their hands in marriage because they are our slaves. We would marry them out at the age of 9. We would marry them out at the age of 12.”

While we advocate for vigorous efforts for the return of the young women, and while we pray for them and their evil abductors, it is fitting to remind ourselves why we as Christians encourage our girls and young women to seek a full education. What I mean by “full” will become clear.

1. God created man male and female in his image.

“God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them” (Genesis 1:27). The unique human capacities for knowing God and loving God belong to men and women.

The capacity to know the world as from God and through God and for God belongs to men and women. The capacity to delight in all good things, out of thanks to God and for the glory of God, belong to men and women.

Maximizing these capacities in the worship of God and the fruitful use of the world, is a divine mandate to men and women. “God blessed them. And God said to them, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it’” (Genesis 1:28).

2. God has revealed his glory in the natural world, and he intends for all his creatures to see his wonders and give him praise.

One of the great aims of education is to impart habits of mind that can see the fullest possible range of God’s wonders in the world he has made (Psalm 19:1; 104:23). The praises of women are to increase with their abilities to see and understand the wonderful works of God in the world (Psalm 105:2).

3. God has revealed himself more fully in the inspired word of God than he has in the natural world.

The fact that God reveals himself in a book is explosive with implications for education, from the cradle to the grave. All who aspire to know and love God as fully as they can will aspire to learn to read the book of God.

The Bible is the most important book in the world because it is God’s revelation of what humans need to know for salvation and fruitfulness which we cannot find out any other way. Here is where God can be truly known, and fully loved. Education is the process of imparting habits and skills of reading that enable human beings to know God and love God as fully as possible.

God wills for women to know him and love him as fully as they can. He wills for them to commune with him directly — as daughter to Father — through their encounter with the Bible. She is a fellow heir of the grace of life (1 Peter 3:7) and is not to be limited in her access to her Father or his word.

“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37), was not a command given only to men. Women will be held back from knowing and loving God as fully as they can, if they are held back from forming the habits and skills of reading — not just the skills of a third grade reader, but the skills of discerning the full riches of biblical revelation concerning the great work of the Son of God in his life, death, and resurrection. This is the great work of education.

4. All the roles into which God leads women call for the habits of mind which education is meant to cultivate.

These include the habits of:

• observing all things accurately and thoroughly,
• understanding clearly what she has observed,
• evaluating fairly in the discernment of what is true,
• feeling intensely according to the worth of what she has evaluated,
• applying wisely and helpfully in life what she understands and feels,

and expressing in speech and writing and deeds what she has seen, understood, felt and applied, in such a way that its accuracy, clarity, truth, value, and helpfulness can be known and enjoyed by others.

Whether she is a church-serving, globally aware, politically awake, neighbor-loving full-time homemaker and mom, or a partner with her husband in breadwinning, or an unmarried career woman, or other role, God’s call on her life is to

• observe accurately (Matthew 13:16; Mark 8:18; Luke 6:42; John 9:39),
• understand clearly (Mark 8:21; Ephesians 5:17),
• evaluate truly (Luke 12:57; 1 Corinthians 10:15),
• feel appropriately (Romans 12:9; Philippians 4:4; James 4:9),
• apply truth wisely (James 1:22; Romans 12:2),
• and express herself effectively (Ephesians 4:15; Colossians 4:6).

These are the aims of a full education. These are the aims of Christian discipleship. These are the aims of Christ-exalting womanhood. Without them our knowledge of Christ, his world, his salvation, his ways in history, and our path of obedience will remain immature. God does not call any of his children, men or women, to immaturity. Therefore he calls them all to a full education.

A Faith That Functions

Soo it has been a year since I have opened or written in this blog. It blows me away how much life gets busy, seasons change, and time just keeps going by. In and through all the Lord still remains steadfast and so faithful, amidst the shifting of jobs , feelings and circumstances. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever more. PRAISE THE LORD. He is the rock we can lean upon, the wing we can hide under , and the Shepherd to guide us.

This poem if you want to call it that summarizes my thoughts EXACTLY on faith. Enjoy being refreshed and encouraged as you read this. Provided my a friend's blog!!

“If we think faith lies in achieving—

In getting from God whatever we seek;

To grant us prosperity or freedom from pain,

Or health or companions, or anything we ask.

Then we have not understood

The meaning of faith,

Or the difference between

The spirit and mind.

Feelings are made of the stuff of the mind.

Ignorance and illusion; knowledge and error,

Are the dubious sources

From which they all come.

The spirit and mind are often in conflict.

So says even, the Apostle Paul.

Much goes on within our minds

That never will touch the spirit at all.

As the body may be weak,

And yet the mind be quite strong;

So, the mind may be weak,

While the spirit is strong”.

“God will never leave you, nor forsake you.

To think that He has, is Satan’s lie.

But you cannot test His presence with you

By what you see with human eyes.

No, it is not a lack of faith that is your problem.

It is misconceptions of what faith ought to be.

It is measuring faith by human standards of trust,

And putting weight on what you think or feel.”

Hebrews 11:1

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

Corinthians 5:7

“We live by faith, not by sight.”

Song: Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)

Our Identity In Christ

Loved this article that lays out and reminds us of who we truly are in Christ. For those of us who are found in Christ and belong to His family , there are riches unmeasured for us!!! Praise Him for His boundless gifts to us.

The Answer to Every Christian’s Identity Crisis

March 26, 2013 by Paul Tautges | 0 comments

As believers in Jesus Christ it is easy to lose our bearings when we forget who we are. This is every Christian’s identity crisis. The answer is for us to recognize the false identities that have robbed us of the joy, peace, contentment, and security and replace them with what is already true of us because of our union with Christ.

The past year, the Holy Spirit has been renewing my mind and refreshing my soul by directing my focus to portions of the Word of God that emphasize who I am in Christ.

The portion where my heart dwelt this morning is the first half of the book of Ephesians. The first three chapters of the apostle’s great theological treatise are filled with numerous realities that we need to consistently claim as already belonging to us. Along with me, reflect on these 42 truths:

1. I am a saint, a set-apart-one, set apart by God for God (1:1).
2. I am a child of God. God is my father (1:2)
3. I am a servant of God. Jesus is my Lord (1:2).
4. I am a recipient of every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (1:3).
5. I am chosen by God in Christ (1:4).
6. I am predestined (1:5).
7. I am adopted as a son (1:5).
8. I am a recipient of God’s kindness (1:5).
9. I am an object of God’s grace (1:6).
10. I am in union with the Beloved One, Jesus (1:6).
11. I am redeemed through His blood (1:7).
12. I am forgiven of my sin (1:7).
13. I am a knower of God’s mystery, the mystery of His will in Christ (1:9).
14. I am a recipient and owner of an indescribable inheritance (1:11).
15. I am predestined according to His purpose (1:11).
16. I am a means of God’s glory (1:12).
17. I am sealed in Christ by the Holy Spirit (1:13-14).
18. I am a member of Christ’s church, His bride (1:23).
19. I am loved by God because of His great mercy (2:4).
20. I am alive in Christ, with Christ (2:5).
21. I am raised with Christ (2:6).
22. I am seated in the heavenlies with Christ, awaiting the full experience of the riches of His grace and kindness (2:6-7).
23. I am saved (2:8).
24. I am the workmanship of God (2:10).
25. I am [re]created in Christ for the good works God has already prepared for me (2:10).
26. I am no longer dependent upon the flesh (2:11).
27. I am no longer excluded from God (2:12).
28. I am no longer a stranger to God (2:12).
29. I am no longer hopeless (2:12).
30. I am no longer without God (2:12).
31. I am no longer far away from God (2:12).
32. I am brought near to God through the blood of Christ (2:13).
33. I am at peace with God, no longer at war (2:14).
34. I am a member of one body in Christ (2:16).
35. I already have free access to the Father (2:18).
36. I am a fellow citizen of God’s household, kingdom (2:19).
37. I am built upon Christ and His doctrine given through the apostles (2:20).
38. I am a stone in God’s temple (2:21).
39. I am in the Spirit (2:22).
40. I am a steward of the gospel of God’s grace now revealed (3:2-5).
41. I am a minister of God’s grace in the gospel (3:7-8).
42. I am a part of God’s eternal purpose (3:11).

All of this is already true of me because I am in Christ. Hallelujah! What a Savior.

Are You Discouraged?

A very encouraging article that was sent to my blog feed this week on the subject of discouragement!! It spoke to my heart, and whether your in a season of feeling discouraged or will be facing one this the future, this is a great resource and reminder. 

Are You Discouraged?

by noreply@blogger.com (JulieG)

I have been discouraged in both ministry and life in general at times. I believe devotion can bring discouragement to the life of a believer. One only has to look at the life of someone like Elijah to see that even the most devoted can suffer from discouragement in service to God.

Elijah had a word from God that it would not rain for three years (1 Kings 17:1) and it did not rain until Elijah again received a word from the Lord.

Now it happened after many days that the word of the LORD came to Elijah in the third year, saying, “Go, show yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the face of the earth.” 1 Kings 18:1 (NKJV)

God then instructed Elijah to call together the 450 prophets of Baal and the dueling sacrifices began. (1 Kings 18:20- 38 ) This is a wonderful story and the writing brings forth powerful mental pictures as Elijah, the devoted servant of God Most High challenges these prophets to do whatever it takes to get a response from their god. The beginning of the end of the challenge starts with Elijah’s prayer revealing his job as God’s mouthpiece:

At the time of the offering of the evening sacrifice, Elijah the prophet came near and said, “O LORD, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, today let it be known that You are God in Israel and that I am Your servant and I have done all these things at Your word. 1 Kings 18:36 (NKJV)

The challenge ends as God reveals Himself to these people and not only consumes the sacrifice, but the water in the trench! He slays the false prophets, and tells King Ahab to watch for the coming rain. (vs. 41-46) And, it rains!

You would think Elijah would be on top of the world! But he is quickly derailed by Ahab’s Jezebel who threatens his life. Elijah “was afraid and ran for his life” and wound up under a broom tree completely discouraged and asking to die! (1 Kings 19:1-4)

God did not respond harshly to him, He nourished him and gave him rest even while asking him what he was doing out there laying under the broom tree sulking (1 Kings 19:9-14).

Devotion to God can and often does bring the magnificent highs and lows the Elijah experienced. I can distinctly remember having some of those mountaintop types of experiences as I counseled someone through a particularly difficult case, or brought a couple who had been on the brink of divorce back to reconciliation. There is just nothing like the “spiritual high” that comes from service to the King.

On the other hand, I have suffered the agony of defeat (as sportscaster Jim McCay used to say) as one trial and trouble after another crashed upon me and I longed for escape of any kind.

What is the key or secret to living devoted while discouraged? How can you and I not wind up under the broom tree or on some kind of medication for depression or anxiety when faced with terrible discouragement in the midst of serving God?

I believe it begins with the thought life. Focusing on all that is wrong is not helpful, is it? Ask yourself what you are thinking about that is adding to your discouragement and determine if it is true and real (Phil 4:8) or just something that you are conjuring up in your mind.

Then move to your actions, what are you doing that may be adding to the problem? Are you sitting around and staring at the wall, or are you attempting to do something productive? To just sit and mope or meditate on your misery is not helpful at all.

Check your desires next. What do you want to see happen or change? Is what you want something that will honor God or yourself? Do you desire something out of a selfish heart that is focused only on relieving your suffering and misery?

As you move through each of these areas of your heart, hold up your conclusions to the light of the Word. Does each thought, belief, and desire fold into the Word of God or stand apart from it? Can you honestly say you are honoring God in each area?

You see, devotion to the Lord is bound to bring times of discouragement! We are fighting against the flow and pushing against the tide of sinful humanity. Our priorities and perspectives are so vastly different from those of the world that they are bound to collide at times. Our flesh cries out at times for what appears to be the easy life of the unbeliever, who is not held to our biblical standards. It seems at times our trials never seem to end but roll in like waves on the sea.

We must learn to accept these things as a result of our being united with Christ! Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation” (John 16:33) and it is as true today as it was when He said it to His disciples.

The apostle Paul wrote to the Philippians while imprisoned and nearing the end of his life. He wrote the letter that mentions joy over 16 times and attitude and things of the mind 10 times while chained to a wall in a hole. His letter is a wonderful reminder to us that in spite of our circumstances and discouragement we can still be devoted to the cause of Christ!

I want to encourage you to spend some time in Philippians - especially if you are discouraged. I pray and trust that a few trips through that letter will lift your countenance.

Higher Then High

How many times in a day, in a week, in the course of year do we view situations and circumstances not going Our Way?? How often are we completely content with where we are in life, how often do we have in the back of our minds something we want from God or life? 

For me personally I cannot think of a time in my life that I have stopped and thought to myself life is perfect right now, just the way everything is going right now at this time. Never!!! This saddens my heart more then I can say. Apart from incredible words like, gracious, loving faithful and merciful, all words that describe the character of our Heavenly Father, my ultimate favorite is the word sovereignty. Back in the day before I became a focused student of the Word this was an adjective that would go in one ear and out the other. It was a theological word that I didn't care to understand the importance of. However I can remember the night sitting at youth group listening to my pastor teach on this word, and I remember the Sprit illuminating its meaning in my heart and mind. My life and view of Christ was forever changed. Ever since that day the truth of this one sweet word has proven itself time and time again. Through the joys and many struggles of this life I have found great refuge in knowing and understanding that not only is the Lord good in ALL His ways but He has a detailed plan and purpose in all He has done and will do. 

This morning in my devotions I had the honor of hearing John Pipers heart on the doctrine of Sovereignty. One of my favorite passages on this topic is found in Isaiah 46 and it says this.........

Remember the former things, those of long ago;
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.¹⁰ I make known the end from the beginning,    from ancient times, what is still to come.I say, ‘My purpose will stand,    and I will do all that I please.’¹¹ From the east I summon a bird of prey;    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.What I have said, that I will bring about;    what I have planned, that I will do.¹² Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,    you who are now far from my righteousness.¹³ I am bringing my righteousness near,    it is not far away;    and my salvation will not be delayed.I will grant salvation to Zion,    my splendor to Israel.

I find such comfort and joy when reading this. As a believer we have all hope knowing that the Lord our Protector, our Father, our Redeemer, Healer, Provider, Emmanuel. Not only does He walk through this life, leading  every step of the way, but He knows the end from the beginning, all we have to do is follow. 

Trust me I know the feeling and I tell myself all the time "easier said then done Hannah". We can trust a loving God with our lives, our dreams, and deepest desires because our God longs for our greatest good and His ultimate glory. John Piper said it well, "Nothing absolutely nothing befalls those who love God and called according to His purpose, but what is for our deepest and highest good. (Psalm 84:11)" Take comfort dear friend with me in my God as I rest in His promise to us that no child who loves His will lack ANY good thing. For Him we surely live and move and have our being.