When I am Weak...

" For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him."

 2 Chronicles 16:9

     The apostle Paul penned the words, "When I am weak, then I am strong." What did he mean by such a statement? If you think about this, it does not make sense. It is only viewing it with eyes of faith that we can understand the profoundness of this truth. Paul's statement builds on itself, it is when he is weak that the word "then" appears, because he is weak, it leads to an opportunity to be strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-10). This week has led me to view this verse with faith, to cling to it and believe it to truth.

The eyes of our Lord are searching for those He may show Himself strong on their behalf. This means He is seeking those who are humble enough to confess their weakness and accept His strength. You cannot give someone strength when they will not confess a weakness. If I claim to be strong enough to deal with the task before me, than how can I be given more strength for the task? But if I confess a need for help, than He is able to show forth His strength and I can be used by Him to be a testimony to others. A witness of His strength. 

Heavenly strength is seen when 

earthly weakness is confessed.

If I will not confess my need, I cannot receive the solution. Paul learned this to be true in his life, that when he confessed his weakness, Christ's strength was able to seen in his life and observed by others. Christ and His strength dwells within each child of God, but the world cannot see what is beneath the surface on first glance. Those looking without eyes of faith only see what is apparent. But when the heavenly strength of Christ is all you are relying upon, because all earthly strength is gone, faith is being worked out in your life, and it will be evident to all who look on.

This week I find myself to be very weak. Where I thought I could be strong, in an area that I did not expect to need heavenly help, I find my foolishness. I find yet another thing to surrender, another place that needs to be confesses that His strength may overtake and overcome the battle before me. When I confess my weakness I find strength.

The beauty of His grace, that weakness is seen as beauty to Him. He delights in those who allow Him to be their strength, that He may then be seen strong on their behalf--in the dealings of their life. Difficulties and struggles that arise in our lives, if surrendered and weakness confessed, may be turned into opportunities for His glory. That the world may have a glimpse into the life of faith, into the life of everlasting strength found in Jehovah. 

So Jesus, what I am faced with today, use it to show forth Your strength on my behalf. I have nothing to offer but myself, a heart that desires to be loyal to You. I do not understand why You delight in such a weak vessel, but I choose to trust Your word to be truth. I sit beside Paul this evening, and confess I am weak, but I do not end with that, for I repeat with him, because I am weak, I can now be strong. In You, I can be strong, for You are everlasting strength. Amen.

Here and Now

January 22, 2012

The Blessings of The Here and Now...

You can live in His power for the here and now, or you can constantly 

fight off the fear of tomorrow

     Yesterday, my first memorable sight, sun beams streaming in my window and a beautiful sunrise. Yesterday evening, last memorable sight, sun beams streaming through the clouds and a beautiful sunset. I took a walk down a familiar road, but this time I went past the familiar end. Usually I would of turned, but this evening i walked on further and was met with blessings. My mind was deep in thought of what may come next in my life, thoughts of tomorrow, and so i walked on deeper. Greeted by many village children I learned some of their names, "Joy...Praisey...", and on went the list. Turning my distracted mind onto the important things in life. Joy. Praise. Eternity.

     I continued on the road and came to the shore line. Spent some time watching the water and thinking of the precious name of Jesus. The name that has given me joy. The name that has given me a reason to praise. The Maker of the view before me.

Helped a little girl carry some water part of the way home and talked with her about Jesus. Simple conversation, came up because He was on my mind. 

I continued making my way home and met those village children again. This time at first sight of me, they came running, I was encumbered with over fifteen smelly, dirty, poor, beautiful children embracing me in a hug. A moment i wish i could return to, oh! to explain the warmth your heart feels when you know you are able to love them through the eyes of Christ. It is not me who desires such dirty children to swarm, but the love of Jesus within me. That they may know that He loves them. They are so precious in His sight. After playing a basic game with them, i returned to my home, a smile spread across my face, a song in my heart. 

     This is the here and now. This is what it is all about. This time i went a little further and I was touched deeper. This time i took a little extra time, and He gave fulfillment in those moments. This time I focused on the here and now and was given a glimpse of eternity. Tomorrow can worry about itself. I have too much to experience today to allow tomorrow to rob today's joys and reasons to praise. I am called to nothing else but to love Jesus and allow His love and conversation of Him to pour out of my life. It is simple, it is a mystery, Christ in us, giving unto us the hope of glory.

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

Banked on Eternity

Banked on Eternity

"Our heavenly Banker delights to cash His own notes." -Spurgeon

Yesterday I went to the bank to exchange some money. I was uncertain as to what I would receive in exchange for the money I had in my hand. I was exchanging from Uganda Shillings to Kenyan Shillings, but in faith that it would be a good rate for the sign outside stated a rather high exchange number, I entered. Upon arrival to the counter I was asked for my form of identification...a passport or drivers license. Caught off guard to need such identification, I pondered and realized that I had no form of identification on me. The little bag I was carrying--nothing. I felt so vulnerable standing before the teller, unable to prove who I was! Thoughts raced in my head, I am in a place that is not my home, a foreign land, if something should happen to me, I have no way to prove who I am! There is no form of identification available. Nothing. 

These thoughts than transfered as You taught me a heavenly lesson through it. 

My identity is not in paper, but in standing-- I am Christs' and before God, the heavenly Banker, I am secure. My soul secure. Within this foreign land that I dwell, home awaits...eternity is yet to come. Our good Banker delights to give to His children, to those who are His. But just as I would only exchange that which i would use for this time, because the Kenyan Shillings would be worthless to me once I entered Uganda again, so should our dealings be with our identity in this world. We are called to be in this world but not of it. Do our dealings as necessary, but to truly spend and be spent on Christ and His people. Our aim should be for the exchange rate in the life to come--storing up treasure for the heavenlies. Seeking eternal rewards. 

Our Heavenly Banker is not short on exchange, the more you bring to Him, the more He returns. We bring to Him that which we cannot use on our own, He molds, and gives back to us that which we can use in this time to bring glory to Him. Think of the things He bestows in your life...gifts, talents, finances, ideas, strength, these things He gives that we would in turn use for His glory, for the furtherance of His Kingdom to come. Not that we may advance in this life, but to be preparing for the life to come. 

My identity? in nothing else, but the work of Christ that redeemed my life. My possessions? to be surrendered to the hands of Him who gives and takes away. My resources? coming from the source of Life who gives freely to those who ask. He is ready to give from His heavenly storehouse, but we must come to His bank, identifying ourselves with His Son, and seeking good things to be used for the good of His will and His work. These prayers, never left unanswered. Dear friend, what do you find in your hand today? What do you have that is ready to be exchanged for something you can use? Come before His throne of grace. He is ready to give you the security and blessings that come for one seeking to be banked on eternity. Amen. 

"How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!" Luke 11:13b

A Missionary Walk

 A Missionary Walk

December 13, 2011

     Before packing a bag, boarding a plane, and coming to Africa for this season, I asked the Lord, "What does it mean to be a missionary?" I had spent many hours in a classroom learning of different cultures, ideas of how to reach different people groups, different methods to missions work, but when the clock is ticking and you are soon leaving to go out and put these things into practice, you want a simple, clear, and applicable definition to such a title, a missionary. 

     The Lord spoke to me in such a clear and sweet way, He said, "A missionary is someone who loves Jesus. Someone who walks with Me...thats it, just walk with Me along the road of life, love Me, serve Me, walk with Me, and help others along the way that I bring into your path." That simple, that profound. 

     After over 81 days here, keeping that simple truth in mind, but finding it to be a struggle to not over think things or become discouraged when you don't feel that you are doing or helping enough compared to the work to be done and needs surrounding, a four mile walk home reminded me of the joys of being a missionary.

     After giving away my transportation money to another in need, I found myself walking home with only enough change to get me half way, the rest would be on foot. Detours such as, traveling across the village with a child from Saturday club to fill a jerrycan of water, or conversation with friends along the way, or a stop at the weekly market, all lead to a meeting God had planned. Walking down the road a conversation with a young man pondering the question of being "born again." As we walked I learned that he was headed to a Christian fellowship night. I then asked, "Oh great! So you are born again?" His response, a puzzled look, a laugh, and a repeat, "born again?" He shared that he had recently been asked that question and regretted his response of "no". He seemed to be confused about what it meant to be born again, and how to apply the knowledge he had of God and the Christian walk, and how to overcome addictions he is facing. We walked along the road talking, sharing, I could feel the Lord walking with us. The walk ended with Amen, and we said farewell to a new friend, challenging him to go before the Lord with the things upon his heart and to live his life by faith, born again, to walk with Jesus. He smiled, and walked away. His posture, His countenance different than how we met him before the sun had set.

     This is what being a missionary is all about. Encouraging others to walk with Jesus, just as you are walking with HIm. It's not about us, who we are, or what we desire, its all about who we are in Christ. We need not please another, because we are spoken for, we are Christ's. Kept in Him. Living for Him. Walking with Him. Being available for His work. This evening, upon my walk home, I was able to be used by Him to minister to one of His beloved, and through it, I was reminded of how much He loves me, that He would use me, that He would bring me to this place, that He would give me a life with a mission, a purpose, a reason. Being a missionary is His design for all who are His. We have something to share, not in and of us, no, but in and of who we are in Him. His Word declares how beautiful are the feet of those who bring the good news, and He has called us to go (Romans 10 :15, Matthew 28:19) . 

We are His missionaries wherever we go, let's walk with Him, and leave the rest in His hands. Amen.