Let's Get Goin'

This morning we talked with M on Skype. He seems so happy! Just yesterday, he was able to share Christ with his roommate's brother and his heart was tender and ready to believe. It's the neatest thing--to see how God is using M. Nearly everyday he goes to the university and plays basketball and/or soccer with the students and some evenings they come to his place to hang out and study scripture. He gets to know the students by going to the places where they congregate, by learning their language and their culture. By rubbing shoulders with them as they do life.

As we were talking with M, I thought to myself, he's actually doing what I believe God longs for all of us to do.

...to be the church WHEREVER we are.

Maybe we need to remind ourselves that the church is not the building down the street with the towering steeple.

WE, as believers in Jesus Christ, ARE the church.

Brothers and Sisters in Chirst...that's you...and me.

He placed us here to minister to people in our everyday lives. Not just when congregate with our fellow believers in our home church on Sunday. But everyday. Everywhere we go---the grocery store, the mall, at work, the coffee shop, the gym, in our neighborhoods...

Okay, you say--I can handle that.

BUT, there's more.

We need to get off of our comfy sofas and move on out into our communities and into the world...and minister to people.

And not JUST the one's YOU want to minister to.

I'm talkin' about the homeless, the poor, the single mother, the adulteress, the drug addict, the homosexual, the alcoholic, the pregnant teen, the handicapped, the mentally ill...

Don't you think HE would go to these people? Then shouldn't we?

HE chose me. And HE chose you, too.

To be His hands. His feet.

Let's get goin'.

~P

"Yes" Was Only the Beginning

As a young girl, I eagerly anticipated hearing the stories of missionaries who came to our little church in Monahans, Texas. I would hang on to their every word. I was fascinated by their pictures and loved to hear how they shared the gospel story in the native tongue of their people.

One evening we had a guest missionary speaking. I recall her bright, colorful clothing. She was serving somewhere in Africa. I don't remember a lot about what she said, but I do clearly remember what she said to me at the end. As I was seated on the front row, she looked me square in the eye and said, "young lady, someday God may call YOU to be a missionary." I'm sure my eyes were as big as saucers. I don't remember my reaction, but I will never forget her words.

Being raised Southern Baptist, and in church every time the doors were open, I learned alot about missions early on. I began as a Sunbeam--singing, "I wanta be a Sunbeam to shine for Him each day" in my little missions class. Later, as a GA I worked hard memorizing bible verses and loved hearing stories about how missionaries shared the gospel in other countries. It was during these formative years that God placed a love for missions in my heart.

During my teen years, while vacationing with my family in Colorado, I went fly fishing with my daddy. I love the outdoors, especially the mountains. On this particular day I wanted to go along with my daddy and two brothers so I could read and have some quiet time. It was early in the morning as I looked up at the mountain range before me, awed by His majesty, by His awesome creation--I prayed, asking Him what He wanted to do with my life. When I opened my Bible, a letter fell in my lap. It was a letter from a missionary friend of the family that I had never read before, and had no idea how it found its way in my Bible. As I read it, I recall picturing myself doing the work that this man described he and his wife were doing on the mission field. My heart was moved when I read the end of the letter--"It's my prayer that God will call more young people to the mission field...for the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few" I sat wondering, had God intended this for me? Was this His still small voice, yet again, speaking to me? I wondered...

Several years passed. The beginning of my junior year in high school my family moved again. This time only my younger brother and I moved with my mother to Oklahoma. My parents had divorced. I was devastated. I loved my daddy, but what he had done to our family broke my heart. Yet, I knew I had to be strong because my mother needed me. During this time, God provided wonderful Christian mentors who surrounded me and walked with me through this difficult time in my life. Despite my questions as to why God allowed this to happen...God forged a path ahead of me that sealed my faith even more. I could not get enough of His Word. It was a healing balm to my soul. I saw how He was so gracious to provide for me and my family through this time. I remember kneeling by my mother's bed, praying with her many times through our first year in Oklahoma--literally crying out to God for strength to endure this trial. God was faithful. I learned that He truly was my strength. In this valley of my life I learned. Alot.

The next summer I went to Falls Creek--a church camp in Oklahoma. During the week it came as no surprise to me that my favorite part of camp was hearing the missionary speak. What I didn't expect was the heaviness that I felt and the sense that God was calling me to be a missionary. I began to question God about why He would choose to call me--I was shy, and didn't even like to speak in front of people, even stuttered at times. How on earth could he possibly use me? Then, on Thursday night the speaker made a statement that erased my doubts. He said, "If you feel God is calling you to be a missionary and you are questioning it, rest assured of this--it's certainly not Satan, why would he want you to be a missionary?" As soon as they started singing "Wherever He Leads I'll Go," I made my way to the front and made a commitment to be obedient to go wherever He would call me. The burden I had felt all week was finally lifted.

As I look into my past and recall these experiences, I see, even more clearly how His loving hands have been guiding me every step of the way. He started early--placing that spark in my tender young heart and growing it through the years until it became a flame that I could no longer ignore. God captured my heart for the nations and planted a passion in me that has, to this day, remained. Yes, there have been times when I wondered if it had died, as God has required me to go through some very painful trials, but the flame still continues to burn. I recall asking God, at one point to take away the desire because it was too painful to bear since I couldn't go and serve as I had envisioned. But, He never released me. Even now, I hear His still small voice saying, "trust me, I'm not finished with you yet."

"Yes" was only the beginning.

Amazing Grace!

Since I haven't had much time to post lately, I wanted to at least take a minute to make an entry. My life has been really busy since I've been putting in more hours at work. I love my job, but I do come home emotionally drained some days, simply because of the nature of my work. Therefore, I don't get up to my computer to read and post as I would like.

I enjoy quotes and here is one I recently came across:

"The vine dresser is never nearer the vine than when he is pruning it." Anonymous

I guess it's obvious that God has been busy refining and pruning me by my posts thus far on my blog. It's true. I've needed it. I'm thankful that He loves me so much that He has not allowed me to continue to operate in the flesh without lovingly pulling me back to Himself. In this process He is teaching me to see myself through His eyes, not my own. I see myself as fully loved, fully forgiven. I am precious to Him. This is grace. Amazing Grace!

Refining Silver

Some time ago, a few ladies met in a certain city to read the scriptures, and make them the subject of conversation. While reading the third chapter of Malachi they came upon a remarkable expression in the third verse: "And He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." One lady's opinion was that is was intended to convey the view of the sanctifying influence of the grace of Christ. Then she proposed to visit a silversmith and report to them what he said on the subject.

She went accordingly and without telling the object of her errand, begged to know the process of refining silver, which he fully described to her. "But Sir" she said, "do you sit while the work of refining is going on?" "Oh, yes, madam," replied the silversmith; "I must sit with my eye steadily fixed on the furnace, for if the time necessary for refining be exceeded in the slightest degree, the silver will be injured."

The lady at once saw the beauty, and comfort too, of the expression, "He shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." Christ sees it needful to put His children into a furnace; His eye is steadily intent on the work of purifying, and His wisdom and love are both engaged in the best manner for them. Their trials do not come at random; "the very hairs of your head are all numbered."

As the lady was leaving the shop, the silversmith called her back, and said he had forgotten to mention that the only way that he knows when the process of purifying is complete is when he sees his own image reflected in the silver....

~Author Unknown


Oh! That I may become a reflection of HIM...

Welcome to my Blog. I enjoy writing, sharing my thoughts, asking questions, and just rambling on about what's going on in my daily life. I am on a journey, seeking to know Christ to the fullest. NOT by what others say He is, but by what He says He is in scripture. Come along with me on my journey as I share my story. Feel free to join me and share your story too.