Change in Perspective

I've been taking a class entitled "Perspectives on the World Christian Movement" and it has completely given me a new perspective (as promised) ! I'm not sure I'll be able to read the Bible the same, share the Gospel the same, or view the world the same. As referenced in my last post, ordinary life as I knew it is long gone.

So this brings me to the purpose of this post. One of the sections of the course is the Historical Perspective of Missions. This section discusses the different mechanisms that the Lord has used to spread His Word. Briefly they are "Voluntary Going", "Involuntary Going", "Voluntary Coming", and "Involuntary Coming".

Before I continue I have to flash back to a conversation I had many years ago. I've had MANY conversations over the years about immigration but this one has always stuck with me. My friend asked me about a certain situation he was faced with... the janitor at his church was an illegal immigrant. He asked me how I would handle the situation. My answer came very quickly... "circumstances don't dictate truth". The specific details of this person's story did nothing to sway my position; he was here in this country illegally and something needed to be done about it.

As I read about "Involuntary Coming" and this mechanism that the Lord used to bring people to a land they might not otherwise come to, due to the circumstances they left behind, I started to rethink my position. I still believe that truth is not dictated by circumstances or emotions, and I still believe (quite strongly) that the government needs to fix our immigration policy. What changed is my perspective. What is my responsibility in all of this? What opportunities are we missing in all of this if we focus on the political side of the issue. Think about it? MILLIONS of foreigners are in this country and while the details of each of their stories may be different, the reality remains the same - they are here! Many of these foreigners come from countries that missionaries aren't able to go to... and the Lord brought them to our doorstep!

What a difference we could make for the Kingdom if we reached out to them. They may be able to return to their own countries with a citizenship in heaven that they are ready to share with others. Many of these 'visitors' are never invited in to American homes. How can we share the love of Christ with them if we don't meet them.

Here's what I'm doing about it... I'm learning how to teach them English. Actually, I've been learning and start tutoring a lady from Brazil this week. She's been in this country for many years, but is wanting to get her GED and needs some help preparing for the essay portion. Pray for me as I spend time with Elizabeth. Pray that she will be able to see the love of Christ in my life as I share Him with her. I look forward to meeting many others like in Elizabeth in this coming year as I reach out to those the Lord has brought here for us to minister to. I'm grateful to my church for thinking of this ministry and being on the front lines of changing the conversation on immigration among believers.

Until the World Hears!

How's your Prayer Life?

If you're like me you have spent a good deal of time talking about having a strong prayer life. Perhaps you've even read about having the kind of prayer life that moves mountains.

Lately I've been moved to not only talk and read, but to start putting in to practice. That being said I'm recommending this book as a great encouragement. One of the things I like about it is that it has brought me the Scriptures - it doesn't just use pithy ideas about prayer.

It is the fervent desire of my heart to be a prayer warrior, to come before the Throne of Grace on behalf of those that are doing His great work! I want to make a difference, I want to have purpose -- I want to be different! The Word of God changes lives, the prayers of the righteous avail much!

Lord may I be a woman of your Word, on my knees before you!!!

This World is Not My Home...

I was walking back from a meeting today and a song came to me... and this song is something that I've been feeling lately. I'll give you the song, and then I'll continue (Click here to see the rest and the copyright info, so as to not infringe).

"This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through,
my treasures are laid up somewhere byond the blue,
The angels beckon from heaven's open doors,
and I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

The beauty of this feeling is that it's what we're supposed to be feeling as Christians. If you feel to "at home" here, you might have to stop and take inventory. I can't go anywhere without it hitting me in the face "this world is SO not my home". I can't read the newspaper, watch a movie, read a book, or even work at a Christian publishing house without realizing how so much of the world has discreetly permeated every thought base. Nobody stands for truth anymore because we're trying to placate this world!

The danger in thinking of this world as not our home is that we just sit back and don't get involved. You know I'm not one to sit back and not voice my opinion. My point is to remind us that BECAUSE this world is not our home, we must do everything possible to stand for something, to have purpose in our lives.

This World is not our home, let's fight as hard as we can to make what we do count in our heavenly HOME!!!