Archive for May, 2008
Posted on May 20, 2008 - by bj
the Source of change
Many of us are, no doubt, surrounded by people that we know need change in their lives. It probably is what we would classify as radical change. This “observation”–if you will, doesn’t come from judging the individual, but is a result of the words and actions that flow out of the person that we know are contrary to the character of Christ. It says in Matthew 7 that we can identify a tree or a person by the fruit that is produced. However, I think we must first examine ourselves before anything. The Word asks, “How can we attempt to help remove a stick from someone’s life when we have a log in ours?” In other words, we can’t help someone with their problems or even qualify our advice if we haven’t trusted God for any problems that we may have. Trusting and turning to Him with our own individual problems/sin is critical in our walk with Him and must be priority before we attempt to help someone else with their problems. We would be a hypocrite if we didn’t do that. Continuing…. I know an apple tree when I see it because it produces apples. An apple tree serves no other purpose but to produce apples–that is what it was made to do. The same is true for humans–we were created in the image of God with the purpose of displaying the character of Jesus through the words that we speak and our actions (that we would produce edible and delicious fruit)–all so that our King may be glorified and that we could be with Him in the end.
Something that I’ve consistently dealt with–something that I’ve constantly had to be reminded of is that I can’t change a person and I definitely can’t fix their problems. No individual can do this. We can’t even fix our own problems. I’ve had a tendency in the past–if I knew a person was struggling or not walking with the Lord, to jump in and try to fix things. I have some people that are very close to me that have pushed Jesus aside and have chosen to pursue their own path. It’s evident in the way they live–the choices they make; the things they say. It hurts me deeply and is frustrating at times to see what is missing in their lives–that being Jesus, and watch them suffer as a result. The Lord has consistently humbled me and has made me realize that the Thing missing from their lives is the only Thing that can fix or change anything. Jesus is the only way, NOT ME. I will never be able to say or do enough of what is right to be the reason for change. So what is my role in a situation like this? To live how I’ve been called to live–to act and speak in love, that everything I do would reflect the character of Jesus–this being possible because it’s the Spirit working through me; everything good is from the Lord and for the Lord. So what does that mean–well, we offer words of wisdom when we’re called on and make sure that our actions are in line with His will–that we act in obediance and love. We must yield to the Spirit at all times before we act or speak, and even more so, before we can be of any influence on another individual. However, the most powerful thing we can do for someone that is struggling or isn’t in a relationship with the Father is not to say or do all of the right things, but to intercede on their behalf through prayer. And I think that should be our priority. This will keep our focus on God and off of ourselves. We can trust the Lord to reveal Himself to the other individual(s), because He will. In the end, it’s up to that individual to make the choice themself.
Posted on May 13, 2008 - by bj
Lost for Words
So….I was sitting here, thinking about my trip to Swaziland last summer–particularly about one experience with the Spirit that was unlike anything I had ever experienced up to that point or to this day. On this day, we were at an orphan care point to help clean the children, take care of any little cuts or scrapes they might have had, we gave them all new clothes, and we did anything else that needed to be done. My particular duty was to transport water from the well to a large plastic container with a valve on the side so the Swazi women and children wouldn’t have to fetch water from the well everytime they needed it. This consisted of me, and many others pumping water into a 5-gallon bucket and walking it to the container, which was located in a garden (they also needed the water for the convenience of watering the garden). This container held about 200-250 gallons of water and it had a hole in the side towards the top. So, we’re filling this container up and we couldn’t see how full it was, but knew we were getting close. Then, as I’m pouring a bucket in, it starts overflowing through the hole on the side. Of course I stop and try to catch the overflowing water in the bucket and one of the women saw what was happening and came running over to help me. Now…F.Y.I. mother in Swazi is Magay and grandmother is Gogo and you address them by whichever applies, along with their name, if you know it. The woman that came running over was a gogo. The water finally stops overflowing and I give gogo a hug and say thank you–of course she couldn’t really understand what I was saying but knew from the nonverbal communication that I was appreciative.
Now the good part…..after all this, as we’re standing in the garden, I try to make conversation, but she only knew a few words. I was able to get her name. It was Grace—how beautiful is that- Grandmother (Gogo) Grace. Then I ask what all is planted in the garden and I mainly have to use sign language for this, but she gets what I’m trying say. So, she grabs my hand and we start strolling around in the garden. She points at and names everything and after repeating herself a few times, I finally understand what all I’m looking at–carrots, lettuce, tomatos, and peppers. After that, we stop walking and turn towards each other and I give her a hug, thinking that I’m going to go help out with the children, along with everyone else. But she doesn’t let go….we ended up hugging for about 2 or 3 minutes, maybe longer. Embrace is a better word for that. Anyway, when we let go, we were still holding hands and our eyes locked on each other. I can already, tangibly, feel the presence of the Spirit at this point. All of the sudden, we just start smiling and laughing together for I don’t know how long. Then she says to me, “I want to talk but I don’t know how.” And we continue laughing out loud. And in the middle of us laughing, she continually repeats herself–about wanting to talk but not knowing any words and everytime she says that, she continues to laugh as she is speaking. It’s during this time that I realize how powerful the Holy Spirit is. Here I am in a foreign country, with a woman that hardly knows my language, much less me knowing hers, and yet we are connected by the Spirit. We are both experiencing the love of Christ together. We fully understand each other and need no words at all. It’s so amazing how the Spirit connects the body. Her grip, then begins to tighten and we’re still laughing at this point. Then she says something that I’ll never forget for the rest of my life. She looks up and closes her eyes and says “PRAISE GOD!”….. laughter……”PRAISE GOD!” “OH JESUS!……JESUS!” Then she looks me in the eyes and says… “My child!”….”My child!” I’m so overwhelmed by the Spirit at this point, that I hit my knees in awe of the Father! And Gogo Grace is still yelling “PRAISE GOD,” and so am I!! This continues for a while and when I’m able to get back up, we embrace each other, grab hands and walk out of the garden to her chair, which was under a large oak tree.
You know…..sometimes we forget that God is a perfect father. He’s everything that we are and everything good that we’re not. His love fills the cracks in our lives. He sees us for who we are, not for what we do. He is love, He is grace, He is the King! He is lacking nothing! We can always approach Him and receive forgiveness because of the cross. Jesus has RISEN! He is ALIVE and dwells in us and is NEVER DISTANT. How can something be distant that lives in us? No matter how much junk we’ve built up in our lives, no matter what horrible things we’ve done or said, no matter how much we feel like we can’t approach our Father,…. because of Jesus, we are able to lay anything and everything at the cross–at the feet of Jesus. And it’s there, that our Father will pick us up, embrace us, and look us square in the eye, and say, “My Child.”
Posted on May 12, 2008 - by bj
Love: The Perfect Display
There are so many different things and events that make up a person’s walk with God. Each person’s path is a little different than the next; maybe a little bumpier, a little rougher, but different nonetheless. However, the commonality between all men and women of God is this: We all have a path that we’ve been called to walk and we possess the way to walk in Christ and through His word. Secondly, because of the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit, we are all walking in the same direction and it’s only by the Spirit that we can continue on (or get back to if we venture away from) the path that has already been cleared for us. Although we live different lives and have different roles, we’re united as one body because of what Jesus did on the cross–that is the foundation for all believers.
Our lives stand on Christ, who was the exact representation of God, but in human form. The most bewildering moment of Jesus’ life was on that cross, where He hung to die–a mere criminal in the eyes of the people. It was in that moment, where all seemed lost, where the taunts of the people scathed out like the whip that lashed Him prior to his crucifixion, that God was at his best. It was there at the cross, that the ultimate demonstration of love and justice was displayed–it was there that He expressed a love greater than words could ever describe.
“This is what real love is: It is not our love for God; it is God’s love for us in sending his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” 1 John 4:10
I’ll be the first to say that I’m guilty of losing sight of the cross. When I find myself stuck in a rut, acting in way that is totally the opposite of the man I’ve been called to be, totally the opposite of the character of God, the “why” that I ask myself is always the same; “I’ve lost sight of the cross. My pride and my own selfish ambitions have led me away from that path that I was called to walk.” This is, no doubt true for everyone that ventures off the path. There is power in the cross–it’s what defines our lives. I heard this in a sermon a while back and it was very convicting…….these are not the exact words, but we should never, ever hear about or talk about the cross and not be blown away in absolute amazement. It was the most incredible, amazing thing in the history of existence and was the only way that you and I could have life. We should never act like or look at it as just another event in history. And I ask this question: How often do you and I do just that?
His love for us is far bigger and better than we can imagine. Franklin Graham wrote, “The hope we have in Jesus is the anchor for the soul–something sure and steadfast, preventing drifting or giving way, lowered to the depth of God’s love.” It’s time that we, myself included, embrace that and start living in the light of that truth.
“We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in Him. God is love, and all who live in love, live in God, and God lives in them.” 1 John 4:16
“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29: 13
