I Send...I Call

By Tawna Wilkinson

                                                          

Who I send, I enable.

Who I call, I am with.

My Word does not return to Me void.

When I send, I accomplish.

When I call, it is for now.

My Word does not return to Me void.

Where I send, I supply.

Where I call, I am there.

My Word does not return to Me void.

How I send, cannot be figured.

How I call, does not make sense.

My Word does not return to Me void.

Why I send, I love the lost sheep.

Why I call, love must be satisfied.

My Word does not, cannot, 

and will not return to Me void.

What do we do?

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with the state of our country, our world.  So much violence, hate, prejudice, discrimination, social media bullying... It's enough to feel hopeless and powerless. I really hate that feeling.  What can I do about it?  How do I bring hope in a world without?  How do I bring light into darkness?  Do I believe what some Christians do and think that it's okay to just sit back and let the world do it's thing because the worse it gets, the sooner Jesus will come back?  Really?  That's the answer?

Oh Lord help us.

And He does.  He reminded me of homeschool.  The curriculum that I use takes us through all of history starting with creation.  Last year it was creation to the Greeks and this year we're going from Rome to the Reformation.  It's been amazing!  And very eye-opening! 

Not one time in the history of our world have things been easy or peaceful.  We have a world history of violence, greed, war, selfishness, hate, discrimination and bullying. Every country has been fought over and killed for.  

You're probably thinking, wow Jill, this is awesome.  Thanks for the uplifting message.  

Hang with me here.  In addition to reading about all this violent history we've been studying the history of the church.  We read through the Old Testament and New, and have read books about the earliest church after Christ.  And it's blown me away that time and time again, in the midst of war, in the midst of uncertainty, in the midst of great trial and struggle, the church has come blazing through.  The message of hope, the message of Christ, has always been relevant no matter what the circumstances.  The people of Christ's church have fought bravely to protect that message, often giving up their lives for it.

We often hear about the things that the church has done wrong and I will admit to being put off by that when I first became a Christian.  I've also come to see that of course we're gonna mess it up.  We're human and we still wrestle with selfishness and greed.  But for every story of the things we've done wrong there are countless others that would blow you away!  Stories of love, freedom, passion, selflessness, overcoming, forgiveness and grace. 

People like Amy Carmichael, Brother Andrew, George Mueller, the Pilgrims, Nate Saint, Adoniram Judson, St. Patrick to name just a few ... people who gave up everything to follow the call of Christ.

So what do we do with the state of our world?  Give up?  Wait for Jesus to come back?  Or do we follow the heroes of the faith and answer the call from God?

I don’t want to be sitting on the sidelines waiting for the final whistle.  I want to be out there, loving people, bringing light and hope.  Investing in lives that matter to God.  Answering His call no matter that the world may say I’m crazy. 

I am. 

I’m crazy for Jesus and what He’s done for me.  I’m crazy for knowing more about our Savior, the one Who called me into His glorious presence.  I’m crazy to experience His Kingdom here on earth and to bring that Kingdom to others. 

Will you join me?

Testimony Tuesday - Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

For a while I've thought about writing about my testimony. I never figured how it would fit. But God has shown me this may be the time. Forgive any Susan-ness, as I'm typing this late at night.

My multiracial background was once a bane of my existence. The question of "what are you? " usually was met by with a sarcastic remark of "human, yourself? ". Needless to say this was not met with a positive response.

What God had shown me is this quirk was a great gift to me. My multiracial background gave me a racial ambiguity that allowed me to cross barriers that would hinder others and be invisibly visible. So that through me,  He could minister to His people; Invisible to the powers that would deny Him, yet completely visible to those who needed Him. 

 

(This is from Jill.  I talked with Susan on Sunday and she shared with me more about this testimony.  Because of the beautiful woman God created her to be, a woman made up of many different races, she is able to look Japanese to the Japanese, Filipino to the Filipinos, Samoan to the Samoans, etc...  She can be overlooked by those looking to crack down on foreigners evangelizing but she is also accepted and listened to by the same people-group because of her uniqueness.  I thought this was such an awesome story of being all things to all people!) 

In allowing God to use my least liked part me, I was able understand the "purpose and hope" God created me for.  In my weakest, He was truly strongest.

In walking this path with Him I've learned that the quirks He's put into us, shouldn't be a source of shame or embarrassment. But these individual quirks are tiles in a mosaic, that when put together collectively show as a Church, an image of God. Thereby making the fully supernatural, tangible to a lost world.

I hope this made sense.

Have a blessed day,.

Susan Mudry-McDaniel

Testimony Tuesday - He loves all of us so much!

I LOVE how our GOD works!!! Did you know that HE cares about seemingly “insignificant” things like winning a basket of “Dog Loot” at a pet expo??? Let me explain…

About three weeks ago…a friend (and neighbor) of mine, who had recently lost her father to an illness, texted me. This friend knows that I am a Christian and a “church-goer”. Up to now, I have never gotten to the point of talking to her about faith. 

Her text went something like this… “Hello Lynn. I was wondering… You go to The River Church right? Would you know if they have a grief group?” I said that I didn’t know, but that I would find out or locate another one for her. I asked if it was for her (knowing she had just lost her dad). She said she had really been struggling with his passing. 

Fast-forward one week… We were texting back and forth and she shared with me that she had confided in her mom, that her faith had really been rattled since losing her dad. She also shared with her mom that it had been years since she has gone to church. This fact really saddened her mom, because my friend has two young kids (ages 10 and 12).

So…I just threw it out there. “Why don’t you join us at church this Sunday at The River Church? We have an amazing pastor, incredible music, and a REALLY AWESOME kid’s church!!!” (Plus their Director of Children’s Ministry is my VERY CRAZY girlfriend Jen!No…I didn’t say that…but sure thought it though!) ;-) 

We went back and forth texting…answering her questions about service times, location, etc. Then she just stopped texting. “Hmmm??? This one is all yours from here GOD” I thought. So off I went to enjoy a Pet Expo that was being held in town that morning. I made my way throughout the expo, putting my name in for EVERY drawing in the building.

I left to head home to celebrate my hubby’s Birthday. I was about a mile away from the expo when I got a call from a gal at the expo…telling me that I had won one of their main “Doggy Loot” basket drawings! I was torn between heading home to my waiting family or going back to the expo.  I had this “strong sense” that I was supposed to go back to the expo to pick up my prize basket. 

I skipped with giddy delight back into the expo…and WHO was standing right there near my basket? It was my girlfriend, whom I was just texting about going to church that Sunday. She said, “I am so sorry…my phone died. Yes! We would love to join you in church this Sunday.” We talked details and I went to retrieve my basket.

As I was walking towards my “winning” basket…I heard the LORD say this: “I had you win this basket so you would come back and run into your friend.” Now THAT is my kinda GOD!!! 

So, in closing my friend and her kiddos came to church with us and she was clearly really moved by the music. She kept commenting on different songs and various voices. As we were walking out of church, she said, “I have NEVER heard music like that in a church before! That was sooo AWESOME!!! Thank you for inviting us…I really enjoyed it!”

So that my story of why GOD cares as much about is children as HE cares about blessing them! I guess our pooch, Bella, ultimately got blessed to by all of the loot in the basket. Like I started saying, “I LOVE how our GOD works!!!”

Feelin' blessed,

Lynn Deary

Testimony Tuesday - Full-time Missionary

Let me start with how I was apparently stubborn about being obedient in this.  I felt it was my turn to share my testimony with you all the last week in May... I ignored God, and never emailed it.  I chose to believe lies, such as, what God has been teaching me isn't significant enough, I am only a 26 year old new mom, and have only been married 6 years, nothing I am learning will benefit women at church, I'm new to this and they probably have it all figure out.  You know what happened?  Jill emailed everyone on Tuesday that week, and no one had submitted a testimony to be share.  I distinctly felt like God said... "that was your spot, you were disobedient".  So I planned on doing it for last week (June 2nd) on the Monday night I realized with traveling and everything I never wrote it, we were watching tv, and I thought I should go do it now, then decided I'd do it later.  I forgot.... So here I am writing it now for next week!  I share this piece to encourage you if you feel compelled don't believe the lie!  SHARE!!! :) 

So my recent story of what God has been teaching me, more like walking me through begins in April.  In April I went to a conference, and had no idea what to expect when I arrived there.  I felt in my spirit that it was going to be a life altering type conference for me and this made me hesitant to want to go.  Let me tell you it was and I am glad I went!  However, it was not life altering in anyway I would normally expect at a conference, it wasn't because of one awesome speaker (though there were many), or an overpowering amazing worship service (worship was good too), it was because I got time for the first time in a long time away from my daily responsibilities to focus on Jesus, my first love.  I got time with him like I grew up loving, just me and Him.  It was also because I got to spend uninterupted time with some amazing women, few that I love and call family/accountability group, few that I know a little less closely, and some I met there at the conference.  Relationships with other women that are lifegiving are a powerful powerful tool in our lives. :) 

All weekend I waited for our final call to sell our house when I get back to Durango and moved across the globe.  I just knew that was what was going to happen and was nervous about how I would convince my husband that this was God's plan for our lives now.  Instead what happened blew my away. :)  He called me to stay.  I cried all weekend as my heart broke, and longed to just go. I sobbed as I felt like I was watching childhood dreams finally drift off into the land of not yet. (maybe all those tears were me mourning what I had set my dream on as a kid)  

Instead, God showed me his plan for me right here... which I have felt fully confident in since we bought our house two years ago.  We are not called at this moment to the unreached people on the other side of the globe right now.  God has called us here right now... here to "Trust in The Lord and do good; Dwell in the land and cultivate faithfulness.  Delight yourself (myself) in The Lord; and He will give you (me) the desires of your (my) heart." Psalm 37:3-6  So at the end of the weekend, I decided to go talk to this missionary lady I had wanted to avoid all weekend because it hurt to think of where I could be right now, and how God was denying me my ministry.... I know crazy right? 

I shared my story with her, and we prayed.  She spoke one thing over me that has resonated with me ever since the conference.  That was that I was full time. I have always wanted to be a full time missionary, my heart has been anywhere in the world.  Doing what I am doing right now, being a mom, a fourth grade teacher, a Sunday school teacher, a wife, and opening up my home as a refuge, a safe place for people to be who they are, and rest.  This matters.  I came home with a new purpose and passion to keeping house, to caring for Amirah, to looking for ways to care for others.  This, where I am at, is my ministry.  This is God's plan for me.  This is His best for me right now.  How blessed am I, that His plan for me is serving Him by opening my home to others, serving in my church, teaching fourth grade and taking care of my family! 

Ok lastly, I know that sounded like the end... but I have just a little more to share.  With opening up my home making it a safe place.  I am reading Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist.  It is great.  God is teaching me more about the importance of opening up my home and inviting people to share meals with my family through this book.  What an exciting season! :)  Yes, I am young, yes, I am a new mom, and yes I haven't been married for even a decade yet, and God is willing to use me!  I am enough for Him, He loves my willing heart, and the most important reminder I have clung to these last few months is that He is good, and He is trustworthy.  Even when I don't feel like He is, even when I don't feel I can trust Him, even when I feel like He has taken dreams I have away from me.  He hasn't his plan is better and He is good, and He is trustworthy.  Hope this is encouraging for you. :) 

Kayle Hardrick 

Throwback Thursday - The Bridge

(Originally published in 2010)

A short while back I had a conversation with someone I love very much. They asked me a question about my faith, specifically Jesus, that I felt like I couldn't, and didn't, answer very well at the time. We got interrupted as I was stuttering out a response and I felt like I didn't really say much. The question I was asked was why is your way right and every other religion wrong. It was a really good question. One I remember asking when I was searching for truth. It wasn't being asked in any way other than I believe they wanted a real answer. So I wanted to take a couple minutes and share with them, and with you all, about what being a Christian is like - for me - in light of other religions.

I have this vision of standing on top of a very high ledge on a mountain. I look down and it is almost impossible to see the bottom of this huge valley. I know it's there but you can't really see it. I know that if I fall, or jump, that I won't live through it. I also know that behind me, slowly, the mountain is crumbling.

Across the way is another even more beautiful mountain. A safe mountain. But it isn't reachable. I don't see anyway across this great chasm.

All around me are people. All different kinds of people. All seeing the same thing that I see. Mountain crumbling behind me. Deep valley below me. Beautiful unreachable mountain before me. However we are all approaching this scenario differently.

Some are sitting down. They aren't worried about the collapsing mountain. In fact they are saying that it isn't really happening. That is isn't a big deal. Let's just not worry about it and it won't happen.

Others are trying to make stuff to cross the valley. Some are tying ropes in hopes of throwing it across the way and climbing over. Some are cutting down trees and trying to make a bridge. Some are building flying machines in hopes that they will be carried across. All of them know that the mountain they are on won't last forever.

I have been searching around trying to figure out the best strategy across the way when someone comes to me and says 'follow me I know the way'. I listen and they lead me to a bridge. A solid, sturdy, narrow bridge that starts just feet before me and goes clear across the valley to the other mountain....safely. There are people already on it. Thousands of people. The bridge is so strong it's holding everyone! I'm amazed that I haven't seen it before. I'm amazed that all of these people haven't seen it before. It's been there the whole time but I wasn't able to see until I listened. Then I saw because I had faith. It's like the bridge in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (yes I am married to Mark...). Do you know which one I'm talking about? The one he doesn't actually see until he steps on it?! This is what I had been searching for. The Way. Now, what do I do with this information. What would you do if you found this bridge? Would you tell someone? Would you cross it quietly and hope no one sees you or makes fun of you? What would you think about all those people around you who are looking for what you've found?

Are all those other people wrong? I guess the answer is yes. But I don't look at them and say 'too bad for you...I found the bridge that will lead me safely away and I'm right and you're wrong and you'll never make it'. No. I look at them and think, 'I know that that rope will never be long enough, the ladder will never be strong enough, the flying machine will never last long enough to get you safely to the other side. But I have found the way. Come with me and I will show you. Please. Listen and see that there is a way. One way. It's here and it's for everyone who wants to come.'

There are some people who look at me and laugh. They don't see the bridge so they think I'm making it up. They say it's a myth. A good idea. A crutch to lean on when things are hard.

Some people know that the bridge is there, they've seen it themselves, but they refuse to cross it because they think other ways will work just as well.

Still others will cross it and not tell a single soul that it's there. They say, 'I guess they'll have to figure it out on their own. Hopefully they'll make the right choice....'

Others are screaming at everyone telling them that if they don't cross the bridge then they're stupid, foolish, morons.

And then there are those who are quietly showing people the bridge. Leading them to the bridge. Just like someone did for me.
I look at my life now, with Christ, and I know The Way. My faith - everything about it - would be meaningless if I didn't actually care to tell others about it. If I know there is only One Way across that great divide then I have no choice but to tell people, regardless of what they think. I, in no way, have to drag them across the bridge, ridicule them for not believing there is a bridge, hate them for trying something else, or ignore them. But can you see someone listening to me if I said something like 'I'm pretty sure this is right. I mean I don't like saying you can't try the rope or the ladder, it might actually work for you...but for me the bridge works best." How many people will I have lined up?
Instead I must lead them, lovingly like someone did for me, to the bridge. And show them that it's there, it's for them, it's for everyone - even people who have ropes and ladders and flying machines. Those people aren't stupid. They just don't know. No one has shown them the One True Bridge. They may have seen ones that look like it but they will fall apart. Guaranteed.

I am 100% confident that I have found the way. And I desperately want you to know about it so you can come to the beautiful mountain with me.

God - Jesus - The Bridge - is here for everyone.

This is how much God loved the world; He gave his Son, His one and only Son. And this is why; so that no one need be destroyed; by believing in Him, anyone can have a whole and lasting life. God didn't go to all the trouble of sending his Son merely to point an accusing finger, telling the world how bad it was. He came to help, to put the world right again. {John 3:16&17 the Message}

I love you!