Guest Article - Standing on Rock

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TUESDAY, MAY 20, 2014

STANDING ON ROCK

It’s amazing how tempting it can be to run anywhere but to God’s Word whenever we are struggling with doubt and confusion.  We often think we’ll find comfort and perspective in the words and ideas of our fellow humans instead of in the eternal Word of God. But human thoughts and ideas are only beneficial if they are in harmony with the timeless truth of Scripture.  All other ideas, notions, concepts, and suggestions are worthless.

For many years of my life, whenever I walked through a crisis or difficulty, it would plunge me into depression, doubt, or blurriness.  Spiritually speaking, I couldn’t see which end was up.  I felt like I was standing on unstable sandy ground.  I began to question God’s love for me and wallow in confusion.  Trials seemed to only drive me further away from Him and make me feel uncertain about certain aspects of my Christian faith.  I would try to “process” through my confusion with others or seek advice through various self-help books or counseling.  And though I sometimes received a good suggestion here or there, I never found the unshakable clarity I was craving.

But then God awakened Eric and I to a principle which has completely altered the way we respond to difficulties…learning to stand firmly upon the Rock of Truth. Now, whenever we are hit with confusion, uncertainty, or difficulties, we’ve learned to immediately search the Word of God for answers.  And when we find them, we reckon them as fact, no matter what our current feelings, past experiences, or present circumstances may say.

For example, there have been times when we’ve been falsely accused and threatened by people we once trusted.  In those times, the emotions of fear(what if they act upon their threats?), doubt (if they hate me so much, does God still love me?), and confusion (why would God allow this to happen?) are extremely loud.  But we have become confident in the fact that we will gain clear, Heavenly perspective by taking time to deliberately put “rock beneath our feet” by standing on the Truth of God’s Word. 

To answer the fearful question “what if they act upon their threats?” we remember the promises of God’s protection in Scripture such as “no weapon formed against you shall prosper” and “you will surround the righteous with favor as with a shield” (Is 54:17a, Psalm 5:12) .  The more the voice of fear seeks to distract us, the more we meditate upon the reality that we are under the shadow of His wings.  And soon, our fear is replaced with peace. 

To answer the question, “if they hate me, does God still love me?” we remember that false accusation for Christ’s sake is actually an honor and a cause for rejoicing. (Luke 6:22-23)  And even though we may be tempted to doubt God’s love for us when false accusation comes our way, we choose to stand upon the fact that His Word says the opposite.  And soon, our doubt is replaced with faith. 

To answer the question, “how could God allow this to happen?” we remember promises such as “all things work together for good…” (Rom 8:28) and “what the enemy means for evil, God will turn to good” (Gen 20:30).  We begin to stand firm upon the reality that God will turn everything that the enemy means to harm us into something that will bless and benefit us, even if we can’t see the end of the story right away.  And soon, our confusion is replaced with clear Heavenly perspective.

Time and time again, we have seen our circumstances and our emotions align with the Truth of God’s Word as we simply choose to agree with what God said.  But we have learned that we cannot wait for our feelings to agree with Scripture before taking it as fact.  Rather, we accept God’s Truth as fact and command our feelings to agree with it.

By applying this principle for many years, Eric and I are no longer like infants being “tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Eph 4:14).  Confusion is gone, and clarity reigns in our hearts and minds.  Why?  Because we have rock beneath our feet.

If you can learn to stand upon the solid rock of God’s Word in every situation you face, you will not be vulnerable to the crafty distortion of Truth so common today.  When you are exposed to human ideas that do not agree with Scripture, you will be much quicker to recognize and renounce them in your soul.  And when the enemy tries to bait you with confusion, doubt, or despair, you will have a means to finding the clarity and Heavenly perspective you need.

Wallowing in doubt, confusion, and uncertainty is hip and trendy in modern Christianity.  Some churches even host what they call “Doubt Nights” - where everyone gets together and vents their doubts about God and His Word.  Confusion is celebrated today.  But what a miserable way to live!  Why would you choose to look at a distorted view of a sunset through a filthy window when you could look through a sparkling clean one instead and see it in all its breathtaking beauty?

If you are being blown here and there by every wind of teaching and overwhelmed by your own doubt and confusion, God is ready to plant your feet firmly upon the solid, immovable Rock - which is Jesus Christ Himself.  He is willing to replace your confusion for glorious clarity - if you are willing to take Him at His Word.

God is not human, that he should lie, not a human being, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Num 23:19)

Written by Leslie Ludy

Taken from: http://www.setapartgirl.com/leslie-ludy/blog/05-20-14/standing-rock

Regret

"Hello, my name is Regret.

I'm pretty sure we have met,

Every single day of your life, 

I'm the whisper inside, 

that won't let you forget."

Regret. We've all felt it at some point, haven't we?  It can be so confusing, so degrading, so discouraging, and so inexplicable. My eyelids squeeze shut and my fists clench in desperate attempts to escape the thoughts. And yet it seems inescapable. 

How does regret play into the Christian life?  

Believe it or not, regret is not all bad. Regret shows us a wrong, and causes us to feel remorse for it. Regret will stop us from making the same mistakes again, because we know intrinsically that they were not of God. Regret shows us the mistakes of who we were. 

The problem comes in when we look at who we are. The lies of regret tell us that, because of our past, we are a failure. That we've fallen too far for healing. That our mistakes define our being. 

A few months ago, I went through a painful season of regret. The way I had been living my life had torn me down, and I didn't know how to get back up. Regret had shown me that pursuing myself had led to impurity in my heart, wasted time, and scars on the hearts of some of my friends that my selfishness had inflicted. I knew I had been wrong. I knew I didn't want to go back. But somehow, I couldn't go on....... until, in November, God showed me something beautiful. This is an excerpt of what I wrote in my prayer journal the night he did:

"Nails of agony and guilt pierce my soul, as I look back. How I sought myself above anyone else. How God was one of the last things on my mind. How I threw away everything that should have mattered for the things that didn't. 

The nails drive in more deeply as I think of everyone who saw me.

The strained relationships, the wounded hearts, the shallow conversations, the uncomfortable meetings.

I want to get up, but the nails are holding me fast to the ground. There is nothing I can do.

So I writhe in pain on the cold ground. Wishing I could have lived differently. Longing to have it to do over again. Writhing. Agonizing. Dying by the nails I drove into my own soul.

Unintentional suicide. 

Then, some unknown force gently turns my eyes toward my wrists. The place where the nails had been. 

There's nothing there.

Not even a scratch. The nails... the scars... the restraints... are completely gone. 

That's when I realize that nothing is holding me down. I'm free. The writhing... the regret... the DEATH is over.

And then I see the nails.

My iron nails, that I created by my own actions. That belonged in my soul. 

My nails are in the wrists of the Son of God.

Tears of joy and thankfulness should have been pouring from my eyes... but I'm numb. I can hardly even breathe in the surrealness of the moment. 

Jesus took my nails.

And they killed him. My nails caused the death of my Savior.

But death couldn't hold Him.

The element of truth in regret is that we used to be broken sinners, defined by the mistakes with which we flooded or lives. The lie of regret is that we're still that person, and can never escape the mistakes. The lie of regret is that the nails that we created are still in our wrists. The lie of regret is that the work of the cross was not enough. In the words of Bon Goff: 

"Every time we believe the lie that we are who we used to be, we roll the stone back into place like nothing happened." 

Regret shows us who we used to be, not who we are. On this side of the cross, the nails are no longer in our wrists. Yes, we made mistakes. Yes, we chained ourselves to a prison of sin. But He took the chains. He took the nails. They killed Him. But love was too strong to hold Him down. 

On this side of the cross, we are bought with a price. We are slaves adopted as sons. We are heirs to His glory. Regret shows us that we were wrong, and, when approached through God's eyes, removes us from the path of death. But we were not meant to live in regret. We are not who we were. 

Hello, my name is Child of the One True King,

I've been saved, 

I've been changed,

I have been set free!!!

Amazing grace is the song I sing.

I am the Child of the One True King.

The Open Door

Regionals was such an interesting tournament, wasn't it?  For me, it was a blast in a lot of ways, and I had so much fun getting to catch up with some amazing people and engage in some great conversations. But it definitely had its low points. The second day of the tournament was one of the lowest of all. I felt distant from God all day, and I could feel Enemy forces moving into my heart with different things that were going on. After the banquet, we tried to wind down by watching a few Duck Dynasty episodes, but even Si Robertson's hilarious antics couldn't ease the tension in my heart. It kept me up all night, and at 5:55 Thursday morning, I opened my eyes and almost started crying, dreading the day that was to come.

That morning at breakfast, I decided I needed to re-focus everything. So I went to the back of the breakfast room at a table by myself, pulled out a notebook, and wrote myself a letter. I wrote verses about strongholds, and fighting. I prayed that God would give me the courage to tear down the fortresses Satan was trying to set up within me. And then, I wrote down another verse from Revelation 3. Even as I was writing it, I wasn't sure why. It had nothing to do with fighting, but it was the only verse that came to mind in that moment. So I wrote it down, and slipped it in my bag. That day, God did tear down the strongholds in my heart. But even after that, He had something bigger in mind.

Saturday morning breaks were announced, and I was excited to hear my name called with some of my closest friends for apologetics. As I waited outside my semi-final room, I felt my stomach turning. Finally, it was my turn. I walked up the stairs, whispering Psalm 16 to myself....... "I saw the Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken."

The speech I gave that round was the worst I had presented all season. I stepped out of the room, and sat down on the top step for a few seconds, afraid to face any well-meaning friends asking how the round had gone. As I felt my inner-introvert kicking in, I knew I had to get outside by myself. So I grabbed the letter I had written the morning before, and stepped out of the building. As I walked slowly around the sidewalk, I read the letter to myself. Strength, fighting, a warrior-like heart, tearing down strongholds........ God, I tried!  Yesterday, you tore down the stronghold, I thought I was going to be okay. Why does he have to keep tearing ME down?!  Is this from you?  God, I want you to stir hearts with my words, I don't want to be done.

My mind drifted back to my spiritual wrestling Monday night before we left for Iowa, and the notes I had jotted down in my prayer journal. Entreating God to use me, and let me win just one heart-battle that week. Praising Him for knowing what topics I would draw, and for holding the results in His hands even though they had not yet passed through mine. Resting in Him. One phrase stood out in my memory....

"The pre-decided 'Yes, Lord.' "

The pre-decided  "Yes, Lord" was a term I'd heard in an online Ellerslie sermon called "The Patriot", which had inspired me beyond imagination. I'd prayed that God would give me a resolve to have it all throughout that week. Now that I was faced with what I was sure was the end of my tournament, it was becoming harder. But looking back at my motives outside my last round, I was really having to question my focus. I had gone into that apologetics round with the intention of impressing. Maybe that all-in resolve to fight for God's glory and only His, to bring His kingdom and accept His plans, to follow wherever He led..... that pre-decided "Yes, Lord".... wasn't as alive as I had thought. I wish I had it back. I wish I had my resolve for His kingdom back. I wish I had the strength to fight. God, I just want to touch someone. I want to win that heart-fight. 

I looked down at my letter, and read the following words from Revelation 3:8:

   "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name."

My knees were almost shaking as I stopped walking and looked up. It was as if Jesus Himself had come down to meet me, and whispered those words to my heart. There was still an open door.

Maybe someone else in that position would have thought that meant I would be advancing to the next round. Maybe they would have thought that the speech hadn't sounded as bad from the judge's table. But when I heard that verse, my mind wasn't even on the round. Breaks were suddenly out of the picture. I could only think of one thing, as my heart fluttered in my chest..... He still has an open door. That no one can shut. He is not done with me.

I hesitated to bring up that story this week, because I don't want anyone to misinterpret why I'm talking about it. Yes, God did take me to finals, and did give me another chance to share the story of a girl in China named Jia, whose life was changed by Jesus. Yes, He did give me a chance to pick up three more ballots. But that's not what mattered.

Because that wasn't the door.

Apologetics finals, impromptu finals, debate finals, humorous finals, open finals, or even national finals are not inherently beautiful. Think about it.......... it's a group of highschoolers, with a few distinguished adults in charge, who are each gifted in speaking, and who are fighting for plastic trophies and respect from their fellow competitors. We're fighting to walk across the stage, receive our rewards, and stand in front of the poperazzi in our little suits. And I can't condemn that longing, because so often that consumes the essence of my tournament experience.

But at each tournament this year, God has been teaching me something different. Whether it was how to bleed His love, at the Minnesota qualifier, a call to search more deeply for Him, in Kansas, or an affection so deep that it can free me from my chains, at the MN Open, it all comes down to the cross.

And this tournament, I realized that the cross is a door. An open door. That no one can shut.

And that door touches hearts. That bleeds over them, it reaches out to find them, and it frees them. The door does not open to a ballot, or a trophy...... the one that opens to a heart. The open door was the heart of the heart of the judge from finals that intentionally came up to me and told me I had inspired her faith. The open door was in the eyes of a friend, where the tears fell selflessly for her sister. The open door was in the hands that held mine as we prayed. The open door was in the smile that never let up on me. The open door was in the little feet that shuffled shyly as her little five-year-old voice told me her name. The open door was in the kindness of a friend, who was willing to genuinely listen for as long as it took.

A lot of people left this tournament feeling excited about their results. Others are still anticipating roll-down or at-large calls. Some are disappointed and hurting from broken dreams that seem outside of God's plan. But no matter where you stand, never forget that His words weren't just to me. As Eric Ludy says, "My God has promised, and He cannot lie!!"

And He has placed before you an open door. A door that no one..... whether it's disappointing ballots, confused judges, lost nationals slots, or the forces of Hell itself..... can shut.

Beautiful Things

Yesterday was a beautiful day in Kansas City. I got out my roller blades, and headed out on the trail in our backyard to enjoy it. As the wind rippled around me, I could almost hear God's voice and see His hands in the trees and the glorious sky around me. It was beautiful.

Have you ever fixed your heart on something?

Not just thought about it, not just admired it, not just praised it and not even just spent time learning about it more deeply...... but truly set your eyes on it?  Have your heartstrings ever become so tangled in something that nothing could pull you away?

Focus is difficult. A couple weeks ago, Joshua Kawase and I had been having a very energetic conversation at our apologetics Bible study, at the end of which we jokingly "decided" that we both had ADD [Attention Deficit Disorder] because neither of us could focus on anything. Although this was on a more humorous note, I have noticed that focus is almost impossible without a fighting effort.

How many times have you ever fixed your heart on God?

What does it mean to fix your heart on something?  Last summer, I was talking to Anna Bell about this idea, and one point in the conversation really stood out to me: "You know, if you really love someone that much, you can't get them off your mind. No matter how hard you try. You watch a movie, and you're subconsciously making connections between the story plot and them. You hear their name and your heart can't stand still. You find out they're on the other side of the world, and suddenly you're there, too."

When love controls the relationship, focus no longer has to be a struggle. You can't help but focus on it. Think about some of those things...... when you watch a movie, even if it's not a Christian film, do you watch for God's hand in it?  When you hear His name, does it stir your heart?  When you find out He's on the other side of the world in a third-world nation, are you there, too?  Does your heart fill with His burdens, to the extent that you would take up a cross and go to Bangladesh if that's where your Beloved was?

Focus has always been hard during my devotional time. A few weeks ago, my distraction levels were really beginning to skyrocket. Every time I would sit down to pray, my mind would always wander to what other people might be doing at that moment, the funny things that so-and-so had said that day, or what in the world I was going to wear to the Regionals banquet. I couldn't focus on God without thoughts of something else creeping in. My friend asked me how my prayer life was going, and I admitted that weeds of distraction had really been overtaking my garden. She suggested turning on some quiet worship music during my devotional time. "Just be enamored by the presence of God!  Reflect on Him, and love Him and just spend time in His arms listening to His voice. I can't wait for Heaven ever since I started doing that, because that's what it's going to be like every day!" 

Yesterday, on my roller blades, I realized for maybe the first time that focus isn't even always a fight when it's controlled by love. I didn't have to make a conscious effort to THINK OF NOTHING BUT GOD and if you think of anything else YOU ARE A FAILURE, as I had been telling myself before. I was in love with Him. In that moment, I didn't need to focus on anything else.

I think this is the fourth week in a row that I've talked about the life of a Catholic saint in a devotional, and I realized I probably have a lot of you questioning my affiliation with Protestantism at this point..... so!  I promise to use a Protestant example next week. ;)  But I think Pope John Paul II really lived this kind of focus out more realistically than anyone I've heard of. Catholic author Matthew Kelly wrote that, after receiving communion, the Pope would kneel down, and "disappear" into a deep place within himself. He was so enamored with the presence of God in that moment that, even in the middle of a loud football stadium with thousands of people around him, he could find that quiet place inside is heart where is Beloved was. And when he was in that place, nothing could ever pull him away. After all, why would you become distracted by something a human said when you were in the presence of God Himself?  Mother Theresa also seemed to have found this quiet place within herself, where her King was. No matter where she was, she was never afraid to pray, and never too distracted to spend time focusing on the one she loved. This time with her Creator was the source of her strength. It was through this that she was truly able to love the people around her; to truly see each person as Christ and be able to invest her life in them, even if it was just one.

Have you ever thought about the fact that there is the same quiet place within your heart?  Maybe you've never unlocked it, or maybe your heart is so filled with noise and distractions that you've never been able to embrace its solitude, but it's there. You only have to discover it. Your God created it, and He knows exactly where it is. He has beautiful things in store for those who find it, and is willing to show the way to anyone who asks.

In two days, the largest region-wide tournament of the 2014 season is going to begin. What do you want to accomplish?  What are your goals?  Are you after anything deeper than just a slot to the next tournament, or a little commemorative trophy?

If you have time, I'd encourage you to revisit a couple of these devotionals from our Tournaments 101 series as you're thinking about your goals:

Reach!  (by Patience)

Why Did I Say That? (joint effort of Hannah and Gentle)

Glorifying God (by Hannah)

Look Outside (by Ellen)

The Calling: A Reflection on My Heart (poem by Magali)

Victorious (by Hannah)

This week, each one of us has a unique opportunity to leave a lasting fingerprint on someone else's heart. God has beautiful things in store for you, if you allow Him to unlock them.

Can you think of anything more precious and beautiful than nearness to the heart of God?  He's willing to bring that to you this week, if you reach for it. I would encourage you to make it one of your goals to focus on God; that's at the top of my list. But as you're doing that, don't exert your efforts into thinking about nothing but Him..... pour yourself into loving Him.

I can't wait to see what happens when you do!!!

"I found the one my heart loves;

I held Him, and would not let Him go."

"Show Me!"

It was the morning of March 16th, 2014, as I sat in the back seat of our black mini van on the way home from the Minnesota National Open. After a long week, everyone was tired, and nobody really felt like socializing much. Kate fell asleep in the back seat next to me, Beth got out her iPhone, and Christine started to edit photos she had taken at the tournament, as our moms talked quietly in the front of the car. 

Restlessly, I gazed out my window, thinking about the tournament. Hearing Emily's name on impromptu final breaks...... hanging out with Maria Andrews all Saturday....... going to church with Caroline and Sarah...... running across campus at night like nobody was watching....... great conversations with Bailey........ fun cafeteria memories with my club and Lincoln........ watching Michael and Noah rock their apol rounds...... trying to stay warm on a bench outside with Sarah and Jenae......................

"Hey, Hannah, I have those books for you!  I think you're gonna like them, this one's super cool."  

I shuffled around in my backpack until I found it. The title was printed in bold, blue letters across a matted white background:

"Rediscover Catholicism", by Matthew Kelly

I opened up the first chapter, expecting to learn more about the differences between Catholicism and my Evangelical Free Protestant denomination. But I found something much different:

" 'THE CRY FOR HELP'

.... In reference to the well-known fact that [Mahatma] Gandhi read from the New Testament every day and often quoted the Christian Scriptures, a reporter once asked him why he had never become a Christian. He answered, 

'If I had ever met one, I would have become one.'

In his own way, Gandhi was saying, 'Don't tell me - show me!' revealing his yearning for an example of an authentic life."

Ever since that morning driving home from the Open, my mind won't let go of this quote. 

This world longs for something that we have. At some point in their lives, everyone is forced to ask a simple question: "Why am I here?"  or  "What is the meaning of life?"  God created each man with an innate desire for more than just life on its face value. 

Christianity has what they need.

The problem is, all the majority of people see of Christianity is Christians themselves.  And most Christians do a horrible job of representing the Christian faith. 

One of the apologetics topics for Category 4 (Salvation) is:

Analyze and respond to the statement, "I don't think I want to be a Christian, as Christians are hypocritical, intolerant and judgmental." -Anonymous

This question is probably my favorite topic out of all 5 categories, because I think it's true. We, as the modern church, have done little to further the name of Christ and have greatly damaged His name in the eyes of the world. And I can say that, because I'm one of the worse. So often, I'm more focused on me than anyone else. I'm rarely willing to give up my free time to serve others, I never rejoice in suffering, I ignore the people I want to ignore, and only love the people I want to love. So often, I find myself more excited over a successful shopping trip or a winning debate round than I do over hearing something from God. I find myself more dissatisfied with my appearance in the mirror at times than I've ever felt over the laxness in my spiritual life. 

And the world watches the whole thing.

Our lives are like a story..... and we're not the only ones reading them. Others around us are constantly watching the way we handle circumstances, the way we love, the way we rejoice, and the way we LIVE.

What do they see?

If you've ever seen someone truly living even just a moment of their lives in the light of the cross, you know how incredible and radiant that kind of lifestyle appears. I've seen it in one of my best friends, sitting across the room from me absorbing every word of our apologetics Bible study. I've heard it over the phone in the voice of my adopted "big sister", as she asked how I was doing with a real, personal interest. I've absorbed it as I looked deep into the eyes of a spiritual encourager of mine and saw the passion of Christ raging in them as we talked about Jesus. 

And every time I see it, I pray...... God, let that be me. Let me care on that level. Let me live like that.

What if the world had been able to meet some of them?  What if a hopeless searcher had been able to see, and hear the love of God through us?

Where do we start?  Ultimately, I think it's different for each person, but it all stems from the same place. 

It starts on our knees. 

When was the last time you found yourself there?

Starts with One

7 billion people. 7 billion dreams. 7 billion lifestyles, personal ideals, habits, goals and hearts.

And you are just one. You can't touch each of those billions of hearts. We are weak, we are small, we are powerless. We are:

1

out of 

7,000,000,000

And He calls us to change the world.

Most of us have heard those words pretty often. I remember the first time I heard them at a speech and debate tournament. Former KS state rep, Mrs. Cheryl Reynolds, was filling some time up on the podium before the awards ceremony at the Derby Dust-Up Qualifier in 2011. Her little explanation of NCFCA's purpose and history was interesting, but the essence of what she said towards the end was what truly struck me: "NCFCA's goal is to raise up world-changers. Currently, we even have a former student who's running for a seat in government!"   My little 13-year-old heart was stirred at these words, as I pictured myself in a smart-looking black suit with a glittering red necklace and a stylish hairdo, debating America's leading politicians, and fighting for a seat in congress...... a world-changer.

Almost four years later, I can say that that li'l aspiration carries no weight. I have no plans of becoming a politician, or spending my life in the realm of suits, debate or congress. But I also have no plans of becoming that kind of world-changer. Maybe because now, I'm realizing just how big the world is.

I cannot change the entire world. Even if I followed my former dreams of running for congress, I still wouldn't have been able to touch 7 billion people. But maybe, we were never meant to.

How do you define world-changer?  Katie Davis, a missionary in Uganda, had this to say on the topic:

     "Sometimes working in a Third World country makes me feel like I am emptying the ocean with an eyedropper....  I have learned that I will not change the world. Jesus will do that. I can, however, change the world for one person. ........Many days, I am still overwhelmed by the magnitude of the need ....And I look at the life of my Savior, who stopped for one."

If you've ever debated an LD resolution that has anything to do with the rights of an individual, you might've been asked the following question: "How much is a human life worth?"  Often the question didn't even need to be asked; the answer seems pretty straightforward. "Humans have inherent worth, that can't be measured in material things."  But how many of us actually live by that standard?  Do we really treat the people around us as priceless treasures with immaterial worth?  Do we ever think about the fact that, in God's eyes, one soul in and of itself..... not what that soul can do, not what it looks like, not what it acts like, not how popular it is, not how fun it is to be around, but the soul ITSELF...... is worth more than the entire material universe?

My dad used to talk about that all the time in our apologetics class. I heard it, and I was amazed by the fact that God would care that much about me. But I ignored the fact that that standard didn't just apply to me.... God saw every human through that lens. God's standard isn't that the 7 billion people on planet earth, and the trillions of humans that have lead their lives throughout history, combined, are worth more than the entire material universe. God's standard is ONE. One starving child in Africa. One victim of human trafficking. One Syrian refugee. One unborn baby. One foster child. One annoying eight-year-old who lives up your street.

In God's eyes?  They're worth pouring out your entire life over. They're worth dying for. You can take all the riches of the world, all the kingdoms, all the concerts, all the flashing lights, all the money, all the clothes, all the stars in the heavens, all the planets, all the supernovas and galaxies, all the fire and light and marvels of space, tie it all up with a bow............... and it's still not as valuable as the nine year old girl in Nepal, trapped in a slave industry she may never escape.

What if someone decided to live as though that were true?

One-hundred and four years ago, someone did. Her name was Agnes. Agnes was an Albanian Catholic, surrounded by wealth and luxury. Most of her contemporaries stayed in their comfortable European surroundings, living care-free and self-centered lives. But Agnes had a higher calling on her life. When she turned eighteen, she became a nun, and dedicated her entire life to serving God wherever He called her. She followed His voice to the broken nation of India, and down into the slums of Calcutta. Her question to God was not, "How am I going to do this?" or "How will I benefit?"  Her prayer was a simple and obedient: "How can I help?"  This woman of God had His eyes for the world. She saw the worth in one person. Mother Theresa, the name by which we now know Agnes, once put it this way:

     "I believe in person-to-person contact. Every person is Christ for me, and since there is only one Jesus, the person I am meeting is the one person in the world at that moment."

Mother Theresa held true to this idea her entire life. As those around her explained,

     "From the moment you were with her, there was only you and her. She wasn't looking over your shoulder to see what was happening around you. You had her full attention. It was as if nothing else existed to her except you."

You don't have to be in a third-world country to live this kind of life. There are so many people around us, even now, who are hurting. Each one, individually, is worth more than the world. They are the image of Christ.

Getting Practical

This week, I hope you'll visit the Prayer Wall again to see the featured prayers for this week. If you feel led to lift up the victims of human trafficking with me, think about a new challenge. Don't pray: "God, please bless the women and children trapped in the slave industry."  Lock yourself in your prayer closet, and wrestle for the soul of just one. Start pulling down the roof-tiles. Spend yourself for one. I've been wrestling in prayer for one human trafficking girl for almost three months now, and it's been an amazing experience!

If you feel motivated to fight for one girl with me, I would encourage you to go all-in. You can find out more about justice for human trafficking at Tiny Hands International, which is one of my favorite sites on the topic. You can even join their official One-Girl Prayer Initiative, to spiritually "adopt" a human trafficking victim, and show your support by wearing their bracelet. I've ordered mine, and I can't wait for it to come in!

(This kind of prayer is complicated and can be uncomfortable. I'd love to talk you more about it one on one, if you want, feel free to email me!!)

Today, I still long to be a world-changer. But now I have a completely new idea of what that means. My goal in life is to have the eyes of Mother Theresa..... to be able to stop for one.

Faith - Walk in God's Promises

Faith-walk in God’s Promises

I want to talk about embracing Jesus even when the process isn't easy. I hope Jesus meets you and encourages your heart. This is a testimony of what God has been working out in my heart...

Just for a little back story from me:
I grew up in Canby, Oregon in a safe home and with a great family. We lived in that house for about seven years and then my dad's job moved us to Bend, Oregon. The Lord blessed us there more than anyone could ask for and we were so grateful. We snow skied on Mt. Bachelor every weekend, and I took horse back riding lessons with someone who really challenged me to learn to ride. Did I mention, I LOVE horses!

Then the pruning season came…

My dad was offered a promotion and my parents started praying about a move to Kansas City.  After praying for 3 months, my parents shared the news and I had mixed feelings.  I didn’t want to leave my life in Bend.
In August we moved to a hot and humid Leawood, Kansas. We didn't
know anyone, and moving to a flat place with no mountains was hard.

About three years later my family began to feel the Lord move on our hearts about another house in Kansas City, MO. It was a short sale house and we thought we could buy it and renovate it. We prayed in the living room of this home and saw our future in this home. We moved into a rental house in June of 2013, after selling our house in four days. The circumstances looked pretty good until the bank decided to send the house into foreclosure.

Before I go on a bunny trail, I want to look at the main message I feel Jesus wanted me to write.

“Don't give up on promises God has yet to answer, completely. In the midst of waiting, stop blaming Him in the pruning season of that partial promise, but draw closer to Him in relationship, instead.”

I'd like to look at this through the example of David. The bible says, David was a shepherd boy who lived in the town of Bethlehem.  Samuel anointed him and prophesied he would be King of Israel. At this time we know that Saul was not so focused on The Lord anymore.
Following Samuel’s prophesy, we know that David killed Goliath, served in Saul's courts, and became his son in-law. Things were looking pretty good for David until… Bam… The pruning season the Lord had for David arrived. Saul tried to kill his own son in law.
God had given David a promise, but David needed to be refined before he had the maturity to be King. David was soon running for his life not just for months, but for years!

But did David loose trust in The Lord? No. David prayed faithfully to God and believed that some day, God would fulfill that promise. We can see later, in The Bible, David became on of the greatest kings of Israel. He didn't avoid God when the testing got tough. I believe whether or not God fulfills the promise in the beginning, we can't give up on Jesus and we need to constantly listen to his voice.

My family and I are currently still living in the same rental house, 3 houses away from the one we have placed an offer on more than 1 year ago. We have been asking The Lord what he wants us to do in this season. We feel like The Lord wants us to pursue the house and keep pressing in for this plan that has yet to be fully fulfilled.  We are asking God for redirection, if we have not heard Him correctly.

I was convicted that I was so focused on what Jesus had in store for me, I completely lost sight of Him.  I believe God can give us a partial promise, bring us through testing, and then if it's his will, lead us into the end-zone.  But in these seasons of testing I feel that we so easily give up in God when in reality those seasons are when we need him most.  Jeremiah 29: 12,13 shows us how much we need him in every day:

"Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

But for us waiting has been a challenge, "God why are you doing this?!? Don't you love me?" I think it's okay to be angry, and yet not blame everything on God. He may let Satan test you, but it doesn't mean He doesn't love you. I think the best place to look is in the book of Job.

"Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied.
“Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face. The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord. (Job 1 NIV)

Wow..... As we can see, God can send pruning sometimes to test us and see if we are really holding on to Him. He is doing it because he loves us. He knows it's also the best for us.

One of the elders at my church made a video about this.  I just watched it last night and thought it really fit with this post.  I hope it encourages you!

(Bob Sorge - God Could Have Left Job Alone)

God wants us to embrace His loving arms instead of pull away, to do our best, and let Him do the rest. I find when God prunes me, I draw closer to Him than I would have without it.

So when you are giving your speeches, and God may give you the partial promise, not giving you the full promise of breaking to a final round, don't pull away from Him. Embrace your Daddy's arms. Because He makes everything okay and He sees the end of the road and vision for you even when you can't.

Just wait on his voice.           Love, Amanda

Written by Amanda Patton