Shameless Audacity

The second of three posts on "When you pray, go into your room".

Key Scripture Passage
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.  Psalm 84:10a (NIV)

Reflection
Do you remember the famous photo of JFK sitting at his desk in the oval office and his son, John Jr. on the floor peeking out from under the desk?  (Click here if you'd like to see it.)  Two thoughts immediately come to mind when viewing that photo.  “What is a toddler doing under the desk of the most powerful man in America?” And at the same time, “That little guy belongs right there playing at his father’s feet.”

The picture captures what I think Jesus is trying to teach in the parable of the friend at midnight who comes knocking and asking for a loaf of bread.  Jesus said, “because of your shameless audacity he will surely get up and give you as much as you need” (Luke 11:8).  Jesus’ point is that even though God is Almighty, we, His children, are welcome in His presence at any time.  The little John Kennedy Jr probably didn’t want anything more than to be close to his father.  And that’s exactly what God wants us to desire.  Jesus is calling us to simply be with Him.

Psalm 73:25 says, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”  I wish I could say that to God with complete sincerity.  But I want so many things here on earth, good things.  But even more than the good things that I often ask God for, He wants to give me the best thing – Himself, time with Him, His presence in my life.

The Luke 11 passage goes on to say, “Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead? Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!”   The verse doesn’t say “how much more will your Father in heaven give you fish and eggs and other goodies”.  It says He will give us the Holy Spirit because God knows that is the best gift imaginable.  That’s what we really need and what we should really desire. So, with shameless audacity let’s go often in that quiet room and be with our Almighty, Eternal, Holy, Unchanging, All-powerful, All-wise, All-knowing, Sovereign, Gracious, Merciful, Faithful God.  We belong there, sitting at His feet, not needing to ask for anything, and discovering that one day in His courts is truly better than a thousand elsewhere.

Questions to Consider
Who do you have in heaven other than God? What on earth do you desire that keeps you from spending time simply enjoying God’s presence?

Action Step for the Week
Set aside 30 minutes in your week ahead to be alone with God.  Spend time appreciating how amazing our Father is.

A Frequent Encounter with Royalty

The first of three posts on "When you pray, go into your room".

Key Scripture Passage
"But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."  Matthew 6:6 NIV

Reflection
I still find it difficult to believe to this day.

We were visiting Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard.  A sudden buzz came across the gathered crowd when news broke out that the Queen Mother's motorcade would soon be passing.  Sure enough it came, but to everyone's surprise, it stopped.  The car door opened, and out stepped the Queen Mother herself.  Much to my amazement, she approached me, called me by name, and asked if I would step into the Palace with her for a private meeting.  I forgot all about my busy schedule that day and humbly followed with a sense of honor I had never felt before.  Imagine - the Queen Mother wanted a private meeting with me!

Well, you can keep it to your imagination because, of course, that story isn't true.  But an even more amazing one is - the King of kings has invited me into a private meeting with Him whenever I choose to come!

Surely I would put aside my petty busy-ness and take advantage of such an amazing invitation as frequently as I could.  Or would I?  Do I?

Why don't I spend more time alone with God?  Is my busy-ness really that important?  Is it because I really don't comprehend who He is, value Him, and appreciate the invitation?  What reward am I missing out on because I don't develop this close intimacy with God?   How much more of the kingdom of heaven on earth could I experience here and now, and extend it to others, if I was only willing to accept the invitation and enter the room with the King of kings?

We'll explore these thoughts in the posts to follow.

Questions to Consider
How intimate are you with God?  Do you value Him so much that you are willing to regularly put everything else aside and spend time with just Him in your "room"?

Action Step for the Week
Set aside 30 minutes in your week ahead to be alone with God.  Ask Him "What do you have to say to me today, God?"  Then listen.

Have You Ever Heard About Microfinance?

The last of three posts on "Go back and report...what you hear and see."

Key Scripture Passage
Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”  Matthew 11:4-5 NIV

Reflection
"Have you ever heard about microfinance?"  Jackie called me out of the blue with that question.  I had never met her before, but she had been referred to me by our church's missions pastor and had the guts to give me a call and ask me that question.  She then proceeded to report to me what she had seen and heard about microfinance, and Christian microfinance in particular.  2 minutes into the conversation I was hooked, and my life has never been the same since.

What started with a simple question from a sister in Christ who had identified an effective means of empowering the materially poor turned into what is today PEER Servants.  She took a mustard seed step to make a call.  She put her concern about others before her concern of how I might see her.

It didn't stop there.  The fact is virtually all of PEER Servants' growth that has led to hundreds of volunteers offering thousands of hours of service, giving/raising millions of dollars, and extending more of the kingdom to hundreds of thousands of the materially poor has resulted from normal everyday people reporting what they are hearing and seeing.

While we praise God for the growth He has allowed, we also appreciate how much more of the kingdom of heaven needs to be extended to earth.  Let us not grow weary in our reporting what we are hearing and seeing, and as we report, let us make certain it is God, the One who has truly done the work, Who is receiving the glory for the lives that are being blessed.

Questions to Consider
How did you get involved in more intentionally extending the kingdom of heaven to earth?  Did it result from someone reporting to you what they had seen or heard?

Action Step for the Week
Identify just one example of how you have seen the kingdom of heaven being extended to earth and tell 2-3 people about it this week.

On the Importance of Sharing Stories

The second of three posts on "Go back and report...what you hear and see."

Memory Verse
As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.  Isaiah 55:9

Reflection
The time on my car clock read 12:56 pm. Just four minutes until I was supposed to pick up my daughter from preschool.  On the short drive I spent my thoughts unpacking my morning to figure out how the time had crept up on me.  I slid into a parking spot and reached my daughter's classroom just three minutes after 1 pm.  Not too bad, but I told myself I would do better the next day. 

As I loaded my daughter and her baby sister back in the car, I noticed an acquaintance parked next to me.  We exchanged greetings, and she shared her daughter had been offered a seat in a specific kindergarten program.  As a result she now felt torn between two options and unsure of what to do.  As she was telling her story, I immediately thought of another friend whose family had been in a similar situation several years before.  They had several options for the husband's employment and were confused about what God was doing; what could the choices mean?  In the end, they discovered through the discerning process that God is at work in our individual lives but also in the life of the community around us.  Just because options are present, it doesn't mean that we must walk through that door.  Sometimes God is doing something completely different.

As my acquaintance finished speaking, I shared this story with her.  The reaction on her face made it clear that the experience of my friends encouraged her in her own decision-making process.  We went on to talk for another 25 minutes in the parking lot about how God works in our lives and the world around us.  We finally climbed into our cars, waved good-bye and went our separate ways.  As I drove home, I couldn't help but think God had bigger plans for my day than merely me being on time to pick up my daughter from preschool.

Questions to Consider

1. Do you have space in your life to slow down to be in the moment of what is happening?  The conversation I had with the woman stretched close to an unplanned half hour, but the time was so encouraging to both of us.  Of even greater importance, I was reminded of how God’s ways are greater than my ways.  He is greater than schedules and plans.
   

2. Are you willing to share stories with others when God presents opportunities?
   

Action Steps

1. One thing I have found valuable is praying that God would ordain the day; that He would orchestrate it in the way He wants.  As the day progresses, I think it is important to believe that in the midst of random events (like running late to pick up a child), God is at work.  Try this for yourself in the week ahead.
   

2. Connected to the above thought, for a week each evening, take inventory of the opportunities God has created for you to share stories of what He is doing.  I think the events and opportunities will amaze us. 
   

What Am I Hearing and Seeing?

The first of three posts on "Go back and report...what you hear and see."

Key Scripture Passage
Jesus replied, "Go back and report to John what you hear and see:  The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”  Matthew 11:4-5 NIV

Reflection

People who are willing to report what they hear and see can have tremendous impact in our world.  Check out these inspiring stories of folks in Cambodia, the Congo, Mexico, the Middle East, and right here in the United States if you're not convinced.

So what are you reporting to others of what you are hearing and seeing about the kingdom of heaven on earth?  Do you realize that by simply being willing to report what you are hearing and seeing, you may be able to allow your friends to experience a bit more of heaven on earth?

We started this blog with Jesus' command to "Go and make disciples."  Despite the king commanding me to do it, I find that really hard to do, so I rarely do it (and I am trying to do it more).  Now the king is encouraging me to simply "go back and report...what we hear and see."  Surely that is easy enough to do, and yet again, it seems like I rarely even do that.

When I ask myself why I rarely do it, I come down to either I am not seeing much of the kingdom of heaven on earth, or I refuse to put my pride and ego aside to tell others about it.  It's definitely not the first - I get to see God do amazing things in the lives of people all over the world.  It is much more the latter, and so now I am trying to be much more intentional about simply reporting to others what I am hearing and seeing.

Are there potential repercussions?  Yes, but in general nowhere near the life-threatening risks faced by those featured in the inspiring stories I referenced at the beginning of this post.  And the king who told me to report what I hear and see actually has all authority on earth subject to Him.  Hmmmm - now that should make me a bit bolder, shouldn't it?!

No one can question what you hear and see.  If you get in the game of extending the kingdom of heaven to earth through your actions, you will have plenty to report to others.  And as you humbly report it, just watch how God will extend more of His kingdom to your listeners, and you as well.

Questions to Consider

What have you seen and heard of the kingdom of heaven being extended to earth?  Are you reporting it to others? 

Action Steps for the Week

Identify just one example of how you have seen the kingdom of heaven being extended to earth and tell 2-3 people about it this week.

Feeling underqualified?

The last of three posts on "Go and make disciples."

Key Scripture Passage
"Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19 NIV

Reflection

My first thought when I read “Go and make disciples“ is to ask, “Lord how can I do that when I am hardly able to be a good disciple myself?” Then I read on to verse 20, “teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.”  I know I don’t obey everything nor do I even know all that He commanded and I feel totally under qualified for this job. But as I read on Jesus reassures me “I am with you always”.

So how do we become disciples that feel qualified to “Go and make disciples?”

Well, we have to know the One whom we are disciples of.  Do I really know Jesus? Am I really a disciple? is the first question I ask myself.  What makes a person a disciple? The American Heritage Dictionary defines disciple as a noun meaning, one who embraces and assists in spreading the teachings of another; an active adherent, of a movement or philosophy. Am I embracing and spreading what Jesus taught? Am I actively adhering to the teachings and philosophies of Jesus in my daily life?

These questions begin to stir conviction in my heart because the answers are not "yes" as I know they should be. What am I to do, give up completely and say I am hopeless. I will never be good enough? Absolutely not.  Although that is what Satan whispers in my ear almost daily, I press on towards the goal.

I realize that the 5-10 minute devotional I’ve been doing whenever I can fit it in and the popcorn prayers are not enough if I really want to become more like the One whom I claim to be a disciple of. I must challenge myself; and begin reading the scriptures in a thoughtful way, not just to check it off my “to do” list.  I must really let the Holy Spirit speak to me through the words on the page. My prayer time should look more like Jesus’ -- set apart, purposeful, asking Him to show me ways that I can apply what He is teaching me in my life. Beware of what you ask the Lord because He is faithful.  Ask and you will receive.

Recently I have been coming up against all sorts of temptations since taking on a more intentional discipleship role. It is crazy how quickly Satan and our flesh try to dishearten us once we take steps toward moving from complacent Christianity to true discipleship. It is affirming when I have victory over these temptations. I see how I am applying His word to my life and how the Holy Spirit is strengthening me. With each passing day I realize it is not about the knowledge I possess but about the position of my heart. Am I bowed down to Jesus saying not my will but Yours Lord or am I living my life and fitting Jesus in?  Before we can go and make disciples we must determine in our own mind if we are really disciples of His and be honest with ourselves and God. It’s time to prepare for the mission at hand and say goodbye to half-hearted discipleship.

Questions to Consider

Are you embracing and spreading what Jesus taught? Are you actively adhering to the teachings and philosophies of Jesus in your daily life?

Action Steps for the Week

Read Revelation 3:15-17.  Confess and repent of lukewarm discipleship. Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and look for opportunities to obey everything Jesus has commanded.

It seems easy, doesn't it?

The second of three posts on "Go and make disciples."

Until you have to actually do it.

Key Scripture Passage

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  Matthew 28:19-20 ESV

Reflection

"Go make disciples"! That seems easy enough, right? But, not really when you get down to actually doing it?

But I want to encourage you to do it even though you might not even know where to start or what to do. I want to encourage you to get involved with making disciples, not simply because Jesus told us to (although that should be reason enough) but because it is part of experiencing and extending the Kingdom of Heaven.

I think the early Christians had a pretty good idea of how to do this discipleship thing. The New Testament gives us some insight into how they did it but it was an integral part of who they were as a community so they left out a lot of details. Over time the church has lost many of the discipleship skills and practices. But we don't have to leave it this way. God wants us to experience Him and His kingdom so the world will know that He is God. Sure we'll make some mistakes trying to learn to disciple, but with humble, prayerful hearts the Spirit will show us the way.

So, how do we get started? Let me suggest something that is working for me - put yourself in God's path. Go out and get involved in something - join a club, volunteer to tutor kids or adults, offer to help someone with a home remodel, or change their oil, or feed the cows or balance a budget. It doesn't really matter what it is, just get involved somewhere with some people. When you're there, get to know the people, listen to their stories, take an interest in their lives.

How's all this going to help you to 'go make disciples'? From my experience, it seems to be part of the process God is using to help me become a discipler. Getting me out of my comfort zone, opening my eyes to see everyone as His precious creation, growing my compassion, developing my patience and causing me to trust Him more. It takes time, but I can see how He is changing me and giving me opportunities to have meaningful involvement in people's lives.

It will be scary (trust me) doing things you aren't comfortable doing, talking to people you don't know well and learning things that don't come easily. It will be a sacrifice bearing with difficult people, giving up your precious time and comfort. But isn't experiencing the Kingdom worth it? I can guarantee you won't experience and extend the Kingdom sitting in the comfort and safety of your home. I know I wasn't. Let's jump into this adventure together.

Questions to Consider

What are you willing to do to experience the Kingdom of Heaven? What are you willing to give up to experience the Kingdom of Heaven?

Action Steps for the Week 

Ask God to show you somewhere you can get involved and ask Him to help you stick with it when things start getting difficult or beyond that with which you are familiar.