greatest in the kingdom of heaven...

"God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important" -1 Corinthians 1:27-28.

The humblest child is the greatest--that little girl in a torn and dirty party dress singing of her joy in God on a trash heap--she's the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Those people our world tells us are nothing are great in God's reckoning. And they are the ones who can teach me.

It's not that God loves the poor any more than he loves me or anyone else in America--he's not a reverse social snob. He loves the wealthy deeply, as I can see in his interactions with the rich young man in Mark 10, the same man who prompted Jesus to say,

"It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God" -Mark 10:25.

Despite this,

"Jesus looked at [the rich young man] and loved him" -Mark 10:21.

I know Jesus looks at me--with all my struggles--and loves me. In his compassion he sees what is lacking in my faith and wants to heal my soul. He knows I need the humility and faith of the poor that I can so easily lose in my material abundance. I need to take spiritual lessons from the poor, learning their rich, childlike faith.

Downward mobility--becoming like and loving the poor--was at the heart of Christ's ministry:

"Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death--even death on a cross!" -Philippians 2:6-8.

This is the attitude God asks of me--to live not for my own advancement, but for the good of others. When I become like the poor and like a child, God calls me blessed. I will have finally poked my head out of the smog of this world's backward values and peeked into his kingdom.
[taken from "Hope Lives" by Amber Van Schooneveld]

throw off uncertainty...

[1] Cast your bread upon the waters,
for you will find it after many days.
[2] Give a portion to seven, or even to
eight,
for you know not what disaster
may happen on earth.
[3] If the clouds are full of rain,
they empty themselves on the earth,
and if a tree falls to the south or to
the north,
in the place where the tree falls,
there it will lie.
[4] He who observes the wind will not sow,
and he who regards the clouds will
not reap.

[5] As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything.
[6] In the morning sow your seed, and at evening withhold not your hand, for you do not know which will prosper, this or that, or whether both alike will be good.
[Ecclesiastes 11:1-6]

Do not let uncertainty become an excuse. Do what needs to be done. You do not know the plan God has in store for you. Why question the outcome? Trust Him and have faith.

Wrapped In Your Arms...

I was driving in my car when this song came on. Because I recognized the song, I was singing my little heart out...but once the chorus hit for the second time, I broke down and I couldn't get the words out anymore no matter how hard I tried.

To know that I am wrapped in the arms of God, and that nothing, absolutely nothing, can separate me from Him...it's one of those feelings that I couldn't possibly begin to describe, but it's one of the most amazing feelings I've ever had :)

Listen to the lyrics.

Rest in Peace...

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. -Matthew 11:28-30

Dietrich Bonhoeffer stated that "When Christ calls a man he bids him come and die." I know Christ has asked me to give up my very life to serve Him. That could mean any number of things. It might mean I die in the cause of speaking out for the oppressed. It could mean I give up some comforts in order to help others. It might mean I have to make some difficult business decisions. It might mean I give my time to a widow in my neighborhood. I don't know what Christ will ask me to do. But it might not be easy.

That's why Christ's promise is so sweet: When I'm weary from serving, He will give me rest. I'm simply His servant, carrying out the good deeds He has for me. He isn't asking me to carry the burden of the whole world or fix the whole world or be in charge of making sure everything turns out just right. He carries that burden. He asked me simply to love Him and love others and act accordingly.
[taken from "Hope Lives" by Amber Van Schooneveld]

Please watch this video and really take in the lyrics of the song.

Do You Shudder?

I wonder how many of us are living numb in a state of willing ignorance. We hear so much. So many stories of death. So many statistics of despair. So many pictures of grief. Sometime I wish there were no Internet or long-distance communication so that all I'd have to worry about is my own little town. I'm overwhelmed. I don't think God created me to take in this much despair. My brain just can't keep processing these statistics: 1.2 million children are trafficked each year as slaves; 854 million people are hungry today; more than 1 billion live on less than $1 per day. 1.2 million. 854 million. 1 billion. A blur of numbers. I am numb. The words are meaningless. I've hit capacity for caring.

And so I shut down. I've heard one statistic too many, and I just can't take it anymore. I don't know what to do, I can't quite believe in the problems, so I do nothing. I feel myself developing a protective film that covers my eyes and anesthetizes my heart. If I saw the problems in person, if I looked in the children's eyes, I would shudder. But I only see numbers, not faces.

And I don't shudder anymore.

I stay half ignorant on purpose. I skim the news, not letting myself read too much. I glean enough to seem informed: "Oh, yes, it's just a shame what's going on in Africa." I don't get my heart involved. I stay aloof and in control. Separate.

Because if I let go, if I find out, I know what would happen. I would crack. I would break. I'd looking in to the ugly eyes of poverty and grasp my head in my hands and shout, "Why, God, why?" But I can't keep doing that every day. And the bad news just keeps on coming. And I don't know what to do. I can't keep caring and keep being broken.

God, I'm just not up to the task.
[taken from "Hope Lives" by Amber Van Schooneveld]

"Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it." -James 4:17

Into The Day...

You could turn a hundred years and never empty all your fears
They’re pouring out like broken words and broken bones
They could fill a thousand pages, be the cry for all the ages
And the song for every soul who stands alone

The ache of life is more than you are able

Hold on love, don’t give up
Don’t close your eyes
The light is breaking through the night

Step out into the day, all the clouds and all the rain are gone
It’s over now
Step out into the sun, for you have only begun to know
What it’s all about
As the hungering dark gives way to the dawn, my love
It’s over now

Time will let the story told grow and grow ‘til it unfolds
In a way that even you cannot ignore
You can say the seasons change but never if you just remain
In a place where the freeze is at your door

What you don’t know is the signs are right for the turning tide

Hold on love, don’t give up
Don’t close your eyes
The light is breaking through the night

Step out into the day, all the clouds and all the rain are gone
It’s over now
Step out into the sun, for you have only begun to know
What it’s all about
As the hungering dark gives way to the dawn, my love
It’s over now

Hold on, hold on
It won’t be long
So hold on
[song by Bebo Norman]

King of Wonders...

We could try to count the stars,
You already know them each by name.
Every single galaxy was your design,
Your majesty displayed.

Your glory shines before our eyes,
The more we see, the more we love You.

King of wonders, we stand amazed,
There’s no other, other than you.
King of wonders, you know the way to our hearts and
The more we see the more we love you.

You reveal and we respond,
You have shown there’s no one like you God
Your love and mercy welcomes us
Into the beauty of this Holiness.

Your glory shines before our eyes,
The more we see, the more we love You.

King of wonders, we stand amazed,
There’s no other, other than you.
King of wonders, you know the way to our hearts and
The more we see the more we love you.
[song by Matt Redman]

AIDS...Did You Know?

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Compassion – Make a Donation – Sponsor a Child

Help Save Them...

Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.
-Proverbs 31:8-9

>>Do you believe Jesus loves children?
>>Do you have a heart that breaks when you think of children in poverty?
>>Do you feel joy and satisfaction when you see God working through you?

Have you considered sponsoring a child?

Seriously.

I sponsor a five-year old little girl in Rwanda. I have been her sponsor for nearly six months, and each day has been so rewarding knowing that I am making a difference in her life. From the money I provide for her to get a Christ-centered education and the appropriate health care she needs, the prayers prayed each and every day, the letters I write and receive back from her mother, the pictures, and the drawings she makes for me, I have not once regretted making the decision to sponsor her.

There are more than one million children in twenty-five countries who need a sponsor. Will you step out and make the commitment to help an underprivileged child find love, encouragement, and hope for their future?

Think about it.

Help save them.

Don't Ask...

Last week I lead a Bible study with the Campus Crusade group I am a part of here on campus at Grand View. The study focused on not being a "Lukewarm Christian." I brought up these convicting statements...

Don't ask: "How far can I go before it's considered a sin?"
Ask: "How can I keep myself pure as a temple of the Holy Spirit?"

Don't ask: "How much do I have to give?"
Ask: "How much can I give?"

Don't ask: "How much time should I spend praying and reading my Bible?"
Ask: "Why do I have to go to work? I wish I could sit here and read longer!"

Don't ask: "Do I have to tell them I'm a Christian?"
State: "I'm not ashamed of what I believe in--I'm a follower of Christ. I am a Christian."

Love Is Here...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed. -1 Peter 2:24

[song is by Tenth Avenue North]

Encouragement From Joshua...

I'm currently working my way through reading through the Bible in a year. Today's passage was Joshua 1-5. There were a few verses that stuck out to me in the way they encourage. So maybe the next time the day isn't going exactly how you'd want it to, you can refer back to these words in the book of Joshua :)

Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given to you. -Joshua 1:3

I will not leave you or forsake you. -Joshua 1:5

Only be strong and very courageous. -Joshua 1:7

Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is wish you wherever you go. -Joshua 1:9

Only be strong and courageous. -Joshua 1:18

I will be with you. -Joshua 3:7

The hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever. -Joshua 4:24

Be strong and courageous. God is with you, and He's never going to leave. His hand is mighty, you have nothing to fear :)

Encourage One Another...

“Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.” -Acts 13:15b

Share with one another the ways in which God encourages you--whether it's through an answered prayer, a song you hear, words you read, an experience you have, or anything else. Encourage each other through the ways God speaks to you and makes Himself known. You will never be disappointed :)

You Are Not Immune...

There is an epidemic of spiritual amnesia going around, and none of us is immune. No matter how many fascinating details we learn about God's creation, no matter how many pictures we see of His galaxies, and no matter how many sunset we watch, we still forget.

Most of us know that we are supposed to love and fear God; that we are supposed to read our Bibles and pray so that we can get to know Him better; that we are supposed to worship Him with our lives. But actually living it out is challenging.

It confuses us when loving God is hard. Shouldn't it be easy to love a God so wonderful? When we love God because we feel we should love Him, instead of genuinely loving our of our true selves, we have forgotten who God really is. Our amnesia is flaring up again.

It may sound "un-Christian" to say that one some mornings I don't feel like loving God, or I just forget to. But I do. In our world, where hundreds of things distract us from God, we have to intentionally and consistently remind ourselves of Him.

We need reminders of God's goodness. We are programmed to focus on what we don't have, bombarded multiple times throughout the day with what we need to buy that will make us feel happier or more at peace. This dissatisfaction transfers over to our thinking about God. We forget that we already have everything we need in Him. Because we don't often think about the reality of who God is, we quickly forget that He is worthy to be worshipped and loved. We are to fear Him.
[from Crazy Love by Francis Chan]

Give Me Your Eyes...

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight
Touched down on the cold black top
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breath in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos
All those people going somewhere,
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath
There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work
He's buying time
All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see

I've Been there a million times
A couple of million eyes
Just moving past me by
I swear I never thought that I was wrong
Well I want a second glance
So give me a second chance
To see the way you see the people all along
[song by Brandon Heath]