Love, Serve, Go
There are days when God is speaking to me in such an undeniable way that is causes me to stop and catch my breath... Lately- everyday has been this way.
I can't quite put my finger on it... Here is what I do know.
The past, nearly, 2 months Brian and I have been in a time of prayer over our marriage, our ministry, our children and our extended family. We always pray over these things but we have really been focusing on fervent prayers lately- not just prayers in passing. You know what I mean? Maybe not but follow me...
Reading books by brilliant authors, listening to sermons preached out of the mouths of anointed ministers, long talks over cups of coffee with mentors and friends- God has been stirring. Stirring up past hurts (so that I can let them go). Stirring up future plans (again, so I can let them go). But most of all- stirring up a heart that is TRULY willing to do what he wants, when he wants, where he wants and doing all of these things with whomever he chooses (despite the lines that have a tendency to be drawn in the religious world we live in).
All of this started mid to late December. Brian and I had already started feeling God tugging us away from what we were comfortable and familiar with. Didn't know what He was doing but it was obvious God was starting something in us. Late December my oldest brother posted this picture he had taken the day after Christmas. He currently lives in China and was walking from his apartment to the grocery store and as he was climbing the stairs of a bridge he came upon this man. My brother lives in northern China- very near Siberia actually- so that tells you how frigid it was in late December. This man lay here, on the cement, surrounded by everything he owned- freezing, I am quite certain.
When I saw this image it broke me. Something clicked and, the only way I can describe it is that I was broken. My eyes were open and from that moment on I haven't really been the same. When I look out my window- the scene is different. When I take my kids to school- the scene is different. When I go to church- the scene is different. When I read the scriptures and visualize the setting- the scene is different. When I look at my children- the scene is different. When I look into my husbands eyes- the gaze is different. Both, Brian and I, have been compelled to love like we have never loved before. Not just between the two of us (even though I can honestly say that my love for him now makes the love we had 10 years ago look like a cup of cold moldy coffee- now there's a visual) but, our love for others is somewhat fierce. Our love for our children is deeper. Our heart for our nation and our world- indescribable.
Some of the books I have been reading have turned my world upside down. I am going to give you the list but don't read them unless you are ready to have your socks totally rocked off!
Here they are:
7- Jen Hatmaker
Multiply- Francis Chan
Sun Stand Still- Steven Furtik
The Story- Max Lucado and Randy Frazee
Some of the books of the bible that are screaming at me lately:
the Corinthians (both of them)
the Timothys (both of them)
John
Here is what I know... I know that our world is in a world of hurt right now. Our world is filled, more today than yesterday, with hurting, rejected, depressed, angry and disappointed people. And.....WE CANNOT REMAIN SILENT.
Where do we start? John 13:34-35 pretty much spells it out for us.
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (the Message).
Now, this is where things get messy- what does your love look like? Is it just a "I'll be praying for you," statement? Is it a "I'll send you a text to check on you tomorrow"? Or is it a "You are hurting and I am going to sit by you and hold your hand while you are going through this," or, "I'm going to plan that celebration for you since you have finally won the battle over your addiction." In the book Multiply, Chan talks about how true love and true discipleship, can be exhausting and messy sometimes but it is NECESSARY.
Oh my mercy- we have such a calling on our lives.... YOU have such a calling on your life. It can get overwhelming when we sit and try to breathe it in but Chan puts it plain and simple- love the people that are in your life right now. Don't get overwhelmed with the thought of doing everything for everyone. If we would actually show love to the people we come in contact with everyday it would be IMPOSSIBLE for the world we live in to go unchanged. It just simply could not happen.
I leave you today with this message that a pastor friend of our has used as the mission statement for the church he is currently planting: Love. Serve. Go. Even if your heart is full and you feel like you can't show love to the someone who you feel has wronged you- love them. Even if your finances are so strapped that you can only make a pot of beans for a friend who is hugry- Serve them. Even if your finances or physical limitations will only allow you to walk across your yard to your neighbor- GO.
As I was reading the scripture in John today the song "By Our Love" by Christy Nockles came to my heart. I wanted to hear it right then (because I am compulsive like that- leave me alone) so I picked up my phone and looked it up on YouTube. A video popped up that a friend of ours created a couple years ago. As I watched the video I couldn't help but cry (weaping is more along the lines of what my body was experiencing) as I sat and watched- becoming even more compelled to Love, Serve and Go. I pray that you will watch this video Rich Duran created. I pray that the images and lyrics will stir up something in your heart and in your spirit. I pray that you will be so moved that you won't experience rest until you start moving with the plans that He has for you.
Blessings to you today- We stand together in this ministry that God has given to each of us. We do not serve alone for our God has absolutely gone before us and is waiting for us to follow his lead.
I can't quite put my finger on it... Here is what I do know.
The past, nearly, 2 months Brian and I have been in a time of prayer over our marriage, our ministry, our children and our extended family. We always pray over these things but we have really been focusing on fervent prayers lately- not just prayers in passing. You know what I mean? Maybe not but follow me...
Reading books by brilliant authors, listening to sermons preached out of the mouths of anointed ministers, long talks over cups of coffee with mentors and friends- God has been stirring. Stirring up past hurts (so that I can let them go). Stirring up future plans (again, so I can let them go). But most of all- stirring up a heart that is TRULY willing to do what he wants, when he wants, where he wants and doing all of these things with whomever he chooses (despite the lines that have a tendency to be drawn in the religious world we live in).
All of this started mid to late December. Brian and I had already started feeling God tugging us away from what we were comfortable and familiar with. Didn't know what He was doing but it was obvious God was starting something in us. Late December my oldest brother posted this picture he had taken the day after Christmas. He currently lives in China and was walking from his apartment to the grocery store and as he was climbing the stairs of a bridge he came upon this man. My brother lives in northern China- very near Siberia actually- so that tells you how frigid it was in late December. This man lay here, on the cement, surrounded by everything he owned- freezing, I am quite certain.
When I saw this image it broke me. Something clicked and, the only way I can describe it is that I was broken. My eyes were open and from that moment on I haven't really been the same. When I look out my window- the scene is different. When I take my kids to school- the scene is different. When I go to church- the scene is different. When I read the scriptures and visualize the setting- the scene is different. When I look at my children- the scene is different. When I look into my husbands eyes- the gaze is different. Both, Brian and I, have been compelled to love like we have never loved before. Not just between the two of us (even though I can honestly say that my love for him now makes the love we had 10 years ago look like a cup of cold moldy coffee- now there's a visual) but, our love for others is somewhat fierce. Our love for our children is deeper. Our heart for our nation and our world- indescribable.
Some of the books I have been reading have turned my world upside down. I am going to give you the list but don't read them unless you are ready to have your socks totally rocked off!
Here they are:
7- Jen Hatmaker
Multiply- Francis Chan
Sun Stand Still- Steven Furtik
The Story- Max Lucado and Randy Frazee
Some of the books of the bible that are screaming at me lately:
the Corinthians (both of them)
the Timothys (both of them)
John
Here is what I know... I know that our world is in a world of hurt right now. Our world is filled, more today than yesterday, with hurting, rejected, depressed, angry and disappointed people. And.....WE CANNOT REMAIN SILENT.
Where do we start? John 13:34-35 pretty much spells it out for us.
“Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (the Message).
Now, this is where things get messy- what does your love look like? Is it just a "I'll be praying for you," statement? Is it a "I'll send you a text to check on you tomorrow"? Or is it a "You are hurting and I am going to sit by you and hold your hand while you are going through this," or, "I'm going to plan that celebration for you since you have finally won the battle over your addiction." In the book Multiply, Chan talks about how true love and true discipleship, can be exhausting and messy sometimes but it is NECESSARY.
Oh my mercy- we have such a calling on our lives.... YOU have such a calling on your life. It can get overwhelming when we sit and try to breathe it in but Chan puts it plain and simple- love the people that are in your life right now. Don't get overwhelmed with the thought of doing everything for everyone. If we would actually show love to the people we come in contact with everyday it would be IMPOSSIBLE for the world we live in to go unchanged. It just simply could not happen.
I leave you today with this message that a pastor friend of our has used as the mission statement for the church he is currently planting: Love. Serve. Go. Even if your heart is full and you feel like you can't show love to the someone who you feel has wronged you- love them. Even if your finances are so strapped that you can only make a pot of beans for a friend who is hugry- Serve them. Even if your finances or physical limitations will only allow you to walk across your yard to your neighbor- GO.
As I was reading the scripture in John today the song "By Our Love" by Christy Nockles came to my heart. I wanted to hear it right then (because I am compulsive like that- leave me alone) so I picked up my phone and looked it up on YouTube. A video popped up that a friend of ours created a couple years ago. As I watched the video I couldn't help but cry (weaping is more along the lines of what my body was experiencing) as I sat and watched- becoming even more compelled to Love, Serve and Go. I pray that you will watch this video Rich Duran created. I pray that the images and lyrics will stir up something in your heart and in your spirit. I pray that you will be so moved that you won't experience rest until you start moving with the plans that He has for you.
Blessings to you today- We stand together in this ministry that God has given to each of us. We do not serve alone for our God has absolutely gone before us and is waiting for us to follow his lead.
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