Expressing Faith

The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. Galatians 5:6b

What a beautiful thought. Impossibly hard if we focus on ourselves. Amazingly liberating when we realize it's the life Jesus has invited us in to and equipped us for.

Faith being expressed through love has been on my mind for the last few days. It's what I pray for and am counting on for this coming week. My heart catches as I anticipate what feels like a free fall into grace, exciting and scary, but I have faith it's what God made me for.

My friend Nichole and I leave in three days for Serbia! How is it possible that the dream has become a reality?

On this coming Wednesday evening at 6pm Nichole and I will board a plane headed for Frankfurt, Germany. A couple of hours later we will fly to Belgrade, Serbia. From there we will bus to Novi Sad. If all goes well we will arrive in Novi Sad around dinnertime on Thursday!

Friday morning the real journey begins. We will meet with the staff of Dom Veternik, a mental institution housing both adults and children, and touring the facility. For the six days we're in Serbia we will be spending as much time as possible building friendships, learning about the institution, and interacting with the residents.

On Saturday we will also be connecting with Christians in Novi Sad that God has brought us in contact with, including joining them for church! I'm excited about making friends wherever we can.

As we prepare to go won't you join in praying with us? Here are some tangible things we could use prayer for:

• Our families as we're apart, for their peace and our safety. Calm as we fly for hours (I dislike flying!).
• Good relationships to be built with the staff of the institution and Christians in Novi Sad.
• Our heart's to be in tune with Jesus heart. For us to walk in confident humility, grace, joy, and compassion. For us to have tough stomachs and peace. 
• For Nichole and myself to experience a unity of spirit and purpose.
• For open hearts to hear God's direction during this visit, as well as to determine the next steps he would have us take.

We couldn't and wouldn't want to go alone. We take your encouragement and prayers with us, lifting us up and reminding us of the grace God has called us to! Thank you friends for helping us to express faith through love!

Face the Storm

Enjoying a swim with friends

Preparing for a tropical storm, turned hurricane, is a bit like engaging the broken people around us. You do everything you can to prepare, to shore yourself up, and then stand face to the wind bravely taking on the storm. I made this observation the past weekend as I prepared for Hurricane Isaac and prepared to spend time with an unbelieving neighbor.

I had to call deeply on the reserves of truth I have hidden in my heart as I talked with my neighbor about life. She has no frame of reference for truth. Owns a Bible because I recently gave her one. Has been wounded by people with religious affiliation. And has more questions than answers.

My hair stood back a little from the overdose of information, and pain. I like to think I've seen a few things in my day and I'm not the naive homeschooled teenager I once was. But truth be told I like my comfort zone and haven't strayed too far from the church door. I consider my past a gift but also, if I'm not careful, a handicap.

At first I saw my neighbor as a project. Isn't that what we're supposed to do? Bring the heathen into the fold and clean them up? It didn't take long for me to realize that was the lazy way to go about it. I'm a recovering pharisee, mingling too closely with an immoral person, who has more pain than can be easily dragged to church and covered up, got my palms sweaty.

Then the novel idea struck me that perhaps I should love her, and her family, for loves sake and no other. It seems to be working. I offer to take her kids to church, and often they go. I bring food from the church potluck to her house. We talk about Jesus. But I don't pressure her to come to church or commit to anything. I've never read her the Roman's road, or Four Spiritual Laws. Instead I show up. We talk about how life is messy and where is God when there is pain. She asks questions and I ask them back. I tell her I'm praying for her, I hug her kids, I hug her, I tell her I love her and that Jesus does too.

Watching the waves grow at Isaac's approach, Orange Beach

Love doesn't evacuate, it settles in. I stand in the wind and the rain and get buffeted. But I've found it's really not so bad. Actually it's exhilarating. Like driving to the beach to watch the waves grow as the storm approaches. I make sure I have a reserve of Living Water, a Holy power source, in my survival kit. I protect what might get damaged by the storm. And I find that if I'm submitted to the Holy Spirit, her unholiness doesn't effect me, Jesus' holiness in me effects her.

Hurricane Isaac turned out not to be a big deal for us. Some rain, gusty wind, and a few downed branches. Likewise loving a person, even one who is hurt and in need, when done in the power of Christ isn't a big deal. Well, it's a big deal but not for the inconvenience I imagined. It's a big deal to show up and be present, the fragrance of Jesus to one dying, because it's a holy act of love that binds my heart more closely to my Father's heart and to a heart adrift. It also reminds me how necessary God's love is. I've found grace and she's looking, maybe we're not so different.

It's all in the preparation. If I met the storms of life, both literally and figuratively, without the proper provision it could be a completely different outcome. I'm responsible to prepare accordingly. In our lives other's bare the effects of our preparation, they're counting on us.

What do you do to prepare for the tough spots and challenging people of life? What tools do you have in your survival kit?

The Work of Preparation

There are desires, big and small, that lay deep in my heart at various stages of fulfillment. A published book, relief for orphans, holiness, a thriving garden, discipled children, a well ordered home, knowledge of the Word, healthy relationships, all are works in progress.

Rarely are the deepest desires of our heart's granted in one moment without participation on our part for their fulfillment. One of the things the items in my list all have in common is preparation. Certainly God accomplishes the good in our lives, but he invites us to participate.

It's tempting to long for the dreams of our heart right NOW! But more often than not the ministry, book, degree, career, education, health, understanding, godly children, etc. that we desire are works in progress, demanding preparation and devotion.

I find it tempting at times, when something has taken longer than I can bear, to quit and move on to a new task, leaving things unfinished. But that's not God's desire for us, or satisfying. Galatians 6:9 "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."

What desire has God given to you that you are in the preparation stages of? How do you remain faithful, preparing for a good harvest?

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