God Inspired Feelings

As I was driving to the airport that morning, thinking about what the next 10 days would be like, I was asking God to show Himself to me and teach me how to be more like Him. I began to consider what that actually meant and in what ways I really wanted to be changed...It was brought to my attention that I didn't show compassion to a certain person in my life, someone that I really cared for, I showed tough love but hardly any compassion. The desire from God was in my heart immediately after realizing this truth to be more compassionate towards her.

I arrived at the airport, joined the rest of the team, and started getting all the bags together as we rushed from one line to the next until finally we rested on the plane. The thoughts and prayers said in the car that morning were replaced by the present and more immediate prayers and excitement.

Throughout our days at God Cares Primary School I became close with many children, mostly the older ones. We talked about lots of things, from the basic, "What's your best color?" or "What's your favorite worship song?" to more in depth questions like, "What's it like to live where you do?" or "What do you think of Uganda?" Our time was filled with mostly laughs and giggles...mostly them laughing at me haha, but I didn't mind. Here's the part that blew my mind and totally humbled my spirit. When they asked about my Dad, I replied nonchalantly that I didn't know my Dad. The looks on their faces would instantly reflect sadness. In a low voice with their eyes down they apologized. The mood always turned somewhat serious after this, I would have never expected such a reaction from kids that age, or really from hardly anyone. Now that I'm back at home and have a chance to reflect on this, I am amazed by their COMPASSION. I felt like..."wait...you're apologizing to me? For not having a Dad??" "But....but you have it so much less than me..." Truly they have the spirit of God dwelling in them, there's no other way such compassion could be shown. Thank you God for revealing yourself to me this way.

“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.
Zechariah 7:8-10

Everyone needs compassion...

Coming and going....there's always "missing" by Paulette Meyers

Packing is well on its way.  The 50 lbs limit per person for personal stuff is killing me...but I'm exercising my flexibility...and my gratitude!

What I find myself thinking most about as I'm getting ready is all that I will miss when I'm gone...my Thursdays mornings with Emma are on top of the list!  But there many others:  my kids - chats with my girlfriends (starbucks or Coffee Bean?) - the comfort of my bed - the familiarity of my surroundings - my normal meals - the freedom of my car - my blue jeans - the smells I take for granted - US currency - Santa Rosa Valley - my laundry room.

I wonder what Jesus' list looked like when he left heaven to come down to earth a little over two thousand years ago -for my sake, for humanity's sake.  I'm sure my list is so puny (read rags) compared to His.  He left the glory and wonder of the most perfect place where he reigned, lacking nothing, (lacking nothing? was there ever a time I could have made this statement? Honestly? Nope), lacking nothing - that's perfection - and he did it in order to be a human for a while - for an opportunity for those he visited, a chance that they could choose to share this perfect place with him - because he loves his people - his creation - to death.

I was talking about "missing" wasn't I? Will what I miss compare to the privilege I might be missing if I was staying instead of going?

Going is what I will do, missing the familiar comforts, security and pleasures for a while - for the sake of someone - someone I might encourage, or comfort and love.  Knowing that when I leave to return to my familiar comforts, I will be missing those beautiful friends with whom I will reunite and the new friends I will make - until the next time.

So I go back to packing... why do I need 50 lbs anyway?  Suddenly my job seems much lighter.

Preparing for the Trip

Moses Ran by Julie Dimas

Moses answered, what if they (the Egyptians) do not believe me or listen to me and say, ‘The Lord did not appear to you?”

Then the Lord said, “What is in your hand?”

“A staff,” he replied.

The Lord said, “Throw it on the ground.”

Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and HE RAN FROM IT.”

-Exodus 4:2-4

How many times have I read or heard this story throughout my life, yet I never saw this detail.... the fact that Moses RAN FROM IT.”

What was so intimidating and fearful that Moses took off? Was it the fact that he was having an encounter with God? Was it the burning bush that consumed the bush without destroying it? Was he afraid of snakes?

No, it was “IT”…. the staff thing.

This passage is full of information. God had a job to do with his people. He chose Moses to do it (out of everyone) and Moses was questioning God’s choice and how he was going to pull this Exodus thing off. God told him the plan, and the plan involved Moses.

“What is in your hand?”

God asked Moses to give him whatever was in his hand…to give him what he had. God would, and did, do something miraculous with what Moses gave him. I don’t think the Moses that parted the sea, who lived in the wilderness, and was well acquainted with animals, was afraid of snakes. I think he was afraid of what God just did with what Moses had given him.

Ever been afraid of what God could do through you? Ever want to run when you find yourself in the middle of a “God appointment?”  

We cry out to God, “Use me Lord!” But what happens when he does?

What happens if you feel the call to minister to someone and God shows up? What happens if you pray for healing, and God actually heals? What happens if you intercede in prayer for someone else and God speaks an encouraging word into that person through you? What happens if God challenges you to do a job, and you say “yes”,and your efforts are multiplied by God himself, and it hits the target…BULLSEYE.

What if he choses you to YOU be the bow that shoots his arrow?

Is there anything more unnerving than that?

I think this is intimidating to all of us…so scary that many people run from it. We refuse to give God the “staff” in our hand in the first place. The idea of the call of Christ, “To come follow me” becomes a whimsical wonderful idea in theory but terrifying at the heart of it… so terrifying that some never put themselves in the situation for that to happen in the first place.

How often do we, like Moses, run?

Lord,

Today, if I hear your voice telling me to walk this way, let me not run from it, but run to it…knowing that you, the God of the universe, desires to use me in this day, in this age, for your own purposes. Help me to be courageous God…to give you what is in my hand and trust in you.”