Missionary Mama

missionary.mama

From the ages of 19-25, I traveled to 20 countries across Africa, Asia and the Middle East just to share the love of Christ with the nations of the world. I never felt more in my element than when my feet were on foreign soil, traveling to tribal villages for outreach, and holding African babies.

But then our lives changed courses, which landed my husband and me in the D.C. area where we still are today – 10 years and 3 kids later. I will be completely honest with you – my heart wrestled against the will of God. I wanted to be there – not here. I wanted to do that – not this. But then I realized the problem – my “I” had to die.

Glorifying God in the Mundane

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” – 1 Corinthians 10:31

In this season of my life, God has called me to be a stay at home mom to three beautiful girls. Two years ago, He opened my heart to the joys of homeschooling and I am committed to this journey for the long haul.

I have learned over the last six years that I can glorify Christ just as much when I bandage my daughter’s knee as when I bandaged the wounds of an orphan in Sudan. What matters most to Christ is not the activity or work I do, but the heart and attitude I put behind that work.

Please read the rest of this post over here at Sacred Mundane – thanks!

 

Open Your Mouth for the Speechless: A Call to Pray for the Church in Iraq

image

Over the last several days and weeks we have heard the news, seen the graphic images, and learned of an onslaught of wickedness, terror, and killing of men, women, and children in Iraq by the terrorist group ISIS.

When we hear of children being decapitated, women raped, men killed, and families and whole cities being torn apart, we may have several reactions: sadness, anger, rage, fear,  and despair are just a few. Many of those being targeted are Christians.

We want to scream, to cry, and to DO SOMETHING – but we may feel helpless. “After all,” we may think, ” I’m not the President or anyone with military power to save these poor people – what can I do?”

Choosing to Engage

While we may feel helpless to do anything, we must remember something – we are not. Thousands of our brothers and sisters in Iraq and around the world are very much helpless right now, but we are not. We can do something. In fact, we can do more than we may be able to even imagine for these people.

First we must make the choice to refuse to be indifferent to their suffering plight. It can be easier than we would like to admit to turn off the television and its shocking images (which is necessary), return to our world of relative ease and quietness, and forget (or at least cease to do anything in response to) to genocide that is occurring across the world.

As my friend so aptly described to me, “I get an update about the devastation in Iraq right next to an email in my inbox with 30 Great New Crock Pot dinner recipes. The cares of my own life just seem shallow and surreal next to all of this. I’m thinking about what to make for dinner and they are thinking about how to stay alive.

image

Prayer is Our Greatest Weapon

The greatest gift we can give those suffering under oppression and terrorism is to refuse to forget about their plight. Hebrews 13:3 says that we are to, “Remember those in prison, as if you were there yourself. Remember also those being mistreated, as if you felt their pain in your own bodies.

The greatest way to remember them, to hold them close to our hearts, is to lift them up in constant prayer to God. In fact, the Voice of the Martyrs has said that no matter where they go, the first request of persecuted Christians is always the same: “Pray for us.”

We can pray God’s Word over the lives of all these precious people, petitioning the “Lord of Heaven and Earth” to come to their aid and deliver them from oppression and give them strength to endure.

Where to start? I found this great three-page prayer guide for the Persecuted Church and wanted to share it with you.

If you would like to give financially to organizations who are on the ground in Iraq, Voice of the Martyrs has close relationships with the indigenous church in Iraq and are able to dispatch help to many Christians who fled Mosul. Check out this page to find out more.

Pray for the Persecutors

Pray not only for the persecuted but the persecutors – remember that Jesus turned Saul the persecutor into Paul the evangelist and he can pour His love and grace into every human heart who hears and turns to Him.

And pray for those who are in authority in our government, that God would guide them to make wise decisions on behalf of the innocent who suffer.

Refuse to be indifferent. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., “The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

 

 

How to Become Unoffendable

image
A story from the Desert Fathers goes as follows: “A brother came to see Abba Macarius the Egyptian and said to him, “Abba, give me a word, that I may be saved.”

So the old man said, “Go to the cemetery and insult the dead.” The brother went there, hurled insults and stones at them; then he returned and told the old man about it. The latter said to him, “Didn’t they say anything to you? He replied,”No.”

The old man said, “Go back tomorrow and praise them.” So the brother went away and praised them, calling them Apostles, saints and blessed people. He returned to the old man and said to him, “I have complimented them.” And the old man said to him, “Did they not answer you?” the brother said no.

The old man said to him, “You know how you insulted them and they did not reply, and how you praised them and they did not speak; so you too if you wish to be saved must do the same and become a dead man. Like the dead, take no account of either the scorn of others or their praises, and you can be saved.”

Becoming Unoffendable

How do we become unoffendable when someone says something that leaves us hot and bothered? God’s Word gives us clear direction on this issue – Here are a few strategies:

1) Recognize that offenses come to us all: In Luke 17:1 Jesus says, “It is impossible that no offenses will come…” We are all tempted to sin by becoming offended. We are all weak and imperfect people. There is no such thing as a perfect relationship among humans. Knowing this can help us be on our guard against offense.

2) Acknowledge points of weakness: We all have “sensitive places” and points of weakness when it comes to taking offense. Acknowledging these and asking yourself the deeper questions, “Why am I so offended about this?” will help us to avoid becoming offended. Often, we can become offended in areas of our lives where we have unresolved hurt, anger, or insecurity.

3) Avoid becoming trapped! The word “offense” in the Bible is the Greek word “skandalizo” which means “to put a stumbling block or impediment in the way, upon which another may trip and fall.” When we “take the bait” of offense, we (not the other person) become trapped!

4) Give people the benefit of the doubt – Most people aren’t aiming to insult or offend you – they are likely blind to the fact that what they have said has hurt or injured you. When we realize how many times we have unintentionally said things that offended others, we can be gracious and forgiving to others.

image

Look to Christ for Help

The words Christ spoke when He was on earth have offended (and will continue to offend) many people. He knows what it is like to have people take offense at his teachings and thoughts. He also knows what it is like to be ridiculed, mocked, and betrayed and yet – He was not offended.

On the cross, He even said “Father, forgive them – for they don’t know what they are doing.” He gladly received back his closest companions after they abandoned him at his time of greatest need. He experienced all this and chose the path of love and forgiveness.

What is one area of your life where you are likely to take offense? Have you become offended with someone recently? Take some time today to pray about it and ask the Holy Spirit to give you strength to let go of that offense and move on.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...