A Force for Him

I feel like these beautiful kids have a lot more to teach me than I have to teach them. They remind me what it is to laugh - what it means to take pleasure in the smallest of gifts, gestures, and actions. They warm my heart and bring me such joy. I wish I could claim each and every one of them as my own - raise them as my own. That's what Christ has done for them and myself ofcourse - asserted us as His own. I think the Lord has sent me here to remind them of this very thing, and to train them up in His love, His scripture, His Truth. Recently, I started a youth group for the children who are 13 or older. We have seven teenagers at this age who are trying to understand what it means to be a man or woman of the one true God. We talk about what it means to be a force for Him. I feel such a sense of urgency where these young people are concerned. Soon they will venture into the world alone - a world full of idols, oppression, and doubt. I want His truth and love to fill them completely so they can go forth in His love and power. Would you be willing to say a special prayer for these youth this week? Poonam, Vijay, Arpit, Sachin, Goodu, Vicky, and Sushila. They aren't my children, but they are His. Let's pray they remain in His hands, in His Way.

Gaining More of Him

All of my life I have been a bit of an oddball in one way or another. I have walked to the beat of my own drum. As you can imagine, I never really flourished amongst controlling personality types. My very essence rebels against stereotypes, cultural guidelines, and legalistic criterion. I would have never survived in the 19th century when the simple act of laughing too loudly was unsuitable for females. This is who I am. Walking with Him has taught me some very valuable lessons. Who I am, should be flexible - not inflexible, but viscous. We put our likes and dislikes on a pedestal making them law in our own hearts, thinking these statutes define who we are. So what is the problem with this individualism? Two things immediately come to mind. #1 One would be destined to despondency, unhappiness. All the world isn't conformed to our specific preferences. He should be our delight, not circumstances. If we only do what feels comfortable and pleasing, then we are simply Epicureans who worship at the altar of pleasure. #2 Effectiveness will be limited greatly. The only guidelines by which we should be governed are those given to us in His Word. We should be making it a point not to always "be ourselves," but to be all things to all people. Why? Paul says it best in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23. "For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you." So here in India, I find myself doing things that are nowhere in my nature or comfort zone to do for the sake of Him - so that many may come to know Him. I submit to the unique authority system set in place, eat a certain way, speak differently, bobble my head, dress differently, pay social calls differently, eat strange things, and the list goes on. Why? Because these are not life or death issues, and if these small changes will cause me to be all things to all people, will help more people to come to Him - then why not? Do I feel I'm losing a piece of myself? No, I feel I'm gaining more of Him.