Thursday, October 17, 2013

to facebook or not?

Recently the Lord has begun an overhaul in my heart. I am not sure what He is doing, I just know, I am asked to follow Him. All His ways are good, all His ways are His design for me. So as I have not gone on Facebook as much (have gone on a few times to take some photos off) I am amazed at how many times I want to post something, or say something on a status. I ask the Lord, ok I want to put this on there but... is that what you want? More often than not He says, Be Still.You talk to much. I will  and I AM. Your job now is to be obedient to the things I call you to. 

I stop and think about life before Facebook, about life before the internet. Yes, I am that old...
Seems as though we were not as busy, not a stressed, and didn't have information overload. Could it be that we share so much, (good and bad) that when we do get together there is nothing to talk about? Is that why I see so many people out and about with friends and all they do is look online for conversation, when a person is sitting there in front of them. This realisation came to me from many things actually. First, going on a date night with my amazing hunny and found I wanted to post so much online, that I neglected the moment I was in. Years down the line, when either I die or He dies first, and crave more time with them but knowing now, I didn't take advantage of the time I had with him and desired to go on Facebook more. Second, noticing everyone around me engrossed in their smart phones, that they don't recognise others around them. Could it be that we have missed countless divine moments the Lord has given because we are engrossed in our own life, and Facebook?

See how the Lord is overhauling me right now... so much meditation on His word.... 
Lord, Please mold me for your purposes and in your way. I desire to live a Radical life for you. I don't think you created us for anything less than a radical sold out life for you. Let me LOVE radically. Let me SHARE radically, let me FOLLOW radically.
This is my desire, to honour and follow you! 



Monday, October 14, 2013

Francis Chan or God?

We recently attended a conference where Francis Chan and David Platt were speakers. I was so excited when I saw Francis Chan walk in. It was like I was seeing a celebrety.  Upon that thought, the Lord reminded me of this...


Would you have the same excitement if I was coming into the room as you do for Francis? 


Ouch.... got it Lord! From then on, I was excited to hear from the Lord thru Francis and David. 

I am co-leading a PWOC study called Not a Fan, by Kyle Idelman. Interestingly enough, its all on the same wave length. What does it mean to " Take up your cross and deny yourself and follow Christ, and what has your relationship with the Lord cost you?" 



I am asking the Lord, where are you leading? How am I following you? Is there something that is keeping me from following hard after you? 

I have enjoyed the followers journal, one of my favourite devos actually. Not that its amazing, but the practical things it has you do, God is using it powerfully. For example: Think of something that you put before God... Now, worship it, and pray to it. What does that feel like, or what does that involk. It was awkward as many times I would put Facebook before spending time with the Lord. So how silly is it for me to pray to facebook. I made a decision to not go on Facebook for a long while till my priorities are back in line. 

God is doing a total overhaul in my heart as I am feasting on the Word for hours. What a difference that makes in my heart, in my soul, in my marriage. What do you feast on?










Saturday, October 12, 2013

Radical Love

What would you do to show radical love to your enemies?
What would you do to show radical Love to someone that blasts your name?
How do you show the radical Love of Jesus?
How do you live differently than nonbelievers? 
Are you persecuted for your faith? If not, why not? 

Dan and I and some friends went to a conference called Absolute disciple.  It was at a Mega church in Seoul, and the guest speakers were Francis Chan, and David Platt. What does a absolute disciple look like? How are we different from the world? Are we making disciples? After all isn't that a command of Jesus; to go into all the world and make disciples, baptising them. Hm. 

During this conference we were struck in so many ways by the Lord. The first session was amazing on Wednesday as we gathered with over 1700 people and worshiped in many different languages. So neat to experience God's presence in another country. Wow! Their customs touched out hearts deeply, but what was even better is knowing we serve the same God. They have such a passion to pray, a passion to boldly pray for their leaders in a way I have never seen before. 

The first session was on adoption. hm... really God? How we were adopted into the family of God and how adoption is a outpouring of God's work in us. How well do we care for the widows and orphans?
God hit both our hearts with a "Go" in restarting/continuing the adoption process.  We had been patiently waiting as the Lord told us to wait and be still in this area. So we did, but we so clearly heard him say, now is the time...

During the second day both Dan and I got attacked for sharing the Gospel. Wouldn't you know, the message that day was on being persecuted and joining in the fellowship of a suffering Saviour. How many of us consider it a joy to suffer? Think about how much you grow deeper in love with the Lord during suffering.... It is getting increasingly more unpopular to share Jesus in a world who shuns him. If the world hated him, how much more will they dislike us. What does this say for programs or leaders whom everyone loves?  Or evangelists who have a huge following? I still am working that one out...

The night session was on love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. Hm... how do you love someone who hates you? how do you show the love of God to someone who wants nothing to do with you? What does radical love look like in this way? God told us to show someone radical love. While it was hard, and cost us greatly we obeyed. That obeying brought on so so so many questions from others cause it was out of the norm of what someone would do. 
What are you willing to sacrifice to show someone the love of God, and show your love to them? 

The last day was all about...therefore now go. Therefore is an important word here. Go is also important as many times we love to go to programs at church, and do things for the church and call that a radical faith. When was the last time we shared the Gospel? If we are commanded to go and make disciples  how many do I have? how many do you have? and if there are none, what is wrong?

If you are a follower of Christ, we have all authority in Heaven and on earth. Why do we get scared to use that authority? 

I can't even begin to explain the timeliness of this conference for us. Its been 6 months since we have been here in Korea, and so far its been harder than I could have imagined. Also so far its been more amazing than I could have imagined. We were discouraged a little from the hardness of life here, and it really awakened us back to the reality of why we are here. Wow! Thanks be to God for meeting us there, and reaffirming the call on our lives. We will go ANYWHERE you send Lord! We will suffer for YOUR name sake. We will not back down and water down the Gospel in anyway. The Word of God for the People of God is enough. We don't need new things or flashy programs, or anything other than the Word of God for the people of God.