Lately I have been reading "Get Uncomfortable," a study on poverty and injustice by Todd Phillips. In this study Todd states,
"At our essence as believers, we can either be proclaiming servers or serving proclaimers. There is really not much difference in the two; both express the same truth. In either case, we shouldn't be proclaiming Christ without serving people, and we shouldn't be serving people without proclaiming Christ."
Todd challenges readers to be ready to share the gospel (scriptures memorized!) and to be ready to share scriptures for why we are serving others.
This really challenges me! I think my small group, church and certain family members "get" why I am going to Africa. I'm not so sure other friends, family members or co-workers understand. And, admittedly, I am not great at explaining or having scriptures ready to verify. So, this blog is an attempt to explain what I have lacked in doing so far!
The bible says in 1 John 3:16-19 the following:
16This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. 17If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 18Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth. 19This then is how we know that we belong to the truth, and how we set our hearts at rest in his presence
One of the hardest things about being "Saved" is explaining the transformation to a non-believer. Someone said to me recently, it is like trying to explain the color green to a blind person. I can describe ways my life has changed and I can talk about feelings of joy and peace. But I can't describe exactly how I changed or the internal/eternal difference in my life. When I was saved, it was like blinders were lifted and I gained an understanding and insight of scripture and truth. The first year after I became Christian, was a time of learning. I couldn't get enough of the bible and I had so many questions I wanted answers too. God gently showed me areas of my life that were in conflict with His ways and began changing me. I was so on fire for the Lord it was all I wanted to talk about and I was certain my excitement and passion would rub off on everyone I knew. Soon I felt the Lord calling me to faith in action. When I went on my first mission trip in 2006, I remember sharing my testimony with my leaders and breaking down crying from the realization of God's grace in my life. His goodness in answering my prayer to serve Him, to bring Glory to His Kingdom in some tangible way.
I think sometimes people associate me going to Africa because I am a "good person" and I therefore do "good things." While these notions are flattering, they are not accurate. The reality is that only God is good. I continually fall short of God's expectations. Everyday I struggle with sin and quite often it despairs me how hopeless I am on my own. I am not trying to serve others to be good. I am not going to Africa to be good. I am serving others in response to the goodness and love God showed me. The bible says in Romans 5:8 "God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." That blows my mind. God knew/knows every way I would rebel and turn away from him and still will in my life. Yet, He loves me so much, He sent His only son to die on my behalf. Do I or did I deserve it? Absolutely not. We often admire Romeo and Juliet stories that have the characters dying for their one and only love. In the story, the characters share a reciprocal love for one another. But this scripture says God's love for us was one way. Before we knew it or accepted it, He loved us. If you ask me, that is true love. That is amazing, beyond human comprehension love.
So His love and salvation is a free gift. It can not be earned and it is freely given. But does that mean I do not respond in reaction to this love? Isn't if funny how we respond to a person we have an "interest" in? My friends and I joke all the time, when our girlfriends meet the right person it is like they fall off the earth. They go over and above to please that person and make them happy, putting their partner's needs before their own. One day a friend will mention she met someone to me, within the year they are married! What a major response to the love they are feeling towards their partner. It is natural and part of what is so great about love.
In light of our reaction to one another when we fall in love, shouldn't we respond to God's love and gift of salvation? Maybe for the non-believer the response is saying "yes Jesus, I accept your death on the cross for my sins. Thank you for loving me." For believers it may be service in a certain ministry and/or spreading the gospel. For me, one of ways I am responding is going to Africa. I am praying that by going to Africa, it will somehow bring Glory to God and further His Kingdom. The irony is, I expect I will gain infinately more then I could ever give in taking this trip. And I pray those experiences/lessons will not only bless me but be a blessing for those who hear about my trip.
Let me ask you, how have you responded to God's love?
Love you all!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
The Character of God
Upset. If I had to describe the tone of yesterday's blog and how I was feeling all day, the word I would use is upset. What continually nagged at me all day was why was I upset? I'd like to claim what I was feeling was "righteous indignation at the world" brought on by the Holy Spirit. But God decided last night to clarify my feelings. Which, isn't that usually the case when we get too high on our pedestals? God is around to knock us on to our knees. Here is what God revealed to me...
I took the school's reaction to Invisible Children personally. What I mean is that I felt the school's reaction to the assembly was an attack on my character. I put a lot of thought and planning time into the assembly and what would be allowable so as to not offend students or the school. But an immediate assumption was made that I was purposeful in wanting to "solicit students" and implied that I was not thoughtful in my planning. I am not saying these things to point fingers or to get a "poor" Jessica response. But what thought came upon me last night was, "I wonder if God ever feels this way?" Oh the shame...
We constantly point our fingers at God and place judgement on His Character based on events happening in this world. Think about it. Many times the question keeping non believers from believing in God is: "if God is so good, why is there ________ in this world?" or "if God is so good, why does He allow ______ to happened?" I'm sure you can think of a few things to fill in the blank.
I think it is presumptuous of us to make such harsh judgements on God because of the events happening in this world. He is clear in His word that we are in a fallen world, the results of which are sickness and death. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death." Also, we are limited in what we see and what we know of why certain events happen in this world. Only God is omniscient and omnipresent. He is clear in His word that all He does is for our benefit and our best interest and it will all work out for good in the end. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose."
So instead of speculating on what we do not know, we should mediate on what we know for certain. The bible says it is certain that God is good, God is love, and God is merciful. It states God is Holy and just and will bring righteousness to this world. I think the real issue isn't "who is God?" But, do we trust in what we know of God when something happens in a way we would not have chosen for ourselves. I know I wish my school would have considered my character and my previous record before assumption gave way to criticism.
Love,
Jess
1 John 4:10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
I took the school's reaction to Invisible Children personally. What I mean is that I felt the school's reaction to the assembly was an attack on my character. I put a lot of thought and planning time into the assembly and what would be allowable so as to not offend students or the school. But an immediate assumption was made that I was purposeful in wanting to "solicit students" and implied that I was not thoughtful in my planning. I am not saying these things to point fingers or to get a "poor" Jessica response. But what thought came upon me last night was, "I wonder if God ever feels this way?" Oh the shame...
We constantly point our fingers at God and place judgement on His Character based on events happening in this world. Think about it. Many times the question keeping non believers from believing in God is: "if God is so good, why is there ________ in this world?" or "if God is so good, why does He allow ______ to happened?" I'm sure you can think of a few things to fill in the blank.
I think it is presumptuous of us to make such harsh judgements on God because of the events happening in this world. He is clear in His word that we are in a fallen world, the results of which are sickness and death. Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death." Also, we are limited in what we see and what we know of why certain events happen in this world. Only God is omniscient and omnipresent. He is clear in His word that all He does is for our benefit and our best interest and it will all work out for good in the end. Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Romans 8:28 "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,who have been called according to his purpose."
So instead of speculating on what we do not know, we should mediate on what we know for certain. The bible says it is certain that God is good, God is love, and God is merciful. It states God is Holy and just and will bring righteousness to this world. I think the real issue isn't "who is God?" But, do we trust in what we know of God when something happens in a way we would not have chosen for ourselves. I know I wish my school would have considered my character and my previous record before assumption gave way to criticism.
Love,
Jess
1 John 4:10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Monday, March 2, 2009
The poor you will always have with you...
Lately I have been struggling with our country's perception of poverty and injustice. In Matthew 26:11, Jesus speaks the words in the title of this post. It is repeated from Deuteronomy 15:11 in which the Lord commands us to be openhanded towards our brothers and the poor and needy in your land. I searched the bible for the word "poor" and found over 100 scriptures on this matter. A few that struck me were:
1 Samuel 2:7-The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.
Matthew 19:21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
I know the bible repeats the message the God loves the poor and that the poor will receive justice. And yet my heart was broken today by how opposed the world is to this message of giving.
Many of you know I arranged for Invisible Children to have an assembly at our school. IC is an amazing organization whose sole purpose is to raise awareness to the conflict in Uganda, involving Joseph Kony forcing children to be soldiers. The county I work in has a policy in which organizations can not come into schools to solicit money from students (makes sense, students are there for an education). IC showed this amazing video to my school about how students their age raised money for kids in Uganda to have a new school. The students who raised the most money then got to visit Uganda to see first hand the poverty and injustice these kids face everyday. The movie was heartbreaking and eye opening.
Students at my school were so outraged and touched that they immediately came to me and to the student services office to see what they could do to help. The wanted to start a club, they wanted to bring awareness and to raise money if possible. My schools' response???
"Miss Neff, we are disappointed that you would bring an organization in to our school to solicit money from our students." Ouch. So much for what we teach our kids in the classroom about community service and giving back to this world.
I know I shouldn't be surprised (maybe many of you guessed that reaction before I wrote it). But frankly I am sad and angered by this response and the apathy of Americans in general. I realize we have problems of our own in the U.S. But does that excuse us from acknowledging the reality of what is happening in the rest of the world? Does it give us permission to squash the drive of students wishing to making a difference, to be apart of changing the world? Many times people I have spoken to don't even want to know about conflicts in other parts of the world. They state,"I can't watch that video, it will make me sad"or "What can I do?" And to be fair to that question, I don't have all the answers. Jesus even acknowledged, again, that the poor will always be with us. But even though I may not have all the answers, I am pretty sure ignorance and or denial of the poor is not the solution.
I feel like Habakkuk, "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds."
Sorry for this long rant but I pray, you and I, can be part of the solution. One person can matter. I think of the story of a little boy walking on the beach. There are hundreds of starfish washed up on the shore. He began to throw them one by one into the ocean. Someone saw what he was doing and told him it was pointless, that there were too many to save, that is wouldn't make a difference. Throwing another starfish into the sea, the boy responded, "It makes a difference to this one."
I'm starting to understand purpose in going to Tanzania, if nothing else jit is to show that I care. And I hope that maybe others will be inspired to step out to serve others as well.
Love,
Jess
Proverbs 22:2Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
1 Samuel 2:7-The LORD sends poverty and wealth; he humbles and he exalts.He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes and has them inherit a throne of honor. "For the foundations of the earth are the LORD's; upon them he has set the world.
Matthew 19:21Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."
James 2:5Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?
I know the bible repeats the message the God loves the poor and that the poor will receive justice. And yet my heart was broken today by how opposed the world is to this message of giving.
Many of you know I arranged for Invisible Children to have an assembly at our school. IC is an amazing organization whose sole purpose is to raise awareness to the conflict in Uganda, involving Joseph Kony forcing children to be soldiers. The county I work in has a policy in which organizations can not come into schools to solicit money from students (makes sense, students are there for an education). IC showed this amazing video to my school about how students their age raised money for kids in Uganda to have a new school. The students who raised the most money then got to visit Uganda to see first hand the poverty and injustice these kids face everyday. The movie was heartbreaking and eye opening.
Students at my school were so outraged and touched that they immediately came to me and to the student services office to see what they could do to help. The wanted to start a club, they wanted to bring awareness and to raise money if possible. My schools' response???
"Miss Neff, we are disappointed that you would bring an organization in to our school to solicit money from our students." Ouch. So much for what we teach our kids in the classroom about community service and giving back to this world.
I know I shouldn't be surprised (maybe many of you guessed that reaction before I wrote it). But frankly I am sad and angered by this response and the apathy of Americans in general. I realize we have problems of our own in the U.S. But does that excuse us from acknowledging the reality of what is happening in the rest of the world? Does it give us permission to squash the drive of students wishing to making a difference, to be apart of changing the world? Many times people I have spoken to don't even want to know about conflicts in other parts of the world. They state,"I can't watch that video, it will make me sad"or "What can I do?" And to be fair to that question, I don't have all the answers. Jesus even acknowledged, again, that the poor will always be with us. But even though I may not have all the answers, I am pretty sure ignorance and or denial of the poor is not the solution.
I feel like Habakkuk, "How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds."
Sorry for this long rant but I pray, you and I, can be part of the solution. One person can matter. I think of the story of a little boy walking on the beach. There are hundreds of starfish washed up on the shore. He began to throw them one by one into the ocean. Someone saw what he was doing and told him it was pointless, that there were too many to save, that is wouldn't make a difference. Throwing another starfish into the sea, the boy responded, "It makes a difference to this one."
I'm starting to understand purpose in going to Tanzania, if nothing else jit is to show that I care. And I hope that maybe others will be inspired to step out to serve others as well.
Love,
Jess
Proverbs 22:2Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all.
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