Tripping Over the Obvious

How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

--Matthew 7:4-5 (NIV)

One of my sinful attitudes is that I expect people to behave in ways that even I am incapable of doing. I was particularly bad at this during my first year of marriage. I put unreasonable expectations on my husband when it came to how often I thought he should pitch in with the dishes or the chores. I expected him to volunteer to clean up; far be it from me to be the first one to start rinsing the dishes!

I realized that such an attitude was going to undermine my marriage if I didn't take action. In the years since, God has taught me a lot about my hypocrisy, and often reminds me that there are bigger things to worry about in myself than in my husband. That lesson hit me quite literally in the middle of the night last week.

Brad had put away his folded laundry, but I had yet to take care of min. For days I told him that I was going to put away "tomorrow." I didn't keep my word, so as a reminder, he put the basket squarely in the entryway of the bathroom. For almost 2 days I stepped over it, around it, and even kicked it aside. That night, as I fumbled through the darkness on my way to get a glass of water, I tripped over the laundry basket.

I emptied the laundry basket first thing the next morning.

Unless we take the necessary steps to identify our own sinful behavior, we have no business pointing out the errors in judgment our brothers and sisters make. Spiritually speaking, it is in our best interest to deal with our obvious flaws, before they trip us up, or cause us to fall.

Reflecting Pool:

What sinful behavior do you notice in others, but ignore in yourself?

How does hypocrisy cause you to trip or even fall?

He Speaks for Himself

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. --Matthew 5:11 (NIV)

I find it difficult to not get my dander up when someone insults my Christian beliefs. I can become quite defensive in such cases. I'm learning that in order to be a more effective witness, I need to let some things just slide by. Rather than defend myself and my doctrinal stance, I should make more of an effort to remain silent.

Why waste time and energy getting overly agitated? Why bother responding to those who will not hear us anyway? A better course of action is to let the Holy Spirit take over. This is what it means to be self-controlled. In my controlled silence, God speaks.

When I stop waggling my tongue, I hear his voice much more clearly. When I'm not talking over Him, his voice resonates within me. He reminds me that I don't need to take things personally. More importantly, He calms my emotions and assures me that I am not the one being attacked, He is. As such, He will deal with the situation accordingly. My witness and testimony is stronger when I let Him speak for Himself.

Reflecting Pool

When have you felt personally attacked for being a Christian?
Have you ever said something you regret in the process of defending yourself?

Infringing on Salvation?

"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' --Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)


These words from Jesus are particularly tough to absorb. At first they seem to contradict the prophet Joel's assertion in Chapter 2 that "all who call on the name of the lord will be saved." How can anyone even hope to be saved if calling on Jesus' name isn't good enough? Why is it that Jesus calls certain people "evildoers" when they are doing what appears to be good things, such as driving out demons and performing miracles?

A recent, and unfortunate, circumstance provided me with an interesting point of view on this. I learned that some of my copyrighted material was being used in the internet community at large. For the record, I do not permit my devotionals to be posted to any and every website that claims to have Christian ties. Although I know it is important to see that God's Word is spread faithfully to all who will hear, I believe I also have an obligation to apply discernment as to where the most fertile grounds may lie for seed planting.

In dealing with this problem of copyright infringement, I saw that many of the violators were sincere in their own approach to ministry. They did not know the specific rules pertaining to copyright; they just assumed that as long as they kept my byline attached to the work, that was the same as giving me proper credit. Unfortunately, this is not so. I appreciate being properly credited as the author, but this doesn't eliminate the fact that copyright law was violated. They were not using my work in a manner consistent with my personal mission statement. This could have easily been avoided if they had simply contacted me for permission.

When people merely claim Jesus' name but do not actively allow God's will and look for the Holy Spirit's influence in their lives, they are essentially infringing on Jesus' name. They overlook the work He did on the cross, and fail to live humbly in response to the gift of salvation. These are the people whom Jesus will say he never knew, for truly they are the people who never gave him more than a passing glance as they glimpsed the cross.

Jesus is not a byline in our lives. I hope I am never guilty of something as evil as infringing on his life-saving work.

The Struggle Against Temptation

"Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." --Matthew 26:41 (NIV)

There is nothing taking place on earth that God has not ordained. This includes temptations. However, one must not conclude that because God has ordained something that He has caused it.

In the Biblical account of Job's trials, one of the most important details is that even Satan must ask God's permission to manipulate the circumstances of a person's life. Although that may be a difficult concept to grasp, it is essential to understanding that God does not tempt mankind; rather, he allows the temptation to take place.

Most Christians agree that everything that happens is part of God's sovereign and perfect plan. How then does temptation fit into this ideal? What is the purpose of temptation, and how does it serve to glorify God? The answer depends on a person's individual vantage point.

Those who are not believers and do not profess an ongoing relation argue that temptation is God's way of tormenting His creatures. Similar to the attitude expressed by Jim Carrey's character in the movie "Bruce Almighty", they regard God as a big mean kid with a magnifying glass, burning the antennae off the heads of insects. If this is truly the case, then giving in to temptation is passive, and results in God ultimately getting His way.

But this is not how the Christian views temptation. Temptation is a natural consequence of living in a fallen world. Mankind's sinful nature will always gravitate toward that which is not beneficial. The ability to resist temptation ultimately comes from the strength provided by the Holy Spirit. In realizing this, the Christian understands his own weakness when juxtaposed with the strength of the Creator God.

Temptation is a source of constant struggle for the Christian. It has been said that since Satan knows he will not be able to torment the Christian for the rest of eternity, then he will torment men of God for as long as that man is of flesh and blood. Again, this demonstrates how, like in the story of Job, God has the final say over what happens in a man's life. Satan may have his day in the life of a Christian, but God holds mankind's soul for an eternity.

Performance Review

For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard."...The workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a denarius. So when those came who were hired first, they expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. When they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. --Matthew 20:1, 9-11


Last week I underwent my annual performance review at work. The procedure this year is slightly different from last years. Our company uses a system that enables supervisors to rate qualitative performance in a quantitative way. This is supposed to ensure that the whole process is more objective. I like knowing that how my supervisor rates my job performance is based primarily on whether or not I'm doing my job. I am not being compared to others who have been here longer, or who may have different responsibilities or capabilities.

God's view of us is similar in a way. He doesn't care how long we've been going to church or how old we were when we made a public profession of our faith. He doesn't keep track of how many times we've missed Sunday School or how many checks we've dropped into the collection plate each week. When God looks at us to see how we're doing, only two things really matter. For those of us who are already Christians, God wants to know if we are being obedient and faithful to His commandments. Even more importantly, He wants us to be in a continually growing relationship with Him. Those two things go hand in hand when it comes to living out a life of faith.

In the parable of the workers in the vineyard, Jesus demonstrates that there are no bonus points to be gained for working longer or harder (according to our own assessment) than others. God doesn't pay overtime either. God's gift of grace is extended in exactly the same way to each person on earth. God extended His grace to all of us when He sent His son, Jesus, to die on the cross. Jesus' outstretched arms welcome us into the kingdom of heaven. From there we are all on the same footing--every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

God is the only being I know who can be entirely objective while still maintaining a deep love for His children. In this we have confidence to know that our performance as a Christian is not really based on performance after all. It is based on the knowledge that we are the recipients of a gift we do not deserve. When we are ever-mindful of that fact, we are able to live faithfully and humbly, praising our Father with our actions and our words.

Spiritual Metabolism

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness for they will be filled.--Matthew 5:6

I have often heard the expression "it's not what you eat, it's what you swallow." This handy little phrase reminds me that maintaining good physical health is just as much about quantity of intake as it is quality. I happen to have a high rate of metabolism, and this requires that I continuously eat high energy foods in high quantities. Whenever I fail to do so, I become overly tired, cranky, and worst of all, less able to maintain good health. When I'm not feeling well, my energy level starts to dip and as a result I find myself less motivated to eat as much as I need to to regain lost ground.

Not surprisingly, I have found that I have a sort of "spiritual metabolism" as well. Perhaps this is because God designed our souls to reside in a physical body, and as a result, the two function in similar ways. Lately, my spiritual appetite has been waning a bit. I was surprised the other night when I admitted this to myself and my friends. I had been reading my Bible regularly, but I hadn't been internalizing it as I used to. In other words, I was eating, but I wasn't swallowing.

Jesus promised that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness would be filled. Our daily bread must consist not only of just reading God's word, but becoming attuned to God's active presence in our lives. Spending time in individual prayer is one way of feeding our spiritual selves, but we need more than that. We need to meet regularly with people who also know what it means to seek God, and to live a life serving him.

I like knowing that when I become spiritually hungry, I don't need to go very far in order to find something worth ingesting. Consulting my Bible is usually my first step, but beyond that I have the privilege of being married to a godly man who meets my spiritual needs on a practical level. Whenever we do our family devotions together after dinner, the conversation that ensues is practically a feast! Additionally, I happen to have a broad group of Christian friends from church who are willing to share their spiritual meals with me when I'm a bit famished. In one way or another, God never ceases to fill me when I am hungry for Him, and my spiritual health is restored.

Judging by God's Standards

Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say you to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye. --Matthew 7:1-5

Awhile back my friend Liz and I met at the local Starbucks for what I like to call "green straw therapy." We talked about how frustrating it can be at times to be in a Christian in a secular work environment. Liz said that something that day that I found to hold much wisdom and truth. Her dad had once told her that Christians should not be too appalled by certain attitudes and actions of non-Christians; after all, they see nothing inappropriate about how they live.

As that though sank in, I finally understood that I had been operating under the assumption that everyone else should live according to my way of thinking. In the back of my mind, I had been silently (and not so silently!) judging and condemning other people based on my own personal value system. That's not my job. Without realizing it, I had been misinterpreting and misapplying the first several verses of Matthew 7.

For a Christian to judge a non-Christian by holding that person up to a standard of morality is unfair. It would be as if an American who committed a crime in the U.S. were made to stand trial in a foreign nation and judged by that nation's legal system. To any reasonable person, this makes no logical sense. Why be held accountable to rules that don't govern the place where we don't live?

In the same way, we are judged by the law of the land of our citizenship. As Christians, our citizenship is in heaven. For everyone else, their current citizenship is here on planet earth. God will judge all of us one day. Because the earth is the Lord and everything in it, the world and all who live in it will be asked to give an account. Only God has the authority to judge people's hearts.

Dim and Flicker

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. "--Matthew 5:14-15

Whenever I plug in my Rowenta iron, or my husband plugs in his Mac powerbook in the living room, our torchiere lamp dims and flickers a bit. At first I hardly noticed it. Lately, however, the flickering has gotten substantially worse. We called our apartment maintenance guy and he offered to replace the outlet and face plate. He fixed it all right. Now the lamp doesn't just dim, it goes completely dark at odd intervals. Even more disconcerting is the fact that the overhead light by the linen closet is behaving in much the same way. Apparently the problem lies a bit deeper than just the wall outlet.

There are times when we Christians, whom Jesus calls "the light of the world," don't emit as much light as we should. We dim and flicker during those times when our power source isn't a steady supply. For all intents and purposes, we are "plugged in"--we go to church and sing along with the worship service--but on the deepest level, the spiritual electrons just aren't flowing. This may happen for a variety of reasons.

When we grow lax in the amount of time we spend with God, we risk losing our spiritual luminescence. Failure to communicate with Him through Bible reading and prayer is a recipe for disaster. The longer we go without these things, the more corroded our connection to Him can become. Soon the enemy has an opportunity to overload our circuits, so to speak, and burn right through our ineffective wiring.

All of us go through periods where we are only just "plugged in" and not actively engaging in meaningful fellowship or communion. However, if we wait until we actually feel like participating in such activities, our Christian lights will most certainly flicker and dim. When I feel overwhelmed to the point of not wanting to do much of anything, let along get dressed and go to church, I remind myself that it's okay if I want to just put my light on an automatic timer for a little while. It is important to at least go through the motions of being at church, even if I'm not entirely "turned on" by the experience.

It's okay to dim and flicker, so long as we're not content to stay that way. The underlying spiritual problem should be addressed and any faulty wiring replaced as necessary. The world will do its best to try to put out our light; let's not let that happen any sooner than it needs to because of improper wiring or a bad connection to the power source.

Incoming!

Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come."--Matthew 24:42

We had just come home from church. I was already kicking off my shoes in preparation of a sedentary Sunday afternoon, when the phone rang. My husband's parents had called to say that they were in the area and wondered if it would be okay for them to stop by for a visit. Since that evening's choir rehearsal had been rescheduled, we had plenty of time for entertaining company. (By the way, thanks again Mom and Dad, for dinner!)

What my in-laws saw was our cute apartment in pretty good shape. What they didn't see was the flurry of activity that took place right after we got off the phone. As I hung up the phone, my internal monologue shouted "Incoming! All hands on deck!" Our place wasn't in disarray, but it wasn't spic-n-span either. It must have been due to God's providence that we had already done some heavier duty household chores earlier that week. Fortunately, all that really needed to be done was wipe the counters and run the vacuum, and I was able to sucker...er, talk my husband into doing that.

I think for the most part, everyone tries to put his or her best foot forward in certain situations. We do this especially when we find ourselves in the company of someone we respect or admire. God deserves our ultimate respect and admiration, but how often do we make sure that the varying aspects of our life are presented well before Him? Why is it that some of us behave very differently at church or among our Christian friends than we do during the rest of the week around others? Do we think that God doesn't see us unless we're looking directly at Him?

God sees us all the time. He knows our thoughts before they are given much time to grow. He knows the intentions behind every one of our actions, whether it be noble or selfish. He sees us in a light that is even more brutally honest that even our most trusted friends do. He knows us more intimately than we know ourselves. He sees us as we truly are.

Even though we are already under God's watchful eye, some day He's going to check on us. Our time on earth will come to an abrupt end, and we will be found either living faithfully, or idly. God gives us no warning of when this will take place. He won't call us on the telephone to say that He's in the area and will drop by around 4 o'clock if that's convenient. We will not be given an opportunity to run around frantically trying to clean up our living space to make it appear acceptable to Him.

God wants us to be ready at any moment for His appearance. We need to live each day as if it was our last, and focus on the things that really matter--like developing a relationship with Him. The day will come when we will run out of opportunities to get our hearts right with God. While we still have time, we need to get plugged into Him.

Scheduling Time With God

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. --Matthew 5:33

I recently acquired one of those hand-held organizer things. My main reason for purchasing such a tool (toy?) was so that I could use it to keep track of things somewhere other than in my head. I shudder to think how much time I've wasted pawing through stacks of papers looking for a reminder note I'd written for myself or a phone number I had hastily scribbled on the back of an envelope that was serving double-duty as a coaster and bookmark. Imagine my dismay when I opened up the calendar in my new organizer and discovered that it, just like everyone else's calendar, only had 24 hours allotted for each day.

Sadly, many of us forget to include God in our ever-moving, ever-changing, fast-paced lives. We pencil Him in for a 1 to 2 hour block of time every weekend. We allocate a portion of our earnings to God by the giving of tithes and offerings, but we stiff Him when it comes to our precious time. Are we really that busy? Are we really so self-absorbed that we cut ourselves off from God in such a way?

Nothing on this earth is as important as a relationship with God. Nothing will last as long as His kingdom. We could fill our calendars with endless activities, but all of that time and effort will be a waste compared to time spent in the presence of God, pursuing an intimate relationship with Him. In the midst of our busyness, we lose sight of God's kingdom and His righteousness. We seek Him as a last resort, if at all.

None of us can add a single day to our lives. We can live out our days rushing around, never settling anywhere, or we can actively make time for periods of quiet repose spent with God. Checking the email can wait. Writing the grocery list can wait. When we make time for God first and foremost, and ask Him to show us the best ways that we can fit into His plans, He provides us with the time for all those other things we thought were so urgent. He even helps us recognize which things and activities we can do without.

There are some things that are necessary obligationi, such as going to work and meeting the basic needs of a household, but someday even those things will cease to be. In the twinkling of an eye, this world as we know it will end. Until that day comes, I'd much rather live in the moment with God than be a slave to my own demanding schedule. I sleep better at night knowing that I have lived each day to the fullest, seeking God's kingdom and developing my relationship with Him. When this life is over we will be free to spend eternity in the presence of God's full righteousness. I look forward to that day with great joy and anticipation--even though I can't schedule it in my new organizer!

What Rains May Come

The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. --Matthew 7:25

Natural disasters are all just as unique as the geographic regions in which they occur. Here in the United States we have mostly earthquakes, hurricanes and tornadoes. We Southern Californians are prone to natural disasters like mudslides, landslides, and flash floods. During "earthquake season" we feel the earth turn to Jell-O beneath us as fault lines heave mightily, sending tremors in all directions. During other times of the year, we watch power lines snap in two during heavy winds that come racing over the nearby mountains. Sometimes these things cause a tremendous amount of damage. Depending on how well prepared or well insured you are can make a huge difference in how you weather the storms and then repair any resulting damage from these "Acts of God".

When I read this verse in Matthew, I realized something new. Rain, rising streams and wind are all things that are brought about by God. He created them and he directs their paths. Even the wind and the waves are obedient to his voice and it is for that reason that we need not worry or be afraid. Of course, I'm not merely speaking meteorologically; I'm also speaking from a spiritual point of view. The best way to endure the forces of nature in God's world is to have my life firmly based upon him.

Sometimes it is easy to feel the rain beating down on us and feel like God should come rescue us from it, or at least provide us with a sturdy umbrella! We all too easily forget that God created that rain in the first place. When life presents us with storms or natural disasters of any kind--physical or spiritual--we cannot let ourselves think that such things happen outside of God's plan. In fact, they happen because of God and His plan.

Christ, the Rock of our Salvation, is the foundation on which we build our houses so that we can stand securely against what rains may come. Sometimes the rains and storms come to show us how steady and firm that foundation truly is. Even if our houses do sustain a bit of damage, God can show us how to rebuild on His foundation. Our God is the creator of the storms and the rain, but he is also our shelter in times of trouble. With a firm faith in him, we are able to weather life's storms.

The Land of "If"

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. --Matthew 6:34

"The Land of If"

There is a place not far away
though its name you may not know
where each of us visits most everyday,
(and some are too eager to go!)
In this land we all have seen
the way we wish things were,
sometimes we see what might have been,
and the things that are still unsure.

It is the Land of If--
we've all been once or twice.
Usually it's quite lonely there
(and rarely is the weather nice.)

The Land of If might seem like a way
to deal with busyness and flurry,
but really it's just another way
to invite in fears and worry.
Beware of this land! Stay far away!
(I know it can be tough)
Keep your thoughts in the present day
for it has problems enough.


It happens to all of us at one time or another. We crawl into bed at night unable to completely relax because our minds are an endless parade of thoughts about things we think require our immediate attention. Whether you've wasted time trying to think of an excellent comeback for the rude comment made by the guy behind you in the checkout line at the grocery store, or you're worrying about things unseen, God wants us to surrender our worrisome thoughts to him.

Each of us likes to exhibit some degree of control over certain aspects of life. Most people, myself included, need to have orderliness and plans in order to feel at peace. When life deviates from the norm and orderliness and routines are disrupted, worry can set in.

God does not want us to live in a state of worry or in the Land of If. God's mercies are new every morning. He gives us the strength and peace we need one day at a time. When we feel ourselves being overwhelmed by even the smallest of incidents, we can come before God and ask Him to give us what we need to handle the situation. Because He will never leave us or forsake us, we can rest peacefully in Him no matter what is going on in life.

Each day has enough to worry about on its own. The more time we spend living in the Land of If, the more we miss out on the blessings that God has to give us in the present moment.

Approved and Accepted

"His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'--Matthew 25:21

A few months ago I submitted a document to the Air&Waste Management Association for their upcoming annual international conference. For the last month I have been on pins and needles waiting to hear if the Association decided to include it in their program for the conference. Last Friday I found out that my hard work paid off and that my paper was accepted!

It is very gratifying when the things I take seriously are accepted and approved. This is true not only of my scientific and professional pursuits, but my personal and spiritual ones as well. Maybe it's part of my '"first-born" mentality, but I thrive on positive feedback. That is why today's verse strikes a very strong chord with me. To me, living my life in a manner that is pleasing to God is not something I think I should do, but rather, it is something I feel I must do. I feel very compelled to live in such a way that at the end of my life, I will be welcomed into heaven with the words "well done good and faithful servant."

I know that no matter how good I try to be, I will always be living in a fallen state. I am human afterall, and my natural state is one of sinfulness. Over my lifetime I will make countless mistakes. I know I will never be perfect, but fortunately, getting into heaven has nothing to do with my actions. It has everything to do with faith, and believing that Christ died for me.

Living my life as a good and faithful servant does not mean that I need to accumulate a certain number of hours of community service, or that I need to make sure I give to enough charities. Being faithful does not mean I need to memorize the Bible. As a good and faithful servant, I need to apply the things that God teaches me from the Bible in order to live in a manner that is acceptable in his sight. This means that I need to work hard to do my best to emulate Christ in all aspects of my life.

This is something I take rather seriously, not out of selfish ambition, or because of my personality type, but because I know that this is what God wants and deserves from me. Far more gratifying than having a silly scientific paper be accepted by a bunch of air quality professionals, will be the knowledge that I am accepted and approved by God.

A Heart for Missions

Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. --Matthew 28:19

God can further his kingdom just as much through Christians in the mission field of corporate America and on college campuses here in the states, as he can through those he calls to impoverished nations throughout the world. I personally have never been out of the country. For a number of reasons, travel other than that of the local variety, is not something that I favor or am particularly good at. I admire people who have a sense of adventure, and a heart for foreign missions. I believe very strongly that all Christians are bound by the great commission, which calls us to share God's word with others, and I realize that we are all called to minister in different ways.

Many of my friends have participated in foreign missions and I have been blessed by their stories of what God has done in their lives and the lives of people with whom they shared the gospel. My friend Jon recently returned from a trip to Ethiopia and my husband and I had the opportunity to sit down with him and listen to him describe the trip while we looked at an incredible photo album. Yesterday we got a letter in the mail from Jon with an update about the other ministries and activities he is involved in. I'd like to share parts of that letter with you.

--

So here it is, over five months since the most eventful trip of my life, and I am just now sitting down to write about it...I can honestly say that the whole experience was the single most life changing experience I have ever encountered.

The Abasah, the Ethiopian people, are the most kind and gentle-hearted people I have ever met. They are so friendly and will do anything they can to help one another. They live simple lives and are grateful for what they have. There was no plumbing, heating or electricity in the majority of the homes. So many of us here in the U.S. take these things for granted while these people are simply happy to be alive and have a place to lay down their head.

...We were also blessed with the privilege of helping out with Hope Enterprises. Hope is the only "soup kitchen" in all of Ethiopia. We were able to help serve over 600 people a day for a meager $90...

Hope has several locations throughout the nation, in cities and rural area. In all the locations, they take hundreds of homeless boys and girls off the street every monrning. These children are taught simple lessons such as reading, writing, math, hygiene, and Bible scripture. They are then given breakfast before they are sent on their way to earn money [shining] shoes, running errands, or even begging.

The rest of our time was spent either helping out at the Ethiopian Children's Book Center, or a Sisters of Charity orphanage... Sisters of Charity is an orphanage started by Mother Theresa for children with HIV and AIDS. It was such a joy to be able to see the bright and smiling faces of the children day after day. All they wanted was to have someone show them love and affection.

--

I wish I could make those words leap off the page with the same emotion and excitement that Jon had when he shared his experiences with us over a cup of coffee awhile back. It has been said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so I encourage you to visit the following websites to learn more about Jon's trip to Ethiopia. The first link is simply a photo album. The second is more of a journal of the trip.

http://www.sterling.edu/campus/chapel/missions/ethiopia2004/
http://sterling_in_ethiopia.blogspot.com/

Remember that God can use you as a missionary right in your own backyard. We don't need to travel to parts unknown to find people who are living in spiritual darkness. Many of us go to school, work, and spend time with people who do not know Jesus. It is our responsibility to carry out the great commission and do our part to make disciples of all nations. There are people right here in our local communities that, like the children Jon met in Ethiopia, just want "to have someone show them love and affection." There is no better way to show love than to share with them the gift of God's word.

A Child-Like Heart

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." --Matthew 18:3

I was really young, my favorite book was "Thank you God for Summer". I think I made my parents read it to me almost every night before bedtime. I loved it so much in fact, that I was absolutely devastated when my parents took it away as punishment for disobedience. I can still picture the illustration on the cover of the book. I don't remember its contents, however.

When many of us are young Christians, living in the earliest part of the critical decade, and new in our faith, we approach every aspect of it with a child-like joy. Songs of worship sound sweeter, fellowship with others results in tremendous spiritual growth, and time spent alone with God is meaningful and deep. We crave daily input from God's word, and feel ill-at-ease without it.

As we grow older we fail to be as awe-inspired by the little things as we once were. Going to church can become a habit. Tithing can seem like an obligation rather than an offering. Fellowshipping is an excuse to get out of the house instead of a chance to grow with other Christians.

If God's mercies are new every morning, and he delights in us on a daily basis, then what excuse do we have for our complacent attitudes? Doesn't God deserve that we find daily joy in spending time with him? Shouldn't we embrace each morning with an exuberant heart, excited as a young child who can't wait to spend a day with her daddy?

We forget what it means to have faith like a child. We become cynical and dismissive of the daily miracles that God chooses to share with us. I myself am guilty of thinking that God's blessings can seem common-place. I let my grown-up thought process tell my heart that to be child-like is to be immature or flighty.

I am fairly certain that this is not how God thinks of child-like faith, nor is it the attitude he wants from any of us. I believe there is a two-fold reason that God calls us his children. One is that we need to be aware that God is an authority figure, and we need to submit ourselves to him. The other serves to remind us of the attitude of faith we are to exhibit.

Today I plan to once again start thanking God for summer and ask him to forgive me for acting too much like a stuffy grown-up. I don't want to remember only the cover illustration of what God has done for me. I want to completely know and internalize its contents so that no matter how old I get, I can still have a child-like heart that delights and joys in my faith.