aren't we sick yet of missing out on life?

My blog post failed, so check out this Katie's instead:

"Francis Chan wrote, 'How we live our days, is how we live our lives.' I had to read it several times as I let it soak in. Because it is true. So often we find ourselves waiting for a specific moment, a specific call, something special. For what? How we spend our days... that will be our LIFE. Because today could be it. If Jesus came back today and said, 'Let's go!' would we be ready? Would we be doing what we want to be doing when we meet Jesus? People say to me often, 'You are so lucky that you found your calling, that you know your purpose in life.' This statement boggles my mind. I AM so blessed to live the life that I do. But it isn't rocket science. God did NOT part the sky and shout out to me, 'Katie! Serve my people.' I read it in His word. You can too. We can all see as plain as day that Jesus says the number one commandment is to love the Lord and love your neighbor. I happened to move to Uganda and love those neighbors, but that is not the point. As believers, we should already KNOW our calling; it is to love the Lord and love our neighbors by caring for them in whatever broken state they are in. When He said that 'the poor will always be among us' I don't think he meant that as an excuse not to worry about it but as a reminder that there is ALWAYS a neighbor, no matter where we are, in a worse condition than we are. I can only believe that God created us to make this world a little better. That he designed us in love to show that love to others. I just don't know what everyone is waiting for."

Read the rest of her post HERE.

from one pot to another

"It is not the level of our spirituality that we can depend on. It is God and nothing less than God, for the work is God's and the call is God's and everything is summoned by Him and to His purposes, the whole scene, the whole mess, the whole package - our bravery and our cowardice, our love and our selfishness, our strengths and our weaknesses. The God who could take a murderer like Moses and an adulterer like David and a traitor like Peter and make of them strong servants of His is a God who can also redeem savage Indians, using as the instruments of His peace a conglomeration of sinners who sometimes look like heroes and sometimes like villains, for 'we are no better than pots of earthenware to contain this treasure [the revelation of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ], and this proves that such transcendent power does not come from us, but is God's alone'" (2 Corinthians 4:7)

- Elisabeth Elliot

"As we have a high old time..., may we who know Christ hear the cry of the damned as they hurtle headlong into the Christless night without ever a chance. May we be moved with compassion as our Lord was. May we shed tears of repentance for these we have failed to bring out of darkness. Beyond the smiling scenes of Bethlehem may we see the crushing agony of Golgotha. May God give us a new vision of His will concerning the lost and our responsibility."

- Nate Saint, Through Gates of Splendor

albertine

This blog tells the incredible story of a twenty year old woman caring for 400 children in Africa. She's awesome. The music that plays when you click on the link is from one of my all-time favorite artists with some of the most powerful lyrics out there:

"Now that I have seen, I am responsible: faith without deeds is dead. Now that I have held you in my own arms, I cannot let go 'til you are..."

"How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!'" (Romans 10:14-15)

let's rebel

"I'm a rebel, you know the kind that die in the street cause you refuse to conform, won't eat the king's meat. Christ rebelled by shunning the culture. He eatin' with sinners, givin' Pharisees ulcers. He never got married; He was broke plus homeless. Yeah, that's the God I roll with..." - Lecrae

This morning, I woke up to

this
this
this
this
this
this

headline.

I have been digging around all morning for Ri Hyon Ok's story, and if I find it, I'll post it. But even with this little bit of information, I'm honestly overwhelmed. I'm praying Christ would be our only Treasure, so real to us that we consider everything else as worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Him as Lord. And that, for His sake, we will discard everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that we could could gain Christ. (Phil 3:8) What are the chances the woman in the headlines above, executed for distributing Bibles, lived out this verse?

It's all so easy sitting comfortably in the suburbs under our umbrella of religious freedom. William Wilberforce put it this way: "Yet thus life rolls away with too many of us in a course of shapeless idleness. Its recreations constitute its chief business… amusements are multiplied, and combined, and varied, to fill up the void of a listless and languid life; and by the judicious use of these different resources, there is often a kind of sober settled plan of domestic dissipation, in which with all imaginable decency year after year wears away in unprofitable vacancy. Even old age often finds us pacing in the same round of amusements which our early youth had tracked out."

My prayer is for us to be so satisfied in the morning with His unfailing love (Ps 90:14) that our lives won't be described as “shapeless idleness,” “listless and languid," “domestic dissipation,” “unprofitable vacancy."

Paul said, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." How different would our lives be if we could say those words and mean them? Let's rebel.

I honestly believe this may be the coolest topic in the world. And I mean that literally. Right now, people in churches across the U.S. have joined missionaries overseas, sacrificing their summers to serve on continents across the globe. I'm so jazzed to say I know many people ministering to nations on the opposite side of the planet, and I want to ask that you please, please continue to pray for everyone while they're gone. (Specifically be praying for the group currently in Mozambique, Africa!)

A few ways to pray:
- God to exalt his name in the world. (Mat 6:9).

- God to extend his kingdom in the world. (Mat 6:10 ).
- that the gospel would run and triumph. (2 Thes 3:1).

- for the fullness of the Holy Spirit. (Lk 11:13; Eph 3:19).

- God to save unbelievers. (Rom 10:1).

- God would direct the use of the sword. (Eph 6:17-18)

- boldness in proclamation. (Eph 6:18-19) (Acts 4:29).
- for signs and wonders. (Acts 4:30). (Jas 5:17 -18).
- for the healing of unbelievers. (Acts 28:8).
- for miraculous deliverances. (Acts 12:5,12). (Acts 16:25-26).
- for strategic wisdom. (Jas 1:5).
- God to establish leadership in the outposts. (Acts 14:23).
- God to send out reinforcements. (Mat 9:38). (Acts 13:2-3).
- for the success of other missionaries. (Rom 15:30-31).
- for unity and harmony in the ranks. (John 17:20-21).
- for the encouragement of togetherness. (1 Thes 3:10).
- for a mind of discernment. (Php 1:9-10).
- for a knowledge of God's will. (Col 1:9).
- for a deeper sense of assured hope. (Eph 1:16,18).
- for strength and endurance. (Col 1:11 ; Eph 3:16).
- for deeper sense of God's power within them. (Eph 1:16, 19).
- that their faith not be destroyed. (Lk 22:32) (Lk 21:36).
- for greater faith. (Mk 9:24 ; Eph 3:17).
- that they might not fall into temptation. (Mat 6:13) (Mat 26:41).
- that God would complete their resolves. (2 Thes 1:11).
- that they would do good works. (Col 1:10).
- for protection from the evil one. (Mat 6:13).

"So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it."

- 2 Corinthians 5:9

"Dear Lord, I tremble now to pray for readers what I barely feel myself. But I have tasted what our life might be if I, and they, could walk along the ever-present edge of death, and smile with utter confidence that if we fell, or possibly were pushed it would be gain. Oh, what abandon, what great liberty what invincible resolve to love would be our portion if we walked this way! What readiness to suffer for the glory of Christ! What eagerness to show the poor that we would gladly spend and be spent to make them glad in God for all eternity! What lowliness and meekness and freedom from the need for praise and pay! All things are ours in Christ - the world, life, death, the present, the future. All are ours, and we are Christ's. And none of it deserved.

"...Let every wavering heart remember this: You promised 'I will never leave you nor forsake you.' So may we say with death-defying confidence, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'

"Forbid that any, Lord, who read these words would have to say someday, 'I've wasted it.' But grant, by your piercing Word, that we who name Christ as the Lord would treasure him above our lives, and feel deep in our souls, that Christ is life and death is gain. And so may we display his worth for all to see. And by our prizing him may he be praised in all the world. May he be magnified in life and death. May every neighborhood and nation see how joy in Jesus frees his people from the power of greed and fear.

"Let love flow from your saints, and may it, Lord, be this: that even if it costs our lives, the people will be glad in God. 'Let the people praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy.' Take your honored place, O Christ, as the all-satisfying Treasure of the world. With trembling hands before the throne of God, and utterly dependent on your grace, we lift our voice and make this solemn vow: As God lives, and is all I ever need, I will not waste my life. . . through Jesus Christ, AMEN."

- John Piper, Don't Waste Your Life

they tell me, "return!" but to whom can i return...?

I was listening to Afshin Ziafat a few nights ago and heard about Mehdi Dibaj for the first time. (You can hear all of what Afshin said HERE.) Below is the end of his message where he gives a little of Mehdi Dibaj's history, and then quotes directly from Dibaj's confession:

Mehdi grew up a Muslim, converted to Christianity, and was imprisoned for ten years when they found out about him. At the end of his ten years, they issued a death sentence for him. There was another pastor, Haik Hovsepian, who found out about Mehdi’s death sentence and decided that he’s going to throw himself out there. He started making a stir, and he brought it before the international community, before the UN. And because of pressure from the outside world, the Iranian government was forced to release Mehdi Dibaj. Three days later, there was a price to pay. They found pastor Haik and they abducted him and killed him for doing that. I saw a video of Mehdi Dibaj at pastor Haik’s funeral service in tears saying, "I know how Barabbas feels now, because I was set free, because someone died in my place.” Five months later they found Mehdi, abducted him and he was martyred for his faith. Mehdi Dibaj, one of the greatest leaders in the Iranian underground church.

I want you to hear his confession before an Islamic judge who called him to renounce Christ:

"With all humility I express my gratitude to the Judge of all heaven and earth for this precious opportunity, ...I am a Christian. As a sinner I believe Jesus has died for my sins on the cross and by His resurrection and victory over death, has made me righteous in the presence of the Holy God. The true God speaks about this fact in His Holy Word, the Gospel (Injil). Jesus means Savior 'because He will save His people from their sins.'

"...In response to this kindness, He has asked me to deny myself and be His fully surrendered follower, and not to fear people even if they kill my body, but rather rely on the creator of life who has crowned me with the crown of mercy and compassion. He is the great protector of His beloved ones as well as their great reward.

"I have been charged with 'apostasy!'...They say 'You were a Muslim and you have become a Christian.' This is not so... People choose their religion but a Christian is chosen by Christ. He says, 'You have not chosen me but I have chosen you.' Since when did He choose me? He chose me before the foundation of the world. People say, 'You were a Muslim from your birth.' God says, 'You were a Christian from the beginning.' He states that He chose us thousands of years ago, even before the creation of the universe,... The eternal God who sees the end from the beginning and who has chosen me to belong to Him, knew from the beginning those whose heart would be drawn to Him and also those who would be willing to sell their faith and eternity for a pot of porridge.

"I would rather have the whole world against me, but know that the Almighty God is with me. I would rather be called an apostate, but know that I have the approval of the God of glory, because man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart... They tell me, 'Return!' But to whom can I return from the arms of my God? Is it right to accept what people are saying instead of obeying the Word of God? It is now 45 years that I am walking with the God of miracles, and His kindness upon me is like a shadow....

"This test of faith is a clear example. The good and kind God reproves and punishes all those whom He loves. He tests them in preparation for heaven. ...The God of Job has tested my faith and commitment in order to increase my patience and faithfulness. During these nine years he has freed me from all my responsibilities so that under the protection of His blessed Name, I would spend my time in prayer and study of His Word, with a searching heart and with brokenness, and grow in the knowledge of my Lord. I praise the Lord for this unique opportunity. God gave me space in my confinement, brought healing in my difficult hardships and His kindness revived me...

"They object to my evangelizing. But if one finds a blind person who is about to fall in a well and keeps silent then one has sinned...

"Jesus Christ says 'I am the door. Whoever enters through me will be saved.'...He is our Savior and He is the (spiritual) Son of God. To know Him means to know eternal life... I have committed my life into His hands. Life for me is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is a better opportunity to be with Christ. Therefore I am not only satisfied to be in prison for the honor of His Holy Name, but am ready to give my life for the sake of Jesus, my Lord, and enter His kingdom sooner, the place where the elect of God enter everlasting life... May the shadow of God's kindness and His hand of blessing and healing be and remain upon you for ever. Amen.

With Respect,
Your Christian prisoner,
Mehdi Dibaj"