When you want to give up on people

   The Outreach Staff at Grace Church in Wooster, OH comprises unique backgrounds. I am Dineh from the Navajo Nation. Celeste is Brazilian. And Juana is Mexican. Our team serves internationals and seeks to develop everyone into fully-devoted followers of Christ.
   This morning we met to share how we are doing in ministry. I try to provide a framework for our ministries where we gather to envision, pray, and lead.
   I organize the meeting around the central focus of vision. I highlight a portion of our vision statement at Grace Church, "Develop all people into fully-devoted followers of Christ by creatively leading and teaching families towards life change."
   I chose to focus on "life change." Using a picture of a colorful butterfly, I reminded us that God is always at work in everyone of us. "Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6 NIV)." 
   We rehearsed how many people in our ministry have transformed lives that are better today than yesterday. We praised God for His on-going work in their lives.
   Yet ministry is hard. It's hard work. Paul wrote in the book of II Timothy how hard ministry can be. "Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus (II Timothy 2:3)."  Paul uses the imagery of a soldier. Orders are to be carried out. Make it so.  Get it done. Ministry is hard. It's hard work.
   But in the end, "remember Jesus Christ (II Timothy 2:8a)."  You can be discouraed about the people you serve who are making poor choices and experiencing troubling consequences. You witness the pain displaced on family and children. You wonder if your involvelment is just a waste of time.
  You feel the tension of giving up on people. Yet God does not give up on anyone. There is hope for anyone. Each person can choose to live for God. Yes, you will struggle whether you have done everything to help. Still, recall how God do anything. Nothing is impossible with God! His work in unstoppable. Only by God's grace can we go forward to keep helping people.
   Moreover, beware of fostering a self-righteous attitude. You might start thinking how much better you are than so-and-so. You could picture yourself above the ones you are helping. Remember how Jesus saved you. It is by God's grace that you can serve others.
   Visualize life change as the progression from caterpillar to butterfly. Each person who believes in Jesus is on  the journey of transformation. Each believer is a good work in progress.
  When you feel weary in ministry, recall how God is always as work in each believer. Things can be challenging, but consider what could be. 
   This person who is hurting could be one who is helping in the future. This person who needs service could be the one serving others. This person who is in crisis could be the one who is helping to relieve crisis. This person who is so draining could be the one refreshing others one day. Life change can happen in Jesus Christ. Remember Jesus Christ!

God speaks to me

photo by idea_hamster

My year listening to God--

In my readings this time, I came across how God spoke to the early patriarchs and their neighbors. God even spoke to those who were not His people.

God does not speak to me in an audible voice. He prompts things into my thoughts and mind. Some things I need to clarify. I need to verify those impressions with what I know about God from the Bible and what He says in the Bible. His revelation in the Bible directs me and either affirms or denies the reflections of my heart. The more I read and comprehend, the more I am able to live and understand how to live for God.

I am intrigued how God spoke to people in the early days of the Bible. Genesis 30:1-31:16 record how God answered prayer for childless wives. According to this context, God allows children and keeps some from not having children. This can be construed as punishment or as a typical challenge in life to face. When Melissa and I first got married, we desired children; but we could not conceive.

For a long time, we prayed, tried various child-bearing strategies, but no conception occur. However, in time God gave us; not one, not two, not even three, but four great children. God answered our prayer.

In the Bible, you can read these words, "God listened to Leah and she became pregnant...(Genesis 30:17)." Or "The God remembered Rachel ; he listened to her and opened her womb. She became pregnant and gave birth...(Genesis 30:22-23)."

Later in the story, God speaks to Jacob; "Then the Lord said to Jacob...(Genesis 31:3)." Further on the Bible discloses how God spoke to Jacob, "The angel of God said to me in a dream, 'Jacob." I answered, 'Here I am.' And He said...(Genesis 31:11-12)." God spoke to people. He speaks to me. He can speak to you, too; if you listen.

photo by adam_flix

You may say that you are not a Christ-follower or a poor follower of Jesus. But I believe God can still speak to you. That's what I am going to read for tomorrow.

I wonder what you think about God speaking to me. I wonder if you've had someone speak to you. Or maybe some voice speak to you. I'd like to read how you are discerning who is speaking to you.