It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1
As part of a ministry leadership team, I have the amazing privilege of knowing and serving many, many women - of all ages, backgrounds, positions in life, etc. God has given me such a love for these women, even those whose names I don't yet know... because I do know this: they are daughters of the King, He loves them, and He has a beautiful story to tell about Himself through their life story.
As exciting as it is to know this, it is sometimes accompanied with sadness. I know from personal experience that as women, while we have experienced great joy in our salvation, we often can become "burdened again by a yoke of slavery". I have felt this burden and have been guilty of sabotaging my own freedom in Christ.
Sometimes our perspective in life becomes inappropriately skewed by various things: financial anxiety, relational conflict, inner turmoil over past sin, the futility of the daily grind, seemingly "unanswered" prayers, and the list goes on..
But Christ has called us to a life of freedom! As we allow this freedom to take root in our very heart and soul, God will plant seeds within us that will grow and blossom into His purpose for our lives - a purpose much greater than we could ever dream up on our own.
I will always remember those first days of real freedom in my walk with Christ and the feeling of absolute amazement that God could use me because I was finally FREE. That feeling - and that freedom - remains because of my decision to believe Galatians 5:1. As a result, I am both privileged and humbled to go and be used of God among those who desperately need freedom (physical, emotional, and spiritual) in Cambodia.
What about you? Are you sabotaging your freedom? Will you decide today to walk in the freedom that Jesus paid such a high price to give you? Someone else's life may just depend on your answer.
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. ~ Galatians 5:1
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
To Know Him & Be Like Him
I will never stop being amazed by God - never. And yet I realize that as much as He amazes now, I will be utterly blown away when I am able to behold His glory forever and ever!! I look forward to that day, but for now, I will continue to seek Him here on earth.
I will seek His forgiveness, for I am still so very flawed.
I will trust in His mercy, for I am very good at condemning myself for those flaws.
I will sing His praises, for I have been forever changed by His redeeming love.
I will tell of His goodness, for He has set me free and given me new life in Him.
And Lord willing, I will go to Cambodia this summer, on a mission to share the good news of His forgiveness; to speak of the hope that His mercy is new every single day; to sing praises as I witness lives being transformed by His redeeming love; and to proclaim His goodness - HE SETS CAPTIVES FREE and GIVES NEW LIFE.
My God is a personal God. And each day, He continues to teach me through His word what it means to know Him and be like Him:
"He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn't that what it means to know me?" says the LORD. ~ Jer. 22:16
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. ~ Prov. 29:7
I treasure your prayers as I seek to do God's will. Specific requests:
That I will develop a hunger for God and His word that is insatiable.
That my life, and the lives of those I meet in Cambodia, will never be the same - to the glory of God.
That God will pierce the darkness in Cambodia with the light of Truth.
That my financial support will come in quickly, in order to make this trip a reality.
I so appreciate all of you who have taken the time to even read this.
I will seek His forgiveness, for I am still so very flawed.
I will trust in His mercy, for I am very good at condemning myself for those flaws.
I will sing His praises, for I have been forever changed by His redeeming love.
I will tell of His goodness, for He has set me free and given me new life in Him.
And Lord willing, I will go to Cambodia this summer, on a mission to share the good news of His forgiveness; to speak of the hope that His mercy is new every single day; to sing praises as I witness lives being transformed by His redeeming love; and to proclaim His goodness - HE SETS CAPTIVES FREE and GIVES NEW LIFE.
My God is a personal God. And each day, He continues to teach me through His word what it means to know Him and be like Him:
"He gave justice and help to the poor and needy, and everything went well for him. Isn't that what it means to know me?" says the LORD. ~ Jer. 22:16
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern. ~ Prov. 29:7
I treasure your prayers as I seek to do God's will. Specific requests:
That I will develop a hunger for God and His word that is insatiable.
That my life, and the lives of those I meet in Cambodia, will never be the same - to the glory of God.
That God will pierce the darkness in Cambodia with the light of Truth.
That my financial support will come in quickly, in order to make this trip a reality.
I so appreciate all of you who have taken the time to even read this.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
"Hidden" Blessings
My precious daughter, Lauren, was born in April 2005 with a mild-to-moderate hearing loss in both ears. This was discovered because of a mandatory hearing screening the hospital performs shortly after birth. Lauren failed the hospital test - twice - and we were assured by staff that about 95% of babies who fail in the hospital, pass with flying colors at their one-month retest. Lauren was part of the 5% who don't pass!
By the time she was four months old, Lauren was fitted with her first hearing aids. We have always been so grateful for the hearing screen. Without it, we aren't sure when we would have realized there was a problem. Lauren's hearing loss is not profound, but it is great enough that it caused a speech delay - and a delay in her comprehension of things that others her age already grasp.
Fast-forward: Lauren is almost 6 and doing exceedingly well in all areas. Last April, she had a great check-up at the doctor's office upon turning 5. In August of 2010, Lauren entered Kindergarten and gets to spend half of her day with just two other hearing impaired students as they are taught by their amazingly wonderful Special Ed. teacher. She LOVES it.
This past November, the school performed a vision screening test and I was expecting Lauren to do just great. After all, her vision was 20/30 in both eyes at her 5 year check-up in April. The test results came back and indicated great vision in Lauren's right eye, but only 20/100 in her left eye. We repeated the test at home and sure enough, when covering Lauren's right eye, she said, "I can't see!"
We were pretty concerned - that's a quick deterioration of vision in such a short time. A few days later, we discovered that Lauren's eyes are healthy (no cataracts, tumors, etc!) and that she has refractive amblyopia (lazy eye). This was a relief! And there is hope that with time, her vision can be corrected with the assistance of glasses and eyedrop therapy. And as a bonus, Lauren was VERY excited to find out she would be getting glasses like her big sister, Noelle!
So what does this have to do with my heart for Cambodia? A lot.
Over the past year, my heart has been profoundly and repeatedly touched by the work CGI is doing in Cambodia. My desire to go and be a part of the work God is doing there has only increased with time. I eagerly follow the updates from Chris Alexander when he is in Cambodia and he recently shared about taking several of the women on the sewing team to see the eye doctor. Most, if not all, of these women had never been to the eye doctor, and they were sharing the one pair of glasses they had among them, to do their sewing!!
Chris said something that really struck me. It's something most of us cannot even comprehend. He said that we take a great deal for granted - and then he said: The poor simply do without.
We think we are 'doing without' if we can't go out to dinner or a movie all month. We think we are 'doing without' if we have to do our own nails or highlight our hair at home. We think we are 'doing without' if our computer/laptop/cell phone/ipod is two years old. We think we are 'doing without' if we can't get our kids EVERYTHING they want for their birthday (our 'poor' kids!).
As you and I sit in the comfort of our home, or Starbucks, or library, or wherever we happen to be.. let's GIVE THANKS for all of the 'hidden' blessings that surround us. If you notice in the list above, in all of those cases.. we aren't doing WITHOUT anything. We still have food to eat and probably a TV w/dvd player to watch, we can still do our nails and our hair, we still have a functional computer and cell phone, and our kids are getting SOMETHING for their birthday this year.
As bad as things can seem, we have SO MUCH to be thankful for: we live in warm homes, in safe neighborhoods, with food in the pantry and clothes in the closets. We have more than enough for today.. including hearing screenings and vision screenings, while the poor simply do without.
All of this is to say that I'm awestruck by the amount of blessing that God surrounds us with every day. We might think of them as "hidden" blessings ~ not because they aren't there, but because we can choose to SEE them and give thanks - or not.
Let's choose to SEE today.
By the time she was four months old, Lauren was fitted with her first hearing aids. We have always been so grateful for the hearing screen. Without it, we aren't sure when we would have realized there was a problem. Lauren's hearing loss is not profound, but it is great enough that it caused a speech delay - and a delay in her comprehension of things that others her age already grasp.
Fast-forward: Lauren is almost 6 and doing exceedingly well in all areas. Last April, she had a great check-up at the doctor's office upon turning 5. In August of 2010, Lauren entered Kindergarten and gets to spend half of her day with just two other hearing impaired students as they are taught by their amazingly wonderful Special Ed. teacher. She LOVES it.
This past November, the school performed a vision screening test and I was expecting Lauren to do just great. After all, her vision was 20/30 in both eyes at her 5 year check-up in April. The test results came back and indicated great vision in Lauren's right eye, but only 20/100 in her left eye. We repeated the test at home and sure enough, when covering Lauren's right eye, she said, "I can't see!"
We were pretty concerned - that's a quick deterioration of vision in such a short time. A few days later, we discovered that Lauren's eyes are healthy (no cataracts, tumors, etc!) and that she has refractive amblyopia (lazy eye). This was a relief! And there is hope that with time, her vision can be corrected with the assistance of glasses and eyedrop therapy. And as a bonus, Lauren was VERY excited to find out she would be getting glasses like her big sister, Noelle!
So what does this have to do with my heart for Cambodia? A lot.
Over the past year, my heart has been profoundly and repeatedly touched by the work CGI is doing in Cambodia. My desire to go and be a part of the work God is doing there has only increased with time. I eagerly follow the updates from Chris Alexander when he is in Cambodia and he recently shared about taking several of the women on the sewing team to see the eye doctor. Most, if not all, of these women had never been to the eye doctor, and they were sharing the one pair of glasses they had among them, to do their sewing!!
Chris said something that really struck me. It's something most of us cannot even comprehend. He said that we take a great deal for granted - and then he said: The poor simply do without.
We think we are 'doing without' if we can't go out to dinner or a movie all month. We think we are 'doing without' if we have to do our own nails or highlight our hair at home. We think we are 'doing without' if our computer/laptop/cell phone/ipod is two years old. We think we are 'doing without' if we can't get our kids EVERYTHING they want for their birthday (our 'poor' kids!).
As you and I sit in the comfort of our home, or Starbucks, or library, or wherever we happen to be.. let's GIVE THANKS for all of the 'hidden' blessings that surround us. If you notice in the list above, in all of those cases.. we aren't doing WITHOUT anything. We still have food to eat and probably a TV w/dvd player to watch, we can still do our nails and our hair, we still have a functional computer and cell phone, and our kids are getting SOMETHING for their birthday this year.
As bad as things can seem, we have SO MUCH to be thankful for: we live in warm homes, in safe neighborhoods, with food in the pantry and clothes in the closets. We have more than enough for today.. including hearing screenings and vision screenings, while the poor simply do without.
All of this is to say that I'm awestruck by the amount of blessing that God surrounds us with every day. We might think of them as "hidden" blessings ~ not because they aren't there, but because we can choose to SEE them and give thanks - or not.
Let's choose to SEE today.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Another Chance?
Have you ever wished for another chance at something? A do-over? Most of us have probably failed miserably or sinned grievously at some point in life and longed for a fresh start; a chance to try again and get it right.
Many, many years ago, I was in this predicament in a big way. I had sinned grievously again. I was ashamed and scared, but I was also blessed with many family members and friends who were willing to forgive and who encouraged me as I sought the Lord for a new beginning.
However...there was one person during this time whose response was different from all the rest, whispering to me: "You won't get another chance."
At the time, I responded with a feeble: "I know" and then prayed - and eventually believed - that I would never stray from my Lord again. Sadly, years later...I did. And for the better part of the next decade I lived in the shadow of those words: "You won't get another chance."
I believed for so long that God could never use me; that He really couldn't even possibly love me after everything I'd done; and that I couldn't be free from the guilt and shame of my sins unless I had the forgiveness of every person that I'd wronged. Well, God had something else in mind. I was a slow learner, but He finally got it through my thick skull that the kinda of forgiveness that brings freedom is found ONLY in Jesus Christ. And Jesus paid a HIGH PRICE for my freedom. So how dare I go around hanging my head in shame after His clear demonstration of love for me; His offering of Himself for me on a cruel cross to give me another chance!!
Rest assured, God will never say to you: "You won't get another chance."
God says to you: "My love never ends! My mercies never cease. I am faithful to you; My mercies begin afresh each morning." (see Lam. 3:22-23)
I never dreamed of a trip to Cambodia, or a trip to anywhere "mission-related." I like beaches and surf and sun - not to mention safe food & drinking water and a comfy hotel! But this is one more unexpected answer to years of praying. My journals are full of countless entries, crying out to God, "Lord, use me!" - "Lord, CAN YOU use me?" - "Oh, Lord, I love you...please use me! Don't let my life be a waste."
Can you even imagine, after some of what these Cambodian women and girls have been through, how the darkness of shame must cloud their hearts and minds? How they must believe: I'll never have another chance.
Oh Lord Jesus, you came to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. You came to proclaim that we always have another chance with You!
I want to be like you, Lord. I want to go and proclaim it, too!
Many, many years ago, I was in this predicament in a big way. I had sinned grievously again. I was ashamed and scared, but I was also blessed with many family members and friends who were willing to forgive and who encouraged me as I sought the Lord for a new beginning.
However...there was one person during this time whose response was different from all the rest, whispering to me: "You won't get another chance."
At the time, I responded with a feeble: "I know" and then prayed - and eventually believed - that I would never stray from my Lord again. Sadly, years later...I did. And for the better part of the next decade I lived in the shadow of those words: "You won't get another chance."
I believed for so long that God could never use me; that He really couldn't even possibly love me after everything I'd done; and that I couldn't be free from the guilt and shame of my sins unless I had the forgiveness of every person that I'd wronged. Well, God had something else in mind. I was a slow learner, but He finally got it through my thick skull that the kinda of forgiveness that brings freedom is found ONLY in Jesus Christ. And Jesus paid a HIGH PRICE for my freedom. So how dare I go around hanging my head in shame after His clear demonstration of love for me; His offering of Himself for me on a cruel cross to give me another chance!!
Rest assured, God will never say to you: "You won't get another chance."
God says to you: "My love never ends! My mercies never cease. I am faithful to you; My mercies begin afresh each morning." (see Lam. 3:22-23)
I never dreamed of a trip to Cambodia, or a trip to anywhere "mission-related." I like beaches and surf and sun - not to mention safe food & drinking water and a comfy hotel! But this is one more unexpected answer to years of praying. My journals are full of countless entries, crying out to God, "Lord, use me!" - "Lord, CAN YOU use me?" - "Oh, Lord, I love you...please use me! Don't let my life be a waste."
Can you even imagine, after some of what these Cambodian women and girls have been through, how the darkness of shame must cloud their hearts and minds? How they must believe: I'll never have another chance.
Oh Lord Jesus, you came to proclaim good news to the poor, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. You came to proclaim that we always have another chance with You!
I want to be like you, Lord. I want to go and proclaim it, too!
Friday, February 4, 2011
God Said "Yes".
So many prayers have already been answered since my heart was captured by the women and girls of Cambodia. I want to keep a record of those answered prayers and give God the praise that is due Him! Today I would like to share just one.
I mentioned previously that I am involved with Ignite for Women; and as part of Ignite's leadership team, I was compelled to begin praying that Ignite would have an impact AROUND THE WORLD. I wasn't sure how this would play out, but it was one of those thoughts that you KNOW didn't originate with you - you know it came from the Spirit.. and so I believed with all my heart that God was going to raise up women from among us to GO and SHARE THE GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ in a hurting world.
As I've grown in my relationship with Jesus (and I still have sooo far to grow), He has enabled me to begin taking the focus off of me and to be much more interested in others. You might compare it to a photographer who always likes to use her zoom lens. There are many marvelous, exciting, beautiful things to behold all around her, but she is so focused on that one thing, she misses it all! Oftentimes, my lens (and maybe yours) has been set on the zoom mode; so focused on my life, my family, my church, my friends' lives, etc. Over time, God began to widen the lens in my life and my heart - to see and behold all the other marvelous ways in which He desires to use me. I'm liking the panoramic view!
I believe God desires for all of us to 'widen our lens', to step outside our comfort zone, to reach out beyond our safe, comfy church groups (where I know I sure like to be!), for the sake of His Name and His glory.
But please don't get me wrong... fellowship with other believers is wonderful and powerful and beneficial for building up the Body of Christ. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) says: As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. But let's not stop there. Jesus said to his followers: The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
There's a great big field outside our church doors!
When I began praying that Ignite would make an impact around the world, I really didn't expect I would be part of the answer. But God indeed said "YES" to those prayers when He said "GO" to me.
I mentioned previously that I am involved with Ignite for Women; and as part of Ignite's leadership team, I was compelled to begin praying that Ignite would have an impact AROUND THE WORLD. I wasn't sure how this would play out, but it was one of those thoughts that you KNOW didn't originate with you - you know it came from the Spirit.. and so I believed with all my heart that God was going to raise up women from among us to GO and SHARE THE GOOD NEWS of Jesus Christ in a hurting world.
As I've grown in my relationship with Jesus (and I still have sooo far to grow), He has enabled me to begin taking the focus off of me and to be much more interested in others. You might compare it to a photographer who always likes to use her zoom lens. There are many marvelous, exciting, beautiful things to behold all around her, but she is so focused on that one thing, she misses it all! Oftentimes, my lens (and maybe yours) has been set on the zoom mode; so focused on my life, my family, my church, my friends' lives, etc. Over time, God began to widen the lens in my life and my heart - to see and behold all the other marvelous ways in which He desires to use me. I'm liking the panoramic view!
I believe God desires for all of us to 'widen our lens', to step outside our comfort zone, to reach out beyond our safe, comfy church groups (where I know I sure like to be!), for the sake of His Name and His glory.
But please don't get me wrong... fellowship with other believers is wonderful and powerful and beneficial for building up the Body of Christ. Proverbs 27:17 (NLT) says: As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend. But let's not stop there. Jesus said to his followers: The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask him to send more workers into his fields.
There's a great big field outside our church doors!
When I began praying that Ignite would make an impact around the world, I really didn't expect I would be part of the answer. But God indeed said "YES" to those prayers when He said "GO" to me.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Captivated by Cambodia
I was immediately captivated.
In early 2010, I was introduced to a group of beautiful Cambodian women – albeit not in person, but via a slide show presented by The Center for Global Impact (CGI). These precious women make beautiful make-up bags, tote bags, purses, and more, which are then sold in the US. These ladies are affectionately called ‘the sewing team.' But this is no ordinary business endeavor; this is Jesus Christ at work in a very real, tangible way.
Through the initiatives of CGI, Cambodian women and girls in poverty-stricken areas are being provided with opportunities to learn a vocation - thereby empowering their families and protecting girls from the risk of being trafficked.
Perhaps you’ve heard stories about human trafficking or seen photos of those living in destitution, and responded like I have on too many occasions - shaking your head in disbelief, wiping away tears of sadness and pain – and then going on with life as if it really isn’t happening at all. But something changed in me the day I “met” these women in a slide show. The Holy Spirit moved in my heart in a profound way and I knew I had been fully captivated. I knew I had to GO..
Speaking of going.. will you go with me on a little detour? For nearly three years, I have been involved with Ignite Women. During the first year of this ministry, God broke the chains of shame in my life – I was truly free – and I was able to shed the garment of shame I’d worn for years; trading it in for a cloak of salvation and redemption. As a result, God literally opened the doors of ministry in my life, and I was in awe of Him. Me?? Leading other women in their walk with Christ?? I had only dared to dream of such a thing – but I have a Daddy in heaven Who delights in making His little girls’ dreams come true.
That is why, Lord willing, I am traveling to Cambodia this July. Because “little girls” of all ages in Cambodia need to know they have a Daddy in heaven who longs to make their dreams come true – and that they, too, can lead others to life in Him.
CGI will guide a group of women from my church through Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap, visiting the various programs they have implemented – and introducing us to women and girls whose lives have been forever changed as a result.
My own sweet little girl will soon be six years old and I praise God that she is safe, healthy, and does not live in fear as some do in Cambodia. But if I were the mom halfway around the world whose daughter was at risk, I would desperately long for someone to come and help us!
God has called me to go and help.
I would be so humbled if you would pray for this endeavor – that it will please the Lord, change lives, and bring Him glory! Lord willing, this is not a one-time venture for me. I believe this trip will define who I am and what I do for Jesus for the rest of my life.
In early 2010, I was introduced to a group of beautiful Cambodian women – albeit not in person, but via a slide show presented by The Center for Global Impact (CGI). These precious women make beautiful make-up bags, tote bags, purses, and more, which are then sold in the US. These ladies are affectionately called ‘the sewing team.' But this is no ordinary business endeavor; this is Jesus Christ at work in a very real, tangible way.
Through the initiatives of CGI, Cambodian women and girls in poverty-stricken areas are being provided with opportunities to learn a vocation - thereby empowering their families and protecting girls from the risk of being trafficked.
Perhaps you’ve heard stories about human trafficking or seen photos of those living in destitution, and responded like I have on too many occasions - shaking your head in disbelief, wiping away tears of sadness and pain – and then going on with life as if it really isn’t happening at all. But something changed in me the day I “met” these women in a slide show. The Holy Spirit moved in my heart in a profound way and I knew I had been fully captivated. I knew I had to GO..
Speaking of going.. will you go with me on a little detour? For nearly three years, I have been involved with Ignite Women. During the first year of this ministry, God broke the chains of shame in my life – I was truly free – and I was able to shed the garment of shame I’d worn for years; trading it in for a cloak of salvation and redemption. As a result, God literally opened the doors of ministry in my life, and I was in awe of Him. Me?? Leading other women in their walk with Christ?? I had only dared to dream of such a thing – but I have a Daddy in heaven Who delights in making His little girls’ dreams come true.
That is why, Lord willing, I am traveling to Cambodia this July. Because “little girls” of all ages in Cambodia need to know they have a Daddy in heaven who longs to make their dreams come true – and that they, too, can lead others to life in Him.
CGI will guide a group of women from my church through Phnom Penh, Battambang, and Siem Reap, visiting the various programs they have implemented – and introducing us to women and girls whose lives have been forever changed as a result.
My own sweet little girl will soon be six years old and I praise God that she is safe, healthy, and does not live in fear as some do in Cambodia. But if I were the mom halfway around the world whose daughter was at risk, I would desperately long for someone to come and help us!
God has called me to go and help.
I would be so humbled if you would pray for this endeavor – that it will please the Lord, change lives, and bring Him glory! Lord willing, this is not a one-time venture for me. I believe this trip will define who I am and what I do for Jesus for the rest of my life.
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