Hard Places

I'm in constant awe at my own ability to misjudge a situation.  It was very easy for me to think that I was going to pack my bags for Africa, and because I truly felt like God called me there and my friends and family were praying for me, that everything was going to go without a hitch. 

As great as this trip was, there were still plenty of challenges involved, and certainly different ones than I anticipated.  I think there's two reasons.  First, because he loves us, God wants to stretch and teach us.  In His wisdom, he often calls us out of our comfort zone to do this. When we can't rely on our own ability, we are forced to rely on His.  Those are truly the teachable moments.  I know they are for me...

Second, Satan is most certainly not happy about the Kingdom building work we do.  He's looking to attack on every front...to kill and destroy.  He will do everything in his power to discourage and dissuade us from doing the work of our Father.

There were times on this trip where I was uncomfortable and had a clear understanding of why the call it Mission "work", but thankfully, God doesn't spare present pain or comfort for eternal profit.  Whether or not I was comfortable had nothing to do with the success of the trip.

The goal of this trip was to equip and empower God's women across Africa.  Despite the minor discomforts and challenges, that objective was wildly successful!  God proved Himself faithful and showed up in Ghana in a mighty way.  The 30+ women we worked with were absolutely amazing and I built wonderful friendships over the two weeks I spent with them.  They were so excited to learn how to teach the Women in the Window Inductive Bible Study method and take it back to their own countries and communities to pass on to others. 

Many of these women really know what it's like to be uncomfortable.  They truly live in the "Hard Places" of this earth.  Some have been displaced, persecuted, and even feared for their lives.  Yet they "press on for the prize for which they've been called in Christ Jesus".

Are you working in a difficult ministry or circumstances?  Don't be discouraged or confused because things seem hard.  Those "Hard Places" are exactly where God will do His mightiest work...in you!

Press On!

Amazing Africa!

Some of the sights of Ghana!

God's Purpose For My Life

Here is an article I wrote for the local newspaper last June.  It's a good reminder to myself as I consider the new year ahead.  Maybe you could use the reminder, too...

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The other day I was digging in my junk drawer for a rubber band or some other trivial item. Not finding what I was looking for, I got frustrated by the amount of useless pieces and parts in the drawer and piled it all on the counter.

“Do you have any idea at all what this thing is for?” I asked my husband as I held up a small plastic doohickey. After examining it closely, he said it must be something very important, although, admittedly, he had no idea what it was. When he looked away, I tossed it in the garbage can.

The Bible says that I am God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which He prepared for me in advance (Eph 2:10). Not only did God create you and me as his unique masterpieces, He gave us a special purpose, one He’s had in mind for us from the beginning.

Sometimes we agonize to figure out what that purpose is, and how we should fulfill it. But the Bible tells us that’s not our worry…God will do it for us. Psalm 138:8 says, “The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Your love, O Lord endures forever.” And Psalm 57:2 says, “I cry out to God Most High, God who fulfills his purpose for me.” Try as we might, we can’t fulfill our own purpose. God must do it for us. We need his guidance and control in our lives. He will do it in his power, his timing, and his way.

Besides promising He will fulfill our purpose, God also tells us what the ultimate objective is. “…by his power, He [God] may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith…so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12) God’s goal is that He will be glorified in us. He wants us to reflect His image to the world we live in.

The final confidence we have regarding our purpose is that God always finishes what He starts. In Philippians 1:6 it says “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.” God assures us that He has a purpose for us and we will not be stuffed in the drawer and forgotten about, only to be discarded later. His plans for us are too important.

Don’t be discouraged! God has a plan and purpose for you. He will bring it to pass. In the meantime, I think I’ll clean out that junk drawer.