Wednesday, February 04, 2009

“Go, Don’t Come”: Learning to Follow the Mission Model of Jesus

The Lord is continuing to grow and teach Tom and me in so many ways. We went to a seminar this weekend about missions and “gospel planting” instead of “church planting.” They shared some powerful points about how much of what we do in the church system can actually work against the heart of the gospel.

They began with Matthew 28:18–20:

“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’”

The focus was on the word “GO”—make disciples, not “COME” to church, and not simply make converts. They also introduced the idea of a “Discovery Bible Study,” where instead of teaching or instructing, you simply ask questions and point people to Scripture, allowing them to discover God’s truth for themselves. That really impacted me.

When people discover truth on their own, they own it—and allow the Lord to transform them. When we constantly instruct, people can become dependent on others instead of developing their own walk and relationship with the Lord.

The next passage they shared was John 6:43–45:

“Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.”

This reminded us that we’re not responsible for bringing people to the Lord—only for being obedient to what God calls us to do. We share the gospel, but it’s the Holy Spirit who draws hearts and transforms lives.

Another passage they discussed was Deuteronomy 6:4–9, which convicted me deeply:

“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength… Impress these commandments on your children… Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

This was a strong reminder of what God desires from us—a daily, lived-out love and devotion. Lord, help me grow in my love for You so that these things flow naturally in my life and service.

One especially convicting part of the seminar was the idea that we should mentor others only if they are also mentoring someone else. It’s such a powerful model—multiplying growth and empowering believers to depend on the Lord, not a leader. I want to encourage the women I work with to pour into others so that God’s work can multiply in and through them.

The Discovery Bible Study method also gave me a new approach to Scripture:

1. Read it aloud.

2. Write it out word for word.

3. Rewrite it in your own words.

4. Write “I will” statements based on what God shows you.

I’ve been doing this with Isaiah 58 while on my raw fruits and vegetables fast. It’s helped me focus more deeply on God’s Word. One verse that really stood out was Isaiah 58:8:

“Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.”

I’ve long believed the Lord healed my eye in 2002, though I haven’t seen the full manifestation yet. As I meditated on this verse, I felt Him whisper that obedience will bring that healing into view. How amazing is that?

Speaking of obedience—remember the $100 I was tempted to use for something other than the eye drops it was given for? I’ve realized that was a test. The temptation came back again and again, and at one point, I saw how new it was to have money in hand and not be able to spend it on what we “needed.”

I kept praying and resisting, reminding myself that God has always provided. Then on Monday night, while driving home from picking up a DVD from H, I had this realization: if the enemy is working so hard to tempt me, there must be a reason. That’s when I decided to stand firm, trust God completely, and stop entertaining the thought.

Moments later, H called to tell me she had slipped something into the DVD sleeve. When I checked—there was a $100 check inside! Wow! God’s timing is perfect. Only after I recognized the enemy and stood firm did the Lord reveal His plan.

And this morning, when I found our back tire flat again, I couldn’t help but smile. Even in small inconveniences, He reminds us that He’s faithful. We used our spare and are trusting Him once again for provision.

Thank You, Lord, that You are God—and there is no other. You are always faithful, always teaching, always providing.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

Provision, Purpose, and Flat Tires

Heavenly Father, Your faithfulness is matchless!

On Thursday morning, Tom took the tire to BY’s shop to see if they could patch it up for us—and they did! We were excited to have it fixed, but then Thursday night, as I was coming home from my group, it went flat again… DOH! When Tom put the spare on Wednesday morning, he showed me how to do it, and as I stood there watching him instruct me, I thought, there’s a reason I’m learning this!

Sure enough, I needed that knowledge Thursday night. Even though it was 25-degree weather, I felt confident that I could change the tire myself. Still, I knew the Lord would send help—and while I was still on the phone with Tom, Officer Cherry pulled up to check on me and helped me change it. God is so good! So, we were back to the spare and waiting on the Lord’s provision for a new tire since that one couldn’t be repaired.

On Friday, I met with a new woman referred by a girl I used to work with, and we had a great talk. When we were getting ready to leave, she handed me a bill and said it was for my “time.” I reminded her that I was free and she didn’t have to pay me, but she insisted. I didn’t actually look at it until I got to the car—and it’s a good thing I was sitting down because I might have fallen over… it was a $100 bill! I was shocked, then overflowing with praise for the Lord’s provision once again. We were able to order the new tire and had it taken care of on Monday.

Friday night brought another adventure—the air mattress we’d been sleeping on finally gave out. So, we didn’t get much sleep that night and went Saturday to get a new one. We couldn’t afford the same kind we’d had, but after trying to sleep on the floor, we were just grateful to be off the ground! It seems like we’re having trouble keeping things inflated these days. CB asked what in our lives might need to be deflated—hmmm, good question! Lord, please help us with that one. My first thought was “our egos,” but if that’s not it, please reveal what is.

Friday night, A and C flew to California to introduce C to the family. Adam’s note tonight said they were having a great time. I pray that all continues to go well and that she likes the family—and the family likes her!

Today, I met with Kristen from “Services for the Blind.” She went over the formal information and paperwork, asking about my work and daily activities. I tried to feel her out to see if there was another reason I was there, but as kind as she was, she politely avoided every opening to talk about the Lord. It reminded me of the seminar two weeks ago, when we learned to look for a “person of peace.” From what I learned, she wasn’t one—and that’s okay. As I was leaving, I felt the Lord say, You’re not asking for this; Raleigh Eye Center is asking for it. They’re the ones who pushed for me to go through this process. If the Lord wants to close that door, He will. If not, it will all work out. Either way, I know He’s in control.

As of today, I’m on day 10 of my raw fruit and veggie fast, and it’s been good. I’ve enjoyed the food and the physical results. I haven’t felt weak or tired, even with my full schedule—painting with H on Mondays, spending nearly a whole day with Marteen on Tuesdays, and everything else! I don’t think I could have done a water fast this time. I’ve decided to extend it to 40 days, adding nuts and beans after day 14 for protein. I feel lighter—physically and spiritually. No sluggishness, no guilt, no overindulgence.

I’ve realized I really need structure and clear boundaries to do what I know I should be doing… why is that, Lord?

During this fast, I’ve been studying fasting in the Bible. In the Old Testament, it often represented repentance—a cry to God after realizing how far the people had drifted. In the New Testament, it seems to be about seeking the Lord’s direction—before sending people out, during persecution, and when needing guidance. I want to keep my focus on the new covenant and what the Lord is saying now.

I’m not sure why He called me to this fast, but I know He has a purpose. Lord, please guide and direct me in what You would have me do. Open my eyes and my heart, and give me the strength to be obedient even when things don’t make sense.

Tom seems to be perking up lately. He made a new contact at the seminar, and one of the husbands of the women I met with reached out to him. It’s good to see him ministering again after a dry season. Thank You, Jesus. He’s still struggling a bit physically, so I’m praying for renewed strength for him too.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Living Inside the Blessing

We have officially been innkeepers for a week now, and everything has been going wonderfully. The place is absolutely beautiful, and we are still having a hard time wrapping our minds around this incredible blessing from the Lord. At times it almost feels too good to be true. There is still so much to learn, but thankfully we have plenty of time to grow into it.

We welcomed our first guests last Wednesday, and I made breakfast for them. They made it easy by requesting turkey bacon and cheese omelets, so I added some fruit and muffins and called it done. They seemed very pleased. I put on some soft classical music, sat and talked with them for a bit, and genuinely enjoyed the whole experience. It was a wonderful “first” in every way.

We hosted the last wedding of the season this past weekend, and at this point there are no reservations scheduled for the rest of the year. Apparently, this is the slow season for this bed and breakfast. For now, I’ve been cleaning, organizing, and preparing everything for the busy season. There is still plenty to do, but my hope is that by the end of the year everything will be ready—at least by my standards.

I’ve been getting up at 6:30 each morning to spend time with the Lord before the day begins, but I’m considering moving that to 6:00 because I still feel like I need more time. There were a couple of days when I woke up at 3:00 and 4:00 a.m. and had so much time with Him that I think I spoiled myself. Unfortunately, I can’t do that every day—unless God miraculously sustains me! 

Fall has arrived quickly. The air is crisp, the trees are changing colors, and there’s that unmistakable scent of autumn everywhere. I love this season. The inn has a lovely gas fireplace, and I’ve been lighting it in the mornings while sipping hot lemon water and studying with the Lord. It’s incredibly cozy, and I’m soaking it all in.

I was talking with G the other day about how amazing God is and how blessed we are to be here. She shared that she often talks about us with her friends and says that while she’s heard many people say they have faith, we are the only ones she’s seen truly walking it out. That felt like such a compliment, but it also made me uncomfortable. I know that none of this is about our faithfulness—it’s about God’s. So I told her that I don’t see this journey as a reflection of our faith so much as a testimony to God’s faithfulness toward us. My prayer is that others would learn to trust Him more by watching what He does in our lives.

And once again, God showed His faithfulness this week—this time through tires. One of our back tires had a slow leak, and we’d been filling it with air every other day. Then last Friday, Tom came home from a breakfast meeting and said he’d had to change a flat tire. I assumed the back tire had finally given out, but instead he said, “Nope—the front tire blew.” I could only shake my head and trust that God had a plan for provision.

Later that day, while I was washing bird baths and getting them ready for a wedding, I clearly heard the words, “Call SK.” That felt strange, since we’ve been very intentional about following God's instructions to trust HIM and not asking people for help. Still, SK has often told us to let him know if we ever need anything. I mentioned it to Tom and asked him to pray about it, then placed the situation in both his and God’s hands. Tom emailed him, simply sharing the need and asking him to pray. We trusted that if God said no, SK would say no—and that provision would come another way. Instead, he called us back and offered to cover the cost of the tires. Thank You, Jesus, for Your perfect and unexpected provision.

E and I planted her fall garden last Tuesday, and I’m excited to see how it grows. I’ve talked with the inn owner about starting a garden here as well and even staked out a spot, but I’ve decided to wait until spring. Working in E’s garden reminded me just how much effort it takes, so I’m praying for wisdom and balance as I consider adding more responsibilities.

I had dinner with friends last week, and one of them shared that she joined a grain co-op and now mills her own grain and bakes her own bread. I was instantly jealous. I started imagining how wonderful it would be to serve freshly milled, homemade bread to our guests. I have so many ideas swirling around—but I know I need to be careful not to run ahead of the Lord. Just because something is good doesn’t mean it’s best. Lord, help me wait for Your direction rather than assuming I already know what You want.

Tom is thrilled to have plenty of “fix-it” projects around the inn. He loves that kind of work and is enjoying the sense of productivity. He’s already completed several projects that have made the place even nicer, and it’s been a joy to watch him come alive in this way.

We’ve already had W and little A come visit, and they both love it—especially the “Mickey” room. They’re already talking about staying the night someday. Now we just need to get E and A here to see it too. I had hoped we could host Thanksgiving here, but they aren’t available this year. Still, we’re making plans for the holidays. A and C invited us to join C’s family again for Christmas Eve, and then we’ll spend Christmas Day with E’s family. It’s hard to believe the holidays are already so close—time really is flying by.

Father, thank You for all You have done, are doing, and will continue to do. Help us to carry Your kingdom perspective into everything we say and do here. May we be a blessing to the inn owners, the guests, and every person who walks through these doors. Let them feel Your presence and leave with Your peace, joy, and love. In Jesus’ name, amen.