It’s April 10, and we’re home! It’s great to be back despite the waves of jet lag fatigue that roll over me as I unpack, do laundry, sort the mail, answer emails, and run errands.
I’ll jump into the devotional blogging again on Easter Monday morning. In the meantime, enjoy the weekend – celebrate Jesus, the risen Savior who gives hope and meaning to life!
Now came the tough part – saying goodbye. Friends lingered over breakfast, took photos, exchanged contact information, hugged, and then piled their luggage into vehicles. Some were dropped off at the local train station; others at the bus stop. Some returned immediately to their country of ministry; others chose to spend two or three days simply having fun with their kids or visiting IM coworkers before returning to their work. Some will partner this summer for evangelistic family camps; most won’t see each other until next year’s conference.
Gene and I spent Monday debriefing with the IM leadership team asking/discussing relevant questions to help us know how to better serve the staff. I’m so impressed with this team’s unity. Everyone’s gifts and strengths are recognized and encouraged. I count it a privilege to be part of this group.
On Monday evening, we walked up a narrow, paved, pot-holed road to an alpine village for dinner. We enjoyed reading the menus, as always. Convoluted pork, for instance, means it’s rolled. Mixed salad makes me think of lettuce tossed with fresh vegetables. Think again. It’s an assortment of four or five different salads (each portion the size of an ice-cream scoop) served on a small luncheon plate. At this restaurant, the selection included shredded carrots, cubed pickled beets, another type of beet salad, and sliced cucumbers in cream sauce. Here’s a tip for anyone traveling in Europe – if you order a glass of water, you’ll be asked whether you want water with gas or without gas. Water with gas is like North American club soda.
Tuesday morning held more leadership meetings, and then came time for us to catch the bus and begin our journey home. We spent the evening in Krakow with an IM couple. While Gene went off with the husband, the wife and I enjoyed dinner outdoors in a famous square. Hundreds of people milled about, shopping at vendors’ booths around us. What was for sale? Everything from smoked cheese shaped like little sheep (to celebrate Easter) to amber jewelry to Polish pottery to whimsical clay angels, cows, and cats.
I bought a wee wooden box with a hand-painted little girl angel on the lid. She’s smiling, but she has only three teeth – obviously a few are missing. Apparently this is a special box for kids’ baby teeth. I thought it would be fun for granddaughter Anna to use in a few years (okay, okay, I’m thinking ‘way into the future – she has only six teeth so far). When she loses a tooth, she can put it in the box and set it beside her pillow so the tooth fairy can find it easily. ‘Way too cute to resist.
When Gene checked his email, he discovered that our daughter-in-law was online. He was able to Skype her using my laptop, which has a built-in camera. What fun! We caught our first live glimpse of our new grandson, and caught some giggles, waves, and kisses from Anna.
When I checked my email, I received a message from the women’s retreat organizer in Warsaw. She said a Polish woman who attended the retreat two weeks ago told her that she chose to place her saving faith in Jesus Christ at the last session that weekend! That news brought a perfect end to a fantastic trip. Many, many thanks to those who prayed. I wish I could take you all with me on the next trip.
Friday morning marked the beginning of our annual staff conference. What a treat to see our International Messenger family gather from Poland, Romania, Czech Republic, Ukraine, and Slovakia! Couples, singles, families – more than 100 folks showed up to encourage and be encouraged.
Each day we enjoyed two worship services. The music – led by a band of five young men – moved my heart to focus on Jesus Christ. And seeing these musicians – an American fellow who came to Poland especially to serve the missionaries in this way for the weekend, three IM teenagers, and a Romanian fellow who’s interning with IM in Ukraine (whose smile lit up the room as he sang and played the keyboard) – thrilled me beyond words. These fellows represent the next generation of spiritual leaders. God bless them as they use their gifts for Him here, and as they begin stepping forward to pursue career ministry in Eastern Europe.
One song contained a phrase that has taken on new meaning for me: “You are the Lord, the famous one, the famous one. Great is Your name in all the earth.” Indeed, my role as writer, speaker, and missionary, is to help make Jesus famous throughout the earth. The instant my attention or motives point toward me rather than Jesus, the ministry loses focus and effectiveness.
The daily messages reinforced the lessons I’ve been learning lately and also gave me new material to think about. I think my favorite was the one about Christ’s humility as illustrated in Philippians 2. Imagine – Jesus Christ existed in the form of God but didn’t regard equality with God a thing to be grasped. Instead, He emptied Himself and became a servant, even to the point of death on a cross. That thought boggles my mind. It’s the opposite of what society teaches – to stand up for our rights and demand what we deserve. Where is that attitude condoned in God’s Word? Nowhere, I’m afraid. Rather, as Christ’s followers, we’re to empty ourselves and serve others sacrificially.
At the end of the last session, silence fell across the room – a holy, awe-inspired quiet. God’s presence felt tangible, and no one dared move or speak for what seemed forever. Then one person prayed. A second person followed, and then a third. Someone led in a worship song, and then another. Words cannot justly describe the reverence in that place. Oh, I long for my brothers and sisters in Christ to experience the same in North America. Sadly, I think we’re too often controlled by the clock, or by fear of what might happen if we let the Holy Spirit take over our meetings. “God, bring revival to our hearts!”
The music and messages filled my spiritual tank, and fellowship with other IM women filled my emotional tank. I was blessed to have the opportunity to speak at a special session just for them. I based my message on Hebrews 12:12,13 which refer to taking a new grip with tired hands and strengthening shaky legs so those behind us who are weak and lame will not stumble and fall but be strengthened. Darlis Anderson then gave each woman a bookmark with the theme verse, and a package of Mary Kay skin products donated by a generous friend in the U.S.
These missionary gals are truly amazing. Some are North Americans who have been in Eastern Europe for many years. They’ve borne their children there and are fluent in the language, well-adapted to the challenges of cross-cultural living. Others are North American empty-nesters who have recently sold their possessions, said goodbye to kids and grandkids, and followed God’s call to pursue career ministry here. We have single gals of all ages – early 20s through 70s. Several IMers are North Americans married to Eastern European men. And about half are Eastern Europeans, born and raised here. What a glorious mix! Together, we’re sisters in Christ, and we have much to learn from each other.
I think the attitude with which I read the Bible is forever changed. Over two days, I’ve spent 16 hours participating in “The Truth Project,” produced by Focus on the Family. Our group watched 8 videos on which Del Tackett lectured about Biblical truth as applied to marriage, politics, economics, creation, and more. After each, we split into small groups to discuss what we’d learned and how to apply these insights to our lives.
I was reminded that God is involved in every aspect of our lives and has issued commands for our well-being. I dare not change His commands to fit my whims, nor alter them to suit my circumstances. If I don’t cling to His Word as absolute truth, I’ll run into trouble.
I was challenged not to accept societal norms as “right” just because many people are putting their stamp of approval on them. Here’s an example: society (and the media) says I have the right to be happy. If that means divorcing my husband because I think I’ll be happier in the arms of a different man, then so be it.
God’s Word says otherwise. I’m to remain faithful to my marriage vow until death parts me and my spouse. That might mean enduring very difficult days or weeks or months, or even years. It might mean caring for him if he suffers a crippling injury or illness. It might mean denying my desires for a nice house and financial security so my husband can pursue a job he loves rather than spend most of his waking hours toiling at a task he doesn’t enjoy simply because it pays well.
Statistics show that society approves of divorce. In fact, I read a newspaper article recently that says there are “divorce fairs” in the U.K., designed to help making splitting up easier. But Scripture says that God hates divorce. Is that simply because of the pain inflicted on everyone involved? Not necessarily, although I believe He grieves over it. His hatred for divorce flows from the fact that it goes against His character. He is a God of unity – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – three separate beings in one. It’s a mystery, I know. He’s designed marriage to reflect that unity, by a man and woman – two separate entities – becoming one flesh. Another mystery. Divorce destroys that unity. It goes against His very character, and that’s what makes it wrong. That’s also why it has such negative effects.
“The Truth Project” contained so much good information that I hope to study it again in the near future. For now, I’ll summarize by saying there’s a cosmic battle going on between good and evil, and its forces are fighting for our souls. The enemy wants to steal, kill and destroy, but our Creator God has plans to give us a future and a hope. Those plans were revealed in the person of Jesus Christ who declared Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life.” When we live life His way, according to His truth, we enjoy intimate relationship with our Creator. What a gift!
“The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few. Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest, and ask him to send out more workers for his fields” (Luke 10:2).
I’ve heard this verse countless times but its truth is only now starting to grip my heart. I didn’t realize the size of the harvest until I got involved in Eastern European ministry. For instance, in a city of 300,000 there might be 2-3 evangelical churches and 200-300 believers. Ministry opportunities are endless – our missionaries are working with the homeless, orphans, prisoners, teens with HIV/AIDS, children who live in sewers, abused women and children, high-risk families, and the list goes on. They’re investing their lives in sharing the hope of Christ with those who have no hope, but they need coworkers to help carry the load. The harvest is so great, but the workers are so few.
Everyday, people in Eastern Europe and around the world are going into eternity without Christ. Do we, as western believers, really understand what this means? Do we really get it? If so, then our response ought to be as Isaiah’s was in Isaiah 6:8: “Here I am, send me!” No matter where He leads, no matter what it costs in personal sacrifice, time, and finances. Unconditional obedience based solely on what Christ has done for us.
Jesus’ words have become my prayer: “Send more workers for Your fields, Lord. The harvest is great but the workers are so few.”
Luke 9:57-62 remind me that being a disciple of Christ involves sacrifice. I remember, as a little girl, singing hymns of the faith with lyrics such as, “I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord…I’ll say what You want me to say…I’ll be what You want me to be…” and so on. Those words are so easy to sing, but when the moment comes to make such a commitment, they’re not so easy to put into practice.
What hinders us from following Christ wherever He leads, at whatever cost He asks? Fear is a major player, I believe. Fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of inadequacy. What about not wanting to give up personal comforts? How about the lack of passion for the lost?
There’s a spiritual battle going on around us, and it will be won as Christ’s followers learn to embrace sacrifice as a privilege rather than something to run from.
“God, grant me a willing heart to follow You wherever You lead, no matter the cost. You sacrificed Your life on my behalf, therefore no sacrifice I make for You is too great. Amen.”
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