Archive for February, 2010

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Pointless Prayers

Friday, February 26th, 2010

My sixth grade crush on a blond, freckle-face boy named Grant drove me to my knees. “God, prove that Grant likes me, okay? I’m going to count to 10. If he smiles at me before I stop, then that will be the sign. Amen.”

And so, the count would begin: “One…two…three…four…” And so would the desperation in my voice. “God, he hasn’t smiled yet. Please make him do it. Please. Five…six…seven…” Sure enough. I’d hit ten without receiving so much as a nod or a glance, so I’d change my ploy. After all, maybe Grant wasn’t in a smiley mood that day. Perhaps I should have asked that he prove his love for me by leaving his desk and walking to the pencil sharpener instead.

Thankfully my prayer life has improved over time. As critical as my request seemed to me then, I now understand that it was pointless. So was a request that the Pharisees made of Jesus.  

Mark 8:11 says, “When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had arrived, they came and started to argue with him. Testing him, they demanded that he show them a miraculous sign from heaven to prove his authority.”

Jesus didn’t answer. “When he heard this, he sighed deeply in his spirit and said, ‘Why do these people keep demanding a miraculous sign? I tell you the truth, I will not give this generation any such sign.’ So he got back into the boat and left them, and he crossed to the other side of the lake” (vv. 12, 13).

The Pharisees’ request that Jesus prove His authority through a miraculous sign was pointless. He’d already healed the sick, given sight to the blind, restored hearing to the deaf, and fed thousands with a few loaves and fish. What more did they want? They’d seen Him in action and knew what He was capable of doing yet they asked for a miracle to prove who He was. Their unbelief drew a heavy sigh from deep within His spirit, a sigh of disappointment, perhaps.

Sometimes people today pray such things as, “God, if You’re real, prove it.” We ask for signs, for evidences of His existence. When we’re honestly seeking for Him, He answers. But sometimes, when the request comes from a defiant heart, God might sigh deeply in His spirit and remain silent. After all, the evidence already exists – the miracles of DNA and of a baby’s birth proclaim Intelligent Design. The complexity of creation shouts His presence. Lives transformed through prayer and forgiveness say there is a God who is real. Perhaps we need to forego the request and instead start living by faith.

Sometimes we ask God to prove His love for us. Why waste our breath when He’s already answered by sending Jesus to pay our death penalty?

Sometimes we ask Him whether or not we should share the Gospel with our neighbor or coworker. Again – pointless. He’s already told us that we’re ambassadors of the salvation message. We ought to pray for their hearts to be prepared to receive it, and then for the right opportunity to present it.

How many times do we pray pointless prayers? Writing this blog has been a good exercise for me, forcing me to examine my heaven-directed requests. I pray that God will continually bring this question to mind when I’m on my knees.

What other pointless prayers might we be praying?

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Test Time

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010

Tests make me nervous. In fact, I remember lying in fourth grade to skip writing a math test. I’d been sick at home for several days prior, and on the day of my return to school, the teacher plunked a math test on my desk. I took one look at it, felt the fear of failure sweep over me, and knew escape was my only option if I hoped to survive elementary school.

“I think I’m going to throw up,” I told the teacher. “You’d better run to the bathroom, then,” she said. I dashed down the hall, locked myself in a bathroom stall, and then wondered what to do next.

A minute or two later, I heard the door open and my teacher’s voice say, “Grace, are you okay? I’ve asked the principal to take you home because you’re probably not over the flu yet.” Sure enough, the principal drove me home and handed me over to my mother. Somehow I managed to fool her, too. Maybe I should have pursued an acting career, or at least purchased shares in a ginger ale company.

Tests are not fun, but they’re necessary to see how well we’re learning the lessons we need to know. The Israelites experienced this in their day, too. Exodus 16:4 says, “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Look, I’m going to rain down food from heaven for you. Each day the people can go out and pick up as much food as they need for that day. I will test them in this to see whether or not they will follow my instructions.’” And thus the manna menu began.

Every morning, the flaky substance appeared on the ground. And every morning, the people gathered as much as their households needed for that day. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over. And those who gathered a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed (vv. 17, 18).

What was the lesson God wanted them to learn? To trust His care and ability to provide for their needs. It looked as though they understood and were headed for a passing grade. But then came the test. “Do not keep any of it until morning,” said Moses.

Some students passed. Others failed – they didn’t listen to Moses but kept some of it until morning. When they woke up and went to retrieve their breakfast, they discovered a big, fat “F” on their test paper. The stored-up manna was full of maggots and had a terrible smell (v. 19,20). The test results revealed that, in the deepest part of their hearts, they didn’t fully trust God to provide for their needs.

Thankfully they took the failing grade to heart and changed their ways: “After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need” (v. 21). They’d seen God provide faithfully in the past, and they knew they could trust Him for the future.

As a missionary living on faith support, God tests me regularly in this regard. Do I trust Him to meet our financial needs? Just when I feel as though I’ve mastered this lesson, a major financial need arises: the car needs new tires, or a molar breaks and needs a crown, or the house needs repairs. Usually a speaking engagement or two cancels at the same time. I panic and wonder whether I should find a job with a guaranteed income to pay the bills. But then I remember that God promises to provide for our needs. Either I trust Him or I don’t. I can choose to rely on my own efforts, or I can do things God’s way and trust Him to keep His word. My response determines my grade. Will I pass or fail and have to relearn the lesson?

Tests are not easy, but they’re vital to reveal how well we’re learning what God wants us to know. How about you? Has God tested you recently? If so, we’d love to hear your story.

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Prayer or Action

Monday, February 22nd, 2010

As believers, we’re told to pray about everything. And rightfully so. It keeps us in tune with God. It builds our friendship with Him, and it acknowledges our dependency upon Him. But in some cases, we’re called to do more than pray. We’re called to get up and do something about whatever the problem is.

Moses found that to be true. Exodus 13 tells the story of the Egyptians chasing the Israelites after their exodus. The people panicked when they realized that their captors were almost upon them. Moses said, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm” (v. 13).

But God Himself spoke up: “Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground…’” (vv. 15-16).

Prayer is good, but there comes a time when we need to move on those prayers. Here’s an example from my own life:

As a mission leader, I’m responsible to help organize short-term ministry trips to Eastern Europe. One of my biggest challenges is finding people to fill our teams. I take my responsibility very seriously because the ramifications are huge.

Without volunteers, we have no teams. Without teams, we cannot host evangelistic family camps. Without camps, our career missionary staff working in these post-Communist countries have limited opportunities to build relationships with unbelievers who would otherwise never cross their path. And that could mean the difference between life and death for countless men and women. See what I mean about huge ramifications?

I could pray and pray and pray for God to bring us the volunteers we need to get the job done (believe me, I do that!). Or I could combine those prayers with action. And so, my husband and I invest time, energy, and resources hosting our booth at missions conferences, speaking in churches, meeting interested individuals for coffee to discuss opportunities, and more.

Here’s another example: Gone are the days when publishers did the marketing to raise awareness of a book’s existence. Now it’s the author’s job. As an author, I could pray and pray and pray for God to get the message of my book into the hands of people who need to read it (and I do that). Or I could combine my prayers with practical action. And so, I speak at women’s events and I pursue media interviews. I write magazine articles and a monthly online newsletter. The list goes on because I’m called to action. It’s not because God can’t get the job done on His own. It’s because He wants my involvement.

Sometimes I feel a tension. For example – at what moment do I take action, what should that action look like, and how much do I do? That’s where prayer comes into play once again – asking God to answer my questions and then trusting Him to guide me to do the right thing.

Have you ever struggled with this tension? If so, what insights can you share about prayer and action?

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The Illogical Path

Friday, February 19th, 2010

(I’m at Missions Fest Alberta in Edmonton today through Sunday. Join my workshop on Saturday at 1:30 or stop by our International Messengers booth and introduce yourself!)

I admit it – sometimes I just don’t understand God. Why does He drop detours in my path when I’m trying to travel from Point A to Point B? Doesn’t He know that changing my direction messes up my plans? Doesn’t He know that His path sometimes requires more time than I’d prefer to spend on a particular journey?

Of course He knows. And when He chooses a particular path for me, it’s because He has a reason! Exodus 13:17,18 illustrates this beautifully: “When Pharaoh finally let the people go, God did not lead them along the main road that runs through Philistine territory, even though that was the shortest route to the Promised Land. God said, ‘If the people are faced with a battle, they might change their minds and return to Egypt.’ So God led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness toward the Red Sea.”

God could have led the Israelites on a shortcut – the path that seemed best according to human logic – but doing so would have taken them through Philistine territory and risked a war with the enemy. God knew that engaging in battle would have proven too much for His people. And so, He led them in a roundabout way through the wilderness to the Red Sea. The path that seemed illogical to the Israelites was actually planned with their best interest in mind.    

I’ll repeat that last sentence even if only for my own sake: The path that seemed illogical to the Israelites was actually planned with their best interest in mind.

This thought brings me great comfort and reassurance. According to the Israelites’ account, there’s no need to be afraid when life takes unexpected detours. There’s no reason for impatience when a long and winding road takes more time than a shortcut. There’s no need to divert and dash a different direction. If we’re in right relationship with the Lord and He’s our Leader, then we can trust Him and His ways. He knows the dangers that lurk and the battles He wants to avoid on our behalf.

What battles have you avoided by staying on His path?

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Celebrate!

Wednesday, February 17th, 2010

Several days ago, Canadian mogul skiier Alexandre Bilodeau landed the first Olympic gold medal earned on home turf. Canucks nearly went wild, cheering and clapping and crying when his score was announced. It’s been great fun to celebrate this young athlete’s success.  

The word celebrate is mentioned several times in Exodus 13. In one instance, the Israelites were commanded to celebrate, but for a reason even greater than winning Olympic gold.

“So Moses said to the people, ‘This is a day to remember forever – the day you left Egypt, the place of your slavery. Today the Lord has brought you out by the power of his mighty hand’…You must explain to your children, ‘I am celebrating what the Lord did for me when I left Egypt.’ This annual festival will be a visible sign to you, like a mark branded on your hand or your forehead. Let it remind you always to recite this teaching of the Lord: ‘With a strong hand, the Lord rescued you from Egypt’” (vv. 3,8,9).

What were the people commanded to celebrate? Their release from slavery. Imagine! God told them to throw a party to commemorate their rescue from bondage, made possible by His mighty hand. And this wasn’t a one-time affair. This was an annual event to ensure the people remembered where they’d come from and appreciated the freedom they now enjoyed.

Believers have every reason to celebrate, too! We’ve been released from Egypt, in a sense, because we’re no longer slaves to our sinful nature. We’ve been forgiven, set free. We’re heaven-bound, guided by Almighty God who promises to protect us, provide for us, and surround us with His unfailing love along the way.

Wouldn’t it be fun to set a day aside each year to celebrate our spiritual freedom? We could invite family and friends for a picnic or for a nice meal and an evening of games. We could sing praise and worship songs and share testimonies together of what God has taught us in the past year. Hmmm – I like this idea. Maybe I ought to give it try.

If you were to set aside a day each year to celebrate your freedom in Christ, what would you do to make it special? What would be the main reason you’d celebrate?

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Follow the Leader

Monday, February 15th, 2010

About two months ago, changing circumstances pointed toward a shift in my ministry focus. That meant investing big bucks in training, doing homework assignments, and experiencing a straight-up learning curve. Believing this shift was God-directed, I took a leap into the big unknown. I’m not sure where or when I’ll land, but I’m okay with that so long as He’s in control. Psalm 25:1 describes how I feel right now: “O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God.”

Moving in this new direction is keeping me on my knees. Every day I pray that God will clearly lead me one step at a time on the path He’s chosen for me. Here are several Scriptures that reassure me of His ability and desire to answer my prayer:

  • Psalm 25:4 – “Show me the right path, O Lord, point out the road for me to follow.”
  • Psalm 25:5 – “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
  • Psalm 25:8 – “The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.”
  • Psalm 25:9 – “He leads the humble in doing right, in teaching them his way.”
  • Psalm 25:10 – “The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”
  • Psalm 25:13 – “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.”

Wow – reviewing these Scriptures as I write this only serves to affirm my confidence in the Leader. I can hardly wait to see what He’s planning for the future. I’ll keep you posted as He reveals it to me!

Perhaps you’re headed down a new path, too. Maybe you’re facing a critical, potentially life-changing, decision. Perhaps your stomach knots at the thought of making the wrong choice. If that’s the case, then here’s my word to you — don’t be afraid. When your heart is bent on honoring God rather than serving yourself, He will guide your steps.

What Scripture has been meaningful to you when traveling a new path in life?

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A Newborn, a Panicked Mother, and the Fear of Rejection – 2/2

Friday, February 12th, 2010

What causes a 20-year-old unmarried woman to deny she’s pregnant despite the obvious, and then dispose of her newborn son’s body in a dumpster? As I mentioned in my last post, one psychiatrist suggest it was the fear of rejection, “of some sort of disapproval from others.”

I have a hunch the psychiatrist is right. I’m reading Soul Cravings by Erwin McManus, and he writes that mankind has been created with an innate desire to be loved. We desperately crave to belong, to be accepted, to win the approval of others. Sometimes that desire for love, and the fear of losing it, is so strong that we do illogical or inappropriate things to try to satisfy and keep it.

Take, for instance, a young woman who sleeps with every guy she dates. Chances are good that she’s not really enjoying herself. In reality, she’s simply trying to fill a God-created vacuum. Her soul longs for unconditional love, but her attempts to earn it aren’t working because she’s going about it in the wrong way.

Consider a man or woman with perfectionistic tendencies. We might view such folks as high-achievers and credit them for their drive to excel. Truth is, sometimes perfectionism masks a desire for love. Their hard work is nothing more than an inverted fear of rejection. If I land this deal and please the boss, then he’ll approve of me.  

The fear of rejection is subtle and seldom recognized as the root cause for many inappropriate actions. It has the power to imprison, to take captive, and to destroy. How, then, can we escape its grip?

By accepting the fact that we are unconditionally loved by our Creator. We can’t buy His affection, nor must we earn it through good behavior. He values us, He wants us, He pursues us. He made us for relationship with Himself , and it’s only in that relationship with Him that our soul’s craving for love is fully satisfied.

When we finally grasp the depth of His desire and love for us, the fear of rejection loses its power over us. We become alive, truly alive, and confident in knowing that Jesus will never leave or forsake us. Others may turn their backs on us or consider us disposable, but Jesus will be our forever Friend.

Psalm 27:7-10 say, “Hear me as I pray, O Lord. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming’ Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.”

Do you hear God’s invitation to intimacy with Him? “My heart has heard you say, ‘Come and talk with me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.” These words describe our innate inner tug for intimacy with God. He invites us to conversation with Him, and our hearts find fulfillment when we say yes.  

The psalmist’s cry for love and acceptance echoes the cry of the rest of mankind. Do not reject me! Don’t leave me! Don’t abandon me! And his last statement reveals the source of his assurance: The Lord will hold me close.

Believing God’s unconditional and never-ending love for us is the only answer to overcoming the fear of rejection. And modeling that love to those around us will help them in their journey toward wholeness, too.

May He wrap you in His arms today and assure you that He’ll always be there for you.

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Newsborn’s Body Recovered at Dump — Part 1/2

Wednesday, February 10th, 2010

The Province’s headline dated Tuesday, February 9 grips me and demands a response. The story tells of a 20-year-old unmarried woman who delivered a full-term baby boy in her boyfriend’s bathroom as he slept on the couch. When the boyfriend woke, she told him that she’d miscarried. They wrapped the baby’s body in a towel, put him in a garbage bag, and then tossed him in a nearby dumpster.

Two weeks later, a tipster phoned police who launched a three-day search for the baby’s remains. Dozens of officers sifted through 10-meter-deep trash at a landfill until they discovered the wee body. An autopsy will determine the infant’s cause of death.

A police spokeswoman said, “Whether or not the baby was alive, it’s an unimaginable act by a mother.” A psychiatrist at B.C. Women’s Hospital said that neonaticide (the killing of a baby within its first 24 hours) is “usually a young mom who acts out of fear of rejection, of some sort of disapproval from others. Usually this woman is immature and has poor problem-solving skills. She hides herself giving birth and she panics.”

I read this story and knew I had to respond or I wouldn’t be able to live with myself. Here are two thoughts in regard to this tragedy:

 * Today’s society teaches that babies in the womb are merely blobs of tissue, not living beings. It argues that mothers have the right to determine whether or not their babies live or die prior to birth, and in fact, up to birth (ie: partial birth abortions). Who or what, then, determines the invisible line between a mother exercising her rights and a mother who suddenly faces criminal charges for taking her infant’s life? And who decides when the baby ceases to be called “it” and becomes “he,” as the police spokeswoman referred to him?

I find this report ironic, in a way. If society teaches young men and women that human life is disposable, why is it shocked when a young mom throws away her newborn?  Police are recommending charges of “offering an indignity to a dead body.” Please explain how tossing this infant’s remains in a public dumpster differ from the indignity of disposing of an aborted child in a hospital dumpster.

Something inside me protests at the inconsistency and insanity of it all. Where will it end?

* The psychiatrist says that neonaticide is usually caused by the fear of rejection, “of some sort of disapproval from others.” Interesting observation…and totally true. Unfortunately, this fear affects more than just the immature and those with poor problem-solving skills.

The fear of rejection impacts women of all ages and from all walks of life – business  professionals, homemakers, singles and marrieds. It causes 250,000 evangelical Christian women each year to abort their babies to avoid being gossiped about within their own congregations. It’s the force that causes women from all faiths or non-faiths to hide their failures, wear plastic smiles, and cover grief and shame with a mask. The fear of rejection labels transparency as a threat rather than a tool to help the healing process.

As I travel and speak to women’s groups, I see the results of the fear of rejection over and over again. I’m so sick of its vice-like grip on women’s hearts. And I’m sick of its source. Satan has one mandate – he’s out to steal, kill, and to destroy. And fear is one of his major tactics to see that mandate fulfilled. This newspaper story adds one more tally mark on his endless victim list. Enough is enough, don’t you think?

This post is long enough for today, but I’m not finished yet. One of my goals for this blog is to take readers deeper in their faith, and that’s what I intend to do. Join me on Friday’s post as I address the only way to rise above the fear of rejection. And please feel free to post your thoughts about this subject.

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Servanthood, Jesus, and Granny Maude

Monday, February 8th, 2010

I recently read the book Jesus on Leadership by Gene Wilkes. Excellent! In it, the author stresses that true leadership is defined by attitude not by position. He warns against the “head table mentality” – an attitude demonstrated, unfortunately, by many leaders today. They like public recognition for their position, so they set themselves a notch above the little guy where their ego can be stroked and coddled.

This was sooo not Jesus’ way. “Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave,” He said. “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:26-28). Shortly after He spoke those words, He knelt before His disciples and washed their grimy feet.

I think of a little granny I once knew. Her name was Maude. Stooped, grey-haired, and bifocaled, this wee widow in her 60s cleaned houses for a living. She spent her free time weeding the flowerbeds outside our church. She never whined, never grumbled. She went through her days smiling and looking for ways to make life easier for others. No task was beneath her dignity.

Granny Maude never taught a Sunday school class or led a Bible study. She never preached or spoke publicly or sang on the worship team. But she taught me how to can peaches and pears. She cared for my children during my difficult third pregnancy. She sent financial support for our family’s ministry for many years. She modeled service, and in doing so, she showed me what Jesus looked like. I recall this sweet lady who died a couple of years ago and I wonder, Does my life model Jesus in the same way? Am I a servant, too? Or am I waiting for others to serve me? I pray it’s the former, not the latter.

Now it’s your turn. If someone has modeled a servant’s heart to you, tell us about it. We’d love to hear your story.

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My Secret to Moving Beyond Fear

Friday, February 5th, 2010

Fear is a four-letter word. Imagine the difference if the human race could strike it once-for-all from its vocabulary. Alas – that’s not gonna happen so long as we’re warm and breathing. There’s an enemy prowling about whose desire is to prevent us from being all and experiencing all that God has planned for us. And fear is one of his major tactics.

I’m constantly receiving emails from women whose lives are impacted by fear. They’re afraid of being alone so they marry a dud or stay in an abusive relationship. They’re afraid of rejection, so they carry burdens of secrecy and guilt over something that’s happened in their past (usually an abortion). They’re afraid of failure, so they refuse to try new ventures and ultimately miss the joy of seeing God do the impossible through them.

Even though I wrote a book about moving beyond fear, I still struggle with it occasionally. Thankfully, it doesn’t consume or paralyze me anymore as in the past. Now I recognize it when it rears its ugly head. And I immediately do something about it. Here’s my simple secret:

I say, “The Lord is with me. I will trust and not be afraid.”

Call it a mantra, if you wish. Repeating this several times works for me. It washes away the negative yuck and reminds me that God is in control. He holds me in His hand, and the enemy cannot reach me there. How can I be so sure?

Psalm 23:4 says, “Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.” I base my confidence on this principle and promise. God’s presence is with me 24/7 because His Holy Spirit lives in me. Even when I go through really tough stuff – the darkest valley – I need not be afraid because He is there.

I think it’s interesting to note that the psalmist said, “I will not be afraid.” His heart may have been pounding out of his chest sometimes, but he made a deliberate choice to not let fear control him. It’s as though he grabbed hold of his thoughts and said, “Listen up. You’re not heading down that path. You’re going to stay here, right here….planted firmly, rooted deeply in the promise of God’s presence.”

That’s what I do. And it works. Fear cannot master my emotions anymore. It will not control my thoughts and impact my actions. It simply has no place in me because God rules.

How about you? What do you do when fear stares you in the face?

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