The Mission

An Interesting Time

Jim — Sat, 29 Jan 2005 16:56:09 +0000

This is an interesting time of life. For most of my walk I have found myself thinking and reasoning as to what was next in the journey of life. This seems to be coming to an end. I see God monopolizing more and more the focus of my thoughts and my desires. As this takes place, the pursuits that have been entangling me seem to be dissipating. I remember distinctively how happiness in my life was taking the next trip or acquiring the next thing only to find emptiness when it was a part of my bundle. In recent years I have been discovering that God is ultimately worthy of my every thought and action and that I want nothing more now than to find my satisfaction in Him. I believe this is happening and will happen increasingly more as I invest more energy in listening and discovering who He is as He chooses to reveal Himself to me through His word, His ways, other believers, and circumstances of life. I know that I am only scratching the surface compared to many of the saints who have gone before. I think for most of us affluence is the ultimate stealer of God’s best and only He can reveal to us sufficient glory that pales the effect of that in our lives. His calling is beyond words and is not even worthy to be compared to the false fulfillment of accumulating things. Listen to the words that I read recently in my Perspectives notebook related to passion:
“Passion is the heart set free to pursue that which is truly worthy. Those who set their hearts on that which is most worthy – the glory of god – live with joy-filled abandon. Their hearts are both seized and satisfied with the ambition for Jesus to be ardently worshiped. That love comes to dominate and integrate all other desires so as to live in freedom of single-minded purpose.” May that passion become more and more my life.

Angels Unaware

Jim — Fri, 28 Jan 2005 02:48:35 +0000

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it.” Heb 13:2

One thing that I am learning is that God loves to reward us in the here and now for obeying His word even when we do not know that is what we are doing. Some years ago God began to do a work in my heart for International Students who come to the US for their education. One of the greatest pleasures I have had is opening my heart to these young people. Most of them miss home, their families and the comfort of security that comes from being around places and people who are familiar with them. When they come here, they are on their own, in a foreign country, and find themselves where the culture is totally different from home. The food is different, relationships are different, interdependence is replaced by independence and everything is unsettling. Is it any wonder that they are open to someone who will extend a loving hand to include them into their lives? There isn’t an easier way to show the love of our Lord Jesus and to share His wonderful plan for all people to know Him then through inviting one of these lonely kids into your life.

In the last year my wife and I have been blessed with getting to know two girls from India, a boy from India, and a young man from China to mention just a few. As we have made ourselves available and extended ourselves towards these dear young people and have developed a relationship with them, we have discovered great joy and satisfaction that abundantly exceeds what money can buy. We feel like we have many adopted college kids who have become a part of our family. I only wish that others could experience the incredible blessing associated with obeying God’s word in Deut. 10:19 that says “show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt”. The point is that God wants us to love all of His people on the earth no matter what nation, culture, language or people group is involved. After all the word tells us that we are also aliens and sojourner with the Lord and are called to love as He loved.

Want an incredible glimpse of His glory? Reach out to one of the hundreds of International Students that reside in your community. You will never be the same. Why not call the local University, look for them in your churches – they are the mission field that has come to us. God will honor you in incredible ways for your warm and loving hospitality.

Another Day

Jim — Wed, 26 Jan 2005 16:53:57 +0000

What a day this was. First of all I am struggling to get the victory over a cold bug that hangs in their tight. Not being one who surrenders easily, I was up early and after a brief encounter with the Lord, headed off for a breakfast meeting. After breakfast I moved to the office and spent the morning thinking of last minute details related to our team going to Namibia and praying for God’s work in each of their lives.

Knowing that God is in charge, finances are in order and Amy is on top of things I feel the beauty of God’s work in process. Then the phone rings and I am off for a lunch meeting to discuss, of all things, the future destiny of a couple I have grown to love very much and to witness anew God doing His marvelous work in conforming his children to Himself. I hurry back for a long meeting this afternoon and have the opportunity to witness the incredible consequences of not doing things God’s way and the garbage heap that remains. I often am so amazed at how incredibly naive we are when it comes to the things of God. Why is it we cannot believe totally in a God who makes it so simple to follow after Him? I didn’t say that it is easy. In fact, I have probably been one of the greatest to continual turn back to my own nature and do it in my strength. Why can’t I just love and trust God and seek His will instead of lollygagging back to my own strength and logic? Maybe it is plain old pride.

John Piper put it this way: “The greatest adversary of love to God is not his enemies but his gifts. And the most deadly appetites are not for the poison of evil, but for the simple pleasure of earth. For when these replace an appetite for God himself, the idolatry is scarcely recognizable, and almost incurable.”

I know that I want for Him to be the passionate appetite that I pursue so that He gets the glory in all things.