<forgive the delay in most, moving across the country is tough!>
Five
challenging wonderful months with Mission of Hope Haiti (MOH)! Yes, I have been in my position on the MOH
staff for almost half a year now. The
time has flown, but it took very little of that time to realize that I can’t do it. I am simply
not qualified to handle the size of the vision that has been set before
me. But I am also thrilled and excited
because - believe it or not - I think that's exactly where God wants me to be. It’s a place where
I must totally depend on Him for guidance, comfort and grace! As humble as I thought I was coming into
this, I have seen God doing unbelievable things on the island of Haiti; and (I
say this reverently) God has knocked me on my rear and shown me how small a
part I really play! And so “He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3:30).” That is becoming
clearer to me everyday. I need to step
out of the way and let God move and act through me. I have to continually seek
him in prayer and the Word to receive His guidance. And I must get away, shut up and listen to
Him so I may rest in his comfort. Lastly, I must learn that as a sinner and a
human, I am going to make mistakes, and I must fully recognize his grace in my life.
Guidance
begins with the willingness to be led. Pride
likes to jump up and tell us how great we are, and how well we are doing even
in spiritual matters. Our prideful
nature begins to essentially read our own news clippings and we step out in
front of the guidance God has
provided. The words of the Psalmist must be in our minds every day, “Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your
Spirit lead me on level ground (Psalm 143:10)!” We may dimly see the end goal
in the foggy distance; but the Lord usually leads us clearly a few steps at a
time. He seldom illuminates the entire
path, because we most likely could not handle it. I am continually learning to
trust his guidance, taking the next
step he shows me, even when my nature is screaming contrary.
Comfort:
we all need it, whether we think so or not.
People in leadership, and most people in their Christian walk, don’t like to ask for help.
Our society tells us we need to put on our big-boy pants and go to work,
no matter how hard it is. But that is
not what the narrative the Gospel tells us.
We must depend on Him, and allow him to provide the comfort we need. Sometimes we must simply sit down and shut up, and
allow him to quench our thirst and heal our wounds. His Word promises, “I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you
with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10b).” When we get to a point where
we feel rundown, overwhelmed and exhausted, that is exactly when it's time to
get alone with our Comforter and
allow Him to breathe life into us.
And then, grace. We are not perfect
beings and never will be (at least not in this life)!! This is a newsflash to
many people, especially Christians who have been told for most of our lives
that perfection (or maybe near-perfection, at least) is where we need to
be. But the Bible is clear that if it
was up to us and our "perfection," we wouldn’t have a chance.
Thankfully, God sent his Son to live that perfect life we cannot, and to
pay the price for sin - dying in our place for the imperfect lives He knew we
would live. That’s grace! Grace
is what allows us as followers of Christ to get off the ground, dust off our
hind ends and move forward after we make a mistake. It is also what allows us live for His glory
in our Christian lives as well as all of our endeavors. I heard Craig Groeschel say, “if you blame yourself for the decline, one day you might
take credit for the increases.” That is a clever and creative way of saying
that it's already been paid for when we screw up, and it's all to God’s glory and credit when we succeed. I close these thoughts with the refrain from
a wonderful chorus:
Grace, grace, God’s
grace,
grace that will pardon and
cleanse within;
grace, grace, God’s
grace,
grace that is greater than all our sin! 