Betty and India

My prayer partner and mentor Betty and her husband went to India last month and I was very interested in some things she said when she returned. I asked her if I could share some of her thoughts with you and she said yes.

Absolutely amazed at the FOCUS of the Christians.

The Sole purpose of the Christians is to reach India for Jesus.

Church is never there for itself….always in the business of multiplying

208,920 people are on a waiting list to get the training to be church planters.

Each person we met seemed passionate about what they are doing... lay people who seem so focused on reaching others.

My struggle now is what do I do with what I have experienced. I so desire the passion I saw in the people, but just don't know how to live that kind of passion here. I/We seem to have so many wants and plans that just don't seem to leave any room for God. So many times our focus is not on God. Being a Christian often just seems to be a ticket to Heaven. Not a life changing, consuming, central part of who we are.

Thanks Betty for your inspiration.
My bones cry out for more meaningful impact on the world too. In God I will search for the answers I seek.

The Lamp

The young adults group we host at our house had a photo scavenger hunt on Sunday. the group I was in had a living room lamp as a prop. It was a lot of fun here are some pictures.

normal vs. radical

"Vision without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world."
Joel A Baker

I'm praying for my vision and action to have a head on collision

God is leading me into a time of spiritual renewal. I have lived 15 years not wanting to be mediocre .... if not already i will soon arrive at mediocre if I do not make some course changes now. I have not let God have all of me. I long to be normal but yet I long to be radical. The problem is "normal" is conformity to this world and that is what my flesh desires. "Radical" is what God teaches me to be in scripture. This is the battle that wages in me. I read about and listen to people who blow my mind in regards to being radicals, they changed the world as we know it and I long to see what God could do if only I was as dedicated to him as I am to my selfish desires. I need the vision and the action.

"Our instinctive inclination is to protect our time and energy, even hoard it. Yet just a casual read of the New Testament reveals that Jesus lived his life giving himself away."
Aurthur unknown

Could I live to give myself away?
If you do anything, think anything because of reading this do not think of me but return to your own spiritual need to be renewed, seek God, let God show his Glory through you in this day.

Confession

What is the hardest thing I have ever had to do?
Confess, confess my sin to God and others. Now I hope I am not letting you down by telling you I am not going to confess anything here today, accept that it is something very hard to do. I was listening to a lesson by Beth Moore and it was all about a time of pure confession to God. It is a challenge to me. during my prayer time, I seem to spend less and less time on confessing to God my sin and need for Him and more on my list of physical needs and requests. Honesty I can't even remember the last time spent time in confession. She says that if you are experiencing a time of spiritual dryness and you feel in a cycle of up and down spiritually, it means you need a time of pure confessing before God and not just a quick "sorry God"(which is good too but there is also this time needed for brokenness before him.)
Confession is so hard but we need to confess our sins, to God and to others.
The others part-
This is so hard I think generally we(Christians) have avoided it and avoided talking about it.
What shall we do with our confessions? Any ideas?
aside from thinking of an answer to that. I challenge you as Beth challenged me, to bow your head or raise it, however you call on God and confess, confess it all to Him and how desperate you are for his fathering in your life. and then accept his forgiveness and keep confession as a regular part of your prayer time.

I'll be on the moon by noon...

..and back by supper.
I love creativity, I love passion. I am told I am a creative person and I have passion. I haven't always agreed but this week I know it is true, right now in my life I am experiencing an overload of creative thoughts and passion. It wouldn't be so bad if it was for one idea but NO! It feels like every 5 minutes I have a new plan or idea that I am ready to dedicate my day/summer/ or even life to(or at least 5 minutes). If creativity was a throttle and passion was the gas, I am flat out heading across the universe and 300 KM/hr. My mind resembles that of a mad scientist or something. The creative switch in my brain is stuck in the on position and I am exhausted. So you're thinking "Wow! she must get a lot done!" ... Nope, I have become unable to accomplish anything. What can i do? I am praying for focus and passion for one idea. surely all this can not be wasted on my crazy mind and never come to anything good. I am praying that God will help me harness this .....(whatever it is).. and turn it in the right direction.

I am generally very busy. I think I may be experiencing a slow week.

Speaking of creativity I want you all to see this video clip, if you have the time. He is very easy to listen to and his message is much needed in the education system. See it at Ben's blog.