Harvesting Hearts: That Old Theatre Saying
It’s
not Break a Leg. (Or even a Legg. HA!)
It’s
not KISS--Keep It Simple, Stupid. (Although that is wise advice.)
It’s
Show, Don’t Tell.
A
visual image is very powerful, and many times more believable than words. Don’t have your character say, “You are driving
me crazy!” Have your character point and shake her finger while scrunching up her face.
It’s
also a good principle for interacting with people: Don’t Tell Them About God, Show Them God.
Notice,
it’s not Show Them What We Do for God, or even Show Them How We Love Our
Neighbor.
Show. Them. God.
What our world often witnesses today is
a devoted, committed Christian or church serving God. But they are not seeing God. They don’t see anything happening that can be
explained only in terms of God’s activity.
Why? Because we are not
attempting anything that only God can do.
Our world is not being attracted to the
Christ we serve because they are not seeing Him at work in our lives. They see us doing good things for God and
comment, “That’s nice, but it’s not my thing.”
The world is passing us by because they do not want to get involved in
what they see in our lives. We are not
giving them opportunities to encounter God.
They are seeing only us. Let the
world watch God at work, and He will attract people to Himself. Let Christ be lifted up, not in words but in
life. Let people see the difference the
living Christ makes in a life, a family, or a church; that will affect how they
respond to the gospel. When the world
sees things happening through God’s people that cannot be explained except that
God Himself has done them, the world will be drawn to such a God.*
Father, show us how to show You to them. Give
us the faith, perseverance, and love to join You in the God-sized things You
will use to change the world.
*Henry & Richard Blackaby, Claude King, Experiencing God,143-144
Thursday, October 24, 2013
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Unwavering Harvest
Facebook is an amazing place. Seven years ago my profile was
full of pictures of teenagers headed out on their first mission trip to
Virginia’s Eastern Shore. There were the Video Game Olympic Lock-in pics and
the random Youth Group shenanigan pics and the occasional Youth Band pics. I
was a full-time Director of Youth Ministries back in those days.
Times have changed.
Nowadays, my Facebook world is still flooded with those same faces,
though all slightly older. They are graduating college and some have even gotten
married, or are close to it. And as I watch them grow, I still wonder about
their hearts. I still pray for them. I still care.
Their hearts are forever etched on my own. And, as a result,
their lives will be a part of my life forever. It was a privilege to work in
vocational ministry, but in 2010, I had to step away from my role as a
professional harvester of hearts.
2010 brought the birth of my second son, and the start of a
new lifestyle. I came to the conclusion that I could not handle Harvesting and
Parenting simultaneously. It was too difficult. To stay in the Harvesting game,
I had to be willing to sacrifice too many personal comforts. I could not, for
the life of me, find the strength to walk away from either of my sons for the
sake of such difficult and exhausting work. Though it was also amazing and
fulfilling work, I had to retire.
It was the right decision for me.
As I look back on it, that whole crazy journey leaves me
humbled. Because in retrospect, I think of the Ultimate Harvester of Hearts. I
think about how consistently His work spans over the years. I think about how
our hearts are forever etched on His. I think about how, if we want them to be,
our lives will be a part of His forever. I think about How, even when we grow
up, and sometimes away, from Him, He still watches us, wonders about us, and
still cares.
And then I think about why I had to walk away. And I
remember that He walked away too. But He walked away from His only Son, in
favor of the difficult and exhausting…yet amazing and fulfilling work, that is
the harvesting of my very own heart. And yours, too.
And as the harvest continues on, I am overwhelmed with
gratitude that He will never grow tired, lose focus, or otherwise disengage
from His pursuit of my soul.
Unwavering Harvest. Unwavering Love.
“I thank God every time I remember you. In all my prayers
for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the
gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he would
began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ
Jesus.”
- Philippians 1:3-6
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
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Lessons from the Farmer
I had tried my best to come prepared. I'd never been part of a proper harvest, mind you, but my enthusiasm might have made up for my lack of experience. He thought my matching overalls were a smart choice.
"Ready for the harvest, kiddo?" He asked, chewing on some straw, which I was quite sure was only for effect.
"Ready, Lord. But where are the fields - and all the produce?" The rolling green hills did not seem a fitting locale for gathering crops.
"The field is here. It's ripe for harvest, dear one." He nodded with assurance.
I looked around, puzzled.
"Closer than you think." He encouraged.
I continued to search the setting for anything worthy of harvesting. He stood silently until the only sound bellowing through my ears was the sound of my anxious heart, beating. Surely I've missed something.
"Can you hear it?" He said at last, quietly interrupting the rhythms of my heart.
"All I hear, Lord, is my heart going on, distracting me from my search for our crop."
"So, it has made itself known, then." He winked.
I stopped my search and at once realized I had come to harvest my own heart.
"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. (Proverbs 4:23) As you speak, listen, and love - all that's been growing in your heart will be poured out onto others - it can be life to them."
"Can be?"
"Yes - for what springs forth from your heart is rooted in what you have been feeding your eyes, your ears, your mind, and spirit."
I felt overwhelmed at once - blessed to pour out life into others, and convicted that I haven't always done a good job of nourishing and tending to my heart, that it would produce a healthy and bountiful overflow of life.
My eyes rested on the Lord, who gently added, "If you will listen, I will teach you how to garden well. What do you say?"
Monday, October 21, 2013
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