For Jew, Gentile…Muslim
December 1999.
I had just come to
faith five weeks prior but I was insatiable and became a lioness in defending
it. At my work place I was forbidden to listen
to Christian radio in my office for fear it might offend my Muslim coworker,
Mohammad. BUT God brought an amazing opportunity to show Jesus in another way.
Mohammad was fasting for Ramadan and was being forced into
going to a staff Holiday luncheon to receive our annual bonuses. The same coworker being “saved” from my
Christian radio was now being mocked for his faith. I came to his defense but
was met with “If he doesn’t go, I will not give him his check!”
On my drive home that evening, three days prior the event, I
tearfully asked God what I should do as a Christian woman. How do I support my
Muslim friend without denying Jesus? At that very moment, I felt in my spirit “Sit
with him.”
The next day I went to Mohammad and said, “I love Jesus and
although I do not follow your faith I do believe you are being mistreated. I
will sit with you this Friday and not eat so you do not have to feel alone.” With tears in his eyes, he thanked me and my
Jesus.
The next day our luncheon was cancelled by our district
manager due to an emergency and our office supervisor was told she had to pass out
the bonus checks. I wept as I realized God
had saved both Mohammad and me from any further ridicule.
“As Scripture says, ‘Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.’ For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him,” Romans 10:11-12
A few years ago I ran into Mohammad and with the excitement
of a three year old on his birthday, he told me he had never forgotten the
kindness I showed him because I loved Jesus.
“I tell everybody that story!”
I'm trusting God to continue speaking into Mohammad's life.
Overcome your fear. You don’t need a soapbox. Sharing Jesus
can be as easy as the cubicle right next to you.
Tuesday, February 18, 2014
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Running with Giants
But I have dabbled in some athletic endeavors, that made me FEEL like I was kinda-sorta Olympic-ish.
I have run two half marathons. For me, this was an epic fete. I was never very athletic growing up, generally picked last in P.E. You know the story. My journey to train and run was a tale of overcoming.
My training time was connecting time. To overcome I needed to be connected to my OVERCOMER.
I was not only training my body - I was training my mind. I used this time to listen to sermons, pray, or memorize scripture - I needed to believe God's truth that I could do anything through Christ who strengthens me - and not listen to the lies that I was still the girl nobody wanted on their team - too slow, too awkward.
My last race would take me through a place called “The Avenue of the Giants”, which I thought was fitting – like David running to Goliath. I thought of myself running past all the giants – the lies- that have raised themselves against me. So much of this season had been about entering a promised land. I found it befitting, then, that I took to the starting line to the announcement, “Welcome to the 40th Avenue of the Giants Half Marathon.” I was ready for my 40 years in the desert to be over – to enter my land of the giants, and finish the race in victory.
The day was beautiful, and I knew the Lord was cheering me on. I hit the split (half way point) at 1:11, and smiled. Triple ones, they follow me often, speaking of this season of transition. The race is an out and back, so as I turned to head back at the half way point, I thought to myself, I am no longer running away from giants, but with them- because I am one. Not in the Goliath way, but in the I am an oak of righteousness way, planted in the courts of the Lord. Unmovable and strong. Standing on the truth of God's word and His promises towards me.
I crossed the finish line, beating my previous time by 8 minutes, and drifting into joy thanks to my runner’s high.
Sometimes the challenges of walking with Christ are mental ones - and our champion moments really come from setting our minds to TRUTH, and seeing how TRUTH sets us free to walk in overcoming faith with Him.
Today I think of each of you - the challenges set before each of you in your walks with the Lord and I pray for His beautiful truth to take up residence in your heart and mind in powerful ways. Christ in YOU is the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27), and in Him you can walk in victory.
Monday, February 17, 2014
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Silencing Defeat
In the quiet summer days when I had ventured down to Texas for a little R&R, I considered seriously not returning to my job. I had spent the previous months finishing off a very difficult second year of teaching. It was a season in which I spent most weekends and evenings working and felt like little fruit was coming from my efforts. I felt defeated and discouraged and exhausted. The thought of enduring another year like that one made me cringe. My emotional health and my spiritual walk were shot. And I recall sitting in a park bench with my lifeless heart thinking, "life is too short to live like this."
I believe in retrospect, my year might have been aided had I opened up more with those around me about the difficulties I was experiencing. I had really convinced myself that everything that was going wrong in my class was my fault. It became such a habit in my mind that I'd gladly take on the blame for other things going on around me, "welp, that was probably me too." Lies are vicious.
I have since realized that so many of my challenges and experiences are actually common place to most teachers, even the most experienced. But in the moment, in the trenches of last year, I convinced myself otherwise.
I felt a little like a grumbling Israelite. "So you brought me to California to die, did you, Lord? Just bury me under my student debt, what a waste."
I did not hear a "thus sayeth the Lord." No angels, no fireworks, no visions. I heard nothing.
But in that moment, on that park bench I REMEMBERED.
I remembered who God is. I remembered that is is not like Him to lead me to places to die - but THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death, that I would know His nearness and faithfulness. I knew that I felt done with this assignment - but He was not done with me. He did not lead me to California, through two more years of school, to my dream school that it should end like this.
So I didn't pick up the phone. I went back to work. I prayed voraciously and got back on the saddle.
And I see God shifting things all around me now - that impossible dreams for education are in the works.
He is faithful. He is able. He is my OVERCOMING God.
And today I am thankful for His silence - which helped me REMEMBER who I was dealing with.
"Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands." Deuteronomy 8:2
"But then I recall all you have done, O LORD; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago." Psalm 77:11
Monday, January 20, 2014
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Busting Fear
“Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed,
for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 is a verse I’ve
fallen back on countless times that carries a battle theme. We’ve all faced or
been through something: death, divorce, disease, drugs, depression, or devastation of
sorts. Some of us more than others; but, it’s the command that precedes this
verse that I struggle with the most, “Be strong and of good courage.” No matter
how many times I’ve been knocked down, dunked under, or “held captive,” my
rebound doesn’t happen naturally.
I
wish I could be more like Jonathan was in 1Samuel 14:8 when he faced the
Philistines. He told his armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of
those uncircumcised fellows (let’s bust fear in the face!—my interpretation.) . . . Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving,
whether by many or by few.” Jonathan knew who had his back—both physically and
spiritual.
Being
the “concrete, black & white” thinker that I am, trusting hasn’t come
easily. Regardless of how many people have told me, “You’re such a strong
person” after recuperating from each of the first three “Ds” mentioned above,
it doesn’t get easier for me. I still grow anxious; I forget to pray first; I
doubt; I let my emotions get the best of me. So, how do I get up, get through,
and go on?
“’Not
by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’says the LORD Almighty.” (Zachariah
4:7) Emerging myself in God’s word on a regular basis helps me to soak up what
I need in times of trouble. By rehearsing then releasing what I know to be true, God's Spirit within me becomes my “Fear” buster.
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
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