TRANSFORMATION

We, as Christians, have talked for centuries about the transformation of lives through Christ—the way the power of the Holy Spirit works within us to sanctify us: “for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). Our designation as new creations is predicated on the Holy Spirit dwelling within us. Christ in us, the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27)!

We work for an organization, One Collective, that believes in the transformation of communities by the power of God. We love that premise and that vision. For only God can change people. Only God can change me. We must first know that transformative power in our own lives before we go to others.

One God. One life. One community at a time.

The fact that God includes us in this Great Commission work is altogether staggering and humbling. At its heart, it comes down to the work of discipleship—helping people reconcile their relationships with God, themselves, others, and all of creation.

And it starts with the one.

The one God puts in front of you. The one God is already working in. Because He is the ONE who draws sinners to Himself (John 6:44). We look for those “ones”—the people God highlights to us and brings into our paths from within our communities.

But this requires something: time, energy, focus, and money.

It requires investment—investment in people’s lives.

Are we willing?

Do we have disciples who are making disciples? Are there lives being transformed that are, in turn, transforming other lives?

I have found that one-on-one discipleship is worth the investment.

It reveals a person’s true beliefs, worldview, and the lies they have come to accept. It exposes idols and the footholds of Satan. It allows us to enter into the everyday life of another person and walk alongside them—speaking life and truth into their story.

And when we are willing to be vulnerable, we allow others to plant seeds of hope in the soil of our own stories—stories that have been transformed for the glory of God.

Who is the one God has placed in your life today?

Be that person for someone.

Invest in them. Walk alongside them. Speak truth and life into their story.

Because transformation starts with the one.

LONGING...

 

I sit here this morning, gazing out from the Lake Geneva Library to the lake it is named after. The lush grass and the bright green leaves swaying in the breeze boast of mid-summer in the Mid-West. The farmers market is bustling down the street where I grabbed a cinnamon role to savor. The water is quite calm for a summer morning here and the boats bob in the bay waiting for their owners to take them out. Truly picturesque. 

I told myself that when I got back from my trip to Zambia, I would soak in all that summer has to offer here now that it is already half over. Trying to accept the blessing of living here. It’s hard though. While I love that we get to live here for now, knowing that God has us here for not only recruiting new leaders for ministry but to care for our moms as well, I’m torn. I tried to put it into words last August on my prayer retreat. It came out in a kind of poem. I say, “kinda” as I’m not sure it follows any rules or parameters of a poem but it is words my heart tries to understand. Emotions I give to God to filter. It is the tension of holding two worlds I love in my heart and knowing that neither of them are where I ultimately belong. Here it is- 

The beauty makes me mad

Green and blue clear water against a perfect MidWest sky

The blessing makes it even harder

I can reach out and touch family and friends here, everything is at arms length

I know, God, this is supposed to make it easier

But my soul reaches out for the dark, muddy, unknown waters of Africa

The dusty atmosphere that creates a blood red sky

Relishing in the sweaty skin that suggest time with a friend in the African afternoon

I long for the dust trail behind my Toyota that signifies a dirt road to someplace magical

Balancing moments that hold eternal significance with my sisters in Christ on the other side of the world, and my sisters here

I am a visitor in the place that should be home and at home where I should be a visitor

But this I know, You God, are creating a place for me that will be so perfect I will not want for anything

So in the here and now, You are enough between earthly worlds that I straddle and the eternal home where I belong 

Tick Tock

Time is a tricky thing. It is said that you can not get back time. Once it is gone it is gone. We all know this but is it evident in how we live? I'm not sure. Time controls us while itself not able to be controlled. We can't stop it, or hold it back, or fast forward it. It is what it is. Our Creator gives it to us as a gift. Allowing us to be a part of His world, stewarding well all things, including time. The time we are given represents our lives. Lives as His children bought and paid for by the blood of His Son. Lives that use the time given to worship God and live with purpose for His Name sake. But at some point our time ends. 

I have watched many people die. Some have died better than others. Death has once again happened near me and is also shadowing two other lives close to me. I have become very aware of the way in which time on this earth ends for us. I notice the focus of the person as they get sicker, or older, or more aware of their mortality. Is it clearly fixed on the Lord or are they distracted by earthly issues?

I can see the face of a woman in Zambia who wanted nothing else but to pray for people and worship the Lord on her death bed. Or the concern of another older woman who just wanted her whole family to know the Lord and for them to be saved. Prayer, singing, gratitude. I remember the sweet story my mom told me of my dad who was up in the middle of the night signing one of his favorite hymns when he only had days to live. 

While none of these lives were lived out perfectly, they knew who God was and who they were in light of that. God's grace shown through. Goals for dying well. 

But let's talk about how we are living. Now, I'm not going to get into a lengthy debate on eschatology, but I do believe that time is of the essence these days. It is not just that I feel myself getting older and that my life is half over (if I live a full life), but I do feel a very real sense of urgency to get busy with the work of God's kingdom. In every sense, am I encouraging the saints, preaching the gospel, discipling those God has put in front of me, and living a life that is poured out for the poor, the lost, and the sick? How am I using the time afforded me to bring LIFE to those dying? 

One of the verses I pray for the community in Zambia is John 10:10- "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." Life, full, abundant life. That is what Christ offers. And that is what I want to share with everyone around me. Life-let's live it and give it. 

Who needs to hear this message so that they can not only live fully but die faithfully? I pray that I will finish my race well someday and say with confidence, "for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21. 

How are you living?

HOLD ON LOOSELY

I sit here right now and consider what has been lost in my lack of writing and blogging over the past many years. What fraught moments, miraculous minutes, or meaningful memories have not been recorded. Like the African sunset which slips away like water in your hands, those stories are gone I fear. 

I can not really attest to why I stopped writing, but I did. Maybe ministry overtook my “me” time. Maybe I felt like the relationships were too new or life to raw. There was definitely dry land between my pen and I and there was a sense from God to go ahead and let it be. There is a time for everything (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8). 

I have been back in the states for over 2 years now. When I was preparing to return to the states, I was asking God what He had for me here beside our continued ministry in Africa. For those that know, it became obvious that our moms would need us but I knew there was more. I felt a nudge to write again and speak a bit more. The funny thing about God is He doesn’t really reveal His timeline. Here I sit 2 1/2 years in to our stateside chapter and I think this is the 2nd time I have sat down to put pen to paper. 

As I have pondered this desert, I have also seen a pattern of other activities in my life that have ebbed and flowed, things that had been a fruitful part of my days or weeks and then poof, no more. Seasons. Chapters. Transition. Change. 

Seasons remind us different is good. Chapters lead us on to the unfolding story before us. Transition grows us and keeps us on our toes. Change reminds us who is really in charge. Our lives, our routines, our priorities, shift. Africa did and still does remind me to hold things loosely. 

I thought I would blog heavily when we were on the ground in Zambia but what I realize now is that I wrote those moments, miracles, and memories on my heart not on paper. And that is ok. They rest there where I hold them carefully, remembering what made those moments special. They are not lost, they are found inside of me. 

With all that missionary life throws us, what it gives and what it takes, knowing that God is in control and with us makes all the difference. We accept the sunsets; the closing of one chapter to another but in Africa you never know what the new sunrise will bring. Endless hope hangs on the colors of each morning. Maybe my blog will rise again soon. Maybe this is the start. 

What looks like a sunset right now in your life? What might feel like a sunrise?