Happy New Year!

I pray that this coming year will be filled with experiences to grow me and stretch me beyond what I could think or imagine. I know with that kind of thinking God could and will most likely bring about hard and even difficult situations. I just don't want to pray empty words that so often in the past I have prayed ... "I pray for a year filled with blessings and prosperity." Not that those things aren't important but I want growth more than anything in my life. Growth brings about change. Actually, it rids me of me. "Me" gets me into jams.

So, I desire to earnestly pray for God to give me the words so that I can experience all He has for 2009 . I know HE will make it interesting. I am reminded of the promise in Romans 8:16-18 that because we are God's children the sufferings (anguish, pain, even growth) is so that we can share in His glory. That's wild. It's amazing!

Happy New Year to my friends and family!

Bible Verses-Colossians 1:9-14

9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

I just love the Bible. I love the “So that”, “For this reason” and “In order that” phrases. Those words make it much clearer for me what I am suppose to do to grow more spiritually.

The Long Defeat...Hmmm

I became familiar with this phrase when I heard a song by Sara Groves called The Long Defeat. I thought it was an odd phrase. I looked it up on Google.

The Long Defeat is a phrase denoting an apparently impossible but noble battle.

A book I had heard of but have not yet read called Mountain beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder speaks of this Long Defeat in relation to an experience Dr. Paul Farmer had in Haiti as a medical doctor. He fought continually under hopeless circumstances only to see glimpses of victory but the battle of the poor and sick had yet to be won. He continued on despite the apparent losing battle.

Here is a quote I found from the book…

I have fought the long defeat and brought other people on to fight the long defeat, and I’m not going to stop because we keep losing. Now I actually think sometimes we may win. I don’t dislike victory.... We want to be on the winning team, but at the risk of turning our backs on the losers, no, it’s not worth it. So you fight the long defeat.

After hearing the song and searching the meaning of the phrase I realized how much in our world is a Long Defeat for us. I see such need in the world spiritually and physically and it can be so overwhelming knowing that in my lifetime I can’t WIN. Here are just a few examples (throughout the world): hunger, orphans, slavery, friends and family who don’t know Christ.

Here is what the song and the book focused on and it is what we need to focus on too~

The Long Defeat...While this may sound defeatist, when used in this way, the term implies to those who use it that since the battle appears hopeless, any progress, or even a single life saved, can be viewed as a victory. (Wikipedia)

"I can't just fight when I think I'll win." Sara Groves

As followers of Christ, we must continue to fight in the battle and hold on to the truth that Christ is the one who tells us to fight.
Many times throughout the New Testament (1 & 2 Timothy, James and Philippians) we are told to press on and persevere. This world is in such need (spiritually and physically) and we are called to share with those who are weary, lost and feel hopeless. It is our responsibility. It is the least we can do because we were hopeless, hungry orphaned slaves. Let's not forget that Christ never turns His back on the losers.

Note: The phrase was also used in the Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien. He also described it along with history itself. He saw history as a long defeat with glimpses of victory in sight.

Pray

Here's another song with a hard message. Several months ago I ran across this video while watching a Francis Chan sermon. I desire to have this prayer for myself and live it out this coming year. The song is called Pray by Kendall Payne.

The Very Thought

I was reminded by the Holy Spirit today to be grateful for the simple things. How quickly I can take things and others for granted. A song came to my mind that reminds me how the beauty of this world is enough and even the ability to see it. This song is written by Ginny Owens who has been blind since the age of two. She started playing piano at that age. Ginny Owens is also very involved in raising support for the freeing of the millions of slaves in the world today. I pray I can recognize the simple blessings and be focused on the eternal. The very thought of what Christ has given should stir in us a desire to recognize Him in the simple things. We have way more than we deserve.

Wonderful Wonder by Ginny Owens

I don't know the ocean's crystal blue,
and I don't climb the mountains for the view.
Or wish upon the stars above my head,
or bear witness to a marvelous sunset

But the very thought of things I've never seen,
Is all it takes to bring me to my knees.

(chorus)
Oh what a wonderful wonder,
A display of great beauty and power
Oh what a wonderful wonder
You are to me

I wish that I could see life through your eyes.
To gaze upon the canvas from your side
To understand all that you've done before
And to realize the plans you have in store.

And when I long to know what I don't see
You give me the courage to believe.

(Chorus)

I can hardly wait until the time
when you will turn my darkness into light.
and I'll finally find my way to heaven's door
where I won't need my faith anymore.

And when my eyes behold your majesty
I'll join with the angels and we'll sing

Operation Christmas Child

Our family had a terrific time at Operation Christmas Child (Samaritan’s Purse) this week. I know most of you are familiar with this ministry. They are the ones that send shoeboxes around the world to children who may never receive anything for Christmas except this shoebox. We went to the warehouse that is setup in Atlanta. People from across the state send shoeboxes to this location. The shoeboxes are inspected and then sent by plane, trains and trucks to all over the world. The shoeboxes are filled with toys, candy, toothbrushes, pencils etc. When the boxes arrive in Africa or India (the locations from Atlanta) the shoeboxes are distributed to villages and towns. Samaritan’s Purse volunteers then share the gospel to the village. They also go back within a few weeks for follow up. It is an excellent ministry.
When we went to the warehouse they had a tour of the facility and then activities for the kids. It was a great day for us. Our family has been participating for several years. If you have not participated check it out for next year! Some statistic: Since the start of the ministry (1993) over 61 million shoeboxes have been sent to children around the world. This year the goal is to send out 8 million.

A Poem by George MacDonald

I said, Let me walk in the field;
God said, No, walk in the town;
I said, There are no flowers there;
He said, No flowers but a crown.

I said, But the sky is black,
There is nothing but noise and din;
But he wept as he sent me back,
There is more, he said, there is sin.

I said, But the air is thick,
And smog is veiling the sun;
He answered, Yet souls are sick,
And your work is yet undone.

I said, I will miss the light,
And friends will miss me, they say;
He answered me, Choose tonight,
If I am to miss you, or they.

I pleaded for time to be given;
He said, Is it hard to decide?
It will not seem hard in Heaven
To have followed the steps of your Guide.

I cast one look at the field,
Then set my face to the town;
He said, My child do you yield?
Will you leave the flowers for the crown?

Then into His hand went mine,
And into my heart came He;
And I walk in a light Divine,
The path I had feared to see.