Making a Difference

How can we become people who make a difference - as our lifestyle? I've heard from many who are being challenged in this area. One person recently wrote and said:

"It’s easy to write that check, donate old clothes or drop off canned food on the way into the Bronco game. But at the end of the day it was still heavy on my heart to do more. We tend to get so caught up with ourselves and as a result we pretend to ignore that there is suffering within our community. My “Outlook” schedule was way off. I was making too much time for me and not enough time for God. I see that now. I see that through my personal struggles that I wasn’t holding up my end of the bargain. I now work first for God. By doing that my fear as subsided and my basket remains full."

So how do we build this lifestyle?

Mother Theresa likened herself to being a pencil in God's hand, able to be used at any time in any way He wanted.

John Wimber referred to being change in God's pocket, able to be spent by Him at any time.

Saint Francis de Sales said "You learn to speak by speaking, to study by studying, to run by running, to work by working; and just so, you learn to love by loving. All those who think to learn in any other way deceive themselves."

So it is clear we become something by habitual practice, whether good or bad. We become people who make a difference by training ourselves to respond to God's compassion.

If you can respond to lack or adversity in your own life with generosity, you can start building this habit.

We've worked on this by trying to give whenever we are in need. It is so easy to freak out, pull back and worry when you are facing huge needs! Giving not only breaks the power of fear, it puts us back in the traffic of what God is doing (loving and serving). It is a practical way to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart."

A key is to give generously without any strings attached. Sometimes that means giving in secret. Sometimes it is impossible for it to be in secret, but our motive is not to be noticed or appreciated for it.

Extravagant giving should be in every area, but especially the area you are most in need.

• If you are in need of love and understanding, spend extra time listening to someone.
• If you are in need of companionship, be a great friend to others, caring for them in a way they would appreciate it most.
• If you are in need of mercy, receive it from God and extend it to others.
• If you need a job, do what you need to do, but in the meantime consider serving somewhere for free with the skills you have.
• If you are in financial need, keep giving your first and best (tithe) to God. Then look to give a gift that really stretches your faith as God directs.

God said we should test Him in this area and see if He will not provide for us. What a wonderful promise. What a crazy counterintuitive plan for dealing with our needs :) Giving opens up our hearts and reminds us that everything we offer to God is a gift anyway.

So where can you begin, or where can you respond? Maybe God wants to use the area of your need to make a difference in the lives of others...

Haiti, Prayer and Friendships

With the horrifying tragedy in Haiti there are many questions... Why? Where is God? What are we to do?

I’m only going to attempt to answer the 3rd question in this post

We can pray -- for God’s mercy and love to be extended to the people in Haiti, to relief workers and efforts, and for His comfort and peace. In this kingdom conflict, prayer is what Jesus taught us to do (“Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”)

Secondly, we can ask Him to guide our efforts in making a difference. I’m so grateful for Convoy of Hope, a ministry we’ve already partnered with who is on the ground in Haiti.

Here is an excerpt from their recent communication:
Convoy of Hope has experienced relief workers on the ground in Haiti. All personnel survived the quake and our facilities are operational. We have a warehouse just outside of Port-Au-Prince with food, water and purification units. The response is already underway. Our ongoing activities in Haiti put us in a very strong position to respond. (Convoy of Hope feeds 7,000 kids every day in Haiti through 27 different schools and orphanages)

It is amazing how God uses friendships to bring blessing. I met Bryan on a trip to Germany in 1993. We became friends and saw each other periodically over the years. He eventually ended up with Convoy of Hope a few years ago. Convoy of Hope’s vision, values and track record prompted us to partner with them.

It is so cool to know your financial support is going to meet physical and spiritual needs. Convoy partners with local churches to make sure their community impact is lasting. They also encourage teams from local churches stateside to come and DO relief work and ministry (a huge part of our mission).

So when the tragedy struck with Katrina, and now with Haiti, we already had established relationship with a ministry.

God does work through prayer and through relationships/friendships. What an amazing gift they both are!

House Projects and the New Year

Over the holidays I took on a house project that turned into multiple projects... I'm "semi" handy around the house, and I tend to resist paying for stuff I think I might be able to do (which can get me into trouble).

We had some water damage in our basement for which we received a small insurance settlement. So I decided to tile the bathroom, which involved tearing out the damaged linoleum (circa 1980), drywall repair, finishing, plumbing repair, painting, etc.

The toilet was sitting up an inch above the floor for all these years. What I didn't understand was the huge cast iron pipe connected to the toilet was higher than it needed to be.

So you've heard the slogan "You can do it, we can help." Well, it is sometimes better translated "You'd like to think you can do it, and there's nobody around here who can help you, but we've got some stuff you can buy..."

Actually, I found a guy at the store named Scott who was very helpful. After I explained the situation, he told me what I needed to do, how I could cut the pipe (and how it would be a nightmare...). He led me to the right cutting wheel for my grinder and a flange I could bolt into the concrete, etc.

So I cut the cast iron pipe, and everything worked just like Scott said it would, including the nightmare part :)

So what's the point? There's not much you can do without help in the Christian life. God made it that way. We are at our best when we are most dependent. We need God and we need each other. We are at our best when God's grace enables us to do what we couldn't do in our own strength.

Are you facing some significant challenges in your life? Are you wanting to grow in your spiritual journey, and wanting your life to count. You can make a difference on this planet!

Find a local church community where you can agree with the basic mission and direction, where you see God at work in people's lives, and enter in. Don't let distraction or discouragement keep you away. God is at work in your life, your relationships, your job, your community - and you are invited to join Him.

Let's enter in together in 2010!

"Receive and experience the amazing grace of the Master, Jesus Christ, deep, deep within yourselves." Philippians 4:23 Message Version

And yes, btw, everything in the bathroom is fixed and working.