Every Nation, Tribe, People and Language

Below is a link to a story from Wycliffe Translators.  The picture of the man listening to the Word of God for the first time in his language is priceless.  We take our Bibles for granted every day.  But there are those who have yet to hear in their own language that God loved them so much that He sent His only Son to die for their sins.

I cannot imagine.  I cannot imagine not having the words of my Savior to read whenever or wherever I so desire.

Maybe I need to imagine it.  To ponder what my life would be like without His words of life.

And imprint those words on my heart.

Every day.


http://wycliffeusa.wordpress.com/2013/05/16/featured-photo-from-the-field-technology-for-nomads/

"After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands."  Revelation 7:9 (NIV)

Faith, Hope and My Grandmother

"For, All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord stands forever."  1 Peter 1:24-25 (NIV 84)

My grandmother would have been 92 today.  I had to text my mother this morning to ask how long it had been since she passed away.  I have no idea why I couldn't remember the year.  I could remember the date-it was three days after her birthday. I was taken aback when my mom told me it had been five years.

Margaret Lee Thompson Brown

Five years since we had discussed a new book.  Five years since she had prayed for me.  Five years since we talked about something we had read in the Bible.  Five years since I had called her just because I could.  Even if I didn't really have anything to say.  Maybe I just wanted to hear her say "I love you" when we hung up.

Actually, it probably has been more than five years because she was so sick at the end that we had not be able to visit like we had all my life.  Once she entered the nursing home, it really wasn't ever the same.  I think that is why I didn't cry too much when she finally passed away.  She was finally at peace.

Death had come as a blessing not as a thief.

Knowing that I would see her again, knowing she was with her Savior, knowing that because of her faith in Jesus I was not saying goodbye forever...it makes all the difference.  I don't grieve without hope.

I miss her.  When I read a book by our favorite author, I want so badly to call her and discuss every glorious detail with her.  When the world is frustrating me, I want to hear her reassure me that this is not my home.  To remind me of the God I call mine, and that He has not forgotten His promises.  I would love to call her and discuss all the recipes on Pinterest-oh, how we could talk about cooking and food and recipes.

But then I open a book she gave me, and she is there in the pages.  Conversations we had come flooding back as I reacquaint myself with the stories of the lives spelled out in words.  When I look through her worn and stained cookbooks and begin compiling the ingredients for a favorite recipe, she is there telling me to keep my fingers out of the dough.  Though not really meaning it.

When I open her Bible and see the verses underlined, the names and dates written in the margins, and the pages worn and wrinkled by her fingers, she is there with me.  Her faith in these words, not the words of man, but of God Himself, are the foundation of my faith.  The faith that she seeded and watered for 33 years of my life.

Like grass, like flowers, her life faded but the words that she lived by, those remain.  Forever. Like her, my life will fade away someday.  But I hope and pray that what I leave behind, maybe to a granddaughter if I am so blessed, is a faith that ripples through generations to come.  A faith built firmly on the foundation of God's word.

Her simple words, marks and reminders in her Bible let me know that she worked at her faith.  The pages are dirty and stained.  The leather so supple from being held in her hands over the years that it melds to my hands.  She worked at it every day and so must I.  As I grow in my knowledge of God, my faith will grow deeper.  Like a tree planted by water that bears fruit in its seasons. (Psalm 1)  I want my faith to bear fruit.  Now and in the years to come.

I have accumulated four Bibles that I use on a regular basis.  One I received at my high school graduation, one I purchased for myself once I was married, one I bought in college and used on my three year-long journeys through the Bible, and the last one is the one that goes to church with me-it is smaller, not "Bible-thumper" size. But they all have notes, and underlining, and memories tucked in the pages.  Each one tells the journey of my faith a little bit differently, but the story is the same.

The story of a faith built on a foundation that never changes.  The words I base my life on are the words of the Lord and they stand forever.  These words inspire me, confound me, convict me, encourage me, comfort me, bind me, remind me, challenge me, and save me.  The words of my God...define me.

But more than anything, the words of my Savior give me hope.  Death has lost its sting.  It no longer has the victory.  I know that when this life passes away I get to spend eternity with those that have believed and have gone before me.  This knowledge doesn't erase grief when those we love go before us, but it redefines the grief.  We grieve the loss of their company and presence, but we grieve with hope.  Hope born from faith in a God that conquered death and keeps every promise He ever made.

But this hope also instills an urgency within me.  There are those that don't have this hope.  That don't know the promises contained within His words.  How does the world cope without God?  How does it grieve without Christ?  Without hope?

I pray that somehow my life on this earth is used for His glory.  I pray that I am able to plant seeds that will be grown by the Holy Spirit in my sons and in those whose lives I somehow touch each day.  I pray I speak with gentleness and respect of this hope that I possess.  I pray that a desire is born in those who crave hope, a desire for the words of God Almighty.

Words that stand forever.

Colors of Spring

We have Hope

If you read nothing else today, please read this post by Erick Erickson.  He reminds us that we do not have to give up hope, no matter how crazy the world may be.  He reminds us that Christ himself told us to not let our hearts be troubled. (Matthew 14:1 & 27)  Yes, in this world we will have trouble, but never forget that Christ has overcome the world. (John 16:33)

He is our Hope.  He is our Peace.

Why?

The Bible and its words are timeless.  God speaks to us through the same words He spoke through His prophets thousands of years ago.  The words of Habakkuk speak to the world as we know it today.  Amidst tragedies that we don't understand.  Amidst horrors that play out on our TVs and computers and phones nonstop.  We are surrounded and overwhelmed by evilness. 

We aren't the first and we won't be the last that feel this way.  Listen to Habakkuk's words in chapter 1 that he directs at God Almighty.

"How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?  Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save?  Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?  Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.  Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.  The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted." (Verses 2-4)

"Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong.  Why then do you tolerate the treacherous?  Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?" (Verse 13)

I think I screamed similar words to God yesterday in the wake of the horror in Boston and because of the death of a young man in our community.  Violence is everywhere. Injustice rules the day.  The law does nothing but stop the bleeding for a moment.  Why is God silent?  When will he respond? 

In chapter 2, God answers and promises woe to Babylon.  Babylon will bring destruction to Judah, but Babylon will suffer for its violence and cruelty.  At the hands of those more violent and cruel.  But God makes these promises in verses 14 and 20:

"For the earth will be filled with knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." 

"But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him."

The earth has been filled with evil, wickedness and chaos since the Fall of man in the Garden of Eden.  But God has not changed.  He is still God.  He is still good.  Someday, all the earth will know Him and confess His name.  His glory will overpower all the pain and sorrow.  Death was conquered on the cross.  Violence and evil still walk this earth, but they are not the victors.  They will not have the last word. 

God has and will.

Habakkuk was not afraid to cry out to God.  To demand answers and ask why.  God was not offended by Habakkuk's desperate cries.  He answered him and promised that though dark days were ahead, He would respond to evil and evil would not prevail. 

Habakkuk responds to God with a prayer.  A plea for mercy.  The same plea that is on our lips as we are overwhelmed by the evil of this world.

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord.  Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy."  Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV 84)

Cry out to God.  Ask Him why.  But then be silent and listen for His answer.  Listen for His promise of mercy and redemption. 

Another Life Lost

As I and the nation were transfixed by the tragedies in Boston, I glanced at the headline and clicked on it more out of curiosity than anything else.  I did not expect to know the name of the deceased.  I did not expect it to bring a cry of anguish to my lips or tears to my eyes.

But it did.

He was only 15 years old.  He went missing eight days ago.  His grandmother reported it to the local police.  They treated it like any other runaway report.  Another throw away kid that would come back when he was good and ready.  But his grandmother knew something was not right.  Yes, he had left before but had never been gone this long.  Never overnight.  Her intuition was right.  Dear God, she was right.

They don't know how long he had been dead.  As if they truly cared.  Now he was just a murder to be solved.  But to his grandmother, he was a child to be mourned.  

I spoke with her midweek.  He had been missing for 3 or 4 days by then.  I told her I would pass along her information and do what I could do.  Turns out I could do nothing.  I passed along her phone number and her concerns.  But it was all for naught.  He still died.

Another fifteen-year-old boy dead too soon.

I want to cuss.  I want to throw things against the wall.

But I cry and take a long walk.  I breathe in the smells of spring and pray for some kind of deliverance from this craziness and chaos.  I pray for wisdom and strength to make a difference.  But I wonder if it is even possible.

Does evil always win?  Will these kids I work with always fall through the cracks?

I have no doubt he was not the perfect child.  I have yet to meet one.  Anywhere.  But to someone, he was not a child to be loved and protected.  He was not a life to be honored and respected.  He was just a problem.   One that could be disposed of without remorse and with a bullet.  

I would like to say the blame only lies with the one that snuffed out this young life, but I know it lies in so many other places.  Who else failed this child and what can be done to prevent these repeated failures?  What can I do to stand in the gap for these kids?  How do we help them if they don't want the help?  How do we help those that do love them?  Who fight for them everyday.

The court system is just a bandaid.  Until there are changes in the community and in the lives of those raising these kids, this scenario is going to play itself out over and over again.  It may sound trite and cliche, but we need Jesus.

Oh, how we need Jesus.  Oh, how I need Him.

It has been a day filled with news of a national tragedy that will be discussed for months to come.  We will hear many a story of heroics and loved ones lost.  We will know their names and their stories.  Then there is the tragedy that occurred across the river.  Barely anyone will know his name or his story.  He will not be remembered by anyone but the few family members that cared about him.  He will just be one more statistic to be quoted in some crime report.   And once again, I find myself praying these familiar words.

"Come, Jesus, come."  Come quickly.

Happiness vs. Holiness

"But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; because it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." 1 Peter 1:15-16 (NASB)

God does not call us to be happy or fulfilled.  He calls us to be holy.

We choose happiness and fulfillment because they are a lot easier to chase down.  Or so we think.  As much as we say money cannot buy happiness, one would think we are trying to prove otherwise by our spending habits.  I know I can find "happiness" when I track down the Holy Grail of women shoppers everywhere...perfect-fitting jeans.  My oldest son would be perfectly happy with a brand new bat guaranteed to knock one out of the park.  We find happiness and all is good.

Until the jeans shrink.  The bat breaks.  And our happiness is fleeting.

Magazines and books galore promise ten easy steps to fulfillment (which also brings its close friend, happiness).  Fulfillment in our jobs, our marriages, our roles as parents, our exercise programs.  You name it and someone has written a way to be fulfilled in it.  The world insists through studies, polls, and Super Bowl commercials that we can find fulfillment.  We just have to buy the right cologne, drive the right car, vote for the right person, read the right books, watch the right shows, and drink the right beer.  Of course, if you choose incorrectly, well your fulfillment and happiness will disappear without a trace.

So choose wisely says the world.

Ah, there in lies the rub.  We humans really struggle with wisdom.  We choose the wisdom of the world over the the wisdom of the Holy One.  Simply put, we think we know more then God.  We want to come to Him on our terms not His.  Yes, we know He says be holy, but holy is a really hard standard to maintain.  "Happy" we can do with a small amount of effort, depending on how low we set the bar.  So we live our lives by our rules and then wonder why things aren't working out as we planned.  We shake our fists at God and demand He fix things so we can be happy and fulfilled.

And He silently waits for us to learn to distinguish between being happy and being holy.

He gave the Israelites plenty of guidelines and rules to help them in their quest for holiness.  The Ten Commandments and all of the other rules and standards set forth in Leviticus through Deuteronomy were for their benefit.  He was not trying to ruin their fun or make their lives miserable.  Just the opposite.  He knew they would be exposed to the pagan cultures around them, and God wanted His people to be set apart.

To be holy.

By following His commandments, they could know Him.  It was the best they could hope for because of the Fall.  They were separated from His presence because of sin.  But, these were His children and He still wanted the best for them.  Unfortunately, more often than not, they were perfectly content to settle for the common.  The ways of the other kingdoms were intriguing and different.  They got to eat whatever they wanted.  They got to do whatever they wanted.  The Israelites wanted "freedom."  But the freedom they wanted, the freedom to do it their way, came with consequences.

Big ones.

They found out the hard way that the wisdom of the world does not have their best interests in mind.  God finally stepped back and let them experience their so-called freedom.  It meant exile and slavery in Babylon.  So much for freedom.  It was clear that being righteous enough could not be done on their own.  God knew this, but He wanted them to understand that the Law pointed out the need for redemption, it did not bring redemption.

Christ did.

Christ was the redemption the Israelites needed to be holy.  For us to be holy.  He alone would bridge the gap created by sin and our desire to do it our way.  We can never achieve holiness on our own.  But Christ's sacrifice ripped the veil away and allowed us to come into the presence of our God and Savior.  We have the Holy Spirit dwelling in us as Christians.  We have the power of the Almighty God flowing through us.  We can be holy, because He is in us and He is holy.

Very slowly we learn that joy, not happiness, is found in knowing Him.  In following His ways.  In being content in His timing.  But we will look for happiness and fulfillment again.  It is our nature.  But as we learn who we are in Him and as we taste holiness in moments in His presence, we desire Him more and more.  True joy and contentment cannot be gained in 10 easy steps.  Or even 20.

It comes from resting in Him.  From clinging to him.  That is why Christians that suffer in His name can still praise His name with all that is within them.  It is why Paul and Silas were singing hymns in jail.  Why Paul could find contentment in all circumstances.  Even ones that tested and tried his faith.  It is why he could say this...

"I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do all this through him who gives me strength."  Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)

When Paul says "all this" he isn't talking about his bucket list.  He is talking about what God had called him to do in His name.  God doesn't provide strength to do things we aren't suppose to be doing.  He gives us strength to live in His name.  To walk worthy.  To glorify Him in all we do and say.  He gives us strength when we have to suffer for doing what is right.  For following Him.

He gives us the strength to be holy.  To be like Him.