Striving

There has been so much, lately, that I have wanted to post... little thoughts here and there, Scripture that has stood out like a frying pan smacked gracefully over the top of my noggin'... passages from books that speak to a part of my soul that only God can move... but the time is the thing that escapes me so readily.  I enjoy writing, yet I do not find myself sitting down at a computer to lay out the various preponderances that glide through my mind on a daily basis.  That would bore the general population, I would gander.

I have been writing a lot, though.  I am writing papers.  I am working as diligently as I am able to finish up this bucket list of books toward my certification as a biblical counselor.  There is an overriding theme, with each book I read, with the more knowledge I acquire--I fall so short of the mark.  Oh, to God were I able to live out all these truths I am learning about... the more thankful I become for the learning curve of life, and the readily available truth of forgiveness in Christ.  Apart from this, I am hopelessly lost in a mire of my own making!

I read a story of animal that had fallen into a well, and there was no hope of rescuing this animal.  So, with a heavy heart, the farmer began to do the most merciful thing he could think of, and end the animal's suffering.  He began to shovel dirt into the well.  My first reaction to this was to recoil in horror--of course it would be better to shoot the animal first, would it not?  Much better than suffocation, one would think.  I continued to read, though.  As they shoveled the dirt into the hole, the animal would fight through the dirt falling on its head and stamp it down to the ground; slowly but surely, the animal beat the dirt down with each shovel full and began to come up out of the hole.  With each trial of dirt thrown upon its head, the animal would struggle through it and continue to climb.  Eventually the animal was able to climb out of the hole and go about its way.  Now, had they shot the animal--it would have indeed died.  It has made me rethink my definition of mercy.  It was NOT the most merciful act, to shoot this animal--had they done so, its fate would have been sealed.  Instead, their method of execution ended up saving its life.  

It made me think.  How often do I view these trials of life that God is intentionally placing into my life as the most cruel form of punishment instead of a method of a loving God to grow me up into His likeness even more?  Had the animal stopped struggling through the dirt being thrown upon its head, it would have died.  The animal didn't give up.  Just because it is hard, it is unfair, it is upsetting, it is anger-making, it is depressing... just because life isn't what you wanted or expected it to be... doesn't mean to stop striving.  It does not mean to stop fighting.  It's what you fight for, though... that makes the difference...

Col 1:28 NASB - We proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ.
Col 1:29 NASB - For this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.

blessings

there is a song that i have heard on the radio frequently as of late. it is a song that has a lot of meaning to me... laura story (the woman who wrote and performs this song) wrote these lyrics out when they found out her husband had cancer. each of us have unique struggles we go through and fight... i had an "in your face" reminder this weekend of how varied (and sometimes traumatizing) the struggles of this life truly can be... and how different they are for each one of us. there's this common thread, though, that links all of us, regardless of how insane and dysfunctional the problems of life may be...

Suffering Biblically: For His glory...

**reposted from my blog on http://mleduffey.weebly.com, 10/16/2010**

Today I attended a F.O.C.I.S. seminar (Find Out Christ Is Sufficient) on "Suffering Biblically." While a LOT of excellent material was presented, a particular part of it jumped out at me. The speaker was going over the purpose of suffering, and how it identifies us with Christ. She brought up how Paul and the other apostles suffered for righteousness sake in the desire to spread the message of Jesus Christ. As I turned the page in the notebook of material we were given, statistics from Voice of the Martyrs were presented. To quote from the notebook, "People of faith all over the world suffer today because of their love for Jesus Christ, risking their own lives for the promotion of the gospel." A list of 48 countries followed, representing the countries where Christians suffer for Christ. The 11th country listed was Morocco--the country closest to Spain in North Africa (connected by the Straight of Gibraltar) and the country that the ministry in Malaga directly ministers. Lord willing, I will go into Morocco for a day and see this country for myself. The thought of stepping foot into this country as a visitor, a tourist, free to enter and exit with the privilege of American citizenship, amazes me. The reality that my faith, the very reason why I am going to go on this trip, is enough of a reason for the government of this country to deny my admittance in or make my departure from it occur rather hastily, astonishes me. The fact that those who live in Morocco and convert from Islam to Christianity are persecuted severely for following the same Savior I do leaves me shocked and humbled beyond belief. They are abandoned by friends and family, beaten, mocked, and even their lives taken for calling Jesus Christ the Lord, the only God to be adored. Their conversion is not like how conversion is presented in America. Here, we are told of the good news--and we look around at all we have, the wealth, the resources--and the news doesn't seem that great, really. We have time--live life now, come to Christ later, after we've had our fun. We are called upon to forsake little. Our family may think we've lost it, but generally do not care about what religious decisions we make. Sometimes Christians here are called nuts, crazy, or pathetic for their beliefs--but for an American to be killed by another American for being a Christian outrages the country. In Morocco, it is praiseworthy to rid the country of another Christian.

When I was in college at MU the pastor of the church I attended penned another verse to a popular song, "Sanctuary." To the best of my memory, I will include it here (admitting the failings of my memory over the past several years!):
Lord prepare me
to be a missionary
always ready
to do Your will
by Your biding
I'll be a living
missionary
for You

This same pastor also explained how he once went on a missions trip to a country where he had to sign a waiver releasing the United States government from responsibility to come and rescue him were he taken captive while in this country. He literally signed the rights to his citizenship away to go spread the gospel in this country. Would I be as eager to go into Morocco if I were required to sign a form absolving the American government of coming to my rescue if I get into trouble while in Morocco? Would I be willing to risk this life God has given me and willingly walk into a country whose very government is hostile to the very faith I believe in? Am I willing to suffer for the cause of Christ in this way? The reality of me suffering for the cause of Christ as a visitor for a day in Morocco is pretty slim to non-existent, to be honest. But for those who live in this country every day--for those who cross the borders bringing the good news of Jesus Christ to the very people who desire to kill Christians--is a daily reality. It is not a story in a book; it is not past, archaic history. It is today; it is living, breathing, evil. It is real. Pray for the church in Morocco, in Northern Africa--pray for the persecuted church worldwide. Today you can walk out the door and praise Jesus, going about your day singing His praises--this may not always be true. Enjoy the freedom you now possess--and pray for those who dare not utter the name of Jesus aloud but praise them in their hearts.

1 Peter 3:14
But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled.

1 Peter 5:6-10
Make sure that none of you suffers as a murderer, or thief, or evildoer ,or a troublesome meddler; but if anyone suffers as a Christian, he is not to be ashamed, but is to glorify God in this name.

Luke 6:22
Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven.