Outrageous Hope

While attending a presentation for an organization called Emmaus House, one of the singers had written a song that included a line with the phrase "Outrageous Hope". Their ministry is designed to reach out to the male prostitutes in the Chicago area. I was amazed at a couple of things...first of all that I was attending this drama/presentation at Plow Creek Fellowship- a community of Mennonites who seemed WAY too conservative to support this kind of ministry, and secondly that those words spoke so loudly to me on that day. I also was shocked to know that many people didn’t even know that male prostitutes existed!

About a year before this event, I had gone through a very troubling time. My husband had walked out on me and I was left with my two children in what seemed a hopeless situation. My finances were in the toilet, I had no answers about WHY and I was depressed, losing about 40 lbs in 2 1/2 months time. (As a fat girl, I kind of LIKED that aspect of depression!) My world had fallen apart. All of the things I had hoped for and dreamed of seemed to be vanishing...BUT, from the instant I had found his note and wedding ring on my desk, I had hope....outrageous hope!

I KNEW God was going to repair my marriage. I didn’t understand the peace I felt in the quiet times of my sorrow, but somewhere deep inside of me, I knew that if I was faithful to Him, He would be faithful to me. For 2 1/2 months, I waited. Satan tempted me and told me I had every right to just get out. I was validated by all of my friends and family. I was given biblical support for going through with a divorce, but still I held on.

I had Outrageous Hope. In the light of what seemed an endless tunnel, I saw light. I didn’t need to understand it to know it was there. I didn’t need to have anything tangible to hold onto, but I persevered with God’s help. When I started to falter, God nudged me in the right direction and outrageous hope won!

John came back. We faced some realizations, and our relationship has grown and is maturing in Christ. We still have our moments. I suspect all couples do, but I know if we can make it through the tough times, we won’t have to rely on outrageous hope any more!

Get Behind Me Satan

When facing troubling times in my life, I often forget just where they originate. So often I lament my situation before I realize it is only Satan who is the driving force. During a small crisis in my day, I came across the passage, "Get behind me Satan, you are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things, but on human things."

Now I don't know if I want Satan behind me or not! He might make fun of the size of my butt- and I can be a little sensitive about that. I also don't like being shoved from behind. It hurts to fall on your face. I kind of like it when Satan is in front of me. That way I can see him. That way I can avoid him. I just need to realize he is there.

I'm teasing. I understand that Jesus was rebuking Peter and wanted him to get out of the way of the purpose of God. I understand that He was ordering him to clear the path. Jesus was saying that it was Peter's duty to not stand in the way of God's greater plan.

Are we ever stumbling blocks to others in our lives? How often do we offer our pessimistic attitude to someone with an idea that they believe is brilliant? Are we encouraging? Are we faithful? Do we offer hope or despair? If they believe God is the power behind their activity, who are we to question that?
As a Christian brother or sister, it is our duty to hold them accountable to God's truths, but we also have to have the faith that God will lead them . Maybe our role is to pray for them and help them truly seek God's guidance in their endeavors.

Just this morning, a friend came to me and said that one of the God centered activities she was involved receivingcieving some negativity from someone else in that community. She couldn't understand how this person could want to see the activity fail. She didn't know why he was trying so hard to cause it to NOT be successful. He had written letters and was very vocal about his beliefs. He was being a stumbling block.

I told my friend that as long as she saw it for what it was, she could avoid the trap of ALLOWING him the power to cause failure. Just look at the obstacle, and avoid it! Step around it. It is only when we don't see the things in our path that we stub our toes on them. That is why God calls us to open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, so we can clearly see not only the blessings, but the barriers. He will show us the way, if we just listen to Him.
So the next time you come to Satan in your path, yell, "Get behind me Satan!" , then untuck your shirt ,pull it down low so he can't make fun of you and run like the wind toward God! You won't get shoved onto your face!

The Talent Show

Last year, my family attended ‘Family Camp’. This was the opportunity for us to bond in the great outdoors with heat and mosquitoes and ...oh yeah...other Christian families. We spent a glorious long weekend in the country in central Illinois, communing with nature. As a Mom, I especially liked it since all of our meals were prepared and all I had to do was eat and read. Normally family vacations are just me doing the same job in a different venue. This was different. I actually got to relax!

One of the highlights of Family Camp was the talent show. When this idea was first presented to me, it sent me into a panic. I don’t claim to have any real talent. I don’t play a musical instrument, my body doesn’t contort into pretzel shapes anymore, I can’t make my nose produce funny noises (be quiet kids) , and as far as I know, have never been able to burp the alphabet or anything equally amusing. Okay- maybe I can, but I’m trying to learn to be more socially acceptable!) As it is, the kids and I sang a cute little song that required no musical ability.

As we sat there waiting for our turn, we saw quite a variety of acts. One family played percussion. All of the kids could bang on a bongo and make you want to dance. I bet their house is fun when everyone is practicing. They also had a couple of guitar players in their clan. One group did a drama. Still another played out a joke. The counselors had the unique talent of grossing everyone out with a Fear Factor style ‘joke’ where one counselor actually drank a glass of spit and toothpaste and raw eggs (is that a talent or an imbalance?) One 7 year old boy did acrobats. He turned a cartwheel until he almost hit the piano. He also possessed some math skills that astounded his audience. He apparently was overabundant in the talent department because he was willing to display far more of his abilities than his parents were willing to allow. They made him stop (maybe next year honey!)

It was a wonderful time. No one person or group did the same thing. Maybe their ACT was the same, but they displayed their talents differently. If they had been the same, the show wouldn’t have been near as exciting or fun. If everyone had recited poetry, I would have become bored quickly. As it were, we had a fun filled evening packed with such diversity.

I thought to how the church body functions. Everyone has different strengths. We all have something to bring to our church experience. If we all could only cook, our potlucks would be great, but fund-raisers would fizzle. If everyone was a great teacher, our Sunday School would draw crowds, but who would fold the bulletins? If every member of the congregation could preach fire and brimstone, we might pack the pews on Sunday mornings, but how would the budget get done? If singing was the talent, we could rock the house and have them dancing in the aisles, but who would counsel the grieving or bring meals to the shut ins?
We all have our place. We all have something to bring. Whether your talents are big and dynamic or small and unassuming, they all have a place in God’s kingdom. Every small act of kindness, done in God’s name, is a gift from Him to pass along to others. Don’t lament the fact that you can’t warble like a lark.....praise God that you have the time to e-mail a word of encouragement during the day. If you can’t contribute financially as much as you’d like because you lost your job- praise God that he freed up your time so you could help a church member who needs their roof repaired. Find the blessing in your giving, no matter how big, how small or how humble.