Journey to JOY

The vast majority of the first 31 years of my life were filled with happiness. I had a happy childhood. Unlike most people, I absolutely LOVED middle school AND high school. I was very content in college in Tennessee. I thoroughly enjoyed my time in grad school in Texas. I have a passion for travel, and have been so blessed by many opportunities to see the world. I come from an amazing family. If I could choose any marriage to emulate, it would be my parent’s. They have been married 45 years this year and not only still love each other, but they still even like each other. Sure there were difficult times – I am not attempting to paint a picture of Wonderland – but I have known true happiness in my life.

I believe that is one reason that the last two years of my life have been so incredibly difficult. Sometimes for Christians in America it is so easy to confuse happiness with JOY. Happiness is not a negative thing, so don’t hear me say that…..but for the most part, happiness comes when your flesh is made content. Your marriage is going well. Your kids are chasing after the things of God. Your expectations are met. You receive the praise that you deserve. You feel in control of your life. You are comfortable. Things are going your way, so you are happy.

Only when things took a pause from being ideal in my life – was I really challenged on the difference between happiness and JOY. In a twelve month period – I experienced shattered expectations from a broken dating relationship, my car was totaled in an accident, I had pneumonia in the middle of a Georgia summer, my job in ministry was no longer fulfilling, and my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. The happiness rug was ripped out from under me, and I was at a loss.

Where was God and what the HECK was he doing? Peace, contentment, and JOY were nowhere to be found once my circumstances were not of MY choosing. THIS SHOULD NOT BE! The last year of my life has been what I like to call my Journey to JOY. I would like to share just a few unexpected jewels that God has given me on this journey.

First, so many times you have to FIGHT FOR JOY. Satan wants nothing more than to keep you from God’s best. He comes to steal, kill, and destroy – and ironically enough, sometimes he uses happiness to do that. We get so comfortable in the ease of life – that often we miss God’s invitation for more. Time alone with God and in His word are essential in this fight for JOY. There is a battle going on – and we have to be prepared to be the warrior that God has created us to be. True JOY usually does not come without a fight.

Next – Joy often comes with two unexpected companions – brokenness and surrender. Isn’t this the total opposite of what we would choose if we were the ones writing the story? My choice companions to joy would be celebration and peace – not brokenness and surrender. Ladies and Gentlemen, we must EMBRACE BROKENNESS in order to find the JOY of the Lord. If we say that happiness comes from the flesh needs being met, then often times God will shake loose those foundations that we have depended on more than Him. When you are willing to give God freedom to uproot idols, then pain will always come before JOY. Brokenness is not to be avoided or feared. We have been crucified with Christ (this is painful) but Christ now lives in us (this is JOYFUL). Here is the tricky part – we have to choose brokenness and surrender. God extends an invitation, but he does not force you to choose the hard road…..we can say no to the crucifixion process. Just a reminder, though, where there is a crucifixion and God is involved, there is always a resurrection! Hebrews 12:2 says, “Jesus, who for the JOY that was set before Him, endured the cross.” Enduring the cross…..PAINFUL. Expectation of heaven, JOYFUL. Get the picture? Let Christ be our example in every way, even in this pursuit of JOY.

Lastly, learning to TRUST God when things don’t make sense to us is essential to finding true JOY. Currently, my life does not make sense to me. Some of the issues that ‘stole my happiness’ in my wilderness time, have been resolved. Praise the Lord, my mother is cancer free as of her scan a few months ago. Some of my issues are not resolved. God has still not revealed to me the man of my dreams, although my standards keep getting higher and higher. My future is still uncertain, and yet I have a peace that truly does surpass all understanding. Accompanying that peace is a true JOY. If I continue to live a surrendered life, continue to fight for JOY, and continue to trust that God has the best plan for me even when I have absolutely NO CLUE what He is doing – then peace and contentment will be my companions, as well.

The uncertainty of my circumstances is but a minor detail. The JOY that God gives is beyond circumstances. JOY can be continuous in our lives because it is grounded in the unchanging nature of God and nothing else. Psalm 87:7 says, “All my springs of JOY are in you.”

What about you? Can you discern happiness from JOY in your own life? Do you find yourself in a current fight for JOY? Are you willing to be surrendered and broken as part of the process? Do you trust God even when even when you can’t make sense of what you can see?

God desires that Galatians 2:20 be our heart’s cry. “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. “ When this is our heart’s desire we receive HIS PEACE , HIS JOY, HIS HOPE – so as we continue to prepare for all that God has in store for us, won’t you join me in the pursuit of JOY?

JUST DO SOMETHING -

During the past few years, we have seen a shift of focus at ISF and organizations worldwide. There are millions of hurting and needy people in the world today. Yes, ultimately they need a relationship with Christ and evangelism should be the foundation underneath every action. However, so many times the emotional and physical condition and difficult circumstances prohibit these beautiful people from being able to grasp the truth of the gospel. The old adage is still true in 2010, "People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."

At ISF, we believe mercy ministry and humanitarian aid is at the core of how God will move in our generation. We want to be on the front-lines of merging these with the truth of the gospel of Christ.

Here are some alarming statistics:

• 6,000 people die everyday from hunger. That is one every 5 seconds.
• Human Trafficking (the selling of women and children into slavery) is the 3rd largest criminal enterprise behind drugs and weapons.
• There are an estimated 963 million hungry people in the world today.
• 6,000 children are orphaned every day due to HIV/AIDS

Are these statistics not close enough to home to be real? Let's look at Atlanta, Georgia. Tonight, as I type this from my warm house,

• 2,164 people are living unsheltered on the streets
• 2,357 people are living in emergency shelters
• 2,498 people are living in transitional shelters
• the latest estimate is that there are more than 10,000 homeless people in the greater Atlanta area.

How do we make these statistics more relevant in our everyday life? How do we make these numbers matter? At ISF, we believe that part of our calling is to make these statistics more tangible to American Christians. We want to help you to 'do something.' We are not OK with God's people sitting in their comfort zones while there are people desperate for the gospel and basic necessities of survival.

Over the next few weeks, I am going to look at 4 different ways that we can get involved. Four different ways that we can be an advocate for the needy people. My prayer is that you are moved to DO SOMETHING. Here is a preview:

• SPEAK UP Proverbs 31:8 says, "Open your mouth for the mute, for the rights of all the unfortunate." First we must educate ourselves on the current situations and needs, then we can be a voice for these people who often have no voice. We can speak up for them - we can be an advocate of change in their lives.
  
• LIFT UP - We need to pray specifically for the needs of people. Perhaps God is leading you to be a more committed prayer warrior for the poor.
  
• SHOW UP - James 1:27 reminds us the pure religion is visiting orphans and widows. Yes, we often need to help financially, but God also wants us to walk beside people in their greatest time of need. Relationship is key!
  
• GIVE UP - You can take this many different ways, but usually with obedience comes surrender. I believe that God may be calling some of us to surrender something of value as a next step to getting involved with mercy ministries. Money, time, conveniences, our plans, and comfort are just a few examples of things that God often asks us to surrender. Matthew 16:25 says, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it."

Regardless of how involved you are now, always challenges us to grow in our relationship with him. Take a small step. Take a huge step. Just do something!

In our attempt to DO SOMETHING, the ISF staff visited a homeless shelter in downtown Atlanta on Tuesday evening. Here are some pictures from our night.

Jonathan explains the Agricultural project

This is my friend Jonathan explaining an agricultural project in Southern Ethiopia to prevent children from being sold into slavery, working in sweatshops, or ending up on the streets of Addis Ababa. This was an interesting concept for me - I know it is not a new concept, but brilliant, nonetheless. Yes, we need to do everything we can to help street kids, orphans, and widows in the big cities of third world countries. However, preventative action is even better! How can we help these families so that they might not ever reach the point of desperation in the first place? Instead of staying downstream and trying to manage the flood waters, how can we work upstream to prevent the influx of people who come to the cities because they have no other option? Take a look at the video, and if you are interested, please go to http://theforsakenchildren.org/.

Ephrem's Story

Meet my friend, Ephrem. He lives in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. I am planning to visit him in October on a Ministry Overview Project. We will visit 8-10 ministries in one week to see how God is already at work in Ethiopia. Please let me know if you are interested in more details.

Slumdog Millionaire

I loved the movie, “Slumdog Millionaire.” If you haven’t seen it, you really should. The more I learn about the movie, the more I LOVE it! I have never been to India, but I believe the producers did an excellent job of portraying life in the slums in a real and solemn way. Children play in sewers. Thousands of people live in landfills. Orphans are intentionally handicapped by adults so that they will receive more pity, (and hopefully) more money.

Did you know two of the beautiful children in the movie are really kids who live on the streets of Mumbai? Can you imagine these families and their response as the casting director asked for their children to star in a US These children were able to walk the red carpet at the Oscars a few weeks ago!! I know there is some controversy about this. Some people question whether a trip to Hollywood was in the best interest of the children, who, have already returned to their ‘real life’ of struggle and hardship.

I understand their concern….however; I think this is a beautiful picture of what God does for us. I think this the essence of grace, unmerited favor. Out of the miry slums and tin shacks of Mumbai, two children are selected to star in a movie, walk on the red carpet on Oscar Night, go on stage at the Oscar’s to receive their Academy Award for Best Picture, and top of their journey with a trip to Disney Land!

If you have ever had the privilege to minister to orphans and street children, perhaps your heart skipped a beat when you watched Slumdog, as well. God has broken my heart for children just like Rubina Ali and Azhruddin Mohammed. More than 2,000 times the Bible mentions caring for the poor. Taking care of orphans and widows is central to having a heart like Christ. Go watch the movie. Then, pray about how God wants to use YOU to make a difference.

God's Heart for Children

Understanding God's Heart for Children

I was doing some research and ran across this from Viva Network (http://www.viva.org/)

They have spent some time working on a biblical framework document with respect to God's attitude to children. It is still a work in progress, but I think it does a good job of biblically supporting God's heart for children. Check it out.....

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S HEART - BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK
Childswickham, September 8th, 2004

1. God creates every unique person as a child with dignity.

We all begin life as children, created in the image of God. Children are born fully human, with identity and purpose. The journey of childhood is part of God’s plan. All people reflect God’s image through living in loving community with him and one another. Children most fully express their God-given dignity in glorifying Him.

God intends that no one prevent a child’s life from fulfilling His purpose. Respecting the image of God in every child demands a Christ-like response to nurture them throughout childhood.
Some biblical references:

• Gen. 1:26-31; 2:18-25 (creation)
• Ex. 22• Ps. 8• Ps. 139• Ecc. 11:9• Jer. 29
• Mt. 18:1-10 (“millstone,” welcoming children)
• Mt. 21:15-16• Jas. 1:27

2. Children need parental love in a broken world.

God’s design is for each child to be born, vulnerable and dependent, to loving parents within the covenant of marriage. God’s desire is for each child to grow in this secure, caring environment. In a fallen world, people and relationships can be damaged. When parents struggle to fulfil their intended role, others must provide dedicated care for them and their children.
God intends for all children to be raised by at least one loving, committed adult.

Some biblical references:
• Ps. 68:5 (Father to the fatherless)
• Ps. 127:4• Prov. 17:6; 22:6• Hos. 11:1-8 (Ephraim)
• Zeph. 3:14• Mt. 1; Luke 2 (Nativity story)
• Eph. 6:1-4• Col. 3:20

3. God gives children as a gift to welcome and nurture.

It is a privilege to join with children in celebrating their uniqueness, embracing childhood as formative for the whole person. Family, friends, church and the local community are responsible for creating an environment that promotes children’s well-being.

God intends for children to thrive in stable and loving relationships.

Some biblical references:
• Gen. 21:17-20; 30:17-20• 1 Sam. 2
• Ps. 127-128• Prov. 22:6• Hos. 11:1-4
• Zech. 6:1-9• Mt. 18:1-14• Luke 1:47-56, 67-79; 2:52
• Eph. 4:32; 5:1,2• 1 Thes. 2:7-12• 1 Tim. 4:12

4. Society has a God-given responsibility for the well-being of children and families.

All children and families live in society and are dependent on institutions for healthcare, shelter, access to social services, safe drinking water, information and safety. The church must collaborate with these institutions for the common good, and if they fail, the church must speak and act with and on behalf of the vulnerable.

God intends children to flourish in a just society.

Some biblical references:
• Dt. 6; 10:18• 1 Sam. 8:1-22
• Ps. 89:14• Prov. 28:5• Is. 10:1-3 (curse for unjust)
• Is. 28:17; 58• Lam. 2:19• Amos• Mic. 6:8
• Mt. 5-7• Mt. 25 (goats and sheep)
• Rom. 13:1-7• Jas. 1:27

5. Children are a promise of hope for every generation.

Each generation has a unique contribution in God’s purposes for human history. Children have been shaped by the history of their community, are living fully in the present moment, and will reshape their community for the future.

God intends that each generation will extend faith and fullness of life to the next. God intends that this generation grasp the centrality of children to his purposes for our time.

Some biblical references:
• Gen. 15:5; 16:10 (Isaac, Ishmael)
• Gen. 25:19-24 (Jacob and Esau)
• Gen. 48:15-49:28 (Jacob’s blessings and curses)
• Dt. 11:18-21 (teaching children)
• 2 Kgs. 22:1-2 (Josiah)• Est. 4:14• Ps. 2:8
• Ps. 90:1 (“shelter to every generation”)
• Ps. 127:3• Mt. 1 (genealogies)• Mt. 9:15-17; Luke 5:38 (“new wine”)
• Heb. 13:7 (“Alpha and Omega”)

6. God welcomes children fully into the family of faith.

Children are essential to the life and ministry of the church, bringing spiritual gifts and abilities and fulfilling definite roles. The church needs to be a place where children may dynamically connect with God and engage in meaningful participation; discipled, equipped and empowered for life and ministry. As members of the family of God, children are to be cared for as sons and daughters and are part of the admonition to love and serve one another.

God intends for churches to provide children with opportunities to know him and fulfil their calling in the body of Christ.

Some biblical references:

• 2 Kgs. 22:1-2 (Josiah)• Ps. 8:2
• Matt. 5:1-19 (“Bless them that persecute you”; Beatitudes)
• Matt. 18:1-5; Mark 9:33-37; Luke 9:46-48 (Jesus welcoming a little child)
• Matt. 19:13-15; Mark 10:13-16; Luke 18:15-17
• Matt. 21:12-16; • Luke 2:41-50 (Jesus in temple, knowing Father’s work)
• Rom. 12:4-16 (one anothers, body of Christ)• Rom. 15:7 (welcome one another)
• Eph. 4:32; 5:21 (be kind; submit to one another)

7. Children are essential to the mission of God.

God desires every child in every generation across the world to know Him and make Him known. Through His death and resurrection, Jesus calls the whole Church to reconcile relationships: with God, with family, with community and with society.

God intends that His Church be a witness in every community of His transforming power, so that His purpose for every child can be accomplished.

Some biblical references:

• Gen. 12:2-4 (Abrahamic Covenant)
• Is. 6:8 (“Whom shall I send?”)
• Is. 61:1-4• Mt. 22:37-39; Lk. 10:25-37 (Great Commandment)
• Mt. 28:19-20; Mk. 16:15-18, 20; Lk. 4:16-20; Jn. 20:21 (Great Commission passages)
• Jn. 3:16• Rom. 12:4-5 (“We are one body.”)
• 2 Cor. 5: (“ministry of reconciliation”)
• Rev. (whole creation waits in anticipation)

Ethiopia Highlight #1

I just returned from my fourth trip to Africa. I will hopefully be posting some of the highlights here along with some of my favorite pictures. Hope you enjoy.....

This if from my journal on January 24th....



I might have had the best day of my trip today (even though it was my first day of ministry). I can't imagine it getting any better. We met with Ephriam, who runs a sports ministry for the street children in the center of Addis Ababa. We went to play sports with the children (which of course I always love). Many of the children are abandoned and actually sleep out on the streets (the youngest one, Hebron, was 5 years old!!) We played soccer, threw Frisbee, and gave the children stickers on their faces. There were lots of laughs, hugs, and smiles.

After we had been there for a few hours, I thought we were leaving to go home. The next thing I knew, twenty of the children hop in our vans and we take them to a restaurant. I can't even explain the looks on their faces when they were told, "GET WHATEVER YOU WANT!" Needless to say, the next half hour was PURE JOY. Cheeseburgers, milkshakes, mango juice, ice cream, and all SMILES! Here is a picture of two of my new friends, Benium and Yunas.