Letting the Devil Win

A few months ago I posted about a great mission conferance where I heard 4 native missionaries preach and sing. The next week I wrote the missionary to Chile to tell him what an encouragement I recieved from seeing him. I knew he wouldn't be back to his country until May, but I guess I was hoping his wife would write back. Weeks passed and I heard nothing. I started to think I shouldn't write the other families until their father/husband was back. Then I started to wonder if it really mattered. Would they care that a young girl from America took the time to write them? Does a little letter make any difference in thier busy life? Don't they have more important things to do anyways? As bad as this sounds, I was starting to think this way.

At first I prayed for them every day. Sometimes I would even think about a certain family throughout the whole day, praying for them diligently. But . . . the devil slipped in once again. I got busy and my mind started thinking about other things. Although I didn't forget them, I did forget how much they had blessed me and how much I desired to be a blessing to them. I went from praying for them every day to praying for them when I thought about them.

Today while I was out side washing the van and my car with Bethany, the missionary I had wrote called from his home in Chile! I was a little dissapointed that I didn't hear the phone ring, but I did get to listen to the message he left on our answering machine. I was absolutley thrilled that he took the time to call! It was such a blessing! The letter I sent must have been a blessing to him, not what the devil had been telling me.

At the same time that I was rejoicing over this blessing from God I also felt convicted for not praying for them as I should have. Now I can't wait to write the other 3 families and try to be an encouragement to them . . . I know they'll be an encouragement to me! Praise the LORD, the devil didn't win this time!

Sighting in My Scope

For years the guys in my family have loved to hunt. Winter time in their mind means deer, hunting clubs, and guns. Right before hunting season comes around my dad and two brothers will eagerly pull out their guns to prepare them for the spot. They polish them, grease them down, and then try them out on a target. If they miss the target they know their scope is most likely out of focus and needs to be sighted in. Once their scope is set aright the target is a lot easier to hit. Throughout the season they have to carefully guard their fire arm because any little bump will knock the scope out of focus.

Last week I realized my scope is out of focus. No, I don't own a gun. I'm referring to the way I view life. This week it has been reset and now the target is so much clearer!

It all started Sunday morning, the beginning of our church's mission conference. Four native missionaries came to our church to share their burden with us in hopes that more souls might be saved. They came from Vietnam, Kenya, Chile, and the Philippines. Although from different countries and lifestyles, during the meeting these men joined their hearts in unity and sang about the God they all served. Since I am a lover of music I noticed that they were not always on key, and no, there were no four-part harmony. But since I am also a lover of God and those who love Him, I also noticed that these brothers in Christ were singing with their whole hearts in love towards their Savior. I believe God was more pleased with their offering of praise then any church choir I've ever sung in where the harmony and timing were perfect.

Throughout the four day conference I had the privilege to hear these missionaries testimonies of heart ache and victories. I can't imagine what it would be like to know that my father died for preaching the Word, and then go on and preach myself. I can't begin to comprehend the joy one dear brother experienced when he left a life of serving idols to become a follower of Christ and a leader to his family who followed in his foot steps.

The missionary from Vietnam preached on setting your heart on things eternal rather then things that are temporary. I couldn't help but examine my life and ask, What am I doing that matters to God? Working at a hospital and going to college for Medical Billing is not helping souls come to Christ. Singing for God is a good thing but can easily become very routine and commonplace. What am I doing that will make a difference? What am I really living for?

I have discovered that when I have something to live for - when that something is God's will - my whole life becomes fuller! I now have a reason to work hard because that hard work will turn into money that I will be able to give back to God. I now have something I can give my hobbies and talents too. I now can make a difference as I strive to serve God!

All week my mind has been going back to the scripture the missionary from Vietnam read. "And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be." Rev. 22:12. When that day comes I don't want to be ashamed because I have no reward to lay at Jesus' feet. I want to build up treasures where ti counts the most. So I keep my heart in check, sight in my scope, and try to reach the target!

The End of The Spear

Several years ago we read the story of Nate Saint in school. Every day we begged mama to read another chapter of his exciting and moving adventures in the Amazon jungles. When we reached the end of the book and read of his death we all cried. Yes, through reading the book we felt like we knew him!

Last night we watched The End of The Spear for the second time. After seeing these people risk their lives to reach a savage tribe, and dying by their spears because they refused to fight back it made my life seem so small and insignificant. It made me question if I was doing anything that would matter for God.

The End of The Spear is an excelent movie! There were some violent parts that made mama and I turned our heads away, but those grafic scenes make you realize what kind of place they were living in. At first I didn't quite like a few of the actors, but when you look at the actual people they were trying to act like you'll see that they did very well with this movie. It is moving, inspiring, interesting, and true. Now that is a movie worth watching!

Strangers

Last week God has allowed me to go through an experience that has given me a better appreciation for missionaries. I never thought about what they face every day in this way.

Let me explain . . .

When I turned 16 I got my first job at a Christian owned restaurant. The owners (husband and wife) were members at a good Baptist church I have been to before, the husband being the song leader at the church. The night manager didn't have the same beliefs as me and my family, but he did try to live for God to a degree. One of the assistant managers was a Christian while several of the employees were faithful Christians as well. I was surrounded by good people. My co-workers who weren't believers had a respect for me either because I was a child of God or because they saw me as "still a kid". Several times when someone slipped up and cursed in front of me they apologized and said they didn't know I was there. This may not have been just because of what kind of Christian I was, but because Christians were respected at that restaurant.

Even a lot of my customers were Christians! This restaurant came to be a gathering place for all the members at the Baptist church where my bosses went as well as other churches. I made some very good acquaintances while working there. I loved my job!!!

But . . . it wasn't exactly close to home. So when an opening came at a restaurant nearer to my house, I was inclined to take it. Here, I believe I am the only Christian employee. The two ladies who claim to be Christians don't show any fruit and their actions show that they are not aiming to please Jesus. The women I work with live wicked lives, just like I would if I were not graciously saved by the blood of Christ. I am constantly reminded that I need to be an example to them, but it's not always easy.

I feel like a stranger. Sometimes I feel like no one there likes me. I feel all alone. Unbelievers don't care if they hurt your feelings. It doesn't bother a unbeliever to look past you and act like you are not there. Some unbelievers don't understand that everyone makes mistakes. Unbelievers don't care to make things right between each other. This might not be such a big deal if I only saw them a few hours a week, but I have to spend 40 hours a week with them in one small building. I'm not complaining, infact, things went a lot smoother this past week. It varies from week to week. Some times I feel like I can't take it another day, while other day's I don't find it so hard to hold on for a little while longer. Still, things would be a lot easier if everybody would try to get along.

I never realized how much of an impact God's love has on a person. I grew up around Christians so that was all I ever knew. Lost souls are so different. I know they need to see a Christian that consistently lives for God and cares deeply about others. They need to see that there is joy in living for God. But am I able to do that? It is hard to love them when some don't even want to talk to you. It's hard to show them that the Christian life is one of peace and joy when you don't feel like smiling?

Then I am reminded of countless missionaries who were hated for thier belief. Not just in the past, but in the time that we live in now. Just a few years ago a missionary over seas was threatened to be bombed in his home. He was obviously hated. How could he continue to preach God's love in such an atmosphere? One thing is for sure, he probably wasn't as sensative as me! Even so, it still had to be hard to go on when no one in the country seems to support you. It takes great Christians to be missionaries.
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Now I feel like I know a little bit more about the missionary life. Unless God calls me to be a missionary I will never know exactly what they go through, but I think God reveals little things to us so that we will know how to pray for them. So pray I will! I will pray that God will give them the heart of Jesus who said while he was dying on the cross, "Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."