Sitting a top a wooden stool, He spoke to His wounded warrior. ….and I am HOME in heart and mind at Momentum Church. Oh, the power found when walls cry out. It pays to be sensitive to His spirit.
A power that knows no bounds carried within TWO WORDS. What are they? Side by side they are found within so many weighty life-giving statements in God’s word, but also from the lips of a parent, spouse, or dear friend. Matthew 28:20 holds a promise, “And surely I am WITH YOU always, to the very end of the age.” A sampling of His promises in one very loaded piece of scripture. And what about WITH YOU when we fear? Well, Isaiah helps me pocket a reminder. “So do not fear, for I am WITH YOU do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10. Moses heard those same words directed at him when he felt ill-equipped. And as we approach Christmas, I am reminded that Mary too grabbed hold of that promise. The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is WITH YOU.” Luke 1:28. Wow! I want to be on the receiving end of that one. Don’t you?
When I said “YES” to World Race on November 18, 2007…it wasn’t even on my radar. My yes, was to whatever may come, because for me to live is Christ and the only reason to have is to give, live, and love out of the overflow. I knew in 2000 at 18 years old that He was sending me to the nations. Long term or short, was not known…but it was not a matter of if, but when. I thought I was getting on a boat with Operation Mobilization. Then in 2007 I thought I was selling everything to live and perhaps die sharing Jesus and teaching children among the prostitutes in the red-light district of Fortaleza, Brazil. I took Him at His word. He said, “I am WITH YOU.” So with me He was that night in 2000 when at the age of 18 I gave my life to Him and He claimed the title rightly His in my heart and mind. He is Lord! He was with me when I dove headfirst into middle school ministry, high school ministry, prison ministry, and even when I thought it fun to hang out with my lost brothers and sisters who choose or are coerced into the lifestyle of prostitutes and drug dealers. When asked what I do for fun while sitting in a van headed to Fulton Industrial, I said, “THIS!” No hesitation. Why? Well, certainly not because I’m something special to write home about, or because what I do has any worth beyond your eyes. Nope, because like my new pastor says, I had the honor of sharing the love of that last one gift under the tree, when all else has been opened and quickly dismissed. JESUS. You see, without Christ there is no life in me. For me to live IS Christ. I can’t be in God’s presence, no hope of hearing, “Daddy’s here,” like a child afraid of the dark…without Christ. It’s no wonder a simple wall could be so life-giving to little ole me after My Year From Heal (see below). I believe in those words. I believe Jesus is with me on this journey. I believe Momentum Church is behind His every move in me. I believe in the power of WITH YOU. I left Revolution Church after 5 years, a treasure in my story…always carrying a role in who I am today, as I looked above at the words of our doorway, reading, “The Mission Is Beyond These Walls.” …and it was. I knew there was a church out there waiting for me where still the people would send me on World Race, but that I would also find walls eager to share in the journey WITH me.
Look, I’m a 32 year old nobody, who once upon a time found out she was spoken into place and became a Hisbody. He is the head and I am a part of His body. I was just chosen to live out His story of His presence in the life of Brooke Renee Leffelman. In my own mind, I can botch up the role I play but when He sends me out I do not return to Him empty. He can’t fail and His love is fierce. You would think that’s enough for me to get my act together, but it’s not. Humans have the power to forget, nowhere is that better played out than in our ability to forget, dismiss, or even trade the very one who gave us breath. It’s like tug of war when it comes to digging into His word, for me. Like honey, I am drawn to it, and Jesus has to be first because I can’t stand the sight of last, the waves crashing upon the sand…demolishing everything in sight. BUT then there’s that pull that we know all too well. The computer tugging back, the television, name your vice…it is then I crave WITH YOU. A computer does not make a great companion. Input and output all day long, the power of WITH YOU M.I.A. No, I NEED Jesus. The one true constant in my story…I need Him. That him you woke up to, will disappoint you. That him who spoke those vows, will come up short. But there’s good news that awaits you. The grace that fills the gaps in our relationships can only be found in the capital H Him. That same God who promised WITH YOU to the very end of the age, never said AT the very end of the age. He’s not some extra that shows up last minute, though many of you will hear me reminding you from time to time that I serve a last minute God who is always on time. No, He took the stage and wired you to take a journey, not flying solo but grabbing hold of WITH YOU.
Think of it this way, He doesn’t need you, He wants you. The God of the universe wanted to do life with His creation so badly that He sent His one and only son to live and die to honor His promise because WITH YOU was no longer possible in His presence with sin entering in and the fall of mankind being realized in all its filth. Jesus sweat blood for WITH YOU. So don’t look at me as wise, or think I have it all together. Instead what I would say to you, has already been said, and can be found in the palm of your hands as you dust off His treasure, or seek Him in His relentless pursuit of you. Forget everything you’ve done wrong today and fix your eyes on Jesus. Rest in the finished work of Christ. This is what I would say to you in urging that you grab hold of the promise of WITH YOU. “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 Anything I could say to you would pale in comparison to what has already been said. So I will let Him do the asking. If He moves you to take this journey with me, simply click support on this screen. For those of you just checking in, I’m heading to India, Nepal, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Botswana, Swaziland, South Africa, Dominican Republic, Haiti, and Jamaica THIS JULY!!! I will be living in Acts 2 like community joining up with pre-existing ministries through a beautiful organization called Adventures in Missions. I have to wonder how God might move you as your presence in my story has and/or will mark me for life. I am blessed far more than I am a blessing. With each donation made on THIS blog, I will be ONE STEP CLOSER to World Race 2015. Thank you in advance. I pray His FAVOR over your FAITHFUL. He who promised is faithful!
