“The moment you put yourself in My hands, that is what you are in for… Nothing less.” – C.S. Lewis Mere Christianity
Lately, God has been schooling me on what it really means to follow Him. Each way I turn I seem to be running into a lesson that He is trying to teach me. I have so much going on in my head right now, so many thoughts and images of who God is making me to be through all these little lessons here in Thailand. But I will try and condense down all these free flowing thoughts that are filling my brain currently. Forgive me if this blog is harder to follow than the rest, but as I write to you in this very moment the Master of both realms is unveiling His teaching to me. May it lay to rest heavy on your heart as it is on mine.
“Be ye perfect is not idealistic gas. Nor is it a command to do the impossible. He is going to make us into creatures that can obey that command. …He is going to make good His words.” C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity
You see, perfection is so much different when viewed through the eyes of God. The more you focus on God and make Him your center, the more you become selfless and others focused, the more like a servant you become. The last shall be first. Our example of perfection is that of a servant. Others >me. Worldly perfection is self-centered and me driven, precisely the opposite, always honing in on ones’ success with the focal point of personal merit/accomplishments. Failure to God is an opportunity for His strength to shine, a teachable moment, and a growth area. Failure in the worldly sense devalues you; it is seen as weakness and unbecoming. Failure to God is an opportunity to wrap His arms around you and whispers words of life and value into you. Do you grasp the great difference here? Do you see the two different paintings of perfection and how skewed the world’s view on it really is? But still, God calls us to be perfect and no; he didn’t simply say it in passing. He meant what he said.
This is not an easy road to travel; in fact, it will be one of the hardest things you can choose to do. But as a Christian we are called to such a life. We are called to walk as Jesus walked (1 John 2:6), commanded to be perfect. What I am trying to convey and what I have been currently walking through is like a gauntlet. Constant challenges being thrown my way, even when I think I have truly grasped a concept such as grace or patience they are being tried & tested. God is continually testing me and calling me higher in all areas. Right when you think you are strong in some spiritual areas, God will make you weak again as I am finding out. All to refine your soul, your character, your being! He is perfecting you. You see the weak will be made strong. You will be made perfect in weakness through the power and glory of God alone.
I had thought that I was strong in certain areas of my life. I had seen myself as a good leader, one who could cast vision well, and call people to their true potential in Christ. But I slowly found myself struggling to lead my team, struggling to care about them anymore. I struggled to share in their personal pain. I was so caught up in ministry and serving in that area, that I had become blind to serving my team. My patience, character, and servitude were being tested immensely with my team. I didn’t want to deal with that hardship, I just wanted to do ministry. I wanted out of the all-encompassing challenge that was intentional community. The bombardment of challenges being hurled at me from every direction was exhausting. I was comfortable with where I was in life, I was good enough. Well, in that moment of settling God tends to rock your world. Here is a quote from my boy C.S. Lewis (again) that literally smacked me in the face with what God has been doing in my life on the race:
“When a man turns to Christ and seems to be getting on pretty well (in the sense that some of his bad habits are now corrected) he often feels it would now be natural if things went fairly smoothly. When troubles come along – illnesses, money troubles, new kinds of temptation – he is disappointed. These things, he feels, might have been necessary to rouse him and make him repent in his bad old days, but why now? Because God is forgiving him on, or up to a higher level, putting him into situations when he will have to be much braver, or more patient, or more loving, than he ever dreamed of being before.” – C.S. Lewis – Mere Christianity
I had an expectation of the Race, that everyone would come prepared to do ministry, that it would be smooth sailing. When you drop everything in your life to follow God you tend to think selfishly that you are now a bit more favored than the rest and life should go a bit smoother. Not so, when you have finally given that last thing you have clutched ever so tightly too, to God, He starts from that very moment perfecting you. Chiseling you, as I have said before. And this month, He is really working me over on character traits I had thought I had down pat.
But enough from my teaching heart. This last week was spent busting a move on making more bricks and yup, you guessed it, sifting more sand! Woot!We also had the opportunity to visit a school one morning and teach some English! And were able to go throughout the Leper colony and pray over those who would except prayer! My mind was blown at how joyful and happy most were even though there extremities are slowly dissipating away. Being it the 3rd straight week of physical labor the construction is really taking a toll on the team. So what better way to relax than take a 12 hour plus drive in the back of a truck bed to the beach! We had an epic trip filled with numerous 7/11 stops and a night spent sleeping on the beach! Truly spectacular to marvel at God’s creation from the other side of the world! Just one week left in Thailand!
WR Fun Facts:
2 hour Thai Massage = $8 USD
Elephant Rides are legit and they are animals harder to stay on than you would anticipate!
