“He’s not the kind you can depend on to do anything right…You’re hopeless, Charlie Brown, completely hopeless…”
-A Charlie Brown Christmas
Charlie Brown…the one Peanuts character that I always hoped I would never be like…unpopular, awkward, and completely unable to ever ‘get it right’. Linnus on the other hand- he had it going on. With his trusty blanket, Linnus may have looked young, but his knowledge far surpassed his cartoon years.
While Charlie Brown was labeled worthless by the world, Linnus took a chance on his hopeless friend. He stepped forward, took center stage, dimmed the lights, cleared his throat and spoke the truth…Luke 2:8-14…The simple truth of a Savior born in the humblest of circumstances, sent by the Father to save a world of hopeless people from their sins.
While Linnus spoke gently, my mouth wants to scream loudly- This IS what life is all about. This is why we exist and have hope and can live for so much MORE! This is it and just like my cartoon friend, I’m not afraid to risk my pride or my name or my life for the truth that reigns so freely in my heart.
Oh, I’m sure the world has looked at me and my attempts at life and muttered the same words. Labeling me hopeless and lost, without a chance of ever getting it right or actually surviving long enough in this world to make any sort of a difference.
But I’m also sure that I have looked at those around me and instead of believing truth for them, I’ve written them off as hopeless. How often do I give up on someone because I can’t see them with the eyes of love and mercy that I know Christ saw me with when he gave his life for mine? How often do I fall short without even realizing it?
But love…Love has defeated my enemy. Love has conquered that in me which I can’t even stand the sight of- myself. I’m no longer held captive. I no longer have to struggle for my freedom- it’s mine and I can run freely. I can also love freely. I
can give away that which was so freely given to me. I stake my life on the reality of this love and can’t bear to watch the world live without this marvelous truth. I can’t say where my feet will stand eight months from now. I don’t know where my heart will long to be or what it will break for. Right now, I am where I am by the grace of God and as I live in the overflow of this grace that has changed my life, I will continue to live- completely alive, sharing truth and light with those who have none. I will change the world…because I still want MORE…I still want it ALL.
On a side note, in the past two weeks we have traveled through Argentina and London (the pics used in this blog are highlights of our time in each place). We have safely arrived in South Africa and will be leaving at the end of this week for Mozambique (30+ hour bus ride). For the next three weeks we will partner with IRIS ministries working with orphans and assisting with flood relief aid. It is not expected that we will have internet access due to the drastic change in our living conditions. I will try to post updates to my blog as frequently as I can, but please continue to pray for our teams. Pray specifically for safety, health, miracles, and hearts of compassion for myself and my team as we step away from everything that makes life ‘comfortable’. I’m ready to see heaven split open! For more info and updates go to www.theworldrace.org!
