"Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord you God is with you wherever you go."
– Joshua 1:9
You guys better be ready for this because Our God has been doing work!! Let me start out by saying that money is not something that typically worries me (and this is just a minor part of the story… so keep reading). But really, money to me is pathetic and only necessary because everyone else thinks so. Anywho, so normally when it comes to fundraising, I get a little stressed but not much, but this recent deadline has really been stressing me. I decided to try my own motivation technique and threaten to shave my hair off if I didn't have $5000 in my account by today and instead of motivating others, I motivated myself and became very worried! I love my hair, I would hate to lose it, so I starting freaking out and realized that I had set a deadline for God to show up and man that was stupid of me!! All my focus was suddenly on this money because I didn't want to lose my hair, it became less about God and more about me. God doesn't deal with that though, so here's what happened:
I announced my goal Saturday July 23rd. I freaked out and spent two days calling people, crying and asking God why I was so stupid, basically not trusting that He was capable of bringing the money in. Monday July 25th I received a text from a friend about my "sister" from the Pacific Rim where I served for four months in the Spring of 2010. We'll call her KB, KB came to know Christ at the age of 18, just 3 days after I left my island. My whole team was able to be a part of this and we were so excited about her growing closer to Christ, but when she shared her new belief with her family, she was kicked out of her village. Back to Monday, a year after being kicked out, she wrote her father a letter fully explaining her love of Christ. In response, her father sent her brother and two other men from the village to forcibly take her out of the house of some "M"s there. She was locked in a room and her father told her that he would rather her be dead than shame the family and follow Christ.
My world was shaken! This isn't just some father over in another country, this was MY father for four months! He renamed me, he loved me, he cried when I left!! How could he say these things to his daughter? And KB, she's only 19, how is she going to hold up against this? My financial worries became the last thing on my mind, and I fell to my face in prayer! Face flat on the floor, I cried out for my sister for hours, I read Psalms petitioning for her, I fasted for her, I didn't know what else to do, but I prayed and I prayed!! I realized at that moment that my worries of finances were silly when there were such bigger things to be focusing on. Even more than that, I realized that this is EXACTLY why I am going back out; to share truth with those that can not hear, not because they aren't willing to listen but because no one is willing to share out of fear!
Wednesday July 27th I finally get word on the situation. My sister has been taken to the witch doctor, not once but twice, and they STILL CAN NOT FORCE CHRIST OUT OF HER!!!! She is boldly proclaiming that nothing will separate her from Christ not even death (did I mention she's only 19 and has only known the Lord for a year and all that she has learned about Him she has learned on her own through reading the Bible because there are so few to disciple her?????) At this point, I'm also informed that the police are getting involved, which means trouble for the "M"s on the island and possible "disappearance" of my sister; that is common for believers on that island. Still prayer is going in hard for our family there and even more so for God to work in the village that KB is staying in.
Finally today, Monday August 1st my sister is being held at a safe location!! PRAISE THE LORD! She did not back down even in the face of rejection, shame and death! But this fight is still not over, the "M"s are unable to return to their home due to hostility and there is still fear for my sister, well fear of the flesh, but our God is bigger than even that. The prayers of the saints were heard and she is still bold in her love for Christ even on "the island of demons."
So, when you go to read your Bible today and think of it as a hassle, or are too afraid to share your faith because you don't want people to think you are weird, reevaluate your heart. Remember that our time spent with God is a PRIVILEGE and an HONOR!! Don't waste that, because you never know when that freedom may be taken from you. Remember to pray for the nations, because we often sit here and think that everything in the world is okay, IT'S NOT, there are people starving right outside your door, there are people dying for the God you have to drag yourself to church to sing to on Sundays, there are people who live in fear of demons because they have never heard of a loving, saving God. THAT is why I am going to the nations, because I refuse to keep this to myself and I want to one day be even half as bold as KB was this week!!
God, arrogant people have attacked [her];
a gang of ruthless men seeks [her] life.
They have no regard for You.
But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
slow to anger and abundant in faithful love and truth.
Turn to [her] and be gracious to [her].
Give Your strength to Your servant;
save the [daughter] of Your female servant.
Show [us] a sign of Your goodness;
[her] enemies will see and be put to shame
because You, Lord, have helped and comforted [her].
-Psalm 86:14-17
