Empathy Birthed at the NICU

I’ll never forget being in the NICU (twice!) with my first born son, Jonathan. I remember questioning God why we were here (twice!). True to His nature though, He brought good out of it.

He flipped my perspectives on their head.

I had known moms in the past who had babies in the NICU. And out of genuine concern I’d say things like “If you need anything, let me know!” But I don’t think I’ve ever had anyone respond with how I could help, so I assumed they didn’t need anything.

Wrong. So wrong.

During our trials of having our little one at the NICU, I found myself in the same situation as those other mothers. And whenever I received a plethora of generous offers of “Let me know if you need anything.” I struggled the most. Even though I was in need, I didn’t know how to communicate those needs. And mostly because I was too overwhelmed with pumping milk for my baby, figuring out the NICU schedule, trying to sleep, figuring out how to be a mom, and struggling with postpartum depression.

So how did God bring good from this seemingly depressing story? I experienced what it felt like to feel alone. I now knew what it felt like to have a child in the hospital. I knew what it felt like to become a first time… very anxious momma! Birthed out of all that pain was a deeper understanding of what it feels like to go through an incredibly hard trial. Empathy.

I’ve made some changes in my life since those experiences and I’d like to ask you to consider doing the same the next time you catch yourself saying (like I’ve said so many times in the past): “If you need anything, let me know!"

If you have a friend who just gave birth, or has a kid in the NICU, or has a child in the hospital… here are some of the things you can do:

1. Bring a meal. Leave it in disposable containers that don’t need to be returned. 

2. Buy hospital meal vouchers. You can often call the hospital and pay over the phone for meal vouchers to be brought up to a patient’s room. This works great especially if you aren’t close enough to personally visit.

3. Call them and ask “How are you doing?” And then just listen. 

4. Don’t ever say “Let me know if you ever need anything” but instead think of something to do and then do it. Even if it is just sending balloons or flowers. 

I hope this post can help you gain what I gained… empathy and the tools to be a blessing during someone’s hardships. I know we all mean well and sometimes we’re simply at a loss for how to help. But just showing up can mean the world of difference to someone going through a trial.

To my long lost friend...

Dear Long Lost Friend,

We bumped into each other. After a bit of awkwardness, we are able to connect again. All the things that ended our friendship are sorted. Hugs and tears are shed. It is the day I’ve been dreaming of! But then I wake up... 

My heart sinks knowing that it was just a dream. It takes all day to overcome those feelings. My heart grieves what once was. I grieve for the direction you've taken and for time lost. I grieve that you haven’t met my son and known the joy he brings. 

I don’t let these continual dreams discourage me for long. I believe that God gives them to me for a purpose. They let me never forget to pray for you. And pray, I do! With tears in my eyes, I cry out to Him. I know that He wants me to pray for you. He wants to restore you, heal you, and draw you to Him. You just have to want that also. 

I know our restoration might not be for many years. Already several years have passed. Know that I still consider you as one of my bestest friends. When the time hopefully and finally does come, don’t be afraid. I’m waiting with open arms and an excitement to catch up on time lost. 

Sincerely, 

Your Loyal Waiting Friend

Home from Mexico!

Jody returned home this past Saturday from a short visit to Mexico. In Puebla, Mexico, there is a small community of believers that live together and help shoulder each other's burdens. It is called La Aldea (The Village). It is Jason Fitzpatrick's dream to start dozens of "villages" all throughout Mexico; communities of believers that are discipling each other and preaching the gospel, all the while meeting each other's needs through enterprise and hard work and rescuing precious children that are being trafficked or abused. Jason and Nicole's passion and love for the people is contagious. They've invested well over 2 decades of their lives ministering throughout Mexico, and they have plenty of fruit to show for it all. Jody with Jason and Nicole Fitzpatrick Jason is an entrepeneur and strongly desires The Village to become self-sustaining, not breeding a mentality of dependance on the USA amongst the Mexican church. Recently, we've been working together to start up a tilapia farm. Many of the tanks are nearing completion. The believers at The Village will use the tilapia for food and to sell, using that income to meet their needs and rescue more abused children. Jody with 4 of the 6 national missionaries he supports in Mexico through Heaven's Family's National Missionary Fund Meet Fatima and her friends 2-year-old Fatima Fatima—one of the newest arrivals at The Village—is absolutely gorgeous, but her short life has been filled with great ugliness. She, along with her young unwed mother, had spent over two days hiding in a field, trying to escape from Fatima's father who was trying to beat them senseless in his drunken stupor. Fatima was beaten often and mercilessly with sticks by her drunken dad. Crouching in the field for over two days, they watched as Fatima's father finally passed out from exhaustion, giving them an oppourtunity to flee for their lives. Through word-of-mouth, they found refuge, a new family and the love of Jesus at The Village. Fatima, just like her new friends below, all come from backgrounds that would make your stomach churn for days. A handful of the children are orphans and were "rented" out by their perverse relatives as sex toys. Those that do have living parents often have prostitutes as mothers and abusive drunkards for fathers along with drug-dealing gangsters as brothers. From a very young age, they are raped, beaten, starved, taught to steal, drink and do drugs. One young boy I met at The Village was a drunk at only 8 years old. He was often found in a field beaten and passed out. 6 of the 33 precious children living at The Village that are now happy, healthy and loving Jesus Thankfully, though, their stories don't end there. Thank God that wherever there are atrocities and injustices, there are also saints on the frontlines fighting back against the wickedness. In partnership with the Fitzpatricks, Elisabeth is able to help support each of these kids with $40/month, covering their daily needs through Orphan's Tear. Jason and Nicole have gotten in the ring and bloodied their fists fighting great evils throughout Mexico. They've rescued dozens of children from being trafficked, planted many house churches and have made numerous disciples. I pray the Lord would set our hearts ablaze so that we would not sit idly by but link arms with each other and join in the battle for redemption, whether in our own communities or in places like Mexico. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. You're such a blessing. Together with you in Christ, Jody, Elisabeth and Jonathan P.S. Jonathan's growing nonstop. He got his first 2 teeth a few weeks ago! If you're interested in joining our support team or making a contribution to our ministry (all of our support goes to help cover our salaries and trip expenses at Heaven's Family), please email us or give online by clicking here. Thanks so much.

For my single friends...

The fireworks are still going off in my marriage.

I've only been married for one year and four months so I certainly don't feel as though I've got all the answers, but I wanted to write in response to a few things I've been seeing on Facebook recently. Mainly, married people giving their [not-so-positive] advice to single folks. I want to start off this blog though by saying it isn't for married folks. This is for those who are single. If you are married and reading this, then I fear that you will read to the end of my blog and feel compelled to leave a comment disagreeing with me, destroying what I'm trying to accomplish by posting this. And so, if your married, it may be better for you not to read, because this isn't written for your benefit.

When I was single, while I was dating, and especially when I was engaged, I received a plethora of advice and comments from married folks. Some of it was life-saving but the rest of it made me wonder if I even wanted to get married. I'd hear things like "marriage is so hard" or "love is blind and marriage is an eye-opener" or folks would make comments to my fiance like "Say goodbye to your freedom. A girl will rule your life now." Others felt the need to tell me to enjoy the romance while it lasted. While many of their comments and jokes were perhaps well-meaning, it was a huge discouragement to me. I heard more negative remarks about marriage than positive ones. I can count on one hand how many comments I heard like "Marriage is great! You'll love it!".

When I was a teenager, everyone expected I would rebel from my parents because that is what teenagers do. Well, I didn't. Now that I was getting married it seemed as though it was expected that my marriage would be rough, romance wouldn't last, and I'd have to say goodbye to freedom. Well, that didn't happen either.

I want to tell all of my single friends right now… I love being married! I wouldn't go back to being single for anything. Here is what my marriage is really like:

Sure there are hard times, but every relationship and friendship has hard times! The best thing about being committed to someone is that you know even through the hard times, they'll be sticking with you throughout it. Really, I'd say that the hard times have only drawn me closer and deeper in love with my husband.

Has romance died at all? Not a bit. Sure it is a little different now. We aren't constantly going on dates and doing surprises for each other. Romance instead is a daily routine. Really, I believe it is better than all those wonderful dates and surprises. Each day, he gives me that smile that says I'm the most beautiful girl he has ever seen. Every day, he opens the doors for me. Every day, he kisses me on the forehead as I'm falling asleep. When I am sick, he has me sit on the couch as he runs back and forth from the kitchen, asking me questions on how to cook dinner for us. When it is cold outside, he'll make sure to start the car up early so it is warm for the ride to work. He serves me because he loves me. Tell me that isn't romantic!

Has my freedom been taken away? Jody made a comment the other day that even though he can't do everything like he did when he was a bachelor, he feels like there is so much more he can do now because of marriage. In many ways, you gain freedom! You have the freedom to share your hopes, dreams, and struggles with a person who is committed to you for life. What you lose is nothing in comparison to what you gain! It is a wonderful feeling.

So single folks, don't let married folks discourage you or make you fear marriage. It is wonderful when you've married someone who is truly committed to you for life. The only advice I'd give you is to serve God and each other. Romance, hard times, and freedom are a breeze when you've got Jesus.

Married folks, I'm sure many of you read this despite my discretion not to. Since you are going to comment anyways… please just write something you enjoy and love about marriage. Single folks hear so many of all the negativities of marriage. Encourage my single friends by telling them that a good and wonderful marriage is possible. Surely I'm not the only one who loves being married!

Heroes

When thinking about heroes, I'd often think of policemen, firefighters, or the superheroes I see at the movies. They were those who saved people from great catastrophes. Heros are known for that one big event. 

Then it dawned on me… A truly great hero isn't one that only shows up when a big catastrophe happens. But he is also there for life's everyday problems. 

The other day though, I realized I had one of the greatest heroes living in my midst. His name is Jody Walker. He is my everyday hero. From killing bugs to fixing the garbage disposal, he is always there to be the hero to my problems. It didn't matter if the problem was that I just needed a hug, or it was something greater like taking a washing machine a part and fixing it, he has always been there for me. 

Exactly one year ago, this amazing man made the commitment to be my husband even though I have all my little problems. He decided to be a servant just like Jesus was, and be the hero for my everyday problems. 

Thus today, I wanted to thank him publicly for being my hero. My everyday hero. 

Update on my marriage

I had hardly shut the laundry room's door when I realized that I forgot to put the next load of laundry in the dryer. Instead of just opening the laundry door again and putting the next load in, my heart devised a plan. I'm ashamed to tell you the thoughts that entered my head. "I can just go upstairs and tell Jody I forgot and then he'll do it." As I walked up the stairs I planned to do just that. Jody responded just like I thought he would. With a smile on his face he told me he'd take care of it. 

I couldn't believe I'd just deceived him. I wanted to run after him and confess but my pride refused to budge. My mind then tried to convince my conscience that I really had forgotten and I hadn't really lied to him at all.

Jody reads the Bible every night to us and that night we were reading 1 John 4. Verses 7-12,19-21 were meant for me that night. 

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.

Car Wreck

What's left of the Sundance...

Everything seemed to move in slow motion. With the sudden forward jerk of the car, my head flew back. My first thought was "Did the window just shatter?!". One more bang occurred as we hit the car in front of us.  

Jody and I were stopped at a red light on our way to church. Being a part of the 3-vehicle-wreck that ended up being just a fender bender prepared our hearts to think about eternity. The wreck could have been much worse. We could have been a part of the 40,000 souls who die in car accidents each year in the USA. In the flash of a second, your perspective of life changes. No longer was I worried about getting to church on time, but I was thinking about if I was ready to meet the Lord. 

Just moments before I was upset at Jody. He didn't feel comfortable with me spending $63 dollars on a dress for our engagement photo shoot. I wanted to tell him we weren't married yet and that it wasn't his money. It was my money and I could do what I wanted with it! My attitude was utterly selfish. While I hadn't uttered any of those words to him, my mouth had wanted to spew them out. 

If that car had hit us harder, within a second, I would've been standing before Jesus. I would have been standing before Him, the Lord of the universe. The One who told me to give self up and live for others. 

Let me tell you, I'm so glad we didn't die that day. I would've despised myself, standing before the King with the thoughts I'd just had about Jody. The Lord gave Jody and I His protecting grace that evening. 

Are you ready? At any moment you might see the King of kings, suddenly, before His holy throne. What do you want to be doing when you die? Do it all the time and you'll never stand before the Lord with regrets.

Sending Joy back to North Korea

Leaving the apartment building with a cell phone for a flash light

It was past midnight. I felt the adrenaline rush as we quickly and quietly jumped out of our van. With just the light of a cell phone guiding our way, we hurried up the concrete apartment building stairs and into a dimly lit safe house where two North Koreans---a man and a woman---were staying due to the hospitality of a Christian Chinese couple. 

As I sat down on the small bedroom floor, I sensed the Lord's presence with us. This was going to be a meeting I would never forget. 

The two North Koreans whom we were meeting were outside of their country legally on temporary business visas, but it was still forbidden for them to have any contact with Westerners (North Korea's enemies). As we started to listen to the story of the North Korean man, I noticed the North Korean woman quickly get up from sitting in between the Americans and move next to her Chinese friend. She later told us that we were the first Americans she had ever come in contact with. North Korea teaches all of its citizens that Americans  eat their own babies. Right before she  had come to China, she saw a film where Americans were doing horrible things. To put it plainly, she was afraid of us. She would not reveal her name to us, but she did share her story. I'll refer to her as Joy.

Joy arrived at the safe house full of bitterness. Mostly she was bitter towards her mother-in-law, who was in a vegetable state and who lived with her and her husband. Joy hated taking care of her. In her heart, she secretly hoped her mother-in-law would die while she'd be in China. 

Joy had chosen to stay at the apartment we were visiting because her friends and family in North Korea told her to find a safe house run by Christians, even though it would be an illegal residence for her. They told her that Christians would let her live at their safe house for free, and would give her free supplies to bring back to North Korea.

Once she arrived, Joy resented having to join Bible devotions every day. She even thought about reporting the couple who ran the safe house over to the authorities, but because she was a free renter, she decided to just do as they said. 

Even though the safe house "mother" became very sick, she never stopped  making meals or caring for the North Koreans staying at her home. Joy was amazed with her  servant-like attitude. Everyone in North Korea, she said, only looks out for themselves. 

Joy also started to notice how the owners were always praying for other people and rarely for themselves.  Joy couldn't imagine praying for anyone other than herself! The Lord started to soften her heart and convict her of her selfishness. 

One night, Joy was very grieved over her own selfishness and was also very distraught over the safe house "mother's" health condition. Before she knew what she was doing, she started praying for her. She was shocked that she suddenly had compassion enough to pray for someone other than herself!

The next morning, she told the owner's wife she had prayed for her. From then on, Joy became a different person. Her attitude started to change. She had compassion and a hunger to read the Bible. She prayed often with the others. Finally she repented of her sins and turned to Jesus. 

During this part of the story, Joy's eyes began to water. As she wiped the tears away she said, "Now I want to go home and take care of my mother-in-law. I also want to share the good news of the gospel with my family and friends." 

Joy would be returning to North Korea a few days after our visit. Even though she knew the possible consequences for sharing the gospel (death or imprisonment), she knew the power of Jesus Christ and wanted to share it with those around her. 

I'm so blessed to work for Heaven's Family and direct the North Korean Christians Fund. Stories like Joy's make my many hours in the office completely worth it. We are able to shine light into North Korea, one soul at a time. 

I need your help!

As most of you know, I work for the ministry of Heaven's Family, and I love my job. I direct the Orphan's Tear division and also the North Korean Christians Fund. 

Last year, $320,000 passed through Orphan's Tear to help over 1,000 orphans who live in 54 orphanages in 9 countries. We've also been working towards helping all of our orphanages become self-sufficient in various ways, including helping them start income-generating businesses such as pig or chicken farms.

Since the inception of the North Korean Christians Fund, Heaven's Family has provided over $86,000 to assist our persecuted and often starving brothers and sister inside North Korea. We've helped smuggle Bibles to them as well as tons of food. We've also paid for the expenses of helping nine North Korean Christians escape from North Korea whose lives were in danger there.

Probably one of the biggest reasons I'm so proud of working at Heaven's Family is because 100% of every contribution to our various focused funds is used for each fund's specified need. Not a penny is used for administration. If someone sends $20 to meet a need through one of our focused funds, $20 is sent overseas to the need. Thus Heaven's Family pays my salary, and all administrative costs of the ministry, from the general fund. In addition, many of Heaven's Family's employees are completely or partially self-supported by friends and family members who contribute to their personal support funds.

I've said all of that to ask a question. Would you consider supporting me as I serve at Heaven's Family? My desire is to see the ministry of Heaven's Family expand and grow. I'd love to help make that happen by developing my own personal support team, thus reducing what is needed to pay me from the general fund.

Of course, I have nothing to gain by receiving my salary from my own support fund rather than the general fund. I just know that if less from the general fund is needed for my salary, more money is freed up from the general fund, which will ultimately make Heaven's Family even more fruitful.

If you'd like to join my personal support team, that would be great. You can do so by navigating to my personal page at Heaven's Family's website. The exact URL is: https://www.heavensfamily.org/elisabethservant . Everything is self-explanatory there.

Thanks for your prayerful consideration! If you'd like to learn more about all that I do at Heaven's Family, feel free to comment on this post, email, facebook, or call me!

God bless you!

Elisabeth

Even the Irish Need a Savior

Jody and I went witnessing at the St. Patrick's Day parade in downtown Pittsburgh. Here is what Jody wrote about it! 

Even the Irish Need a Savior

Dear Friends,

There are things that happen that I want to tell you about, but when I wait a whole month to send out updates, my old age sets in and I end up forgetting half the stuff I wanted to mention (it seems as though I am experiencing old age sooner than most). So, I've just decided to send out updates as they happen.

This past weekend, Elisabeth and I had the privilege of handing out gospel tracts at the St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Pittsburgh. Thousands upon thousands of people converged to see the parade; many of whom had already been there for hours, drinking and partying their brains out. (Who wouldn't want to get drunk in celebration of St. Patrick bringing the gospel to Ireland, anyway?)

There were four of us in our team. We prayed, made sure we each had plenty of tracts, and hit the streets.

Jen, our team leader, had the brilliant idea of getting there before the parade and walking down the parade route handing out tracts (since everyone would already be lined up waiting for the parade).

The tracts that we handed out were printed on trillion dollar bills. The crowds thought that they were a political statement about the country's financial deficit and so most everyone was eager to receive one. By the time we left, Elisabeth and I guesstimated that we had handed out between 1,500–2,000 tracts and the rest of our team probably handed out several thousand more.

We thank the Lord for giving us the opportunity of putting yet another call to repentance in thousands of peoples' hands whom we otherwise never would've come in contact with.

Nick

I want to tell you briefly about a young man named Nick who had received a tract. Several minutes after receiving the tract, he approached me, informing me that he had read it.

"I read what you gave me...and...do I really have to repent of my sins to get into Heaven?"

I was a little taken back by his frankness but hopeful about the opportunity.

"That's correct." I responded.

He replied, "Going to church every weekend isn't enough, is it?"

He went on to express his need and desire for Christ but his unwillingness to turn from his sin.

"I know what I need to do...but I just can't do it...not today."

One of his buddies cut in and started mocking me about all the Jesus stuff. Nick told him to shut up and his friend responded quite soberly, "I will never claim to be a Christian until I am ready to live it out."

Sure, I appreciated his honesty, but he can acknowledge his sinfulness till he turns blue in the face and it won't do him a lick of good when he is standing before a righteous and just God without an Intercessor on his behalf. What grieves my heart the most is that I saw the sincerity in Nick's eyes when we talked about his need for Christ. I've been agonizing in prayer over Nick.

The Lie

Nick has bought into the same lie that millions of people around the world have bought into: that God's forgiveness and grace will always be at their disposal.

Ah, it's ok if I sin today, I can always run back to God tomorrow.

Only one problem: tomorrow is not guaranteed for any of us.

Mark Cahill (a well-known evangelist) says, "There is one thing you can't do in Heaven: you can't witness to a lost person."

Sometimes we get so caught up in the constant drag of our day-to-day routines that we forget that the majority of the people around us are in rebellion with God and are on a straight course to hell. (Even some of the sweet old ladies at the grocery store!)

A Few More Words

In closing, I just want to leave us all with two reminders:

1.) There is a fairly good chance that wherever your busyness takes you today, you will most likely come in contact with at least one person who doesn't have a true relationship with the Lord. There may even be someone like Nick who faithfully attends your church but is living a life of sinful rebellion. Do them a huge favor and point them in the right direction (even if they're Irish).

2.) Don't put off what you need to do today until tomorrow. I once read somewhere that delayed obedience is still disobedience. If you're like me, you naturally tend to take the path of least resistance, pushing off the hard things for at least a decade. Don't do that. It only ends in painful regret. Remember, tomorrow is not a guarantee.

Revealed in Scripture

This is what I got from reading the word of God a few days ago. I hope it encourages and challenges you!

Matt 3:1 In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness of Judea, ² and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!” ³ For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah, saying:

“The voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
Make His paths straight.’”^[a]

⁴ Now John himself was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist; and his food was locusts and wild honey. ⁵ Then Jerusalem, all Judea, and all the region around the Jordan went out to him ⁶ and were baptized by him in the Jordan, confessing their sins.

Okay stop now at verse five. Take note, these people were coming to get baptized and they were confessing their sins while they were getting baptized. Okay continue... 

⁷ But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his baptism, he said to them, “Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

Hold up now! That wasn't a very nice thing to say to some people who want to get baptized!

⁸ Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, 

Now it makes a little more sense to me. Obviously the Pharisees and Sadducees were just coming to just get baptized, but they weren't feeling the need to repent. They were just going through the motions, without having their heart changed! Why wouldn't they feel the need to repent?

⁹ and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones.

I guess they were thinking that since they were children of Abraham that they were fine with God. They were "saved". Every time I see something in the Bible about the Pharisees and Sadducees, I think about religious people today. What if the verse said something like this:

and do not think to say to yourselves, "We have been saved and grew up in the church, we were once on fire for God.' For I say to you that God is able to raise up "Christians" from these stone". 

In other words, God doesn't need you. He doesn't want people who are just going to have the appearance of being "good". He wants people whose hearts, minds, and souls are completely His. God calls for complete abandonment.

¹⁰ And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 

If we don't bear fruit, we are good for nothing. If our words don't have action, they mean nothing. We can say we love God, but unless our actions show it, we will be thrown into the fire.

¹¹ I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.^[b]

So often, I realize that I don't have a clue of how Holy God is. Have you ever gone into a museum and touched something and then got yelled at for it? Jody just got too close to an artifact at an art museum and got a tap on the shoulder for it. Those people are pretty much saying "Wo! Don't you realize how much this artifact is worth? There is no way you'd be able to pay for it if you ruined it. You aren't worthy enough to touch it"

Do you realize we aren't worthy enough carry God's sandals for him? That is how Holy He is. We are nothing. We can't do anything for God. We can't even approach God. He let's us approach Him, but we are never worthy enough to. 

I take that for granted all the time. Just like a painting I have at my own house. I can touch it, move it, even brake it if I want. I don't value it like I do a painting at the museum. I most of the time do the same with God. I don't value Him as if He was Holy and Sacred. I think of that I can just approach Him anytime I please to, just like a painting at my house. If I don't want to talk to Him or am too busy to, I don't have to.

¹² His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”

He is coming. Even though the wheat the chaff come from the same plant, they are two different things. One is useful, the other is worthless and will be burned. Even though there are a lot of people who call themselves Christians, only the ones who show fruit of repentance. 

Read verse 11 again. John baptized into repentance. But you also need baptized by Jesus. He is the only one who can give you the Holy Spirit and passion to bear fruit. 

Paul and Barnabas are no excuse!

Acts 15:36-41 Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and visit our brethren in every city where we have preached the word of the Lord, and see how they are doing.”  Now Barnabas was determined to take with them John called Mark. But Paul insisted that they should not take with them the one who had departed from them in Pamphylia, and had not gone with them to the work. Then the contention became so sharp that they parted from one another. And so Barnabas took Mark and sailed to Cyprus; but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.

Have you ever heard anyone say “Well, we considered our issue with so and so (a believer in Christ) to be like a Paul and Barnabas situation, this we have separated ways.” I have heard it several times.

Christians seem to likes this passage of scripture because it gives them an “out” for working things through with their brothers and sisters in Christ.

I want you to take a look at the text though. In no way does the Bible ever condone this. Honestly, I would say that both Paul and Barnabas were in the wrong here. You are supposed to work it out if you are believers. Nowhere else in the Bible can you find a verse that says you don’t have to work your disagreements through with your brothers and sisters in Christ. In fact, it says just the opposite!

Matt 18:15-17 “Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector. 

Luke 17: 3 Take heed to yourselves. If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.

Matt 5:23-24 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Eph 4:1-3 1 I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is. For brethren to dwell together in unity!

Romans 12:10-11 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

1 Thes 4:9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;

1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;

1 John 2:9
 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

1 John 3:10-11 In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother. For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another,

1 John 4:21
 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Romans 12:16
 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.

2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.

Philippians 2:2
 fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.

The Bible stresses being like-minded and in unity with your brothers and sisters in Christ. Don’t use Paul and Barnabas as your escape goat!

Romans 12:18
 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.

Only apart of my heart

I went to YWAM service a couple weeks ago. The guest speaker talked about giving your whole heart to Christ. To not leave a single area in your life that is not given to Christ. He requires and demands our whole live. God showed me many areas in my life that I have kept as "my time". I can't do that though. He has to have all of my time. There is no "me" time.

The speaker equated giving only part of your heart to Christ as him telling his wife that he loved her a whole lot but there was another girl that he kind of liked and would only spend just a week with her every year. His wife would say "No way! It is me or the highway!". It is the same with God. He desires our whole heart, our whole life. It is degrading to not give Him all of it. He is God, He deserves it!

We can trust Him with all of our heart. He desires good for us, not evil. Live for Him 24/7. Don't hold back anything.

Out of the Darkness!

Dear blog readers,

Jody wrote a really good newsletter this month and I want to share it with you. I like bragging about my guy. 

-Elisabeth

I'd like for you to take a moment and consider a strange phenomenon with me. Is there a closet near to you that is dark inside? What happens whenever you open it? Does the darkness inside the closet flood out and make the rest of the room dark? Though that would be a sweet trick, it doesn't work like that, does it? Instead, the light of the room overwhelms and penetrates the darkness that was inside the closet. "Darkness" does not exist. As the young scientist reminds us, "Darkness is a term used by man to describe what happens when there is no light present." This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth; but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin. -- 1 John 1:5-7 Knowing that we have this Light inside of us...this Light that equates life and illuminates the entire universe...this Light that eradicates all darkness...how should we be living? The Word of God says, You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. -- Matthew 5:14-16 We are called to shine. Bright. To glorify our Father who is in heaven. Darkness is not something we need to fear if we are walking in the Light. Much of this world is walking in darkness. If we don't allow our lights to shine, why should we expect those in darkness to see the light? Shine!

You don't have to care, and neither do I!

I don't have to care what people think about me. I don't have to go buy new clothes. I don't have to go to college and get a money making job. I don't have to buy a big house. I don't have to worry about my future. My confidence doesn't have to be in anything other than Christ. 

Isn't it funny how we work so hard to please the 15 some people who are around us? We make our decisions based on their opinions. They affect our appearance, our careers, our possessions, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, and how we spend out time. We value their opinions more than God's opinion!

We can have a relationship with God. Did you just read that? Read it again. We can have a relationship with GOD. The one who has all power over not just our own lives, but over the lives of everyone around us, and over not only our own world, but over the whole universe! He is! We can talk to Him. We can know His opinion. We can please Him! 

He is amazing. Not only does He make a way for us to be saved from ultimate destruction, but He gives us a new heart with new desires to help us. He changes us so that our desires are His desires. We don't have to worry about pleasing anyone anymore. Instead of having to worry about pleasing our friends, we find joy and fulfillment in pleasing Him. He makes it so easy!

Oh, such freedom! Anytime I start worrying about what people think about me, I just have to remind myself I don't have to please anyone but Jesus.

Matt 11:28-30 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

O me of little faith!

Jody and I have been going through a book called "The Pursuit of God" by AW Tozer. That book is a must read, just to let you know. Anyways, a chapter about faith, completely changed my ideas on what faith actually is. 

I don't know about you, but whenever I would try to have faith, it was more like me trying to conjure up a belief inside of me. I would try to have this belief of whatever I wanted to happen. I would put all my focus on the problem in front of me and try to pretend as though I knew God was going to take care of it. I would go around saying to myself that God had already done what I asked for. 

Just in case you were wondering, it never worked for me. Instead I looked like a fool for going around saying "Oh, I have faith and God has already done what I wanted Him to.". 

Here are some things I took out of the book:

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John 3:14-15 "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lighted up: that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life"

Our plain man, in reading this would make an important discovery. He would notice that look and believe are synonymous terms. "Looking" on the Old Testament serpent is identical with "Believing" on the New Testament Christ. That is, the  looking and believing are the same thing. 

Faith is the gaze of a soul upon a saving God. 

Faith is the least self-regarding of the virtues. It is by its very nature scarcely conscious of its own existence.

While we are looking at God we do not see ourselves---blessed riddance. The man who has struggled to purify himself and has had nothing by repeated failures will experience real relief when he stops tinkering with his soul and looks away to the perfect One. While he looks at Christ, the very things he has so long been trying to do wilt be getting done within him. It will be God working in him to will and to do. 

Now, if faith is the gaze of the heart at God, and if this gaze is but the raising of the inward eyes to meet the all seeing eyes of God, then it follows that it is one of the easiest possible thing to do. It would be like God to make the most vital thing easy and place it within the range of possibility for the weakest and poorest of us. 

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The flood gates opened after this. It was true. Faith is looking off of your problems and putting your gaze upon God. You don't even think of your problems because you are too busy looking at Him. 

Remember what happened to Peter when he was walking on the water towards Jesus but then He stopped looking at Him? He started to sink and then Jesus asked him where was his faith. Peter's faith stopped when He stopped gazing upon Jesus. 

It makes so much sense. I had always been focused upon my problems when I should have forgotten my problems and put my eyes upon Jesus instead. It is so simple yet I had always thought it was difficult to have faith. 

What are your thoughts on this?