A sign - Part 3

**While Part 3 is the end of what I set out to do, it is certainly not the end of allowing God to move**

When we hear the phrase "to use someone," we often view it in a negative light. None of us enjoy being "used" by someone else for their gain. It makes us out to be little more than the means to an end. A tool. An advantage to be used and discarded later when no longer needed.

I want to be "used" by God. I want to be a part of His plan that is much larger than myself.

My hope is to encourage you. My hope is to show you that if He can use me, He can use anyone.

All you have to do is listen and follow.…..even when the path makes no logical sense to us.

This past Tuesday, Kayla and I had the amazing opportunity to see Phillip’s little sibling via ultrasound. Viewing the small, forming face and witnessing this small creation of God “run” around Kayla’s tummy is a miracle in itself. (Unlike with Phillip, we are not finding out the gender until he/she gets here. Who doesn’t love a good surprise?!)

While God’s hand was certainly evident in being able to see the newest member of our family, that is not why I was so eager to find time to sit down and write.

Two months ago, Kayla and I went to the doctor. This “woman” doctor delivered Phillip and we have been able to build a great relationship with her. She is an amazing doctor and an even better person. This particular day, she walked into the exam room with an exasperated look on her face. She said, “Oh, how I am glad to see y’all. Sometimes, I just don’t have any hope for the world. The people I deal with on a daily basis can do me in. It’s always nice to see y’all because you are always in a good mood.” It was evident she was having a stressful day. After checking on Kayla and asking all the normal questions, we had an opportunity to visit with her. She had a smile on her face as we left the office. I chalked it up as a successful encounter of brightening someone’s day.

We drove back home and enjoyed the calm car ride and uninterrupted conversation that anyone with an 18-month-old boy at home can surely appreciate. I can’t exactly remember if it was that day or the next morning, but all the sudden I had it in my mind that I needed to take a book to this doctor on our next visit. Not just any book, but one book in particular. Without a shadow of a doubt, “The Grace Effect” by Larry Taunton was the book. I do remember stopping what I was doing and taking the book out to my car so that I wouldn’t forget it.

“The Grace Effect” initially caught my eye because it contains the story of a family navigating the arduous process of adopting a daughter from Ukraine. From my three trips to Ukraine, I have fallen in love with the country. I also know the dismal statistics regarding Ukrainian orphans. Larry Taunton does a great job of relating a conversation with world-renowned atheist and friend Christopher Hitchens regarding a “god-less” society to his family's experience of bringing their daughter home. I highly recommend any and everyone to take the time to read it.

"I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?' Then I said, 'Here am I! Send me.'" - Isaiah (6:8)

I drive around with the book in my car for a month. Kayla’s next appointment is a few days away and we find out that she will be seeing a different doctor, but her regular doctor will be back next visit. This means riding around with the book in my car for another month.

A couple of weeks ago, I did take the book out of my car so that I could fit all of our “stuff” for the Orrville Tractor Show (add that to your list, Lex!). This past Tuesday rolls around and here we are going back to the doctor for our next routine check-up. I spot the book on the counter and purposely place it next to something I was planning on taking in the car with me. CoCo (aka Mom) graciously came to pick Phillip up so we could make our appointment. While I was helping CoCo strap our ever-energetic toddler into his car seat, Kayla locked up the house and was ready to go.

Oh I don’t think so! I have been waiting two months to deliver this book to this very person! I quickly went back inside, retrieved the book, and we began the hour and fifteen minute drive to the doctor’s office.

First, we had the blessing of the ultrasound. We were both looking forward to that, but I was almost looking forward to visiting with the doctor just as much. After looking at Kayla’s charts, asking questions, and telling us everything looked great, she proceeded to tell us where she was last month. She was on maternity leave. She was on maternity leave because she and her husband were adopting a baby girl.

After visiting, she asked if we have any questions as she prepared to leave the room. I pulled the book out of Kayla’s purse and told her there was one thing I wanted to tell her. I told her about the day she seemed to be having a bad day and how I had been driving the book around for the past two months. I summarized the book and shared how it dealt with God’s love and adoption.

She immediately opened the book and started scanning over the first few pages. With eyes fixed on the worn pages of a book I’ve read multiple times, she says, “Did you know..you didn’t know we were adopting. How...”

As her voice trailed off, the light bulb went off. God is faithful and He will equip those who are willing to follow Him.

We spoke for a few more minutes. I wish that I could accurately describe her reaction in both facial expressions and voice inflections. It was a beautiful moment in the midst of a busy day for all three of us.

She thanked me for picking that book and carrying it around for two months.

I did not pick the book. I only delivered it.

A sign - Part 2

**This is a continuation from Part 1 (go take a few minutes to catch up if you so prefer).**
 
Sometimes, in order to be utilized by God, all we have to do is ask.

 

Pine Glenn is a housing project on Highway 80, next to Craig Field. It was once busy and well-maintained housing for the military base located there. Now, the backside of Pine Glenn is some of the most undesirable housing in all of the Selma area. For 20 years, two ladies I look up to, Joy Thompson and Caroline Anderson, have been ministering to the children of Pine Glenn. They have had the help of many volunteers who committed time, energy, and money to serving these children. Wednesday afternoons during the school year, these inspiring followers of Christ would divide the children into different age groups, share a Bible story, complete a craft, and provide a snack to each child.

I began the weekly drive out to Pine Glenn on Wednesday afternoons a few years ago. I quickly found a role of floater and enforcer. I floated to whichever group needed an extra hand and I enforced the rules by sometimes sending a child home before snack time. Almost a year and a half ago, the building we held the meetings in was destroyed for the most part. The inside was damaged so much by vandalism that there was no way we could afford to fix it and take the risk of it being decimated again.

During the past month we have attempted to find a solution to serve the community. A few weeks ago, our group met at the old building and decided to go door-to-door and share with people what we were wanting to do out there. Seeing as this is not the safest location in the world, someone asked who would stay behind with our belongings and vehicles while everyone else visited with people. Being by far the youngest and the manly bearded man that I am, I volunteered as tribute. The others got in a truck and began to ride around the neighborhood. Standing by my car, alone, and feeling useless, I began to pray. My prayer went something like this, “Father, the workers are here. We want to make a difference. We just don’t know what you want us to do. If you could give us one person to talk to today, one person to hopefully bring joy to, that would be great.” I couldn’t say “amen” in my head before I looked up to see one person on the desolate street I was standing next to. The larger-than-myself man was walking down the street toward me. I began a conversation with myself, with God, asking, “Is this the person you wanted me to talk to?” As he came closer, it was evident that whether he was the right person or not, I was going to have an opportunity to talk to him. I walked across the street and met him. He wanted to know if we were going to fix the building and return to meeting weekly. We both agreed how disappointing it was for someone to disrupt such a great ministry. I gave him our information about the new meeting place and he said he would be glad to help “get the word out.”

He departed and I found myself praying, “Thank you Lord. How bout one more?” Would you believe me if I told you that very moment a young boy with a football walked around the corner and headed straight for me. I thought there was no way this boy is going to walk all the way down this long street to me. Oh, how wrong I was! Eight year old Jermaine walked straight up to me and asked, “Are we meeting today?” We began a conversation, threw the football, and shared a snack together.

Soon, a group of five kids came from the other side of the block after talking with the others in the truck. I couldn’t stop them from immediately going into the ransacked building. I didn’t think they needed to be in there, but there wasn’t much I could do about it either. Finally, I asked one of them what they were doing in there. One young boy proudly held up a poster and said, “This is going on the wall in my room. It is the Ten Commandments!” Another asked if he could have a Bible he found. Of course! Continue your treasure hunt and show me how God can use the wreckage to love His children.

"And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'" - Jesus (Matthew 25:40)
 

Jarvis showed up to walk through the building also. Jarvis is well known to those of us that faithfully came on Wednesday afternoons. He is well known for being kicked out at least once a month, sometimes more often. It never failed that he came back the next week every single time. He is older than the others and wandered throughout the building without picking up one thing or saying a single word. After the others left, I had an opportunity to speak with him. He told me about his love of football and how he hoped to go to college and eventually make it to the NFL. If football didn’t work out, he hoped to learn how to weld. No matter what, he wanted to never live in this place again. He didn’t want to be like the other boys he saw each and every day. He longed for a better life. It was refreshing and heart-breaking to hear this perspective from a 13 year old boy. Then something happened that I never expected. Jarvis said, “We could get it done a whole lot faster if y’all let us help.” “Help with what?” I asked. “Help fix this building back up,” Jarvis responded matter-of-factly. Wow! Here my self-absorbed self was looking for someone that “I” could help. Thirteen year old, always getting kicked out Jarvis was encouraging me more than he will ever know with his heart of wanting to make a difference.

We still do not know what the future of Pine Glenn Ministries will look like. We continue to ask God for guidance because we know He has a plan for the community members there, just like He does for all of us.

A sign - Part 1

First off, a special thanks goes to The Lex, for inspiring me to dust off the old blog.

Secondly, I'm not sure how long this "blogging kick" will last, but there will be 3 parts to this. 

Lately, I have been attempting to keep my heart and mind open to how God would have me serve Him day-to-day and moment-to-moment. I fail more times than I would like to admit, but these are a few things that have happened recently.

Question #1 – How many signs do we encounter on a daily basis? It is impossible to count them. From directions to warnings to advertisements, signs are everywhere. They constantly compete for our attention.

Question #2 – Does God have a plan for our lives? We often want to know. We want to know everything, especially if it pertains to us and our futures. I have found myself guilty of searching for God’s plan for my life through looking for “signs” around me. Message written in a cloud? Directions found in a fortune cookie? Opening a Bible to a random page and reading for guidance? I may or may not have attempted all or none of these.

What if we are too busy looking for “God’s plan” for our lives that we miss His plan for us today in this very moment? Do we really believe we have ended up in this place and situation by happenstance? God has intentionally surrounded us with people and opportunities to be the hands and feet of Christ.

One Monday morning a few weeks back, I was at a local middle school. Every day begins the same way with students leading the Pledge of Allegiance, calling for a minute of silence, and sharing the morning announcements. During that minute of silence I closed my eyes and prayed, “God, it’s Monday. Phillip didn’t sleep through the night. I’m tired. I don’t want to be here…but, if you can use me today, let’s do it. Amen.” 

"He said to them, 'Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.'" - Jesus (Mark 16:15)

A few minutes later the teacher began to show the class a CNN Student News piece on the SmartBoard. News from all over the world was included. There were the Umbrella Protests in Hong Kong and a brain bank for scientists to attempt to find cures for brain diseases among others. As the short video ended, the teacher asked her class of 7^th graders what they thought about the brain bank. Almost all of the reactions were negative or the students were “weirded out” to say the least. She then began to ask about being an organ donor. Most of the students claimed they would never give a kidney to their sibling because the same sibling wouldn’t give them a kidney either. 

As the discussion began to die down, the teacher looked at me in the back of the room and said, “Reverend, what happens to our bodies when we die?” My initial reaction was to look around and see who she was talking to. I’ve never been called Reverend and had to make sure the question was directed toward me. Observing what I already knew, that I was the only person in the back of the room, I responded. “Our bodies are buried in the ground and rot and decay. They become useless after we die.” Not expecting to be called on, but thinking I did a semi-decent job of answering the presented question, I relaxed in my seat believing I would go back to simply observing. 

The teacher then asked, “Reverend, what happens to our souls when we die?” I’m sure it wasn’t a polished, perfect answer, but I think I said, “If we have a relationship with Jesus and trust in Him for our salvation, we will spend eternity in Heaven with Him. If we do not have a relationship with Jesus we will spend eternity separated from Him in Hell.” 

BOOM! I suddenly realize that I asked God to use me today and I proceeded to be given an opportunity to share the most basic Gospel presentation in two sentences. Looking back, I wish I would’ve taken the opportunity to elaborate, but I know that God knew exactly what He was doing. 

I hope you do not see this as a look-at-me moment. I hope you will be inspired and encouraged by the fact that if God has a plan and purpose for me, then He most certainly has one for you. 

The choice is your's. I hope you choose to BE the difference in the world that surrounds you.

Much love,

Rand

Nashville - YouthWorks - June 2012

Nashville...wow....what a week! What a range of emotions were felt in less than six whole days. The excitement of meeting new friends. The remarkable ability to accept and be accepted by these people as if you have known each other much longer than a few days. The tiresome physical work accomplished at food banks and thrift stores. The rewarding service performed at community centers and homeless shelters. The entertaining free time and evening activities. The uplifting worship songs and enriching Biblical messages shared. The encouraging church time of sharing as a family. The realization of what a difference very different people can make with a singular goal. The magnificent work of the Holy Spirit inside of hearts awakening desires and shifting priorities. The bittersweet goodbyes shared with others that have encountered the power of a living Christ in person by your side. The return to normal routines surrounded by people without the same experience. The slow slide back into habits that brought about feelings of guilt and shame not long ago. The desire to feel the mountaintop of being in Tennessee. The deep need to be rescued from the darkness that surrounds.

If we were to attempt to prolong the "mountaintop" by sleeping on the same hard floors and deflating air mattresses, eating the same Eggos and sandwiches, and accomplishing the same mission jobs, eventually the "high" would run out and we would have to find something new to fill the void.

BUT, there is hope! Following Christ is not about sticking to a bunch of rules that tell us what we cannot do. Being a follower of Christ is freedom from having to "fill the void". Jesus fills the void for us. He takes away our personal desires that we can never seem to find a permanent satisfaction for.

I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. - Philippians 4:13

Being able to do all things does not equal winning the sporting event, passing the academic test, or pleasing that guy/girl that means so much to us. Being able to do all things through Jesus Christ allows us to no longer HAVE to win the sporting event, pass the academic test, or please that guy/girl that means so much to us in order to fill our hearts. Christ frees us from the need/desire/craving/yearning find a satisfactory acceptance by the world around us.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. - Romans 12:2

Through a heart hidden in Christ, YOU are a new creation. You no longer have to endlessly search for the next thing to make you "happy".

Jesus, YOU are my joy!

My prayer for you: Father, pour out Your grace and love in a way that has never been experienced before in their life. Take away the personal image they hold of themselves. Destroy the way they believe others see them as well. Place inside their heart the way You see them. Let them see the beautiful, masterpiece that You created only for them. Allow them to see the peace that only You provide. Lead them to others to encourage, as well as, be encouraged by. Above all else, I pray that they look back on Nashville 2012 as the point in their life that eternally altered their course along this journey.

Here for you.

In His love,

Rand

Before, during, and after all the emotion of such an impactful week, one thing remains the same.

One Thing Remains by Jesus Culture  (<<<------ Check out the link!)

Perspective

After a spiritual weekend, such as Ekklesia, we often come back to the “real world” and notice how unpleasing the sounds are that hit our ears. From friends’ conversations and comments to the music we adored last week, it all the sudden sets off alarm bells in our heart and hurts to listen to. It’s not that the friends’ conversations or the music has changed, it is that WE have changed.

Our hearts have changed to revolve around something much greater than a musician, a sport, or even a friend. Our hearts have been opened fully and laid out bare to experience the redemptive love that can only come from a divine source. We get discouraged by the actions of others around us and quickly fear that we will once again become entrapped within the exact behavior we now detest. Like Peter walking on water towards Jesus, we begin to become distracted by the wind and the waves. Before long we attempt to carry the burden of our cross, an instrument of destruction, on our own. Just like Peter we start to sink under the pressure and cry out to Jesus to save us.

Then we are reminded of YAWEH’s promise in Joshua 1:9 – “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Our feet have been planted. On God our solid foundation our faith now stands, a foundation so strong that it cannot be shaken no matter what comes against it. All we can bring to the table is faith, but God has already set the table with His love, His righteousness, His kindness, and His mercy.

We begin to ask YAWEH to burn His image of us into our hearts. No longer will we settle for what we have always seen ourselves as. We now look in the mirror and behold God’s masterpiece. His mercy is great enough to cover any self-doubt, need for acceptance, or self-pride. We slip and fall flat on our face but are comforted and empowered by the words of Romans 5:20 – “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

This past weekend was not about what a great speaker, what a great band, what a great weekend, but rather it was about what a great and mighty Savior! There will be times we fall away. There will be times when we feel completely lost and alone, but no matter what emotion we encounter, we will put our faith in You. We will trust in the Kings of kings, Lord of lords, Prince of peace, Redeemer, Savior, Rescuer, Alpha & Omega, Beginning & End, and YAWEH!

Choices

When I was younger, I remember several times when two of my friends and myself would be hanging out together. Friend A would ask his mom if Friend B could spend the night. The mom would in turn say "yes, why don't we see if Rand can spend the night too?" Then Friend A would ask if I wanted to spend the night. The whole time I knew that the only reason he was asking me was because his mom went so far as to make him. How did that make me feel? I surely didn't want to spend the night after that. If I wasn't wanted, why would I want to be there?

It's similar to our relationship with God. He desires for us to be with Him, but He will not force us to be. He has given us everything we have and everything that we are. He gave us His only Son so that we may join Him after our time on this earth has concluded. But by far one of the most awesome gifts He has given us is choice. God allows us to choose Him or not.

Life is full of choices. You choose what you will wear, what you will eat, how hard you will work, how you will treat others, and many other things. The choices you make shape your life. Ultimately it all comes down to your decisions. Yes, there are plenty of things in this life that you cannot control, but how you react to these uncontrollable events, determines what direction your life goes.

Jesus said, "You did not chooce me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." - John 15:16

I often imagine sitting down in a chair and my life being projected onto a movie screen. I begin to think about other people being in the room with me. Everyone from my wife, parents, friends, and others that I have only known a short period in my life are seated facing the screen. I envision watching the beginning and reliving how cute I was as a small boy. Then I see things getting ugly.

Every good thing I have ever done is displayed on the screen. Every bad, horrible, and disgusting thing I have ever done or even thought is also shown for everyone to see. I think about how the people in the room would react. How long would they last? I'm sure some would leave at the very first sign of trouble in my life. I know that some would hang on as long as they could because of how much they love me. It would be impossible for anyone to sit through the whole ordeal.

As my life progresses on the big screen, I can only think about how I would like to escape this room and this viewing of all my deeds. The embarrassment and shame of the entire situation would be way too much to handle. As I sit there continuing to watch this horror film, I quietly shake my head as people steadily stream out the door. I can barely bring myself to watch anymore when I realize that everyone has left. At least I thought everyone had exited.

That is when I notice there is one person left. He sits watching the screen, never looking away. The look on his face is one of sadness, heartbreak, and....compassion. When I look at him,I am overcome with personal disappointment, as when you let down the person that is mort important to you in life. My shame is quickly replaced with hope.

I finally realize that Jesus accepts me how I am. He knows everything there is to know about me. He has seen the good, and he's certainly seen the bad. Yet still he suffered and died for me. He died for you. He CHOSE to lay down his own life so that you may have abundant life.

He did not die so that you my struggle through this life and hold on so that you can make it to heaven. He wants you to live life and live it to the fullest.

Just as Jesus had a choice 2000 years ago, you have a choice today. He is standing near with His arms wide open. He wants to love you just the way you are.

What will you decide?

Say Yes.

How can I say no?

This is such a simple question and one usually used when attempting to be compassionate. You come an old man asking for help opening a door, how can you say no? You walk past a homeless woman who sincerely looks in need of something to eat, how can you say no? You see a cute little Girl Scout selling chocolate mint cookies, how can you say no? OK, maybe the last one has to do more with your sweet tooth than anything else!

For close to 21 of the 24 years that I have been on this earth, I have lived for myself. While in those years, I have yielded my wants and desires to help others plenty of times, my main focus was satisfying me. I lived for myself and only for myself. When you are a selfish person, you tend to think you are anything BUT selfish. I was truly a selfish person. I still struggle with this today, but it is amazing the difference a few years can make.

I have had people ask me the following questions:
· Why would you want to move back to Selma?
· Why would you want to work at a church when you could be making more money somewhere else and not working on Sunday?
· Why? Why? Why?

My overwhelming response is, how can I say no even if I wanted to?

Many times in my 24 years of existence as a human being, I have more than tried to ruin my life. At one point, I was on a direct course for the destruction of my life. For people on the outside looking in, I was nothing more than an irresponsible, immature boy, who acted like most others my age. To them I wasn’t an angel, but I surely wasn’t the devil either.

Inside of me was a different story completely. My heart had become hard and black. I treated my parents and friends badly, but nothing compared to the way I treated my physical and emotional well-being.

In my darkest of times, when I knew I could go on no further, that is when it happened. Jesus had given me life so many years ago to only watch me completely throw it away. He was always there, always calling, always encouraging….all of His words seemed to fall on deaf ears. And now, at the culmination of my selfish life where I did nothing but throw away the gift He so preciously bought for me, He was there. He did not show up with a spirit of condemnation, but one of acceptance and compassion. Exactly like the father of the lost son (Luke 15), He came running to greet me with a hug and a kiss. He had reached out to me in the darkness of my life and had come to MY RESCUE!

He has been, is, and will always be “my Rescuer.”

How can I possibly say no to anything He asks of me?