Lights Out In Bali…

“The guest and staff are strictly prohibited to go outside of the hotel area.” This was emboldened on a list of information slipped under our hotel door. The prohibition didn’t come as a complete surprise, but it was more authoritative in nature than we had expected. The instructions were concerning the “Nyepi Celebration” that is currently taking place here in Bali.

About three weeks ago Lisa and I were making final decisions in planning a short spring break getaway with Will and Josh. We found $65 roundtrip tickets to Bali and decided to go there. After buying the tickets and making hotel reservations, an associate in Bali who was helping us with the arrangements included the following in an email “9 March, silent day, no activity out of hotel, only inside hotel, no body walk on street on that day, no plane also :)” Needless to say, we were a bit shocked to learn all her information was factual.

Nyepi Day, the Balinese day of Silence, opens a new year of the Saka Hindu. On the day before Nyepi Day, all villages in Bali hold a large exorcism at their main crossroads; the understood meeting place of demons. The youth of the village make “Ogoh-ogoh” monsters to symbolize the evil demons surrounding their lives. We managed to see some of these and they are picture here. They are gruesome caricatures that depict the evil spirits residents are fearful of. In the evening the Hindus start making noises, light burning torches and then set fire to the Ogoh-ogoh in order to get the evil spirits out of their lives. The next day, Nyepi Day, is marked by 24 hours of silence where no one is to leave their home, no vehicles are allowed on the streets, television broadcasting is turned-off completely and even the international airport is closed. “On Nyepi the world expected to be clean and everything starts anew, with Man showing his symbolic control over himself and the “force” of the World, hence the mandatory religious control.”

We decided to write about this because it made us blatantly aware of another stark difference between this country and our own. A difference that reluctantly we spent most of our lives taking for granted. We often complain about what we see as problems in the US; religious restrictions, education, politics, etc. But we sometimes forget the extent of the freedoms we enjoy. In Bali, approximately 83 percent of the population is Hindu. Yet the religious beliefs of that majority are forced upon the remaining 17 percent, and even tourist visiting the island. We were prohibited from leaving our hotel.

There are many things we truly like about living in Indonesia and the Indonesian culture. There are also many things we dislike. The same could be said about any country and culture. But religious freedom is paramount! In some ways Indonesia embraces religious freedom. We wouldn’t be here if that weren’t the case.

As we finish writing this it has become dark outside. Every outside light on the hotel grounds is off. In fact, it is pitch dark outside. No lights appear to be on anywhere. Another rule for Nyepi Day – no lights can be turned on. The darkness, both physical and spiritual, could easily be overwhelming, but for the fact that we know the one true Light, and in Him there is no darkness.

We are so grateful to be here in this dark place so that we have a chance to spread some Light.

Ephesians 5:8 “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So live as people of light!” (NLT)

1 John 1:5 “This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all.” (NLT)

Why I Love Christmas

I love Christmas! In fact, I really never minded when stores in America put decorations out as early as October. I love the lights, the trees, the decorations, and I love Christmas music too. Christmas is by far my favorite time of year. As a kid, I suppose I loved the presents that Christmas brought. My parents and grandparents always showered me and my siblings with gifts. Even as a teenager, I was showered with gifts. Sure there was mention of Christ and His birth, but that most important fact seemed to take a back seat to the commercialism that is so prevalent in US culture.

When Lisa and I married I was not a Christian. I had been raised Catholic, but I didn’t have a personal relationship with Christ. Fortunately that changed when I was 25. I welcomed Christ into my life and He began to change me.

The change was difficult to see in some areas of my life, and Christmas was definitely one of them. After the birth of our daughters, during one of their earliest Christmases, Lisa and I were troubled by the abundance of gifts they received. Lisa recognized that we were unwisely keeping Christ out of Christmas and welcoming materialism in. We wanted to bless our kids, but we were allowing worldliness to edge out the ultimate gift of Christ.

Two thousand years ago we were all given a present. In fact, the entire human race was given a present. The ultimate present. God, through His limitless and unconditional love, showering us with grace upon grace, took on flesh and became man. He gave us His Son, Jesus Christ. The Word, the Creator, was given to us all as a gift. We did nothing to deserve Him. There is no way we ever could. Yet He was given to us. As much as I try to grasp the significance of this gift, I know that I fail to do so. He came for us and sacrificed everything so that we could be reconciled to God the Father. John 1:9 says “The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.” In 12 and 14 we read, “…to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God… The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”

Since becoming a Christian, I have slowly come to realize more and more the gift I was given. He has slowly taken my warped view of Christmas and replaced it with one centered on a growing love for Christ. He’s allowed me to understand His love with more clarity, His forgiveness with more appreciation, His provision with more thankfulness, and His protection with more assuredness. He’s won my love and blessed me with an increasing desire to love Him. As the world intensifies its attempts to distract from, and even change Christmas completely, my love for Christmas grows because it is rooted in my growing love for Christ.

Our family’s emphasis on gifts at Christmas has changed too. We still exchange presents, and I still look forward to doing so. But a few years back we decided to start something new. We decided to each give a specific gift back to God. It may seem trivial, and I suppose it is since everything is His anyway, but it’s well intended.

I know that many reading this have already given so much. But I personally want to give Him everything! For me, that is much easier said than done. I want to make Him my all-in-all, but I fail so often. I want to surrender completely, but I struggle to let go. I want to rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks in all circumstances, but I’m so often distracted and sometimes discouraged. Nevertheless, I keep on striving because I’ve learned that His love never fails! He is worthy of all that we are; all that we have. He gave the ultimate gift to us and when I strive to understand the significance of that gift, it creates a greater desire to surrender all in response. His ultimate gift to us is worthy of our ultimate gift in return. In our family we all give something specific to God, but we should give everything!

In my heart I desire to surrender all, but in my flesh I am weak. My little gift to God each year is part of my growing effort to more completely surrender. I keep striving to surrender because He has given me a glimpse of what surrendering looks like. It looks like Christ and all that He is. It looks like grace, like mercy, truth, light, faith, hope and Love. It’s the gift we have already been given. The gift that is waiting for us to trust in completely, to hope in eternally, to seek after consistently, to love unconditionally. We have been given the greatest gift we will ever receive and one worthy of all we could ever give. That’s why I love Christmas.

Special Forces Training

In 2009, I was working as the director of the Installation Control Center on an overseas base when the installation commander called an emergency meeting of his “Battle Staff.” It was the first time a “real world” meeting was called during my deployment. It was 0030 hours, and all of the base’s leadership was represented. The commander briefed the situation. “There is a C-17 carrying dozens of Special Forces members arriving in about two hours. Their mission is classified. We must ‘hide’ them on the base until they depart tomorrow evening. No one outside this room can know they are here!” We quickly began working to protect their location.

There is something about Special Forces members that intrigues us. Maybe we’ve all seen too many movies like “American Sniper” or “Zero Dark Thirty.” Maybe it’s just the mystery associated with them. Regardless, I’m right there with the majority. I’ve dreamt of flying specially equipped military aircraft into hard to reach spots and extracting the “spooks” with their rescued hostage seconds before the enemy is able to strike harm.

Last weekend, we were having dinner with another family who is new to Salatiga. They have been in Indonesia for two years.  While he shared some advice and some of his experiences, one piece of our discussion stuck me more than anything else. He shared with us his desire to be part of the Special Forces in Kingdom work. He told us stories of other Christians and the impact they had in different situations. In one story, a group of expat Christians were working to deliver a local villager from an evil spirit’s possession. They tried praying fervently, invoking the name of Jesus Christ… everything they tried was to no avail. Finally someone noticed a haggard old national shuffling by. He was known to be a strong Christian within the village. One of the expat workers called him over to see if he could help. The old man responded to the request with a subtle shake of his head and a sigh, as if to say “Again???” He then moved to where the possessed man was, said one short and simple prayer, and the evil spirit was gone. He was the Special Forces soldier they needed for the mission at hand. He had lived and trained in a spiritually dark part of the world his entire live. As such, he had a lifetime of experience honing in his specific skills which were required to deal with the enemy.

Indonesia is a spiritually dark place. It is the largest Muslim nation in the world. Animism has been practiced for multiple millennium. And there is a long, rich history of Buddhism. Christ is here, and His light does shine, but it is often times difficult to see. This place is the kind of spiritual training ground where Special Forces men and women can be birthed. It is a place where dependence on God seems to be more essential for soldiers in His Kingdom. A place which provides an opportunity… an opportunity to grow more spiritually in the absence of so many comforts we have been accustomed to… an opportunity to train and hopefully become more skilled in helping His “Kingdom come” and His “will be done”… an opportunity to grow closer to Him and hopefully become more Christ-like. It’s not easy; specialized training seldom is. But it is what we have longed for and what we believe is required to be highly skilled and affective at the job we face.

I never learned much about the details of the Navy Seals who touched down at my deployed base that night. In fact, I never even saw one of them. But shortly after their “pit-stop,” Captain Richard Phillips was rescued from being held hostage by Somali pirates in the Indian Ocean. Though I never heard specifics, the 2013 movie based on their mission gave me a pretty good idea of how their specialized training paid off.

It was gratifying to have played a part in that mission, albeit a very small one. Looking back, I now recognize that the entire rescue was made up of countless seemingly minor events which, when you get right down to it, were almost all essential to its overall success. This current mission is no different. I am in training for a new, more specialized role, but it is also one that is based on so many other essential pieces; prayer partners, financial supporters, teammates, etc. As for my work in “the field,” I honestly feel ill-equipped when I consider its magnitude. Hallelujah! Isn’t that what I am supposed to feel? Jesus says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9). I doubt many of Captain Phillip’s rescuers felt weak in their task, but I, and you my brothers and sisters, are supposed to. That is what we are “training” for… complete dependence on Him and on each other. We are all essential parts of the Body and we are all in training for the role to which we have been called. Only success in our individual specialized mission isn’t based on individual ability or skill acquired through years of intense military training, our success comes when we submit to His Lordship and trust completely in Him.

What in the world have we done?!?

Sometimes I think to myself… what in the world have we done?!? Just over two weeks ago we were living in beautiful Monument, Colorado enjoying so much of what western culture has to offer. We had family close by, our loving friends and church family, cars at our disposal, and a very familiar environment. Now we live as foreigners. Each time we leave our house, little, if anything, is familiar. Yet, we continue to adjust to our new lives here in Salatiga.

Yesterday began with more exploring to learn what can be purchased where. We went downtown and had to visit multiple places to find the one particular item we needed. It’s true that doing things here just takes longer. In some cases that simplifies life greatly, but in others it makes things considerably more difficult. Of course, not knowing the language adds to the difficulty. As does not knowing the culture. But even the simplest task can sometimes be overwhelming. There’s no Walmart within five minutes of home! Yet, we are learning and growing. I suppose the most needed and important growth is growing closer to God. It may sound weird to think that someone would turn to, or depend on, God for a trip to find a certain kitchen tool, but that is what we’re trying to do. Not because God is in those minute details of our lives, but because complete dependence is something to strive for.

Jesus said, “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my father in heaven will enter.” (Matthew 7:21) How can I know His will unless I know Him? And how can I know Him unless I make Him part of my day? And if that is true, then why not make Him part of every minute? Now, we’re back in the minute details of living! But isn’t that where God wants us to be? Continually dependent on Him. Not worrying about the details, but focusing on Him throughout our day.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Never stop praying.” Never? I’ve always tried to refrain from using absolutes because they house a certainty that almost always seems unachievable, or even impossible. But we’re instructed to never stop praying. Never stop talking to God. What better way to get to know Him than talking with Him… spending time with Him in prayer and in His Word… drinking Him in.

Our life here is definitely different. Time seems to run at a slower, more relaxed, pace. That can be pretty trying when you are used to a certain way of living, but it’s refreshing too. Life here doesn’t always include access to what you need, or want, when you need or want it. Our kitchen tool excursion did have moments of frustration. But there were also times of joyful celebration. Finding the store that has the widget you need, learning what the other stores along the way offer, and navigating the language (albeit with Google Translate for now) are all victories. We thank God for those experiences when we turn to Him for a simple minute expectation and then witness how He molds and grows us through the ups and downs of the journey.

Joyfully Numb…

I’m pretty convinced that I don’t possess the “blogging” gene… or that it’s at least a recessive gene. It has been over three months since I last posted a blog entry. I originally had high hopes of posting something weekly. So much for that! When I last posted, I was traveling to Nampa, ID at MAF’s headquarters for my flight training. Since then, life has been a blur. Here is a list of some of the things that we have been doing:

• One week of ground flight training
• Three weeks of aerial flight training
• Sold our house
• Traveled back to Colorado
• Moved into a rental property we own
• Prepped the rental property for sale
• Travel to Oregon for our daughter, Katelyn’s wedding
• Traveled back to ID for four days of “back country” flight training (i.e. learning to land on a postage stamp on the side of a mountain)
• Attended two intense weeks of additional training in Idaho with Lisa (everything from spiritual warfare to preparing for a new culture)
• Traveled back to Colorado
• Began selling half of what we own on eBay, Craigslist and Facebook
• Began donating the other half
• Attended a two day motorcycle basic rider’s course with Will so we can ride our scooters safely in Indonesia
• Traveled with Lisa to Minnesota for a week of learning how to build bridges with Muslims (because Christ died for them too)
• Begin preparing our rental house for a June 29^th closing

Needless to say, we’ve been busy. So busy, that almost every night we hit our pillows and wonder how we’ve been able to keep this pace. Within that question lies the reason for the title of this post. You see, despite the exhaustive pace, we’ve been blessed beyond measure. We are Joyfully Numb.

God’s word says “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” (Matt 11:28 NIV). Later in the Bible the Apostle Paul writes, “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thes 15:16-18). In these verses, God has provided the means for rest and joy… joy and rest… the way to be Joyfully Numb. He has proven Himself to us in so many ways! Our first house sold for asking price on the first day! Katelyn and Steve’s wedding was more wonderful than we could have imagined! I finished flight training without bending metal! We met many new friends who will be serving with MAF and had the chance to get reacquainted with others. And now our rental home is under contract. Throughout all of the chaos, hustle, and exhaustion He has proven Himself time and time again. He has rewarded our faith!

I know all of you who read this have your own share of challenges. Some are likely dealing with things that make the above list look like child’s play in comparison (our hearts and prayers go out to those individuals). Trials are part of life. But amidst the trials we are doing incredibly well… even though there hasn’t been a blog entry in three plus months. Now we’re about five weeks from our planned departure for Indonesia and as long as our visas are approved we’ll meet that schedule. The pace continues and this is such an exciting time. We are so astounded by His abundant provision!

Sledding on I-80…

I’m sitting in a hotel just north of Salt Lake City after yesterday’s… interesting… day of driving. I’ve driven through Wyoming on Interstate 80 dozens of times, but Tuesday’s drive included two highway closures and over two-hundred miles of white-knuckle ice driving! I have to admit that it was pretty cool to be at the head of the pack once they opened up the interstate after the second closure (see picture). It was way better that mixing it up with all the eighteen-wheelers, in near zero visibility, after it opened the first time! Needless to say, I’m taking my time before getting on the road to finish the drive to Idaho this morning, and I thought this would be a good opportunity to post a quick ministry update.

First… a huge PRAISE!!! Our house just sold on the first day with a full price offer! WOW! Lisa and I have had just a little time to reflect how God moved mightily to bless us with more than we could have imagined. The price, the scheduled timeline for closing and of course, the much abbreviated period of keeping the house in “show ready condition” seem to affirm that we are in His will as we prepare for our move this summer. But, He is still faithful to build our trust and dependence too. Tomorrow, Collene has surgery to have a tumor removed from her breast; something that nobody ever wants their child to deal with. Nevertheless, all we see this as a chance to lean more on Him. Please pray that everything goes well, she recovers quickly and completely and that the tumor is benign (the doctors are 95% sure that it is!).

Tomorrow I start my back country flight training at MAF’s headquarters in Nampa, ID. It will last about a month before a short beak for Katelyn and Steve’s wedding and then more training in late April and early May. We are currently about 93% funded; about 96% if we include verbal commitments! We are so AMAZED at how God has brought so many onto our team of supporters! Now with just a few hundred dollars of monthly support still needed, we can focus more sharply on the moving process and our remaining training. We are so incredibly grateful for all of you who have been supporting us with your prayers and finances. Please know that we consider you to be with us every step of the way as we draw a little closer to fulfilling Christ’s desire (Matthew 28:18-20). And please consider joining us financially if that is something you feel the Lord is leading you to do (www.maf.org/larson or 1-800-FLYS-MAF (359-7623)).

Letting go…

As we prepare to leave for Indonesia this summer, one of the most difficult things we are experiencing is letting go. We are currently in the process of getting rid of most everything we own, and that means letting go of some things that have been with us for decades. We’ve also begun the process of “letting go” of ties we have with dear friends and family who we are used to seeing on a regular basis. Our relatively stable family life is something else we’re preparing to let go of. Through all of this, God is answering our prayers to become more dependent on Him and He has been teaching us some valuable lessons.

Probably the most valuable lesson has to do with letting go in a way we hadn’t really expected. Over the last two weeks we’ve had to face some very challenging issues dealing with our oldest daughter’s upcoming marriage. The subjects were challenging to us because we hadn’t realized the extent we needed to let go of our daughter so that she could become one with her future husband. Sure, we knew that she didn’t need us to parent her as we had during her upbringing, but I suppose we both had this unrealistic hope that our influence would still ring loudest in her life. Well, we just learned that that isn’t necessarily the case anymore. And while we were no doubt slow in our recognition of this fact, it is something we are very much aware of now. We have had to let go of our concern for her that we once clung to so strongly and let her, and her future husband, begin to exercise their own discernment, decision making and responsibility.  As we hesitantly allowed the Lord to pry open our grip on our daughter, we again began to see the blessing that always seems to accompany being obedient to Him.

Letting go is not a new lesson for us. We have learned the blessing of trusting Him. So it is interesting that each new experience in our faith walks still catches us somewhat by surprise. He has to remind us to trust that our lives will continue, and even improve, as we exercise the faith required in following the path which is causing us to let go in the first place. If you are anything like we are, that can be pretty challenging. Any call by Him to let something go, whether it be a daily routine, a favorite piece of furniture, your comfort zone, or maybe your child, requires faith in Him and His plan. This is where the opportunity to grow in dependence presents itself… and this where His reward is realized. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” I don’t know about you, but “lacking nothing” sounds very good to me.

We certainly weren’t excited to go through the emotional strain that we experienced in the last few weeks, especially when that was on top of an already very busy period of transition, but we have been longing to grow in our dependence on God. Have you ever recognized that there is little need to depend on someone or something else when things are rosy? God permits us to experience trials so we have opportunities to test our faith, persevere, grow and then taste His sweet reward. We are so excited for our daughter, her fiancé, and the covenant they are about to enter into. We are excited for the reward that awaits us all as we gain a new son! And as we leave our way of life here in the US. But it recently became obvious that the blessings in all these things starts with embracing the challenge associate with letting go.

The Fish Tank and 2015…

I don’t think it is any secret that we are new to blogging. As such, I’m still trying to figure out what to post, how often, how long, etc.  We’ve also recently increased our blog intake by reading the posts of others. I’ve noticed that some are great at keeping followers up-to-date regarding their life’s events and others dive deep into thought provoking threads. I feel like I’m still trying to get the hang of all of this, so this blog is a combination of the latest haps and something you might decide to ponder.

The life event… last week we sold our fish tank. That may seem like a very minor deal to you, but it has major significance for me. The fish tank has been part of our house for the past ten plus years. In fact, I’ve had some sort of aquarium for most of my adult life. Fortunately Lisa has been willing to allow it and she has done a wonderful job of incorporating it into our décor. But after I added two cannibalistic fish who ate all but two of the tank’s occupants, I realized it was best to let go. A Craigslist ad was posted, and it was sold to some lucky fish enthusiast. Why is that significant? Well, the fish tank was the first major household belonging that was sold to prepare for our summer move to Indonesia. A move that seems more “real” with each passing day, or in this case, item sold. And that is my segway to the deeper topic… our move.

Every New Year people look with anticipation towards what the next 365 days will hold. Many make resolutions. Others set goals. Some just hope. In past years we have been no different, but this year promises to be very different. The changes which lie ahead this year will be some of the most significant changes of our lives. Significant changes often bring fear, especially when there is so much unknown. However, God has shown us that this journey He has us on is different… that His perfect peace casts out fear.

In the next six months, we plan to sell most of our worldly possessions, including our house, cars, furniture, etc, I’ll learn how to safely get airplanes into and out of airfields I have never remotely considered before, Lisa will learn how to run a “bare-bones” household (including how to cook in the third world), we’ll both be part of a deep study focusing on the Muslim faith, and then we’ll move to the other side of the world with Will and Josh. Needless to say, these are some pretty significant changes! Yet, we both feel that we have never been closer to God’s will for our lives. I’m 50, Lisa is 29-ish, and at times we honestly feel like kids in a candy shop when we think about how much excitement and adventure this year holds.

On January 4^th I read the following in my go-to devotional, My Utmost for His Highest:

“Wait for God’s timing and He will do it without any heartache or disappointment.”

We thank God for His timing and all that He has in store for us! We don’t approach 2015 with ignorance or naivety. We know that we’ll need to become even more dependent on Him. We know we will need an INCREDIBLE amount of prayer support from family and friends. And we will be praying for you too – that you will grow more intimately with Him and conform more to His will for your life in 2015!

Thanksgiving

Years ago I learned the importance of memorizing Scripture. Verses like Joshua 1:8 and Psalm 119:11 are just a few examples of why this is important. So, being a bit of a minimalist, I started with simple verses that were easier to remember. One set of verses was particularly easy: I Thessalonians 15:16-18, “Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” (NIV). Verse 16 is just two words… I could memorize that in, what, a couple of hours! J Needless to say, the collection quickly became something I could meditate on day and night. But to what end? Is it really possible to do what the verses say? Can I be joyful always? Pray without stopping? Or give thanks in all things? The verses say that doing those things is actually God’s will for me in Christ Jesus! Wow, people search for God’s will all the time, and here it is in three of the most easily memorized verses in the Bible. While living like the verses say might seem a bit Pollyannaish, remember that the Jesus said, “All things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23, NIV).

I saw this joy and thankfulness lived out in a place I never imagined I would find it. In 2010, our family went on a missions trip to an impoverished area of the Dominican Republic. The area was called Las Brisas, and we served for a week at “Seeds of Hope” community center. Seeds is supported by an organization called VisionTrust.  It is a place where children of Las Brisas go to receive help with school work, a hot meal, and Biblical training. While we were there, our entire family was amazed to see the joy on the faces of people who had so very little. Children and adults alike! My amazement turned to inquiry. How could they be so joyful when they literally had almost nothing? The people of that community made an indelible impression on me. They had so little, yet somehow they had more than I did. As I reflected often on what I experienced, I recognized that they were living out 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 so much more effectively than I was. But how?

God soon helped me to see what I had been missing. Living the way the verses say God desires, begins and ends with me choosing to do so – just like so many other places where the Bible offers instruction. I recognized that I have to choose to be joyful, prayerful and thankful. But why were those seemingly poor people in Las Brisas so much better at making that choice than most of those on our team? They lived in conditions far worse than what I would consider acceptable for our pet dog, Molly! Yet they smiled… incessantly!

According to most data, we live in the most affluent country in the world. We are immeasurably blessed! Shouldn’t that create a joyful spirit, gratitude in prayer, and thankfulness in life? Obviously it should. Yet, why do so many of us struggle to recognize this? I remember a course about stress that defined the same as “unmet expectations”. Maybe our expectations in the U.S. keep us from appreciating the countless blessings that we already have. I know they often do in my life. I’m inclined to let my mind desire a bigger house, nicer car, or better paying job when I think about those things in the context of my surroundings. Yet those in Las Brisas barely had a shack to live in, a car wasn’t even an option, and they were lucky if they made $2 a day! But they had so much joy!

Today is Thanksgiving. Every year in the U.S. we take a day to remind ourselves to be thankful, and with good cause. But how much do we miss in our celebration? It’s sometimes hard for me to live out the verses I memorized years ago, but I’m reminded to at least try. Instead of allowing something to steal my joy, I choose to appreciate the abundance that surrounds me. My heart’s desire is to please my God and Savior, to do His will. I pray that He will help me to recognize the enormous blessings I have and choose to be thankful in all circumstances. I pray that I will rejoice always, especially for the immeasurable gift I have in Christ. And I pray that I will continually seek God with gratitude. My prayer is the same for you!

Doubt and Fear…

I am convinced that we Christians limit God through doubting His ability and fearing what others might think.

When Lisa and I were participating in our foster parenting support group we had the privilege to become friends with a number of incredible couples. A few were part of a home church that met in house near where we live. On more than one occasion, a member of that group prayed for healing in our class. Once it was for an unborn baby who was certain to be born abnormal because of its mothers continued drug and alcohol use. Another time it was for a classmate’s injured wrist. One member even prayed boldly for healing at the Fort Carson gymnasium, stopping in the middle of a basketball game surrounded by onlookers. The baby was born completely normal, the wrist was healed and the basketball injury was too!!! Did these Christians have something that the rest of us believers don’t?

As I have recently thought about my own doubt and fear, the Lord brought the story in the Bible’s book of Mark, chapter 9, to mind. In the story, a man brings his son, “possessed by a spirit”, to Jesus. He explains about his son’s condition and the inability of Christ’s disciples to drive the spirit out. Jesus replies with, “You unbelieving generation… Bring the boy to me.” (Mark 9:19, NIV). The boy is brought before Jesus and the father pleas, “But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” (v. 21). Jesus replies, “If you can’? (I can hear the hint of sarcasm) Everything is possible for one who believes.” The father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” (v. 24).

I can so relate to that boy’s father! I wholeheartedly believe that “…with God, all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26, NIV). The same is seen in Genesis 18:14a, Job 42:2, and Jeremiah 32:27. There is nothing that our God, creator of the universe, cannot do. And I am his son! Paul says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” in Romans 8:31b (NIV). Yet I am so often constricted by unbelief.

Why do I let doubt and fear rule so often and limit my faith?!? I am the kid of the King! He is on my side! So often I allow what others will think limit Him and what I know is His desire for my life. Oh, how I pray that I can be more and more like my brothers from the home church I mentioned earlier… more and more like my brother Christ. I can! He is for me! I experienced this recently when I prayed for a dear friend who was allowing fear to dominate. His blood pressure was high. It was something that ran in his family. But, in his case, he was certain that it would limit, or perhaps end, his career as a commercial airline pilot. Of course, the worry did just what you would expect. On the night before his FAA flight physical, I asked if I could pray with him. Doubt crept in for a second, but then I remembered who I was in Christ! I boldly prayed that his blood pressure would no longer be high and that his fear would be overcome with confidence – that he would pass his physical. Guess what? He did! His blood pressure was nearly normal. He later shared how he was overcome with fear the morning of the exam until he realized what it was doing to him. He remembered our prayer and what he was doing to himself. He turned to God and He gave him peace.

Why do so many of us allow doubt and fear to limit all that God has given us? I pray that we won’t any longer. I pray that we all will continue to grow in faith and not be hindered by unbelief!

“Fear knocked… faith answered… there was no one there.” (unknown)