The Awkward Evangelist in the Bible Belt

So I have a confession for you. I really do not like living in the Bible belt when it comes to evangelism. I really cannot stand it. It makes me cringe and cry out to God. I am a baby whining to move. My heart longs for international things. It has always been this way, I love hanging out in airports because it is the gateway to the world. Anyone can walk by from any place. It is quite amazing. I really desire strongly to move to Dubai because it is one of the most international places in the world. I cannot even begin to tell you how I cry and moan about this to God. Oh how blessed I am that He loves me just the way I am and is not taken back by this.

In fact I believe He has put that desire there. After all who in their right mind would really want to leave all this comfort in America and the hospitality of the Bible belt to move to the middle of the desert in the middle of a potential battle zone? A place where waring countries are close to one another, where pirates sail the gulf, and where terrorists live and organize nearby. Yet still it is not too much different from here if you can be sitting in a movie theater and be shot these days. Yet if it were my flesh crying out I think I would be saying no thank you I will gladly sit here at home drinking my Starbucks and watching So You Think You Can Dance.

So back to evangelism in the Bible belt. Oh it is so incredibly hard. There are lots of people here dying who do not know Christ. They are people who are attending church. They are the people who are following culture or tradition. Now before you begin to hate me for typing this, please understand I cannot know anyone's heart. I cannot know for certain if a person belongs to Christ or not. However, the Bible tells us we will know them by how they love and their fruit. These are observable things. I think they can give us a good gauge to go by.

Again, salvation is not about perfection either or works. It is about what Christ has done. It is letting Him be Lord of your life. It is about following Him. He molds us and changes us more and more like Him as we follow Him, as we behold Him and accept by faith what He has done for us. His beauty and Majesty should stir our hearts. It does stir the hearts of those who belong to Him. The mention of His name is lovely to others who love Him.

Now back to evangelism. I walk through my day with children in tow. Sometimes we reflect Christ and sometimes we do not. Again, it is not about perfection it is about receiving His free gift of salvation. We are all works in progress. Yet what I have found living here in the belt is that I think it is safe to say everyone has heard the message of the gospel. So when I talk about Jesus and what He means in my life it should resonate. Either with disdain or a sense of unity.

Yet here I hear things like I go to church, or I try to be good, or my brother's a pastor.  I am taken back. After talking further people are convinced this is enough. If they are nice and go to church they are safe. It is like talking to someone with a glaze over their eyes. They are blinded by something, they are veiled but believe they are safe in the gospel. I don't get it and my words fall to the ground. I try to tell them the truth but they cannot seem to hear.

So the point of my post, this is my frustration. My pastor has challenged us to pray for our city and reach our city for Christ. So I will go out and pray and speak. I am going to chronicle what happens here. I sadly have really just stopped talking to people because I have found it hopeless but I am seeing this is wrong and as long as God has us here in the belt I am to be a missionary where He has planted me. So there I said it. I have been wrong to see it as hopeless, Christ can reach anyone even those in the belt who don't think they need Him because they go to church.

Stay tuned....I am sure this adventure will be embarrassing to me yet holds some things beautiful for Him.

A Journey Through Isaiah

I am taking a personal journey through the book of Isaiah. I thought I will chronicle what I am learning and specific questions via blog. So you are more than welcome to join me in this. This will not be like the typical Bible studies I have done because I am doing this mostly because I believe God has lead me into it. And well, the blog is a place I can just let thoughts flow.

Though I do not have the conviction of making this into a full study for others like I have done in the past I still think you can benefit from it if you are interested in Isaiah. Of course any Bible study is more meaningful with good discussion so if you really want to go through and discuss with me what you are learning I would be open to that and love the companionship.

I do believe there is so much we can learn from what was written in the past. So much to learn about our Savior. All I want is to know Christ and I believe this book will open my eyes in new and fresh ways of beholding Him. I pray it will grow me deeper in HIM.

In the Midst of our City Lives a Missionary Quietly Working - Living Love

I posted about Living Love and how hard it is and how it requires great sacrifice last week. We must count the cost! Here is a post from my friend along the same lines. You will be blessed in reading it. It does remind me of those stories you read in those books about missionaries. Yet those are not stories of the past, they are stories for us here and now as God writes our stories.

I am inspired by her story. I am inspired by the ache that has grown in her heart over these few years to take a bigger action, a bigger task all for the sake of His glory. It is amazing faith in action. Love walking around. The hands and feet of Christ. His words, His mercy, His hope. It pours forth like a faucet from this family and I praise God who allows me to be in friendship with them. It takes iron to sharpen iron.

I know I have read books like Radical by Platt, 7 by Hatmaker, and Anything by Allen. They so inspire me but these people are authors that I do not know. They are not really real to me because I have no connection to them by seeing their real lives in action. They seem to be what they write but it is a greater thing to actually walk alongside and experience this kind of life lived out to the full in person. That is what a blessing it is walking alongside Kara and her family. Iron does sharpen iron. She is a tool He uses to continually sharpen me. And though painful at times I am so thankful and more like Jesus through it.

Our time here is so temporary! Let's use our time wisely for what really counts. Living like Jesus.

Read her current story, you will be blessed. Go to this link.

Helping Others is not Easy but Necessary - Living Love

Picture taken from Rock the Capital.

If you saw a kid homeless on the street, would you just walk on  by or would you have a desire to rescue him from that life?

If he didn't have parents would you give him a home?

I hope your answer is yes that you would do everything in your power to help otherwise I would question your humanness.

Now what if he did have parents? Yet what if the parents are not willing to take the steps to get their children to security? Or worse they are hurting these children in some way?

What then?

Then it is a mess - a full blown mess.

Usually in America the government intervenes. The kids would go into "the system." Clear lines would be drawn for the parents to follow. If they chose not to follow these given lines (despite the vast number of resources provided them) they forfeit their parental rights, making them wards of the state deeming them adoptable.

Giving them the opportunity to have stability though it is through broken places. Hopefully a forever family who will provide love and stability will rise up and fill the void the original parents forfeited. It was their God-given role but it is forfeited due to their sin.

Now what if you were that family who jumped into the mess keeping the kids out of the "system"? What if things were not changing? What if the rightful God-given parents refused to fight for stability and the very lives of their children? Would you risk it all to save them? Would you enter into that mess? Would you do whatever it takes to provide love and stability? Would you love them like your own? Would you turn your head and walk away? That would be easier yet we know it is not right.

These things are messy and full of uncomfortable emotions. It takes a lot of patient endurance and selfless love. Sometimes loving someone well is choosing the hard things. People will be hurt through this brokenness through entering into it.

YET

God can use brokenness. He became broken and died, later raised to life so that things can be reconciled, redeemed, healed, and restored. He is amazing and all I know is we can always trust Him. We must. Otherwise we miss living life to the full. Fully embracing it. We can chose to numb ourselves out of the pain, or we can look to the One who endured all pain. The One who gives us hope. There are so many orphans in the world today. It breaks God's heart. It should break ours. How is God calling you to help? How can I pray for you? It will not be easy, no true sacrifice is. Yet we can do the hard things because He has done them first. He fills us with His Spirit and in turn we can live fully for HIM no matter how hard.

Get Lots of Good ebooks at an Amazing Price

I am extremely honored to be included in this book bundle alongside wonderful ladies! If interested go here to purchase this amazing bundle of ebooks.  Hurry because this offer lasts until the 25th!



...

Omnibus: a book containing reprints of a number of works

French, from Latin, for all, dative plural of omnis, a combining form meaning "all," used in the formation of compound. First known use: 1829

.   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .   .

What is the Homeschool eBook Omnibus?

A digital stockpile of books to carry you through the school year with encouragement and practical how tos.

There are 53 eBooks in the collection, valued at over $350. The authors want to bless you by offering the entire collection for only $25. That is less than 50-cents per eBook.

How long will this sale last, exactly?

The sale will begin at 12:01am ET on Tuesday, August 21st and end at midnight on Saturday, August 25th.

What eBooks will I receive?

   
• Truth in the Tinsel : written by Amanda White from Impress Your Kids

   
• Pursuit of Proverbs 31 : written by Amy Bayliss from Cajun Joie de Vivre

   
• Road Trip USA Geography & History Curriculum : written by Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler

   
• Expedition Earth: A Journey Through God’s World : written by Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler

   
• Boyschooling: The Fine Art of Homeschooling Boys : written by Jamerrill Stewart from Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling

   
• Notebooking Success : written by Jimmie Lanley from Notebooking Fairy

   
• Essay Tune Up : written by Jimmie Lanley from Jimmie's Collage

   
• Designing Your Language Arts Curriculum : written by Jimmie Lanley from Jimmie's Collage

   
• Weekly Homeschool Planner : written by Jolanthe Erb from Homeschool Creations

   
• Simply Homeschool: Having Less Clutter and More Joy in Your Homeschool : written by Karen DeBeus from Simply Living...for Him 

   
• How to Have Your Cake and Eat It : written by Mandi Ehman from Life, Your Way 

   
• Back to HomeSchool : written by Misty Krasawski from Encouraging Beautiful Motherhood

   
• 31 Days to a Better Spouse : written by Ashley Pichea from Ashley Pichea.com

   
• What Your Child Needs to Know When : written by Robin Sampson from Heart of Wisdom 

   
• Plan It, Don't Panic : written by Stephanie Langford from Keeper of the Home 

   
• Advanced Penny Pinching : written by Tabitha Philen from Meet Penny 

   
• So, You Think You Wanna Homeschool? : written by Tiffany Manley from Sweet Phenomena

   
• Mindset for Moms : written by Jamie Martin from Steady Mom

   
• The Classic Housewife's ABC's of Eclectic Homeschool : written by Amber Oliver from Classic Housewife 

   
• Homeschooling with Purpose : written by Amy Roberts from Raising Arrows

   
• Organize Your Homeschool : written by Bethany LeBedz from Bethany LeBedz.com

   
• Homeschool Your Preschooler on $1 a Day : written by Cheryl Moeller from Mom Laughs

   
• Aunt Sarah's Alaskan Cookbook with curriculm : written by Cheryl Moeller from Mom Laughs

   
• NaturExplorer: A Fungus Among Us : written by Cindy West from Our Journey Westward

   
• ABCs of Encouragement : written by Dawn Perkins from The Momma Knows

   
• Classic Literature Unit Study Mega Pack : written by Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler

   
• 51 Frugal Father-Daughter Dates : written by Ashley Pichea from Ashley Pichea.com

   
• Help for Heart of the Homeschool Mom : written by Jamerrill Stewart from Holy Spirit-Led Homeschooling

   
• Planner Perfect eBook : written by Jenny Penton from Planner Perfect

   
• Circle Time: Plan the Best Part of Your Day : written by Kendra Fletcher from Preschoolers and Peace

   
• Nurturing Creativity : written by Renee Tougas from FIMBY

   
• Princess Training for the King's Glory : written by Richelle McFarlin from Under the Golden Apple Tree

   
• Cut Your Homeschool Day in Half : written by Tamara Chilver from Teaching With TLC

   
• 321 Stop: Stop Running and Start Living : written by Lorilee Lippincott from Loving Simple Living

   
• Girl Power, God's Way: Living Out Biblical Womanhood : written by Angela Parsley from Refresh My Soul Ministries

   
• Managing Multiple Ages in the Homeschool : written by Christine Field

   
• Preplan for Your Best Homeschool Year Ever : written by Bethany LeBedz from Bethany LeBedz.com

   
• Blogger Behave : written by Laura Booz from 10 Million Miles

   
• K4 Curriculum : written by Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler

   
• Letter of the Week : written by Erica from Confessions of a Homeschooler

   
• Lexi's Homeschool Diary (a novel) : written by Cheryl and MacKenzie Moeller from Mom Laughs

   
• Baby Saves Christmas (a novel) with curriculum : written by Cheryl Moeller from Mom Laughs

   
• Counting and Numbers Notebooking Pages : written by Melissa Telling from Lilliput Station

   
• Geometry Notebooking Pages : written by Melissa Telling from Lilliput Station

   
• Honoring the Rhythm of Rest : written by Daniele Evans from Domestic Serenity

   
• Copywork for McGuffeys Eclectic Primer : written by Amy Maze from Living and Learning at Home

   
• File Folder Games : written by Lauren Hill from Mama's Learning Corner

   
• Training Your Children in Home Economics : written by Angie Kauffman from Many Little Blessings

   
• Bedtime Learning Book : written by Richelle McFarlin from Under the Golden Apple Tree

   
• The Ugly Duckling : written by Richelle McFarlin from Under the Golden Apple Tree

   
• Hands-On Learning: Cross-Curricular Projects to Make Learning Come Alive! : written by Kris Bales from Weird, Unsocialized Homeschoolers

   
• Homeschool Road Map : written by Alyse Scicluna Lehrke from Write Foundations

   
• Unplug Your Mind and Recharge Your Soul : written by Karen DeBeus from Simply Living...for Him

Why are you selling this collection so cheap?

The authors are all homeschool moms like you who have just bought a multitude of school supplies and curriculum for the new academic year. They know that money can be tight at this time of the year. That's why each of the authors wants to give back to the homeschool community with this ridiculously discounted eBook Omnibus.

Is there any other information I need to know before purchasing?

Yes, the download links for the eBooks will be valid for only 2 weeks. You must be sure to download all files before September 8th. Please remember to back up your files as well. iHN and the authors cannot send you copies of eBooks that have been deleted.

Each of the eBooks in the Omnibus is copyrighted by the original author. Your purchase does not entitle you to share the files or upload them anywhere online where others can access them.

Book Review: Running for My Life by Lopez Lomong

I received a copy of this ebook free of charge from the publisher for the purpose of review.

This is an amazing book. The full title, Running for My Life: One Lost Boy's Journey from the Killing Fields of Sudan to the Olympic Games explains what this book is about. It covers Lomong's journey from the time he was kidnapped as a boy by rebel soldiers til 2011. In 2008 he was a runner in the 1500 track and field event for the USA. It is an amazing story of God's grace and how God's hand was on Lopez the entire way. It is a must read. It will inspire you. It will move your heart to worship God who is sovereign over all things even things we cannot understand.

I really want you to read this book because it is a very inspirational story. It chronicles the author's life yet how he can clearly see God in his life through the good and the bad. Also, the author has partnered with World Vision to help those in Sudan who need help in getting clean water, education, medicine, and farming. Just purchasing a copy of this book would send some of the proceeds to this worthy cause.

I am not going to tell you much else because I want you to read it. I want you to wonder how a child from Sudan ends up an American citizen. I want you to wonder how he became a runner worthy to compete in the Olympics. I want you to support this worthy cause. So get it and read it for yourself.

I am very excited to see how he runs in the Olympics on Saturday. He has already qualified for the mens 5000. He is running for a medal on Saturday. He is very aware of the importance of running for something bigger than himself. He runs for God, for USA, for Sudan, to help those who cannot help themselves. 

You can get a copy of this book from Amazon here.

Why Marriage Matters - Why We Must Take a Stand

Simply put, and if you do not read any further this is what you need to get from the true Christian perspective, marriage is a sacred union that is meant to represent the relationship of Christ and His church to the world. Period. (Ephesians 5).

What is sacred we cannot tolerate anyone trampling on. Marriage is sacred ground not to be entered into lightly but so holy you need to remove your shoes to enter into its holiness. It is not something to do to make you happy yet the joys of if its rapture are unspeakable. It is only but a shadow of what the final consummation will be of Christ uniting fully with His church. The beautiful bride He is coming back for that is making herself ready as we wait for His return (Revelation 19). It is an indescribable mystery yet God has given us a shadow of it through imperfect human marriage. What grace.

We ruin this image through adultery, divorce, same sex marriage, sex before marriage, and marriage of more than one individual. None of these things are God's plan for marriage. None of them appropriately reflect the image of Christ and His church the great romance of the  ages. We live in a broken world here. We groan and wait for His return yet while we are here we need to treat what is sacred as sacred (Hebrews 13:4). When you take away the institution of marriage defined as the union of one man and one woman that is suppose to be an everlasting covenant you trample on what is holy.

This is not hate speech. This is not condemnation, for if you are in HIM there is no condemnation for you. I have desecrated holy ground. I am a sinner. I know the bite of trampling the holy very personally. Yet my Savior, Jesus Christ, has forgiven me, loved me, and saved me from treading on dangerous ground. I get it. We want to be "happy". We run to all things that we think will make us happy. However wherever your search takes you the only place to be completely full of joy is in HIM. Every other false pursuit is the search that without Him will leave you empty.

The picture of marriage needs to be protected, It needs to point us to Christ. It needs to help us remember that He is coming back for us because while He is away He is preparing a place for us. It was the first human institution made because He saw it fit that it was not good for man to be alone. He created woman to complement. It is only in this union that life reflects Him more clearly.  (Genesis 1-3)

How is it that America has become so sensitive to others beliefs besides those of the Christian? We tolerate so many absurdities because of the love of humanity. We are free to worship whatever we want. I respect that though I may not agree. The institution of marriage is a big deal to Christians. It needs to be protected like other religions have what they would call as sacred. I do not go trampling those things. This issue is one that we must stand up for. We must protect for the sake of Christ.

So today we will eat at Chick Fil A though this is not about chicken. We do it because as believers we need to support one another and aid one another when being attacked for our beliefs. Christ tells us we are blessed when we are persecuted for His names sake and Lord forbid it be happening here in the land of the free that we call America. The land that was founded on these Christian principles. The land where many lives shed blood for them. Lord help us.