May 26, 2010

The Choice:

There are a few denominations of Churches here in Zambia that mix in cultural things with Christianity. For example the Zionist Church likes to wear bracelets and necklaces and other things for protection and blessing and so on. They say that the items are blessed by God, and that is why they wear them. They put their whole security in that item.

We had just finished with a powerful meeting and I was sitting with some of the leaders of the area and encouraging the pastors. I noticed that one of the pastors had a rope bracelet on and another had bracelets and a necklace. God told me to ask about it so I did. (I don’t usually approach these “touchy” issues unless I know God is behind it and not myself) The guy was a pastor of a Zionist Church and he said that he was wearing the bracelet for protection. I asked him if he had Christ inside of him and he said yes. Then I asked him if he trusted Christ for his protection or if he trusted the bracelet and he said Christ. So I asked him why he had to wear the bracelet and he said because the bracelet is blessed by God. We went back and forth several times with lots of questions to why he trusted the bracelet. Finally by the end of the conversation he said that he believed Christ in him was enough. He made the choice to choose Christ for his protection instead of the bracelet. He removed the bracelet and gave it to me. I told him then that he has a choice. He could either choose to go find another bracelet and put it on or he could put his full trust in Christ. I also told him that the same goes for his family. He is the head of his family and should encourage them in the same way. I warned him that he will remain with this choice every day that he wakes up. He will have to put his trust in God or something or someone else. The other one with the bracelets and necklace listened to the whole conversation and cut off his ropes as well and gave them to me. It was great to be able to encourage these people in such a great way. It is always a blessing to be used by God. When I left that gathering I threw the ropes in the fire.

You, too, have a choice. We may not put our trust in ropes back in the states, but we do things very similar. How many of us put trust in mans word over God’s? You worry about a financial situation when God says that He will take care of it, and you still worry about it until someone says “I will give you $500” and then you don’t worry anymore. Where are you putting your trust. Is it in people or is it in God? You have the choice, He has already made the promises.

Leading:

God is teaching me what it is to be a leader. I just recently helped lead a team of 22 college students out to the bush to do ministry. God had been preparing me for this for the past couple of months. The things He put on my heart for this adventure is that in order to be a great leader for this team, and to be a great leader used by God, I would have to become a greater servant to both the team and God. I was blessed greatly during this time. It was a very mature team so I was able to spend the majority of my time serving them and encouraging them. I tried to develop a personal relationship with over half the team and God really used me. I was usually one of the first ones awake and one of the last ones to sleep. I worked side by side with them doing the chores, and through the personal relationship we developed I was able to encourage them both in the ministry we were doing and their future ahead of them. I found great joy in serving them. I might not have been able to accomplish all of what I wanted to do, but serving them fully seemed greater. Besides, if I can be used by God to stir up the potential in 11 or 12 people, how much more can God accomplish through all of them than he can through me alone. They did an amazing job ministering to the villagers and a great work was accomplished for the Kingdom. Thank you Jesus!

Walking on Water:

I was in a church the other day and we were in the middle of worship. The choir was singing and then some of the people in the church started getting up and dancing. I thought to myself, that looks like fun, why not make a fool of myself. So I got up and started dancing with them. 5 minutes later I looked down and I saw myself dancing in perfect rhythm. If you know me, I can't dance at all. But for some reason I was dancing great. So after realizing this I went back at it and totally sucked. Lost all rhythm and motion and everything. I felt like I was living out the story of Peter walking on water. Atleast I got a big laugh out of it.