Abundant Life or a Slow Death

“All I want in life is such circumstances

as may best enable me to serve thee in the world;

To this end I leave all my concerns in thy hand,

but let me not be discouraged,

for this hinders my spiritual fervency;

Enable me to undertake some task for thee,

for this refreshes and animates my soul,

so that I could endure all hardships and labours,

and willingly suffer for thy name.

But, O what a death it is to strive and labour,

to be always in a hurry and yet do nothing!”

~Valley of Vision, pg. 176

What do you do when you are in those spiritually dry times?  What do you do when you feel like you are really struggling to keep your head above water both spiritually and physically?  I have a few plan of attacks that I use during those times.  I have to confess that recently I have been struggling in my prayer life.  Not that I am not praying.  I just wonder if it is doing any good or if God is actually listened.  I know I am not the only one.  

I was reading something that a lady in leadership wrote about these kind of times.  She mentioned that she likes to pray through the Puritans’ prayers in Valley of Vision.  Years ago, I did this very thing, but then the book was put on the shelf and I forgot about it.  I immediately went to find it, dusted it off and started praying through it.  

And so today, I came to the prayer that an excerpt is from at the beginning of this post.  Sometimes, one of these prayers stops me in the my tracks.  It causes me to ponder, wonder and confess.  It feeds my soul and makes me long for more of God.

There are circumstances in my life that made this jump off the page.  Church problems, language difficulties, the busyness of preparing for our upcoming furlough among other trials.  The Lord knew all of this when He arranged the timing of when I would come to this prayer.  

If I genuinely want to serve the Lord, then I must believe that the circumstances I am in are the best for me to serve in at this time.  This leads me to leave all of my concerns or worries in His capable hands.  

David encouraged his heart in the Lord.  (I Samuel 30:6)  I must also do this if I do not want to be hindered in my spiritual fervency or my service.  When I do this, my service for the Lord will be with a refreshed heart and I will have a new fervor in my soul.  This leads to being able to endure whatever hardships the Lord allows while doing this service . 

This leads to the last statement quoted “But, O what a death it is to strive and labour, “to be always in a hurry and yet do nothing!”  I heard recently that the new “fine” is “busy.”  You know.  Someone asks, “How are you today?” and you respond, “Busy!”  I can’t tell you how many times, I have done this.  It implies that we are always in a hurry.  We have to get to the next task pronto.  If we don’t, it might not get done or at least be done on time.  So we spend our days in a hurry, running from task to task.  At the end of the day, we feel as if we have accomplished nothing.  Ever been there?  

As I thought about this, I was reminded of John 15:5.  “I am the vine, ye are the branches:  He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit:  for without me, ye can do nothing.”  Often when we are rushing around, doing much to serve God, He is far from our thoughts until we hit a brick wall and don’t know how to handle something.  Then we cry out for help.  

So today, I confessed that I don’t want to strive, labour and always be in a hurry doing nothing.  I want to do only the things that God has for me for that point in time and do it in His strength while abiding in Him.  Then I can enjoy that abundant life He came to give me, instead of feeling like I am dying a slow death.  

If you’re struggling, I would like to encourage you to read some of the old treasure books written by those who have gone before us.  Valley of Vision will encourage your heart.  You have to read it slowly in order to comprehend what is being said since the language is more formal than the language we use today.  But slowing down is a good thing…

“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

~John 10:10

*Kim serves in Japan and posts regularly at Life in the 10/40 Window.

Short Term Mission Trips: Why You Should Go

"I can talk until I'm blue in the face about setting our sights on the nations, but until someone actually goes and see the nations in person, he or she is likely to underestimate the urgency of God's global purpose in their lives." ~David Platt 

Amen! Recently, I've seen several articles bashing short-term mission trips.  I thought maybe I was just not seeing the positive ones because I hadn't looked for them, so I did a quick Google search: "short-term mission trips." Of the first five links, three were negative posts.  Two actually discouraged anyone from going on short-term mission trips in their titles:  "If you're signed up for a short-term mission trip this summer, please just don't go." And the other, "Why you should consider cancelling your short-term mission trip." Honestly, I was floored at this perspective of short-term mission trips.  I've gone on them as a young student; I've led them as a youth leader; we've served as a family; and we'll be hosting our first team as missionaries later this year.  So, I began reading.  I began asking some questions:

• What is wrong with short-term missions?
• What is right with short-term missions?
• Are they helpful for the missionaries or do they hinder missions?
• Do they do more harm than good for the people whom they are serving?

Thankfully, I received some positive feedback from these questions.  And, I've seen some great blogs on how to do short-term missions well.  I'll provide those links, but my purpose isn't to tell you how to do it better or why it's not working--there are MANY authors who've researched a lot more than I have that can and have already done that.  I want to share how short-term missions impacted my life and led me to where I am today: a full-time missionary in Mexico.

Samara, Russia.  My first mission trip.

It was 1994; only three years after the "Iron Curtain" fell.  I was 16 years old, and my parents trusted Score International and Encounter Revival Ministries enough to put me on a plane to Russia for my first mission trip.  My first-ever flight.  We flew from NC to NYC then on to Moscow, Russia.  We explored Moscow, then took a 20-hour train trip south to Samara. I had to raise my own support: I wasn't part of a church group going and we didn't have fundraisers.  I had to wear dresses every day.  I learned a few cultural faux pas.  I ate some things (even to do this day, I'm not sure what they were.)  I learned a few Russian phrases and I bought a few souvenirs to bring back home.  I was expecting most of those things; but I wasn't expecting the life-changing moments God used to change my worldview.

Partnership in Ministry.  My church got behind me and sent me off on this mission trip.  They funded this trip, and when I returned, my pastor allowed me to share.  I was scared to death: a 16-year-old "kid" who had never spoken in front of the church like that before.  It was my first experience understanding how missionaries were able to do their work and the importance of reporting back to their church.

The surreal experience.  I was able to tour Moscow.  Moscow, Russia.  At 16 years old. I took a boat ride on the Volga River.  How awesome is that?  I saw the Kremlin and St. Basil's Cathedral.  And, yes, I took pictures.  You know what else I saw?  People in a village waiting for us to arrive because they heard we were bringing Bibles.  Children playing with toothbrushes still in the packets like swords because they didn't even know what they were.  People hungry for God's Word.  People hungry for the Gospel.  A church building that didn't even look like a "typical church building" because they couldn't.

Want to know what I remember most?  Cold showers.  No ice.  (Luxuries I take for granted.)  But, two moments are still in my memory as vividly as it was yesterday:  a woman who gave me a piece of chocolate after I gave my testimony and the Sunday morning church service.  That piece of chocolate was one of the sweetest and greatest gifts I've ever received, because it was an expression of sacrificial love.  And that Sunday morning gave me my first glimpse of Heaven:  singing hymns in different languages.  The same song.  The same praise. In different tongues.  Thank God for this short-term mission opportunity.

The United States and Lisbon, Portugal.

That's my 18-year-old self on the bottom right.  And I married that handsome guy on the top left.
Photo Credit: Encounter Revival Ministries
https://www.facebook.com/encounterrevival/

Between high school and college, I traveled with a ministry team around the US.  We were in a different church/school each week.  I got to see as much of the US as I could (I probably slept a lot!)  I had to fit all of my belongings in a suitcase or two and a small "closet" on the bus.  I had to eat what was prepared for me, sleep wherever a bed was provided, and participate in ministries that stretched me as an individual (and I didn't always get that right!) But, you know what I also got to do?  Take another short-term mission trip to Lisbon, Portugal.  Make family around the states.  See host families grow in Christ as we would return different times throughout the year.  Learn to rely on God for my support.  Realize what purpose God intended for me when I did pursue college. Meet my future husband.  Thank God for this short-term mission opportunity.

Michigan, Florida, New York.
Now, I'm the one helping and chaperoning mission trips for the youth groups for which my husband and I served at our local church.  And, no, they weren't always easy.  There were many frustrating times and moments. But, there were some great memories made and teenagers impacted to live for Christ.  And, if nothing else, a teenager chose to serve for a week as opposed to taking a vacation or sleeping or watching TV.  For at least one week, they put others before themselves.  And God worked in their lives.  Thank God for these short-term mission opportunities and the teenagers who chose to serve.

Partnerships.
Being exposed and participating in mission trips at an early age gave me a vision and desire to partner with missionaries. Since early on in our marriage, my husband and I have supported missionaries. As missionaries, we prayed God would continue to allow us to support those we've been supporting for years.  He not only allowed that to happen, but He's also allowed us to support even more missionaries here on the field.

Mexico.

Then...

After serving the Lord in our local churches and secular jobs for almost 20 years, God moved in the heart of my husband.  He felt called to serve with a missionary we knew in Mexico.  A missionary for whom my father had served on a short-term team from our church and our church had supported for many years. We first came as a family in 2014.  We spent a week and simply went with the missionary everywhere they went to see what they did.   My husband preached and I took pictures and video.  The purpose was to create a video presentation for the missionary's sending and supporting churches about his ministry here in Mexico.  I was very nervous that week and really wasn't sure if I could do this.  I even told God the first two days we were here: "I cannot do this.  Please do not send us here."  But, then, day three came.  We visited a little mountain town and saw where my dad built that church 14 years prior.  My heart turned.  I thought: "This is where we're going to serve one day." Fast forward four years later...we're serving in that town, among others here in Mexico.  We're helping a national pastor with two different churches in that same area I knew God had pulled me to four earlier.  In just a few months, we'll be hosting our first short-term mission team.  They plan to help us visit the people in those two communities where we are praying God would grow the local church congregations.  The missionaries and the pastor can't visit everyone in two towns by themselves, as well as serve the 25 other churches with which God has charged us.  We are thankful this team feels led to serve here and can't wait to have them be a part of what God is doing.  Thank God for these short-term mission opportunities.

Now.

So, if you have an opportunity to go on a short-term mission trip, GO! Go and soak in every bit of your time.  Soak in time with the missionary and glean from what they can teach you.  Soak in time with the people and learn "stuff" isn't what makes one blessed.  Soak in the time serving others.  Soak in the God who gave you the opportunity to serve Him in this way. Soak in the sights and sounds of another beautiful place with beautiful people.  Soak in how you have changed.  Meditate on that.  Meditate on how you can develop a greater partnership with your long-term missionary.  Please, just Go.

************************

Being well-prepared, intentional, and humble are three main themes I've read concerning successful short-term mission trips.  Here are a few resources to help navigate short-term missions.

Seven Keys to Successful Short-term mission trips: https://www.rightnowmedia.org/Training/Post/Preview/63334

David Platt on Making Short-term missions more effective. https://tifwe.org/interview-david-platt-on-making-short-term-mission-trips-more-effective/

Short term missions: redefining success.  https://www.challies.com/sponsored/short-term-missions-redefining-success/

Short-term mission trips that yield long-term success.  https://www.macucc.org/blogdetail/short-term-mission-trips-that-yield-long-term-success-9043164

In Defense of the Short-term missions trip. https://reachgloballatinamerica.org/2018/06/30/in-defense-of-the-short-term-missions-trip-part-1/

Aspas Brauðréttir - Asparagus Casserole

Aspas Brauðréttir

Asparagus Casserole - A family favorite

This casserole includes two things to which I was introduced when I came to Iceland, asparagus and bread casserole.  

There are a lot of different ways to make bread casseroles here. Some of them are hot; some are cold. Some are flat, and some even come in a roll.  Many of them are beautifully decorated with vegetables, seafoods, meats, and sauces. None of them are made for weight loss, but they are all delish!

These are often prepared for a special coffee time with friends or family, or they might be made for a special occasion like a graduation party.  Each person has his (yes, guys cook here, too!) or her own take on these creations. 

One I like to make is the following: 

Ingredients

1/2 pound (or more) raw bacon, cut into small pieces

1 cup sour cream

1 cup cream cheese

1 cup milk

2 cans asparagus, drained

2 cans cream of asparagus soup

2 cups grated gouda cheese

10 slices stiff, day old bread

Directions

Brown bacon in pan. Drain fat. Set aside.

Mix sour cream, cream cheese, soup, and milk in a bowl.

Tear 5 peices of bread into pieces and lay on bottom of casserole dish.

Cover bread pieces with 1/2 each of the soup mixture, asparagus, bacon, and cheese.

Repeat using the rest of the bread pieces and the other half of the ingredients.

Bake at 350 degrees F for about 25 minutes or until bubbly on the edges.

Notes

• Substitue bacon with chicken, sausage, ham, or shrimp.
• Substitue asparagus and cream of asparagus soup with your favorite vegetable and matching soup flavor.
• Substitue any grated cheese for Gouda.
• These measurements are estimates and can be adjusted to your tastes.
• This is NOT low fat, low carb, low calorie, low sodium, gluten free, dairy free, or any other healthy label.
• But is is yummy.

Patrick and Vicki Weimer in Iceland since 1999

Learning Hospitality

To the woman in ministry, hospitality is perhaps one of the greatest qualities. Coupled together with discretion, grace, kindness, and joy, it can make a home very attractive indeed.

Hospitality -being friendly, generous, and welcoming to those in and around my home- is valued highly in this culture (Georgia, Europe). Though this is not a quality I naturally exemplify, I had the privilege of spending several months out of a year for many years with my aunt, who seems to have perfected it. We tease her about putting one of those revolving doors in her entry way; but it is true. People feel welcomed and at ease in her home. No matter how many pressures are stressing her, (and there are a bucket-load,) no matter the financial issues of adding another person or persons to the tight grocery budget, no matter if the people are draining her of everything she has plus some, my aunt is graciously hospitable. Here's a few of the things I have been remembering as I seek to demonstrate hospitality in our home.

1) Worry-free floors. Yes, you read that right. If the floor shows every speck of dirt, or I want it to be spotless, I am less inclined to have guests. When I do, they feel the stress of needing to not mess my floors/house. My aunt had easy hide-most-everything carpet, and then a vacuuming bot that ran at night. We still used the regular kind often, but when there were a lot of people, it took the pressure off. Also, she taught me the value of sheet "couch covers" that help the room look nice, yet are extremely washable.

2) Simple meals. I'm honestly not sure if my aunt cooks. She must, for her children all know how to cook at least one or two meals each; but I don't remember my aunt cooking much. When she did, it was in a can, frozen, or throw-together easy. My home being on a farm, I didn't always appreciate the wisdom in this. With a quick-prep ready meal, preparing the food becomes less a priority (as my memory can attest) and the eating and fellowship becomes the focus. This frees the hostess' time and mind to other, truly more important, things.

3) F.l.e.x.i.b.l.e. Schedule. My aunt has time for people. She doesn't MAKE time for people. She HAS time for people. People are important to her. No matter how hectic the household may be, if you need her, she's there. Every time I stayed in her home, there was always something going on: VBS, Financial Freedom meetings, family get-togethers, etc, and in the midst of it all, my aunt could sit down and counsel me in my need without me feeling like she was rushed. Though she had a home to run and children to home-school, she held a schedule loosely. She well understood the concept that if you want to love people, you must love the Lord who made them.

4) Dress nicely, yet casually, every day. If I always have clothing on that is nice, without being expensive or showy, I am at ease when I hear a knock on the door. Instead of the traditional "jean jumper uniform" of a home-school mom, my aunt always looked nice. Now, that didn't mean that she spent a lot on her clothes, because, after all, she still had a household to run; her clothing had to be durable. So, I'm learning the art of dressing both practically and nicely.

5) Treat everyone like family. I remember one particular event, while I was living at my aunts, which they were attending, but to which I didn't receive an official invitation. (Since I wasn't THAT closely related, I really wasn't offended.) About an hour before the start, my aunt asked: "Aren't you leaving for...?" I replied that I hadn't received an invitation and was unsure. Her response "Of course you're invited. You're family." Though I am related, I wasn't the only one who was claimed as family. My aunt had an open heart, as well as open doors. Did it cost? Yes. There were people who back-stabbed, as people always will; but there are so many who were blessings and blessed by this attitude.

These are just a few of the things that I have thought about as I've thought on the time spent with my hospitable aunt; perhaps you can learn with me.

Help for the Wronged Person

Over the last several years, we have moved a lot and stayed at many different places while we traveled. Recently we moved out of the house that we had rented for two years. As always, our goal in leaving any place is to leave it better than we found it. Though the house and yard had always been in disrepair from before we moved in, our goal was still the same as it had always been. We cleaned, did a few minor repairs, and put in a partial new lawn, all in an effort to "leave things better than we found them." So when the owners charged us to do more costly things to improve the property, we were not only disheartened, but extremely frustrated.

Not being able to have any recourse, left us skeptical and leery of any future rental situations. Would we have to pour this type of money into our next rental? Would we feel helpless again and at the mercy of the next landlords? Would everyone lie to us and try to get more money out of us the way they had at the last property?

Questions like this were the first thoughts in my mind as we moved into the new place. However, as always, Scripture came along and comforted me, as well as, pointed out the flaws in my thinking. According to Proverbs 3:29 & 30, we are told not to "devise evil against our neighbors" and not to "strive with a man without a cause."  In other words, don't automatically think that a person will do wrong to you just because someone of that same position or same race did wrong to you.

Although we should be prudent in situations, we don't need to feel that everyone, or even certain ones, are always trying to take advantage of us.

Does God Call the Qualified or Qualify the Called?

The answer? Yes.

Both.

Call is a funny word. It's one my husband and I struggled with for a while. What's a call, anyway? Is it a lightning bolt out of the blue that suddenly tells you your life plan? (If you got one of these, please comment and share.) Or, is it the Holy Spirit's nudging you? Or, is it open doors? How do you know God is calling you to a particular task?

The truth is that God calls everyone to His service.

It's for us to respond.

I believe that, once a person has surrendered his life to whatever God wants him to do, God will direct him through circumstances. We call them open and shut doors. He did that for us, and He does it all the time. He lovingly directs our paths. Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

It's important to be prepared. The majority of the missionaries I know have college training, many in Christian colleges, where they became more knowledgeable in the Bible. Some are doctors and nurses. Others are pastors. They understand grammar and are able to learn other languages. They're sociable, kind, loving—and active in their local churches. They weren't sitting around waiting for a call. They were already working in their churches. They understood their duty to spread the gospel—way before they began deputation.

When the Lord directed them into foreign missions, they were ready and willing, prepared.

God also enables people—in the moment—to do "impossible" things for Him. Where God leads, He strengthens, trains, and empowers. I am amazed at the effectiveness of some of my missionary brethren. God uses a willing person in ways we can only marvel. The Bible says, For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1:26-29).

I've watched men who stutter preach with no stuttering—and stutter again afterwards. I've listened to others with serious disabilities preach with great power. People with difficulties with foreign language often communicate the gospel more effectively than people who are comfortably fluent. It's amazing how the Lord does this. I've seen Him do some special things in my life, too. I've been ill and in pain, and He has given me extra strength to do required tasks. There were times when I could sense that God had taken over, giving me what He had in mind.

As the above passage states, He uses us—even though we're weak and foolish—so that God gets the glory.

God calls every Christian.

The power comes from Him.

Be prepared.

Be available.

And, watch as God uses you in surprising ways!