Why are we here?

Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts?   Who knows enough to give him advice? And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For everything comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen. Romans 11:33-36

This passage from the Bible really flooded my mind with perspective this morning. How easy it is for us to get so caught up in our own life, our own desires, even our own frustrations and to lose sight of the fact that we are simply here to bring glory to God. I had a powerful realignment of my thinking just now. We are such "ME" humans. I think that is one of our biggest challenges-to move beyond the physical, temporal view of our lives and realize that we were created to bring God glory and fulfill a plan that is His. "For who can know the Lord's thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?" None of us. So often we arrogantly place our feet in the Lord's shoes and say, "Step aside, I've got this!", but really, those shoes look ridiculous on our feet. They were not meant for us to wear. I will make no progress as long as I think that the author and creator of my life is me. "Who has given him so much that he has to pay it back?" None of us. We approach God with our accomplishments saying, "Lord we have been kind to others" and "Lord we did this and that in your name" trying to stack the deck in our favor so that we can feel justified to do whatever it is that we want to do. The purpose of the gift of free will in our lives was not so we could make decisions on our own and do whatever made us happy (although the very fact that it is free will, that is an option!) Instead, free will was a test to see if, given the opportunity to choose, will we still choose to place ourselves under the authority of God or will we be so arrogant to ignore Him altogether and think we don't need him at all? The irony of submitting to God in all things is that it is the only avenue that brings true freedom. It is the only path that leads us to true riches without sorrow (Proverbs 10:22). By choosing to make ourselves a slave to God and his will, for His glory, we are actually breaking the chains that would forever entangle us otherwise. God is a pro-choice God. He has given us the ability to choose our own way. He knows that some will take that power of choice and wreak havoc on their own lives, on the lives of those around them, and then and have to face the consequences of every choice made. The power of choice. A gift given for a divine purpose, but not forced to be used in the manner it was designed. My free will allows me to murder, slander, destroy, curse, tear down, and it also allows me to build up, bless, create, encourage and bring life. The gift of choice is from God. The way I put that gift to use is in my control. That explains why horrible things can happen to good people. It's not the case of an unloving God just letting babies be murdered, women to be raped, etc. It is the law of free will set in motion, and God will never break His own laws, even when the consequences of our choices bring Him great pain.  On the flip side, when we take that free will and lay it at the feet of the Lord and say, "Guide me. Lead me. I want my life to bring you glory", it is then that the Lord delights in our lives and works through us to accomplish His purpose for His glory. Love that is demanded is no love at all. God wants our love and devotion to be something we choose to give to Him.

When Mama Prayed

November 23, 1994. Thanksgiving Day. The Lord woke my Mother and began speaking words to her for each of her children. I have carried that handwritten paper in my purse ever since that day. The edges are torn, the corners bent, but every once in a while, I pull it out and reread the words of the Lord spoken through my Mom that day. My spirit has always bore witness to that powerful word, but my head could not conceive how God was going to bring it about.

"I called you before you were born and I knew the plans that I have for you before you were even conceived. I have done a new and wonderful work in you in these days but it is just the beginning. You have experienced my presence and my love in a new and personal way that you may know without a doubt how much I care for you. Enjoy these times of refreshment. Remember them when the enemy comes to bring doubt and confusion into your mind regarding the purposes I have for your life. All you have come through I have allowed to enlarge your heart and give you greater understanding of the sufferings of mankind. In My time and in My way I will use you in My kingdom to be a balm and soothing word for hurting people. You must continue to learn of Me and to know My heart for only then will your words be healing for others. I will send you to places you never dreamed you would go. My anointing will be upon you but you must seek My face and seek My will in every circumstance. The enemy would try to put fear in your heart but know that I have not given you a spirit of fear but of love and power and a sound mind. My hedge has been put around you and you shall hear my Spirit say, 'This is the way, walk ye in it'.

Two years later, I met and married my husband in South Carolina. Through all the ups and downs, I clung to the word of the Lord, knowing that His purpose was going to break through if I didn't give up. Four years later, I find myself living in Arizona, smack dab on the Mexican border. More lessons. More preparation. Living with a culture that would touch my heart in a way I never imagined.  My Spanish improved. I saw so much beauty and goodness. I also saw the strongholds and the chains that kept a nation enslaved. Ten years later, I woke up in South Carolina again, with new vision, a strong marriage and a heart for God to use us again. Attacks came from every side. Financial instability. Battling religious spirits. Troubled relationships within my extended family. More tests. More lessons. The Lord used the events in the natural to position us on the path He desired for us to walk. Sixteen years later, we arrive in Belton, South Carolina.  The fine tuning begins. Stepping stones bring us to Redemption World Outreach Center. He tells my husband to sit for a year and not get involved in any ministry. The Lord begins to pour into us. He brings confirmation of His purpose for us. He reinforces the words spoken to our hearts years ago. After sitting for one year, almost to the day, the Lord began to guide us again. Out of nowhere, we were invited to a Spanish ministry affiliated with Redemption. We begin training with Redemption's evangelistic ministry of Operation Go. More preparation. More lessons. Luis takes an apprentice job on Saturdays in a mechanic job to gain experience. He works hard in exchange for knowledge and experience, but no pay. Little did he realize that the Lord had another reason for leading him to that mechanic shop that day. The owners are brothers. Two Mexican men. Devout Catholics. Leaders in their church. While they imparted mechanics to Luis, Luis was imparting spiritual wisdom to them. And so the exchanged continued for many months of Saturdays. David, one of the brothers, has a hunger for the Lord. Many Saturdays the Holy Spirit moves in that shop, and tears well up in His eyes as he and Luis would talk. Last Saturday, David asked Luis to come to his house to lead a time of prayer. He expressed how he wanted more of God. He told Luis he wasn't going to tell his priest what he was doing. (Isn't it ironic how a religious spirit will oppose the things of God?) Luis ask our Pastor for wisdom and advice, all the while feeling like this was a door the Lord was opening. With confirmation from our Pastor, we headed over to David's home for what we thought was going to be prayer with he and his wife. When we arrived, two people turned into eight adults, and about twice as many teens and kids. They were all sitting, waiting for us to come. As we sat down, my mind flashed back to 1996 in Beaufort, South Carolina, the night I first saw my future husband. I remembered how more than a dozen men that night gave their lives to the Lord and used my husband's testimony to open their hearts. Then my eyes focused back on Luis. He was older now. Softer. More mature in so many ways. There was an ease and a confidence in his words, drawing from all that the Spirit has done in him and taught him over the years.  He shared his testimony with the group and had their full attention. He made them laugh. Some had tears. After his testimony, he shared about Paul in the Bible. A devout Jew. Followed the letter of the law. Grew up in the Church, heard about God all his life, believed he was doing right by killing Christians. Did all that until he had a real encounter with God on the road to Damascus. Then his whole world changed. Many of the people that were with us last night lived that same life. They had a head knowledge of God. They have heard about God all their lives. Last night, many of them had an encounter with God for the very first time. The Holy Spirit met them right where they were at. Tears flowed. Healing flowed. There was power. There was peace.

I am learning that God's purpose for my life isn't a destination to where I can arrive. It's not a place called "there" and I haven't made it THERE, yet. It's a daily walk, yielding to the Holy Spirit, being ready in season and out of season for where ever God leads me today. Each step building on the last. Nothing wasted. I am learning to flow more effectively. To listened more intently. To speak with courage and boldness. I am not seeking to be the "bomb" but the balm. New doors are opened. We are walking forward!