"Increase Our Faith" - India Sermon

Recently, I had the privilege of speaking my 4th and final sermon for this 4.5 month stint in India. The Lord has been teaching me a lot about faith and some new things as I prepped for this sermon. When my preparation began, the sermon was about Gideon...then Gideon became one of the illustrations but no longer the central focus...then he was removed altogether as the focus went elsewhere! Thus encapsulates my typical preparation process for any sermon in which I must choose the topic.

Below is the sermon draft, from which I deviated slightly as I spoke. I hope that in reading it the Lord may enrich and bless you:

Have you ever desired greater faith? Have you ever come to a point where you realized just how small your faith was? And you yearned for greater faith? I think that is a healthy realization, and the desire for greater faith is good...but a desire that can still be refined.

I just finished reading the biography of Oswald Chambers, author of “My Utmost for His Highest” and one of the great Christian leaders and writers of the past century. In reading his biography, my admiration for him grew even further. As I read through his biography over the past month or two, I thought to myself, “I wish I could have faith like that!” I see in Oswald Chambers, as well as many Christian leaders of yesterday and today, a faith that is so inviting and desirable. I see it in Abraham in the book of Genesis. Moses, David, and every person listed in Hebrews chapter 11. And as I study the lives of these men and women of great faith, there is something inside of me that cries, “Lord, increase my faith!”

I think that some of that desire for greater faith is good, but some of it may be falling short of what God would prefer for me to desire. The 12 disciples themselves asked this of Jesus, to increase their faith. So let’s turn to Luke 17 and examine closely Jesus' response to the request of His disciples to increase their faith.

Scripture: Luke 17:5-6

The apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith!”

6 He replied, “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.”

 

The disciples and Jesus are having a conversation. In verses 1-4 that precede this request for more faith, Jesus has just commanded the disciples to do something truly hard: forgive. And not just once. But to forgive someone even if they continue to sin against you and ask for forgiveness. The disciples response is very interesting and probably similar to ours today: in order to obey such a difficult command the disciples ask for more faith. But Jesus gives an interesting reply to the disciples in this passage.

 

We might have expected him to show them how to increase their faith, or perhaps breathe greater faith into them. But instead of showing them how or miraculously granting greater faith, Jesus instead says “if you had faith as a mustard seed,” you could do mighty works. It was probably not the answer the disciples were hoping for, but it was exactly the answer that they, and we, need. In fact, Jesus’ answer was the perfect response, because it leads us as His disciples to understand the nature of faith, the nature of our God, and the nature of our relationship with Him.

1.       Power in Small Faith – v. 6

Jesus often referred to our faith as being like a mustard seed, and it was always an encouragement, for at least a couple reasons. The mustard seed was an example of one of the smallest of all seeds. Yet, when planted in fertile soil, it could grow into a large bush with mighty branches that even birds could nest in. What an encouragement that when we are convicted of being “ye of little faith,” that it is not a pronouncement of final condition. Instead, it is a declaration of our current status—having little faith—but like the mustard seed, a faith with great potential. We are meant to be growing toward our Lord Jesus, and He makes our tiniest faith into something great.

Though this is an encouragement to me, I do not believe that growing faith is what Jesus is referring to in verse 6 when he says, “if you had faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you.” I don’t believe that Jesus is saying that once your faith has grown into the mighty mustard branches, THEN your faith can produce great works. I believe He is saying that even now, when your faith is still as small as they eye can see, even NOW your faith has that power. This is a critically important answer from our Lord to His disciples asking for greater faith. It gets at the heart of who we are in relation to God and the proper perspective of our faith in Christ.

John Piper has these comments on this passage:

“God moves mulberry trees. And it does not depend decisively on the quantity of our faith, but on his power and wisdom and love. In knowing this we are helped not to worry about our faith and are inspired to trust God's free initiative and power.”

You see, the disciples were viewing great faith as being the gateway to great things. But Jesus was saying that we don’t need increased faith...we need to understand that our tiny faith is enough because of Him.

To illustrate the roles of our faith and God’s faithfulness, and the importance of each, let us examine the mathematical concept of infinity. The concept of infinity refers to something without limit, a number so large that it is beyond counting. It is endless. In mathematics any positive number multiplied by infinity equals infinity. Infinity times 1 equals infinity. Infinity times 100 equals infinity. Soon we discover that the number being multiplied by infinity matters much less than infinity itself. This is what Jesus is getting at when He says that “if you had the faith of a mustard seed” you could do amazing and miraculous things! He is saying that whether your faith is 1 or 100, it is the power of God that makes it miraculous.

Do you ever catch yourself having these thoughts?: "If only I had greater faith, I could do this, or God would do that." But our focus has become our own personal faith. If our focus is on the size of our faith, our focus is off Christ. We are to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith.

We must realize that our faith by itself causes nothing to happen. We cannot say to God in our faith, “Look, I have the faith of a mustard seed,” or “Look, I have greater faith than even that, and because of my faith you MUST do this.” No, no, no. Instead, God chooses to allow us to take part in His purposes. God CHOOSES to work through our faith. Our faith without God choosing to use it, would be powerless. But instead, God—the one who is faithful—has promised to honor our faith and work through it to glorify Himself and accomplish His purposes.

I would like to share with you a story from my childhood. When I was a boy, about 5 years old, I would go with my father and grandfather into the forest to make a load of firewood. In the northern U.S. many homes are heated by burning firewood in a furnace. I would go with them because I liked to be outdoors, because it was an adventure to go into the forest with them and see new birds, deer, and other animals. I would go because I actually enjoyed the work of my hands and arms and legs in laboring to produce a truckload of firewood. But these were all secondary. I went mostly just to be with my father and grandfather. Some of my favorite childhood memories are from these times. My father and grandfather were skilled and hardworking. They would cut and split every piece of wood into small enough pieces to handle, then they would load them into the truck, and finally after transporting the load, they would unload it at our destination. I helped them with each of these...but how much help can a 5 year old boy be? The truth is that they did 99% of the work, but I was quite happy to do my 1%, and so were they. My father would tell me at the end of the day how much he appreciated my work and that he couldn’t have done it without me. It was always “WE” split a load of firewood. My father and grandfather did not NEED me to help. But they WANTED me to help. It have them joy and it gave me joy, too.

I believe our faith journeys with the Lord and in doing His works on this earth are very similar to my childhood experience of helping my father and grandfather cut firewood. God does not NEED us to help Him do anything. Our faith is not the source of His miraculous works. But we are blessed to be called God’s children! And because of that He absolutely desires for us to join Him. Yes, to do the work…but as with me and my father and grandfather, the work was quite secondary. Just being in each other’s presence was the main purpose. And so, how gracious is our Lord, and loving! That He allows us and our faith to take part in His mighty works. God does the 99% and is capable of doing all 100%, but He allows us to come beside Him like His 5-year old child and contribute our 1% with our mustard seed-sized faith.

Do your mustard-seed’s worth. Do it to your uttermost! But never forget that the power is of God and not of us. Not the size of our faith, but the size of our God is what creates mighty works.

2.       Seeking Christ Above All

I mentioned earlier that if our focus is on our faith, it is off Christ. It is simple to say, but just like the disciples in Luke 17, we ourselves will be tempted to have our focus migrate toward ourselves and the size of our faith. As we have just studied, Jesus corrects the disciples understanding of faith and how God chooses to work though it. But Jesus also addresses the root desire at the heart of our request for more faith, revealing the vanity of seeking our own greater faith and instead the supremacy of seeking Christ. And although asking for faith, or love, or peace, or joy, or successful ministry, or any number of things may be good things to ask of God, there is one greater thing to desire: simply Christ Himself. The disciples’ response to having to do a hard thing to obey God was “we need more faith.” If I had more faith, I could obey...if I had more faith I could do this or that...If I had more faith I could walk more closely to the Lord. But they had it backwards. What produces faith in a child of God is nearness and knowing Christ. To know the Lord more intimately—that is the only legitimate pursuit that leads to greater faith!

Let me be clear: Hebrews 11:6 reveals that "without faith it is impossible to please God." But that faith was never meant to be pursued as a means to our own ends, but instead as the fruit of pursuing and knowing Christ. The disciples had let the pursuit of faith replace Jesus as the central object of their desire. In this moment, they were seeing greater faith as the gateway to obedience to God and doing great things. And although they desired a good thing, the insatiable desire for more, more, more of anything except Christ alone had revealed a spiritual lust within them.

Oswald Chambers: “Lust means “I must have it at once.” Spiritual lust causes me to demand an answer from God, instead of seeking God Himself who gives the answer.”

I will admit that when I’m reading about Oswald Chambers, or Abraham, or many great examples of faith, I want to have that kind of faith right now! And the desire to have a closer walk with the Lord that produces such faith is pure, but the part that “must have it at once,” is rooted in lust. Spiritual lust. We must guard against such spiritual lust, or spiritual discontent. And the greatest guard is turning our focus of off good things like faith, and onto the greater thing, which is Christ Himself. This is a subtle difference, but central to pursuing Christ.  I am NOT saying that we must make a choice: either faith or Christ. That is nonsense. What I am saying is that if we pursue faith or any other thing, however good, as our chief desire, we will miss Christ. But if we pursue Christ as our chief desire, we will be given faith that moves mountains.

There is a story of a king with three sons, triplets. Under the law of the land, each had equal right to the throne. When the three sons had grown, the king gave each of them three options to prove himself worthy of the throne. To each he said: “Choose one of the following: Spend a month learning the art of war from our master general, spend a month learning every law of the land and the entire legal process from our chief law makers, or spend a month at my side.” The first son answered, “I shall spend a month learning the art of war from our master general, for surely of utmost importance to any kingdom is the ability to defend and conquer.” The second son answered, “I shall spend a month learning every law of the land and the entire legal system from our chief law makers, for surely of utmost importance to any kingdom is the ability to govern and rule the people according to law.” But the third son answered, “I shall spend a month at your side every moment, for surely of utmost importance to understanding a kingdom is knowing its king.” The third son had chosen wisely and was selected as the next rightful king. In knowing the king, he came to know the art of war. In knowing the king, he came to know the law and how to govern the people. In knowing the king, he came to know much deeper and greater things than even these.

I believe that we are in similar positions. (Not as successors to a king, for our King rules and reigns forever. Yet, the Bible does call us heirs of the Kingdom. Co-heirs with Christ.) When our chief desire is to have greater faith, we aim for a good thing, but not the best. Just like the first and second sons who aimed at a specific portion of kingship, but missed the greater thing of knowing and understanding their king. Let us be like the third son, who chose simply to pursue and know his king. Jesus instructed, “Seek first the kingdom and His righteousness, and all of these will be added to you as well” (Matt 6:33). As we seek Christ first and above all, we will find that great faith will be added to us as well.

It is not as though we should not pursue faith, or hope, or love, or any number of great Christ-filled attributes. It is simply to beware that the flesh wars against the Spirit, and because of this, we are tempted to pursue what is good, such as faith, in place of what is best, which is Christ.  We are tempted to replace the central thing—Christ—with the things that exist only because of Him.

By responding to the disciples’ desire for greater faith in this manner, Jesus is leading them in the only path of righteous faith: Pursing and knowing Christ ever more intimately.

Conclusion

Let us as Jesus’ disciples today hear Him. Let us read Luke 17:5-6 and the accounts of so many faith filled Christ followers, and remember Jesus response to the desire for greater faith:

- Remove our focus from the size of our faith and onto Jesus Christ, our infinite God.

- And never let what is good and exists because of Christ replace the only Way, Truth, and Life. Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Each of us will likely soon feel that desire for greater faith, or greater joy, or greater love, or greater ministry. But the next time we feel the desire for any fruit of the Holy Spirit, let us resolve to pursue one thing alone: let us choose to get to know our King. He is a good King. And He has invited you to be at his side today and forever. I pray that you accept His invitation. Amen.

Interpreting a Dream

During the holidays, I have had the joy of getting to know our college-aged girls a little better. In addition to discovering their senses of humor and talents for singing, cooking, or others, I have been blessed to have some good conversations. During this time, these girls have really become little sisters to me.

One of our girls told me of the dream she had the night before. I will attempt to relay her description as accurately as possible: God had descended and clothed everyone He chose in pink. I thought that was a little humorous, but then I remembered that her favorite color is pink. She looked around her and didn’t know anyone else clothed in pink. Then God and his angel went back into heaven and left everyone in pink here.

A pretty simple dream. But her questions to me about the dream I believe were the exact questions the Lord was leading her to ask. She first said, “Why did He choose me?” She had some difficulty expressing it, but eventually articulated how special she felt for being one clothed in pink and chosen by God. Her next question was, “..and why did He leave me here?” I nodded, then smiled, knowing that I once asked the same question in a very different circumstance. Then I told her as much.

I asked her, “You remember my testimony, right?” She replied, “Oh yes. Your testimony taught me very much.” I then recounted to her that at my lowest point of greatest pain, I asked God with all sincerity to let me die and enter the rest of Heaven. But He said, “no.” What He revealed to me in that time, which struck me more sharply than all the pain I was in, was that He only left me here because He had purpose that remained for my life on earth. And the day, the moment, that my purpose has been fulfilled, I will immediately enter His presence in Heaven. Therefore, every day that I wake up once again, every breath that I draw, has God’s divine purpose behind it. I assured her that we had the same question…and the same answer: purpose.

She repeated a single word to me: “Purpose,” as her demeanor and expression changed into a fascinating combination of resignation, contentment, and deep satisfaction. She smiled. Then we were interrupted (a continual occurance in India, perhaps the subject of another post). The conversation was over.

A simple dream. From the Lord? I believe so. And perhaps He has used me to help to partially interpret her dream, such that she never forgets that God has purpose for her life. Every day. Every breath. And the great news is that the same is true for you and me. I pray that you have that same assurance of purpose this very day. May the Lord turn your countenance into contentment and deep satisfaction, just as He did for my little Indian sister. Amen.

Finishing Christmas in India

Phil 1:6 – “And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

Well, my Christmas week this year is one of the most unique I have experienced. After all, this is my first Christmas outside the US!

I had the privilege of preaching in church on Christmas morning. I realized that although I don’t preach much in the U.S., I get the opportunity often in India, and this year I preached both on my birthday and Jesus’ observed birthday. Pretty cool. The topic was “Missing Jesus,” and it went as well as I could have hoped, given the minimal amount of time I was able to prep.

But the best part of my Christmas was spending several days away from the city and very near to our oldest girls’ home. Sitting on top of the guest house in the cool mornings or evening, taking in the peaceful scenery or crystal clear night sky, getting ample rest and peace and quiet…to quote the Christmas carol: these are a few of my favorite things. And on the evening of Christmas, as well as the days that followed, the Lord blessed me abundantly with quality time with our girls.

For 3 days, I was 2 things: older brother and teacher. On Christmas day, I gifted our girls a world globe and told them about when I was growing up and I had a globe. I would close my eyes and spin the globe as fast as I could, then plunge my finger down onto the surface, abruptly stopping the speeding globe, often pointing to some fanciful, exotic place that I had never known existed nor ever hoped to see. Sometimes my finger would stop on India. As I recalled that portion, they gave out an “ooo” of delight, which I had not expected. I told them that I had wondered what India was like and decided that I would never go there. Wrong!

Finally, I told them that a person never knows where God might send them. Then they each took turns spinning the globe, eyes closed, and “discovering” where the Lord might take them.  Russia, Korea, Japan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, many African countries, Brazil, Mexico, and Canada were of those that were “discovered” with curiosity and delight.  And even a couple of girls landed on the U.S., bringing the biggest smiles and exclamations. It was a wonderful time.

The rest of the week, in addition to playing many games, I tutored our 5^th-12^th graders in the subjects of algebra, geometry, chemistry, physics, general science, and English. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more. Below is a picture of the board at the end of the physics session. Nerd alert: I must say that to my eyes, there is a certain beauty in meaningful equations and theorems written on a chalkboard!

 

Finally, on my last evening with them before having to travel back into the city, we were down to our final hour together. I told them, “We have one hour. What would you like to do?” To my surprise, “message” was the popular response. They wanted me to preach? (You should know that this wasn’t because my sermon on Christmas was particularly powerful or special. I rated it a C minus.) Many thoughts ran through my mind. How many teenagers would you expect to ask to be preached to if they only had 1 hour with a person who is not a preacher?  It soothes my heart to see how hungry our girls are for the Word of God and how readily they receive it.

Well, if you know me, you know that if anyone voices a desire for Biblical teaching, I can’t help but at least try. So I thought for about 30 seconds and realized this was very similar to our littlest girls asking for a Bible “story” unexpectedly a few weeks ago. So I decided to go with Gideon again. Except this time, we could dive into it a little heartier than just story telling.

The easiest way to preach in the whole world, in my opinion, is a scripted sermon through an interpreter. While they are interpreting, you can read your next line, look up, and deliver every word that you have chosen exactly. It’s virtually unnoticeable. But easiest doesn’t mean best.  Now, I took several hours to prepare for the Christmas sermon (though much less than normal). I wrote every line prior to speaking (well, most of the lines). And on this night in our girls’ home, I took 30 seconds to prepare and went completely off the cuff…and it was better by leaps and bounds than my Christmas sermon. Sure, with a few hours of prep it could be polished and improved, cross-referenced and summarized with punch, word-smithed and flow established.  But the Lord reinforced something in me through that experience. He is enough. His Spirit is present. He is ever faithful. He is the Teacher.

I don’t know if I’ll go scripted or go extemporaneous in my next sermon in India. Both have been blessed by the Lord at different times, and I’ve struggled with both at different times. But I do know that whatever the approach, it is God who makes the sermon powerful. It is also comforting to know that there is at least one sermon that I can go to “in season and out of season,” (expected or unexpectedly): Gideon. I must thank my Sunday School teacher and classmates back in the U.S. for allowing God to use them to burn the application of Gideon’s life into my brain in such a way.

Finally, since I’m on the topic of preaching. I am often asked in the days leading up to a day that I am preaching, “Have you finished your sermon?” My response has come from experience, “It’s never finished.” What I mean by that is that even when I think it’s finished, the Lord never ceases to change it. Every day and especially the night before, it changes. In fact, it also always changes somewhere between standing up to approach the pulpit and the words leaving my mouth! I thank the Lord for that. I think being a little “out of control” ensures that the Holy Spirit is still taking the control. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t for lack of trying to get it all done and perfect beforehand! But thoughts enter my mind while delivering the sermon that illuminate points that I hadn’t even thought of before. That is a lot of fun to experience, but also a little unnerving because I’m not always sure how it’s all going to tie back in together. And sometimes (I chuckle as a write) it does dead end and I have to reset back on track.

But the Lord hit me with a realization the other day, after being asked yet again if my sermon was finished. I started praying about that. And I had a revelation. I had told the person that the sermon is only finished when the last word is spoken, as we both chuckled. I meant it. But what a sad ending if that is where it ends! No, my prayer now is for an ever-unfinished sermon. A sermon that Lord continues to finish in the hearts and minds of the listeners as they walk through life that week, month, or even years. In fact, the sermons that have impacted me most…they still aren’t finished…as the Lord continues to use them in my life.

My personality type has a quest for conclusion. Finishing. Completing. Achieving. Marking off the list. And so I have always approached preaching in the same way. I search with my whole soul for the end of the sermon and have an almost restless inner stirring until it has been spoken. My prayer has often been for the Lord to help me finish it. Well, I now pray the same words, “Lord, help me finish this sermon,” but with an entirely different meaning.  I now look expectantly to give unfinished sermons. I pray that every sermon, teaching, and interaction I have with another human being remains unfinished…simply because God is still working in them through it.

And such is life with Christ. Ever being finished, never finished. Ever being sanctified, awaiting that glorious day when we enter our Lord’s perfect rest and completion in Heaven. Our Lord Jesus cried out on the cross before His last breath, “It is finished.” What a glorious declaration! And as Jesus has completed His redeeming work on the cross, as He completes every work He begins (Phil 1:6). I want to encourage you today to know that in the bounds of time, you and I may not yet be finished, but in the timeless existence of our Lord, He is proclaiming over you, “It is finished.” May we walk in such assurance and liberty with our Savior. Amen.

Spilling Over

In my last post, I alluded to another experience from last week that was especially enjoyable for a chemical-engineer-by-training and teacher-at-heart. I am pleased to have the opportunity to share today:

Recently, we were having a Christmas party with our youngest girls. While all sitting down to enjoy our dinner together for this special occasion, one of our littlest spilled her drink right in front of me. Very quickly, I reached over and threw some napkins on top, so as to minimize the devastation (30 little children tracking around sticky soda can be devastation!). For adults, this is a very routine event; however, for these children it was a perfect teaching opportunity.

As the top napkin began to slowly become wet, starting from the center outwards, I heard several of our girls start to gasp and say "Will dada, look!" A few things raced through my mind that may be right in front of me. To my comfort and surprise, it was simply the napkin displaying the principle of wicking. A site that many of our girls were studing with wonder.

For those who know me, you can already guess that this "routine spill" became an instant classroom. I took the opportunity to tell one of our 11-year-olds about the principle of wicking. How tiny spaces inbetween paper particles became like little straws that drew the water along. Part two of the lesson was taking what we could see with our eyes in the napkin and applying it to what is more difficult to see in trees and their roots. I explained to her that trees soak up water from the soil because of the same principle. We talked about capilaries, wicking, and how important it is for the tree to live.

When I get into a conversation like that, even with an adult, at some point I always realize that I have gone into a little bit more detail than they would ever care to hear in their entire lives. So even with this little one, I wondered how much she herself was soaking up and retaining. Her expressions were very matter of fact, so I could not tell.

But when she turned to one of her sisters and began explaining point by point, detail by detail, what was happening, and then explained how trees work the same way, I was thrilled! The greatest test to see if you have learned something is to try to explain it to someone else. The response from the other little girl was quite commical, and one that I have received myself countless times when trying to explain a scientific or engineering concept to someone who has other priorities at the time. The other girl looked at her and said, "I just need a napkin," as she held out her hand somewhat impatiently. I laughed out loud! What also made me laugh is that my scientist-in-training began to hold the napkin hostage and would only give her sister the napkin if she would listen to the entire explanation. At the end, she asked if her sister had understood. She said, "Yes, yes, ok. Will you give me a napkin now?" Yep, take heart little scientist-in-training and teacher-at-heart, you and I will have many of these experiences in our lives.

I loved this interaction more than because it was a successful teaching moment for me with one of our girls, but because it revealed quite a bit about my little scientist in training. I had known that science was her favorite subject, but now I know that she likely has been granted the gift of teaching (still in development, no doubt). I recognized her response of immediately seeking to share and explain what she has learned. And as I saw how important it was for her to not only fully explain but also be fulfilled by her "student" demonstrating an understanding, I realized how similar she and I really are, in that respect. Truly an endearing moment for me.

It all started with a spilled drink, a potential disaster. Before it was over, it was a precious moment. And one more thing brought it full circle for me. When I was about 8 years old, I remember sitting at the island in the kitchen of my childhood home when my father took a napkin and dipped the corner in a puddle of spilled water. To my delight the water began to move across the entire napkin quite magically. And that is the day my dad taught me about wicking and surface tension, something I would study in much, much greater detail over a decade later (sometimes painful detail!). In the moment this week when I realized that our girls were looking in that same amazement as I did as an 8-year-old boy, I myself was thrilled to propogate the learning experience.

Finally, the most sureal thought is this: Perhaps this little scientist in training will one day remember the day that Will dada taught her about wicking and trees as she teaches her little one the same thing. I know I am not this precious child's father, but what a privilege to see how our Father in Heaven has allowed me to be a part of His family, a son of the King sharing life with daughters of the King. I pray that she continues to learn, continues to teach, and most of all continues to love the Lord her God. I pray the same things for you and me. Amen.


P.S. Prayer request: I'll be preaching in church on Christmas morning, definitely a first for me. I've started asking for just three things when I preach: Simplicity, Clarity, Power. Please pray with me for these!

"A Future and a Hope"

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the  Lord , thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV)

The past few weeks have been very busy. Thus a long gap between posts. We have had the privilege of hosting partners and friends from the U.S. who have come to see how God is working through us in India and to minister to our staff and children in our care. This past week contained a couple stories special to this chemical-engineer-by-training and teacher-at-heart. This post is just one of those stories, but stay tuned in the coming days to hear the other.

We often ask our girls what they want to be when they grow up. It is fun to watch how they determine what they want to be, as well as how those things change (or don't change) over time. One of our girls continues to want to be a police officer year after year, and I believe she will be one day! Some of our girls have expressed that they want to be teachers, and in reply two of our littlest have expressed that they desire to be principals. I chuckled out loud to see that interaction. Sort of a "you may have seniority now, but one day I'll be your boss!" I have no doubt that at least one of these little ones will one day be principal and "rule the roost." And one of the sweetest responses which comes primarily from our youngest girls is simply to be a "servant of God." I have yet to determine if in their minds this means that they do not know what profession they will follow, that they want to be in vocational ministry, or something else...but whatever is behind that response, it is sweet to hear.

For the first time, many of our girls are expressing interest in becoming engineers, and those numbers continue to grow. Many of these girls come from a place where basic education was in question and their concept of a future was extremely limited, if not unfathomable. It is so great to see these children begin to grasp that there is no limit to what God can and will do through them, including what education or career to which He may call them. In addition, it is such a blessing to see them excelling in the scholastic subjects in which they are gifted such that those dreams may be achieved.

One of our middle school girls has continued to be the only one to say "I don't know" when asked what she wants to be when she grows up. I have been paying special attention, looking forward to seeing her little mind at work in the day that she first expresses what she may want to pursue, even though at that age it is likely to change. Well, this week was it, and what a blessing to hear her soft voice speak these words: "chemical engineer," as she shyly stole an almost imperceivable glance at me. Man, I felt like a million bucks.

What makes this perhaps even more precious to me is that she probably has a very limited idea as to what a chemical engineer does or what a person must do to train for that profession. And this child might not have even heard of chemical engineering until it became known to all of our girls that I was one. But with the combination of seeing her older sisters setting their sites on their own engineering goals (of a different discipline) and knowing my educational and work experience, this special girl felt confident to whisper the fragile initial dream to become a chemical engineer. That's all that it was...a whisper...perhaps to be swept away by God's true calling in her life, or perhaps to be strengthened into a shout. But whatever God's will, it is my blessing to watch Him work in her life, to watch her formulate her first career dreams, and of course to feel honored by her choosing my own initial career path. I had just told a friend that I'm waiting for the day that one of our girls first says "chemical engineer" as her career dream and that would be a special day. Well, that special day came that same week.

Perhaps you will join me in praying for each of these precious girls, their career dreams, and direction from God along His paths. May the God of all grace grant us all the boldness to dream, the means to achieve, and the direction to walk in His perfect will. Amen.

Unplanned Thanksgiving

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21

“In His heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

In India, you will be hard pressed to find a Thanksgiving holiday celebration, and even harder pressed to find turkey of any kind. Thanksgiving week is just another ordinary workweek here…after all, the holiday is an American tradition from the early settlers of the U.S.

However, just because Thanksgiving is not an official holiday here, it does not mean that this week failed to be special in my experience.

I had the newfound joy of tutoring some of our elementary school children in mathematics early in the week. For these specific girls, math is their most difficult subject, and being a Chemical Engineer by training, it is one of my favorites.  So I gave it a shot…and loved every minute of it. Seeing their faces focused, learning…then full of delight in a right answer or realizing an epiphany.

The session moved from mathematics to science to God. We discussed the sun, moon, and the earth…specifically their relationship to one another. I presented the example of how as Christ followers, Jesus is like the Sun—he is the source of light—and we are like the moon, in that we reflect His light for all the world to see. When others see us, they should see the light of Christ as our source. Furthermore, if we think for a moment that we ourselves are the source of light and goodness, it is like when the earth gets between the moon and the sun: if the world comes between us and God, we are in utter darkness, separated from the Source. We must choose to remain in the light, reflecting Christ to our world.

Well, our oldest in the younger girls’ home lit up at the end of that teaching. She gave praise with delight at how we combined academics with teaching about God. Finally, she told me, “If you become a teacher, God will bless you and bless you.” What a sweet moment that I absolutely cherish.

On Thanksgiving day, the end of the day did not go according to plan. I was supposed to be picked up from the girls’ home at a specific time to go home for the day. But my ride showed up 2 hours late. This is not a rare occurrence by Indian standards, but as an American, type A, task oriented, scheduler and planner…well, you can imagine that I don’t naturally accept such things with contentment. I chuckle as I recount the story to you because one of the sweeter days in my first month here occurred because of being so far “off-plan.” (God continues to faithfully, and tenaciously chip away at that part of me until I am fully surrendered to Him.)

In that extra time, I was requested to give another math tutoring session, in which more girls, down to 1^st grade, attended. Then I played various games with the girls for about an hour, one of mine and their favorite things to do. Lastly, as they sat down for dinner, they began the normal practice of praise songs and prayer. And since they had a “special guest” with them, I was asked to tell a story.

Being put on the spot, I paused for a second, then realized God had prepared me to talk through Gideon, since my Sunday School class just studied it in detail this summer. It is a special thing to have the full attention of over 30 children ages 3-12, without them making an unsolicited peep for 15 minutes. We had fun with it, guessing how many soldiers God chose to fight an entire army, demonstrating the different ways the soldiers drank water as God chose the few who would be at the battle, dividing into torch holders, pot crushers, and horn blowers. Finally, we flexed our muscles at the end, declaring that God has made us mighty warriors for His Kingdom, even when we are scared.

It is evenings like these that endear these girls to me with even greater magnitude, as the love God places in me for them continues to grow. And it seems to endear me to them, as well…because when I arrived the next morning, I was hit with an uncommonly large mob of girls asking me to play games, give tutoring, and tell stories! Although I was unable to join them on that day, due to other responsibilities, it made my heart glad to see their response.

Dwight Eisenhower wisely said, “In preparing for battle I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indespensible.”  Oh how well said.  The truth is that plans are going to change, especially as we are surrendered to God. However, the act of planning, while holding those established plans loosely, prepares the planner to make the best adaptations to the plan. The act of planning carries value outside the value of the conceived plan.

Finally, I ponder these two Proverbs in conjunction with Eisenhower’s assertion:

 

“Many are the plans in a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” – Proverbs 19:21

“In His heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.” – Proverbs 16:9

I will continue to plan. It is who I am, who God has created me to be, and how He has gifted me.  He does use my planning nature for His purposes. But my prayer for you, and for me, is that we would learn to submit our plans to a sovereign, good, and loving God.  May we learn to do more listening to God’s voice, taking a part in establishing His plans, and less dictating to Him what our plans may be. May we come to realize the freedom, peace, and awe of a God whose purposes always prevail and who determines our steps.  And may God continue to give us some of the sweetest moments with His children when our plans fall apart. What a wonderful God who loves us!

My Cup Overflows

Psalm 23 (NIV84): “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

Nearly every one of our girls has memorized Psalm 23, and for many, it is their favorite passage of scripture. There are many truths to discover in this passage, but today my attention is on “my cup overflows.”

The meaning of this statement is twofold: 1. Abundance, and 2. A welcome to stay. In the time that this psalm was written, the overflowing cup had a special meaning: When a guest would come to stay and dine with friends or family, their cup would be filled to the brim and then purposefully overflowed…that is, of course, if they were welcome to stay. Having our cups overflowed by our creator first indicates His willingness to bless abundantly, beyond what we could ever need; and second, it indicates His desire for us not to leave and instead remain with Him in His house.

When a guest had his cup overflow, he or she knew that they were being welcomed to stay longer…another meal, another night, and sometimes a lifetime. In the same way, we have each been invited into the house of our Lord, and Psalm 23 declares that we are welcomed stay there with our God forever. Our cups truly overflow.

I feel blessed to be part of a ministry that makes it clear that our sincere desire is to offer an overflowing cup to each of our rescued children. We invite them to remain in our family for the next meal, the next night, and their entire lifetime. And in truth, we make this offer in response to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is God who is first offering each of these children an overflowing cup, an invitation to remain with Him, and He with them, forever.

So today I have this overwhelming sense of blessing to be part of God’s offering of the overflowing cup. To be used by our God to pour into the lives of each of these children, such that their cups would overflow. Each time I hear our little ones and young adults recite this verse, I am now reminded of this blessing. And it is such a joy.

And finally, I realize keenly that my own cup is overflowing. I have told the Lord that being a part of the lives of each of these children that are now in our care makes me quite content. I need nothing else to feel God’s abundant blessing and to notice my own cup running over. And yet, God has even more in store. Every newly rescued child, every way He continues to grow the influence and impact of the ministry, every plan He has for our future to make His name great in India. Yes, my cup continues to overflow.

I praise the Lord my God that not only does my cup overflow in Jesus Christ, but that He allows me to be an instrument of His overflowing the cups of many others. And I am not unique in this…this is God’s design for every one of His children. We are like a pyramid of cups, starting with a wide base, and being built row by row, higher and higher. Wherever we are in the pyramid, as we allow the Lord to pour into us through our brothers and sisters in Christ, and as our cups overflow, we cannot help but overflow into the cups immediately below us. And so the Lord has designed our life in Christ such that being filled and filling others…being overflowed and overflowing others…is the only possibility.

I encourage you to read Psalm 23, meditate on it, and praise God for all of the truths He has given through that passage. May you receive His overflowing love and grace, in turn offering that same love and grace of Christ to others. May we each continue to fill and be filled, remembering that there is one source: Christ our Lord. Amen.

My First Indian Birthday

Yesterday was one of the most unique days of my life, and certainly my most unique birthday.

The day started with amazing words of encouragement and scriptures from the members of our visiting U.S. team. They were amazing. I'll remember their words for a long time and am so thankful for them.

Next, we attended a 3 hour Indian church service where I had the blessing of delivering the sermon. It is a special gift from my Father in Heaven to be able to lead the sweet people of this church in the Word on my birthday.

I had initially attempted to keep my birthday a secret because I had seen how they celebrate Ralph's birthday, and I was planning to stay below the radar! 

However, I first noticed that something was up when one of our staff called me on the way to church to wish me happy birthday. I wondered how she found out?  Then, on the way into church, all of our littlest girls were wishing me happy birthday. How did they find out?? Then I saw the church service schedule...and at the bottom was..."Happy Birthday Brother Will." Now how did all this happen???

After some false accusations and investigative work, I saw the Facebook message from my Dad to Ralph that blew my cover!

At the end of church, they had a cake for my birthday, and a couple of children in the congregation who share their birthdays with me also came forward.  This is where the day begins to become unique...in an Indian way.

The tradition starts with cutting the cake and posing for pictures. Then those that you know, especially elders, procede to feed you pieces of cake. With each piece, there is a pose for a photo, then they feed you by hand the biggest piece they can get your mouth open for. Finally, everyone comes up and wishes you happy birthday, saying "many happy returns of this day."

Then we went to Ralph's cousin's house for lunch, followed by the second birthday celebration. More amazing chocolate cake, more cutting, more being fed by hand, more pictures. But this was extra special because several of our oldest girls were also there, and they wanted to feed me cake, too. That is because, with a little prodding from Ralph, they proceeded to rub it all over my face! I just laughed with them and let them. I realized that they would only do that if they felt comfortable with me, and that was a special thing. They always do this to their sisters in our home and even with Ralph.

Finally, the third celebration occured in the evening at our littlest girls home. They sang happy birthday to me together and presented me with my 4th handmade card of the day. And a third amazing chocolate birthday cake, which we all shared.

I must say that after it all, although I resisted it initially, I am very happy that my Indian family found out that it was my birthday. It's one that I'll never forget!

A Call to Fast & Pray

Friends and family,

This coming week is special. For many people it will mean days with the family and celebrations. But for others, this week is special in a different way. This coming holiday week is one of the busiest for brothels here in India. Similar to American events like the Super Bowl and the associated increase in sex-trafficking there every year, this coming week brings a much larger volume of customers to the brothels.

This means more women working longer hours throughout the days and nights to satisfy the insatiable demand. This also means more children who are exposed to these environments having their senses assailed by the activities occurring in the next room, or as is unfortunately common, directly above them, as they try to sleep under the bed of their mother.

The threats to these children are clear: 95% become 2nd generation commercial sex workers. But the threat doesn't end there. Even for those who can be rescued or find another life, what their eyes see and ears hear can leave deep scars in need of healing.

These realities are hard to grapple with, and it is especially unnerving being so close to some of these places this week.  However, we are not powerless. Not even close.

This week, I am asking you to join me for a day of fasting and prayer of intercession for the vulnerable and defenseless. For those whose bodies are being used for destruction, and just as much, for the innocent little ones who will be threatened by being in the same place.

 

You see, without Christ, we are indeed powerless. But with Christ, our finite obedience and humble cries reach an infinite God. And in that, we have "the divine power to demolish strongholds" (2 Cor 10:4) in Jesus name.

Please join me in fasting and praying specifically for the children currently forced to be in the brothels or other places of such darkness this week. Please intercede with me on their behalf for protection from physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual abuse.  Isaiah 59:16 - "God wondered that there was no intercessor" for the oppressed and vulnerable. Let God not wonder today. Let us stand as intercessors in the power of The Intercessor, Christ, to whom this passage in Isaiah refers.

I pray that Isaiah 58:6-9 brings you encouragement and guidance if you decide to fast this week:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I."

 

Thank you for your sacrifices for these children in the sight of God. May the God of all grace grant protection and salvation for the children in dark places this week and reward your faithfulness in Christ. Amen.

The Sermon That Stuck: "Be a Burning Bush"

Today I was able to attend one of our churches within our network, and specifically the same church in which I preached just this past July. It is always a joy to visit and see familiar faces worshiping God with all their might and experiencing their authentic joy to see you again.

At the end of the service, it is customary for every single person to greet every single other person...every single person! As I was coming to the end, saying "Praise the Lord" again and again (this is how you say hello in the church here...love it!), there was one woman in the back that spoke to me just a little bit longer. What she said really meant a lot to me.

She told me that she remembered my sermon the last time I was there, and most amazingly, "I ask God every day to make me a burning bush." Wow. She actually remembered the sermon and it has changed her prayer life!

When you preach or teach, you sometimes wonder if even one person remembers one little part such that it makes a real impact in their life. And I reason with myself that if even a single person remembers a single thing that has real impact on their life, then it was worth all the preparation and spending yourself for the message. The message was for them...they are the person you were preaching to, if the only person. That gives the teacher or preacher purpose.

And so to know that God continues to work powerfully in the message long after it is given is a special blessing.  As I prepare to preach again next Sunday, Nov 11, I would like to invite you to pray for a sermon with equal or greater impact on listeners such as the woman today who has been impacted by Moses and the burning bush. 

Specifically, I am praying for three things:

-Simplicity
-Clarity
-Power

I believe these elements will be used by the Holy Spirit to make lasting impact in the lives of those who will hear.

The topic of my sermon next week will be Waiting on the Lord, specifically highlighting the account of Jesus raising Lazurus in John 11. It is partially inspired by the post the Lord moved me to write last November: The Pain & Glory of Waiting on the Lord.  I had no idea at the time that I would be preaching on this topic in India within the year!

Until then, for those that are curious, and for those that migh be similarly impacted, below is a summary of the Burning Bush sermon from July:

Key Scripture: Exodus 3:1-10

Thought questions: Have you ever ignored a burning bush? What does a burning bush look like in your life?

1. Examining the burning bush
- Was the bush God, or special in any way? No, it was ordinary. God IN the bush made it extrordinary.
- What does a burning bush look like today? - 2 Cor 4. A burning bush is anyone who is under trial, but is not consumed. Without Christ they would be consumed, but with Christ, they are not.
- Everyone is set on fire by the world. Will you be consumed?
- Daniel 3:22-25 - Jesus, the 4th person in the furnace is the difference.

2. Responding to the burning bush - Lessons from Moses in Exodus 3
- This was an ordinary day for Moses. 40 years, 14,600 days of silence, exile, and obscurity.
- Moses' role? He simply "turned aside" to behold the phenomenon.
- God speaks through burning bushes today. Look for them and "turn aside" to listen. In addition, your testimony will be God's miracle and mouthpiece to speak to someone else.
- God called Moses by name, and He will do the same with you.
- Moses' and our calls are the same: (Eph 2:8-10)
  1. To God Himself
  2. His purpose for your life

Thought questions:
1. Does today feel like just another day?
2. Are you preparing yourself to respond to God's call?
3. If you have received a call from God, are you remembering daily that He calls you to Himself first?

Conclusion:
1. Be the burning bush in Christ
- Hope of not being consumed yourself
- Joy of sharing that hope with others

2. Turn aside and listen to God in burning bushes (fellow Christians)
- If you have failed, if you have not heard from God - today He chooses you by name
- First call is to God Himself
- Second, walk in obedience in the works that have been prepared for you

Asking for a Father

Of the many scriptures that our girls memorize, one that seems to resonate within them and that they recall with energy is “Though my mother and father forsake me, God will take care of me” (Psalm 27:10). The first time I heard these little ones recite that verse, it was nearly heartbreaking. However, in time I’ve come to realize that my heartbreak came from a focus on the wrong things—the past. When looking at the second half of the verse and coming to a true understanding of what it means to have God as a Father, the verse is truly uplifting…whether or not you still have an earthly mother and father in your life.

Today is Saturday, a day off, known as “holiday” to the Indian people. My absolute favorite way to spend any “holiday” in India is with our girls. Sometimes energetic games, sometimes songs, sometimes Bible stories…the activities vary, but the joy of sharing life with these precious little ones remains a constant blessing.

I like to take the opportunity to instruct our girls, and really, any human being who will listen, about the Father heart of God and our place as His children. For Americans, Indians, adults, and children alike, understanding the truth of our relationship with God as our Father is the source of life and life abundant. Near the end of my instruction today, the girls recited to me of their own accord that “though my mother and father forsake me, God will take care of me.” Then one of our very bright and shy little ones spoke something softly in the local language and disappeared around the corner. Some of the girls giggled as I asked what she had said. “She wants you to be her father,” said a bold little one. Oh my. Yes, my answer is yes, my heart and my mind said silently. I took the opportunity to speak in Hindi, “Tum meri bahen’e heh, Mai tumhara bha’i hu,” which means “You are my sisters, I am your brother.” Their smiles told me that I had been accepted into our family.

It is clear that my role in this ministry is not to be the father figure to each of our girls, though I can think of no greater blessing. But the request of one precious little one to be a father to her spoke so much. Yes, it made me feel like a million bucks, in that I would be desired as such; but much, much more, it reveals the simple heart of a child, and every child of God, to be fathered. To be fathered is to be loved, to be protected, to be instructed, to be disciplined, to be provided for, to be an heir to all that is our Father’s. In God’s grace, He fathers us in these and many more ways. In God’s grace, our little girls are receiving an answer to their sometimes inaudible cries for a loving mother and father here on earth. Love. Protection. Instruction. Discipline. Provision. Heirs.

I encourage you to meditate on what it means to have the God of the universe as your Father today. It may be the most meaningful part of your day. Men, may I also suggest a book that I am just a few pages from finishing: “Fathered by God” by John Eldridge.

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." - Romans 8:15

 

If my response to a little one asking for me to be a father to her was immediately "yes" in my heart in mind, though I am limited in my ability to actually assume that role, how much more is the answer of God "yes" to any of His children who, in Christ, cry out "Abba, Father?" And our God is by no means limited in either His desire or ability to be our Father. This is God's promise to you.

I praise God for providing abundantly for each of the girls in our care, I praise Him for providing abundantly for me, and it is my prayer that you would come to know with ever greater depth that God is your Father. In Christ alone. Amen.

"...no matter how many promises God has made, they are "Yes" in Christ. And so through him the "Amen" is spoken by us to the glory of God." - 2 Cor 1:20

What I'll Miss

Well, as I sit in the airport pecking away on my smartphone, the hour has come for my departure to India. Thank you for joining me in this journey and especially for your prayers.

In considering such an extended time away from home and in counting the cost, I began thinking of all the things I am going to miss over the next 5 months:

Family, friends, my Sunday school class, the World Series, Thanksgiving, my birthday, Christmas, turkey, ham, BEEF!, the first ever Summit new year's hoedown, the college football bowl season, daylight savings time (OK, I don't miss changing my clocks AT ALL), BEEF!, TexMex, regular recreational sports, the birth of at least one friend's first child, the Texas Nascar race, the Daytona 500 on TV, Starbucks, Chick-fil-a, BEEF! (Yes, I know, I said it 3 times)

OK, so that's a partial list of what I'm going to miss. However, what I share in the posts over the next few months will be all that I get to experience instead! Blessings in exchange for blessings, this is our Lord's economy.

Looking forward to the journey and sharing it with you.