Being with the Body is always a blessing. Being with the Body and praying together on Monday night, sharing the Word together, being challenged together, hearing what God is doing in the world is energizing and refreshing.
Seeing our faces on our little board display was not as energizing. I understand the point, I appreciate the idea and I love looking at the other ones, but I battled in my mind with the difference between recognizing and appreciating all God has going on in this world and self-promotion. I suppose it truly does come down to the heart of each individual.
"Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us..."
There is this temptation in the missionary world anyways to prove yourself. Otherwise, why are you going around the world in the first place? Dave and I have always admired our missionary friends who can give themselves to a hard, unaccepting culture for years at a time without many results. In our own case, or in my case I should say, my battle is more internal: begging God to help me be wise with my time, careful with my time, and not do things out of a fear of man that I would not otherwise do simply to "prove myself" to someone.
We want to be faithful stewards of time and resources, and we want to stay committed to what God says is important.
Recently we have had these discussions with missionary women who are told to "do more, do more!" a never-ending battle cry from leadership and those in authority over them to sacrifice time with children, if need be, "for the lost."
Since when did the rules change? Since when did God call us to have a different set of priorities simply because we live in a place where the need is great?
{The older women} are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled. Titus 2:4-5
What I love about those verses is not only what is included, but what is NOT included.
Can we overestimate the value of one life lived in obedience, on those around them? Whichever way we prioritize, we are discipling someone on how to walk with God.
Our goal is to be able to say, "Follow me as I follow Christ."
Use your time like I use my time.
Love on your kids like I do.
Speak to your husband and children like I am.
Reach out to the poor and needy this way....
Humbling.
Impossible.
Without God's enabling power, absolutely hopeless.
With Him, I can do all things.
"...but our sufficiency is from God..." II Cor. 3:5
God, help us make Your priorities ours. No matter what anyone says. We trust You that obedience to You will bear more fruit than we could ever muster up in our own methods.
And now, my view:
I can still see my feet, on occasion, and only three weeks left! And while I really can't think of anything better than carrying this little person around, we also can't wait to meet this tiniest Helsby.
