Summer 2023

When "well done" seems so far off . . . 

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+9&version=ESV)

I read this portion of a letter from a Korean missionary to Japan. While it refers to a missionary who was serving outside of his country, I too, as a full-time domestic missionary and short-term mission trip trainer, suffer these feelings as well.

Missionaries most of the time don't get brass bands and medals when they return home, but they don't need them. Missionaries wait to hear the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant." They wait for heavenly recognition.

• The American dream embodies comfort and recognition. Will those who fast from the American dream regret it in heaven?
• Did Jesus die so that we could be comfortable? Comfort and recognition are both things missionaries forsake.

Family is the hardest impacted My parents need my care. They desire to hold their grandchildren. But there will be plenty of time for that in heaven. But forsaking your family does not mean neglecting your family. Rather, it involves a mourning over lost time. It's a loss of physical and financial comfort for you children. And it exposes them to increased risk. This risk isn't always life-threatening, but it can be at times.

You see, working among people like me in my own natural environment, I am sometimes invisible.  After twenty-six years serving local families, teens, homeless and others, we do it so often and so much that it is yes, taken for granted. However, I live in a culture different than my upbringing. I have adapted, but still there are times of loneliness and invisibility. People assume I am ok. Even after training hundreds of young people in missions and leading over twenty short-term trips to neglected and disaster-stricken areas in the U.S. and beyond, our work is still treated as everyday work. It is a real chore to try to gather support for this work, both for the kids and us! Yet we are constantly asking and needing to justify the need. I yearn for a "well done".

You see, many do not even know the role of the missionary, or called one. Few churches even have the office of missionary any longer! The Great Commission tells us all to go into all the world . . . firstly to our very own neighborhood and culture! Well, my wife and I were called to that commission full-time . . . every day . . . starting within our own neighborhood . . . for the rest of our lives. In my neighborhood and community, this is actually cross-cultural missions as well. We were called and we were qualified with various degrees of learning. When support wained, we had to secure full time employment to sustain our families. We were literally on state aid for years, which was embarrassing, but few knew it. However, then and now, we still plan and carry our mission work among the teens and families we serve. As with the Korean missionary above, our families sometimes asked us why we had less than the people we served!

Our goal now, in the latter years of our missionary life, is to spark a fire within our youth to desire to serve the Lord in ministry and missions. It is also my desire to challenge believers of the need and responsibility to pray for, encourage, and financially support to work on a regular basis. Even as missionaries, we too support mission work monthly as a practical example.

So why did I write this? I guess simply to vent with God. If it inspires you to give, you are welcomed to do so through our CashApp at $Carrollmission. In fact, we are planning a neighborhood VBS this July for the kids in our community. Next year we are planning two short-term mission trips to serve communities in need (as the Lord leads us).

2 Corinthians 9 (https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+9&version=ESV)

Summer 2023....No....Wait!

"No....Wait!" 

Sometimes God says "no". Other times He says "yes". But what about the times He says "no" to one thing and wants us to do another but we are unsure what "that" is? We do not always understand His ways. We do know, however, that His timing is always right. We will know for sure one day when we see Him face to face as Paul writes below. Until then, we just stay close to Him and keep seeking Him.

Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:8-13)

Summer 2023 . . . Struggling

Yet I trust Him!

God's grace will be proven by the fire we go through. Eventually, people will see the grace of God by how we handle adversity. Just hang in . . . trust God's will . . . His ways are perfect even when we are not. His grace . . . His favor  . . . the thing we do not even deserve . . . is present. Hang in there.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me. (Philippians 4:13)

We all know the verse above. Many quote it when facing challenges. However, if we read the previous few verses we are reminded that Paul is speaking of times when he had plenty, but also time when he had very little. Paul, if we remember, was the "Hebrew of Hebrews" (Philippians 3:5) a Pharisee, and even a citizen of Rome! He had it all at one point. Once confessing Christ, he was rejected by his own people, beaten, jailed, stoned, and abandoned.

But look at the grace of God through it all. We read about also with Daniel, his friends in the fire, David, Samuel, Joseph and others. Even the lowly Mary became the mother of our Savior! 

Take notice everyone. Whatever we are going through . . . good of bad . . . trying or satisfying . . . do it for the glory of God! Believe me, I know. This summer has already been a test for me and my family. Yet I trust Him!

Summer 2023....Day 2

 Souls are still in the balance

I realize it is summer time and as a teacher I do not have to work. I get paid on a twelve month salary! That is really good. However, the Lord's work is never over and I must be diligent not only for His opportunities, but also opportunities for my family. 

As the man of the house and provider-protector, I have to be sure all needs are met. I cannot just sit around and sip lemonade on the front porch as life goes by. Souls are still in the balance . . . in my family and in my neighborhood. In fact, some of my current and former students are still in need of my prayers and support.

The soul of the sluggard craves and gets nothing, while the soul of the diligent is richly supplied. (Proverbs 13:4)

So yes, summer is a time to rest and reset things . . . even recharge the batteries. However, it is NOT a time to do nothing! God is always at work and I must be working with Him. 

Where to today Lord?

Summer 2023: Challenged to be my best, not just rest.

Day 1

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Paul is encouraging Timothy here to ignore the idle chatters around him and be sure to be representing God at all times. What a challenge for me this summer. While I had plans for some exciting times, they were suddenly cancelled and immediately I began to think of "why?".

Why God? Why did this happen to us after so much planning and saving? What did we do to deserve this?

Truth is, it was just His will. It happened and God allowed it! I have to accept it and move on in His will. I cannot be mad or quit on God. ( I am reminded of Job by the way. While I am no way near Job in character, I can learn from his reaction in Job 1:20-22.)

So I will not rest this summer, but be focused upon being my best for Him . . . according to His will.

 

Just wait....

Waiting.....

“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!” (Psalm 37:7)

Waiting is so hard. Seeing others prosper and knowing they do not even acknowledge God is even harder to digest. 

Waiting for God to move and wanting Him to  the glory means we have no choice but to wait, pray, and watch. His ways are not our ways. We can plan, but God will have His way eventually.

So we wait.....

I need you God!

I am currently experiencing a situation that seems impossible. How am I going to work this out? Do I believe that the situation will not turn around in my favor? What I am experiencing is not meant for me to figure it. The situation is meant for me and those involved to watch God show up and show out in my life.

And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Trusting God and accepting His will!

As I look back. . . . Part III (final)

Last day of school for the 22-23 school year . . . wow, it went by so quickly! So as I look back . . .

I love the verse below from the apostle Paul. It lets me know that God will not forget the good things I have done. I tend to focus on the failures . . . the things I have failed to do and the people I have failed to influence. However, here in this verse, I am reminded that God continues to mold and shape me and the things I have done until I face Him in glory one day!

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return].(Philippians 1:6 AMP)

What an awesome reminder. A seed I may have planted in a student this year may not be growing just yet, but years from now I may see the bloom . . . maybe in heaven, but I will see it. I may not even see how I am progressing, but God tells me He is still at work in me too. 

As I look back, Lord help me to see where You have been and where you will be going forward. As David once asked, "Please do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Please continue to open my mouth and use my life for Your glory and Your Kingdom's growth!" (see Psalm 51). The labor is NOT in vain.

As I look back . . . Part II

The decision to become a CHRISTian is easy. Who in their right mind would choose hell over eternal life with our Creator God and Savior anyway? The challenge is following Christ after we make the decision to become a Christ follower. 

As I look back on the past school year, I wonder how many of the students who claimed to be CHRISTian actually are? For that matter, who are the genuine CHRISTians? It really concerns me. The world has such a grip on us all.

We may never know until we get to see Jesus for ourselves and look around . . . .

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. (1 John 2:15-17)

As I look back: Part I

Ahhhh....another year of school completed and as I look back, what do I see? 

Successes? Failures? Jobs completed? Jobs left undone? Students I have impacted positively? Students I have not served well? There are plenty of ups and downs for sure as I look back.

For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. (James 1:23-25)

So as I look back over the 2022-23 school year, I can see times when I have honored God and my students. Some have said they are now closer to God than ever. Some have accepted Christ for the first time. A few even attended their first mission trip and served well, growing closer to one another and the Lord. Yet I cannot help but realize I could have done better.

There are those still spiritually lost. Some seniors are graduating without a relationship with Christ in tow. Many are doubting their futures. I am sure some do not even plan on seeking Him in their future. Some underclassmen are tranfering to public schools where they may never hear the Word of God again! But God . . .

Yet as James wrote in the words above, I must look at the Word and persevere. Yes, I have failed at times. However, God honors effort and He can still reach those I feel as though I have neglected. So as I look back, I move forward with hope!

Graded on fathfulness

Ok....finals are finalizing. School is ending for summer. However, the tests continue and God still gives out grades . . . whether we are in school or not! You see, God continues to give us grades based on our faithfulness.

Jesus said "For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister and to give His life a ransom for many," (Mark 10:45).

How would we score based upon our unselfishness . . . our service . . . our sacrifice? Is it me first or God and others? 

Feel free to give a grade. Self evaluation is goo for the soul . . . but be honest!

A strange and different world

Ok, so we are winding down to the end of another school year and taking final exams (at least grading them in my case). So what does God say about all this knowledge gained and the freedom of summer break, future college life , or embarking in the workforce? Here is some pretty sage advice for us all, no matter our situation:

See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8)

Let's face it, the world and its ruler have a definite agenda . . . and it is getting more and more obvious. Even our pre-school kids are now being taught tolerance and acceptance of various lifestyles and life choices. So what do we do as CHRISTians?

Do n t be fooled and do not be ignorant. Be wise. Be aware. Be diligent. Be caring. Be Jesus with skin on . . . He too lived in a strange and different world from what He believed!