True Religion

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27

I must admit that having just returned from a trip to India, and having the opportunity to spend time with the children and people that are deemed "untouchables" was truly a religious experience. To see the blind, the lame, and the deaf praise our Heavenly Father in such a joyful, happy, and real way was humbling, powerful, and wonderful. As we spent time with those that I would describe as being in tremendous need, I realized how much my spirit was in need of the same kind of joy and peace.

It was difficult to see the need. I am grateful that I have new friends in such a place. I pray that together, we will be able to help meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of these wonderful people.

I also am so grateful for what I have. I take for granted too often my family, friends, church, and Christian school and the staff that teach my children the ways of the Lord. My prayer for each of us is that we would find peace and contentment in whatever circumstance we are in, and realize how truly blessed we are to live in this great country, the United States of America.

In the weeks to come I will be sharing more specifically about the work in Mid-India. It is an amazing work of God.

In Christ!

Helping Those in Need

Last week I mentioned briefly that I will be heading to India this week with seven other adults from Christ's Church, in Jacksonville, Florida. We are partnering with the Mid-India Christian Mission, in Damoh. I've been to India several times, but this will be my first trip to Damoh and the surrounding areas of Mid-India. I am particularly excited to see the children, the school, the rehabilitation center, and meet the wonderful staff that work so faithfully to serve the Lord and others. For more information on MICM you can click http://www.midindia.com/.

Over the last three years, Christ's Church has been working with Vivek Lall to establish a refuge community called Ashram for the outcast and disabled in Damoh. The property will feature housing units, a church, school, recreation fields, crop fields, a lake that provides irrigation and resources to the community as well as fish that will both feed children and provide employment and income for the ongoing costs of Ashram.

Another large project is the School and Rehabilitation Center for the Disabled (SRCD). This school cares for and educates disabled children in a Christian environment. Mid-India is currently looking for sponsors for the children & teachers. In addition, Mid-India Christian Mission includes a Christian school, a general hospital, and eye clinic, a Bible college, a school for the blind, and a publication center. For pictures and more information on Ashram click on the following link http://ccmissions.com/ashrammidindia.

Please be in prayer for the people of India and those who are traveling on this trip. My prayer is that we will all see God move and work through the efforts of those involved in this great ministry, as we partner in sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I look forward to sharing more with you when I return.

Do I Please God?

I have spent the better part of today dealing with paperwork, bills, an orthodontist appointment, getting ready for a couple of meetings, and all of the other things that go along with serving as an administrator in a Christian school. I leave in one week on a project in India that Christ's Church began about 5 years ago. (I will share about that trip when I return.) I have literally run from one appointment to the next, while text messaging, e-mailing and calling people on my phone as I wait in traffic or somewhere else. I'm sure that most of you can relate to the feelings that often accompany the hustle and bustle of the day. In my case today, it was mostly a frantic feeling of being rushed and behind.

However, in the middle of all of that, there was a small window of about 15 minutes where I was waiting for the next thing, and I found myself sitting in an office waiting to meet with someone, with nothing to do. I left my phone in the car, which means my calendar, e-mail, voicemail, internet, iTunes, stock quotes, camera, and whatever else it can do that I haven't figured out yet were all with it. That is why I had that 15 minutes. I was literally unplugged for a time. The only distraction was the music playing in the office as I waited. I had upcoming meetings on my mind, but I found myself just thinking about my day so far.

I wish that I could say that I sense God speaking clearly to me on a regular basis. But this morning, one question was quietly on my mind: Have I pleased God today? If so, how? If not, why? As I recalled the morning, I wasn't sure. A quote from Jesus came to my mind from the book of John, Chapter 5 verse 30. Jesus was commenting to some of his critics when he said, "by myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgement is just, for I seek not to please myself but Him who sent me." So how did Jesus please the Father? By doing His will.

So what is the will of God? How do we please Him? I went to my car and grabbed a notepad and began to write down those things that I know please God. This is obviously not an exhaustive list, but it does represent those things that I hope I will always seek to do, that our staff at MCS will always strive for, and that our families will join us as we partner together to please our Father in Heaven.

Here are some of the things that I believe scripture indicates are pleasing to God. They are not necessarily in any particular rank or order of importance, but as they came to my mind...though I think we will all identify some as higher than others:
1. Caring for those in need
2. Sharing the hope of Christ with everyone you can
3. Loving God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength
4. Obeying God's commands in scripture
5. Giving glory to God
6. Seeking first the Kingdom of God
7. Teaching our children God's ways
8. Turning from sin
9. Humbling ourselves
10. Serving others
11. Loving our enemies
12. Becoming a true disciple and follower of Jesus Christ

I finished writing these twelve things down in my notebook, and was praying as I was called in for my meeting. I want to spend more time thinking about this concept of pleasing God daily.

I hope that each day we will seek to please God. I know that there are many other things that please God. What are some of the ideas that come to your mind? I would love to hear from you about what you believe pleases our Heavenly Father.

I look forward to learning more in this area in the coming weeks.

Have a great day!

The Word

A few weeks ago I mentioned the importance of the spiritual disciplines of prayer, reading scripture, service, etc. This week I would like to focus on the area of reading and studying scripture. I find it interesting in my own life how I can fluctuate from day to day, week to week, and month to month, as to the amount of time I spend in God's Word. I don't find myself debating the importance of spending time in God's Word and/or the necessity for me to commit it to memory. I just find myself reading a devotional or an inspiring e-mail, or listening to a Christian podcast, and feeling as though my quiet time was maybe good enough. However, I do realize there is no substitute for my own time in The Word. I know that God's Word is, "God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." (II Timothy 3:16) I recognize that God's Word can and does speak directly into my life to guide and direct my days. So what keeps me and so many of us from doing what we want and need? I propose that it is the busyness of the day that makes it so difficult at times to spend the good quality and quantity time in God's Word. Sometimes the busy day is full of really good and honorable things, and yet at the end of the day I find myself tired, worn out, and with little left in the tank for God or others.

So, what do we do about it? Simply stated, we make time for God and His Word each and every day. Don't let busyness rob you of the joy of time with God. Begin to memorize scripture for the purpose of [hiding] God's Word in [your] heart that [you] might not sin against God." ( Psalms 119:11)

As the new year begins, my prayer is that each of us at MCS will grow day by day in our faith as we commit to spend more time in God's Word and allow Him to speak to us through His Word. Let us become better disciples together as we meditate day and night on God's Word.