Counting it All
"I, *Charlynn slave of God and the Master Jesus, writing to the twelve tribes scattered to Kingdom Come: Hello! Faith Under Pressure..." *James 1:1 The Message
Fourteen days from today I will be in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I can tell you with all confidence I have been "called" to return there along with a fellow servant to once again, teach and disciple women, Sunday School teachers, and leaders in ministry. I can tell you with all confidence today I am experiencing "faith under pressure."
But the brother of Jesus (James) was not speaking of himself when he penned his letter - he was addressing the recipients. So YOU, dear reader must be experiencing pressures of your own!
"It is impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exists AND that He cares enough to answer." Hebrews 11:6 The Message
We (those of use being squeezed by circumstance, believing in what is invisible) are being trained and equipped for Kingdom work! But, make no mistake about it - IT IS NOT EASY, and it is NOT FUN! Today, my lack (not enough funds to cover the cost of the trip) looks more like poor planning than a gift:
"Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open..." James 1:2-3 The Message
Today, I am "counting it ALL joy," as some translations of the verse read - ALL means ALL; not just the stuff we can figure out "why" it is happening (saying yes to going before the money was in the bank) but also the things for which we have NO IDEA or explanation (my old Blackberry dropping TWO HUNDRED addresses and failing to get updated reports out AND suddenly crashing as I was writing this)!
"If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help." James 1:5 The Message
I'm praying today. And as the apostle Paul told the believers in Phillipi "what I desire is that more be credited to YOUR account." (Phillipians 4:17) I'm GOING by faith. I receive a blessing by witnessing first-hand the delight on the faces, the sounds of praises to the King in Swahili, and the dance of joy as they worship the God of all tribes. Your blessing comes in SENDING. Your earthly monetary contribution is credited to your eternal account that will never be affected by economic downturns, interest rates or who's in power politically.
When King David took on the Amalekites to rescue their kidnapped women, there were soldiers who were too tired to join the fight. (1 Samuel 30:9) After the victory, the ones who fought did not want those who stayed behind to share in the spoils of war. But the King made sure ALL got an EQUAL share.
"The share of the man who stayed with the stuff is to be the same as that of him who went to battle. All will share alike." 1 Samuel 30:24
I might be the one who flies 24 hours, drives across the African savannah 8 hours, washes off the grit of the road with cold water and a bucket BUT the Harvest is equally shared between us because the Father sees each part as IMPORTANT, one not better than the other. I confess I've questioned His reasoning on this (just like the soldiers of David's war) as I've wrestled with mosquito nets and no comforts of home. I know His ways are not my ways, and He is just, faithful and listening to my prayers and my pi**ed off pity party.
"Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life. James 1:12 The Message
TODAY, take a moment to count your joy! Count your blessings, even though they look like discomfort, inconveniences and despair in the visible. Look at your circumstances full on in the face and trust the promise of His Word: "Therefore we do not lose heart...for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes NOT on what is seen..." 2 Corinthians 4:17
TODAY, take part in the battle advancing the Kingdom in Tanzania. Say that prayer! Make that donation! Praise God for the supply and the account He is keeping on your behalf!
"So we're not giving up. How could we! Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making new life, not a day goes by without His unfolding grace." 2 Corinthians 4:16 The Message
Smiling like an origami swan
Waiting for the unfolding!
Sunshine After Rain Ministries
2610 Lakehill Lane #5A
Carrollton TX 75006
Donate online at:
www.sunshineafterrain.org
