Actual Real Truths from the Mouth of a Nine Year Old

photography credit: rachel coker

{By Rachel Coker}


It’s funny the life lessons you can learn from your younger siblings. I think, as an oldest child, I always tend to assume that I’m the one who has it all together. I’m supposed to be the example of godliness and humility, and they are supposed to be following me. But, more times than not, I continually find myself humbled and awed by the godly attitudes of my nine and fourteen-year-old sisters that stand out in stark contrast to my own selfishness.

Case in point: My nine-year-old sister Ruthie did something really brave this year. She auditioned for a part in a play. Now, to understand how truly jaw-dropping and astonishing this is, you sort of have to get an idea as to her past history of acting. When she was a toddler, we tried to get her to sing on stage with the other kids at church. She would not have it. Like, seriously, not have it at all. She would cry and hide her face and refuse to stand in front of anyone. She wouldn’t even look people in the face. And it didn’t get much better as she got older. Up until about a year ago, she still refused to do anything that involved words coming out of her mouth while someone else was listening.

But then it all changed. Because, a few months ago, Ruthie found out about a part in an upcoming play that she really wanted. It’s funny, too, because the role that she was pining after was this really spunky nurse with whole lotta attitude to spare. Which may not seem like something that would appeal to a stage-shy nine-year-old kid, but whatever. Ruthie wanted it. She talked about getting that part all the time. She prayed about auditioning, and babbled on and on about what she would wear if she got to play the nurse, and memorized all of the nurse’s lines before she even auditioned. She even talked to the director and offered her old hospital scrubs as a costume for Nurse Zelda.

There was only one problem. Her best friend wanted that role, too.

Here is where things would have gotten really sticky for me. Because I remember those days of auditioning and praying so hard for a part that I thought my head would burst. So I remember casually asking before prayer one morning, “Don’t you really hope you get the part? Do you want us to pray that the director would pick you instead of (your friend)?”

I’ll never forget what Ruthie said after that, because it made all our mouths drop and minds spin. She just shrugged and said, “I just want her to pick whoever she thinks is going to be good for the part. It doesn’t matter to me. She can still use my nurse’s costume even if (my friend) gets the part.”

In the end, I think we all were shamed by our nine-year-old sister. All of us, me included, were so caught up in our excitement and competiveness and desire for Ruthie to succeed, that we forgot about what was really important. And that is that the director needs to choose whoever would be best for the part, and no one needed to be disappointed or upset about it.

In the end, Ruthie got the role of Nurse Zelda. And her best friend got another fantastic part, and they’re both really happy and enjoy running over their lines together. But despite the fact that Ruthie is coming out of her shell, and gaining confidence to speak in front of people, I think that I’m the one who really learned a life lesson through all of this.

Too often, I ask God for my wants and my desires to be fulfilled. I get so caught up in planning out my life and future, and deciding what I think would be good for me, that I forget to leave things up to Him. If God is the director of my life, than He already knows what role He wants me for. And it’s not going to be helpful to Him if I’m pouty and jealous that someone else is getting to do what I always dreamed of. It took my littlest sister’s unselfish attitude to remind me that it’s best when I can just say, “God, cast me in whatever role you’d like. I want to serve you in the best way that I can, and only you know how that would be. Just make me useful to you.” It may be difficult sometimes to give up the things I want, but my hope is that with this as my prayer, I’ll be able to do the absolute best job at whatever role I get in the grand scheme of God’s perfect will.

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That Saved A Realist Like Me

{By Hailey Sadler}

The whole “is-the-glass-half-empty-or-half-full” dilemma sort of confused me as a child. When posed with it, I would always answer “half full” because that seemed to be the right answer. Anyway it seemed like the better, happier option compared to being labeled a pessimist, which always conjured up images of wet blankets and bitter old men. Secretly, though, my water-in-the-cup philosophy is more along the lines of, Ok, we’ve established that there is water in a cup, now can we please move on??

I guess I could be considered somewhat of a realist.

An interesting term, “realist” usually just means a cynic or pessimist who enjoys patting themselves on the back for the pleasing ability to accurately perceive objective reality. Poor, deluded optimists and idealists, they sniff. Yes, realists can be really obnoxious [see picture to the right!]. But that is not the point. The point is they are right. Reality is depressing, and if you view the world from a realist perspective you quickly become closely akin to the cynic and the pessimist for that very reason. Because what is reality? Reality is truth.

And the truth of our world does not tend towards the encouragement of optimism.

The truth is Americans who are obese [approximately 1 in 3 children in the U.S. are obese] and Nigerians who are malnourished [there are 5.75 million underweight children in Nigeria]; the truth is sickening injustices that create multitudes of “causes” and less action, chaos and turmoil, governmental abuse, corruption, economic uncertainty. The truth is culture that is seriously messed up in so many ways. It’s a world where the GDP of the 48 poorest nations is less than the combined wealth of the world’s 3 richest people. It’s a world of red lights when you want to text and Facebook statuses that make you want to cry (or gag) because of the sheer narcissism. As Big Daddy from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof would say, “The truth is pain and sweat and payin’ bills…. Truth is dreams that don’t come true, and nobody prints your name in the paper ‘til you die.”

If that was all there is to it, I think my tendency towards “realism” would make me want to pour a pack of Kool-Aid in that half-full-half-empty glass and be done with it.

But that is only one dimension of reality.

Because what is reality? Reality is Truth. Truth is the thread weaving this tangled mess we call reality into a perfect product God calls His plan. The Truth is that there is something higher than this world, bigger than all the evil, greater than ourselves, something we only snatch glimpses of, a breath of light when the clouds shift, and parting, for a moment we catch sight of heaven. It is the reality of a higher reality: God Who sees purpose where we see only pointless pain, God Who wrote the end of the story for us all to read, and Who is coming back. For us.

It is that that makes the stark circumstances of this world around me bearable. Even more than that, it makes life fully worth living, if only to catch those occasional glimpses of that higher reality, higher Truth that dovetails and completes the truth we know and weaves us all together – pessimist, realist, optimist, idealist – in His incomprehensively perfect plan. 

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound. 

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Rebels Without Causes

{by Rachel Coker}

I experienced my first major movie-star crush when I was twelve years old. I just happened to stroll through the living room one Sunday afternoon and see my dad stretched out on the couch, watching an old movie on TV. At the time, I didn’t think much of it. Nothing new there—just his usual Sunday afternoon movie watching. I grabbed a snack out of the fridge and was about to head upstairs when it happened. I saw him. James Dean. I’m pretty sure the earth tipped slightly on its axis. Was it just me, or had my heart stopped beating? Yep, that guy was definitely making my stomach do crazy things.

I casually perched on the edge of the sofa and pretended to be only semi-interested in the movie. “What are you watching?” I asked my dad, as non-suspiciously as possible. Rebel without a Cause. And with those four words, my Sunday afternoon was pretty much shot. Because I sat on the couch for the majority of it, soaking up that handsome face and sweet red jacket.

Looking back on it now, I’m not sure I can really put my finger on what it was about James Dean’s character that I found so appealing. Granted, he was extremely good looking and the best dresser I’d ever laid eyes on, but there was something else about him that I found downright intriguing. He was a rebel. He roamed the streets at dark in his 1949 Mercury, hung out in abandoned houses, and got into more trouble in twenty-four hours than most people can achieve in a lifetime. Basically, he lived the kind of life that every teenager, boy or girl, dreams about. The freedom to do whatever you want, whenever you want. Forget adult supervision or rules. James Dean did whatever he pleased, and twelve-year-old me thought that was just amazing.

There’s a stereotype about teenagers that should probably cause most of us to cringe. And that is that teenagers are a discontented, rebellious, ungrateful bunch of kids. But you know what? It’s totally true! And, to make things worse, I am one of those teenagers! And, if you’re going to be one hundred percent honest, you probably are, too.

My sisters and I recently completed a Bible study on contentment. It was definitely eye-opening to me, because for the first time I realized how little I have to be ungrateful for. Every day, God showers me with blessings and mercies—most of which I don’t even recognize. And yet, I fight. I push for what I want and demand what I think I need. I’m not always grateful or content with the life God has given me. In fact, I often want to rebel against it.

As fallen human beings, we’re born into that state of sin and rebellion. We’re constantly fighting and struggling for things that aren’t in God’s plan for us. And yet, what do we have to fight for? God has been nothing but good and merciful toward us. We play the part of rebels, but we really don’t have a cause.

Every time we rebel against God, there are serious consequences. We lose fellowship with Him, we are kept from receiving some of His blessings, and we are sometimes even punished. No matter how romantic it might seem sometimes, the life of a rebel isn’t a great one. Even in James Dean’s classic film celebrating teen freedom, things end badly. Death, degradation of the family, ruined friendships… Rebellion comes with a price.

The world is full of enough rebels without causes. What we need is more young women and men willing to stand for something worthwhile. The cause of truth, and love, and grace. Those are true causes. The blessings of God are the only things that are really going to last, after all. What good is a few years of living hard and fast? What will we really gain by rebelling for our own desires, if they are only things that will pass away when this life is over?

So stop fighting. Stop rebelling. We really have no reason to be discontent and unhappy. Instead we should spend more time thinking about all the wonderful blessings we enjoy. We don’t have a cause to rebel, but we do have so many causes to be grateful.

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On a Mission: Asking the Hard Questions {Part 3}

Check out Part 1 and Part 2 if you missed them! Today we'll hear from Rebekah, who has shared her heart for children several times on this blog before. Here are some of her thoughts on Kisses from Katie, what we can be doing today, and how this issue has impacted her life:

Rebekah:

How has the Lord touched your heart on this issue?

Ever since I was a little girl I have always loved children. I have spent most of my childhood playing with, being around and babysitting children. So when it came time to start looking at careers, my choice was of course to do something that had to do with children. The love that God has given me for children is incredible. I sometimes wish I could hug every child in the world and show them just how much God loves them. And while I can't do that, I can show a great number of kids God's love by going to in missions work of some kind.

How has that passion impacted your life or how do you see it impacting

your life?

My love for children overflows into pretty much everything I do. Wherever I go, if I see a child, I am immediately drawn to him. If there is ever a child in need, I try to do whatever I can to help him. As I said above, I have spent a lot of my life around/with children, and so I think they have made a huge impact on my life. I think I see the world differently when I am with children. Children have such a sweet view of life, and I love it. I wish everyone could see the world as a child does. They also have an amazing amount of faith in things they cannot see. And that is truly priceless. We could all learn a lesson or two from them about trusting God :)

If you could tell people of one way they can make a difference, what would it be?

To love God, and love children. So many people in the world today see children as a burden, when really they are a blessing from the Lord. They are incredible gift that we don't deserve. They are eternal beings that have a heart and soul just like you and me. 

What kind of an impact did Kisses from Katie have on you?

I actually have followed Katie's blog for over year before the book came out. Naturally, when I heard she was releasing a book, I pre-ordered it and read it as soon as I could! It is an amazing book. I would recommend to anyone, even if they don't feel God calling them into missions work. It will change your life.

Katie makes it clear that she’s not saying all people need to become foreign missionaries. But that does not release us from our duty to care for orphans. What can we be doing, here and now?

I definitely agree that not all people are called into foreign missions. But I do think that God calls everyone to some type of ministry. Even if that is as simple as being a stay-at-home mom, it's still doing as the Lord has called. I also believe that God can use you to great things wherever He has called you. That may be spreading the word through out the office you work in, or teaching your children about God. I think as Westerners, we can have an impact. Even if we aren't the ones going over to foreign countries, we can be the ones who support those missionaries by raising funds, organizing events, getting the word out, or any other ways you can think of helping. Many times there is just one missionary who goes to different country, but they really have a team of hundreds of people back home supporting them and helping them.

Is giving money to good causes enough?

There is a book called Crazy Love (by Francis Chan) that greatly changed my thoughts on this issue. I think the best thing to do is have a mindset of where are treasure is, we will be there also. And for us, as Christians, ALL of our treasure should be in heaven. We shouldn't be too attached to anything on earth, so if God asks us to give it up, we can. Mr. Chan in his book talks about selling his big home and moving to one half the size so that he could donate the extra money to missions work. This is something that seems so radical to us, but if you think about it, he probably changed hundreds, if not thousands of people's lives, but just listening to what God wanted him to do, and being willing to do it. I think if you are willing, God will call you to make a difference bigger then you could ever imagine.

To the girls who have grown up reading missionaries biographies and have always dreamed of the missionary life, what would you say? What would you say to the girls who are pretty much happy with their American life and “don’t feel the call”? What has God said to you on this issue?

To those girls dreaming of being missionaries, I would say, If God calls you, Go. It might be scary, and it might be the hardest thing you have ever done, but I can guarantee you giving up everything you know and love to go serve the Lord is the best thing you will ever do. To the girls who love their American life, I would say, evaluate your loves. If you love your American "treasures" more then God, then there are some priority issues there. But if you are loving God and He calls you to stay and serve in America, then by all means, listen :)

Personally, I have felt God calling me for a while to do some type of missions work. As of right now I am planning on going to a missionary Midwifery school and then hopefully serving the Lord somewhere, in some country (I am leaving that up to God right now!) I am so very excited about going to different countries, and serving God in different parts of the world. I know it will probably be hard, but as I said before, I also know it will definitely be worth it.

Ok, so now it's your turn: what are your thoughts on some of the tough questions about missions work? How would you answer these questions? 

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On a Mission: Asking the Hard Questions {Part 2}

"People tell me I am brave," says Katie Davis, "People tell me I am strong. People tell me good job. Well here is the truth of it. I am really not that brave, I am not really that strong, and I am not doing anything spectacular. I am just doing what God called me to do as a follower of Him. Feed His sheep, do unto the least of His people." 


Would that be your answer? What does that mean for us? How can we be loving the least of these... today? Hannah shared her thoughts with us last time, here is another young lady to offer her perspective on some of the hard questions of missions work:

Carolyn:

How has the Lord touched your heart on this issue?

I'm not really sure why the Lord gave me a burden for orphans, child slaves, and abortion. He just did. I can't really remember who or when it started but I've always felt called to something with children. All I know is that He has given me a hurt for these hurting children and someday He will show me what He wants me to do about that. Until then I need to keep listening, keep preparing, and keep praying.

How has that passion impacted your life?

It has helped my relationships with my siblings a lot. I have three younger siblings and I believe the Lord has given them to me so I can practice. It has also helped me become more humble I look at others who have gone before me and I stop thinking I'm so wonderful.  

What is one way we can 'make a difference'?

Remember that God makes the difference, if you are ready to always be his tool he will use you. Sometimes that means taking the first step without knowing what the second step is. The best way to make a difference is to not wait for the faith you need but to trust that God will give you the trust you need at each individual time. I know that sounds paradoxical but it works. He may give you a lot to do he may give you only a little. But it will always be just enough.

Not all Christians are called to physically move to foreign countries and devote their time to the desperately poor. However, when compared with the work missionaries are doing, sometimes our lives seem superficial and in some ways selfish. What are your thoughts on this?

I've actually been struggling a lot with that lately. There is so much work to do close to home and so much work to do  in other lands. Part of me wants to help carry the light into areas that have never seen it. Part of me wants to go help the children over seas who are hurting. then another part of me wants to stay here and help the babies that are being murdered right here in my own country. So I think that each individual should trust the Lord to give him or her their own assignment. Knowing that the assignment might change. After all as long as you are doing the Fathers will how can you be doing wrong? There is no "better way" then the way He has placed you in. 

Is giving money to good causes enough?

No. Money is not enough. The Bible tells us to give of ourselves. To give what we really prize. The Christian is taught to prize time and love, not just money. So giving our money, while good, is not enough.  We need to also give our time and our talents. However, you can be a missionary at home! Giving your time and talents to the Lord at home is the same thing as giving them in Africa. Once again the important thing is to be living the will of the Lord.

To the girls who have grown up reading missionaries biographies and have always dreamed of the missionary life, what would you say? To the girls who are pretty much happy with their American life and “don’t feel the call”, what would you say?

To the first group I would say this: Hi sisters! You're just like me! I am so glad that the Lord has spoken to your hearts. I have two cautions though: 1.) Don't get caught up in the romantic vision of the mission field make sure its the Lords' glory you want not adventure. 2.) Prepare yourselves by ministering to those around you. Don't expect to get out there and be instantly the perfect example to the heathen.

To the second group I would say this: Are you listening? Do you have a close relationship with the Lord or are you drifting? And if you are you are just like me! I have huge dry spells when I feel like just doing what I want to do.  But you know what? It's always my fault! If you want to be called, you have to stay within calling range; draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to you.

What has God said to me on this issue? The verse I have picked as my own this year is this. "Walk in wisdom toward them which are without redeeming the time."  Life was given us to glorify God. The Lord has called us to use each second to the fullest. To seek for wisdom, to be an example, and to glorify God. A missionary is someone with a mission, my mission is your mission; to bring glory to God. That is the bottom line.

Don't forget to look for Part 3, coming soon 

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On a Mission: Asking the Hard Questions

One girl. About the age of most of us. One countercultural decision. One crazy awesome God and one heart surrendered to His wildest ideas.

The result? Thousands of orphans given homes and cared for, thousands of ways for the Gospel to be shared, one amazing ministry begun, one beautiful book written, and thousands of hearts inspired.

The girl? Katie Davis, now young mother of 13 orphaned girls and founder of Amazima Ministries. The book? Kisses from Katie: A Story of Relentless Love and Redemption, the exciting and heart-wrenching story of her adventures in Uganda. My advice to you? Read it.

Kisses from Katie is Katie Davis’ telling of her own story, how she turned her back on the traditional American life of college and career and chose a radically different life than the one she had grown up with and expected to live. But more than that, Katie’s book is the story of the people, and particularly the children, of Uganda; it is the story of the approximately 143,000,000 orphans around the world today, voiceless and alone; it is the story of a God big enough to use a little girl to do great things.

Reading Katie’s story is not exactly the kind of book you want to read curled up in a comfortable chair, sipping a $4 latte… without seeing the complacency and self-centeredness of our culture mirrored in yourself, that is. Because Katie’s book is like that. Unless you’re reading it from the depths of Africa or somewhere where you are engrossed in full time mission work with orphans up to your ears, Kisses from Katie raises interesting, and convicting, questions. As high school girls, wrapped up in activities and friends, are we truly living for anyone other than ourselves? As college students, busy with heavy course loads and meeting new faces, are we living with an eternity-mindset? As 20-somethings, moving on with life and careers and schooling, are we so focused on the next bend in the road that we forget the crying, hungry world around us?

Not everyone is called to leave their home, families, friends, and the beaten path of classic American life to directly minister in hungry and sick, poverty-stricken third world countries. We can be missionaries wherever we are [we all know that right? the whole ‘bloom where you’re planted’ thing?]. But in the face of thousands of children who live in conditions so desperate our minds can only imagine, that platitude, although truthful, can seem to fall a little flat.

Three girls, each with a passion for children, orphans, missions, and the voiceless, are here to share their thoughts with you on this topic, and why it has become a passion for them.

 

Hannah:

Why do you have a passion for orphans/children/missions?

I didn’t originally have a passion for this issue. I mean, my heart would hurt when footage of starving children came on the TV screen, and I’d feel compassion for children without families--but mostly I didn’t think of them. I tried not to let them cross my mind too often because I doubted that there were real, tangible ways I could help. 

If you could tell people of one way they can make a difference, what would you tell them?

Prayer. This should not be disregarded or downplayed. Jesus speaks repeatedly on prayer in the New Testament--He uses strong imagery to emphasize how we should appeal to Him boldly and often. These kids are under His watch. He loves them more than we do. So why would we hesitate to appeal to Him to care for their needs, and equip us to help them?

To the girls who have grown up reading missionaries biographies and have always dreamed of the missionary life, what would you say? To the girls who are pretty much happy with their American life and “don’t feel the call”, what would you say?

To the girls who (like me) were raised on missionary stories--don’t downplay your involvement. You might not be in a place in life where you can drop everything and go overseas. You may never be given that opportunity. That doesn’t mean you’re powerless. Mother Teresa emphasized that all we can do are “small things with great love.” I would add--I don’t think anything done for the Kingdom is truly small. Everything matters. Everything is seen by God. 

To the girls who don’t think you’re called...I would suggest reconsidering. The truth is, if we love Jesus, caring for orphans isn’t a question. James 1:27 says it is a mark of “pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God.” The question isn’t whether you’re called. The question is “how.” How can you specifically help love these kids? Prayer? Active involvement in a local orphan ministry? Fundraising for orphan ministries or places that support potential adoptive families, like the Abba Fund? But mostly...I’d encourage those girls to dare to see yourselves in these children. But for the grace of God, we’d be there too. How can we possibly bear to live without giving them a second thought? If God’s heart breaks for them, why should our hearts remain whole?

check back soon for part 2... 

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Learning to Be a Lion-Chaser {Part 2}

{by Katrina Rebsch}

As I finished my second read-through of this book, more slowly this time in order to better digest the content, the wheels in my heart and mind began turning.  Slowly at first, then faster and faster as passions were defined and new dreams awakened that had lain buried for a long time under the guise of the impossible.  Excitement surged through my being and hope for the future was restored!  Suddenly, I wanted to be a lion chaser in the Kingdom of God!  To dream big, take risks as God leads, and trust Him for the impossible... 

A few days later found me at my computer typing out the following lists:

Passions Defined:

•   Teaching the Bible and discipling others (especially teenage girls)
•   Evangelizing
•   Homeschooling
•   Seeing women/girls choose life for their babies
•   Missionary work around the globe
•   Orphans being adopted
•   Supporting busy mothers in their noble work of homemaking and nurturing children
•   Writing to encourage others
•   Godly music
•   Healthy lifestyle
•   Bringing beauty and order to a home environment

Dreams for Future Learning:

•   Teaching English as a second language as a vehicle for sharing the Gospel
•   The job of an ultrasound technician for use at crisis pregnancy centers
•   Basic midwifery/doula skills
•   Gardening
•   Photography
•   Playing the guitar

Dreams for Future Doing:

•   Running a haven home for missionaries where they can stay for free while on furlough and be refreshed; one that would include a big garden for soul nourishment
•   Publishing a book
•   Acting in a Christian movie
•   Becoming an advocate for orphan adoption
•   Sponsoring orphan children in other countries
•   Visiting Prince Edward Island, the Swiss Alps, Montana, and a tropical paradise
•   Getting married and discipling my children in the Lord’s ways (possibly adopting if God so led) 

I know that not all of these dreams are going to be accomplished in one week, one month, or even one year!  “A dream becomes reality one opportunity at a time...” Batterson encourages. And of course, to everything there is a time and a season.  Perhaps it will take a lifetime to accomplish these goals.  And maybe some won’t ever make it past the bullet point on my list.  I also recognize that a few of these dreams probably look far-fetched.  After all, where does a girl like me with no fixed salary get enough money to buy a home for missionaries?  And acting in a Christian movie?  I don’t even know any directors!

Yet, as a lion chaser, I am no longer limited to the logical!  I know that God can do anything.  The more impossible, the more He gets excited!  He says, “Trust in Me, and I will direct your paths.  (Proverbs 3:5) Delight in Me, and I will give you the desires of Your heart. (Psalm 37:4)  Chase lions with courage and faith and I will do exceeding abundantly above all that you could ask or imagine! (Ephesians 3:20)”

Come to think of it, God has already been very faithful to make many dreams come true in my life.  How can I not trust Him for more?

Before reading In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, I probably would have looked at a list of future dreams such as the one written above and laughed with just a hint of incredulity.  Me?  Do all that?  In one lifetime?  Isn’t that shooting for the stars just a little too much?

But then I think of Benjamin Franklin.  Ever since reading his biography in high school, I have been amazed at how one man could do so much in an average lifespan.

Wikipedia defines Ben Franklin as: an author, printer, political theorist, politician, postmaster, scientist, musician, inventor, satirist, civic activist, statesman, diplomat, governor, and Founding Father.  His inventions included the lighting rod, bifocals, the Franklin stove, a carriage odometer, and the glass armonica (a musical instrument) which he played along with the violin, harp, and guitar.  Benjamin Franklin formed both the first public lending library in America and the first fire department in Pennsylvania, established a hospital, and reformed the postal system, organized the Pennsylvania militia and was very influential in the American Revolution.  He served as an ambassador to France, participated in the Continental Congress, and is known nation-wide as a signer of the Declaration of Independence and United States Constitution.

Whew!  Are you tired yet?  I often wondered when the man ever slept!  He must have been an expert at using his time efficiently.  Yet, despite all these impressive achievements, Ben Franklin chased lions in the wrong camp.  Even though he had a Puritan upbringing, he veered drastically from the Truth as an adult, choosing instead to embrace religious beliefs that left Jesus Christ out of the equation and looked to his own virtues to save his soul.  Thus, when Ben Franklin’s earthly life ended and he stood before the judgment seat of Christ, all his amazing accomplishments amounted to...nothing.

As the famous poem says:

           Only one life

       ‘Twill soon be past

     Only what’s done for Christ

            Will last.

So I think to myself, if a non-Christian with very mixed-up views on truth could accomplish so much and live his life with such vision and purpose, how much more can we as Christians do the same, but with the purpose in life that really matters: Glorifying God.

I agree with Mark Batterson when he says,“I’m concerned that the church has turned into a bunker where we seek shelter when we’re actually called to storm the gates of hell.”  How often it seems we limit God, content to stay in our comfortable pews singing hymns and listening to sermons but not really DOING much for the Kingdom agenda!  The Bible makes it clear that we are to be “doers of the Word and not hearers only.”

Too often, Christians seem content to merely follow along the “normal” path of life the world has mapped out: Get an education.  Get a job.  Advance in career.  Get married.  Have a few children.  Make sure they make it to adulthood okay.  Retire.  Die.

Of course, there’s nothing inherently wrong with this model.  I’m simply suggesting that we think outside the box, ask God for big dreams, seize opportunities, be willing to take risks, accomplish much for Christ with this one life we’re given, and turn this world upside down with the life-transforming message of the Gospel!

As I began to formulate ideas for this article, several other lion chasers came to mind who, unlike Ben Franklin, were Christ-followers who dared to pursue dreams, trusted God for the results, and often experienced much more than they initially had in mind!

I think of George Muller.  A German-born, ruffian-turned-preacher who moved to England as a missionary, George had a passion for spreading the Gospel and teaching the Bible.  As he busily engaged in the work of pastoring a church and establishing schools for Bible training, he noticed the distressing plight of orphans and street children on the streets of Bristol.  Burdened by the dire needs of these forgotten little ones George dared to ask God for a home where these children could be sheltered, cared for, and educated in a Godly, loving environment.  But George Muller’s motivation was not merely the care of orphans.  He desperately wanted to prove to a watching world that God still answered prayer and could be trusted for even the smallest everyday needs.  Thus, he determined to never ask anyone for funding.  Instead, he took everything to the Lord in prayer, telling God and God alone of his needs.  The results were astounding.  By the end of his life, George Muller had received the equivalent of millions of dollars all by God’s answers to his prayers, had cared for more than 10,000 orphans in five homes, supported missionaries in all corners of the world, distributed millions of Bible and tracts, and saw hundreds of thousands of people educated in his Scriptural Knowledge Institution schools.  A lion chaser for sure, who defied the odds and brought God much glory by his unwavering faith!

I think of Gladys Aylward, an English-born parlor maid who had a burning desire to be a missionary in China.  People told her she couldn’t do it, and formal mission agencies turned her away based on lack of qualifications.  But nothing would stop Gladys from pursuing her God-ordained dream and passion!  With little money in her pocket, she made the long journey to China where she worked hard to learn the language and befriend the people.  Eventually, under the auspices of Royal Foot Inspector by command of the local Chinese magistrate, she was able to travel extensively to villages all around the region freeing little girls from a cruel and painful custom and sharing the Gospel message with anyone who would listen to her.  Along the way, she adopted orphans.  When war threatened the lives of her family and many other homeless children around, Gladys led them all on a long, arduous journey over the mountains to safety.  In the face of all the odds she constantly came up against, God brought her through and received the glory. 

I think of Katie Davis, a former homecoming queen from Tennessee who, at the age of 19, gave up a popular life, flashy sports car, and chance for a college education at any university in America to pursue a dream of ministering to the least of these in Uganda.  Her just-released biography, Kisses From Katie, tells the fascinating story of how God is using her, an ordinary American girl, to touch hearts and change lives in profound ways.  Although Katie initially went to Uganda to teach kindergarten to underprivileged children, she quickly found herself serving the Lord as an adoptive mother to 14 girls, village nurse, and founder of Amazima Ministries, a non-profit organization which provides food and education to hundreds of poor children.  Everywhere she goes, she shares the love of Jesus.  Katie, now 23, is still pursuing her God-ordained dream and watching in amazement as He does the extraordinary through her obedience.

I think of Alex Kendrick.  A man with a dream to make movies that glorify God and serve as a vehicle for advancing His Kingdom.  With his pastor’s approval and his church’s participation, Alex, along with his brother, Stephen, set out to pursue that dream and chase that lion.  I’m sure you all know the results.  In fact, a number of you probably sat in a theater recently watching those results unfold before you as their latest movie, Courageous, swept the country with its compelling message about Christian fatherhood.  People said they couldn’t do it.  God probably just grinned.  Sherwood Pictures is now one of the leading Christian movie production companies, turning out films that are not only excellent in quality but profound in story content, touching lives and turning people to the Lord all over the globe.

As Mark Batterson states, 

“Obedience is a willingness to do whatever, whenever, wherever God calls us.  And that looks very different for each of us.  It doesn’t always necessitate going half-way around the world.  Often the most courageous actions only require us going across the room or across the street...You will have plenty of God-ordained opportunities.  Your job is to see and seize these opportunities by tuning in to the still, small voice of the Holy Spirit.  And you’ll be amazed at the way those spirit-whispers get you where God wants you to go...”

So, dear readers...are you ready to become a lion chaser?  To dream big?  To seize opportunities that come roaring (even if they look like five-hundred-pound problems)?  To trust God for the seemingly impossible?  To live your one life in a way that matters with eternity in view and God’s glory your mission? 

May God give us all the courage of Benaiah and the faith to chase His dreams for our lives!

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Learning to Be a Lion-Chaser {Part 1}

{by Katrina Rebsch}

It was sometime toward the end of September.  Hepatitis A had made a ruthless sweep through the children’s orphanage where I am currently living and I had fallen prey to its debilitating clutches.  At the same time I became ill, dreams I had surrounding a certain young man in a country far away and the possibility of a future together shattered into pieces.  So there I was in the isolation ward of my own room, feeling sad, lonely for my parents, bored, and just a tiny bit hopeless as I thought about the future. 

In my desperation for something to do, I rummaged through the bottom cupboard of my nightstand just in case there was an interesting book left behind by another volunteer that I had overlooked in my past searches.  A book that might, for a time, provide a cure for my cabin fever.

Bypassing the Spanish grammar books, Pride and Prejudice (already read it three times) and a novel by John Grisham, my eyes lighted upon a slim paperback with the curious title, In a Pit With a Lion on a Snowy Day.  For some reason, it had never piqued my interest before.  After all, I had never heard of it nor the author, Mark Batterson.  But this time, with nothing better to do, I decided to at least open the cover and find out what the book was about.

I began reading....and reading...and reading.  Within the first paragraph, I realized I had (providentially) happened upon a literary treasure!  I found the author’s candid, colorful writing style immediately engaging and his content intriguing. In 24 hours flat, I had finished the entire book and was eager to read it again.  It introduced me to a new hero of the Bible I had never heard of, encouraged me to start dreaming again, and taught me what it means to be a lion chaser in the Kingdom of God. 

An obscure passage in the Old Testament forms the basis for the entire book.  In all my years of being a Christian and a student of the Word, I don’t think I’ve ever noticed this passage that has now influenced my life so greatly.

“There was also Benaiah, son of Jehoiada, a valiant warrior from Kabzeel.  He did many heroic deeds which included killing two of Moab’s mightiest warriors.  Another time he chased a lion down into a pit.  Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it.  Another time, armed only with a club, he killed a great Egyptian warrior who was armed with a spear.  Benaiah wrenched the spear from the Egyptian’s hand and killed him with it.”  (II Samuel 23:20-21) 

In case you missed the significance of Benaiah’s unusual and incredible feat, here’s author Mark Batterson’s retelling of the account:

“Out of the corner of his eye, Benaiah sees something crawling.  I don’t know how far away the lion is - and their vision is probably obscured by falling snow and frozen breath - but there is a moment when Benaiah and the lion lock eyes.  Pupils dilate.  Muscles tense.  Adrenaline rushes.  

Usually, when the image of a man-eating beast travels through the optical nerve and registers in the visual cortex, the brain has one over-arching message:  Run away!

But not this time!  Almost as improbable as falling up or the second hand on your watch moving counter clockwise, the lion turns tail and Benaiah gives chase.

Lions can run up to thirty-five miles per hour and leap thirty feet in a single bound.  Benaiah doesn’t stand a chance, but that doesn’t keep him from giving chase.  Then the lion makes one critical misstep.  The ground gives away beneath his five-hundred-pound frame, and he falls down a steep embankment into a snow-laden pit.  

Almost like walking on thin ice, Benaiah measures every step.  He inches up to the edge and peers into the pit.  Menacing yellow eyes stare back. 

Have you ever had one of those moments where you do something crazy and ask yourself in retrospect: What was I thinking?  This had to be one of those moments for Benaiah.  Who in their right mind chases lions?  But Benaiah now has a moment to collect his thoughts, regain his sanity, and get a grip on reality.  And the reality is this:  Normal people don’t chase lions. 

So Benaiah turns and walks away. 

But Benaiah isn’t walking away.  He’s getting a running start.  [He] runs at the pit and takes a flying leap of faith.

Benaiah and the lion disappear into the recesses of the pit.  A deafening roar echoes in the cavernous pit.  And bloodcurdling battle cry pierces the soul.

Then dead silence.

After a few agonzing moments of suspense, the shadow of a human form appears as Benaiah climbs out of the pit.  The blood from his wounds drips on the freshly fallen snow.  Claw marks crisscross his face and spear arm. But Benaiah wins one of the most improbable victories recorded in the pages of Scripture.” 

Interestingly, the story of Benaiah doesn’t end there.  A few verses later, Scripture records that this brave fellow went on to become one of King David’s top-ranked mighty men and the person in charge of his bodyguard!  Towards the end of his life, Benaiah was even promoted to the position of commander-in-chief over the entire army of Israel under Solomon’s reign!

So what’s the point?  Why draw attention to this obscure little adventure story tucked away in the pages of II Samuel?  How does it affect you and me?  I mean, chances are, we aren’t exactly going to be encountering any lions in our backyard to chase.

Or are we?

In his book, Mark Batterson makes the case that God is looking for more lion chasers: people of faith who are always on the lookout to seize God-ordained opportunities by the mane (even if at first those opportunities look like five-hundred-pound problems waiting to eat them for lunch); people of courage who will dream God-sized dreams and then chase them, no matter how risky or how impossible the odds; people of humility who are willing to look foolish for the cause of Christ, knowing that, in the end, God will be glorified, His purposes accomplished, and rewards received in eternity.

First and foremost, lion chasers seek God (Hebrews 11:6).  As they come to know Him personally and intimately, they learn that He is infinitely great and worthy to be obeyed, trusted, and glorified.  They rest in God’s sovereignty of being the One who has prepared in advance good works (and maybe even heroic deeds) for them to accomplish (Ephesians 2:10).  Rooted in this firm sense of destiny, they don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God has called them to do or from embracing the dreams God has given them to live. 

I don’t know that Benaiah necessarily set his sights on becoming one of David’s mighty men or the head soldier in his personal body-guard.  Perhaps so.  As a military leader, though, it wouldn’t surprise me if he did dream of climbing the ranks to commander-in-chief!  What we do know, is that his willingness to courageously take the opportunities God gave him, even in very difficult situations, prepared the way for future victories, a brilliant military career, and the honor of having his story recorded forever in the pages of Scripture.

"Seeing and seizing opportunities is an overlooked and under-appreciated dimension of spiritual maturity.” Batterson points out.  "But there is a catch.  The aphorism is wrong.  Opportunity doesn’t knock.  Opportunity roars!  Most of us want our opportunities nicely packaged and presented to us as a gift we simply have to unwrap.  We want our lions stuffed or caged or cooked medium well and served on a silver platter.  But opportunities typically present themselves at the most inopportune times in the most inopportune place.

The two Moabites didn’t schedule an appointment with Benaiah’s assistant.  The Egyptian didn’t knock on the door.  He knocked down the door.  And the lion didn’t roll over and play dead.  Here is the great irony about opportunities.  They usually come disguised as insurmountable problems.  They look like five-hundred-pound lions that want to eat your for lunch.

To the average person, the circumstances presented to Benaiah were problems to run away from, not opportunities to be seized.  [But] Benaiah didn’t see a five-hundred-pound problem.  He saw a lion skin hanging in his tent."

Batterson goes on to say, 

“Lion chasers are the kind of people who rise to the occasion.  Lion chasers are the kind of people who refuse to be intimidated by Moabites or Philistines.  Lion chasers play to win.  They fight for what they believe in.  They don’t live life sitting back on their heels.  They live life on the tip of their toes waiting to see what God is going to do next.” 

“What sets lion-chasers apart isn’t the outcome.  It’s the courage to chase God-sized dreams.  Lion chasers don’t let their fears or doubts keep them from doing what God has called them to do.  Lion chasers know God is bigger and more powerful than any problem they face in this world.  They thrive in the toughest circumstances because they know that impossible odds set the stage for amazing miracles.”

I think it was this point that really stuck out to me.  God loves impossible odds.

Think about it for a minute.  We see in the accounts of Gideon, David and Goliath, the Battle of Jericho, the three Hebrew children in the fiery furnace, and the feeding of the five thousand (just to name a few out of a hundred) that God loves doing the impossible, and in fact, commanded it on several occasions!  Why?  Because then He gets to be the Hero!  He gets to be the One who receives the accolades and the praise.  And in the process, our faith in Him is strengthened, prompting us to trust Him for more impossibilities.  

“It honestly doesn’t matter how many Moabites you’re facing.” Batterson states.  “It doesn’t matter how tall the Egyptian giant is.  And the size of the lion isn’t really the issue.  The issue is this:  How big is your God?” 

As I finished my second read-through of this book, more slowly this time in order to better digest the content, the wheels in my heart and mind began turning.  Slowly at first, then faster and faster as passions were defined and new dreams awakened that had lain buried for a long time under the guise of the impossible.  Excitement surged through my being and hope for the future was restored!  Suddenly, I wanted to be a lion chaser in the Kingdom of God!  To dream big, take risks as God leads, and trust Him for the impossible. 

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