This past June, I was able to attend the Gospel Coalition women’s conference. While I was there, I heard Kathy Keller teach a lesson on Nehemiah 1. Nehemiah 1:4 says this, “4 When I heard this, (that the wall of Jerusalem had been torn down and the gates had been destroyed by fire) I sat down and wept. In fact, for days I mourned, fasted, and prayed to the God of heaven.” (NIV)

Kathy learned through her research that this time of prayer in Nehemiah’s life lasted for 16 weeks. He felt called to action and knew he had the gifts and resources to help, but his way of tackling the problem was to spend a season of time in prayer.

I have thought about this for months now and have found it to be encouraging in a bunch of ways. I know that the effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much (James 5:16), and that we should always be in prayer. Our purpose here is to glorify the Lord and to rejoice in his will being done, and we can see God’s faithfulness better when we know him better, and praying sure is an awesome way to get to know God better.

The major reason this lesson stuck with me was because of the really long time Nehemiah was removed from the action during his season of prayer. Please don’t misunderstand me; Prayer is an active time and major things…even miracles… are the result of answered prayer, but Nehemiah eventually goes out and actively rebuilds the wall. As soon as he hears that the wall has been destroyed, he knows it will need to be rebuilt and he knows he is able to play a big part in this big task.

When Jesus appoints 72 messengers to spread the good news, He tells them,

“The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So Pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest.” Luke 10:2 (NLT). Many of us are anxious to get out in the field and participate in harvest time, but Jesus instructs us to pray first, and to pray for more workers to help with the harvest. When you cannot be in the field, pray for those who are; It’s biblical.

There have been many seasons in my life where I have longed to be active, but by God’s design, I have been grounded by circumstances. I know I have gifts and resources and I long to be a part of the “construction/harvest team”, but my role has been relegated to pray for the workers while I am removed from the action. Have you felt this way? Have you wanted to go to the mission field or go back to school or cross something off your Christian bucket list, but you are home with babies or in a slump, or in poor health, or working at a job that you are not fulfilled by?

To quote Dr. Seuss,

And when you’re in a Slump,

you’re not in for much fun.

Un-slumping yourself

is not easily done.

…for people just waiting.

Waiting for a train to go

or a bus to come, or a plane to go

or the mail to come, or the rain to go

or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow

or waiting around for a Yes or a No

or waiting for their hair to grow.

Everyone is just waiting.

In the Nelson house, we have experienced seasons of slump and times frustrated by waiting. Each of the teens has experienced the yearning of wanting to get to high school or get to college or get on with life. There are lots of noble things Pat and I have wanted to do, but have been delayed because of timing. The beautiful truth is that God’s timing is always perfect. We have witnessed this so many times in our home. We have been able to praise God mightily for his timing in our jobs, and in our marriage and so blatantly in the timing of our adoption of Mary Moore. As often as we want to set the time line, we must remember that God’s timing is perfect. Everyone is just waiting, BUT the waiting time can be so effective and glorious. It would be wise to change our focus about what we consider to be the “waiting time”. In truth, this season is an appointed time.

Nehemiah was not sidelined by circumstances, but he took a season away from the action to pray. If you are sidelined or waiting or in a slump, rejoice! You may not feel like your circumstances allow you to use your gifts and talents to the Max, but God knows better. Is this your “16 weeks”? Use this season to pray… to trust….to get to know the one in whom you are trusting, and then praise the Lord for this appointed time. You have been given a gift. It is your great privilege to claim this time as a season of prayer and through your faithful prayers, major things and miracles are going to happen.

“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

“There is a time for everything,
 and a season for every activity under the heavens” Ecc 3:1 (NIV)

This morning, I was studying the gospel of Luke. In chapter 12:1-3, Jesus warns his disciples about hypocrisy:

“Beware of the yeast of the Pharisees—their hypocrisy. 2 The time is coming when everything that is covered up will be revealed, and all that is secret will be made known to all. 3 Whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be shouted from the housetops for all to hear!” (NLT)

I think it is fair to say, that we all are offended by hypocrisy, and not many of us feel the need to be warned to stay away from hypocrites. We are drawn to the real and authentic. We love to anonymously observe poignant and unfiltered moments. We treasure our favorite childhood books like “The Velveteen Rabbit” and “The Giving Tree”, because they celebrate the true beauty of being real.

We are pretty good at spotting a fake. We are offended by spin doctoring and are usually not swayed by empty flattery. We are aware when an apology is real and when it is empty, and so it would seem that reading this passage in scripture would just strengthen our resolve to avoid hypocrites, but it had a different and piercing effect on my heart.

The footnotes in my bible expanded on what hypocrisy is, and I was convicted. Here are the signs it listed:

1. Hypocrisy is knowing the truth and not obeying it. People can say they follow Jesus, but not be obedient to His word.
2. Hypocrisy is living a self-serving life. People may desire leadership only because they love position and control, not because they want to serve others.

I do not want to be a hypocrite. I am so sick at heart and sad when I confess my sins to my savior, day after day. I say that I love Jesus… Oh and I Do….I also know his word and know I have been disobedient. I am more thankful for the cross and God’s grace than I am for my children or health or husband or anything. I know I am forgiven, but I also know I am disobedient.

Point 2 was equally convicting to me. I am really good about serving myself. I also really love all the good things God has so richly blessed me with. He has given me gifts of writing and speaking and discernment and I have rejoiced in the opportunity to serve Him with these gifts, but I honestly have loved the accolades that come from the world when I use these gifts. I am so lifted up when you sweet people encourage me about this website. I realized before the launch that I am vulnerable to praise and putting myself on public display could knock me off balance. In sincerity, I want to direct people to the true light. I don’t want to be the main attraction, but I have a hard time consistently transferring the world’s praise into my opportunity to thank and praise the Lord for what he is doing. It is all about Him and my only reaction to having been given any gift should come from a real place of true humility.

I can say without any gloss or façade that I want to be used for God’s glory and not any hollow or vapid self-glorification. I also am sincere in saying that I love you all. Before I publish any of these posts, I pray for each person reading it, and as I spend time with the one I love the most and lift you up, it has made me fall in love with each of you too.

I am so thankful that as I ask the Lord to keep revealing my sinful heart to me, He does. He got my attention today in a way I was not expecting.

I am also so thankful for you. Thank you for learning with me and encouraging me. You have been precious messengers of peace who bring good news to me. Keep encouraging others and Keep it real. You are the sweet hands and feet of Christ. Have a great weekend.

That is why the Scriptures say, “How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!” Romans 10:15 (NLT)

Has there ever been someone in your life that loves to pick a fight, or loves to gossip? Have you ever avoided situations or screened phone calls because you knew you would leave the interaction beaten down, exhausted, or hurt? My testimony is “Yes”. I have been an avoider and have been counseled to avoid, but I always feel guilty when I do. I don’t mind participating in the messiness of relationship. As Followers of Christ, we are called to get messy. It is often uncomfortable to be salty in a world that craves syrup and saccharin. It can be unnerving to leave our safe, sweet bubbles and do life with the sick, poor, and orphaned, but it is the life Jesus modeled for us. Jesus ate with the tax collectors and spent time with the prostitutes. He healed the sick and touched the lepers. He cried with the broken hearted and he got messy. He was mocked and bullied and persecuted by Pharisees, but I can’t find a place in scripture where he personally sought them out. They followed him around and challenged everything he said. When they challenged him, he met their challenge and stood up for righteousness, but he also avoided them:

“Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John  (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.” John 4:1-3 (ESV)

 

“Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus, But Jesus knew what they were planning. So he left that area” Matthew 12:14-15a (NLT)

See also:  Matthew 16:4 and Mark 8:13. Ephesians 5:10-11, John 7:1

I am sure that if the Pharisees approached Jesus with a broken heart, seeking reconciliation, he would have forgiven them. He loves the humble and contrite in heart and is quick to forgive. We should make it our passion to model this behavior of Jesus and in all the ways he lived, therefore, if we are modeling Jesus, there is no reason to feel guilty for avoiding unhealthy and destructive attacks.

We can also look at the apostle Paul. Paul was no stranger to persecution and conflict. In 2 Corinthians 11:23-28, Paul gives a long list of all he suffered as a Christian. He was beaten….a lot, imprisoned, starved, shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, stoned and robbed. He suffered persecution gladly as it conformed him to Christ and advanced the gospel, but Paul did not ever stand in a shipyard and think, I really love this persecution…. I think I will look for the rattiest old boat, with the most holes it. I want to get on one that is filled with poisonous snakes and robbers who will use rods to beat me silly.

Jesus and Paul were persecuted and they rejoiced that these trials were part of God’s plan. They got messy and engaged in relationship, but they were also wise enough to know when to walk away.We also can observe that towards the end of Jesus’s ministry, he did not avoid the pharisees. When the time was right, Jesus made his way back into Pharisee country (Judea) and received the full measure of their brutal attacks. He even accepted their dinner invitations, and he used those times to speak the truth to them (Luke 11:37-54).  He knew when to walk away, but he also knew that he would have to engage with them in order to complete the work God had appointed him to. With Jesus and Paul as our models, we should see that there is no reason or room for guilt when we avoid conflict; there are appropriate times to avoid and walk away.When the time is right, we need to reengage. We will have to embrace the persecution that comes from our own personal pharisees. We WILL be persecuted when we pursue Christ and the ministry God has appointed us to.

I want to conclude with an excerpt I read in a blog by Rachel Held Evans:

“Christians must find a way to teach radical forgiveness, undeserved grace, and restorative reconciliation without perpetuating and excusing bullying and abuse. The life to which Jesus calls us is an abundant one, a joyful one, and a just one. It isn’t always easy, and it certainly requires self-sacrifice, but God does not delight in the suffering of His children. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened,” Jesus said, “and I will give you rest.

“Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6 (NLT)

Immediately after witnessing the transfiguration, Peter, James and John descended the mountain with Jesus and encountered one of the most horrifying and evil demon possessions recorded in the Bible. On top of the Mount of Transfiguration they were so moved by God’s presence and glory that they wanted to build permanent shelters so they could stay on top. When Jesus led them down into the real and ugly world, they were bull rushed by evil. At the foot of the mountain, the father of a demon possessed boy seeks the disciples’ help to remove this demon that causes the boy to throw himself into fires. The disciples try to cast out the demon, but they are unsuccessful. They all ask Jesus for help and Jesus rebukes the demon and heals the boy. (Matthew 17:1-20, Mark 9:2-29, Luke 9:28-43)

There are two things I think should be considered in this sequence of events.

1. There are seasons in life where we get to visit the mountaintop. As a mom, I have loved watching my children grow in their love for the Lord while on their “summer camp mountains”. They would choose to stay at camp forever. Living in a healthy environment, constantly being fed scripture and surrounded by Christian friends makes for a perfect world, but when their term is up, they have to come down. When they are confronted with evil, slander and malice at the foot of the mountain, they are whiplashed. The contrast of good versus evil is more acute and it breaks their heart. They want to run away from it and head back up the mountain, or they want to fix it. They must learn, like the disciples, to trust Jesus. It is faith in Jesus and the trust in his power and purpose that can squash the evil and mend the broken at the foot of the mountain. When the disciples could not cast out the demon, Jesus told them,

“You don’t have enough faith. I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.[a]” Matthew 17:20 (NLT).

When our eyes are opened to the horror of evil, we must put our faith in Christ first and let him powerfully act through us.

2. The second point, and the one that I am more convicted by is this:At this very moment in my life, am I so focused on God’s beauty that evil, by contrast, horrifies me? Is my perspective clear? Is Jesus my vision?

If I can answer, “Yes”, then the things that are happening in Israel, Ferguson, Mo., Orange Mound and all around this broken planet should rock me to my core and push me to my knees. I absolutely should NOT let it scroll through my twitter feed while moving on to the next funny video, quiz or list. If my eyes and heart have been filled with the glory and beauty that is Jesus Christ, then my heart should break over the things that break God’s heart. God’s heart is broken over the horror going on in Israel. God’s heart is broken for how his precious children are being mistreated in Ferguson, and in our own city, and God’s heart is broken when we are too busy to be broken by the things that break His heart.

We must make sure to spend time seeking God’s beautiful face. We need to be transformed by his word and his love. We need to be shattered by the vivid contrast of His good versus the evil that surrounds us, and when we see it, we are called to action. We can rebuke the evil and promote peace when we place our faith in Jesus. On our own, we are immobilized by evil, but with faith in Jesus (even as little faith as a mustard seed), we can help. He can heal and he wants to use us as his disciples and promoters of peace.

“O people, the Lord has told you what is good,
    and this is what he requires of you: 
to do what is right, to love mercy,
    and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:8 (NLT)

I have spent a lot of time traveling recently and have noticed bits of drama in many airports. Rushed connections, late arrivals, crying babies, romantic reunions and overcrowding make for colorful expeditions. Last week, I watched the drama unfold in an airport Starbucks. I was in the middle of a 10 person line, waiting for my $4 “fake” coffee, when a frantic teenage girl rushed up and started asking everyone if she could go ahead of us, because she was about to miss her flight. A very big man in a muscle-bearing T-shirt walked up at the same time and just shook his head, mumbling under his breath and shaming her. She quickly made it to the front, bought a banana, water and a coffee and raced away down the hall. A little old lady in our line said, “I sure hope she makes her flight”….. and then mumbling/shaming/muscle dude went on a rant. He said that her flight was closing its doors when she asked the flight attendant if she had time to go get a Starbucks. The flight attendant discouraged her, but apparently told her she had 3 minutes. Mumbling/shaming /muscle dude made an impassioned F-bomb laced, loud speech about the idiocy of risking a $500 flight for a cup of coffee, and then the little old lady hushed us all by looking muscle dude straight in the face and said, “Sir, we know nothing about her. She may be a diabetic. All we know is that she really needed that banana and coffee.” The little old lady showed us all the strength of mercy and made a much stronger impression than muscle man.

The coffee and banana-seeking teenager may have been a diabetic or maybe she was just foolish enough to risk a flight for a coffee, but the point is, we didn’t know. We don’t know much at all about many of the people we encounter daily. We may think the well-dressed executive who never shuts up is a pompous snob, or he just may talk about himself a lot because he is very insecure. We may think the happy mom leading around her immaculate children in smocked dresses has it all together, but she may be broken and suffering deeply. We certainly don’t know the history and intimate details of the panderers at our major intersections. If we do not take the time to get to know people, we have no right or reason to make assumptions on their life. We are called to be in relationship, to love the unlovely, to minister to the poor and sick. It takes strength to show mercy. It seems to me that we all need to assume less, listen more and treat everyone with the compassion we crave to receive. When we feel too busy or too weak to help, we have the privilege of calling on the God of all mercy and love to fill us up, so that there is overflow for even the strangers we encounter at Starbucks. This is the strength of mercy. Be strong, my precious friends.

 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do his work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve him” 1 Timothy 1:12 (NLT)

 

“Do to others whatever you would like them to do to you. This is the essence of all that is taught in the law and the prophets.” Matthew 7:12 (NLT)