Baby, It's Cold Outside

I woke up a little chilly today - as you can see from the picture! So far, things in Ukraine have been really good. We love it here... and we're feeling pretty happy, considering we've hit a few bumps along the road. Byron mentioned in his last post that we got lost on the marshrutka, and that's sort of been a summary of our lives lately.

We are stuck in this parallel universe where we can't communicate and get lost whenever we try to go somewhere. Being in Ukraine still feels like a dream... We keep thinking we're going to wake up and be in America. But, before that gives you a negative concept of our current experiences, we don't WANT to wake up... We want to be right where we are - just maybe with a clearer map.

All of these little things that we've been dealing with, we're chalking up to spiritual warfare. We know we're right where God wants us to be, and that's a good thing.

I haven't been able to sleep much lately. Last night, I fell asleep sometime around 2am, and woke up at 7am. Byron, on the other hand, has been sleeping well and not experiencing jet-lag at all (He never does, so this is nothing new). Although sleep is precious, and I wish I was getting more of it, I am thankful for the things that the Lord has been revealing to me in my...Sleeplessness.

I've been thinking a lot about what Pastor Dave said at our Missions Luncheon, right before we moved. He read Matthew 28:19-20 at the lunch, which states,"

"'Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, "teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, [even] to the end of the age.' Amen" (NKJV).

I distinctly remember Dave saying that this verse gives believers three options, in regards to missions:

1) Go to all nations - Be the missionary yourself
2) Send to all nations - If you can't go, send someone that can go, and support them through prayer and/or finances
3) Be disobedient - Don't go, don't send

And quickly after giving option three, Dave added, "And we want no part in disobedience, which just leaves us with option one and two."



"We want no part in disobedience."


And so, I've been thinking. I've been chewing on that phrase.


We want no part in disobedience. 



What would our lives look like if we truly wanted no part in disobedience? We'd always read our Bibles. We'd always pray. We'd always be faithful. We'd always put others first. We'd always love our God with all of our hearts, souls, and minds. It would be utterly amazing. It would make us strive for the type of life that Jesus calls us to... And now that the Lord has made me aware of this concept, I want to strive for that life.

Of course, in my Christian walk, I've always sought after living a life that would glorify Jesus, but I guess with more understanding comes more responsibility. So, what's my understanding?

Well, God's really been working on me lately. During our nightly devotions, Byron and I have been reading through 1 Samuel. A few nights ago, we read 1 Samuel 3, which shows the incredible faithfulness of Samuel as a child. And as he gained understanding, he found himself wanting no part in disobedience, but became more responsible in doing the Lord's business.

In 1 Samuel 3:1-8, Samuel is lying in bed and he hears someone call his name. He thinks it's Eli, but really it's the Lord. He doesn't know it's the Lord though, because Samuel lacks understanding. So, Samuel runs into Eli's room and answers the call. Then, Eli tells Samuel "Go back to bed, I didn't call you." This happens twice until Eli understands that the Lord must be calling to Samuel, and so he says,

"'Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, 'Speak, LORD, for Your servant hears.' So Samuel went and lay down in his place. Now the LORD came and stood and called as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel answered, 'Speak, for Your servant hears.' Then the LORD said to Samuel: 'Behold, I will do something in Israel at which both ears of everyone who hears it will tingle'" (1 Samuel 3:9-11, NKJV).

Samuel heard the voice of the Lord, and answered. He wasn't disobedient. He did what he needed to do - he was faithful. Once he understood it was the Lord speaking into his life, Samuel stepped up to the calling. He had understanding, and then gained the responsibility of hearing the Lord...And then, Samuel heeded the word of the Lord because he refused to be disobedient. And that's what I want in my life.

I want to be obedient. I want to understand. I want to be responsible. I want to hear the Lord.

 So, as I'm here in Ukraine, I'm trying to remember, obedience is what got me to this country, and now that I'm here, I need to remain obedient and faithful - waiting for Words from the Lord that will make my ears "tingle."