10.05.2012

What do you think? A Giveaway!

Last night, my precious friend Mary (who I miss too much!) send me these words from NT Wright's Surprised by Hope:


"... a proper grasp of the (surprising) future hope held out to us in Jesus Christ leads directly, and to many people, equally surprisingly, to a vision of the present hope that is the basis of all Christian mission. To hope for a better future for this world - for the poor, the sick, the lonely and depressed, for the slaves, the refugees, the hungry and homeless, for the abused, the paranoid, the downtrodden and despairing, and in fact for the whole wide, wonderful, and wounded world - is not something else, something extra, something tacked onto the gospel as an afterthought. And to work for that intermediate hope, the surprising hope that comes forward from God's ultimate future into God's urgent present, is not a distraction from the task of mission and evangelism in the present. It is a central, essential, vital, and life-giving part of it. Mostly, Jesus himself got a hearing from his contemporaries because of what he was doing... The whole point of what Jesus was up to was that he was doing, up close, in the present, what he was promising long-term, in the future. And what he was promising for that future, and doing in that present, was not saving souls for a disembodied eternity but rescuing people from the corruption and decay of the way the world presently is so they could enjoy, already in the present, that renewal of creation which is God's ultimate purpose - and so they could thus become colleagues and partners in that larger project."

So here's the giveaway...

What are the glimpses of heaven that God is bringing to earth through you and/or your family? What is He doing in His kingdom because YOU'VE said simply said YES! 

This is not bragging. This is not pride. This is giving glory to a God who is willing to use imperfect vessels. It could be the precious discipleship of your children, the faithfulness of submitting to your husband, adoption, moving to Africa, or the moment when you simply listened.

You hear enough about HIS story in me here. I want to hear about HIS story in you!

What kingdom story is HE writing through you?

Because remember, HE doesn't need us; He simply allows us to become messy in the beauty He's creating.

So, here's the catch...try to keep it to three sentences in the comments below. Share something you know HE is doing through you. You know - one of those moments or seasons that God surprised you completely by allowing you to be HIS hope and His joy, and you knew HE was there because it couldn't have been you. Please be sure to respect the privacy of others.

And Monday.... I'll draw from the comments, for one Broken Vessel to win you're choice of a Forgotten Initiative shirt! You can look through these great options here!

And remember...

"We ought not be weary of doing little things for the LOVE OF GOD, who regards NOT the greatness of the work, but the love with which it was performed."

- Brother Lawrence, Practicing the Presence of God

And if I don't hear from you, I will begin telling the stories on some of you myself :)

Because HE is worthy (Thank you Kim.),


11 comments:

  1. Love this..."HE doesn't need us; He simply allows us to become messy in the beauty He's creating."

    I was humbled to be used in small ways after the Tornado came through Tuscaloosa and some of the unlikely friendships He developed and allowed me to be a part of. He truly did create some beauty out of the ashes and destruction.

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    1. Girl, you and Jeff's lives are chronic outpouring's of the Father's hands and feet. Jesus is changing lives and the face of college students and four little ones through you. And, your faithfulness to us through our journey has let us to cling more to Jesus. I love you.

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  2. My four year old, Charlie, said that Jasmine (our former foster daughter for one year) is the first person he wants to see in heaven. Praise God that our children are developing eyes that look forward to future grace!

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    1. Lucy, you guys faithfulness in loving and caring for her in the midst of your crazy life was/is so beautiful. It would have been so easy to say, "This is too much, or this is not the right time." But you trusted in the One who begins where we end. That's HIS glory.

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  3. When I was in China a couple weeks ago, I was holding a little girl with a severe special need. She had scabies (all the kids did) and a poorly shorn head. She was really rather pathetic looking but as I gazed at her, she opened her dark eyes and looked right at me and I knew God was telling me, I love this child...she is my perfect creation.

    This experience has totally rocked my world and it's so amazing that something as simple as a child looking deep into my eyes could be the way God chose to speak to me. Truly wonderful.

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    1. Ansley, this is precious. That moment is an pillar to remind you of His imprint on your life. I'm so grateful you got to do this, and the Father not only used you, but used this precious one in a beautiful way. Glory.

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  4. My biggest fear for our foster baby going back to his father was that Dad had no family in Alabama for help and no childcare options while he worked. God turned my biggest fear into our greatest opportunity when Dad asked us to keep Little Man for him on the weekends (and asked that we keep him in church)! When we started foster care, we didn't ask for a baby, we asked for a ministry... and that's exactly what the Lord has given us!!!

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    1. Oh my goodness!!! This made me cry, really. HOW beautiful. What a picture of the Gospel. That's real. This really gives me chills to see you all's willingness to partner with the family. Beauty from ashes.

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  5. God has soften our family when He took us through 5 miscarriages. Now, He has opened a door I never dreamed 'foster care" We are learning a deep compassion for those we never even looked at before.

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    1. Fun Family, WOW. To see your willingness to allow HIM to mold you through pain and use you for HIS GLORY. That is beauty. That displays jesus to the world.

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  6. Catie, I think I would want a medium shirt. I sent an email to Casey to send you my email (that is confusing). I would love to talk sometime about Foster Care. We were licensed this month and are awaiting a placement! Your blog is a great encouragement, and a little scary:)

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