Salvation Isn't for You

Week 4 here in Thailand, and the Lord has already done so much just in my own heart.

I can feel Him pruning me, stripping away the pieces of myself, in order to make me more like Him. And its definitely not easy. Its painful and its hard. Conviction isn't fun. But how necessary it is for us to constantly be emptied of ourselves, in order to be filled with Him. 

I've realized how blinded my eyes have been towards people. I walk down the streets and pass them without a thought or a care to who they are or what they've been through. They're just another busy person. The clerk at the grocery store. The man selling tea on the side of the road. The frustrated couple walking through the mall. The girl sitting and eating alone at a restaurant. 

Each one of these people have stories. They have hurts and hang-ups. They have a past and a future. But most importantly, they have a soul. 

But for so long I have been treating people as just people. Walking past them unconcerned. Because I've been so caught up in my own world, with my plans and my to-do lists. I've been busy with my own areas of "ministry," picking and choosing who I think that needs Jesus the most. Often, I've just been too busy to stop and care.

Caring takes energy. It takes time. It means being intentional. And sometimes, it means welcoming interruptions. 

This week we walked down the same street that we have been frequenting almost every day, prayerfully ready to share Christ's love with girls in the bars and build new friendships. Almost every night we had passed a homeless man with only one leg sitting and begging. 

"This isn't why I'm here" I thought. I came to reach out to prostitutes and girls in this area. Ministering to the homeless wasn't what I signed up for. 

But the Lord convicted me of my blindness. How could I be so focused on what I thought my mission was, and not stop and care for those in need? 

So we did. Two girls on my team brought him food. We sat and listened. His name is Keezo. And he shared his heart with us. He spoke honestly about his struggles and his need. He lost his leg by stepping on a mine in Myanmar. He has been to church and read his bible. But the only picture of Christianity that he has seen is works-based. Giving your time and your money to the church. Doing. He was so bitter towards God because of this false gospel that he had been shown. 

And what he said next keeps ringing in my ears,

"I have met many Christians, and they talk, talk, talk. 

But where is the love?"

And I couldn't help but agree with this humble man that sits and begs day after day.

And as I read statistics like: There are over 6,000 unreached people groups in the world, over 2.1 billion people are without access to the gospel, for each unreached people group there are 600 churches, and there are 151,600 people are dying every day.

I can't help but to agree with Keezo.

Where is the love?

If we truly loved God and people like we say we do, why are so many christians still sitting in the church? Why aren't we out there telling our neighbors and everyone we meet about Christ's love? Why aren't we being Jesus' hands and feet? Why isn't true discipleship happening in our own backyard?

But most of all, why are only a select few "going"?
When did Jesus ever say that it is a special calling to "go" and make disciples? It's a command.

Often I think the church is quick to claim God's comforting promises of scripture, like "Cast all your burdens on Him, because He cares for you" but slow to obey God's commands:

“Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation." Mark 16:15

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit," Matthew 28:19

"For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.” Acts 13:47

Why do we think that we can claim the comforts and benefits of being God's children, yet completely ignore God's clear commands to "go" and to make disciples? Why is it okay for us, as followers of Christ, to not be making every effort to share the truth of the gospel with the lost? Why is it okay for American churches to be building bigger buildings with fancy flat screens, when thousands are dying each day that have never heard the name of Jesus?

Its not okay.

I truly believe that God didn't save me just for me.
Yes, He does personally love me and He completely changed my dead heart and brought it to life.
But He didn't stop there. Because if His only purpose for my life was for the salvation of my soul, why am I even still here?

Why not just let me die and go straight into His presence, where I could enjoy a full and perfect relationship with Him, without all the struggles and temptations of living in this world?

I am here today and I have been saved in order to proclaim Him and His glory. 

Salvation isn't only for us. Its not only about us. Its for others. 
Its for the nations. Its ultimately for God's glory.

I heard recently that God's gospel found me on its way to someone else.

After being here this summer, I truly believe that statement.

God has placed us here, for such a time as this. So, will our lives obediently reflect His calling to all believers to go and make disciples? Or will we rest content in our comfortable American christianity, too fearful to let go of the blessings and comforts that God has graced us with? 

Getting Uncomfortable

This summer is so different than I what pictured. 

I don't know why I ever thought that it would be simple to start a conversation with a prostitute. Or that bar-hopping would be easy. Or why I thought that seeing the depth of this darkness wouldn't have an impact on me personally- as if my emotions have an "on" and "off" button. 

Let me tell you: they don't.

Its hard seeing these things. And I don't understand why.

Why God, are these girls put in these awful situations?

Why do these men think that what they're doing is okay?

Why does the government let this go on?

Why are there not more Christians here shining a light in this darkness? 

These are the questions that plague me as we walk down the streets, passing innumerable bars filled with beautiful girls, barely dressed, waiting to be bought for the night. 

And I'm so uncomfortable.

This is not what I'm used to doing. Ministry here is a whole new ball field for this girl from Tennessee. I'm not you're typical college girl that hangs in clubs and is the life of the party in bars. I'm not even good at playing pool. Seriously, I just embarrass myself. And its honestly a struggle for me to just sit and make small talk with girls that I seem to have nothing in common with. Different language. Different culture. Different beliefs. Different style. Seemingly, different everything. 

But I'm also so thankful. Because I know without a shadow of a doubt that this is where Jesus' heart is, in the midst of this darkness and sin. These are his daughters that He deeply loves. This is where he has me during this season. This is where He is moving. This is where He is going to do great things- and it will all be because of Him. 

Because I realize my weakness. I feel so unequipped. In and of myself- with my own power, I can accomplish nothing.

But His voice sweetly reminds me,

"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Cor. 12:9 

And I'm thankful for my weaknesses, because when hearts are changed and eyes are opened I'll have no doubt that it was only Him, through His power alone. 

So I'm content in my own weakness. Content in His power.

Content in being uncomfortable. 

Isn't that where we're supposed to be? Living uncomfortably? 

Because I know that Jesus wasn't comfortable as He hung on the cross and paid for our sins.

And I know that the disciples weren't comfortable as they, all but one, were martyred for His sake.

If they, how much more should I? 

And in light of their sufferings, I welcome this light momentary season of being uncomfortable. 

For His namesake,
Lindy

"For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as LORD, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness,' has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ." 
2 Corinthians 4:5-6

The Truth Behind the Smiles

Week one in Thailand.

My heart is so happy to be back in Asia. It feels like home.

Its funny how things that most foreigners would find annoying is strangely comforting to me:

crazy busy streets- zooming with motorcycles

shower heads that only reach my chin

rice offered for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert

The same warm smiles that stole my heart last summer are melting my heart again. I remember why they call Thailand the "Land of Smiles." Everywhere you turn people are smiling and greeting you with soft "Sawasdee kha"

But this summer feels very different, and its not just because I'm in a new city or with a new team.

Its because I've quickly seen the underbelly of the Thai society. The depravity of the culture is impossible to miss as you walk down the streets of this tourist city.

Never before have I witnessed such a darkness. Down one street in the red light district, there are hundreds of bars and massage parlors- too many to even count. Girls, barely dressed sit waiting for men to come and buy them out for the night.

Van loads, full of Western men pull up and then quickly leave with young Thai girls. Old, decrepit men sit and flirt with girls at the bar while they get them drunk.

Dozens of girls sit on barstools at Karaoke clubs and wait for parties of men to come and buy them. Some stand by the street and wave down cars and tuk-tuks.

Yet, the saddest sight of all is their smiles. 

The only defense that many of these girls have is their smile. Because pretending keeps them safe. Not complying could easily get them beaten or killed.

So they smile.

But you can see the pain in their eyes. You can hear it in their voice. You can see it in their tears, as they tell their stories of how their mom forced them into this, or their family sold them, or they came to learn massage or serve drinks- and now they're trapped.

And whether they were forced into this or not . . . they're all deeply hurting. 

But they have to keep smiling. 

They have to wear the mask.

Even though my heart burns with anger towards the men that are victimizing these precious girls, I know that they are just as lost and are seeking to fill that God-sized whole in their hearts.

Yet, there has been hope in the midst of this darkness. God is clearly already at work through the women who have started this ministry. Seeds have been planted and the Lord is faithful to send the rain. 

Last night we were able to share the gospel with a sweet girl named O. She intently listened as we shared the good news of Jesus. Tears welled up in her eyes and it was obvious that the Lord was working in her heart. She shared that she met a girl from Texas who has been talking to her about Jesus. She said that she believes that the gospel is the truth, but that she is not ready to give up her Buddhist beliefs. 

Please pray for O and the many other girls that we will be in contact with. Pray that these girls would not only be freed from this lifestyle, but also that they would experience the true freedom that only comes from Jesus.

Thank you all for your love, support, and prayers. I deeply cherish them.

Grace and peace,

Lindy