Processes are inconvenient.

The most beautiful things come in a process. A journey. Well how unfortunate for my success driven, instant gratification world.

Thinking of processes. Of how a gold is refined in fire. How wounds take time to heal. How a caterpillar turns into a butterfly. Or the journey of seeing kids grow up.

Well I do not always like the idea of a process because I'd rather not wait. With numerous options always before me, fast food, and medicine for however I feel that day.  My life is filled with band-aids and quick fixes. Those around around me are too busy anyway figuring out when they can get the latest iPhone. So make sure it's convenient.

My life is a process. When I trust God, it usually involves waiting when I'd rather not and moving when I am scared to. His timing is not my own.

If I had it my way, I would raise support in a day. I would rescue all the girls from brothels and capture all the pimps. I would take up all the child soldiers and feed all the hungry children.

But if it does not work that way, are we willing to invest still? If it takes more than a band-aid and involves deep heartache, will we keep going?

Are we willing to wait?

And I do not mean passively wait, I mean actively handing it over to our Lord. I mean doing your part now. Faithful for what is entrusted to you today so you can be obedient for tomorrow.

If I do not get the recognition and praise, will I be willing to show up and give?

If there is opposition, will we see it as an excuse to give up?
Well Believer, I hope not because we are pretty much guaranteed opposition. Opposition does not mean you are not called, it means you are in battle.

Sometimes I get frustrated because it never feels like enough. I feel like I need to do more, I am not good enough. I can't raise support. But was reminded today, it really doesn't matter how long it takes. It is a process. There is so much God needs to work in my heart to prepare me. He is working in the local community around me, though I do not always see it. His timing is not my own.

The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9

Throughout, I will actively trust, not in my performance but in His love. Though it may be uncomfortable, I will wait. And I will walk through the fire.
 For He is worthy.
And has called me to live a life worthy.

The Just Church

"In the work of justice, God is beckoning us to experience his profound love for us and for the vulnerable of this world. The call to fight against injustice is therefore the call to intimacy with God and to deep discipleship."

I am privileged with the opportunity to read and review one of IJM's new books- The Just Church, by Jim Martin. This is a fantastic resource for individuals and churches to get involved in God's plan, for His people to be solution to the suffering of the world's vulnerable. This is needed now more than ever and the church should respond to God's call. Jim Martin does a profound job providing tools and making the connection how joining the fight of justice is fertile ground for discipleship.

Working with YouthHOPE, has opened up my eyes more to the injustices around the world, but more than that, it's showed me the opportunity for hope. Hope is vital because it is so easy, especially when focusing on statistics, to get caught in despair and burn-out quickly. Or jump in too quickly from emotion but realize good intentions will not last and is a shallow motivation.

Jim Martin starts the book off with failure and shares how our faith may reach failure points, which is almost inevitable in ministry to victims of oppression.  I personally have realized this failure point all too well and faced burn-out. I have realized though that weakness and opposition do not excuse our hiding in fear. This book provides good ways to prevent and recover from failure. Including spiritual disciplines, such as rest and sabbath, and role of community to ensure we don't go through a failure point alone. I appreciate this because community has played a vital role in my healing and growth. Relationships are not always easy but we cannot do this work alone. We are not designed to. 

We need to join together in the work of justice and I am thankful for this resource to better equip churches to do so. This book is an invitation, requiring courage and humility, to join the justice journey and be changed along the way. Each community will look different in the methods or way they respond but each of us can play a part and actually make a difference in bringing forth God's justice and love to the world. 

I am grateful for the work of International Justice Mission and for Jim Martin to provide this resource to better equip the Church. I have been encouraged and challenged reading it and better equipped in my role for responding to God's call. I hope it encourages others to join as well. 

 Check it out for yourself and let me know your thoughts. http://bit.ly/Qbe99G