Restoration

'For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." John 3:16

Several women in my life have experienced domestic abuse, both physical and verbal. It is impossible not to have compassion for them. My heart breaks, my spirit ebbs and flows to try and speak hope and life into their situation.  The church is divided on how to address this issue in many cases. 

I hashed out thoughts on this subject with one of my best friends. I voiced my struggle, “The hard thing is, it is easy to love the victim and want to help them…and we should! But, as much as it disgusts our human minds at times, Jesus died on the cross for the abuser, too. We are called to love and restore the abuser, not just the victim. THAT is the truth of how deep the love of Jesus is. THAT is the test of how much we look like him.” 

My friends eyes welled up as she pushed out the hushed words, “Jenna, when I hear you say that, I think of my abortion and...it’s like…I was that abuser. I was that murderer.” 

My eyes burned back tears. Oh, how I love her. My, godly, courageous, beautifully restored friend. Yes. We are all the abuser. We are all the murderer.  We are all that thief on the cross who needs saving. My best friend, who had carried the shame for so long, needed the people of God to love like Jesus and say, Come in, there is love here for you. There is forgiveness here for you. There is restoration. There is freedom.

Jesus can change anyone. No one on earth was excluded from the work done on the cross.  It hit me: If I feel disgusted that Jesus even offers salvation to vile offenders, then I have no real sense of who I was before Jesus saved me. Bill Hybels reminds us, “You have never looked into the eyes of someone who does not matter to God”.  

Seriously, I've used this quote many times to test my level of understanding of the love of Christ. I’ve held up photos of Hitler, looked into his empty eyes and said out loud, You will never look into the eyes of a person Jesus didn’t die for. There is no evidence that Hitler ever accepted this gift of salvation of course, but was it offered? Yes, by the work of the cross. I only go to this uncomfortable extreme because without it, how do we understand how deep and wide is the love of Christ?  How will we ever be able to understand the power of his blood on the cross?

Jesus paid it ALL.

"Jesus paid it ALL.
ALL to him I owe.
Sin had left a crimson stain, He washed it white as snow."**

Do I believe he has the power to do that? For me? For Hitler? For the wife beater down the street?

Are we intentional in seeking after abusers who want change, saying, There is hope for you! It is imperative that we crowd around the people they have hurt, offering them a safe place to stay. Let us not diminish our distinct, urgent call to aid and protect the abused, as well!

But then what of the offender? Do we never look back?

What if Ananias had not gone to see Paul after he was blinded on the road to Damascus? Here was a man who was overseeing the murder and persecution of Christians. Paul was an abuser; possibly a murderer.

God knew it would be hard for Ananias to believe such a vile man could change. He graciously spoke to Ananias in a vision instructing him to care for Paul because he was God’s ‘chosen instrument’(Acts 9:15). What if he had not been obedient to care for Paul? What if he refused to go heal him as God instructed? What if he did not believe God could restore a, man like that?

Without realizing it, Ananias was a huge catalyst in the spreading of the gospel and the writing of the New Testament - all because he trusted God’s power and was obedient.  He was one of the first people to offer Paul the tangible acceptance of Christ after his radical conversion, even referring to him as, brother.

There are two forces at work here. The most significant being the work of God Himself. God blinded Saul with his power. God must do the work to bring someone to repentance. Ananias had no power to bring Paul to faith.

The second is also the work of God, but, it is Him working through his people.   He used one of his people to give Paul back his sight. We have a role to play.  We must understand God has called us to participate in the restoration of others--no matter their offenses.

I think of my best friend and what a powerhouse of God’s love she is. God is moving and using her life in crazy, beautiful ways to bless others.  And it makes me think, "what would the kingdom of God look like without her?" The answer: not the same. Jesus crafted a role just for her. In His power, I foresee her moving mountains. I have no doubt God will partner with her to bring restoration to other women. She will have the honor of acting as an Ananias.  

What if she had been left to her condemnation? What if she had remained in the shadows and believed her name was ‘murderer’? What if Paul remained the same way?! What if Ananias never said to him:

"Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here, has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Acts 9:17

Oh, Satan would have loved for Ananias to keep silent.  He wants all God’s children to remain blind to their divine purposes.  He wants us to keep our old names.

Remember, Satan is forever bound to his name, which means, ‘the accuser’. He wants us to be forever bound to our condemning names as well. We should not listen to him.

We should listen to one whose name means, “God Saves”; our precious savior, Jesus. He tells us the truth of who we are.

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1

Let us not be silent regarding this truth. Pull the people around you closer to the foot of the cross. Show them their new name carved into the wood. On the days they forget who they are, engage in the work of restoration. Take them by the hand and go back to the foot of the cross. Find your new names. Say them out loud. Praise God!

by Jenna Masters

**Jesus Paid It All, words by Elvina M. Hall, music by John T. Grape

What Does It Take To Name A Baby (When You Serve in a Foreign Country)?

"Behold, children are a gift of the LORD. The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

Well, well, well.  Turns out two kids are more than one.  I’ve been home now for about two and a half weeks.  It’s been… busy.  I’m not sure how any moms get anything done??

One of the challenges since we’ve been home is in the actual name of our new daughter.

Wait, what?

I know, right?  My husband and the pastor of the church took our paperwork, including the birth paper issued by the hospital, to the city hall to get her birth registered and get health insurance, etc.  More on all that later.  However, the gentleman at the birth register desk insisted that the Japanese way to write her name was not the way that we wrote it.

Let me explain, using initials for discretion.  Her initials will be E V A, according to how we’d write it in the States.  In Japan, using the format of our passports, her name would be written A E V or, more rarely A, E V.  That’s the way each of our names - mine, my husband's and our older daughter's - is written for all of our paperwork.

Well.  Gentleman-behind-the-desk didn’t care about that.  He insisted (and refused to argue) that it should be written A V, E.  So, that’s what her Japanese birth certificate shows.  Though this made me very frustrated over the phone when I heard about it, it’s not a super big deal because we can change her name for US stuff.  The problem comes in that all of her paperwork here will have to reflect her passport, which means we’re going to have to go back and file a name change here after we receive her passport.  (On a side note, after the unexpected trip to the embassy, the staff there wondered why the city hall staffer wrote her middle name in the last name box!)

Speaking of names though, something that stumped me when I was at the hospital was how many of the sore and exhausted moms I’d talked to had still not chosen a name for their baby.  I was flabbergasted.  With our first daughter, we had her name chosen even before we were planning to have kids.

I made some inquiries over breakfast with the other postpartum moms and learned much in the process!  You think choosing a name in English is difficult?  We’ve got nothing on the Japanese.

Japanese obviously use kanji (Chinese characters) for their names.  Every kanji has one or more meanings and sometimes numerous pronunciations.  And every kanji has a stroke order and a stroke count (that’s how you look it up in the dictionary).

For the Japanese, the number of strokes in the kanji chosen for their name can either be lucky or unlucky. Certain numbers are lucky and others are not.  In fact, there are about five different categories (for example, love, job, money, etc.) that have to be determined, and while a name you’re considering may be lucky in 4 of the categories, parents want it to be good in all five.

It gets more complicated. The kanji of the last name have to be taken into consideration as well, as it’s the total number of strokes in a name that matters.  Apparently, the combination of kanji (first and last, first kanji of both names, second kanji of both names, etc.) matters too.

Then you want to be careful that the kanji of both names make sense together.  You wouldn’t want to have a mix-up of number kanji, or seasonal kanji or recurring syllables when you write/say it all together.  And, of course, too many over-all strokes will be time consuming for your child.

Parents these days use online dictionaries to investigate potential kanji for their child. Once they find a number that will work for them, they can get lists of kanji and start piecing together their child’s name.

Of course, then both parents (and often grandparents) have to approve of their name and it has to feel right for the child too.

(Apparently, some women who have gotten married changed the kanji for their first names to maintain a lucky balance with their husband’s last name)

It had always been a mystery to me why none of the Japanese pregnant moms I’d met had revealed the name for their child before birth.  I wondered if it was a bad omen to say the name before the birth or if it was a secret or just not their custom. We announced our daughter’s name when we confirmed the gender, but none of the Japanese thought to ask the question (whereas for our American counterparts, it was one of the first questions!).

But now I know…. it’s complicated!

By Janine Alvarado, Missionary to Japan

A Pure Heart

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." Matthew 5:8

Jesus is the standard by which all of us are measured. He didn't take my sin upon Himself and suffer the torment of the cross, the curse that separated Himself from God, so I could choose which sins I would keep - wink, wink.

No. I will either be judged and condemned by the standard or I will agree to the process of making me pure. For the pure nature to fill me and reign, my self nature must die.

There is nothing good in me, nothing I can wink at.

As long as I try to justify my flesh, that's what I'll see - my flesh. But, when I agree with the Holy Spirit that all sin is sin - not greater or lesser, but SIN - I see the remedy.

I WANT the remedy.
I WANT a heart without evil thoughts and desires.
I WANT a heart that doesn't fear, doubt, feel guilt.
I WANT the heart that is one with God, for then I shall see Him as He is.

"Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me." Psalm 51:10

by Marilyn Allison

I Am The LORD Who Helps

"I am the one who helps you, declares the LORD." Isaiah 41:14

This morning let us hear the Lord Jesus speaking to each one of us: I will help you.

It is but a small thing for Me, your God, to help you. Consider what I have done already. What! Not help you? Why, I bought you with My blood. What! Not help you? I have died for you; and if I have done the greater, will I not do the less? Help you! It is the least thing I will ever do for you; I have done more, and will do more.

Before the world began I chose you. I made the covenant for you. I laid aside My glory and became a man for you; I gave up My life for you; and if I did all this, I will surely help you now. In helping you, I am giving you what I have bought for you already. If you had need of a thousand times as much help, I would give it to you; you require little compared with what I am ready to give. It is much for you to need, and perhaps difficult for you to ask, but it is nothing for me to bestow. Help you? Fear not! Here you stand at the door of My all-sufficiency. I will help you. It is my heart’s desire to help you.

O my soul, is this not enough? Do you need more strength than the omnipotence of Jehovah? Do you want more wisdom than exists in the Father, more love than displays itself in the Son, or more power than is manifest in the influences of the Spirit? Bring here your empty pitcher, bring here your empty heart and spirit! Surely this well shall fill it. Hurry, gather up your wants, and bring them here--your emptiness, your woes, your needs. Behold, this river of God is full for your supply; what else can you desire?

Go forth, my soul, in confidence, in faith, in obedience, in trust. The Eternal God is your helper!

Fear not, I am with you, oh, be not dismayed! I am your God, and will still give you aid. 

(Encouragement from the pens of Charles Spurgeon, Alistair Begg and Connie Grosse)

A Letter From Your Heavenly Father On Mercy

"Blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy." Matthew 5:7

My blessed children,

Do you know that I love you with an everlasting Love and that my love does not keep score? I am so rich in MERCY because of my great love for you.

Today and always, I want all of you, therefore, to come boldly unto the throne of grace, that you may obtain MERCY, and find grace to help you in the time of your need. These BE-attitudes that I have given you are undeserved and unexpected, and well...a little outrageous.

You see, My GRACE is immeasurable. My MERCY is inexhaustible and My PEACE is inexpressible. If that isn't enough to keep you, I have more for you. I have NEW MERCIES for you EVERY MORNING.

I am ready to forgive you because I am a good GOD and abundant in MERCY to all those who call upon Me. Because you are MY chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with heartfelt mercy, with kindness, humility, meekness and patience. Bear with one another; forgive whatever grievances you have against one another. Forgive as I have forgiven you. My forgiveness will keep you from evil.

My Dear one, let MERCY and truth never forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart so you find favor and high esteem in the sight of God and men.

My MERCY differs from My Grace. My Grace gives to you what you don't deserve and my MERCIES, well..., I do not give to you what you do deserve.

Oh, you who are Mine, who are called by Me, imitate Me. Therefore, as dearly loved children, practice one of my most meaningful, manifested, unmeasurable attributes - MERCY.

Who is a God like ME, pardoning your iniquity and overlooking transgressions for the remnant of MY heritage? I cannot retain my anger forever, because, you see my child, I delight in MERCY. Now go and learn what this means: I desire MERCY, not sacrifice. For I have not come to call the righteous but sinners.

My apostle Paul was shown mercy because he acted in ignorance and unbelief. Your salvation is the act of MY mercies, and because of My Son, Jesus Christ's resurrection from the dead, great MERCY has given you a new birth into a living hope, as my apostle Peter found out!

Now that you have ears to hear and eyes to see what My Spirit will have you do, I want you to fall in love with MERCY. My child, I have also shown you to seek justice, love MERCY and to walk humbly with your God. I want you to demonstrate Mercy and compassion to one another. I want you to respond to Mercy as the "Good Samaritan" did. Help one another, love one another as I have loved you.

Put Mercy on every day. Clothe yourselves in and with compassion. Minister to others with MERCY. The MERCY you have received has equipped you for ministry. Go out and minister to others and remember - always default to MERCY when you are representing ME. My Mercy always, always, always triumphs over judgement. I AM WHO I AM. I AM A MERCIFUL GOD.

Loved one, because the blood was sprinkled for you on the MERCY seat so I could meet with you there, My Son, Jesus, has now poured out His pure, sacrificial blood for you, once and for all to make atonement for your sin and salvation. My kind MERCY poured out for you in the face of unkindness. It's my kindness that leads to your repentance so we could have a right relationship with one another. I am your GOD who is so rich in MERCY, wisdom, knowledge and blessings, ready to give freely, because of my great love for you.

Remember: FAITH plus LOVE equals MERCY

I FORGIVE YOU FOREVER.
I HAVE CALLED YOU BY NAME AND YOU ARE MINE FOREVER.
MY GRACE AND MERCY ARE FOREVER.
LOVE IS THE GREATEST and FOREVER.

I LOVE you, My child,
Your Heavenly Father

Thoughts of God from The Holy Bible as compiled by Peggy Carson

Editors Note: Today is the beginning of the traditional season known as Lent. There are forty days until we celebrate Holy Week, the seven day period commemorating Jesus' entry into Jerusalem through the Crucifixion to that most glorious day of celebration, Resurrection Sunday. We hope this letter will help you remember who God is and how much He loves you.