January, 2009

This quarter at HMCC of Chicago we are focusing on the theme of “Strengthening Our Core Relationships.”  This means that we are tackling the foundational aspects of our faith:  Strengthening our relationship with God and strengthening our relationships with others. Last week we talked about opposite gender relationships and in what ways we can apply biblical principles to our relationships.  Now I’ve sat through many teachings on relationships.  In fact, one of the main reasons I rededicated my life to Christ my sophomore year in college was because of a pivotal ACCESS series on relationships.  Over the years as I’ve struggled with and overcome many of my particular issues with relationships, I have felt as though these teachings aren’t crucial to my life anymore.  I was in for a reality check!  It occurred to me this past Friday as I listened once again to principles on relationships that it had been quite some time that I had assessed and brought my relationship life under the scrutiny of God’s attention.  I began to ask myself the following questions:  Has my heart been pure in my relationships with guys?  In my current life stage, am I still devoting myself fully to the work of the Lord or am I letting other things distract or occupy my attention?  Am I stumbling anyone by my actions or inaction?  Do I actually consider being single a gift from God or do I see it as an ugly blemish to bear?  Am I letting past issues get in the way of having healthy relationships with others? And most importantly, is there anything or anyone who is diverting my devotion and attention to God Himself?  The questions kept on coming and I realized that it had been a while since I had reflected in this way.  It was the proverbial “kick-in-the-butt” moment and I was compelled to once again acknowledge that I may never get this relationship thing just right and that I am just as prone as anyone to stumble or cause someone else to stumble.  In fact, I am about ready to guarantee that when I am feeling most invincible in this area that I am most likely going to fall.

One thing that I always return to when I assess my relational life through the lens of God’s Word is to come back to my first love in my relationship with God. I used to carry a small card in my wallet with the following quote by Soren Kierkegaard on it:  “Purity is to will one thing.”  This has in some sense been the pearl that I have sought in my relationship with God; that I may be able to will one thing…that is to Love God above all else.

As a mom, there’s a great sense of relief and peace when your children aren’t fighting you on a decision. There have been decisions we’ve made that the children weren’t too happy about in which they had to learn how to keep a positive attitude. In our decision to move to Indonesia for one year, I was praying that this wouldn’t be one of those decisions they were going to resist us on.

When my husband first brought up the idea of our family planting an international church, the kid’s weren’t too thrilled about the idea. The biggest thing for the boys was leaving their friends and school. One of my sons didn’t like the idea of not getting his name on the school plaque for running club. Our youngest girl seemed content that she will be with her family (although she was a bit concerned about how she was going to have her birthday party in Indonesia). We reassured them that we will pray as a family before making a decision.

In that time of prayer, I didn’t realize it, but the Holy Spirit was working in the hearts of my children. In fact, the kids knew before us that we were going to Indonesia!

During the months prior to September 2008 (when we made our final decision to go), moms from my boy’s classrooms would ask me about our family moving to Indonesia and how excited they were for us. Apparently, my boys had been telling their friends that they were going to move for one year, and these kids were telling their parents.

I was pleasantly surprised when these moms approached me, because knowing that my kids were talking (not in a negative light) about it with their friends assured me that they were okay with the idea of us moving. It also assured me because I knew the Lord was working in and speaking to their hearts. So, when we told the kids that we prayed and decided the Lord wanted us to go, they weren’t resistant to the decision.

It’s so easy to underestimate young children and forget that the Holy Spirit is at work in their lives as well. I probably had a more difficult time in making this decision than they did. Through this experience I was reminded of the verses in Mark 10:13-16, where Jesus welcomed the little children and reminded us to have open and receptive hearts like theirs.