Let's Be Honest...

There is a movement of sorts taking place in my generation.  We could call it the Cut the Crap campaign.  Or the We're Not Stupid initiative.  Or the Who Do You Think You're Kidding drive.  Whatever you want to call it, the idea is the same: we want blatant honesty.

We want transparency from our leaders, whether political, corporate or ecumenical.  We want people to give it to us straight, even if they think it will hurt us, disappoint us, or make our opinions of them plummet.  We want honesty no matter the cost.

There are people out there who would rather stick their heads in the sand than drag ugly situations into the light.  Like toddlers playing hide and seek, these people think closing their eyes makes problems disappear.  They spend their time trying to ignore hardships and fail to grow through their challenges.

There are other people out there who would rather paint a pretty picture than admit they don't have it all together.  They know they don't have it all together, but their pride keeps them from letting the rest of us know they don't have it all together.  They spend their time trying to hide difficulties and fail to heal from their pain.

Then there is a third group of people.  They admit they have problems.  They share those problems with others.  Their honesty begets honesty, and they find their friends start sharing about their problems.  They learn from one another.  They see God work in each others lives.  They become encouraged that He really does care.  They worship the Lord who delivers them from hardship together.  And they share His hope with others who have dared to admit that they are struggling.

These people grow. 

And something amazing happens...the hope and love of Jesus Christ spread like wild fire. 

I can't help but think that is what Church was always meant to be.  People hurting together, inviting honesty, speaking truth from the Scriptures while they are hurting together, not pretending that life doesn't hurt, praying for one another, seeing God answer those prayers, rejoicing together, praising God for who He is and what He has done in their lives, and sharing that testimony with others.  As near as I can tell, this description incorporates Bible study, prayer, worship and evangelism.

And it does it while being honest. 

How can we make our churches more like this?

I think it starts with me and you getting real with those around us.   That's risky, for sure, but the potential for richness of community with others and deeper intimacy in our relationships with God are worth that risk. 

We are the Church.  If we want the Church to be more transparent, let's be honest.

Dare to Dream

As I walked on the treadmill with “What Can I Bring?” (Jeremy Riddle) playing on my iPod, I felt God say, “Dare to dream.”  It was a message that He had given a friend earlier in the day.  I read on her Facebook status that He was asking her to dream, and I thought, “That’s kind of neat.”  A couple hours later, He was asking me to dream…

I often have a longing to be a part of something big that God is doing.  Something HUGE.  Something bigger than diapers and pediatrician appointments.  I know my role as wife and mom and the spiritual implications my “work” has on my family are HUGE.  I am irreplaceable in my husband’s life.  There is no substitute for me in my girls’ hearts.  I am not indispensable or invisible.  I MATTER.  I am invaluable to my family members’ physical and spiritual lives.  I know.

And, yet, I long to be a part of something even BIGGER.

As God invited me to dream today, I imagined how exciting it would be to go with God on a journey a la Beth Moore or Priscilla Shirer.  These women – wives and moms FIRST – ministers of God’s Word SECOND – are chosen by God to use their gifts of writing and teaching to reach MILLIONS of women worldwide.  They are uniquely anointed to join God in what HE is doing in the hearts of women who are hungry for more intimate relationships with the One who loves them most.

And, when I dare to dream, I WANT TO BE USED LIKE THAT!

There are a lot of practical (as well as irrational) reasons why I can’t be the next generation’s Beth Moore.  But if I shush those thoughts for just a minute, my heart soars in the excitement of the possibility.  At the same time, my soul is overwhelmed that my God would even consider someone so unworthy as myself to represent Him on a grand scale.

I don’t want to be a prominent Christian author and speaker so people will praise me.  I just want a front row seat to watch the Lord move in spectacular ways in as many people's lives as possible as often as possible.  At the heart of this dreaming is a simple desire - I want more of God.  As much as I can in this finite body, I want to be a part of everything God does wherever He is doing it.

The conferences that Beth and Priscilla speak at are filled with the most obvious occurrences of God's active involvement in people's lives.  Woman after woman testifies to the miracles the Lord is doing in and for her.  Genuine, uninhibited worship of the One true God fills the hearts of all who study under these great teachers.  When I dare to dream, there is nothing I would love more than to join God in what He does during those conferences and Bible studies.  Just to be a fly on the wall as His Holiness passes through arena after arena, church after church, small group after small group…  I’m not sure any other experience on Earth can fill me with as much continued praise and adoration for Him (in other words - worship).

All of these thoughts crossed my mind as I exercised this morning.   The next song on my iPod came on.  "If You Say Go" (Diane Thiel).  It was all I could do not to close my eyes and lift my hands in worship on the treadmill.  (That would have been disastrous, right?!) I don’t know what all of these thoughts mean.  But I am reminded of something I heard once.  Don’t tell God what you want to do for Him; ask God what He wants you to do for Him.  He stirred my heart to dream this dream this morning – of that I am sure.  Now I sit and ask Him, “Lord, what do You want me to do for You?”