Sunday, September 25, 2011

Act Locally - Impact Globally!

In the 90's, I had the wonderful honor of hanging with an awesome group of young girls. They thought I was the teacher, but the truth was they taught me.

They taught me to be on my toes and on my knees. They taught me that laughter and giggles can cure a bad day. They taught me that my plan is not as good as God's plan and that I need to be open to throwing out my lessons for the day. They taught me how to listen not only with my ears but also with my heart.


We befriended Missionaries from around the world by writing letters. We visited one on one when they came to visit, we sat and listened as they told us of how God was touching their lives and the lives of the people they served. And we prayed for them always.

We looked at the world around us and saw where we could serve. Some days you would find us folding socks or bagging flour at the downtown mission. Another day you would find us sweeping and dusting at a ministry for families of prisoners. The next week we would go to a nursing home and be there to help with games and encourage the residents. Everywhere we went, we took the love of Jesus with us and shared it often.

Somewhere between here and there time has moved on. These young girls are now wives and moms with families of their own. My own children have grown up and moved on.

Though all have changed, there is one constant - Jesus.      
36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”  Matthew 9:36-38   (NIV)

The harvest is still around us.  They have different names and backgrounds. Their lives intersect ours in a variety of ways.

Take Mina, for example. She is an Indian woman I led to Christ one day. As I talked to her about Jesus, her face changed and beamed with joy. I asked her about her "other gods" and she replied, "I have no other gods than the One True God.". I found out later that her grandfather is the Minister of Transportation for all of India. Her brother's, influential attorneys and doctors in India. Act locally - impact Globally.

Then there is Lyda, a dear sister in Christ who had to leave her home in Iran or be killed. Her mom was married to the local Imam and was a Muslim evangelist. Lyda moved to the Detroit area and ministered to the woman of the Muslim community. Weekly she received death threats. Weekly she rejoiced as women who she had befriended came to know Christ. Act locally - impact Globally.

Martin and Kim are dear friends here in Houston. They touch the lives of hundreds of homeless men and women, gang bangers, drug addicts, transvestites and prostitutes every week. The feed 'em, love them, help get them off the streets and share the love of Jesus above all else. People from around the world come to see what they are doing and take it back to their streets. They act locally - impact Globally.

The stories go on. My heart is full with the need to be available to God's call in each of our lives. He did not call us to sit on a chair, clap on the beat, and sing in tune. He called us to first love Him with all of our hearts, souls and minds; and then second to love our neighbor as ourselves.

Never before is the need greater. Now is the time to act.


Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to Thee.
Take my moments and my days; let them flow in ceaseless praise.
Take my hands, and let them move at the impulse of Thy love.
Take my feet, and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee.
Take my voice, and let me sing always, only, for my King.
Take my lips, and let them be filled with messages from Thee.
Take my silver and my gold; not a mite would I withhold.
Take my intellect, and use every power as Thou shalt choose.
Take my will, and make it Thine; it shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own; it shall be Thy royal throne.
Take my love, my Lord, I pour at Thy feet its treasure store.
Take myself, and I will be ever, only, all for Thee.

All Praise, all Glory, all Worship to my Lord and King!!


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