“If only I can touch the hem of His garment I can be well.” She could barely get the words out. Life was hard for women of that time, especially this one.
She was a woman of faith, a woman who knew He was her healer, and if only she could get to Him, everything could change. The crowds were massive, and she was weak, nearly crawling on the ground. For at least twelve years she bled and though she had seen many doctors, doctors who drained all her financial resources, no cure or healing had come.
And God said, "Let there be light, and there was light."
The Vision
What is your vision? Where does it come from? The Greatest Visionary, our Father in Heaven, had an amazing, out of the box, enormously creative vision. “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Later, after He added all we need to sustain life and saw that it was good, God created man from the dust, literally the dirt we walk on every day. He created man in His own image to be in relationship with HIm and to be a mirror, a reflection of who He is and what He is like. Man was not created as a copy, but for the purpose of being in relationship, to reflect and to fill the earth with children, more mirrors. If you hold a diamond up to the light, you will see many beautiful reflections from it’s many facets. This is how we are created, with the thumbprint of God inside us. In essence, God imprinted upon your heart a vision to reflect Him. His purpose for man’s life is to bring that reflection to fullness and completeness through a relationship with Him.
What is it you can do to reflect Him without distortion? Before the fall of man, everything was as God created it, in order and perfection. “God saw all that He had made and it was good.” After the fall, the reflection became broken mirrors, shattered images, distorted. To become whole again, we seek the heart of God.
Where do you seek the heart of God? Are you looking to Jesus, the Son of God, and to the will of God for His life and the gift given to us through the sacrifice of His life? God had a big vision—bigger that we will ever know this side of heaven. His vision is for you to know Him and His heart of love for you, so that you may live out the days of your life on earth being conformed into a being that is reflective of His great love, kindness, compassion and generosity. God’s vision came to fruition in steps. What steps can you take today, the beginning of a New Year, to begin to follow the steps toward the vision God has set for your life?
Sit with God and quietly reflect, ask Him to teach you, to reveal to you the next step of His vision for you. Then trust Him with all your heart, believing He will show you the way. Press on to meet the goal of what before you, leaving behind all the past that gets in the way. Soon, you will find that by taking these steps each day with God leading you, with your eyes fixed on Jesus and your mind and heart set on knowing the heart of Him who created you, you will be living out the vision God placed upon your heart in the beginning, before you were ever born.
Scriptures reflecting these truths
Genesis 1:1; Genesis 1:27; Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:7; Luke 12:6; Jeremiah 29:11; Psalm 139:12-14; Deuteronomy 6:4-6; Mark 12:29; John 1:18;
Personal application
God has personally and uniquely designed a vision for you. Maybe you are a gardener who provides flowers or food for the enjoyment or nutrition of others. Perhaps you are an artist, a writer, teacher or an architect using your talents through creating something beautiful from nothing, crafting a story or book from a compilation of words that encourage and inspire others, work with children modeling the love of Christ and teaching preparation for adulthood, or create designs and strategies to bring structure to another’s life. Perhaps you are a mother with small children, spending your time caring for your family and modeling the love of Christ in the training ground for your children.
What ever it is, big or small from your perspective—God’s perception of you and your purpose brings Him great joy, glory and honor. He is not concerned with what you do as much as who you are. What is closest to God’s heart is for us to seek to know His heart above all else.
How will I begin this New Year? In 2012 what changes can I make in myself to become a better reflection?
Do you feel like people are out to get you? Like they slow you down or they don’t understand how important your schedule is? Do you think others should do things in the timing you need? Becoming critical of other’s behavior can put us in the role of being judge. I don’t know about you, but I don’t believe I qualify for the role of judge. Behind every single person you meet in a day, there is a story that most cannot see. Perhaps someone just lost a loved one, or they have a dependency, or maybe they are losing their home due to the down economy, or it could be that they just don’t feel LOVED. Recognizing this fact, while taking your focus off of yourself, allows you to see deeper into someone’s heart. Maybe . . . just maybe . . . instead of criticizing, you might see an opportunity!
Pray for eyes to see from His perspective. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart!
I will be leaving soon for Haiti. I have read and heard many of the stories of the devastation and unbelievable circumstances I will witness on this journey. Many people think I am brave for leaving the safety of my country and going into one that is in such chaos and turmoil.
I am not brave; I am confident. I am not restless; I am at peace. I am not fearful; I am courageous. I am not doubtful; I am trusting. However, I need to make it abundantly clear that all of my confidence, peace, courage and trust are from our God.
About three years ago I had a friend go on her first-ever mission trip to Africa. She was very afraid, but when she arrived there she no longer thought about herself and all of her fears. She began to embrace the beauty of the people and the hearts of those who were so thirsty for love. She has been on several mission trips since that time and shares with me that there is nothing more rewarding and fulfilling than seeing the love of God in the children’s eyes.
I look forward to fulfilling a dream that I’ve had since I was a young girl. When I was about 11 or 12 years old I would watch Sally Struthers as she stood in the slums of other countries and advocated for “Feed the Children.” Oh, how my heart desired to send money to the aid of those children. I was delighted when I had the honor of being chosen to represent our congregation when I was about 14 years old as an exchange student on mission in Mexico. It was an incredible trip and one I will never forget. But all those memories and desires got lost somewhere deep inside as I grew older and took my life into my own hands.
Suddenly over the past few years, the yearning has returned. I thought I was headed to Africa, which didn’t happen, and then I thought I would be traveling to Turkey this past September, but that didn’t work out either. There was discussion of another trip to Africa with a group of my friends, but it didn’t come together for me. Now, here I am, headed to Haiti, and I couldn’t feel more honored to make this mission. I didn’t know it would turn out this way; that I would be journeying to the most impoverished country in the Western Hemisphere. I didn’t know that immediately after I purchased my airline ticket, there would be an outbreak of cholera that would be slowly moving toward the capital city where I will be traveling. Here is the amazing and wonderful thing about it, I am at peace. I am at peace knowing God is with me. I walk in His love; I thirst to walk with Him into the places and lives to which He leads me. James 1:27 shares with us that “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” The Bible shows us that orphans and widows hold one of the most precious and softest spots of the Lord’s heart. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve God in this mission. I am thankful that I get to be a vessel of His love and light in a country that has all but lost its hope. I know God doesn’t need me to accomplish what He wants. I know nothing is too hard for Him; but I know too, how much He loves for His children to come together to share His incredible love with the world.
I could not be making this journey if I did not believe that God is who He says He is, He can do what He says He can do, I am who God says I am, I can do all things through Christ’s strength and God’s Word lives in me! Five years ago, I would have said you were absolutely insane if you told me I would be making this trip. I couldn’t even walk out of my flat in Australia for all my fears at that time! Today, I am alive and nothing matters about what I do except to bring Him glory and honor by living for Him out of His strength. This is how God’s love has changed my life. It may not be the same for you; we are each uniquely designed and a masterpiece in the eyes of our God to be used for His glory!
Perhaps your mission field is your neighborhood, your community, your school or your work. Have you traveled to a foreign country for missions? What about another state? What is it that pulls your heartstrings and creates a desire for you to share God’s love with others? Is it through mission trips or daily missions in your life? Where ever it is, trust that God is with you every step of the way and will clear the obstacles for His will.
“Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.” Mark 16:15 (NIV)
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 (NIV)
