TWO

My pastor, Dr. Stephen, is teaching on Revelation and this morning he said something that has stayed on my mind all day. He was talking about how Rev. 7:9-17 promises that there will be a day when a countless multitude of people from every part of the world will surround the throne of God and worship Him with every part of their soul. Dr. Stephen made the point that there are currently about 6 billion people in the world- of which only 2 billion are Christians. Dr. Stephen left his sermon at this, “Who will tell the other 4,000,000,000?”

Good question…

So, I did the math…and the math is simple. How many people would the 200 billion have to tell in order to reach all 4 billion? Assuming that every one of the 2 billion believers are willing to share their faith, then we all only need to tell 2 people. TWO PEOPLE! (Your heart should be pounding!!!!!)

Even if only half of us chose to share, we would all only need to tell 4. If only one fourth of us share the good news, that just raises the number to 8. (Your heart should be racing!!!!!!)

Now, obviously the numbers are a little more complicated than that because we have to take a lot of factors into consideration. What if two people tell the same two people? What about all of the countries where it is illegal to share the gospel? What about third world countries and hidden rainforest civilizations? What about all of the people who don’t even have the Bible written in their own language?

But what about all of the people in your own little world who don’t even know you go to church?

When I was younger my Bible study teacher told a haunting story about how he ran into his long lost high school best friend at a 10-year reunion; the best friend, who lived a crazy, reckless youth had turned his life around and become a Christian. The best friend had one question, “How come you never told me? I thought I knew everything about you, but how could you not share this? I was so lost, you never showed me the way.” (Your heart should be breaking!!!!!!) My Bible study teacher told us that he would never forget those words. Neither will I.

Who will tell the other 4 billion? Will I do my part? Will you?

For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” How, then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they breach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:13-15

Junk In My Trunk

It was 7:30am on a Saturday, there was a 70% chance of rain, and my bed felt ever so cozy; nothing could convince me to move. My alarm clock, however, was quite determined to get me up- I had plans. Big plans. I was supposed to go to the neighborhood garage sales with my good friend, Jaime.

I hit snooze.

I texted Jaime, “are you sure you want to go…I think it is about to rain…” Please back out. Please back out. Please back out!!!

I made up reasons not to go. (I can’t spend money. Where am I going to put everything that I buy? What am I even looking for? I sneezed yesterday- maybe I’m getting sick!)

I gave up the fight at about 7:48, finally got out of bed, and headed straight for the coffee pot. And I’m so glad I got up!

Jaime and I shopped out little hearts out until noon, bargaining and buying as much as we could fit in her car. Basically, everything we bought needs a bit of TLC, but considering we didn’t spend more than $10 on a single item, I’d say we did pretty good! And can I just say, it is amazing what some people are willing to sell for a dollar. On the other hand, it is also amazing what people think they can sell, even for a dollar. Ziploc brand plastic-ware? Baby dolls missing arms and legs? USED BATHING SUITES? Thanks, but no thanks…

Anyway, the point of the story is that about 10:30am Jaime and I were carrying a huge rod iron candleholder back to her car when we realized it was going to be hard to find a place for it. As she clicked to open up the trunk of her car I yelled, “I’ve got junk in my trunk!!!” I thought it was funny…Jaime thought it was funny…everyone else seemed to think it was just strange. Bummer. Ha! Get it? BUMmer? Ok, ok, I’ll stop writing now…

…right after I tell you that you should always appreciate your own sense of humor-laugh at yourself. Even when other people don’t laugh with you. Especially when other people are laughing at you.

The Songs I Sing

Do you ever feel like music has a way of meeting you right where you are in life? I can remember plenty of times when my heart was so on fire, but I couldn’t find the words to express how I felt. Then I would turn on the radio, or now Pandora and Itunes, and stumble over a song that perfectly expressed everything I had been trying to say.

I remember surviving through middle school by the saving graces of Mariah Carey’s “Hero”- feel free to mock me, I admit thinking it was the deepest, greatest, most heart-felt song I had ever heard.

I remember listening to John Mayer’s “Quiet” every Sunday night during my freshman year of High school, grateful that someone else in the world knew what it was like to not be able to turn off their brain at night.

I remember being broken-hearted my junior year of HS and finding Ben Harper’s “Walk Away.”

I remember my friend Nicole showing me a song called “Love is Waiting” by Brooke Fraiser to encourage me when I felt so alone my sophomore year in college.

I remember walking to school every day in Argentina while listening to a playlist my mom made for me and learning to sing Fernando Ortega’s “Give Me Jesus” in Spanish.

Even this past summer I found a song called “Take All the Sky You Need” by Ellis Paul- I remember thinking, “Wow, that is exactly what my parents have been trying to tell me since I graduated!”

My point is this- music is my therapy. Any my favorite kind of music therapy is when I can listen to the lyrics of a song, close my eyes, and transform every line into a conversation I am having with God. Does that even make sense to you? Allow me to explain, before you think I am crazy. I’ll take a love song, an angry song, a sad song, a searching song, and apply it to where I am in my own life.

For example, “I’m There Too” by Michelle Featherstone is a song about two people who are so in love that they have become the same person, feeling everything the other person feels. However, I sing this song and think about all of the places in the Bible that God promises to always be by my side, to never let me go, and to welcome me into Heaven some day. When she sings, “I see myself in you, in everything you do…I see me in your eyes, and I’m the tears you cry,” I think about how God cares about me so much, and how every single thing He does is for my benefit, even when I don’t understand it. It makes me remember that He loves me so much He sent is son to die for me, that the tears He cried were for me! So, for me this song becomes a poem of comfort for today and security for tomorrow- all wonderful gifts from God that I don’t deserve.

To listen to the song click here. But while you listen, maybe you could make it your own conversation. I’ve included the lyrics below, and have put all of my parts of the conversation in black and all of “God’s replies” in red (I wonder where I got that grand idea). I hope you enjoy! It’s an amazing song!

"I'm There Too"

I see myself in you

In everything you do

And when you’re all alone at night

You know I am by your side

Cuz I’m there too

I see me in your eyes

And I’m the tears you cry

And when you fall apart

And are dying from a broken heart

I’m there too

I see your footsteps in the sand

As you journey on across this land

But if you should fall on your way

Then I will carry you that day

Cuz I’m there

I’m there too

Yeah I’m there too

I see your face in mine

And I know there’ll come a time

When you will take my hand

And I will understand

That you’re there too

When you will take my hand

And I will understand

That you’re there

You’re there too