We are all broken

I want to give you two pictures that were inspired from my personal experiences combined with the impact of reading through the book, When Helping Hurts: Alleviating Poverty Without Hurting the Poor. . .and Yourself.  I seriously recommend this book!

At first glance these 2 pictures will appear polar opposite.  But, if we look past the exterior, we will see these pictures are strikingly similar.    

Picture number 1:

As the New Year dawns, in the Western culture the majority of middle to upper class citizens are sipping their cappuccinos and writing out their lists of things they will resolve to do in 2011…things they will do in their own strength.  There is no need for God because  we have multiple guards in place to ensure we maintain control of our own lives.  Our salaries, insurance policies, vehicles, homes…the list has no end, all serve as barriers buffering us from our most critical need…our need to call on the name of Jesus. 

Somewhere deep down, in the comforts of our material excessiveness, we are not satisfied...peace is missing.

There is something that leaves our souls hurting.  Offering up a daily token prayer to meet the “religious requirements” to keep our “Christian” title is no longer cutting it.  Rather than turning to the Creator who is the only One who can satisfy all of our needs, out of habit and years of being culturally trained, we turn to the entertainment of our brand new Christmas gifts.  We upgraded from the flip phone to the i-phone, the 42 inch flat screen to the 60 inch, the lap top to the i-pad touch…again, this list has no end…we are oblivious to our superiority and pride, we continue to live our lives in mostly selfish ways, and we sink further into the very root of our brokenness. 

Acknowledged or not, we are helpless and in dire need of repair.  We are neglecting the most important relationship we were created for…our relationship with Jesus.

Picture number 2:

At the same time, the New Year dawns for our brothers and sisters in third world countries all over the world.  I cringe at the images I am having right now.  The poverty stricken world is too desperate for cute little traditions like making lists of resolutions…most of them are unaware of things like holidays.  Every day is the same to them…a another day to survive.  Instead they are praying for the God of the world to hear their cries for food, for shelter, for clothes, for relief from their pain...for them, this is the list that has no end.

Two pictures of equal brokenness...but there is hope.  Jesus’ ministry was a ministry of redemption for all the brokenness…spiritual, physical, and emotional.  Jesus is the restorer of all things.  He cares about our entire wellbeing.  He proved this when he walked the earth by speaking truth to the souls of all men while also providing for their physical needs…breaking chains of oppression and healing the sick.  He is the redeemer of our entire being and His love for us is greater than our minds can conceive. 

Words would not give justice to the impact Pastor Nahum has had in my life since God joined us in relationship back in April of 2010.   Through this relationship I have witnessed Pastor Nahum live out his faith and I have gained greater meaning of James 2:5 in the process.

“Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?”  James 2:5

Our God is so great.  It’s not that material things are evil…God blesses us with good things but it's our job to be good stewards of these things to glorify Him.  As most of us have experienced, it’s easy to fall in to the trap of worshiping the material things and forgetting the Creator of those things.   

As stated in James 2:5, God has chosen the poor, weak, and lowly to reveal His kingdom to the prideful world...the very places the world would least expect it.    

One place God has chosen to reveal His kingdom to the world is in Gilbert, Mirebalais.  Pastor Nahum, his family, orphans and church, although viewed as poor in the eyes of the world, have beautifully reflected richness in faith. 

Back to the pictures:  When we look at Picture number 1 and Picture number 2 side by side, we might be surprised at how closely we look alike…in some way or another we are all broken and messed up sinners suffering from some form of “poverty.”  While our friends and loved ones suffer from material poverty in Haiti, we are suffering too, albeit unaware, from equally devastating problems likely rooted in materialism and self-centeredness.   

We should all be crying out to Jesus to repair us.  We can learn from the materially poor by witnessing their authenticity of prayer…when they pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” or “give us this day our daily bread” their desperate physical state produces of a far more passionate heart’s cry to Jesus…positioning them so intimately close to the heart of God.   

Have mercy on us all.  Jesus, we ask for more mercy and we cry out for you to reveal to us the severity of our brokenness…make us aware of our need for You.  Inspire our hearts to fear You.  May we turn to You and place all of our trust in our Lord, Jesus Christ. Give us the same desperation we have seen in the lowly, weak, poor, and despised.  May we not miss seeing the kingdom of God that You have chosen to reveal among the poor.  In Jesus' name. Amen.

I will be giving an update soon about our upcoming Haiti trip to Pastor Nahum' orphanage as well as giving reminders of some fun opportunities we have available for you to be apart of...for you to join as the voice of the orphans in Haiti.  Thank you for you for your prayers and support....all glory to God.