I am constantly amazed at the times and places God's presence is noticeable and moving. Raised within the American church I have become used to God moving throughout church services, prayer meetings, worship nights, retreats, church camp, and conferences. None of these are bad things. I would hope to never enter into a church service or Bible study where God's presence isn't there. He should be moving throughout our times of worship, that's the purpose of set aside times of worship and services. To commune with God and fellowship with the body, so yeah, it makes sense for the Spirit to be moving. The problem is that I expect Jesus to be present in the situations and confines that I design and delegate, and then I'm always amazed and blown away when he does something, without consulting me, outside of the time I set aside. It astounds me and messes with me. In reality I should always be amazed and astounded and effected by a move of God, regardless of where it happens. I am learning more and more to be expectant and always ready for a move of God. To be just as amazed by his power and presence in the church as I am outside of it. Also, to stop being so caught of guard when a move of God happens outside of the church walls, after all isn't that where evangelism and moves of God are supposed to happen? It's like I have this idea that Jesus moves where his people are gathered, and he does, but I've already decided who his people are and that they gather within church walls and I forget about the vastness, diversity, and reach of God's people.
Last week I was given the privilege to return to the Immigration Detention Center to visit a couple that was there. The first time I went to IDC was back in September, and I was privileged to meet and talk with two incredible women who are modern heroes of the faith. Despite that being my one and only experience at IDC, it was like I had forgotten all that I had learned. It was like I had completely blocked out the amazing things God was doing with his people that were in IDC.
There are people in IDC who probably forgot that they needed a visa extension or people who simply disregarded the rules and regulations on their being in the country. There are women and men who have been exploited and abused and brought into the country either against their will or through deceit. There are families who ended up in IDC because they were fleeing their home countries for their lives. They had no where else to go and no time to go through the proper channels. It was enter illegally or be killed. As I stood in the crowded, noisy, dirty, visiting room I began to become overwhelmed and feel hopeless. I was becoming heart broken for these people and their circumstance, as we should be, but I was forgetting some very important things. Instead of being heart broken at injustice and hurting with them for what they had lost and experienced. I was being filled with pity and aching over what I perceived to be the absence of God in their lives. As I stood in the middle of IDC being overwhelmed, God was moving.
About half an hour into our visit the room fell quiet, as quiet as it can get in there, and I was confused as I began to look around the room to see where everyone had gone. Instead of looking up to find people leaving, I found God communing with his people. On either side of the fence, visitors are on one side and detainees are on the other side, two large groups of people had gathered. Heads bowed, eyes closed, and arms raised they were praying and worshiping. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Yet, as I began to marvel at how present God was in such a dirty, hopeless place and think about how amazing it is that God can be found in what I've decided are the darkest places God challenged me. Why was I so surprised that God would be moving in IDC? That's where his people are. Is it so surprising that he would be with his children regardless of where they are? Where along the way did my vision of when and where God speaks to his people become so construed? I'm living as a missionary for crying out loud. Shouldn't I of all people be able to remember that my ideas and constructs of church and worship aren't the only way church and worship has to be done. Surely, I would remember that far more of God's people are in places like IDC than they are in an air conditioned building on Sunday morning. Yes, God's people are those who go to church on Sundays, work during the week, and read their Bibles while they drink their morning coffee. His people are also in the streets and detention centers. A vast majority of God's people have never, *gasp* set foot in what my idea of a church is. His people are the persecuted and the refugees.
Instead of feeling and hopeless and defeated God has called me to action and to fellowship. He wants me to fellowship with him and with my brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of where we are and what it may look like. Be amazed by God every time he moves, but stop being surprised that he would dare to be present in a place like this. Expect to find Christ and his people everywhere. I need to look past my ideas of church and take part in the larger body of Christ, after all isn't that what I'm supposed to be doing anyway? I need to take action. I need to stop letting defeat be in the initial response I have to every intimidating circumstance that I come across. I need to one, actually pray for people. Instead of talking about how desperate things are and talking about how sorry I feel for those facing hardship and persecution I should spend time on my knees before God praying and interceding for them on a daily basis. I'm not talking about a two second, "Jesus be with those hurting", as I pray over my breakfast and then never think about it again until the next meal, but actual prayer and intercession. I also need to get over the idea that my safety and security is more important than helping those in need. Jesus said only help those you feel safe helping. Only help those you know 100% will cause you no harm whatsoever...oh wait no he didn't. Jesus taught and modeled a selfless and risky gospel. Help and serve others regardless of the cost. Helping our persecuted brothers and sisters comes with a risk. Helping refugees, homeless, abused, and hurting people comes with risk. Guess what, it's a risk Jesus wants us to take. Christ loved and served those that killed him, and we're called to be Christ like. That means we help, serve, and love even if it means we're going to be harmed in the process. Our brothers and sisters are hurting, and yes their situations seem bleak and can be overwhelming, but we have the ability to help them and reach out to them. We just have to stop letting fear dictate our actions.
Last week I was given the privilege to return to the Immigration Detention Center to visit a couple that was there. The first time I went to IDC was back in September, and I was privileged to meet and talk with two incredible women who are modern heroes of the faith. Despite that being my one and only experience at IDC, it was like I had forgotten all that I had learned. It was like I had completely blocked out the amazing things God was doing with his people that were in IDC.
There are people in IDC who probably forgot that they needed a visa extension or people who simply disregarded the rules and regulations on their being in the country. There are women and men who have been exploited and abused and brought into the country either against their will or through deceit. There are families who ended up in IDC because they were fleeing their home countries for their lives. They had no where else to go and no time to go through the proper channels. It was enter illegally or be killed. As I stood in the crowded, noisy, dirty, visiting room I began to become overwhelmed and feel hopeless. I was becoming heart broken for these people and their circumstance, as we should be, but I was forgetting some very important things. Instead of being heart broken at injustice and hurting with them for what they had lost and experienced. I was being filled with pity and aching over what I perceived to be the absence of God in their lives. As I stood in the middle of IDC being overwhelmed, God was moving.
About half an hour into our visit the room fell quiet, as quiet as it can get in there, and I was confused as I began to look around the room to see where everyone had gone. Instead of looking up to find people leaving, I found God communing with his people. On either side of the fence, visitors are on one side and detainees are on the other side, two large groups of people had gathered. Heads bowed, eyes closed, and arms raised they were praying and worshiping. It was one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Yet, as I began to marvel at how present God was in such a dirty, hopeless place and think about how amazing it is that God can be found in what I've decided are the darkest places God challenged me. Why was I so surprised that God would be moving in IDC? That's where his people are. Is it so surprising that he would be with his children regardless of where they are? Where along the way did my vision of when and where God speaks to his people become so construed? I'm living as a missionary for crying out loud. Shouldn't I of all people be able to remember that my ideas and constructs of church and worship aren't the only way church and worship has to be done. Surely, I would remember that far more of God's people are in places like IDC than they are in an air conditioned building on Sunday morning. Yes, God's people are those who go to church on Sundays, work during the week, and read their Bibles while they drink their morning coffee. His people are also in the streets and detention centers. A vast majority of God's people have never, *gasp* set foot in what my idea of a church is. His people are the persecuted and the refugees.
Instead of feeling and hopeless and defeated God has called me to action and to fellowship. He wants me to fellowship with him and with my brothers and sisters in Christ regardless of where we are and what it may look like. Be amazed by God every time he moves, but stop being surprised that he would dare to be present in a place like this. Expect to find Christ and his people everywhere. I need to look past my ideas of church and take part in the larger body of Christ, after all isn't that what I'm supposed to be doing anyway? I need to take action. I need to stop letting defeat be in the initial response I have to every intimidating circumstance that I come across. I need to one, actually pray for people. Instead of talking about how desperate things are and talking about how sorry I feel for those facing hardship and persecution I should spend time on my knees before God praying and interceding for them on a daily basis. I'm not talking about a two second, "Jesus be with those hurting", as I pray over my breakfast and then never think about it again until the next meal, but actual prayer and intercession. I also need to get over the idea that my safety and security is more important than helping those in need. Jesus said only help those you feel safe helping. Only help those you know 100% will cause you no harm whatsoever...oh wait no he didn't. Jesus taught and modeled a selfless and risky gospel. Help and serve others regardless of the cost. Helping our persecuted brothers and sisters comes with a risk. Helping refugees, homeless, abused, and hurting people comes with risk. Guess what, it's a risk Jesus wants us to take. Christ loved and served those that killed him, and we're called to be Christ like. That means we help, serve, and love even if it means we're going to be harmed in the process. Our brothers and sisters are hurting, and yes their situations seem bleak and can be overwhelming, but we have the ability to help them and reach out to them. We just have to stop letting fear dictate our actions.
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