The Big Picture

Well, just to let you all know, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, and I have not abandoned my blog either. : )

I wanted to post something but I wasn't sure what to write, so I thought about it for a while, and then decided that I would post this. A deluge of thoughts followed it.


I wrote this almost three years ago.
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Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
The costly gift of being free
From my sin, from the past,
From deep fears that held me fast.
You gave your life upon the Cross.
Too expensive would be that loss,
If I knew not what happened next.
But in the Bible's truthful text,
The story's told: you rose again.
You gave your life, endured great pain.
The very least that I can do
Is give my very life to you.
So use it, Lord, to do your will,
And in my time, if things go ill,
If I am called to die for you,
I pray that I'll be ready to.

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For as long as I can remember, I have deeply admired Christians who stood fast until the end, giving their lives for God's glory. For hours at a time I would sit poring over an 1895 edition of Christian Heroes and Martyrs of the World. I think that one of the greatest honors a Christian could be given is the chance to give his or her life in His service.

I have wondered if I would have enough courage. I suppose that I would if I stood strong in my faith, but would I be strong? I desperately hope that I would, but I won't know for sure unless I am someday put to the test.

These verses pop into my head every now and again:

For we don't live for ourselves or die for ourselves. If we live it's to honor the Lord. And if we die, it's to honor the Lord. So whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. Romans 14:7-8

Now, I don't know if I will ever be faced with this challenge, but I want to be ready. I want to be strong in the Lord's mighty power. I pray that God will give me the strength to face every challenge head on, and stand firm until the end.

I tend to get annoyed over little things and have self-pity parties regularly when I am going through some difficulty. Then I realize how self-centered those thoughts are, and turn to God, confessing them and thanking Him for His forgiveness. I spend so much time thinking about frustrating little things that happen to me, while all around the world people are being rejected, tortured, and killed for their faith.

Every now and then God gives me a glimpse of the big picture, and I get so overwhelmed by the hardships that other Christians go through - so thankful for the easy life that I have here (and yet somehow wishing that God would think me ready to face that same challenge).

My mission trips gave me especially clear glimpses of the big picture. In PNG the tribe that I visited didn't know the truth about God. They had heard diluted, mixed up versions of the gospel and added that to their own religion. They were so lost. Now they have heard the truth, and many have believed and are growing in their faith, but those who accept the truth are subject to rejection and ridicule. It is a hard choice for many people - especially for women, because they face the possibility of being sent out of their homes if their husbands are not believers.

While in Mexico, I learned that churches there have to be registered and approved by the government, and home Bible study groups are not allowed. Technically, what we were doing there, having a Bible study time every night, was illegal. I had no idea that such was the case!

There is so much going on that I don't see because I'm focused on the small, everyday things in my life! I don't want to live like this; I want to see the big picture and be a part of God's work, whether that means being a witness here in the States or going overseas. Either way, I don't want to be stuck in a routine, paying no attention to the needs of the Body around the world.


I've been rambling.... I hope my thoughts aren't too hard to follow. : ) These are just some of the things I've been considering lately. Well, I suppose that's enough for now.