Isaiah’s Cry

In the gospels, we read of Jesus feeding the 5,000 with a simple meal of bread and fish. So often, I have looked at this as simply one of His great miracles. It certainly is that. However, I’d like to look at the “why” behind the miracle.

Those who teach leadership skills today may love this story and could use it as an example of how to draw a following. But Jesus wasn’t into the “how to win friends and influence people” movement. He lived and moved and breathed out of a holy motivation. Yes, His desire was to bring glory to the Father, BUT He did so by revealing who the Father is which is love and mercy and grace, and yes, justice and righteousness (all of those meet together and are held in perfect balance by the Father).

In this passage, we see that Jesus was moved with compassion when He looked on the crowds of hungry people. We see this motivation time and again in the gospels, and in fact, throughout Scriptures. Our God is moved with compassion as He sees the brokenness of man, the absence of shalom or wholeness. It is His heart.

So, I pray: Lord, what motivates me? Am I filled with compassion when I see injustice? Do I understand Your heart for the hurting, and am I willing to enter into the pain, whatever it may be, of my neighbor, whomever he may be, in order that You might use me as a vessel of mercy? Transform me, Father, that I might reflect Your heart of compassion.

March 12th, 2012 | Category: Current Events | Comments Off

“Then shall your light break forth like the dawn,

and your healing shall spring up speedily;

your righteousness shall go before you;

the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.”

(Isaiah 58:8 ESV)

What will bring about our light? What will speed our healing? Offering that cup of cold water. Seeking to end injustice–that which we carry out and that which we see carried out by others. Not turning our back on our own flesh.  Bringing the poor into our homes. (Isaiah 58: 6-7)

This is scary stuff. I mean, surely, God isn’t seriously saying we should bring the poor into our homes. Isn’t that dangerous? I guess offering that cup of cold water is easy enough, except when it’s inconvenient, but inviting people into our homes? Speaking out against injustices we see around us? That is not safe.

Yet, this is what we are called to as believers. It’s not really optional. And the result is a beautiful, though messy, healing of our own brokenness. As we allow ourselves to be vessels of God’s wellspring of love, grace and mercy–for truly we cannot draw love, grace or mercy out of our own wellspring for we have not enough even for ourselves–He reaches in and works His grace and mercy in the dark corners of our lives. What is there to fear in that? Yet, I admit, I am greatly afraid. Perhaps, this is because I do not trust that God will heal me nor do I trust that He will protect me from the risks of loving others. And so, I pray:

Lord, You know my heart. You know my thoughts and every anxious way in me. I desire for my light to break forth. I also desire to be a part of your work of justice as described in Isaiah 58. But I am afraid. You ask what seems like more than I can give–to give up my fear, to share my space, time, family, resources and life with others in a way that makes me vulnerable. Yet, You did this and more through Your Son, Jesus. And so, I place my trust in You. Open my eyes to see the tangible ways that I can live this life of justice, love and mercy, and give me courage to obey. Thank you that as I obey, You will bring about Your purposes, bringing healing both to others and to myself, and then my light shall break forth and my healing will come.

August 20th, 2010 | Category: My Journey, The Bible and Social Justice | Comments (59)

Please, pray for the people of Haiti as they face the devastation of a 7.3 magnitude earthquake. Let’s not be silent as we go before the throne of grace with confidence. Let’s allow ourselves to enter into the pain of these people and in so doing, allow the Holy Spirit to guide our prayer and lead us to action–whether it’s creating awareness, contributing to an aid organization, or going!

January 13th, 2010 | Category: Current Events | Comments (1)

At the dinner table tonight, I was updating my husband on all the latest news from our local area and around the world. We talked about the situation in Iran as explained to me by my friend, a former refugee from Iran, now citizen of the US. We talked about the Karen-Burmese children who have fled with their families to Thailand refugee camps–children who may not live past next week because the Burmese army is demanding that they be returned to Burma where they will likely be used as mine sweepers, servants to the army, raped or killed. We talked about these things as we sat in our peaceful home, eating a feast of “avocado pita delights” as we affectionately call our latest food obsession. And I thought I was going to throw up. What was I doing here in all this peace while people around the world were fighting for their very lives? I am grateful for the blessings God has given me; I’m not asking for terror to strike my life; I recognize that my struggles and griefs are relevant and important to God as well. But…

…As I come and go to work, laugh and joke with coworkers, go shopping, plan a 3 year wedding anniversary, enjoy the peace and quiet of my home, my coworker cannot concentrate on his work because his country is in turmoil, his friends and family face uncertainty and danger, his life has turned upside down, and he feels caught, unable to save anyone. And I seem relatively untouched by the whole ordeal…

So, we finished dinner, enjoyed our avocado pita delights, and set to washing dishes. I turned on the new CD that our friend just released, and here’s what came out of the speakers “I’m given it all to Jesus…” I felt a quiet come over me. I’m given it all to Jesus. This isn’t a “spiritual” excuse for inaction or apathy; this is not my rationale for ignoring these horrific injustices. This is just the first step of action. First, I’m giving it all to Jesus. Why? Because He is the Creator; He is the Healer; He is Just; He is Merciful; He knows Suffering; when everything was messed up, He came down into this world to make things right; He is the Beginning and the End; He IS. And we can trust Him. So, I’m giving all of this to Him. He can handle this; I can’t. Neither can anyone else. Then, step 2. Jesus, what would you have me do right here, right where I’m at? That’s what I’m going to do.

So, will you give it all to Jesus? And will you take step 2? He’ll be faithful with the first; He’ll also be faithful to give you something to do.

June 22nd, 2009 | Category: Current Events | Comments (61)