Melting Heart

I was in El Salvador last week working on a church. We mixed and poured 25 meters of cement... by hand. We put up nearly 30 sheets of tin on the roof (I personally put around 1,000 screws into that tin). And, on top of that, it was over 100 degrees every day.

Several of our team got sick, and I was one of them. Not to be too big of a baby, but I lay awake on Tuesday night, into Wednesday morning praying to puke. During a miserable night of sickness, I was dreading getting up and going to stand on that hot tin roof and drive screws into it. At that moment, just about anything would have been better.

That morning, I woke up and read Psalm 22. It starts with those words that Jesus said from the cross, "My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?" It goes on to describe in detail crucifixion, although it would not be invented as a form of death for nearly a thousand years later.

The verse that captured my attention was, "My heart has turned to wax, it has melted away within me." That was how I felt... like shapeless wax, melting away. But I remember praying, "God, if you have to let me suffer this for someone to know you, I will."

Later on Wednesday, I had a chance to talk to Jose for about 2 hours as I shoveled sand into 5 gallon buckets. It was refreshing, renewing, invigorating. I didn't even know I was sick as I shared with him the love of Jesus and God's purpose for his life.

My heart melted, but even in the worst moments of that trip, I made the strongest impact. So, if you are melting... stand firm, because God can use you in your weakest point to make the biggest difference.

My Heart for Teens

So, every once in a while, I get a chance to talk to a teenager who is struggling with what to do with their life. Maybe their situation isn't the greatest, or they are confused. But, my answer is always the same.

DREAM!!! I wish I could pour out the passion inside me, but words fall short.

DREAM BIG!!! What would you love to do? to see? to experience? to know? What stirs your passion? makes you come alive? causes you to talk fast & get starry eyed?

Why not go after it? Why not pursue something bigger than your present world? There is a big world out there. Some would tell you it is dangerous, to be careful, but dangit... it was dangerous when David stood up and told big, bad Goliath that he had "had enough."

Why not take a chance now? When you are older, you will have responsibilities, a job, maybe a spouse and some kids, a mortgage. It is still possible to dream later, but you have to drag all those things along with you.

So, young man, young lady... What is your dream?

Some of you knew immediately. Go for it... if you fall short, AT LEAST YOU TRIED!

But, some of you have no idea what your dream is. You have lived your life with your head down, trying to be ignored. Well, it is time to lift up your head, to step up and fulfill God's destiny for you.

When Daniel didn't understand or know the dream, he and his friends fasted and prayed. His response is found in Daniel 2:23, "I thank and praise you, O God of my fathers: You have given me wisdom and power, You have made known to me what we asked of you, You have made known to us the dream..."

Right now, I pray with you...
"Dear Jesus, reveal Your dream to every young person that reads this. And, give them the courage to pursue that dream!"