Sunday, January 23, 2011
Don’t you just love when God radically alters your perspective?
My first week in South Africa did not go as I anticipated, but it went exactly how God planned. For the past week and this upcoming week a few of my teammates are facilitating a Storying Training for Trainers (ST4T) conference at my office. Over 20 world-changing Christ-followers from all over Africa came to learn about how to utilize storying to bring God’s Word to unreached people or their target ministry. Prior to last Sunday I had never heard about storying, but I am grateful I was given the opportunity to participate in the conference last week. Storying works well for oral learners or illiterates, but honestly, storying is for anyone and everyone.
Imagine only having Scripture in spoken word with no written word. That is storying in a sense. It takes several stories (not children’s stories, just stories) from the Bible and puts together a simple story set that covers the over-arching story of the Bible in terms applicable to all cultures. The stories are written so that you can take them to your ministry and craft them further to cater to your audience’s specific worldview and, in time, craft more stories to fill in the gaps. But essentially, the stories cover Scripture from Creation to the Church.
One of my teammates, Sean, who is at a ten-day orientation in Botswana had a quick introduction to storying and learned a general story called “Creation to Church” that he was able to share with a small group of people from a local village that some missionaries are currently serving. In his story group, he ended up leading three people to the Lord! This is just one quick example of how incredibly effective storying can be for evangelical purposes, but it can also be great for discipleship.
I found great joy in storying this week and in the discussion that came from simple questions that followed each story. Each day the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to deeper truths because He was my Teacher as I listened to brothers and sisters share His Word through stories.
One story that was a part of the 21-story set that we went through this week (you usually just do one per week) was titled “Alive” since it covered the resurrection of Jesus. As my friend Keelee was sharing the story with us, I could not help but be overwhelmed with the Spirit when she explained Luke 24:44-47 through storying (after Jesus appears to the disciples and they think He’s a ghost): “Then Jesus explained to them that all this took place to fulfill God’s plan, that He, the Promised Savior, would suffer and die and rise from the dead on the third day. This is the Good News you must take to all peoples.”
When you look throughout the Scripture at the Old Testament prophecies and what Jesus spoke throughout His ministry including the Great Commission and the empowering of the Holy Spirit – God makes it clear that the Good News about Jesus Christ is to go out into the entire world – that we must take it to all peoples.
The Holy Spirit convicted me with this concept because He opened my eyes to see what the Good News is that I am commanded to take to all people – the Good News of Jesus Christ. You see, God never commanded me to go and tell every person I meet my name, where I’m from, what I like to do in my free time, and so on and so forth. The only thing God commanded me to go and tell every person I meet is the Good News of Jesus Christ! So why do I look back and think of all the people I have had the opportunity to meet, but so few of which I have actually shared the Good News of Jesus Christ with? Because I didn’t take God’s commands seriously.
A wise man in my storying group who works with Wycliffe Bible translation, Sebastian, quoted a friend of his during one of our small group discussions. His friend had the opportunity to visit several places throughout the earth where revival has taken place, and this is what he said each story of revival shared: “All of the revivals took place because people took seriously the commands of Jesus.”
Friends, what good will it do someone to know my name and my hometown and what I like to do in my spare time? How easy is that to forget? But the saving Name of Jesus Christ cannot be forgotten – and it will not only do good to others, but it will save others, “for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved,” (Romans 10:13).
Can you imagine what this world would look like if each one of us did just that? God has already told us through His Son and throughout His written Word what He desires and is consistently commanding of each one of us – all we have to do is believe and obey. I can see this world being shaken with the mighty love of God rushing forth from within each one of His children so that the whole world would know the Good News about Jesus Christ – and many would believe. The God we love and serve, and who lives within us – the God we have 24/7 access to in personal prayer – is the Creator of all things and is capable of ANYTHING. Are you with me? I ask that you would join me in prayer that God would use you and me, and our brothers and sisters throughout the earth to wholly surrender to the perfect and glorious will of our Heavenly Father.
In my reading of Romans 10 this morning, God spoke His message loud and clear to my soul as I hungered to pray as Paul prays: “Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved… For ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ But how can they call on Him to save them unless they believe in Him? And how can they believe in Him if they have never heard about Him? And how can they hear about Him unless someone tells them? And how will anyone go and tell them without being sent? That is why the Scriptures say, ‘How beautiful are the feet of messengers who bring good news!”
Do we really care about those around us? We are surrounded by a dark world that is headed toward eternal destruction unless they come to know the only One who can save them from an eternity of fear and loneliness – Jesus Christ. God did not adopt us as His children so that we might live life in the comfort of knowing where we will be when we die and enjoying life for ourselves while we wait for that day when He will bring us home. What nonsense! We have been saved – and so we are equipped with the power of the Holy Spirit who reigns within us and we are sent to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with all people!
Join me in taking this daring step of faith to desire to obey God in everything we do by truly loving Him, and therefore loving others, because He first loved us.
Prayer requests:
- Please pray for my roommate, Kristin, as she will be in Madagascar all week.
- Please pray for my two team members, Sean and Neil, as they return to Joburg from Botswana on Tuesday.
- Please pray for the Easley family as they seek the Lord’s discernment to know where in South Africa He wants them to serve come August.
- Please pray that God would open my eyes to seize the opportunities He places before me. Also, I got my first sunburn on Saturday (it’s bad), and it is making me feel sick – so just pray that God would heal me quickly.
As always, let me know how I can be praying for you or if you have any further questions!
In the Name of Jesus,
Meghan
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Monday, January 17, 2011
Reflection
Sunday, January 16, 2011
It is hard to believe that I am writing this from South Africa as I embrace the start of this new season of life the Lord has provided, but I am. For the past few months the Lord has been testing me, teaching me and preparing my spirit for this very calling – and now it is here!
One of the books I brought with me on this trip is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Each quote I have ever heard a pastor use in his sermon from Chambers has always made a significant impact on my perception of spiritual truths, so I am excited to read 365 of his thoughts this year.
Today’s devotion referenced Isaiah 6:8, “I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send?” Chambers made a powerful point when he said, in response to the biblical call of God, “As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God.”
One of the things I love about Chambers is his triumph over the fear of being truly honest with the family of God. As a body of believers, I believe we are to love one another enough to point out the holiness and sin in each other’s lives. So often our busy lives blind us not just to the temptations we face, but also the mighty work that God is doing in us and through us. I think it is vital that, as sons and daughters of the Sovereign King, we build each other up and hold each other accountable in love.
When I read that devotion today, my mind was immediately flooded with memories of the life journey God has written for me. Not just in college, but throughout life, so many of us continue to ask ourselves and others the gut-wrenching question, “What do you want to do with your life?” I remember specifically as a senior in high school how difficult it was to answer that question because I was trying to live for the day God had given me, while at the same time trying to make the right decision regarding where I would spend the most defining four years of my life (or so I thought).
But for any of us, regardless of our age, I think we often examine ourselves and our talents, abilities, gifts and interests – even the compliments others have sent our way – to try to formulate the perfect career that will enable us to truly live our lives to the fullest potential. I do not think that this is just the American dream, but the dream of every human being. We strive to be successful in all we do. We long to live a life filled with purpose. When we pass away, we want to leave behind something to be remembered by. We are legacy-driven, but as children of God, we need to be Lord-driven.
I am currently reading through the book of Romans, and in chapter five Paul writes, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
How incredible is that? We get so lost in trying to define the meaning of life that we completely lose sight of the One who is life. If you have been adopted into the family of God by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, then your over-arching purpose is the exact same as all the Christians that lived before us, live with us and who will live after us: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Friends, I do not just say this is our shared purpose because I just flew across the world to serve the Lord on mission – this purpose is for all who call God Abba, Father.
During my layover in London I met a Jewish guy my age from Texas who was shocked to find that I was able to serve as a missionary for a semester overseas without having already taken my Christian Heritage course at Baylor University. I began to explain that this trip was not associated with Baylor – but then stopped myself as the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to an even greater truth that needed to be shared as I said something like, “The Lord saved me when I was seven years old. Since then I have grown to know Him more through prayer and reading the Bible. But even if I had never gone to Baylor or taken a Christian Scriptures class, I still would be able to go now because my purpose in South Africa is no different from my purpose at home – I will just be on the other side of the world.”
God has already, in less than two days, allowed me to meet several inspiring fighters of the faith. Each beautiful brother and sister I have been blessed to meet has had such an amazing life story that brings glory to God, but the foundation of their stories remains the same: My life is not my own – it is the Lord’s. Wherever He leads, I will follow. My hope is that the whole world will know the unending love of the Father – and I commit myself to serving God’s global purpose as I walk this earth.
Those are not the exact words that those who have welcomed me to Sub-Saharan Africa have spoken, but it is the heart of who they are: children of God.
God says in His Word that we are citizens of Heaven and foreigners on this earth. As I worshipped the Lord alongside native South Africans and several people from the Congo while singing in several languages at church this morning, my prayer was that God would help me to not only understand that truth, but truly live it out so I might be able to love those around me as Christ first loved me.
We cannot find our purpose nor hear the call of God by looking at ourselves and those around us – only by looking straight into the face of Christ will we see who we are and who we were made to be – a reflection of Him for all to see.
Praying for you today,
Meghan
It is hard to believe that I am writing this from South Africa as I embrace the start of this new season of life the Lord has provided, but I am. For the past few months the Lord has been testing me, teaching me and preparing my spirit for this very calling – and now it is here!
One of the books I brought with me on this trip is My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers. Each quote I have ever heard a pastor use in his sermon from Chambers has always made a significant impact on my perception of spiritual truths, so I am excited to read 365 of his thoughts this year.
Today’s devotion referenced Isaiah 6:8, “I heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send?” Chambers made a powerful point when he said, in response to the biblical call of God, “As long as I dwell on my own qualities and traits and think about what I am suited for, I will never hear the call of God.”
One of the things I love about Chambers is his triumph over the fear of being truly honest with the family of God. As a body of believers, I believe we are to love one another enough to point out the holiness and sin in each other’s lives. So often our busy lives blind us not just to the temptations we face, but also the mighty work that God is doing in us and through us. I think it is vital that, as sons and daughters of the Sovereign King, we build each other up and hold each other accountable in love.
When I read that devotion today, my mind was immediately flooded with memories of the life journey God has written for me. Not just in college, but throughout life, so many of us continue to ask ourselves and others the gut-wrenching question, “What do you want to do with your life?” I remember specifically as a senior in high school how difficult it was to answer that question because I was trying to live for the day God had given me, while at the same time trying to make the right decision regarding where I would spend the most defining four years of my life (or so I thought).
But for any of us, regardless of our age, I think we often examine ourselves and our talents, abilities, gifts and interests – even the compliments others have sent our way – to try to formulate the perfect career that will enable us to truly live our lives to the fullest potential. I do not think that this is just the American dream, but the dream of every human being. We strive to be successful in all we do. We long to live a life filled with purpose. When we pass away, we want to leave behind something to be remembered by. We are legacy-driven, but as children of God, we need to be Lord-driven.
I am currently reading through the book of Romans, and in chapter five Paul writes, “For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and His gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.”
How incredible is that? We get so lost in trying to define the meaning of life that we completely lose sight of the One who is life. If you have been adopted into the family of God by believing in His Son, Jesus Christ, then your over-arching purpose is the exact same as all the Christians that lived before us, live with us and who will live after us: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Friends, I do not just say this is our shared purpose because I just flew across the world to serve the Lord on mission – this purpose is for all who call God Abba, Father.
During my layover in London I met a Jewish guy my age from Texas who was shocked to find that I was able to serve as a missionary for a semester overseas without having already taken my Christian Heritage course at Baylor University. I began to explain that this trip was not associated with Baylor – but then stopped myself as the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to an even greater truth that needed to be shared as I said something like, “The Lord saved me when I was seven years old. Since then I have grown to know Him more through prayer and reading the Bible. But even if I had never gone to Baylor or taken a Christian Scriptures class, I still would be able to go now because my purpose in South Africa is no different from my purpose at home – I will just be on the other side of the world.”
God has already, in less than two days, allowed me to meet several inspiring fighters of the faith. Each beautiful brother and sister I have been blessed to meet has had such an amazing life story that brings glory to God, but the foundation of their stories remains the same: My life is not my own – it is the Lord’s. Wherever He leads, I will follow. My hope is that the whole world will know the unending love of the Father – and I commit myself to serving God’s global purpose as I walk this earth.
Those are not the exact words that those who have welcomed me to Sub-Saharan Africa have spoken, but it is the heart of who they are: children of God.
God says in His Word that we are citizens of Heaven and foreigners on this earth. As I worshipped the Lord alongside native South Africans and several people from the Congo while singing in several languages at church this morning, my prayer was that God would help me to not only understand that truth, but truly live it out so I might be able to love those around me as Christ first loved me.
We cannot find our purpose nor hear the call of God by looking at ourselves and those around us – only by looking straight into the face of Christ will we see who we are and who we were made to be – a reflection of Him for all to see.
Praying for you today,
Meghan
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Time is Now
Well, I definitely did not achieve my goal of consistently posting on this blog as the semester came to a close, but praise God that there is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus! I am grateful that He meets with us at all times because His Spirit indwells us! This season of life has been such a wild adventure of faith, but I will forever cherish the lessons that God is teaching me and the precious moments of Truth He has allowed me to experience!
I leave the day after tomorrow to go to South Africa for nearly six months. It is hard to believe that it is already here! But I know that God is sending me out and it is the next step for me and my family. I am confident that He will be glorified in South Africa and in America! I look forward to seeing what He has planned for His Namesake through the surrendered lives of my family and dear friends!
Now, I promise to actually begin to post regularly on this blog from here on out - as it will be the place where I will attempt to update those who are interested in what the Lord is doing in South Africa! I sincerely hope that those who are reading this will testify to what the Lord is doing in their life as well! I do not know exactly what this blog will grow to look like, but I am excited to see how the Lord molds and shapes it as He molds and shapes me into His image more and more each day! If you are interested in knowing how to pray for me, this is probably a place where I will lay out my requests in humility. But I would LOVE to be praying for you too! If you have any further questions, just post a comment, or send me a message or wall post on Facebook, or shoot me an email at Meghan_Hendrickson@baylor.edu.
I will be writing for the International Mission Board's Global Communication Team Africa while I am away, so feel free to check out their website at http://www.africastories.org/. Soon you will see features that the Lord has laid on my heart! I will likely post links to those stories on here as well.
Prayers for now:
With such little time left and what feels like so much to do, it is easy to get stressed and fearful as I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my weakness. Please pray that God will flood my soul with His peace that surpasses all understanding. May I remember that I have not been given a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Please pray for my family, that they would feel the presence, love and power of the Father in their lives each day. May they confidently trust that He will keep me in His care - whatever that means in His plan.
Please pray for my team, that we will feel united in spirit and in truth while I come to work alongside of them this semester. Pray that we would be sensitive to the Lord's leading, that we would better know how to use the gifts and passions that God has given us to manifest something beautiful for His glory.
Please pray for all those I will come into contact with on my journey to South Africa and while I am there - I pray that when I leave, they would forget my name and my face, but remember the saving name and face of Jesus Christ.
Also, please pray for some dear friends of mine and myself serving the Lord across the globe this semester through Go Now: Lesley, Ryan, Megan, Jacob, Caleb, Mark, Matthew, Sunday and me. Pray that the Lord would give us a hunger for His Word and a deep desire for constant prayer while we seek to advance His Kingdom amongst the nations this spring.
Praise be to God that He not only listens to our prayers, but answers them! I'm excited to move forward in this journey of faith, and I pray that you would be anxious to follow hard after the Lord in this season of the life He has given you as well!
Here are the links to my final devotions that I wrote this fall for the Baylor Lariat's blog:
Monday, October 31, 2010: "Awake"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/monday-morning-grace-awake/
Monday, November 8, 2010: "Promise"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/monday-morning-grace-promise/
Monday, November 15, 2010: "Child of God"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/monday-morning-grace-child-of-god/
Monday, November 22, 2010: "Eikon"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/monday-morning-grace-eikon/
Looking forward to hearing how the Lord is working in your life,
Meghan
I leave the day after tomorrow to go to South Africa for nearly six months. It is hard to believe that it is already here! But I know that God is sending me out and it is the next step for me and my family. I am confident that He will be glorified in South Africa and in America! I look forward to seeing what He has planned for His Namesake through the surrendered lives of my family and dear friends!
Now, I promise to actually begin to post regularly on this blog from here on out - as it will be the place where I will attempt to update those who are interested in what the Lord is doing in South Africa! I sincerely hope that those who are reading this will testify to what the Lord is doing in their life as well! I do not know exactly what this blog will grow to look like, but I am excited to see how the Lord molds and shapes it as He molds and shapes me into His image more and more each day! If you are interested in knowing how to pray for me, this is probably a place where I will lay out my requests in humility. But I would LOVE to be praying for you too! If you have any further questions, just post a comment, or send me a message or wall post on Facebook, or shoot me an email at Meghan_Hendrickson@baylor.edu.
I will be writing for the International Mission Board's Global Communication Team Africa while I am away, so feel free to check out their website at http://www.africastories.org/. Soon you will see features that the Lord has laid on my heart! I will likely post links to those stories on here as well.
Prayers for now:
With such little time left and what feels like so much to do, it is easy to get stressed and fearful as I sometimes feel overwhelmed by my weakness. Please pray that God will flood my soul with His peace that surpasses all understanding. May I remember that I have not been given a spirit of timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Please pray for my family, that they would feel the presence, love and power of the Father in their lives each day. May they confidently trust that He will keep me in His care - whatever that means in His plan.
Please pray for my team, that we will feel united in spirit and in truth while I come to work alongside of them this semester. Pray that we would be sensitive to the Lord's leading, that we would better know how to use the gifts and passions that God has given us to manifest something beautiful for His glory.
Please pray for all those I will come into contact with on my journey to South Africa and while I am there - I pray that when I leave, they would forget my name and my face, but remember the saving name and face of Jesus Christ.
Also, please pray for some dear friends of mine and myself serving the Lord across the globe this semester through Go Now: Lesley, Ryan, Megan, Jacob, Caleb, Mark, Matthew, Sunday and me. Pray that the Lord would give us a hunger for His Word and a deep desire for constant prayer while we seek to advance His Kingdom amongst the nations this spring.
Praise be to God that He not only listens to our prayers, but answers them! I'm excited to move forward in this journey of faith, and I pray that you would be anxious to follow hard after the Lord in this season of the life He has given you as well!
Here are the links to my final devotions that I wrote this fall for the Baylor Lariat's blog:
Monday, October 31, 2010: "Awake"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/10/31/monday-morning-grace-awake/
Monday, November 8, 2010: "Promise"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/11/08/monday-morning-grace-promise/
Monday, November 15, 2010: "Child of God"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/monday-morning-grace-child-of-god/
Monday, November 22, 2010: "Eikon"
http://baylorlariat.wordpress.com/2010/11/22/monday-morning-grace-eikon/
Looking forward to hearing how the Lord is working in your life,
Meghan
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