Comfort and Joy

Telling stories breathes life into them, habitations built with words instead of brick and mortar.  I remember as Christmas approached during my early childhood we would deck the halls, then my father would lift me into his arms and carry me around to see the dazzling ornaments, especially the ones too high for me to enjoy from afar.  He would talk about the meaning of the nativity, the angels, and the lights.  The wonder of traditions steeped in meaning instilled a deep sense of peace, joy and belonging – a sense of belonging to something far greater and profound than my tiny life, yet intimate, loving and near. And when I went to bed, visions of sugarplums danced in my head.  And lyrics to songs of joy, “let every heart prepare Him room”, started to form a habitation for Jesus Christ in my heart.

Over the years I recreated meaningful holidays for our girls as we have lived in other countries.  When they were young in Ukraine, we would sled and play in the snow, then get toasty by the fire with mugs of hot chocolate while singing carols by candlelight.  Ukraine is a magical place for children during the Christmas season because you celebrate Christmas twice.  We celebrated with our family and expat friends in December and with Ukrainian friends during Orthodox Christmas in January.  In recent years, one young Ukrainian woman was especially touched by the warmth of love and joyful celebration.

Lilia grew up without a father and decided to become an atheist as a girl because religion was devoid of meaning for her.  She stayed away from religious people, thinking they were irrelevant and dictatorial.  So she made a brave step one day to join our discussion group at a cafe just before the holiday season began.  She knew no one in the group, but fit in immediately.  Lilia possessed a sharp mind and wit, and was always ready to engage in our lively discussions about character, truth, and the meaning of life.  Whenever she would debate, she had the most winning smile.  I once mentioned to her that even if a person disagreed with her, they would love her smile.  

“Oh, but I am not usually this way,” she said.  “I am just so happy when I am here.  I never knew Christians could be so normal and talk about the questions I have about life in a real, meaningful way.”

We invited her to our Christmas party where we sang about the One who gives meaning to life.  And as the lights lit up the tree, she knew a light was beginning to illuminate her mind and heart for the first time.  “I am beginning to change how I view things,” she said one day.  “I know now that God is real.”  She began to see that the Christian creation, fall, redemption account made sense and shed light on her questions about life.  C. S. Lewis wrote that he believed in God “as I believe the sun has risen, not only because I see it, but because by it I see everything else.” Building a relationship with Lilia, caring for her, and engaging her in the deep questions she had about life and God, was a supernaturally natural experience.  God touched her as only He can, but she felt the freedom to be accepted and cared for by us whether or not she accepted what we were saying.  

God is the ultimate Playwright who has written clues about Himself into the universe and into the intricacies of our hearts, and our stories begin to make sense in light of the wonderful miracle of His story we celebrate during this season. 

“ ‘She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.’  All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:  ‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel’ ” (which means “God with us”) Matthew 1:23

The Greatness of Goodness

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”    (Matt. 5:14)

The power of a good deed is sometimes underestimated. We often think only the most heroic deeds and individuals are worthy of mention. While reading “The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich” I often thought of the indomitable stand Churchill took against the aggressive evil of Hitler. A person of great courage, wit and leadership, he stated “a man does what he must - in spite of personal consequences, in spite of obstacles and dangers and pressures - and that is the basis of all human morality.” As a leader, he took a stand against the greatest evil of his day and would not negotiate or back down. He did what he must.

But in the context of our daily lives, how often do people do what they must in spite of personal consequences, obstacles, dangers and pressures? The act of a person helping a man who had been robbed and injured may seem small, but Jesus considered it significant enough to use the parable of the good Samaritan as an example. In this biblical parable it was a member of the despised race of the day, a Samaritan, who helped a man who was left for dead by the roadside and not the two religious leaders who passed him by. The religious leaders probably talked about doing good deeds, but they were too busy or unaware to help someone in need. Or perhaps they thought they were above it. Our light shines against the dark backdrop of this world with all of its evil, problems and desperation through our ACTIONS, not just our words.

After relating the parable Jesus asked “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Luke 10:36-37)

We can follow the example of the Good Samaritan, who did the following:

1. He was aware of the person in need and was not too caught up in his own life to notice.
2. He helped the person in need, going out of his way to do so.
3. He took responsibility to follow through.
4. He committed his time and resources to help.

A poor boy from a remote mountain village ran into his burning house to rescue his younger brother from the flames. He suffered severe burns, but his family had no money for shoes and basic needs, let alone medical treatment. Through providing treatment, comfort and care the door to reaching many in his and other mountain villages opened to my friend Nadia in Ukraine. As a missionary in Asia and Eastern Europe, I have experienced firsthand how important our actions are in reaching people. The supremacy of Christ and the centrality of the Gospel are not only compatible with social responsibility, they are inseparable. In the western world as well, economic instability is creating a culture in greater need of personal, compassionate touch.

Such acts of mercy or compassion can be carried out by anyone. Acts of compassion are powerful and can provide opportunities to build relational bridges in nations rife with poverty, racial tension and injustice. When played out against the backdrop of evil, these simple acts are truly great and can open the door for opportunities to communicate the truth of God because we have demonstrated the love of God. But acts of compassion can cost us greatly because we become involved in the lives of the desperate and needy of this world. In so doing we identify with Christ and are strengthened by His love and grace, receiving much in return.

Silent Injustice

Injustice screams in silence

Because we deafen our ears

We stare, incredulous

And walk by

Disbelief blinding us from

An evil we can’t reconcile
With our dream bubble

Yet we create

A tempest in a teapot

Over traffic, delays, offenses

Mere trifles

Injustice, can you scream louder?

Because children are dying
I said, injustice can you scream louder?

Children are suffering,

Dying

Here in the devil’s playground

Facing Challenges with a Faith-Growth Mindset

Scarcity or Abundance?

Many strive to be well-known, successful in the their field and reach “the top”.  And in an environment where this is lauded, you often see a few people who are up front and they remain static, you don’t see a new crop of talented people emerging. Actually, there is a study which proves that praising intelligence and talent doesn’t foster self-esteem and accomplishment, but jeopardizes them.  In this environment, people think they are entitled to their positions and lose perspective, while new or younger people are afraid to try thinking they may fail and miss the mark of being labeled one of the "talented" or "smart" ones.  This alienates people instead of creating an environment for healthy growth and mentoring relationships.  In short, there is scarcity of opportunity instead of abundance. This type of organization fosters a fixed mindset. Churches can be this way.  So can schools.  The very places in greatest need of tenderly nourishing and encouraging growth.

All for One, One for All

The other perspective is that there are unlimited possibilities for everyone to make a difference and to do something significant with their lives for a greater purpose, to honor the God who created them. In a growth mindset, people believe that their most basic abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work—intelligence and talent (or giftedness) are just the beginning.  This perspective creates a love of learning and a resilience essential for great achievement.  The infinite-personal God gives us the gift of a life of purpose uniquely our own, but connected with the body of Christ. We can encounter challenges with courage and self-worth, and grow through them. And we can mentor and encourage the next generation to become all that they can be without fear of losing our positions.

Two Mindsets: Fixed or Growth

I talk with people who have destructive mindsets, leaving them in a fog of discouragement and morass of unrealized dreams when they encounter challenges. Emerging on the other shore ready to zealously explore new territories takes more than wishful thinking and Oprah-esque tips for self-improvement. True enlightenment comes from God and knowing His perspective of ourselves, our challenges and where we should go from here.

Carol Dweck, Stanford psychologist and author of “Mindset”, a book about a fundamental difference in thinking found that aptitude and raw talent have little to do with how far children will journey in life when they reach adulthood. Furthermore, she found that how people respond to challenges and failure depends, not on their failure, but on their mindset. A fixed mindset leads you to think that failure is enduring and defines your self-worth and abilities. A growth mindset leads you to embrace challenges and put forth effort in order to learn and grow, while seeing your self-worth as separate from success or failure.

People who embrace the fixed mindset, or unknowingly live in its grip, think in the following ways:

• I am either talented or gifted or not. I can do nothing to change this.
• If I fail, this proves I am not one of the gifted/talented people.
• I should only attempt things that are a sure thing.
• I am afraid someone will come along who is more talented or smarter than I am.
• Criticism reinforces that I am a failure and unworthy.
• Intelligence is static.

People who embrace the growth mindset think in the following ways:

• I embrace challenges because they will make me stronger.
• My self-image is not tied to how I appear to others or to success.
• Doing anything well requires effort.
• I can enjoy the process of growing and learning and eventually master skills.
• Feedback from others will help me improve.
• Intelligence can be developed.

Developing a New Mindset: A Faith-Growth Mindset

We can develop a Faith-Growth mindset which places our hope in God and knowing He is working in our lives and our world, while realizing it takes effort and continuous learning to get where we need to go and overcome the challenges we face in life. We can be encouraged by the faith hall of famers in Hebrews chapter 11 in the Bible who persevered and accomplished great things even though they suffered and did not finish all that they set out to do in their lifetimes. The legacy of faith was passed on to the next generation, and to us. 

Jesus stated it well with this simple, powerful phrase: “With God, all things are possible”.

It’s Not About Us Anyway

As Count Zinzenndorf, founder of the Moravian Church, said, “Preach the gospel, die and be forgotten.”

There is great comfort in losing ourselves for something greater than ourselves. For a greater cause, a greater purpose than our own egos, for the fame of someone who is altogether worthy of the worship of our hearts and commitment of our lives.

Vision: Formation and Development

A vision is often born out of a concern that something is not as it should be and someone should rectify it. And then the person who has the audacity to think such thoughts realizes they are the man or the woman to see it through; not do it all, but to see it through. It becomes a stewardship, a passion which must be developed into a plan in order to mature and become reality. When played out against the creation – fall –redemption narrative of our world, compassionate vision is necessary to see potential in people, in relationships, in culture, in every sphere.

Embracing a vision sometimes requires stepping outside of our fear, insecurity and pride. To adopt an HIV positive child of another race. To pursue a new business venture. To speak out in the face of injustice. To ask for forgiveness and work on a difficult marriage. To reach out to a group of people who have a different lifestyle. To make a contribution, but remain anonymous.

Living in the former Soviet Union provides a multitude of opportunities for vision because there are needs everywhere you turn, so it becomes vital to focus our efforts. I wrote the following in response to my friend Nadia Povalinska’s amazing photograph (above). You may feel the same way when you are carrying a vision.

The Visionary

The disparity between vision and realization

The now and the not yet

The real and the ideal

Could lead to slight insanity

And despair

If it were not for God

If it were not for heaven

From where else do we derive this sense

Of perfect love

Perfect beauty

Perfect truth?

When I’m lost in a haze

Searching for peace

Wanting to find that place

Where earth and sky meet

He whispers in the still moments

At His feet

It’s through the humble door

Of My loving, boundless, extravagant

Grace

We first consider what should be done, then how. Here are a few practical building blocks for vision from Andy Stanley’s book Visioneering. He uses the term “visioneering” to mean the engineering of a vision and uses the example of Nehemiah who heard about the devastation of Israel and set out with compassion, determination and a plan to do something about it.

1. A vision begins as a concern
2. A vision does not necessarily require immediate action
3. Pray for opportunities and plan as if you expect God to answer your prayers
4. God is using your circumstances to position and prepare you to accomplish His vision for your life
5. What God originates, he orchestrates
6. Walk before you talk; investigate before you initiate
7. Communicate and cast your vision to the appropriate people at the appropriate time
8. Don’t expect others to take greater risks or make greater sacrifices than you have
9. Don’t confuse your plans with God’s vision
10. Visions are refined – they don’t change; plans are revised – they rarely stay the same
11. Respond to criticism with prayer, remembrance and if necessary, a revision of the plan
12. Visions thrive in an environment of unity; they die in an environment of division
13. Abandon the vision before you abandon your moral authority
14. Don’t get distracted
15. There is divine potential in all you envision to do
16. The end of a God-ordained vision is God
17. Maintaining a vision requires adherence to a set of core beliefs and behaviors
18. Visions require constant attention
19. Maintaining a vision requires bold leadership

One Resolution: Faith in a Faithful God

As we celebrated the New Year at Maidan (Independence Square) in Kiev with thousands of jubilant people I thought if the euphoric hope for a better year could be bottled and sold on grim days it would significantly boost the economy. But wishes and good cheer do not lead to improvement. After the countdown to the new year, the clock keeps on ticking and we find ourselves going somewhere in life – good or bad. We can’t stand there forever in the glow of fireworks and falling snow. We can’t wish our difficulties away, wave a magic wand, and wake up different. It is wise to evaluate where we are in our relationships, finances, careers and goals and set our compass for the best destination. But how?

Trust in God and His faithfulness
I met a university student for coffee a few days ago. She said she and her boyfriend had been talking about how our family always seems happy. “You must have difficulties too,” she said. “What is your secret?” I said we definitely go through difficulties, but we have joy which doesn’t depend on our circumstances because we trust in God. But this kind of trust means to cling to, rely on and place everything in God’s hands because of who He is. This trust grows because we have seen His faithfulness over the years.

Obey Him
You can’t just say you trust God, you have to set your priorities, goals, and lifestyle according to His ways. When we go our own way in disregard of His commandments, we shouldn’t be surprised when we get in trouble. The word “obey” causes the modern man to bristle, but if we have settled the idea that God exists and is a rewarder of those who seek Him (Heb 11:6) , we can see the wisdom of obedience. Troubles sometimes happen when we do obey God, but we enjoy His pleasure and nearness in the midst of them.
Psalm 23

Cultivate Faith, not Fatalism
In general, people have reasons for not believing or trying: things didn’t work out before, they have special circumstances, you don’t understand how bad things are in their nation, etc. But we don’t get anywhere worth going without faith. When we envision anything worth going persuing, faith is the fuel which keeps us joyfully moving ahead. We have to cultivate faith and protect it or we could wander in the wilderness just outside of our Promised Land in a malignant holding pattern of doubt and bitterness. How do you feel when you spend time with someone who has an infectious, joyful faith? Encouraged? Energized? You can be sure they have habits which keep their faith strong. You can develop those habits.

Let’s set our moral compass toward God and accomplish great things this year by faith.

“With the goodness of God to desire our highest welfare, the wisdom of God to plan it, and the power of God to achieve it, what do we lack? Surely we are the most favored of all creatures.”
Tozer