The Greatest News

Can two weeks really change a life? Fourteen days. It seems like such an insignificant time compared to the span of one’s life. Can such a short time really make any difference in the world?

In a few short weeks from now a rag tag team collected from all over the US, including several students from Southeastern Seminary in quiet North Carolina will join local believers in the newly developed country of South Sudan to share the gospel with men, women, and children who have never heard of our glorious Savior. We will board a plane and fly literally half way across the world to a politically unstable country full of confused peoples scarred by the wounds of war for years upon end.

“The war is finally over,” many will say. “Our freedom is returned to us.” Unfortunately, our team as well as most of you know that a far greater war is taking place in the heart of South Sudan. This spiritual war brings destruction, anguish, and slavery for all who reject the gospel of Christ. While South Sudan has broken away from the oppression of their northern brothers, the Father of lies and destruction continues to seek them out, polluting their worship and blinding their eyes to the One True Liberator.

Two weeks. Fourteen days.  Three hundred and thirty six hours. This is the time God has provided for us in South Sudan to proclaim the truth of the gospel, to share a greater purpose of the Creator for their lives, and to partner with the few local Christians to teach, proclaim the gospel, plant churches, make disciples, and baptize in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

How can you help? I’m so glad you asked!

One- PRAY! Pray hard. Pray purposefully. Pray with intention for the people we will come in contact with as well as our team members. Satan is active and at work to quench the Spirit, but our God is greater! He has already defeated Satan through the work of the cross and will not thwart the purposes of God to see His own come to salvation. The following link will lead you to a prayer calendar for the time our team is in South Sudan. I encourage you to take it and pray for us as we take the gospel to the nations. Prayer Calendar

Two- Share! If God so leads you, I pray that you would share this blog with others you know who will also pray for our team. Secondly, share Christ! What better time than this Easter season to share with others the greatness, glory, and power of the One True God and the salvation for all who believe? Share the gospel with others this week. Live the gospel. Proclaim to others the Good News of Christ and share the hope within you!  Also, I ask that you would consider sharing your support for me and my team as we raise support for this journey to South Sudan. While the journey is long and the way expensive, our God is greater than any material need we may have. I ask that you, along with your family or church family consider giving to this great journey of sending the gospel to the ends of the earth. If you’d like more information you can visit this link Give to South Sudan Team Here or contact me directly at kayla.stevens@live.com.

Can two weeks really change a life? I pray that it changes many for the gospel of Christ and the furtherance of His kingdom. I know it will change mine as I see the glory of God upon the hearts and lives of South Sudanese brothers and sisters as they trust Christ alone as Lord and Savior and experience true and eternal freedom. God is working in South Sudan and I cannot wait to join what He is already accomplishing there for His kingdom and glory.

“For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out. As a Shepherd seeks out his flock when he is among his sheep that have been scattered, so will I seek out my sheep, and I will rescue them from all places where they have been scattered on a day of clouds and thick darkness. And I will bring them out from the peoples and gather them from the countries, and will bring them into their own land.” Ezekiel 34:11-13

Glory and honor and praise be to our great God who seeks out those who are His from among the nations, rescues them, and brings them into the land where He dwells!

How do you say, "I love you?"

How do you say “I love you?” I know it may sound super sappy or cliché with Valentine’s Day around the corner, but just bare with me for a moment. This week I was talking to a friend of mine who hates Valentine’s Day, completely despises the holiday, and no its not because she’s single and bitter. She’s married to a wonderful Godly man and it’s so sweet to watch their love for one another grow. The pure motivation behind her dislike stems from a day when people feel obligated to tell one another in different ways how much they mean to one another.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not hating on Valentine’s Day. I actually love setting aside a day to tell the people who matter most in your life how much you love and appreciate them. However, her comment has been rolling around in my head lately, and I can’t help but wonder why we wait for one day a year to be super thoughtful, romantic, and just love others. Shouldn’t that be our mantra every day? Especially for a disciple of Christ?

“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” John 13:35

So I ask again, how do you say, "I love you?" Is it with a romantic dinner and flowers one night a year, or graciously forgiving one another when words are not as flowery as a dozen red roses? Is it with a card or phone call to a loved one on February 14 or falling on your face before God in the middle of the night for that lost loved one? Do you say I love you with a compassionate heart for orphans or do you take the gospel to those orphans and introduce them to the same Father you have, adopted by grace? Love deeply, dear friends. Love when it is costly. Love often. Love because you have first been loved! 

A Fig Tree Experience

I’m walking through the book of John right now, constantly be refreshed and reminded of the goodness of our Lord. As usual, I’m having difficulty making it out of the first chapter, reading and re-reading and meditating on what God is teaching me. One of the events that sticks out to me in this chapter seems very small and insignificant. If it were a billboard, people would pass by without so much as a second glance, but I’d like to take a moment and stare into this glaring sign and glean from its wisdom.

In the last part of chapter one, Jesus is calling disciples unto Himself. In verse 43, He calls Phillip. Overjoyed at realizing who Jesus is, Philip goes to Nathanael, explaining how they found the Messiah, the promised one of the Old Testament. Skeptical, Nathanael asks if any good can come from Nazareth and upon seeing Jesus questions how He knows him. While most of us have heard this recount before, the interesting section comes in Jesus next few words. “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.”

Under the fig tree.

It seems so small, something that most would only glance at on their way to chapter two, but part of me simply wonders what happened under the fig tree. A man who was only a few verses before questioning if Jesus was indeed the Messiah is now following after Christ in total abandon; all because He mentioned how He was with Nathanael under the fig tree. While scholars speculate what this means, a few things can be easily seen.

One, Nathanael was alone. Had anyone else been with Him, they could have told this stranger from Nazareth about him, but only the Messiah knew what happened to Nathanael under that fig tree. Two, Nathanael kept this part of his life private. He didn’t walk through the village sharing openly what happened under the fig tree. Perhaps it was a prayer, a communion with God, a confession of sin or a secret longing that he dared not share with anyone. Nevertheless, only Nathanael and the One True God knew what happened under that tree, and only God could have spoken to Nathanael in such a way so that He knew that this Nazarene was the Son of God.

What then, would you describe your own fig tree experience to be? What is it that you keep so private and secret that even those closest to you may not recognize? Perhaps, it is something shameful, too painful to speak of publicly. Perhaps, it is a particular fear that you dare not share with others; or, perhaps it is simply a time of prayer and communion with God, that inner worship and sweet meditation upon God’s Word.

I pray that you take comfort that even under your own fig tree, Christ knows and loves you deeply. Nathanael’s response to realizing Jesus’ knowledge of him was to follow in total abandon. Will you do the same today? When this Christ calls you to forsake everything else for the sake of following after Him, will you obey? Will you run after Christ with glad delight to obey Him no matter the cost? Remember today that Christ is Lord of your fig tree experience and He is worthy of your worship and obedience.

“Whom have I in Heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever”  Psalm 73:25-26

Christmas Celebration

The Christmas season always brings a flood of memories along with it, memories of family gatherings, hot chocolate, snooping for presents with my big brother, and of course, lots of cookies for Santa. However, over the last few weeks, I’ve noticed that many families and many children will build their own memories similar to these. Children will sneak into Mom and Dad’s room, looking for presents. Mom’s and Grandma’s will don their trusty aprons to bring a feast to their families. However, I’ve come to see firsthand a very sobering thought I’ve known for many years. Many of these families, families I have come to know and love over the past year, will make fun and lasting memories to reminisce over in the years to come. Yet, amidst the presents, hot chocolate, and letters to Santa, something is missing.

Christ.

Too often, amidst the hustle of finding the perfect gifts for our own loved ones, we often forget the myriads of families all around us who completely miss the celebration of Christmas. Yes, they have presents, a beautiful tree, and lots of fun memories to make, but they don’t have Christ. They don’t know or realize the weight and importance of celebration in worshipping this King. Thousands of children will awaken tomorrow with excitement bursting from their eyes as they drag Mom and Dad out of bed to open presents. But, they will not celebrate Christmas.

The incarnation of the almighty, holy, and powerful God is something we take far too lightly. I know this, because too many families would cease to celebrate Christmas if the tree disappeared, the scrumptious holiday smells turned into cold, leftover pizza, or if no family came to surround them with love and appreciation. Now, we see more of the Christmas Joseph, Mary, and the shepards experienced. No tree. No twinkling lights. No holiday treats. No support from family. Just the odor of animals, the scratch of hay, and the exhaustion of a long and grueling journey.

Here, we find rejoicing, celebration, and worship. Here we find the Savior and the hope of the gospel, the hope for you, and the hope of the myriads of family who won’t truly celebrate Christmas tomorrow. Here we find the incarnate Christ, born as a babe in order to live a sinless life and to take on the full wrath of God for the sin of me and of you. No matter what decorations, family, or presents are opened tomorrow, I pray that you truly celebrate and worship the Incarnate King and that you share His gift with others! 

Merry Christmas!

Skeletons

This Halloween has me thinking a lot about skeletons. I tutor local kids in the area (one of the many hats I wear) and many of them have fun Halloween decorations in their yard for this festive season. I’m often met by bats, pumpkins, and yes, lots of skeletons each time I walk their driveways. If your like me, you probably walk or drive past these decorations each and every year without a second thought.

However, as believers, I wonder how many times we walk or drive by skeletons each and every day without a second thought. There are myriads of lost people that we come into contact with each and every day. Skeletons. These men and women meet us at our local gas station, serve us at a restaurant, check us out at our grocery store, or walk past us during our morning workout. Each and every day we are surrounded by skeletons, and sometimes we find ourselves paying more attention to the decorations of our neighbor’s house than our neighbor’s soul.

I hope that this evening and throughout your week, you will take the time to see the skeletons around you. Look into the eyes of someone who desperately needs to hear and believe the good news of the gospel, and boldly and humbly share the love and forgiveness that you enjoy each and every day. This Halloween, turn your porch lights on for the one time a year that non believers knock on your door and begin conversations that lead to intentional friendships that point them to the only One who truly gives life!

How Great is Your Love?

1 John 3:18

Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.

This week the topic of love has been at the forefront of my mind. Recently, I attended a conference where one of the speakers spoke on this topic as it relates to pastors. “Those who love much are hurt much,” he said. “If you love little you are hurt little, but then you don’t love at all.” I am so grateful for those closest in my life who demonstrate such selfless love. Rather than loving in word, they love in action. They love deeply, truly, and more times than not, painfully, knowing with absolute guarantee that their hearts will be ripped to shreds because of it.

Two months ago I took a familiar trip to visit my older brother and his sweet family. I was so excited to spend time with my brother and sister-in-law, excited to open my arms and heart to my niece and nephew, to be showered with wet and slobbery kisses, and to play with dolls, paint fingernails, and rock a crying baby boy at 3 in the morning. My family is so precious and I am so blessed to be part of their lives.

But unknown to all of us, another sweet baby boy joined our mix the same weekend I did. Matt and Chrissi opened their home to baby Colton, a precious and exhausted 7 month old in foster care. He came hungry, sick, and with nothing but the clothes on his back. I remember the excitement and love we had for this baby boy having never met him. I can still feel the uncontrollable and contagious joy my brother and sister-in-law shared for the opportunity to care for this needing child. It didn’t matter that they had two small children, it didn’t matter that there was little to no room for another baby in a house smaller than my apartment. No matter the tighter space, sleepless nights, or life with two babies and a 3 year old, they welcomed him without hesitation.

The next few months shared their moments of challenging days and long nights, but baby Colton knew love. He was showered with affection and prayer. He grew stronger, healthier, and more precious with each passing day. He was loved to distraction not only with words, but action. This week, as I spoke to my brother, I had the sweet chance to say goodbye to this little boy who captured my heart months before. He was returning to his young mother and older brother who finally found a home to care for all three of them. While I rejoice in his reunion to his family and know he will continued to be showered with prayer, my heart aches for the family he knew for these past few months.

Those who love much hurt much.

Knowing full well that this baby boy could not stay, that his time with my brother and sister-in-law was only temporary, they opened their hearts and loved deeply. While the pain is still fresh and the silence is haunting, Matt and Chrissi demonstrate to me and countless others unconditional love put to action, especially knowing that pain will come. They are pillars of strength, sustained by their Great God to love selflessly, unconditionally, and without hesitation or concern for themselves.

How much do you hurt? How much are you willing to be hurt, to experience pain, frustration, anger, disappointment? Sometimes we fool ourselves to believing that the lack of pain in our lives is a good thing, building walls to protect ourselves from the harshness of the world. However, in doing so, we only cage ourselves, never experiencing the full love and joy that God expects and relishes for us to enjoy. I pray that you love much this week. Love in action. Love in truth. Love as your Heavenly Father has loved you and take comfort when pain comes, knowing that love abounds all the more. Those who love much will be hurt much. But they love much!

Falling into Opportunity

     It's Fall! I'm so excited to finally enjoying one of my favorite seasons. I love to walk outside and feel the cool gusts of wind against my cheeks, to finally pull out my MANY sweaters that have been tucked away for months, and to see apple cider at the grocery store again. This season is one of the most beautiful and definitively one my favorite times of the year, especially living on the East cost. This season makes me do silly things like ordering way too many lattes at Starbucks in one weekend, buying cute little pumpkins just because, or daydreaming about lazy days in the park instead of memorizing Greek vocabulary.
     But, Fall is also a wonderful time of refreshment and encouragement. Lately, I've noticed different opportunities throughout day to day life that I usually ignore or I'm to busy to take the time to notice. Listening to a friend's struggles over that Starbucks latte or meeting a precious lady from Rwanda who is not a believer-these are opportunities more worth my time than any schedule I keep. Fall has a way of making me slow down a bit and look, really look at the world around me, breathing it in rather than brushing it off. So as you buy your pumpkin lattes or enjoy hiking through the myriad of colorful leaves, take the time to find opportunity, to seek it out, and engage those around you with Christ honoring, compassionate, and gospel centered conversations.