Finn is Here!

Finnegan Samuel Dougherty, born February 7th weighing 8lb 3 oz.  

He is such a sweet little snuggle bug!

Ministry a Mercy

Several weeks ago I listened to a Piper sermon on prayer, which of course was very good and challenging, and among other things was struck by the call to pray through scripture.  Piper highlighted the value of choosing a chapter of the Bible and praying everything that can be prayed with regard to it from the first verse to the last.  I have, in the past, prayed particular passages which seem to lend themselves to prayer--passages that were in fact written as a prayer.  But the idea of praying through any passage that I happen to be reading was new and inspirational to me, so I decided that I would do it. 

This morning, weeks later, I finally gave it a shot.  But I only made it through one verse.  I have been reading through 2 Corinthians, and this morning I dutifully read chapters 4-5, stopping to think about a verse here or there as I went, but when I got to the end there didn't seem to be any lightning bolts hitting me as I'd read these chapters many times before (as evidenced by the highlighting in my Bible).  I sat and thought about what more I needed to do in order to come away from my time in the scripture with something poignant--something that would have consequence on my life this day--when the idea of praying through a passage resurfaced in my memory.  So I turned back to the beginning of chapter 4 and gave it a whirl.

2 Corinthians 4:1 says, "Therefore since through God's mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart."  I began to pray, thanking God for bestowing His mercy on me in granting that I have a ministry.  Then I stopped and re-read the verse.  Was Paul actually saying that his ministry was an act of God's mercy toward him??  I had never noticed the word "mercy" used that way before.  In meditating on this first verse, I came to see ministry--working toward kingdom purposes--not just as a duty or even a mere privilege, but as a MERCY of God.  It is God's mercy--His compassion--toward me--that causes Him to call me into ministry.  Not being allowed to minister in God's kingdom would constitute my deserving punishment - but He shows me mercy.  This has so many implications...

1. Choosing to live for my own purposes is choosing punishment over God's mercy.
2. When I choose to veer away from a ministry opportunity that God has for me, I am neglecting God's mercy and choosing punishment.  
3. When I make my "good deeds" a mere duty by doing them just because I'm supposed to rather than as a joyful response to His love, I neglect God's mercy and choose punishment.  
4.  When I boldly invite fellow believers to join me in ministry, I invite them to experience God's mercy with me.
5.  The fact that I have been granted a ministry says nothing of my own ability or merit, but speaks only of God's mercy and ability to use vessels deserving of punishment for kingdom purposes.
6. As Paul concluded in the second half of verse one, since it is God who has mercifully granted me this ministry, any opposition or barriers that I face should not cause me to lose heart.  To receive opposition as defeat would be to make the ministry a mere means to an end rather than an acceptance of God's mercy--a joyous response to His love.*

*I realize of course that God sometimes uses barriers to our ministry to show us that it is no longer His plan for us to pursue that particular ministry.  In my conclusions here, I assume the continued spurring on of the Holy Spirit toward the ministry at hand.

Tapestries in Heaven

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I was listening to a speaker on a video the other day who was discussing the idea that some human creations or efforts will be represented in heaven one day.  We like to think that those of us with artistic ability will be able to put that to use as an offering to God on the new earth, and perhaps those with gifts in science or mathematics will forever discover and make known the wonder's of God's creation to His praise and glory.  If this is true, than the things that we are working at now, may very well be preparing us for our future in heaven. 

But then I thought about people like my dad, who find themselves working a job that doesn't seem to have much eternal value.  Many people don't get the privilege of having a vocation that suites their gifting or interests--yet they work diligently to provide for their family.

I'm reminded of the principle that is taught throughout the Bible that God looks at the heart, and is not as much concerned with outward appearances and actions as He is with the meditation of our hearts.  Not that my paintings and Sunday School lessons aren't beautiful in God's sight, but that perhaps it is the effort or motivation which I may utilize to create such things for His glory that really bring a smile to God's face.  And yet, how often I seek the smiles of human faces first and foremost!  Like the Pharisee of Luke 18, I run the very great risk of receiving my entire reward in full right here on earth, because people see my "eternal contributions" and praise them.  Or even more perilously, because I see my "eternal contributions" and esteem them!  This, I think, is the very great challenge and trial which those of us face, who are blessed with the opportunity to serve God in the ways we love.

For those like my father, the Bible offers this encouragement:

·      It is the man who lives out his days collecting taxes, in Matthew 18, who Jesus says will be exalted!  Not because of the eternal significance of that vocation--but because of the humble spirit it afforded him.

·      Matthew 5, one of the greatest passages for pointing out the rewards God offers, speaks not of rewards for any physical action or creation, but for attitudes of the heart - many of which result from struggle!

·      Romans 12:1 points out that it is the life of sacrifice that is holy, acceptable, and worshipful to God.

·      Hosea 6:6 says that it is steadfast love and knowledge of God that He desires in His servants--not tangible displays of service.

So what will represent the life work of the tax collector, the gas pumper, or the waitress in heaven?  I would like to speculate that perhaps the greatest tapestries adorning that great city will be those woven with threads of humility, faithfulness, patience, and hunger for God.  Like the prayers of the saints that are depicted as incense in Revelation 5, perhaps the spirit of servitude that God alone sees in the man who puts in another hard day's work--day after day, will be visible, quantifiable and cherished in heaven as the most extraordinary of crafts presented to the King.

a great use for facebook

"Satisfy us in the morning
with your steadfast love,
that we may rejoice
and be glad all our days."

– Psalm 90:14

A friend posted this on facebook the other day and I really needed it.  It's returned to my mind often in the past couple of days.  What a great use for facebook!

Panic Attack!

I woke up in the middle of the night several days ago and couldn't get back to sleep.  I wasn't feeling very well (lovely pregnancy symptoms) and the baby was kicking.  So I laid there trying to get comfortable while my mind wandered.

I thought about all of the money we need to raise before we can go to Peru.  I thought about doing this while learning to care for a newborn.  I thought about living in Peru, trying to carry out daily activities completely in SPANISH.  I thought about trying to relate to people from a different culture and sharing the gospel with them in SPANISH.  Then I thought about the life and ministry that we have here right now.  A mini panic attack ensued.

And I thought to myself, "What's the deal, Laura?  Why all of these anxieties all of a sudden?"  And I realized (or perhaps it was the Holy Spirit answering for me) that I hadn't spent much one on one time with my heavenly Father lately.  Sure, I'd been leading Bible studies, preparing children's church lessons, and praying before meals and bedtime, but I hadn't really spent quality time with my God, making myself humble before Him.  I was beginning to operate under the premise that all of these tasks were up to me.

And then He reminded me of a verse from way back in my early childhood when I used to run around the living room in circles with my sister "dancing" to Psalty's Worship Workshop music (I'm pretty sure it was on a record). 

'It's not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD.

Zechariah 4:6

The next morning I found the verse and read it in context, doing a bit of research to discover that this was God's word to Zerubbabel, who was attempting the impossible feat of rebuilding the temple.

So what have I learned?  Well I'm still convinced that God has us pursuing ministry in Cusco, Peru.  As I've shared in earlier blog posts, He's been so good to give us many reassurances of this calling, and to give each of us the desire and willingness (yes, I believe it's His fault that we're willing - this way we cannot boast in any merit of our own).  But I NEED to stay dependent on Him.  I cannot do it alone, and quite frankly, I become overwhelmed even by allowing my mind to head in that direction.  God does things that are humanly impossible, and I don't have to understand how.

Just this morning I was listing to a Piper sermon that reaffirmed all of this in my mind.  It's FANTASTIC.  And if you've ever wondered about that verse where Jesus says that it's harder for a rich man to enter heaven than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, then this sermon will be of interest to you too (which was my original reason for listening to it).

MTW Missionaries to Peru!

Well, ladies and gentlemen, this blog now belongs to an MTW missionary.  Derek and I were officially accepted by Mission To the World as short term missionaries to Cusco, Peru a few weeks ago, and we just got back from a week of training with them in Atlanta.  For five days we attended training sessions along with many others just like ourselves, who are headed to all different parts of the world with the gospel message.

We learned so much in a short amount of time, but it was fantastic, because it was getting us one step closer to Peru.  And it was so encouraging to hear how God has worked in the lives of so many different people, calling them and equipping them to serve Him. 

Another really uplifting part about it was that each morning was started off with a worship time.  There's nothing quite like worshiping with other believers to start your day off right!

So now we have returned home feeling super pumped about what God is doing, and eager to get started building our support team over the next year.  I know that this is a spiritual high, and that we'll face some really difficult and challenging things in the next few years, but for now I am thankful and happy for the comradery and encouragement that can exist in God's family.

Us with the group at MTW

This song is running through my mind:

10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me
Let me be singing when the evening comes

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind
For all Your goodness I will keep on singing
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

And on that day when my strength is failing
The end draws near and my time has come
Still my soul will sing Your praise unending
Ten thousand years and then forevermore

Bless the Lord, O my soul
O my soul
Worship His holy name
Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name

Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
Lord, I'll worship Your holy name

Sing like never before
O my soul
I'll worship Your holy name
Jesus, I'll worship Your holy name
I'll worship Your holy name

A Helpful Title

I love how every time I come to my blog I am reminded by the quote at the top that THIS is a key moment. 

This moment, as I sit on my sofa, looking out the window and the sunny weather outside with my prenatal vitamin in hand, is a key moment in time because God created it and orchestrated it for a reason.  So I am reminded to thank God for the beautiful day, for my comfortable couch, and my nasty, big prenatal vitamin.  I thank God for the spare moment to reflect on His goodness, and sovereignty in my life.  And pray that I will remember Him more often.