I cannot, but I know I CAN

I am in a major (social work) that I love but seems to consistently break my heart. We are out to solve social problems. So from day to day, hour to hour, class to class, all I hear about are the problems of this dirty and broken world. There's rape, addiction, physical abuse, sexual assault, molestation, poverty, injustice, hunger, disease, mental illness, suicide, homosexuality, abortion... these and more that consume my class time and eventually my mind. It has forced me into the word. It has forced me into truth. It has forced me to the One who works all things together for good. It has led to questions. It has led to doubts. It has lead to frustration. It has lead to brokenness. However, all these things have led to our amazingly sovereign and faithful God. Here's my thought path and peace today...

The Lord spoke to me the exact words he spoke to Joshua.

"Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. (success that I desire is offering peace and salvation) Do not let this Book of the Law (now, Jesus and his commands) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  1:6-9.

Then the Lord continued to instruct me by the words Joshua gave to lead his servants:

"...you are to help your brothers until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them... (salvation)"   1:14-15.    Hmm... so when do we stop caring and helping?? 

2 Corinthians led me to journal this which I feel is adequate to share:

The comfort I find in Christ can be used to overflow and comfort others. When I am comforted, it produces patient endurance in others who are around me. In my heart, I DO feel their pain and the death they experience without Jesus. This feeling in my heart happens SO THAT I might not rely on myself but on GOD, who raises the dead! I realize that without feeling this hurt and death in my own heart, I would feel able to do or heal others. But since it impacts me, too- I realize that I can't heal them. I can't help them. I can't solve these problems. I can't stop pain. I can't change lives. I can't explain evil. I can't take back what has happened. I can't ensure a future. I can't offer hope. When my heart aches, I realize that I, too am vulnerable, frustrated, and weak BUT...

 I KNOW A GOD WHO CAN. He can! He can heal a victim of rape. He can be a parent to these orphans. He can replace substance addiction with an addiction to Himself. He can provide food and shelter. He can stop violence. He can comfort those abused. He can say the right things at the right time. He can love the widow and the abandoned. He can right the wrongs. He can work it all together for good. He can provide answers and reason. He can establish peace in the depths of Hell. He can promise hope. He can ensure an eternity where there is NO MORE hurt, pain, injustice, or social problems.  

And...

HE LIVES IN ME. 

Therefore...

I CAN.

"I can do everything through him who gives me strength."   Philippians 4:13

update 9/18

"Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our 'God is a consuming fire." 

Hebrews 12:28--29

This has been one of the best but hardest weeks I have ever experienced. Monday night was the Passion Launch where 14000 of us connected from 43 nations and over 5000 locations around the globe. The night was amazing filled with awesome worship in the company of some of the most influential Christians in my life. I left the night dealing with some personal issues and just had to surrender some things that I was struggling with to the Lord. The lyrics to Christy Nockels's song rang in my head, "Our mighty fortress is our God. A sacred refuge is your name. Your kingdom is unshakeable, in Him forever we will reign." I set foot on campus on Tuesday with a joy and peace and mission to spread the love of Christ on our campus. Tuesday afternoon was a tough night among the Kanakuk family with news that was released. A few of us spent the entire night in prayer and worship at a friend's house. Wednesday was a day full of questions and strange emotions. I began to ask the Lord so may things. I spend hours in the word and in prayer trying to find a peace in Him. Thursday and Friday I went to Hosanna and continued to hear some crazy stories and testimonies. All of this said, by this time I am beyond exhausted. I am physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally worn out! 

I haven't spent as much time with my friends lately doing things I enjoy because as I progress into the field of social work, I hear so many different issues going on in the world around us. I am seeing first hand addictions, prostitution, physical and sexual abuse, adoption, abortion, and many other poverty and oppression issues. It is seriously difficult to do this everyday. When I come home from school, I just want to get into the word and hear truth spoken over these heart breaking things. The Lord is so incredibly faithful in reminding me of His truth:

* His kingdom cannot be shaken, salvation affected, or ministry destroyed by any human efforts. No matter how much we screw up, we cannot mess up God's plan.

* No matter how messed up a circumstance or a person, God will still receive glory in all things and will work things together for the good of those who love the Lord.

* In Christ, there is a hope and a purpose for life. 

* This world is broken but we are not called to belong to this world. We are not of it, and won't stay here. This was not intended to be our home, therefore it's ok if we don't feel like we fit.

* Our father loves us so much and wants to pour His love into our hearts so that we will know Him more and make His name known. 

poverty

Five Billion Dollars is spent on diets (to increase choleric intake).

400 million people in the world are hungry.

30 million of those people are Americans. 

Acts 2:42-47

"They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved."

Pass it On.

It's as if God is saying, "The thing that has happened to you-go make it happen for others. The freedom from oppression that you are now experiencing-help others experience that same freedom. The grace that has been extended to you when you were at your lowest-extend it to others. In the same way that I heard your cry, go and hear the cry of others and act on their behalf." 

-Jesus Wants to Save Christians

Rob Bell. 

This Woman.

This Woman has been in and out of prison for being a meth cook and user.

This Woman has had 3 out of 4 children taken from her and put into foster care.

This Woman's only legal child left is in a foster home until future progress.

This Woman thinks she loves a man who mistreated her, her son, and is stuck in prison. 

This Woman grew up in the same private school system that I did in Montgomery.

This Woman yearns for attention and acceptance from anyone around her. 

This Woman spent an hour weed eating around the place as her chore.

This Woman asked me to teach her how to make the bracelets and anklets I wear.

This Woman is making her son an orange and blue bracelet for their reuniting.

This Woman is my very good friend who I spend time praying for.

This Woman asked a question in bible study yesterday that blew my mind....

"What is that verse about being a new creation? You know the old has gone and the new has come?" 

2 Corinthians 5:17   "Therefore, if ANYONE is IN CHRIST, he is a NEW creation; the old has GONE, the NEW has COME!" 

Jesus Christ is the only God who can offer a brand new start, a brand new chance, a brand new life. Using my life as a testimony, He can completely make someone a NEW PERSON. HE ALONE can make someone new. No matter how hard we try, nothing else can do this. Jesus Christ has the power to transform a troubled, hell raising, disobedient, and prideful teenager into a follower who loves, forgives, and abides in Christ. Jesus Christ has the power to make a man blind from birth be able to see. Jesus Christ healed a royal official's son who lay sick and close to death. Jesus Christ made the lame man walk. AND JESUS CHRIST MADE THIS WOMAN A NEW CREATION, walking and abiding in Him to heal her addiction from drugs and abuse. 

What will He do for you today??