My Prayer for the New Year: 2014

Below is an entire comment from a blog comment section- after the post, “Outlawed Grief, a Curse Disguised,” by Jonathan Trotter on December 22, 2013  http://www.alifeoverseas.com/outlawed-grief-a-curse-disguised/

        

This blog was re-posted on Facebook by one of our missionary friends in Malawi. I read it and found it insightful and thought provoking. It is written by a missionary oversees and the post is compelling. If you have a moment, please read the blog. Making such steps as we have by putting our ‘Yes’ on the table for Him and allowing Him to put us where He wants us on the map, comes with great thought to me about our kids and their life. This comment from a mission kid stood out to me. In my heart, I have been praying and pondering about our children as we take this quest of forsaking it all and following God’s will and how it will affect them- is our faith, their faith? Or are they just being swept along without a choice or voice? I will trust that the Lord will be glorified in our children's lives and by our decision to be obedient to what He has called us too. Yet, it has been difficult. And it is hard to put in tangible words how. Most people think that the hardest thing to do is giving up the material life, by selling all and living on a shoestring budget to prepare. It is true. Our kids are not in any activities outside of school purposely. We downsized our living environment and gave up ownership of a home. Letting go of dreams are rough, but absolutely freeing at the same time when doing so for the case of Christ. Such a strange dichotomy and thrilling as well, to know that we are choosing God’s life for us and not us choosing our life. In doing so, there will be hardships, consequences and difficulty. Choosing the road of Christ is a lonely one and in it is ‘grief’ that the article spoke too.  But, sometimes the hardest things to give up are the unknown. The ‘how will this affect our children part.’ As a mom, this hits the core of my parenting heart.

The premise of my post is to address the comment below in an open letter to my children. As we embark on this God adventure, my heart aches for them. I choose God, I pray for them in this adventure, that they may see HIM ultimately. Here is the comment that was left after the post:

·         I'm not sure if it's appropriate for me to join this discussion. On one hand, I'm a missionary kid. I know this grief. On the other, I'm not a Christian. And my comment isn't entirely relevant. But I think I will tell the story anyway, and leave the judging to you.
When I was five or thereabouts my parents moved us overseas. It was frightening. I didn't understand why we had to go there when there were people who needed help right here. But I made some friends, and for a while things weren't so bad. The tectonic plates, as you say, didn't begin to shift till I was in my mid-teens and we took a furlough to the States.
I was so jealous of the people there, who had things I had wanted and didn't know I had wanted. Not just particular foods and good infrastructure and a semi-stable government, but schools with teachers who could be relied upon to reappear the next year, families who saw each other regularly, friends who lived in the same neighborhood and had known each other their entire life, and silly things like media in English and wall-to-wall carpeting and dishwashers.
When we returned in our umpteenth move to our umpteenth house overseas, I was angry. Without any outlet, all that jealousy and anger and yes, grief, turned into depression. I was grieving the life I would never have because of my parents' calling, the friends I had lost and the loneliness I imposed on myself for fear of losing more. I didn't know how to cope. My parents were often busy, and would give me lines like, "Living here is good for you! It's something few other people ever get to experience. When you get older and look back on this time, you'll be grateful for what you learned here." Their comments were well meant, but they didn't know the depth of my pain, and I wasn't very good at explaining it to them. I didn't - don't - understand why God would do this to me. Why the process had to hurt so bad. What benefit it could ever serve. And that was when the carefully cultivated faith of my family broke in me.
My parents were somewhat right. I look back at that dark time and am thankful for what I learned about my own mind and the motivations of others. I wouldn't be who I am, have the skills that I do without it. But deep down, I have never forgiven my parents for their faith, for their insistence on following it. For their prioritization of it over me. I know that's wrong, but it's also true, even if I despair of its truth.
I still grieve the possibilities lost, even if I don't do so publicly. I'm afraid that those around me would see it as inappropriate, after so much time and so many benefits from the chosen path. I think my parents think that I'm reconciled with it all. I wouldn't want to hurt them with my pain.

I write all this because in the stories below, I don't see one quite like mine. It's good to have a variety of perspectives from which to make a conclusion, whatever that conclusion might be. And the anonymity of the internet is a good place to do so.

Wow…when I read it, my heart hurt for this individual and for his parents- and I prayed... And I prayed for them, and for our family. Because this is an example of a family following God’s call and the reality and result of it.- a missionary kid who is not a Christian and quite bitter and resentful for the upbringing and life experience. While I do not know who this person is or where this commentator grew up, lived and what they experienced, it is exactly what nags at me at night. 

Our children may possess the title and consequences of a 'third culture kid,' which has it's own issues. And I trust God to lead us to negotiate the parenting waters of such issues.

While we are not going overseas, we are choosing a life of simplicity that pales in comparison to my children’s peers. We are uprooting them from what they know. In our town, most kids have the newest technology- I phone 5’s, I pads, abundance of material goods: Ugg boots, Miss Me Jeans, designer purses, leather jackets, Access to disposable income: travel to exotic locations for the holidays, multiple activities for each child to make them the best at their craft,- and I am sure in a few years, their peers will not have to pay for their first cars, or their college or …. ~Choices~…bottom line we all have choices. And Mike and I are choosing to ‘FAITH’- Forsake All I Trust Him- and for us Christ is enough. And at their precious age, they are too whether they realize it or not. So I am writing an open letter to Elise and Gracie…

To my Girls, my heartbeats: I have a prayer for this New Year of 2014- and a few thoughts:

There is a Way in this world that is the right way to your daddy and me. It is the road less traveled, but it is the right way and it is the Lord’s Way. You were placed in this family to be a blessing, and the road we will travel may take you down paths that your friends will not understand, but there is One that made you, designed you, and loves you. Trust in HIM, even when it doesn't make sense (Proverbs 3:5-6), internalize and live it that Jesus is enough. My prayer is that when this stuff in the world tries to distract you, that in the end you will discover like Solomon, that in the end it doesn't matter. We can have all the stuff in the world and still be the most unhappy person in the world, see current list of teenage stars in the news. Please know God fills the void this life has to offer- that His Way is always the best. Chasing the American Dream will in the end be fruitless. I pray you chase HIS dream for your life because He has a plan for you, I pray you ask Him what it is. As Steve Saint (Nate Saint's son- see "End of the Spear") told you personally a few years ago, "Let God write your story!" I pray you understand that there is a sovereign God in control of this earth and in control of your destiny. I pray that when you are sad, you can come to me and we can talk, or just cry, or just be silent. And know that we will pray about your troubles or hardships. Know I love you so much, but that God loves you more, that I love you enough to pray for your spiritual, physical, social and mental life. I pray that you understand agape love and experience it in this life of loving your neighbor or family as yourself. And that may motivate your life and saturate your being. I pray that you won’t see moving as a loss, but as a gain in so many ways. I pray you are able to see this as an adventure and not count the cost. I pray that this move in our life to follow the will of God will allow you to stand on our shoulders of faith and that you will accomplish more for the LORD than thought possible. I pray that you come to know the goodness of the LORD and see HIM at work and know that there is freedom in HIM that this world will never offer. I pray you see the power of prayer and a personal relationship with Him. I pray you develop deep godly friendships and find a purpose for your life through HIM. Mostly, I pray that you find a life that will glorify the LORD as you grow. I love you so much and am praying for you. May we all see God at work in mighty ways and thank Him for allowing us to join Him this year. Romans 8:28- "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those that love Him and are called according to His purpose." I am so thankful for both of you. God made you both so wonderfully made! I love you.

Mom

The Fellowship of the Unashamed

Psalm 66:5- “Shout with joy to God, all the earth!” Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious! say to God, “How awesome are your deeds!” So great is your power that your enemies cringe before you. All the earth bows down before you. “

He is the almighty God and we should worship Him for Who He is, for what He has done and for what He IS doing. All of God's great work is not in the past. He is at work even today through individuals, couples and families. We should revere Him because what He is doing right now through people that choose to forsake themselves daily.  Psalms 66:5 says, ~ 'Come see what the works of God, He is awesome in His doing with the sons of man.' What is He doing today that should inspire such awe and inspiration?

We could make a list. Just in our little circle of friends, we want to share with you what God is doing. This is our little Hebrews 11 community, but certainly not all of them. I ask you to take a moment and visit these movements that He is involved in right now. See how AWESOME God's deeds are. See where and what He is doing right now with those that 'GO'. Short of our Savior, I believe  some of God's greatest work will be happening in the days to come through His believers and their obedience to fulfill His mission, by those that Go, Send, Pray, Welcome and Mobilize. I want to focus on the GO-ers today. Behind each of these families is a host of senders, prayers, and advocates and the church. They could not go if it was not for those that obeyed God telling them to send and pray and support. I am thankful for the body of Christ that obeys to get His mission completed.

But firstly, I want to recognize a family that influenced and inspired us several years ago when they obeyed God and moved to East London, South Africa. The Fudge Family. Philip and Becky sold everything and moved to a remote area of South Africa to partner with several movements of God. Among them was a school that they were instrumental in bringing Jesus too. We experienced them sharing Jesus to the least of these- orphans, the sick and afflicted with AIDS, the downtrodden. They are back in America, living out their 'next' journey here in America- but what impresses me most with this family is their obedience to do what God asked of them. They went. They came back. They sacrificed and witnessed God's goodness around the world. Thank you Fudges for your obedience. Your ripples of obedience touched our lives in a profound way.

David and Liz Even: Vereeniging, South Africa ~ working with J-Life in Johannesburg,

South Africa-   As part of David's role at J-Life, he visits between 4-8 countries each year. He meets with the country leader, their family, board members and just gets to serve along side them and mentor them for several days. J-Life's mission is to raise indigenous leaders that will work within their community to make disciples that make disciples. They see that the most successful way to disciple is to start within the community with a  primary focus being training and coaching emerging leaders to implement the disciple making model. For this to be done effectively, potential leaders are recruited annually for a year-long program. These leaders are trained and coached intensively for a four month period and then released to multiply this training by coaching others in local churches. We are so blessed to know the Evens. We love their family deeply. Check out their blog: http://www.evenfamily5.blogspot.com/

 

Robert and Sandy Spengler: Partnering with Lifesong for Orphans in Zambia, Africa. They have an amazing story. Sandy worked at FBC McKinney as the Missional Life Assistant. What she is, is an amazing guru to the missions world today. She and her husband obeyed God by partnering with Lifesong. Robert is a highly successful construction guru. He and their son, Caleb are behind the building of a school for Lifesong. I copied the following from their blog, " Robert and I will be selling most everything we own so that we can move to Zambia in April (2013) so Robert can manage a construction project for Lifesong for Orphans. We get the privilege to forsake ourselves and our stuff for Him."
What I love most about Sandy and Robert is their heart and that they are the real deal and they are just a couple of gurus. (ha). They are highly successful back here in America. They had everything, and they obeyed the LORD and cashed it in for the Him. Check out her blog. Love the Spenglers.

http://todaysmymiracleday.blogspot.com/

I recently was talking about this sweet family in the Dallas, TX area, and the person I was

talking to was shocked that there are missionaries here. This family is amazing and we love them dearly. Nathan and Mary Margaret Bogue. Nathan serves as Director of Mobilization to recruit, train, and develop Christ followers to engage and participate in God's mission through The 25 Project . Compelled by the Gospel they seek to bring hope and healing to the “least of these” as Jesus teaches in Matthew 25. Strategically, they serve the target countries of Dominican Republic and Sierra Leone.  The unique call is to disciple indigenous families to model godly life and teaching to orphaned children considered the “least of these” in this world through Christian foster care and sponsorship programs.  Please visit their blog: http://www.thebogues.com/

Meet Mike and Kim Simpson and Family: This family has been on mission for years for the LORD. They obeyed Him when He called them out to depart for Cochabamba, Bolivia on a one-way ticket! From their blog: "For the next year, we will be partnering with LifeSong for Orphans and missionary friends to establish Fundación Esperanza Children's Home (Hope Foundation). The foundation will provide Christ centered care for orphans in baby homes, adoptions, foster care families, nutrition, health care, education, transitional homes, and sustainable business programs in Bolivia." They are committed to changing the trajectory of orphaned and vulnerable children in Bolivia. We love this family very much and hope you can visit their website. God is doing amazing things through their obedience. http://simpsonbolivia.blogspot.com

There are many more I wish I could recognize and post. As our journey continues, we find more and more that are stepping out in obedience. Those with careers- good careers, leaving it to obey what God has told them to do. They sacrifice, suffer, and love with abandon the road God has asked them to take. I am grateful to the body of Christ that obeys and acts on what God is calling them to do. The next great works of God will be done by those that are obedient and live intentionally. Many of you know this video by Francis Chan. Please watch it and consider what 'safe' looks like.

and I will leave you with this: I am trying to memorize this as it is powerful word we believe:

This was written by a young African pastor and was found among his papers in Zimbabwe after he was martyred. This essay was given to Dr. Nina Gunter, general NMI (Nazerene Missions International) director, by the late Dr. Louise Robinson Chapman, former missionary and general NMI president.

   "I'm a part of the fellowship of the unashamed. The die has been cast. I have stepped over the line. The decision has been made. I'm a disciple of His, and I won't look back, let up, slow down, back away, or be still.

My past is redeemed. My present makes sense. My future is secure. I'm done and finished with low living, sight walking, small planning, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed visions, mundane talking, cheap living, and dwarfed goals.

   I no longer need preeminence, prosperity, promotions, plaudits, or popularity. I don't have to be right ot first or tops or recognized or praised or rewarded. I live by faith, lean on His presence, walk by patience, lift by prayer, and labor by Holy Spirit power.

 My face is set. My gait is fast. My goal is heaven. My road may be narrow, my way rough, my companions few, but my guide is reliable and my mission clear. I will not be bought, compromised, detoured, lured away, turned back, deluded, or delayed.

   I will not flinch in the face of sacrifice or hesitate in the presence of adversity. I will not negotiate at the table of the enemy, ponder at the pool of popularity, or meander in the maze of mediocrity.

   I won't give up, shut up, or let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up, paid up, and preached up for the cause of Christ. I am a disciple of Jesus. I must give until I drop, preach until all know, and work until He comes for His own. And when He does come for His own, He'll have no problem recognizing me. My colors will be clear!"

 Where are you in the Fellowship of the Unashamed? May we all live out intentional lives for Christ daily and not seek the 'safe' routine.~ Lesley

Wonderful Dialogues Taking Place

Thank you for visiting our blog. Since the blog went live on Saturday, we have been humbled and blessed by the outpouring of support and love by our friends and even the strangers that have found us via this wonderful world wide web. Please know not all comments show up below as we moderate and approve them. We have heard from many believers in 'unengaged' places of the world and their comments can not be public for security reasons.
It is confirming that God is on the move in places that are closed to the gospel. How exciting is this! I am so humbled to serve an amazing God that loves the Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Tribal, and the unbelieving. People are being brought to Christ through visions and dreams in the 10/40 window. Tangible evidence for the gospel to be translated in their heart language, and for believers to go, and establish a body of believers (church) is happening right now.
I am also thankful for the dialogue that some believers have with us on the 'why' we would want to go or why we are going. I am so thankful that these folks stopped to ask us. I hope what we are doing is making other believers search scriptures, have conversations with God, wrestle with the reason and the need for us (or other believers) to go. It is my opinion that the past few generations have outsourced the Great Commission and that many churches have stopped being actively involved. So perhaps it is strange to some believers, that we would want to change 'careers in the middle of life and leave a comfortable life.' Also I wonder if other believers question privately- 'Why them?' We are not the social or spiritually elite at our church. We have not gone to seminary or hold religion degrees. We are sinners, big time, and truly unworthy to be used by the Lord. But I am so thankful that we do not have to have earthly credentials to be used by the Lord. We would be the least of these then. We have truly submitted to God, put our 'yes' on the table and allowed God to place us where He wants us. We are humbled to be part of His mission and to use our business skills, life skills and talents for Him, right now. It is not because of us, it is because of Him. Glory!
What Mike and I have gathered through loving conversations with questioning believers-'The Why's' is what I want to address through this video. It is by Penn Jillette, of Penn and Teller, the famous magicians. Penn is an atheist, and it is his take on believers that is fascinating.  What Penn saw when a man gave him a bible was Jesus, not religion. I hope you are able to take a moment to watch this 5 minute video. Perhaps what I lack in eloquent words can be understood by his video the 'why.' Thank you for stopping by. I pray that you may live out God's mission. May the goodness of our Lord show up in the unbeliever's life. May heaven come down on earth.

 

Welcome to The Bain Perspective

Welcome!! Please take a moment to look around and see what God is doing in the Bain Family life! We couldn't be more thrilled, excited, humbled, scared, exhausted and ready!

About 4 years ago, we felt God wanted us to step out, jump, go and be missionaries. But we weren't sure what that looked like- we just knew that something inside was telling us to GO! and no matter how much we tried to push that feeling down or ignore it, we knew we had to move forward and understand what that 'Go' meant to us and most importantly to the LORD. We bumped into the Perspectives class as we heard that this class is a missions class-so we took it. Well, that assumption was way wrong.  It is a class for EVERY believer!  It is the most amazing 15 week class we had ever been too. They flew in missionaries, pastors, theologians, and church planters to each class and our biblical and spiritual world blew up! Never had we heard this in church, or in Christian schools and colleges. And it was straight from the bible from Genesis-Revelation. It was through this class, God began refining us, focusing us, teaching us and directing us. We had a heart for Africa, and really thought that we would be church planters there. Needless to say, we were totally bummed when God closed that door to Africa- so just know when you put your 'yes' on the table, God isn't always going to send you to Africa. And this is where God wants our family- in the Perspectives Movement. - and we are choosing to give up the comfortable, corporate life to live modestly and simply as missionaries with the U.S. Center for World Missions- working with Perspectives- raising support- meaning no salary. Mike will apply his 20+ years of corporate management and operation experience to assist in the furthering of the Perspectives Movement. We have sold our home, our 'stuff' and are living in a tiny apartment getting ready for the next phase of our life. And it has been hard. and it has been AWESOME! To quote C.S. Lewis in the Chronicles of Naria, "Is He safe?"- "safe? no!, he ain't safe," but He is good!"

Why we feel called to this ministry: We have a heart for the lost, unreached, and unengaged people of the world. We desire all people to be given the opportunity to hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Some unreached peoples are also unengaged—meaning there are no known believers even trying to reach them.  Unless a group of believers chooses to engage them, they may never have an opportunity to hear the Good News. Identifying—much less crossing—cultural and spiritual barriers to find redemptive bridges is an extraordinary challenge and one of the main reasons that over 7,000 people groups remain unreached—and many of these unengaged.
Jesus commanded his followers to “disciple all nations." A closer look at the word “nations” reveals that He was not referring to political countries like Russia or England but the people groups within them. The Greek word is ethne from which we derive English terms like “ethnicity” and “ethnic group.” Jesus has commanded us to disciple all the ethne in the world.  This is His heart—and he has entrusted it to us, his body. This extraordinary challenge awaits us—the 7,000 remaining unreached people groups of the world. We can take hope that even while He has commanded us to go, He also promises that he will be with us every step of the way, to the end of this age.

If you have not taken a Perspectives on the World Christian Movement class yet- then GO DO IT NOW!
It costs $ money, it takes time, it is hard work! but it will "ruin you for the ordinary!" Amen!
For Mike and I, it was the best money ever invested, best time well spent, and the best 'hard work' we have ever had. Classes are starting soon. Register at: www.perspectives.org

As a World Christ follower, we all have a role to play with the mission of the Lord. He has gifted you with spiritual gifts and worldly blessings not for yourself but for His greater purpose. I pray you understand this. I hope you have asked Him, NOT "What is Your will for my life?" but, "Father, What is Your will?" Once you have explored this in the scriptures and prayed about this on your knees, then you understand what God's purpose is for you - and then ask Him to show you where to do this.
It will be different for each of us:  A Goer, A Sender, A Welcomer, A Prayer, or a Mobilizer.
*A "GOER" (missionary in a foreign or domestic land), God may ask you to GO. Not all of us are called to GO, but all of us are called to be missionaries for Him where we are right now.
*You may be called to be a "SENDER" (support by sending a family financially) God's people are blessed to be a blessing! Senders are needed to fund God's work!
*You may be called to be a "WELCOMER." The Nations have arrived in the U.S. folks. Currently in Dallas, TX (2013 stat) 44% of the residents are 'New Americans.' Meaning, many have come from unreached places of the world where the gospel is closed to them. And they are right here in our own backyard! or next door! or grocery store! or park! Show Christ's love by having a family of 5 over from Pakistan! (true story)                  
(stat from: http://www.dfwdiasporamissionsalliance.org/index.html)
*You may be a 'PRAYER'. It is my opinion all Christ followers should be prayers. We should all be on our knees praying for workers to be raised up and for the harvest around the world and for those that do not know of Christ. We should be praying for our pastors, our missionaries on the front lines, our family, our friends. We are all called to PRAY.
*You just might be a 'MOBILIZER'- A crazy term for crazy people whose passion is to see God's people living for God's Mission for the glory of God among the nations. To see every believer living out the mandate of Jesus wherever God places them. (I think I am definitely a mobilizer)

What is your role in this WORLD as a Christ follower? I pray you ask God, and then be brave enough to just do it!- God is up to amazing things friends. For us, we are turning our backs on the 'American Dream,' raising funds to Go, and joining God to be part of a bigger mission than ourselves. I pray you are a part of HIS AMAZING movement for the glory of the LORD and get plugged into where God is working. -Lesley