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Published: January 15th 2006
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Expert from Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge:
‘“What is written on your heart?”
As I said earlier, the invitations of Jesus come to us in many ways. Sometimes they come through a circumstance, an opportunity that opens before us. Sometimes they come through other people who see something in us that we may not yet see, and they invite us to step forth in some way. But God’s invitations ultimately are matters of the heart. They come through our passions, those desires set deep within us. What is it you yearn to see happen - how deep do you long for the world to be a better place? What makes you so angry you nearly see red? What brings tears to your eyes?
You will find that as God restores your heart and sets you free, you will recover long-lost passions, long-forsaken dreams. You’ll find yourself drawn to some visions for making the world a better place. Those emerging desires are invitations - not to rush out and attempt them immediately. That also is naïve. They are invitations to bring your heart to you Lover and ask him to clarify, to deepen, to speak to you about how and when
and with whom. We love Frederick Buechner’s description when he writes, “The place that God calls us is that place where the world’s deep hunger and our deep desire meet.”’
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I realized immediately the answer to the question above, of what it is that brings tears to my eyes. In fact, just reading those words brought tears to my eyes. A few months ago, I wrote, that right now is one of the only times I have felt peace, in knowing I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I think I failed to mention that there is one other time when I had a peace of being in the right exact place. As I read that question, I remembered that other time that I had felt that peace. It was while I was taking a seminar during my last semester of law school and I had just left some of my clients. I was working along side a practicing attorney, representing children in child protective service cases. I was acting as an attorney for children who were either abused or neglected. It was during that time that I first started to take my eyes off myself,
The Girls of Team East and Beat
Heading out to a ice cream bar. which brought me such freedom. I was able to walk into the courtroom with a new confidence when I realized it was not a matter of if I was intelligent, talented, or even beautiful enough but it was about being a voice for a child who desperately needed to be protected and heard. I know God has given me a heart to fight for those who cannot fight for themselves. I have always been attracted to (not in a physical desire but drawn in a desire to help) those who are weak, shy or too scared to step forward.
When I first come to Jesus Revolution I said it definitely was only for a year, no longer, even though many have said the same and have been here for years. Then I realized God has called me to have a willing heart to do whatever He asks, whether or not I understand it at the time. Like I said when I first came, we are to “seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow
will worry about itself.” So I told God I am willing to stay another year or longer if that is His will. But I know He has put in me the desire I mentioned above. Perhaps this year is a time to draw closer to Him, to gain the strength and wisdom needed to fight for those children how they deserve to be fought for, not just by standing in the courtroom but also on my knees in prayer. This time may be one of training to gain the boldness needed to influence broken families that yearn for the restoration that only God can give to them. From our perspective, the gravity of the situation is that these children are lacking parents that love them but in God’s eyes, it is that they do not know Him. All children deserve to have both but unfortunately, that is not possible for all. What is possible for them all is for them to know that they have a loving Father in heaven that they can cling to and run to at all times. Perhaps someday, I will play a part in helping them to have both but where that is not possible,
at least show them Jesus’ love and help to break the cycle of neglect and abuse in families. The mission field God has called me to may not necessarily be from a stage in Europe but a courtroom, becoming an intimate part of destroyed families, used by God to bring them life again.
I know God will reveal to me by the end of this tour what I am to do. For the mean time, I will give all I have to Him now where I am, and know ultimately, whatever the next year or years may bring, I will go wherever He leads.
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“Whatever you particular calling, you are meant to grace the world with your dance, to follow the lead of Jesus wherever he leads you. He will lead you first into himself; and then, with him, he will lead you into the world that he loves and needs you to love. It is by Invitation.” - from Captivating
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Sean
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Be Strong!
My heart and prayers are with you while on tour. Be strong and courageous, my sister. The Lord is with you always. Wish I was there!!!