Africa in Georgia!!

So yesterday (the 3^rd of June) Jody took me to this hole in the wall type restaurant called Sweet Potatoes.  Anyone that knows me should know that I really really like sweet potatoes, so of course I was pretty happy. 

But then, lunch got a tad more interesting.  In addition to liking sweet potatoes, I also tend to people watch anywhere I go.  There were 3 ladies at the table next to us who were talking about some trip.  I started listening (rude, I know, but oh well) and trying to figure out just where the lady was going.  One of them started talking about keeping your camera out on the safari because you never knew just what you’d see.  AFRICA!! I should probably apologize to Jody for not saying but two words to him through all of lunch (they were “it’s good”), but I was far too intrigued by the ladies’ conversation.  I knew she was headed to Africa, but now I needed to figure out where in Africa she was going.  The lady that was giving tips (turned out she had just gotten back from Africa) said to be sure to try South Africa’s wine!  She was going to South Africa.  LOVE it!!

I was pretty sure, however, that her reason was a little different than what mine had been (my team didn’t really discuss wine choices or hotels before we left).  As she talked, I started thinking about how there are always two sides to an issue.  Or two totally different perspectives on one country.  The side of Africa they were describing sounded nothing like Atteridgeville or Mamelodi.   She would be visiting a “side” of Africa that I haven’t experienced (and most likely never will).  I started wondering if she was even aware of the struggles of kids like Musa, Refilwe, Iviwe, and the others I met and fell in love with, or if she just wanted to know where the good vineyards were located.  Granted I judged her pretty harshly, but with all three with designer purses, it was the only logical conclusion.  At least before talking to them.

Jody interjected into their conversation, and I started telling them that I had spent last summer in the exact area she would be visiting.  I was right in guessing that she wasn’t doing street ministry and would probably be showering every day.  But I was wrong in assuming that she was oblivious to the every day life of South Africans, even if she hadn’t seen in first hand.  When we were talking, one of the first questions she asked is what they needed the most.  I was so taken aback by this question, it took me a minute to think straight and give an answer.

We judge so quickly.  We see what we want to see and ignore what doesn’t fit into the picture we’ve already constructed.  Often without even speaking to the person.  When we judge like that, we miss out on so many blessings that would be ours if we would just give up our pride and look beyond our stereotypical ideas that are so engrained in our minds.

 

Jody (my boss) and I are going through the book of Colossians together as a weekly devotional.  This week we’re looking at 1.1-12.  The verses that have stuck out to me the most have been verses 9 through 12.  Paul had never met these believers, but he states that he has “not ceased to pray” for them.  His first request on their behalf is that they would “be filled with the knowledge of His will”.  After this, there are other requests that are listed as results from the knowledge of God’s will.  In this list, words like “all” and “every” are used five times.  That doesn’t sound like much, but its some definite repetition.  Some of time it’s used as something given from the Lord.  As in God gives us all we need and will fill us with all spiritual knowledge.  Other times, though, it’s used to describe what we do.  Like “bearing fruit in every good work”.  Not only does the Lord give us all we need, but also He expects all in return.  There isn’t a middle ground.  We aren’t given a choice of some or halfway giving.  It’s an all-or-nothing call.  Anything short of this would be failure on our part, wouldn’t it?

Woah.  Harsh?  Yep, pretty much.  I know.

I think our culture has so watered down expectations of almost everything and everyone (especially those around my age).  The expectations are so low, that anything that comes close to borderline okay is regarded as above and beyond.  What we should be doing is hailed as exceptional.  But borderline and average aren’t what we’ve been called to.  We’ve been called to “walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might for the attaining of all steadfastness and patience” (Colossians 1.10-11).

There’s the hope, though!  At the end of verse 11: “according to HIS GLORIOUS MIGHT.”  J  It’s so not up to us.  We are called to walk worthy through His power, leading, and correction.

Even though He’s asked us for every ounce of us, it’s through only His power and His grace that it’s possible.  For apart from Him we are capable of nothing. 

Did that even make sense?  Sometimes I think I just ramble!

PRAYER REQUESTS

• Finances for the trip to Albania.  We’re still in need of quite a bit of money.  Please pray that God will provide and that we would see the opportunities God’s given us.
  
• Relationships with the youth group: trust and openness
  
• Starting Saturday is PowerPlant Savannah that Jody and I are working.  Pray for energy for us and for the teams coming in.  Also, pray that we would be able to reach Savannah in a powerful way.