He Chose Me
2:32 am- I can't sleep. I just wrote to my cousin in Oklahoma. He is much younger than me. We tried to connect once when I was home, but he is gay and I am ex gay and he tells me I treated him like a project in our short interaction. I have since apologized, but we don't exchange Christmas cards yearly. I felt like I was supposed to share my day with him. It was a great day in ministry for me. Skype guy in Alabama: Cry, Pray, Encourage. Skype guy in Kazakhstan:Learn Russian, Pray, Encourage, Rebuke, Love on him. Received a call from a girl I know about a guy friend who is gay and was severely beaten by his boyfriend in a drunken rage. It was severe enough that the guy moved out, closed down his facebook and is searching for God, spirituality or answers now. I received a call to pray about this guy. We'll call him Drew. She didn't call me praising God that maybe through this trauma Drew will turn straight. She called me hoping that Drew will now turn to Jesus. She called me to pray. And pray I did. While we do believe that there is freedom from homosexuality, our prayer and ministry focus isn't "Get 'em Straight!" It's "Get 'em Jesus!". My second call of the day was from a dad who needed some advice about how to handle his son's homosexuality, porn use and lies. The dad had cooked up some pretty dire consequences for the boy if the bad decisions and behavior continue. I talked him down off a ledge and simply encouraged him to love his son in the midst of a situation that the dad doesn't understand. I encouraged him to take the extreme consequences off the table and instead put forgiveness back on it and a little tough love. Whether the kid is gay or straight, porn is not appropriate for anyone at any age. Also hanging out in certain places on the internet where sketchy adults can lurk, whether you are a straight young lady or a gay young man, is not a good idea. At the end of the day, any child under 18 is entrusted to a parent by God. Like it or not kids, the parents are responsible to God for how they instruct and guide you. If you don't like it, McDonalds is hiring and there is a nice apartment for rent next to the liquor store and local hoochie house. As an added bonus, I have another friend visiting from out of town, who I will be watching the sunset with in 3 hours 33 minutes. Once we have witnessed this amazing view that only God could paint, then we will chatting about Jesus and exactly what a surrendered life looks like. I met this kid years ago at an Exodus Conference. I was his small group leader. He started off his introduction by telling me that he didn't like small groups too much. He didn't plan on sharing or talking and that was that. Well the Holy Spirit and I worked our magic and I have had the privilege of pouring into this young man's life for many years now. Praise God!
So that was my day. Better than any dolphin foot push, killer whale waterwork or the applause of the most affirming crowd I have ever experienced. I didn't make one red cent for my work today, but I feel like a millionaire, because God chose me to do this ministry. He chose me to love on gay kids who want out of the gay life and gay kids who don't. He chose me to love on gay couples who have been together 14 years and those who have separated, because they have heard the call of God on their lives. He chose me to share the love of Jesus, where the name of Jesus can't yet be spoken. This is the best life ever. He chose me!
Space Invaders
I was reading in Job 31. One scripture jumped off the page at me. Job 31:7 “If my step has turned from the way, or my heart walked after my eyes...” Which led me to another scripture Matthew 6:21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness... How many times have our steps been turned aside by some enticing, "shiny" thing full of earthly "light"? How many times has your heart walked after your eyes? Think about catching that first glimpse of an enticing image. You know the feeling. You're an explorer who just found the boundary between heaven and hell. You wrestle with going further. Suddenly you're infected with a terrible virus that seeps in through your eyes. The pressure in your spirit is palpable as the foreign DNA infiltrates the halls of the temple of the Holy Spirit. What you do next is one of the most difficult tasks set before any man. How you could have prepared your heart before you were ever enticed would have been way easier.
I saw my first porn mags at the age of 6. There were no explanations, no boundaries. Lust and sexploration would impact the rest of my life. I stand before you an adult with adult sensibilities. Boundaries have been set. I possess a knowledge of right and wrong. I declare as Job did. I must make a covenant with my eyes. An agreement; a physical, spiritual, living and active proclamation to my DNA, that all "foreign" bodies will be eradicated upon sight. Gentleman, every morning we must wake with a purpose and a plan in our sights. satan has memorized our routines, waits for our boredom and then he pounces like a Christmas shopper on a Tickle Me Elmo. Put some scripture in your field of view, before the enemy puts Howie the Hottie in your viewfinder.
What is it that binds you and holds you fast? A website? An app? TV? Internet? It may seem silly to follow the letter of God's word and cut off your hand if it offends you or pluck out your eyes if they offend you. But let's be creative. If your app offends you delete them. Have a friend change the passcode on your phone. If your TV tempts you, serve it an eviction notice. The enemy of our souls is real. He doesn't simply work through porn sites any more. He now works with a more palatable medium. What is your poisoned laced candy bar of choice: a cute friend of a friend's risky photo on Facebook, a lovable, smart, gay character on your favorite show or a storyline you’ve been following for years that has slowly been leading you astray? I say most of this as a brother, none of this as your mother, but all of it to clear the way to your Father.
M.