Jesus Take The Wheel and the Tire

Jesus take the wheel...like literally. 

I've heard my dad preach a couple of times, something along the lines of this: 

When you see someone with a flat tire what do you do? Do you drive past them and stare like a zombie? Do you yell at them, "hey man! You've got a flat tire!" and then keep driving? Do you just pass by and not say anything? Or- do you pull over and help them change it because they don't know how? This is like sin. When you see someone in sin what do you do? Sin is like our flat tire. And as Christians, we need to be the ones who help people change their flat tire- not just tell them they have one and keep driving. And certainly not like the ones who just look and turn a blind eye. 

Well today that was me. I was driving down the road and was like "why is everyone looking at me so weird? I know I'm a muzungu and people always look at me weird but this is really weird..." Well- sooner or later as my drivers side started getting lower and lower and lower and lower... I realized that the tire was totally flat. Not only flat- shredded. I thought, "well- I'm just going to try and make it home....there's a lot of hills, but...I guess I'll keep driving until I just can't anymore." When I got home, I was in awe. It was totally shredded. My friend who lives with us said, "miss Maddie! Seriously!!!!"

I was shooken up because I really shouldn't have made it home. Like really. I guess "Jesus take the wheel" has a whole new meaning...I guess he can take my tires too. :) 

Dare to Believe

Do you dare to believe... 

Jesus can heal all disease? 

Prisoners will be set free? 

Families can be reunited after spending months apart? 

Jesus can provide your EVERY need? 

That even the worst among us can be forgiven? 

That when you pray your prayers will actually be answered? 

Relationships can be healed? 

That blind eyes will open? 

Deaf ears will hear? 

Ebola will be no more? 

Missing children will be found? 

Jesus can forgive ME? 

Broken hearts can be renewed? 

Mourning can turn to joy? 

Justice will be served? 

The orphan will have a Father? 

I do.

Be a history maker, a world changer. 

Abide. Trust. Believe! 

Identity

A little boy was asked, "what does Jesus look like?" He didn't respond with words, he didn't open his Sunday school picture bible, or draw a picture of a guy with light brown hair and blue eyes with clouds in the background...he responded by pointing his finger to all of the people who were in his apartment complex with shot up windows and broken down doors...these people were there bringing his community hope, picking up used needles and condoms that were left in his front yard, and feeding his family & friends. Preachers were preaching, worship leaders were worshiping, and children were rejoicing. (A testimony from a while back when my family first started doing street ministry...)

So I ask you friends. What does Jesus look like? 

If the Apostle Paul says to imitate me as I imitate Christ, and Jesus said, "sell it all and follow me and I will make you fishers of men"...in the gospels it says, "whoever looses his life will find it." Then why do we think about our lives and try to do more than that? 

Hmm. For the last few weeks, I've been visiting children who are imprisoned. Children who were brought to the streets from their villages to a big city to beg, and then were rounded up by Police and brought to prison- some as young as 3 years old. As I look into these children's eyes- they don't label me as "masters degree" or "double major." They don't know me as "Native American/German/Italian/Spanish/Mexican" what ministry I'm a part of, or what church I belong to. They don't care if my hair is brushed, what brand my skirt is, or if my eyeliner is on. 

What they're intrigued by is the bible in my hand, the worship songs I sing with them, and the bible stories I share with them. 

They run up to my team with arms open wide after we make a 2 hour drive. Most of the time they chase our van and before our feet touch the ground after we open the door we get lots of smiles and hugs. 

Jesus said, "let the little children come to me." To "deny yourself..." And most importantly "to love the least of these."

I've been told before that I need to get my education, and that I'm not equipped to do the ministry work I do. But I can assure you- if I found my identity in my work, in my education, in my bank account, or student loans....I can't imagine how many miracles I would've missed out on. 

Are you where the Lord wants you to be? 

I'm glad I am. :) be there. There's nothing better. 

Disclaimer: I am not against education, if the lord tells you to go to college, go to college. But don't just do it because you think you need it to change the world.