Giving What You Cannot Keep

Read that. Let it sink in. Think about it and then keep reading. 

Ok, have you really thought about it? I can't stop thinking about it. Have I been a fool. I have. I know I have. I've tried to keep what I cannot keep, ignoring what I cannot lose. Jim Elliot, evangelical missionary, is said to be the author of these convicting words and he indeed lived by them, giving his life in an attempt to bring the gospel to a violet tribe in Ecuador. His life and his words challenge me. They haunt me. They make me think about every action, every moment of my day. 

I first heard these words at General Conference and I can't get them out of my mind. At first I only looked at them with regard to money as the quote was read right before a (RECORD BREAKING $4.3 MILLION) offering. I looked at it and I thought of the clothes, the shoes, the knick knacks, and the stuff I'd bought in attempt to keep my money, to sit it around me, to wear it, to enjoy it. Oh the fool I've been. I can't keep my money. It's not my money. It's God's money. I've given but not enough. Money is simply a tool. It's not something to collect or show off. It's a tool and how will I use it? I should use it for the things of God. It can be used to build churches, to support missionaries, to feed orphans, and so much more. Those things cannot be lost. They are of the Kingdom. They are eternal. That's how a wise me should spend my money.

Money. That's obvious. Then I thought longer. Time. Time is another thing I try to keep and use for my own purposes when instead I should give it. How much time do I spend on Facebook when I could read my Bible or another edifying book? How much time do I spend in my own busyness when I could be reaching out, telling other's about Jesus? How often do I want to just enjoy my dinner instead of taking time and making friends with the waitress and inviting her to church? Are my conversations frivolous or do I spend time encouraging my friends? How do I spend my time? It's not mine. It can't be kept. The clock just keeps ticking, ticking, ticking. But it can be used to gain the Kingdom, to reach souls with no price.

Money. Time. Those are easy. They're here, they're now, they're short term and simple to understand. Then I thought bigger. What will I do with my life? My career? Will they be used for Jesus or just to gain a paycheck? I want my life to be spent for Him, giving up me to show others Him. Life is but a vapor and can't be kept so why not give it for Him who has life eternal. 

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

Jim Elliot

For the Love of General Conference

Fall is my favorite time of year! It brings cooler weather, pumpkin everything, boots, tights, scarves, MY BIRTHDAY, and my favorite event of the year: General Conference. GC is my favorite event of the year and it's NEXT WEEK! I'm super pumped and so I'm going to dedicate a whole post to recounting some of the many reasons I love GC. And when I say I love GC I mean the following phrase will be uttered by my someday husband during his vows or the deal's off, "I promise to take Lana to General Conference every year so long as health and finances allow." I've only missed one so far in my my life and I don't plan on that number going up any time soon.

One of my favorite non spiritual parts of GC is getting to travel to various locations around North America. Just going to GC I've been to: Salt Lake City, UT; Louisville, KY; Milwaukee, WI; Des Moines, IA; San Antonio, TX; Detroit, MN; Greensboro, NC; Nashville, TN; Birmingham, AL; Phoenix, AZ; Toronto, ON; Richmond, VA; Columbus, OH; Tampa, FL; St. Louis, MO; and Houston, TX. It's so fun to get to explore new parts of the US and Canada while spending time with people of like, precious faith.

I also love the opportunity to hear and mingle with ministers I'd normally never have a chance to hear. I grew up getting to hear Bro. Urshan, Bro. Haney, Bro. Stoneking, Bro. Billy Cole, Bro. Steve Willoughby, Sis. Vesta Mangun, and so many others. What a heritage we have and what a great opportunity to hear some of the most anointed voices in Pentecost. Oh how I cherish these opportunities. How I cherish the hours and hours I've spent in the global missions section getting to chat and mingle with our missionaries -- my heroes! 

Another thing I love is getting to spend several days surrounded by THOUSANDS of apostolic believers. It's so fun to walk down the street and be greeted by "strangers" who are our brothers and sisters in Christ! "Praise the Lord" is a common greeting around town all throughout conference. I'm always amazed at conference by how friendly everyone is. Often I find myself chatting with strangers as if I've known them my whole life. It's such a place of unity and kindred spirits. It's amazing to join together and worship with so many fellow believers! I remember in Florida being on a trolley and having a sing along of several hymnal songs with everyone on the trolley. And yes we sang page 369 if you know what that is!

It's also amazing what an explosive atmosphere there is at GC. When people gather together in unity powerful things happen. One of the most life changing evenings of my life occurred in Columbus, OH in 2006. Thanks to unity and many months of work there was a powerful crusade service on Sunday night wherein over 1000 people received the gift of the Holy Ghost in one service here in the United States. Did I see every one of those people receive it myself? No, but I prayed with several who received it in the balcony! We like to say that things like that only happen over seas, that America is too hard, but Columbus, OH proved to many that if we work together it can happen here too so we should go ahead and dream big! If we dream big, God will do big things!

I could ramble on further but I won't. Please, comment with your favorite conference memory and let me know if you're going to St. Louis next week! Hope to see you there!!