Author: Chrisy

I read this scripture again last week and was reminded again of what it looks like to follow Christ. We are offered the free gift of salvation – nothing in our power can reconcile us with God. But once we have received that gift, we have to fully embrace Christ in our lives so that there is fruit that comes. I think of that song, They’ll Know We Are Christians By Our Love, and that is the truth. When we are showing love to those around us, regardless of what we might receive in return, that is Christ living in us. When we love the unlovable, that is Christ in us. When we act in ways that run counter to the culture that we live in so that God will be glorified, that is Christ in us.

Read these words today, and ask the Lord to reveal any ways in which you are not showing Christ living in you.

“Shout it aloud, do not hold back.
Raise your voice like a trumpet.
Declare to my people their rebellion
and to the descendants of Jacob their sins.
² For day after day they seek me out;
they seem eager to know my ways,
as if they were a nation that does what is right
and has not forsaken the commands of its God.
They ask me for just decisions
and seem eager for God to come near them.
³ ‘Why have we fasted,’ they say,
‘and you have not seen it?
Why have we humbled ourselves,
and you have not noticed?’

“Yet on the day of your fasting, you do as you please
and exploit all your workers.
⁴ Your fasting ends in quarreling and strife,
and in striking each other with wicked fists.
You cannot fast as you do today
and expect your voice to be heard on high.
⁵ Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for people to humble themselves?
Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed
and for lying in sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the Lord?

⁶ “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
    and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
    and break every yoke?
⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
    and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
    and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?
⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
    and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness^[a] will go before you,
    and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard.
⁹ Then you will call, and the Lord will answer;
    you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.

“If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
    with the pointing finger and malicious talk,
¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
    and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
    and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
    he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
    and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
    like a spring whose waters never fail.
¹² Your people will rebuild the ancient ruins
and will raise up the age-old foundations;
you will be called Repairer of Broken Walls,
Restorer of Streets with Dwellings.

¹³ “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath
and from doing as you please on my holy day,
if you call the Sabbath a delight
and the Lord’s holy day honorable,
and if you honor it by not going your own way
and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,
¹⁴ then you will find your joy in the Lord,
and I will cause you to ride in triumph on the heights of the land
and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.”
For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

–Isaiah 58 (Italics Mine)

Life was insanely busy last week, and my body decided to tell me to stop at the end of the week, which is why I didn’t get any new blogs posted after Monday.

Life is still insanely busy this week, but one of the reasons for that is a very special event for a very special person.

One of my running partners has a daughter named Mary Ashley. Mary is 17, and is about the sweetest thing on the face of the planet. She is always ready to help anyone out who needs it. She loves little kids and can often be found helping out in the Early Childhood Department at church. There is always a smile on her face, and rarely does she complain about anything.

Last November, Mary suffered a stroke and spent a significant amount of time in the hospital recovering. What the doctors discovered is that she was suffering from kidney failure and would need a transplant. In the midst of transplant testing, Mary experienced more stroke-like symptoms this spring, resulting in another hospital stay, where it was discovered that she had another disease, this one in her brain. This disease, called Moyamoya, affects the vessels in her brain so that blood flow to the brain is a major issue. With both the kidney and brain issues, and competing blood pressure levels to keep both working well, it became important to do brain surgery prior to kidney transplant. Mary has recovered well from the brain surgery and now we wait to see when the brain surgeon wants to give the green light for the kidney transplant, as well as when he would like to do the other side of the brain to fix the Moyamoya issues there.

Mary’s family has had their fair share of medical emergencies in the past few years, and even with insurance, the out-of-pocket costs for Mary’s care – both past and future – are mounting. Some of Mary’s friends decided that we wanted to help in any way we could, so this Saturday, we are putting on the Run Mary Run Glow Run/Walk. Join us on Saturday, August 31, at 7:00 p.m. at Greenville College. (Get your race packs starting at 6:30 p.m.) It is going to be a fun evening of music, a glow run/walk, and even cool treats! If you are anywhere near the Greenville, IL area, we would love for you to come out and participate. You can register online here.

Even if you can’t participate in the run, there are other ways you can help Mary in her battle with Moyamoya and kidney disease. Here are a few ideas:

1. Become a member of Mary’s 200×100 relay team by becoming one of 200 people to donate $100 or more. You can donate online using the race registration form @ http://bit.ly/5kglowrunwalk or donate by check (made out to “HelpHOPELive” with “In Honor of Mary Ashley Barber” in the memo line). Donors of $100 or more will receive a Run Mary Run race shirt.
2. Order “Run Mary Run” merchandise:
   – Black Gildan Hoodies $25, Youth SM-XL OR Adult SM-5X
   – Black Long-Sleeved Dry-Fit Shirts $25, Youth SM-XL OR Adult SM-2X Mens/Unisex or SM-XL Ladies fit (NOTE: Ladies fit shirts often run slightly smaller). 3X-5X Mens/Unisex long-sleeved Gildan cotton t’s are also available.
   – Black Gildan Short-Sleeved T-Shirt $15, Youth XS-XL OR Adult SM-3X Mens/Unisex or SM-XL Ladies fit (NOTE: Ladies fit shirts often run slightly smaller).
   Orders can be picked up in Greenville after they arrive OR shipped to you directly (S&H: $5 t-shirt or long-sleeved dry-fit, $7 hoodie, $10 for 2-4 items, $15 for 5-10 items).
   Checks may be made to Robyn Florian. Please include item(s), item(s) size and item(s) quantity (and if shipping is requested) along with your name, address, phone and email. Please send orders to Robyn Florian, c/o Hope Shows, P.O. Box 652, Greenville, IL 62246.
   Proceeds from the sale of RMR merchandise will go toward the conservative costs of the Run Mary Run Glow Run, allowing most – if not all – of the race donations to go directly toward Mary’s medical bills.
3. Pray for Mary Ashley, the Barbers and the Run Mary Run event this weekend … for God’s presence and provision in the midst of a challenging season.

Even if you don’t know Mary or her family, please pray for them as this journey has just begun.

Unknown is scary.

It is scary because it is out of our control.

It is scary because we can’t plan for it.

It is scary because it is unknown.

When I asked Jesus to come and live in my heart as a 4-year-old, I had no idea what kind of journey He would take me on.

When I said “yes” to the call to pastoral ministry back in 2005, I had no idea what kind of journey He would take me on.

When I said “yes” to follow Jesus again this morning (as I do every day) I had no idea what kind of journey He would take me on.

And, sometimes, that is scary.

But each time I say “yes” to the Lord, I am also saying, “I trust You.”

Sometimes when I say that, I feel more like the father of the boy with the evil spirit when he said to Jesus, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” in Mark 9:24, but I say it anyway.

Because even though the unknown is scary, if I am following Jesus and answering His call, it is good.

Jeremiah 29:11 says: “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

His plans are better than anything I can plan on my own. His ways are more complete than anything I can come up with.

Which means that unknown is good.

I can’t run ahead if I don’t know the way to go. And that is good.

So in the midst of the unknown, today and everyday, I trust, I follow, I learn, I go. Whatever that means. Wherever that leads.

Unknown is good.

And I am following my good God into the unknown.