Go VS The Color of my Skin

I've been sitting on this blog for about three weeks, unable to bring myself to write it. However, I've just finished reading a blog...twice now...that has, finally, released me to write mine. 

The blog that I've read has a good point...Before you sign up for a volunteer trip anywhere in the world this summer, consider whether you possess the skill set necessary for that trip to be successful. If yes, awesome. If not, it might be a good idea to reconsider your trip...I can't, or won't argue that point. It's a good one. However, I will argue the following...me, being a white girl. 

That one phrase has stuck like a rock in my stomach. Each time I've seen this particular blog posted on Facebook it has made me want to cry with anger. The reason has been one...very...simple...reason...it perpetuates racisim. I despise racisim. I cringe when people refer to others by color. This is not something new, I've been this way since the day my mom beat my hide for suggesting that someone was not as good as I was simply because of their skin color. I didn't know it at the time, but God used that moment to wake me up and show me truth. Suggesting to me that I shouldn't be somewhere simply because I'm white hurts. Suggesting that someone can't do something because they're black infuriates me. How dare you!

Mark 16:15 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. This has been my response each time to this blog. Do you notice that Jesus NEVER says...if you're white, you can only go into white the world. If you're black, you can only go to the black world. If you're Asian, you can only go to the Asian world...He says GO! 

Three weeks ago, I took the following picture and asked the following question...what is the one thing that is different about my hands? The very first thing that all the children said was "you're white and we're black." I said, no, that's not the difference I see. It was one...simple...sentence. "We all have hands. We all have ten fingers. But there is something different about my hand." After a moment, they all saw it! Do you see it?

When we left Clau Clau, we were taking Comfort with us. Comfort is one of the volunteers at the center. We were doing the "Thankful" game and when Comfort did his thankfuls, I had to keep from crying. He was thankful for the above example. He was thankful that one of the little girls in this picture was walking past him but stopped and said the most beautiful words..."GoGo Wendy says God made us all the same...beautiful!" 

Those words, right there, are the very reason that this 48 year old, woman of God, sold everything she owned, left her family, and moved to South Africa. Those words are what keep me going on the rough days. She gets it! Do you?

Leaning In

Every Monday morning we have a Community Development meeting. Every Monday morning we have a question that we go around the room and answer.  The question two weeks ago was...what are you pursuing God for? My answer...healing.  Let me explain.

My body has been going nuts lately! I've had bronchitus, ear infection, sinus drainage, allergy flareups and other issues that are just too personal to list here. It has seemed like one of those months where you go..."if it could go wrong, it will go wrong." This has been frustrating. However, I'm leaning into healing. 

Yesterday, we had a grand party with the ladies that volunteer at the Mbonisweni feeding. I had "change your life" chocolate ice cream and amazing brownies. We had a great time, as Vuysile started a song, Sylvia gave a testimony, and Pamela brought the Word of God. I also had the priviledge to meet Pamela's mom. It was a great afternoon of building relationships and then, BOOM! Suddenly, I have white blisters form in my mouth and yuck happening to my tongue. AHHHH, God! Didn't You hear me? This week I'm leaning into healing!

Now, this is just what's been happening to me. The same week that I decided to "lean into His healing," I found out that others are having to lean into healing as well. Their have been babies diagnosed with HIV and hospitalized because they're seven months old but only weigh what a two month old weighs. My dear friends, Josh and Nadine, had their second little one, Sam, and he has diaphragmatic hernia and needs surgery. Piet and Jen found out that the cancer, they thought, Pieter had beaten, is back. So, I lean into healing, not just for me, but for everyone I know that needs His healing. 

The Word tells me, clearly and precisely that Jesus is my healer...so I lean in!

Every single stripe that Jesus took was for my healing...so I lean in!

He was beaten, hung on a cross, died, buried and resurrected for my healing...so I lean in!

His Word says, it is finished...so I lean into the finished work of Christ.

Would you lean in with me? Would you lean in for me and any other person you know that is in need of healing? Would you be so bold as to declare His Word of healing? Will you be so bold as to send someone a scripture telling of God's healing power for them today? Will you pray this prayer over someone in need of His healing power today...

Father, in the name of Jesus, I confess Your Word concerning healing. As I do this, I believe and say that Your Word will not return to You void, but will accomplish what it says it will. Therefore, I believe in the name of Jesus that I am healed, according to 1 Peter 2:24. It is written in Your Word that Jesus Himself took our infirmities and bore our sicknesses. Therefore, with great boldness and confidence I say on the authority of that written Word that I am redeemed from the curse of the sickness, and I refuse to tolerate its symptoms. 

In the name of Jesus I say that principalities, powers, and spirits who rule the present darkness, and spiritual wickedness in heavenly places are bound from operating against me in any way. I am the property of the Most High god. I abide, remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty, Whose power no foe can withstand. 

Now, Father, because I reverence and worship You, I have the assurance of Your Word that the angel of The Lord encamps around about me and delivers me from every evil work. No evil shall befall me, no plague or calamity shall come near my dewlling. I confess the Word of God abides in me and delivers to me perfect soundness of mind and wholeness in body and spirit from the deepest parts of my nature in my immortal spirit even to the joints and marrow of my bones. That Word is medication and life to my flesh for the law of the Spirit of life operates in me and makes me free from the law of sin and death. 

I have on the whole armor of God, and the shield of faith protects me from all the fiery darts of the wicked. Jesus is the High Priest of my confession, and I hold fast to my confession of faith in Your Word. I stand immovable and fixed in full assurance that I have health and healing now in the name of Jesus. Amen

Once this has been prayed, thank the Father and continue to confess your healing. 

Scripture References

Isaiah 55:11, 1 Peter 2:24, Matthew 8:17, Galatians 3:13, James 4:7, Ephesians 6:12, 2 Corinthians 10:4, Psalm 91:1, Psalm 91:10, Psalm 34:7, 2 Timothy 1:7, Hebrews 4:12,14, Proverbs 4:22, Romans 8:22, Ephesians 6:11,16, Psalm 112:7