Going back to the core things

As we are going through some changes on campus: I wanted to take time to just pause and reflect what's at the core of being InterVarsity staff and a follower of Jesus in the midst of it all?

Christ's love is at the center of it all. Its the beginning the genesis of my life, my faith, my ministry.

2 Corinthians 5 14 For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

As I have been studying 1 Timothy in my own discipleship with Jonathan and as I have started going through 1 Timothy 4 in Discipleship with students I was really moved by the centrality of the gospel in that chapter which is a kind of summary of the call on Timothy in ministry: 

Its this beautiful outline of 

others - doctrine and life

share/teach

train for godliness in Timothy's life. 

Gospel hope

godliness - set the example

share and teach others

others doctrine and life. 

At the center is the gospel hope we have in Jesus the motivation and drive and heartbeat: 

1 timothy 4: 10 That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe.

Out of that is first our response and our labor to train for godliness in our own lives. Out of that comes an example we set for others and then we teach and call others to this gospel life and the response of training in godliness. 

My heart's desire is to be this kind of disciple and get to help others in this journey by discipling them from non christian or young christian to take step by step in faith and obedience to Jesus. So regardless of my situation, my career, or the circumstances of interVarsity I want to eagerly pursue this discipleship centered around the word of God and responding to the Word of God and letting Him change our lives from the inside out. 

God help me to do that and know how to do that well! Do your work in me and through me!

Amen

Reflections on what's true in fundraising:

What would change if you were fully funded?  
Ivanna would have dental insurance. We could get a raise for the first time in 2 years. I think there would a renewed sense of affirmation and support in our calling. Increased freedom to focus on campus. Ability to provide for our family and expenses. Preparing for adding health insurance to our fundraising. More partners in the gospel. A sense of God's provision as we ask for it and take steps of faith. 

What level does God want you to be at?
I think this answer is surrounded in distractions like there are more urgent things on campus so I shouldn't fundraise. Also lies come in. 
My first response is the level of funding we are at I guess. 
Its hard because I know He will provide what we need as we ask. But its easy to justify living under what is   actually already pretty low paying income. 
Scripture says: in 1 timothy 5
The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. 18 For Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,”[a] and “The worker deserves his wages.”[b]

The wages set by InterVarsity are not given to us. So do I believe that we as workers of the kingdom deserve our full wages? 
I have to say yes. 

God I ask that you provide abundantly with partners who really believe in this work and us. I ask that you provide so that we can receive the wages set for us for full time work with InterVarsity including health and dental insurance. I thank you for the awesome partners you have provided already! Help me step out in faith to ask more people to consider partnering. Specifically 10 this week. 
Amen

Why do ministry?

What is my motivation for doing mission and ministry? Why am I InterVarsity staff and even broader why do I really try to bring the kingdom of God? 

Do I do it because Christ's love compels me that I am convinced He died for all people including me? 

For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. (2 Corinthians 5:14-15 NIV)

Am I living for him or something else? And I doing ministry for Jesus or some other reason?

It hit me in thinking about our vision statements. It's easy to jump to what are we going to do. What's our mission. 

To know Christ and make Him known in every corner at CU. Which is awesome!

But why? Why do we want to know Christ? Why do we think others need to know about him so much that we will put ourselves at risk for others to know him?

I want to remember my motivation that Christs love came first demonstrated most completely in his death. And that my response my motivation is gratitude. And that Christs love was for those who don't know him and that I want them to know him too. And Jesus commanded us to make disciples to share this message so they can know him and his love for them.

Center my heart and ministry and my whole life on this!

Amen

Prayers for the moment and for the big picture

God I want to invite you to do your work through me.

I ask for your help and for you to work the little things and the big things.

Guide us through Leaders Meeting.
Guide us in leading student leaders of small groups.
Help us build momentum.

Show us how to shape our structures with where IV is at now and to have the greatest impact for your kingdom and growing the students involved in following you!

Amen

Can I trust like Paul in the ups and downs of ministry?

And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day. (2 Timothy 1:11-12 NIV)

Here is the context:

For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. (2 Timothy 1:6-10 NIV)

Prayer for small group

God I ask that you move in power and send your Spirit to confirm the word I speak and the word we study in Matthew tonight. Speak to us as your disciples! Reveal your gospel to those that aren't following you and give those that want to but haven't surrendered a vision for giving it all to you God! 

Amen

Thank you God for connections

Today as I usually do on Tuesdays I tried to take steps forward in planting new things to plant God's kingdom seed in new corners and people groups on campus.

At first I rushed into it without praying and I felt I should pray but I get excited. It wasn't terrible the first meeting, but it definitely reminded me why bother going if I am not praying and going where God leads and inviting him in. So I slowed down and prayed and I looked to the bible for what to do. Mostly I was reminded how often Jesus and Paul's strategy was to focus on a few to meet one samaritan woman in John 4 or one greek like the demoniac in Mark 4 and then send them simply to share their story. Then that person and their story broke open the spiritual doors for people to want to check out Jesus. I was also encouraged and challenged that Paul was almost always facing rejection and extreme persecution but he kept preaching the gospel and inviting a response. And it seems in every place a few believed and started following Paul and believing in Jesus. The challenge is will i persevere and invite and share the gospel even if I get rejected 99 times in the hope and faith that 1 will follow and believe. And hope that they will begin to impact their community.

So I prayed and started again. I met 3 chinese guys and what really changed was my humility and attitude. I came in with questions and asking for help and their ideas instead of bringing just something I have to offer or calling them out of what they are doing to go to my thing. I want to be like Jesus and go to where people are at. they had some helpful responses. I want to go as Jesus sent the 72 in Luke 10 looking for people of peace and asking for help to cross that culture into their world.

The main takeaway I had was: Chinese students are shy or think they are shy and so inviting them out to some group thing or some unknown thing is probably not the most effective way to reach them. It makes me think of Luke 10 again:

After this the Lord appointed seventy-two[a] others and sent them two by two ahead of him to every town and place where he was about to go. 2 He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field. 3 Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. 4 Do not take a purse or bag or sandals; and do not greet anyone on the road.

God I ask for more workers and I am willing to go. Help me bring others or find others to go with me. I ask for a student partner in this.

Also I happened to meet a latino student I had met in the latino student group. We had a great conversation and I have been surprised how so many of the students have some christian connection and less catholic connections than I expected. I am excited to share my ideas and get his response and ideas for what might bless latino students at CU and the idea of starting a group for latino students to be in community and learn about Jesus. God I ask for your guidance on how to do that: that it would be natural and culturally aware. That you would inspire it to be very relational and communal and not necessarily my natural way or the normal way InterVarsity does this for other groups.

Finally I rode around the bus and asked students this question: Do you think God cares about the suffering at CU and in the world? It amazed me how many people went 2 directions: philosophical apparently tons of students take philosophy at CU and the main thing in that class is this question of God and suffering often with a professor who seems biased against religion. It gives you a taste of the culture and faculty at CU and where students are at. But surprisingly some students said: well I think there is a reason for suffering that it is the balance that allows the good things to be good so if there is a God then He has a good reason for it.

God I don't know what will come of this. I ask for people of peace and that I would enter into these respective cities and proclaim the kingdom of God has come near and you would confirm it with a demonstration of the Spirits power and if I can help through my life and my love. God I pray for partners: for students to disciple and send into these harvest fields.
Amen