by Donya Dunlap | Aug 7, 2013 | The Spiritual Life
“I know I’m supposed to tell the truth, but…”
“I know God says I need to do this, but…”
“I know what I’m doing is a sin, but…”
What are we supposed to do when life seems to tower like a giant over what we know is the right thing to do? How are we supposed to trust that God’s way is the right way when it looks absolutely impossible?
In preparation for the upcoming Infusion Bible Study on Forgetting the Fairy Tale I have been digging more into the root of what a fairy tale means. According to Merriam-Webster.com, a fairy tale’s definition, synonyms and antonyms are:
1a: a story involving fantastic forces and beings (as fairies, wizards, and goblins)
1b: a story in which improbable events lead to a happy ending
2: a made-up story usually designed to mislead
Synonyms: fable, fabrication, lie, falsehood, falsity, fib, mendacity, prevarication, story, tale, taradiddle (or tarradiddle), untruth, whopper
Antonyms: truth
Did you catch that last part? The opposite of a fairy tale is truth. God’s Word is truth. So when we choose to believe that our way is better than God’s way, or that our circumstances provide a logical excuse to ignore the Bible’s commends, we are choosing to live a lie. We are buying in to the Enemy’s fairy tale.
That might seem innocent to you, but consider the consequences…
- Eve thought she could eat the forbidden fruit and it would be okay. She plunged the entire world into sin.
- Sarah thought she could work the system to have a child through Hagar. Thousands of people have died through the generational war between Isaac and Ishmael’s descendants because of that decision.
- Achan didn’t think it was such a big deal to take a few spoils of war that God had said to leave alone. As a result 36 husbands and sons were killed in battle and Achan’s entire family was killed.
God doesn’t care about your “but.”
Mine either. In fact, He knew that we would want to argue with Him at times, because we’re His kids and that’s what kids do. So He beat us to the punch and wrote this:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. – 1 Corinthians 10:13
Is God’s way always the easiest way? No. But it is always the best way. His way may have consequences that don’t jive with our wish lists, but the consequences of doing right always include His blessing with whatever earthly bitterness might also come about. So bite back that “but” and submit yourself to God’s way instead of your own. You’ll be thankful you did in the end!
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6
by Donya Dunlap | Jul 27, 2013 | The Spiritual Life
Have you ever had someone rub your shoulders when they were really tight, and it hurt, but it was a good hurt? That pretty much sums up my week.
I cried. Not once. Not twice, but THREE TIMES. Anyone that knows me well can testify to the rarity of such an occurrence. It’s not that I don’t ever feel sad, I just rarely am brought to tears apart from a death or a Nicholas Sparks movie. (But really…who can watch one of those things and not cry?)
I can’t share what drove me to gushing saline, but I can say that I wouldn’t trade those circumstances for much. Maybe a trip to the beach…but again, I digress. This time has been difficult, overwhelming and challenging, but through every step I have felt the Lord doing the pulling and prodding as gently as only He can. He is changing me, stretching me, pruning me.
John 15:1-2 explains the process in Jesus’ own words:
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
The process of purging and pruning is initially a painful one. Things that hamper growth are cut away for the benefit of the vine. Jesus does the same with us. He knows that we occasionally need to go through times that are hard, overwhelming and painful to produce in us a beautiful harvest. But even as He cuts, He does so gently, and with words of encouragement and strengthening from His Word.
God is a good husbandman.
He is a loving one. And everything He does, He does for our good and His glory. Resisting the process is what causes the most pain. “Kicking the pricks,” as He accused Saul of on the road to Damascus, will hurt far worse than leaning into Him as He does His necessary work. Any parent knows that sometimes you have to do things that cause a child pain for their own benefit. Getting shots or stitches or pulling a splinter out of a tiny foot is a painful process, but healing comes as a result.
So while I hate to cry, I can honestly say that God is good and He is at work in my life and in the lives of others around me. In fact, it seems that the hardest times are often the best times because I can feel the Lord drawing me in to His side. I know that He is with me and that He will be true to His promise to never leave me or forsake me…no matter what lies ahead. (Hebrews 13:5)
Have you experienced “a good hurt” from the hand of God? Can you testify to the closeness of God as you traveled a rocky path? If so, I would love to hear from you in the comments below. Blessings to you!
Photo credit: miuenski / Foter / CC BY-NC-SA
by Donya Dunlap | Jul 22, 2013 | The Spiritual Life
Does 1 + 1 always equal 2? Not in Jesus math!
In speaking with a friend this weekend, I was reminded of advice someone gave me once.
Start with what you have, where you are.
I was struggling at the time with a huge vision and burden the Lord had placed on my heart, and I was frustrated. It seemed every time I tried to pursue that vision I would run into a wall. I felt like my dream was a carrot at the end of a stick that was always out of reach. This confused me because I knew the vision was God ordained. I couldn’t understand why He would give me a vision and not allow me to pursue it.
My very wise friend shared that God often gives grand visions of plans He has for us at a later time, but with only a first step to take in the moment. That first step seems so small. It’s tempting to dismiss it as a waste of our time or energy. We want to jump into the thick of the dream, but Jesus wants to teach us to be faithful in the little things. Jesus wants us to take our little and do great things with it so that He can be glorified. Paul speaks of this in 1 Corinthians 1:26-31:
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”
Sometimes Jesus uses the rich, the powerful, the popular, the strong…but most of the time He doesn’t. Most of the time He takes the little bit of who we are and multiplies it through the power of the Holy Spirit.
- One former persecutor of the church writes half of the New Testament
- Two loaves and two fishes feed a multitude
- Five talents are doubled
- Twelve blue-collar guys cast out demons, heal the sick, and minister to multitudes
- One hundred and twenty followers of Jesus start a world-wide revolution and spread the gospel to the ends of the earth
What do you have that Jesus wants for His equation?
Do you like to knit? You can make baby booties and blankets for a local pregnancy shelter. Are you musical? You can sing or play in church, or join a community group for musicians and reach those people for Jesus. Do you love kids? You can volunteer to babysit for people that wouldn’t normally be able to afford a sitter so they can have a few hours to themselves. Do you have a crazy big dream that seems impossible for you to tackle? Good! Ask God where He wants you to begin and start in the power of the Holy Spirit. If you consistently surrender to the little promptings and seek the strength of the Holy Spirit, in time, He will take your little and multiply it to reap the harvest He planted in your heart.
Have you experienced Jesus math in your own life? If so, I’d love to hear about it in the comments below.
Photo credit: World Bank Photo Collection / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
by Donya Dunlap | Jul 16, 2013 | The Spiritual Life
I am a dreamer. I’ve always had big ideas and bigger plans. When I was a little girl I thought I might write children’s stories. For a while I thought maybe I would make a great teacher. Then there was the short-lived dream of singing with a southern gospel quartet (true story) followed by dreaming of a stint on Broadway. When I started music lessons in high school I fell in love and decided to become a music teacher and arranger. But even then I had a back-up plan in case that didn’t work. I took extra classes to qualify as a teacher if necessary and really wondered if I might be a part of a church-planting team or a pastor’s wife. Oddly enough,
God had other plans.
Immediately after college I began working as an admin assistant at a local church. I loved the work I did and ended up being rather good at it. During that time I discovered graphic design and fell in love all over again. After years of teaching myself and getting some tutoring on the job, I finally decided to go back to school to get a degree in the field. Shortly after I began school, God began stirring in my heart the desire for women’s ministry. I thought I was finally coming to the place where my passions and placement were coming together. I would support myself through freelance graphic design while ministering to women. What a perfect plan!
But wait…there’s more.
In the process of learning about trafficking and women’s ministry I began feeling the need for education in counseling. To be honest, I resisted this new direction. I thought that if I really felt strongly about it in a few years, I would pursue counseling after I finished my art degree. I didn’t want to start over. I didn’t want to “waste” all the money and time I had invested in design. I felt threatened. I didn’t want God to take away the art that I love.
I prayed and researched my options. I questioned my feelings and prayed some more. I asked for advice. I considered some non-college courses, but due to the nature of the abuse I expect to be dealing with, I felt a degree in crisis counseling would be more beneficial. I prayed some more. I applied to a new school to test the waters, but didn’t register for courses. I wanted an escape route. I questioned my past choices. Why did I go to a Bible college? Why did I take art classes? How is this all part of God’s plan? Am I really listening to His voice or am I just going with the whims of my own heart?
But then, as I was preparing for the Infusion Bible Study I lead on Monday nights I read this:
There is a real difference between adding the Spirit to your life and actually following Him minute by minute. If you add the Spirit to your life, you’re not open to change; you just want to enhance what you’re already doing. This is not what the Spirit came to do.
On the other hand, if you begin following the Spirit’s leading in your life, you will find yourself changing. The Spirit may prompt you to let go of things that were once important to you. He may even call you to give up some good things in your life, at least for a time, in order to accomplish His purposes in and through you.
– Francis Chan, The Forgotten God
The life God has for me is better compared to a prism than a path.
Every turn catches the light in different ways, but every change is beautiful. It’s all part of the whole. The whole of me. Of who God wants me to be.
I learned things at Bible college I could never learn at an accredited university. I learned things in art school that made me a better artist and a better person. All along the way I have met people that play into my future in ways that I’m not even aware of yet.
Regardless of the steps I took, I never left God’s hand.
I’m still a “diamond in the rough” but with each refining change God makes, I reflect His light more purely and beautifully. Instead of resisting the process and regretting the changes, I am embracing them for the beautiful rainbow of purpose that they are…and I look forward to seeing how God uses every facet for His will in years to come.
Photo credit: Laurence & Annie / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
by Donya Dunlap | Jul 10, 2013 | Guest Posts, Making a Difference, Modern Day Slavery
Through my good friends at The You Are Project, I was introduced to Kelly Master and her anti-trafficking organization, Dining for Dignity. Kelly’s boldness, tenacity, passion, and commitment to women inspires me and challenges me every time I think of her or listen to her speak. I asked Kelly to share some of her story and the birth of Dining for Dignity with us today and I hope she is as much of a blessing to you as she is to me.
From their website: “Dining for Dignity (DfD) is a non-profit organization that utilizes social media and public forums to expose the reality of sex trafficking. Understanding the complexity of trafficking, DfD is linking arms with government agencies, local leaders and the public to influence change. Our goal is to educate communities through discussion, awareness and prevention.”
Think you’re not qualified to truly make a difference?
Think again!
During a season of great frustration and stress, I longed to make a greater impact on my world. Learning to be content in this season, understanding that doors would open in due time became key in my peace. One day while doing my laundry a “God idea” dropped in my heart. Start a monthly breakfast and call it Dining for Dignity. Immediately I sensed we would gather to dine and highlight ministries that restored dignity to women and children’s lives. So I gave it a go. Little did I know what God had in store for me.
The Discovery
Stumbling upon human trafficking stories on the internet seized my heart! I was undone at the reality that millions of women and children were being sold for sex across the globe. Consumed with this discovery, I read every story I could find and watched every video clip available. Conscious that children five years old were being sold for sex in undercover footage from Cambodia rocked my world. Viewing pictures and reading true stories of the red light district in India and Thailand pierced my heart. Fully understanding that my life as I knew it would never be the same, I began raising my voice and sounding the clarion call. I became a woman on a mission! These monthly meetings quickly turned the corner. No longer was I simply highlighting other ministries, but now, I was going full force to raise awareness about human trafficking.
Team Effort
Trafficking is a beast! There is not one simple solution to bring down this giant. Realizing a team effort would be our best defense; we linked arms with government officials, media, community leaders, churches and other trafficking advocates. In addition to our monthly meetings, I began to speak at Universities, churches, Q&A panels, and special events. Our sphere of influence continues to grow as abolitionists are joining the ranks.
Exotic Evangelism
In addition to sex trafficking advocacy, our team expanded to outreach the adult industry. Each month I lead a group of women into strip clubs across South Jersey and Philadelphia sharing the unconditional love of Christ. Our motive is purely to encourage, love and inspire these young ladies lives with the reality that they are valued and purposed. Christ called us to shine our lights and we have discovered that our lights shine brightest in the darkest. Our witness of love is building bridges into a community that has typically been shunned by the church. Jesus truly loves strippers, porn stars, you and me. How will they know unless we tell them? How can we tell them unless we go?
Father: I pray that each person that reads these words will be encouraged in walking out Your word. I ask that Your precious Holy Spirit lead, guide and direct us. More than that, I ask that every excuse be wiped away and a fresh tenacity to love would light our paths. In your precious name I pray.
Has Kelly’s story encouraged or challenged you in some way? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
