Kingdom Assignments

The monthly letter from one of the ministries we support, Maoz Israel, was so encouraging and challenging that I want to share portions of it with you, my dear sisters.  In case you are not familiar with the name mentioned, Freda Lindsay and her husband, Gordon, founded Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas, Texas.  Gordon passed from this life many years ago, but Freda kept pursuing the vision.  Besides what the writer says of Freda, I will add that she was also a woman who sat at the feet of Jesus – first and foremost.  May you be blessed as you read this excerpt:

Freda Lindsay was a woman of action.  She was a woman of purpose.  And she was a woman who lived her life as if she truly believed she would be accountable to God for every word and every decision she made.  There is no doubt she heard those words, “Well done!”

That is how we must live – making our lives count for the King!

Many people do not even identify their Kingdom assignments!  They just live day to day. . .

Recently I’ve been meditating on my Kingdom assignment.  And I’ve come to another conclusion – it is not just one assignment – it is assignments . . . that’s right – it’s plural.  On some days, your marching orders include multiple duties – caring for a loved one, a random act of kindness . . . other days, you know you must focus on the “big picture” duties of your overriding call and passion.

Whatever your day calls for today – just be sure to report for duty!  The King is watching.

A recent letter from Maoz Israel (an international ministry with a congregation in Israel) brought home to me, once more, some of the difficulties you face in other lands that we, in America, cannot understand at all.  Here’s the paragraph that grabbed me:

As we began new outreaches, we knew we would have to find believing Israeli employees.  Because of the very tiny pool of believers in all Israel, nearly everyone we hired we had to send for job training – from computer courses to college education.

While some of the struggles of this ministry are due to the small number of believers in the labor force, your issues include anything from government red tape that makes ours look non-existent to an overall shoddy work ethic, from a requirement to shop for groceries daily to “forced” fasts because of the only food available being contaminated.  I know these only touch the tip of the iceberg.  When you stop and think about it, isn’t it amazing to realize how much God has worked patience and peace in you?  But then, He has you in that place to minister His love and grace to the people and to show forth His glory.  He knew what He was getting when He signed you on!  And He’s not sorry at all – even in the things you haven’t quite mastered yet!

I’m curious.  What are the things that you remember as having been difficult for you to adapt to early on in your nation of choice, but that are just part of everyday living now?