Be a Flame Thrower
I’m back! I was on such a role for a while, posting at
least once a week. But last week I
traveled to our National Support Center in Kansas City for Camp School and
while the training and fellowship were awesome, I didn’t have much time to
write. Hence, the long gap since my last
post. Anyway, after the busyness of Camp
School, I headed straight into an event that has become one of my favorite
weekends of the year for the past several years – IF: Gathering. This is a women’s conference that has been
held in Austin, TX for the past five years but is simulcast all over the
world. In my case, to about 30 of us in
my friend’s living room and basement in Ashburn!
IF was founded by
author and speaker Jennie Allen and exists to empower women to disciple each
other and the next generation. The IF:
Gathering and IF: Local events are just one piece of this ministry that puts on
other events and builds resources to encourage women in discipleship. The theme verse this year was 2 Timothy 1:6-7,
“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 God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and
self-control.” The powerful speaker list
included Christine Caine, Bianca Olthoff, and one of my favorites, Annie F.
Downs, all talking about the importance of discipleship and urging us to not
over-complicate it but to think of who in our lives we can walk alongside and
encourage to love Jesus. Jennie opened
the event by talking about Elon Musk’s flame thrower and asked us to consider
what it would look like if we all went back committed to being flame throwers
in our places…quite the image! At the
end of the conference, every woman was given a matchbook and asked to write on
one side one or two names who she will commit to discipling over the next
year.
I firmly believe
in the importance of discipleship because I know the impact it has made in my
own life. I have loved having the
opportunity over the past several years to mentor a handful of girls I’ve met
through church, coaching, and even teaching.
In the role I have now with FCA, it’s so easy to be overwhelmed by the
number of girls who I know need mentors – 15 schools times 3-8 leaders at each
school. There aren’t enough hours in a
day to get together with all of them on a regular basis. But I can meet with two or three. As I prayed about who God would have me
mentor in 2018, He faithfully brought two names to mind, leaders at two of my
middle school huddles who I am excited to be more intentional about pouring
into this year.
On the other side
we were asked to write what step(s) we need to take to persevere in this call
to make disciples. Because it’s
hard. And takes time and energy –
physical and emotional. And the enemy
does not want us to make disciples of Jesus Christ, so if you’re committed to
doing just that, you better get ready for battle! Once again, God was so clear on what I need
to do to persevere right now – pursue community.
Over the past
three years, my once close-knit group of friends has gone through a massive
transition as people have moved away and/or gotten married. Such is life in a transient area when you’re
in your twenties and thirties. As an
introvert, making close, deep friendships is not exactly a strong suit for me
and so, I’d grown a bit lazy in this area.
Sure, I have acquaintances and friends I get together with every once in
a while, but I’ve been lacking those deep, encouraging, call-me-out-on-my-junk
relationships for some time now. And God
made it super apparent that I will not be able to sustain this kind of work for
His kingdom on my own. So now, the work
begins. I need to be willing to make the
effort to reach out to people and be vulnerable if I expect that in return. I know it won’t happen overnight but I also
know that God is faithful in answering prayers that result in His glory.
It reminds me of
Moses, Aaron, and Hur in Exodus 17. The
Israelites were fighting the Amalekites and as long as Moses had his hands
raised to God, Israel prevailed. But
when he lowered his hands, Amalek started winning. So as Moses grew tired from raising his
hands, Aaron and Hur a came on either side of him and held his hands steady
until Israel was able to defeat Amalek. I
want to make an impact for God’s kingdom, which means I’m going to face
opposition. But if I’ve surrounded
myself with people who will hold up my arms when I get tired, I know God can
work though me. And in return, I’ll be
able to do the same for them. Hebrews
10:24-25 says, “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good
works, not neglecting meeting together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.” So if you’re like me, in a season where you’re
lacking the kind of deep community that will hold your arms up in battle, let’s
commit to doing the necessary work to do this and be flame throwers for our
generation.
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