Romaina

May people have asked me how the mission trip was. I always say an eye opening experience. We stayed in Cluj, Romania. It is a large city, and as modern as any of our cities. We would get up every morning and drive out to the ROMA villages. You can see a picture of one of the homes above. Many of the houses where four room shacks, often times lacking doors. They told us in the winter time they put up a piece of plywood to keep the cold out. Being in these villages and in this country has shown me a few things. First of all, as Americans we to often mistake material possessions for wealth. There were many of the children who had never seen nor heard of a gameboy or a PSP, but were happy and wealthy in family and friends. Second, we to often mistake self-centeredness for self-fulfillment. We try to excuse our self-centerendness with excuses like "That's just who I am." God is not interested in who you are, he knows who you are. The bible says the heart of men is desperately wicked and who can know it. God knows that you are self-centered. It is time that we stop thinking in terms of what will comfort us and make us feel better, and start striving to be a son or daughter of Jesus Christ. And finally, I think we mistake an invitation to church for an invitation to a relationship with Jesus Christ. This point really builds off the first two. We need church members who don't just invite people to church, but who invite lost people into their homes. We live in a culture of experts. Many times our church family says, If we can just get time into the door to hear the professional, that is the ticket. But that is not the answer. We must all do evangelism!

Don’t Waste Your Family Tragedy!

1. You will waste your family tragedy if you don’t understand God’s Grace is enough.
The Apostle Paul was given a thorn in the flesh. This thorn kept him humble all the days of his life. In many ways a family tragedy is a very humbling experience, the feeling of shock and disorientation. Then the grief sets in, it feels much like a thorn in the heart. Paul said this,
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” –I Corinthians 12:9-10
2. You will waste your family tragedy if you don’t love your family through action.
It is one thing to say, “If you need anything, let me know.” But it is quite another to go to the home see the family needs their trash taken out and take it out. When you go to the home of the grieving, they need basic things still: trash taken out, food, paper products, etc… You have an opportunity to love your family by providing the most basic needs of the individual. Another way you can love your family is to listen to them. Listening is an active thing. You have to stay focused and watch when and how you say something. People are often overtired and emotions are running high, so many times it is better to listen than to speak.
3. You will waste your family tragedy if you don’t pray for and with your family.
The power of prayer must not be neglected at such a time. Pray for your family and prayer with your family. Pray with the family with as a whole and pray with individual members. It is one thing to say, “I am praying for you.” It is another to stop and pray with them. I am convinced that too often we say “I’m praying for you” and never give it a second thought. Doesn’t talk about it do it! Pray without ceasing.
4. You will waste your family tragedy if you don’t witness to your family.
Once I was asked if I liked doing funerals or weddings better. When I said I would much rather do a funeral, the person who asked me was shocked. The reason that I said that is because at a funeral, people are faced with their own mortality. They are ready to hear the Word of God. So take the opportunity to walk them down the Romans Road or give them a "Gospel Track” from our Church. Give them your love, concern, prayers, and service. Remember someone is always watching! God is going to bless your effort, His Word will not return void.