Go Into all the World

I am covering World Geography in homeschool with my daughter this year.  We recently finished studying Africa, and as supplemental reading, I read David Livingstone: Africa's Trailblazer, by Janet and Geoff Benge (from YWAM’s Christian Heroes: Then & Now series) to her.  In chapter four, David is filling out his application to the London Missionary Society, and answers the question, “What do you see as the most important work of a missionary?” with the following:

 “The missionary’s object is to endeavor by every means in his power to make known the gospel by preaching, exhortation, conversation, instruction of the young; improving, so far as is in his power, the temporal condition of those among whom he labors, by introducing the arts and sciences to civilization, and doing everything to commend Christianity to their hearts and consciences.”  (pp. 37-38)

I read that two times to allow it to sink in.  I think it is a beautiful definition of what a missionary is and does.  It reminded me of Mark 16:15 which says, “And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” (NASB)  I was particularly drawn to Mr. Livingstone’s inclusion of conversation and instruction of the young in his definition.  This applies directly to my current season in life.  I am instructing my children on a daily basis, and have many conversations with different people every day.  This served as a reminder of my purpose as a mother (raising mighty arrows for the kingdom), as well as to make sure my speech is edifying and encouraging in every conversation.

Sometimes as a mom, when I’m cleaning sticky juice off the floors and am knee deep in laundry, I wonder if all of my work really counts.  I do not have a ministry like Billy Graham and am not living in a foreign land sharing the gospel or doing translation work on a daily basis.  This little passage reminded me that it does matter.  I have not been called to a foreign ministry, but I am still called to be a missionary among my family and friends, and in my community.  I am called to live my life as unto the Lord and share His love for others whenever I can.

“Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”  (Colossians 3:17, NASB)

A New Global Perspective

A bit of background:
About six weeks ago I did a project with my daughter during homeschool as part of her science lesson. I took pictures, but they were accidentally overwritten, and I didn't have time to recreate part of the project until this afternoon. We were studying the planets, and put together a scale model of the solar system. While the size of the sun and planets in the pictures below are to scale, the distance between them on the wall is not.

This is a picture of my daughter standing in the middle of the "sun." It is slightly less than 12 feet in diameter, to give you perspective.

Here are the planets on the wall in our kitchen. The pink strip hanging from the ceiling to the floor represents the sun. Mercury and Venus are so small, they are hard to see. Then you see the Earth in blue, Mars in red, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Reflections
The "planets" have been on our wall since mid-December. I left them up because I was so struck by the size and perspective that you get when you view the solar system to scale, and how the Earth appears within it. We can't escape phrases these days like "global politics," "global economics," or "global warming." It all sounds so huge and epic in size until you stop and consider what is represented in these photos. It would be very difficult to find a way to represent man "to scale" on the Earth. Even a pinprick would be too big! Remember, this is just one solar system out of who knows how many in the heavens. When I stop and consider the magnitude of what Christ did for me on the cross from this perspective, it simply staggers my mind.

"When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have ordained, what is man that You take thought of him, and the son of man that You care for him? Yet You have made him a little lower than God, and You crown him with glory and majesty!" (Psalm 8:3-5)

Healing Words

This week's proverb was "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing." (Proverbs 12:18) We discussed what "reckless" and "pierce" means, and about how these kinds of words are very hurtful and hard to forget if someone speaks to us in this way. I also shared with her James 3:8 which says, "...no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison." We talked about what wisdom is, and came up with examples of wise things to say. I helped her make these little band-aids so that she could be looking for ways to bless others with her words when she sees that they are hurting or upset.

The Power of Words

During school today, I presented my daughter with these two spoons. The one on the left has coffee grounds, a chunk of old toast, empty grape vine and a strip of fruit snack wrapper. The other had honey.

Me: "Which would you like to eat?"
Noelle: (after giving me a quizzical look) "The one with the honey."
Me: "Why?"
Noelle: "Because it is sweet and looks good."
Me: (Wiggling the garbage spoon a bit) "Well, why don't you want this one?"
Noelle: "Because it is yucky and full of gross stuff."
Me: "Where do you think I got this stuff?"
Noelle: "Um...from the garbage?"
Me: "Right! God says in Proverbs 16:24, "Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

We had a great conversation about how important it is to speak good and kind words to people, because people don't want to hear meanness and other garbage coming out of our mouth. I think this was a very powerful lesson that she will always remember!