Make Heaven Crowded
For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord... (2 Timothy 1:7-8a NIV).
Make heaven crowded.
I saw this phrase on a ball cap in a ladies’ boutique in our small town, and it got me thinking? Just how might little ol’ me…
Make heaven crowded?
As I pondered further, I understood. This was an exhortation–
To share my faith.
To invite others to salvation through Christ.
That’s when 2 Timothy came to my attention, and I smiled.
How like God, to speak to me and fellow “timid” Christians as Paul exhorted his “son in the faith”–
At our level…
To our insecurity…
With gentleness, seasoned with compassion.
Make heaven crowded?
Indeed. As Christians, that’s our job, and that short scripture tucked in this second letter to Timothy tells us specifically how.
Through our testimony–the story God has written, is writing, and will continue to write with our lives…
Yes, as we simply remain willing. But there’s more.
As we walk with boldness rather than with shame regarding our stories–no matter how dark or broken our pasts–we can be confident of this:
God’s Spirit within us isn’t timid but instead, gives us–
Power…
Love…
Self-discipline.
And with these qualities highlighted in our stories, we can participate in doing just what that ball cap says.
Make heaven crowded…
With Spirit power in one’s story.
Personally, I accepted Jesus when I was very young. Though it’s not documented in any children’s Bible or written in calligraphy on a framed certificate on my wall, I know. My Savior was real to me before I’d entered elementary school.
Still, I haven’t always walked with Him in an abiding relationship. There was a lengthy season in my teen years and in my early twenties when I outrightly disobeyed Him, in fact. Though I knew His way was best, I chose instead to walk a different path, and I hurt people along the way.
In early 1991, however–desperate in my sin–I started practicing a quiet time with the Lord. Each morning, I’d sit in an old orange swivel rocker with my Bible and journal. In those moments, I’d ask God to fill me with His love as I professed my love for Him.
Honestly, I didn’t feel a lot at first; rather, I did so by faith, and I begged Him to reach me where I was and lift me up out of the pit of despair my choices had dug for me.
One morning, I heard the Lord say–
This pivotal moment–both literally and figuratively–was the true turning point in my spiritual life. From that day on, despite many imperfections and ongoing struggles, I walked with Jesus, believing He would never leave me or forsake me, that He was indeed my Good Shepherd.
This portion of my testimony is just one example of God’s Spirit demonstrating power in my life, thus adding power to my personal story.
Question: How has God’s Spirit demonstrated POWER in your life, thus adding POWER to your story as you share with confidence, with hopes of making heaven crowded?
Make heaven crowded…
With Spirit love in one’s story.
The love of God has transformed my life, but one part of my testimony depicts this lavishly, though in a moment of heartbreak and anger.
Not long after that pivotal moment in 1991, my husband and I learned that, void a miracle, we’d never have children biologically. I was shattered. After all, becoming a mom was what I’d dreamed of all my life. My love for children is what drew me to elementary education, what fueled my passion to bring learning to life for little ones.
Thankfully, after many years of waiting, Bill and I experienced the joy of parenthood through the miracle of adoption. Our first son, Dorian “Ian” Samuel, joined our family in early 1998–his birth mother a young college freshman at the University of South Carolina.
Not long after Ian’s birth, we were asked to consider the adoption of a little girl. Though these children would be like twins, we prayed, and God confirmed we were to say yes to this situation.
I was present for little Devon Mara-Leigh’s birth in Columbia, SC on May 18, 1998, and we had the privilege of spending that first night with her, holding her and feeding her but more, praying for and singing over her.
The next morning, preparing to be discharged, I swaddled sweet Devon in one of her fleece blankets. My medical resident husband had already left, required to return to work at Greenville Memorial, the hospital near where we lived. Devon and I would drive home together, and I anticipated that 2-hour straight-shot up I-26 filled with lullabyes and tender moments between a mother and newborn daughter.
With our luggage by the door, car seat ready to keep Devon safe, I sat and rocked my second child. “Your big brother’s gonna love you,” I promised in whispers. “He’s at home waiting for–”
But before I could finish my sentence, the door opened and our adoption attorney stepped in. His face registered concern as he spoke, “Stay here. Something went wrong.” With that, he was gone.
I held Devon closer, praying the only word I could muster–
Jesus. Jesus. Jesus.
But still, without a moment to kiss her goodbye, someone came and whisked my daughter away, and she was… gone.
I don’t remember walking to the parking garage or getting in my Nissan. I don’t remember pulling out onto I-26 and driving northwest toward home. Honestly, I don’t remember breathing.
But somewhere between Columbia and Greenville, with tears streaming and fists pounding the steering wheel, God spoke. It was only a 3-word question–
I didn’t answer Him. I didn’t want to. So, again–
Am I good?
This time, I thought about His question. Despite the pain, I knew. He was good, but still I remained silent. So, once more–
Am I good?
Finally, “Yes.”
Yes, what?
“Yes, You’re good.”
Okay then. Let’s go home.
It wasn’t until later, when I did the only thing I knew to do with my pain. Cracking the cover of my Bible, my gaze fell on words from the Psalms–
You are good, and what you do is good… (119:68 NIV).
With His question–those three simple words–God had handed me a weapon, His sword of the Spirit, to fight the enemies of heartbreak and anger. And, in time, He restored my joy.
What could be more loving–so gracious and kind?
This portion of my testimony is just one example of God’s Spirit demonstrating love in my life, thus adding love–compassion and empathy–to my personal story as I share with others.
Question: How has God’s Spirit demonstrated LOVE in your life, thus adding LOVE to your story as you share with confidence, with hopes of making heaven crowded?
Make heaven crowded…
With Spirit self-discipline in one’s story.
Self-discipline can be difficult for me. Sticking to a plan–whether regarding healthier eating, exercising regularly, or following a schedule–often goes well for awhile but then… kersplat! The regiment crashes and burns.
But one example of how, with God’s enabling power, I was able to persevere to the end by demonstrating self-discipline has to do with the writing and completion of my debut novel, Gideon’s Book.
I heard God’s whisper in 2007–
And I knew. He was calling me to write a work of fiction about a Gideon Bible, even though my comfort zone and experience were nonfiction.
“You’ve got to be kidding,” I told Him. “I know nothing about fiction. Surely You have something else in mind.”
But no. God was serious, though His timing was different than I’d first imagined. I understood that He wanted me to write this story right when I heard those words, but that was not at all what He’d meant.
In fact, after He spoke The Bible by the bed to my heart all those years before, we lost another daughter to a failed adoption. My husband became very sick and battled for his life. And, some years later, our daughter Allie joined our family unexpectedly in March 2012.
Truth was, God had me on a journey to grow as a writer–to blossom from nonfiction writing to fiction over time. All He asked was I show up–day after day, year after year.
Writing, as well as learning about writing, became a form of worship as I simply obeyed, and it required the application of self-discipline. As the wonderful Cecil Murphey says, “Hone your craft.” That only happens as we walk in obedience and remain dedicated to that which the Lord has called us.
Gideon’s Book was born in the world, I believe–
“…for such a time as this” (Esther 4:14).
Though it took many years to birth this project–what I call my “long obedience in the same direction” ( Eugene Peterson and Friedrich Nietzsche)–I trust the Lord with Gideon’s Book’s message, that it might reach the readership He purposed.
This portion of my testimony is an example of God’s Spirit demonstrated in self-discipline in my life,
Question: How has God’s Spirit demonstrated SELF-DISCIPLINE in your life, thus encouraging you to SELF-DISCIPLINE as you share with confidence, with hopes of making heaven crowded?
Friends, as we walk in obedience, faithful to the call to share our stories, with Holy Spirit power, love, and self-discipline–with confidence–we can rest assured that we, too, will…
Make heaven crowded.
In Jesus’s name…
Amen!
**(This article first appeared at Inspire A Fire, an online daily devotion site.)**
