Yearning

I am going to try to put some thoughts into words this morning quickly because I have to leave in 30 minutes for the office.  A few thoughts are swirling in my mind this morning.  In my usual ADHD fashion, they seem disjointed and yet there is a common thread running through them.

While my breakfast was cooking in the microwave I picked up my Bible and turned to Isaiah 61.

"The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor, he has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

Then I took my breakfast to my bed and finished the t.v. show I was watching last night about a college professor with schizophrenia who helps solve crimes.

After I ate, I read my facebook feed and found this glorious article by John Piper waiting for me. Some quotes from the article:

"I get very tired of people coming to look at staff positions in my church, which is in downtown Minneapolis. We all live in the inner city, and one of the first questions they ask is, “Will my children be safe?” And I want to say, “Would you ask that question tenth and not first?” I’m just tired of hearing that. I’m tired of American priorities. Whoever said that your children will be safe in the call of God?"

" . . . the Moravians. In northern Germany two of them were getting on a boat, ready to sell themselves into slavery in the West Indies, never to come back again. And as the boat drifts out into the harbor they lift their hands and say, “May the Lamb receive the reward of his suffering.” What they meant was that Christ had already bought those people. And they were going to find them by indiscriminately preaching the gospel, through which the Holy Spirit would call them to himself."

 So, here is what I am burning to say this morning (so much that I am writing this instead of blow drying my hair - big sacrifice, I know):

I have ADHD and God is glorified through it because it's how he made me and he has anointed me to preach good news.  Just like the guy on Perception (the t.v. show) whose schizophrenia brings both great suffering and great ability into his life, my weaknesses are given to me by God and I will glory in my weakness today.  I don't want to be safe.  I want to be useful for the Kingdom - the great Kingdom that is coming and is here and will never end.  The Kingdom whose King is so glorious that someday when the sun burns out, we will no longer need the sun because his glory will light our world.

Today I am presented the opportunity to live a laid down life.  To struggle with the missionaries around the world against principalities and powers in my little suburban, comfortable office in one of the 'nicest places to live in America'. God, grant me the burning heart to go where you want me to go and do what you want me to do.  To stay in this uncomfortably comfortable town or to go to dangerous unreached parts of the world - but to stay in your will and bring you glory.