A group of successful college alumni got together to visit their old professor, and the conversation quickly turned into complaints about stress of their demanding jobs. The professor brought out a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups – ranging from exquisite porcelain, crystal, and glass cups to some plain paper and Styrofoam cups – and told them to help themselves to coffee.
When everyone had a cup of coffee in their hand, the professor said, “Did anyone notice that all the fancy, expensive cups were chosen, leaving behind the plain cups? While it’s normal for us to want only the best, that is often the source of our problems and stress. The cup itself adds no quality to the coffee, rather it often just makes it more expensive and can even hide what we drink. All you each wanted was coffee, not the cup, but everyone desired the best cups, and even began comparing and envying each other’s cups.”
Here’s the way I see this Christmas season: Christ is our coffee. All the decorations, gifts, party preparations, are the cups. The type of cup we have does not define or change who Jesus is and why He came to earth, yet all too many of us concentrate on only the cup and fail to enjoy the coffee. The happiest people don’t have the best of everything – rather they have Jesus and everything else is irrelevant.
Take a look at what your generosity helped provide in the community of Whiteriver AZ, White Mountain Apache Reservation.
Homes of Hope was launched this past week as part of iRock Ministries. We saw a need after visiting the Apache Reservation in 2011 and it is our desire to give families a chance to raise their children in an environment where they can thrive and feel secure. By providing a hand up to those currently living in homes that are unsafe, we are showing them how God cares and provides for His children through the generosity of others. I’d like to introduce you to Ronnie.
As I read the letter tears came to my eyes and I was hit hard with the reality that Isaiah, more than anything needed the healing power of Jesus. As I shared this letter with Josh, the other director, I could see the wheels turning. The next thing I heard was let’s call Isaiah and have the entire camp pray for him over the phone. And that we did.
Two weeks later, while ministering on the Chippewa Reservation in Minnesota, I receive an email from Isaiah’s children’s pastor. Here’s what it said, “First off, his mother told me that when we called him from camp and had the whole camp pray for him, there was a nurse (an unbeliever) taking Isaiah’s vitals while we were praying. The nurse began crying and told Isaiah’s mother that that was the most beautiful thing she had ever witnessed! God used the prayers of children to touch this woman’s heart!!!
Isaiah continues to be cancer free. As I’m traveling I take every opportunity to share Isaiah’s testimony. We need to be reminded that God not only hears but also answers our prayers and the prayers of children.