Jesus remains Lord by being a servant.

I am convinced that Jesus’ ministry was so effective because of how humbly He loved. He was not afraid of getting into the hard places and loving even there. And this is exactly the way I am to love. This is the we are to love. Not afraid to be a servant. To die to anything of ourselves so that others may be loved. When the Bible says “greater things shall you do”, I think that we need to really compare that to what Jesus is meaning, as well as comparing it to what things He did that we are to carry on. The answer is greater things than what Jesus’ ministry was here on this earth. What an amazing promise to our obedience! So if we honestly want to do greater things, we have to look at why and how Jesus was so effective.....and it all comes back to how He came as a servant and loved out of complete humility.

If you think about the culture of that time (and, to be honest, our culture now), it was all about climbing up the social ladder and gaining prestige among society. How often do even Christians, and evangelists, and prophets and....I search after this! If you and I want to see the promise of ‘greater things’ fulfilled, we have to be willing to love with absolutely no recognition or pats on the back. To love God and love people (the one cannot exist without the other) is not for our own well being or to make ourselves feel better at the end of the day. It is because we are called to it, and created for it, even when it stretches every part of us, pushing us out of our cozy comforts, and sometimes into others’ pain.....and yes, often when it does not feel good to love. (Inevitably, it is the most fulfilling feeling in the end...which I just think is beautiful.)

I also think about the phrase “greater things”, and how easy it is to immediately think signs and wonders. While I think that miracles are absolutely a part of God’s Kingdom today (I have seen God do crazy, crazy things. Let me know if you ever want to talk about this), I don’t think that it’s the core of what Jesus is talking about. I think that’s a part of it, for sure, but I think the main thing, and the greatest thing, is that people would know the true, potent, life changing love that Christ has. Love that gives hope and causes us to see God’s goodness and glorify His name in the midst of the crap and the trial. Love that ruins us for the ordinary, and makes us truly alive, no matter what the circumstance. That is the ‘greater things’ I want to see! And to be honest, that isn’t always accompanied by a hyper spiritual experience. Yes, sometimes it is totally accompanied by signs and wonders, and I want to expect Go to do the craziest things He wants to do! But... are we willing to see God’s will be done and His love reach people, even when there’s not some crazy, feel good thing that happens with it? Are we willing to get our hands dirty to truly love people. To meet them in their struggle and pain, and love them there?

My heart says “yes!”. The greatest thing is that everyone would know His sweet, sweet love. And that because of it, their lives would never be the same. That whether they’re in a season of much, or a season of little, that even that wouldn’t look the same because the hope, the beauty, and the goodness of God is our strength, no matter how long the seasons last.

So, my prayer is that we will absolutely see greater things....and that in order to truly see the promise fulfilled, we would be willing to love and serve without reserve, and with absolutely no one watching or saying “look at that anointed one”. But, that we would live and breathe His love. And through it, all will come to know such love! And that, my friends... is definitely the greatest thing Jesus is talking about.

“The Beloved disciple [John] presents a mind bending image of God, blowing away all previous conceptions of who the Messiah is and what discipleship is all about. What a scandalous reversal of the world’s values! To prefer to be the servant rather than the Lord of the household is the path of downward mobility in an upwardly mobile culture. To taunt the idols of prestige, honor, and recognition, to refuse to take oneself seriously or to take seriously others who take themselves seriously, and to freely embrace the servant lifestyle- these are the attitudes that bear the stamp of authentic discipleship. The stark realism of John’s portrait of Jesus leaves no room for emotion or mood or feeling; it is a decision to live like Jesus. It has nothing to do with what we feel; it has everything to do with what we do- humble service. To listen obediently to Jesus- “If I then, the Lord ad Master, have washed your feet, you should wash each others’ feet”- is to hear the heartbeat of the Rabbi that John knew and loved. When being is divorced from doing, pious thoughts become an adequate substitute for washing dirty feet.”

~Brennan Manning

‘So He got up from the meal, took off His outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around His waist. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash their feet, drying them with the towel that was around Him.’

John 13:4-5

Jesus remains Lord by being a servant.

:: concrete love ::

You've been walked past, in your state of brokenness.
As scoundrels pass, your tissue paper heart rips by harsh winds of dismissal.
While hurricanes of assumption define their thoughts and mold their judgments.
A post-it note stating 'Crazy' they've stuck to your weathered forehead, with uncanny fate. They don't even know the love and beauty that weathered skin has seen.

Doomed. They cast upon you with their glances.
Failure. They resonate with haughty eyes, as if you've brought this upon yourself.

Selfish fear replaces the selfless simplicity of boldness we know as love.

You've seen it all. The Indian with his lucky coin. The ex-soldier with his nostalgic rings. The aimless wanderer with his coffee cup, his stories, and his addiction to nothing other than adventure. Jesus. When will your people see you? We ask to see you. But we don't even want to sometimes.

You are the man with the torn backpack in front of Target. You are the women at the corner of Betteravia and the freeway. You are the child sleeping in the strawberry fields.

May selflessness replace bonds of fear. May hope move past thoughts of dismissal. May we see you like we've never dared to see you before.

I am......Awakened.

This morning I woke up to a clean house {such a good feeling}, and read an incredible article on Africa. I felt awakened. There's something spectacular that happens when my eyes turn towards the East - and my heart is stirred to the land that has held me captive for years. Visionary ideas. Creative catapults. Idealic summersaults...take over and I remember, if i have ever forgotten, that I am alive. Like truly alive. I exist. I think that everyone longs to feel known. That the earth and all of humanity recognize that they exist. That's exactly how I feel when the chasms of my soul open to Africa. I feel like I have purpose. I admit, the excitement of leaving for Uganda is accompanied by a nervous little companion. Not fear, no...just wonder of the unknown, with all of it's anxious excitement. I am ready, though.

Lord, continue to ready me.

Well, here goes the journey.

It hit me today that I have only two months before I head off to the land of the lion and the zebra, stunning sunsets, and coffee skinned people. This last week, I spoke at my church about what I'll be doing in Uganda, and what Amani is already doing.

All I can say is that God moved the hearts of His people. Big time.

In one morning, God provided $5,000...which is half of the entire cost I will need. Given in ONE morning! I am still in awe, completely overwhelmed by the beauty of God's Bride rising up to see His mercy poured out to the nations. I'm humbled that I get to be a part of it. And am filled with this deep joy as I think about the people of Jinja, and the joy it's going to be to finally meet them. Today, I was praying to see the details of Jesus' heart, and what He's been showing me is the simple importance of loving well. I have been wrecked again and again this week by the simplicity, the mystery, and the power of what Jesus did at the cross. I'm not going to lie, I've just been weeping as it hits me all over again just what He did. For me. For you. For the innocent kids in Jinja. And for the insanely hard person to deal with across the street.

I hope the reality of His love through the cross never stops ruining us.

With this fresh revelation of such love {and how irresistable it is}... love that runs deep in us as His sons and daughters, I think how we cannot, and must not, keep it to ourselves. Those who have been forgiven much, love much. And so, I am learning {emphasis on the still learning} to love well.
What does that even look like, Lord? Will you continue to show us how you love us. And in seeing that, may we mirror that unselfish, unashamed, and completely impartial love.

"We can all see as plain as day that Jesus says the number one commandment is to love the Lord and love your neighbor. I happened to move to Uganda and love those neighbors, but that is not the point. As believers, we should already KNOW our calling; it is to love the Lord and love our neighbors by caring for them in whatever broken state they are in. When He said that "the poor will always be among us" I don't think he meant that as an excuse not to worry about it but as a reminder that there is ALWAYS a neighbor, no matter where we are, in a worse condition than we are. I can only believe that God created us to make this world a little better. That he designed us in love to show that love to others. I just don't know what everyone is waiting for."
~a sister in Uganda who is loving the Forgotten.

So as I get ready to leave for a land of desperate need, I am reminded of the need right here, in this moment. And I am ready to love well.

:: May we never stop realizing the crazy love of Jesus. And may we never stop pouring it out.

Hello dear friends!
I wanted to update you a bit on what God's been stirring in my heart these last few months and the next step I am taking.

Well, let me start from the beginning. When I was five years old, I fell in love with Africa. We had friends from Kenya live with us while on furlough, and I remember my five year old little heart beating fast as I heard stories of the people, their culture, their need, and greater yet, the miracles God was doing as he transformed entire villages with His love and His hope. And I thought to myself....I belong there.
I was in love.
It amazes me how you can be so in love with people that you've never met. But, I guess, that's the beauty of God's unfathomable heart. As I got older, I realized that this drawing to East Africa was actually God's call on my life, as it burned deeper and deeper each year. For years, I've been longing to finally go to the place that has held my heart for so long, but knew that God's timing was everything.

Over the summer... God said the word.

'Now'.

So... here I go! Headed to the beautiful people of Jinja, Uganda. After much prayer, God led me to an incredible organization there called Amani Baby Cottage. What God is doing through these amazing servants blows me away! They are an 'orphanage' that cares for babies from birth to six years old. They take in kids who have been dropped off by family members who cannot raise them, as well as newborn babies who have been left in garbage dumps. This is a group of humble, abandoned lovers of Christ, who have truly taken up the cause of the widow and the orphan, who have let their hearts break and beat with God's... as they then do something about it. They see these gorgeous kids as Uganda's next leaders who will lead their country to love the Lord and love others. I am deeply humbled that I get to work alongside such incredible people, humbled in knowing that God could do it all by himself, yet He lets us be a part of it; that we get to join Him in seeing the broken healed, the lonely loved, the abandoned remembered, and the hopeless restored. I still can't believe that I get to do it in Uganda!

So basically... I will be leaving in January to live over there for three months, working at the orphanage and among the people of Jinja. But, I cannot do it on my own! God humbly reminds me again and again that this isn't about me or my strength. It's about me uniting with His Bride as we see His kingdom furthered! And so I ask you....all amazing friends that have had such an impact in my life, to join me in this next step. I can't do it without you!

::First and foremost, I would love your prayer and intercession. I know this sounds cliché, but honestly, I can't go without it! It's the intercession of God's people and the power of prayer that I need to be able to do what God's calling me to. I am pleading with you to be in prayer with me for this. And to join me in intercession for the people of Jijna, as God is stirring things and doing breakthrough in their country.

::Secondly, I would like to humbly ask you to pray about supporting me financially. This is another area, where I've realized I cannot do it on my own. There's going to be many different opportunities to do this...for example, we will soon be selling beautiful handmade gifts such as jewelry, art, photography, and chocolates just in time for Christmas, which I'm really excited about! I'll keep you updated on this as it gets closer.

::Lastly, I would love to hear any of your stories of trips there, or pearls of wisdom and encouragement before I venture off. Like I said before, it's all of you and your relationships with me that have molded me, and I so value you and would love to hear whatever is on your heart! I love that God is a creative God who has given us diverse gifts and passions, and He uses it all when we come together. So whatever it is that you have to offer, I would love for you to join me in this. I know times are hard, and money is scarce, but there's so much more to do other than financially. Please let me know if there's something on your heart, and you would like to get involved! It's amazing to be on the journey with you guys, as we unite to see God's kingdom furthered and His love drench the ends of the earth! I can't imagine being alongside anyone else.

Deep, deep love,
Maggie


::If the Lord has laid it on your heart to support me financially, you can make check payable to:: The Ranch Church Memo: Maggie Ayers
The Ranch Church
PO Box 679 Solvang, Ca 93464

Thought this was stunning, and wanted to share it with you.

I was looking back on a letter I wrote my dad from Indo, and was refreshed, once again, as all the tastes, smells, feelings, and heart joy came back to me as I remembered.... 

gorgeous brown little Balinese kids

drinking fresh coconut milk

waking up to the sound of waves dancing upon the sand, and having only a little dirt road seperating us from the ocean

out of this world Indonesian food

worshipping with the locals in their language....as we set aside our indifference and God inhabits the praises of His people

going to the Jimbaran fish market everyday and becoming friends with the darling local women 

running children's programs for the kiddos of the village

worshipping and interceding on the beach in the middle of the night, and running on the beach early in the morning while tons of little naked Balinese kids run with me. (must have been a sight to see....a tall, white "Bulay" girl surrounded by all those naked bottoms!)

 

We went to the slums on wednesday and taught the children there. And I was sitting there with l these gorgeous kids on my lap, hanging on to my arms, as I sang to them, and taught them the alphabet....and Dad, this amazing contentment swept over me...as I thought, 'This is really it!  this is what I want to do with my life.' It was so incredible to actually DO what has been burning in me for so many years. To be immersed and living with the broken. And as hard as it's been sometimes, I want to do this for the rest of my life more than anything I've ever wanted. Ah, God is so good. 

And within the same week, my mom had written this in her prayer journal for me...

endearing child of mine

in hula skirt hair

blond curls everywhere

leggings under skirts

sticky bubble gum lips

worshipping You

alone in her room

tears filling her eyes

holy complexity

crayons at her feet

perfectly complete

 

I knew then

that startling moment

You'd be sending her

across the seas

dancing into danger

overcoming adversity

crowned in simplicity

this endearing child of mine...in hula skirt hair.

I am overwhelmed by the incredible parents that I have.... in them, I have two of my best friends who have given me consistent love and who have constantly believed in me.