Fireproof: Responding to the Urgent Call in Extreme Conditions

The last month I have been busy working on a writing project. Lorraine has written an awesome blog describing her ministry God is growing in her everyday life. Next week I will post about my "Double Portion Holidays" In the meantime, "Take It Easy in all of God's Blessings" this Christmas Season

Pastor Tom

If you have been following my unfolding story on My TIE, you may notice that God has been using my dual storms of family and work to prepare me to do His work. 

While God is using these trying times to make me fireproof, I have learned that the only way to find hope is to find Jesus.  This includes journeying alongside with others who are struggling through their painful moments.  This is how we can grow together and support one another to become stronger in the Lord. 

Hope Is Where the Lord Is

A terrible tragedy happened on June 4, 2014 in a small city called Moncton in New Brunswick Canada.  Three Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) officers were killed recklessly by a 24-year old gunman.  It was a tragedy that turned the entire city, country and the police community into a state of mourning.

One of the three fallen officers was a young father 32 years of age.  He was survived by his wife who was six-month pregnant at the time and his then 18-month old son.  This police officer received a call about a gunman walking through the city’s north end.  He was making dinner for his family at the time but he ran to the rescue immediately leaving the barbecue lid and the garage door open.  He never returned home – he was shot and killed in the line of duty.

This young RCMP officer was someone who loved the Lord, his family, and his community.  He had always wanted to serve the Lord and his country as a police officer.  He wanted to live where hope is.  This is exactly where he is today – with Jesus his Lord.

Jesus is our protector, He stands between us and danger because He loves us – and this RCMP officer, together with his two colleagues did just that to protect their community and gave their lives for the safety of the people they serve and love. 

We may not know exactly why God allowed this terrible tragedy to happen, nor do we know why He put us through life’s many storms; but we know the ultimate purpose is to let His glory be shone.  RCMP officers are frontline servants whose mandate is to serve and protect.  As Christ’s followers, we are also frontline servants whose mandate is to serve the Lord and to bring His people to Him by shining His light everywhere He places us.

At the funeral service where the country bid our final farewell to these three fallen RCMP officers, we were encouraged to find hope in Jesus as the pastor of the 32-year old fallen officer reminded us that:

·         “Life is a gift to be lived one day at a time;

·         Life is not about what you get, but what you give;

·         The only true lasting hope that brings comfort in a tragic world in which we live is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ; and

·         This is not about putting our hope in something, but putting our hope in someone – our Lord Jesus Christ.”

*Message of Pastor Jerry Reddy delivered at the regimental funeral for the fallen RCMP officers on June 10, 2014 in Moncton.

Every Opportunity Around Us is an Urgent Call

It has been five months since my mom has gone home to be with the Lord and God has continued to call me to be His hands and feet in this broken world.  I now have an increased passion to bring hope to those who are struggling as I continue to live through my dual storms of family and work.

God further revealed this urgency to bring hope to everyone the week of October 19, 2014 when two Canadian soldiers were attacked and killed two days apart on home soil by extremists.  Neither soldier was armed at the time; one was only 24 years old.  When the news broke, my first reaction was “do any of them know Jesus?”

Since then, I have received more urgent prayer requests of co-workers or their family members battling serious health challenges.  Like me, others at my work are struggling to find morale in a darkening environment.  Many are trying to look for work elsewhere and some of us have not had much luck despite our tireless efforts.  Facing such a situation five days a week, there is only one thought in my mind: we need to find hope that would strengthen us to persevere. 

God would prepare us for His good work in a broken world.  To do so, He puts us through challenging situations as “basic training” so that we can increase our confidence, strength and resiliency to build endurance to do His work.  Through these challenges, He is asking us to add to our faith the characters of “goodness; knowledge; self-control; perseverance; godliness; mutual affection; and love” 2 Peter 1:5-7 (NIV) so that we can serve Him everywhere.

All these saddened events, including my mom’s passing have motivated me to share the good news with others who may not yet have a chance to get to know Jesus – God is indeed calling us to serve Him everywhere, even when we are struggling ourselves.

God tells us in His Word, “Therefore, my brothers and sisters make every effort to confirm your calling and election.  For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” 2 Peter 1:10-11 (NIV).  God is asking us to respond to His urgent call to bring hope to those around us.

Let us lift each other in prayers as we serve our Lord together everywhere.  May His glorious name be praised!

Lorraine Fung

December 1, 2014