But Jesus ignored her.
Matthew 15:23 (MSG)
I often get accused of ignoring things. Ignoring things isn’t putting your head in the sand, or being naive or irresponsible. In fact it’s the opposite. There are things that need to be paid attention to, and things to be ignored. If you pay attention to everything, at best you’ll be absolutely useless and completely irritating. I have some friends who came close. Also, you’ll probably go insane.
I remember during the revolution, they asked the guerrilla, ‘why do you commit these attacks? Don’t you know that you can’t beat this army?’ The answer was classic ‘no, but one little mosquito in your room can ruin your whole night’. A mosquito can ruin your whole night if all you are trying to do is to sleep. But if you’re under attack, or have a sick child, or any number of other things going on of any importance, you won’t even notice that little bugger. So yes, I ignore things, as you do and as Jesus did. (He ended up healing her btw after He made His point. JESUS NEVER SAID NO WHEN ASKED TO HEAL SOMEONE). So, getting back on point, ignoring is sometimes good! Jesus also told his disciples to ignore people.
Carry no money belt, no bag, no shoes; and greet no one on the way. Luke 10:4 (NASB)
When you are on a critical mission, sometimes you have to cut out things that you would normally do, in order to get the job done. God sometimes gives me that sense of urgency. Usually not though. My walks can take 4 hours sometimes because I love hugging and hanging out with people. Yesterday my hosts, Yader & Ruth Flores almost sent out an APB for me during my walk. Well, actually I was lost because I was paying attention to people and not to where I was walking. I intentionally don’t use gps when I walk for several reasons. Had some great talks which distracted me, and turned me around. But once I knew I was lost, I started walking fast, and I didn’t greet everyone I saw. Plus it was getting dark and I was in the ‘barrio’. Urgency meant I needed to ignore people. I was rushed, and tense (3 blocks from my house it turns out, que Pena!). Yader found me and brought me home. The point is, while I was on that mission to get home, I ignored everything and everyone else.
Since I became a missionary, I have ignored civil wars, guerrilla threats of kidnapping, murder threats, failed coup d’etats, famine, drought, power outages for days, poverty, police corruption, cartels, sicarios, physical threats of beating, voodoo, witchcraft, curses, spells, earthquakes, volcanic eruption alerts, hurricanes, evacuation orders issued by the US embassy, floods, COVID, the latest plague fashion of the day, real epidemics like Colera, conjuntivitis, dengue, and all tv news, reports and statistics. My bottom line question is “does it directly affect my mission from Jesus and the people I lovingly serve in His precious name? The answer was always no. So why pay attention to any of it? Just a mosquito like distraction.
Personal things as well need to be ignored when you are an ambassador of the King of Kings. Wayward kids and spouses, financial problems, sicknesses can all take you off your path to your eternal Rewards. Remember, you’re righteousness, your right standing with God is only because of what Jesus did for you on the Cross and through His Resurrection. That doesn’t change, ever. You are going to heaven. But how are you going to be for eternity? Being distracted by these little ‘mosquitoes’ will cost you some eternal Rewards if you’re not careful to ignore these insignificant distractions. Pray about the problems, do everything you can to resolve them, and then leave it in the Lord’s hands and be at peace. God has it handled. Trust Him! Go back to earning your Eternal Rewards. Leave the minutia to God.
While I am dealing with my little ’c’ sickness here in Miami, that changes nothing in the grand scheme of things. My life, my emphasis is on Jesus, His ministry in Managua with my beautiful wife Winnie Peters, and even here in SWEETWATER Fla. I am trying to help pastor Martin Rivera with His church here called ‘Palabra de Fe’ it’s a real joy. I am not ignoring this little pestilence going on in me, but I will not WORSHIP it either. Lots of people worship their ‘little mosquitos’ and testify about them to whoever they can buttonhole. Survivors of what I have, and people who have suffered other lethal illnesses feel it necessary to warn me about what is to come.
I ignore them. Well, all but one. One mentor in my life told me to get into the best physical shape of my life for what is to come. The rest is just ‘guila guila’ (bla bla) as they say in Nicaragua.
I ignore the gloom and doom guys cause:
- Every case is different
- Technology is way advanced in the past 10 years
- God can heal me and I believe He will.
- Haji can set off an IED by my car tomorrow morn
- Rapture might happen any minute now, I hope!
- I could slip on a wet floor and break my neck
- I can die a miserable slow death because of this
- I can die during a procedure.
- I can have an easy procedure and be home in Nicaragua by September healthier than ever.
- The doc can look at me Monday and say ‘what tumor??? What we saw was a penny you swallowed when you were a baby!’
Just saying, I ignore these little things like lack of finances, my annoying little illness, or anything else not mission related because who knows? Who cares?? As long as I finish this race well, whether tonight, this month, or 69 years from now, I am good with all of it as long as I continue to harvest souls for the Kingdom and bring all Glory to God!
My fear is losing this love and joy I have serving the Lord Jesus!
Hebrews 11: 27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.
Pureheart Update –
I am well. Monday (in 2 days) going to a specialist to get a plan of attack.
In the meanwhile, we (you, us and God) continue to help thousands of people in Managua and Rivas Nicaragua, Islamabad Pakistan, Burton Ohio USA, and Lviv and other parts of the Ukraine for the honor and glory of Jesus!
MINISTRY GROWTH IS EXPLOSIVE.
EVERYTHING IS GOING ON THE SAME AS IT ALWAYS HAS. (YOU ARE ONLY SUCCESSFUL AS A LEADER IF YOU CAN BE REPLACED).
THERE HAVE BEEN NO CHANGES, ONLY IMPROVEMENTS.
BIRTHDAY PARTIES, CLASSES, KID’S CHURCH (AWANA) SCHOOL, BIBLE STUDIES ETC. GOD’S PRESENCE IS FELT STRONGLY AROUND HERE
Please continue what you are doing to keep us going.. WHATEVER YOU’RE DOING, IT’S WORKING!!. pray, donate, and spread the word about us, what we are doing and the needs here!