Children have no reservations. They say what they think. They trust who they find trustworthy. They do what they feel like without thinking what others think.
I wish I would be more like that sometimes. I think that is what Jesus was talking about when He said that unless we become like a child, we cannot enter the Kingdom. (Matthew 18:3)
Example:
I was playing with some children just a few days ago in a sand/gravel box. I buried my feet in sand and pebbles. One little girl said, 'I'll help you!' and dumped a whole bottle of bubbles on my feet, hoping that would un-bury them. It obviously didn't and them my feet were all sticky and sandy. I laughed and she apologized for making my feet a mess. When it was time for us to go inside, I just threw on my flip-flops thinking that I would wash my feet in a bit. The little girl stooped down and with her hands brushed the mud off my feet.
As she did that so, I was aware of the humility in that quick and simple action. She didn't stop to think that she would get her own hands dirty, but saw that my feet definately were dirty and so she wanted to clean them.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
CBHT
Spent the past two and a half days at Convencion Bautista Hispana de Tejas. What a joy to be there. I had wanted to go for a long time and my first opportunity was last year, but I was out of town :( However, this year when they asked me to work at a booth for BSM at the convencion, I cleared my schedule and gladly went. Excited to be in a place where people love the Lord and are living that out daily.
Because I went to a Bible School that trains a lot of people for ministry and pastoring, I get to see them at a place like this. It was a very happy reunion. (www.bua.edu)
I drove home last night with a heart full of gratitude that God brought me to Texas and has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people who love Him and are serving Him. Upon receiving my associates degree six years ago, I had no idea what God had in store for me. Looking back I can see His hand in so many areas. So I don't doubt His will for me. Even if I don't understand some things, I know that He has been so faithful and will continue to be.
It also was really wonderful to meet others who don't know about BSM and share what God is doing on college campuses in Texas. We were able to encourage people to spread the word to college students that they know to get involved and to grow in the faith. I also left challenged by the great need of so many who don't know the Lord and are trying to fill the emptiness in their lives with anything. We have a huge job and a wonderful cause with eternal implications.
Because I went to a Bible School that trains a lot of people for ministry and pastoring, I get to see them at a place like this. It was a very happy reunion. (www.bua.edu)
I drove home last night with a heart full of gratitude that God brought me to Texas and has allowed me to meet so many wonderful people who love Him and are serving Him. Upon receiving my associates degree six years ago, I had no idea what God had in store for me. Looking back I can see His hand in so many areas. So I don't doubt His will for me. Even if I don't understand some things, I know that He has been so faithful and will continue to be.
It also was really wonderful to meet others who don't know about BSM and share what God is doing on college campuses in Texas. We were able to encourage people to spread the word to college students that they know to get involved and to grow in the faith. I also left challenged by the great need of so many who don't know the Lord and are trying to fill the emptiness in their lives with anything. We have a huge job and a wonderful cause with eternal implications.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Dios Tiene un Proposito
I heard this from a boy today that fully believes it. He has no family and traveled over 1000 miles all by himself, eventually ending up in a boys home. He trusts that God is going to take care of him. It was so encouraging to talk to him, and he was such a precious boy. And very brave.
I was humbled as I was talking to him as I often don't fully believe that God has a plan for my life and that He has great things in store. Granted these things may not be the things that I have in mind, but His way is better and it is His will that I learn to become like Him. Sometimes the uncertainty and the frustrations are meant to make me more holy. He is Good and He is Love. Fully. I must rest in Him and trust in Him.
I was humbled as I was talking to him as I often don't fully believe that God has a plan for my life and that He has great things in store. Granted these things may not be the things that I have in mind, but His way is better and it is His will that I learn to become like Him. Sometimes the uncertainty and the frustrations are meant to make me more holy. He is Good and He is Love. Fully. I must rest in Him and trust in Him.
Monday, March 21, 2011
mission a
Spent this past week at Mission Arlington. This place is so special to me and it was really fun to introduce four of my friends[they also happen to be students in the BSM] to this wonderful place.
Katie, Charles, Janiece, Ashley and Emmanuel. [We visited Southwestern Seminary on Monday night and they have a beautiful campus with this lovely garden]
Matt has worked at Mission Arlington for 13 years and loves Arlington. The city, the people and the ministry--which at times can be really tough. He shared some really challenging stuff with us every day. One thing that he said that is so inspiring to me is that missions isn't just what you do for one week a year when you go on a 'mission trip'. It should be a lifestyle and it should be the way we live the other 51 weeks of the year. He is a very humble guy, but he unashamedly challenges us to live following Christ's example. Giving worth to everyone, no matter what they look like, how much money they make or what kind of 'home' they have.
Miss Tillie started Mission Arlington 25 years ago. She is such a beautiful woman and full of wisdom. She is also the strongest lady I know, no joke! She loves this city fully. One thing that she challenges us and anyone who ever goes to Mission A with--that everyone needs to hear about Jesus. If it is pouring, hailing, sleeting, and negative 50 degrees, you better not cancel church. People need to hear about Jesus. They do not do anything half-heartedly and are so devoted to ministry. I love this woman.
Also in this picture on the far Left is Marc, Marc is the pastor of the church that we worked with on Sunday as well as where we held our Rainbow Express in the mornings. He is and his wife volunteer their time to minister to the members of that apartment community as well as hold down full-time jobs; they are raising two daughters and are about to welcome their third in 2 months. What an example of faithfulness in serving they are! We were blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with them!
Heather has been at Mission Arlington for longer than 3 years[because that's how long ago it was that I first went]. She is a great servant and loves the kids. I am so encouraged and blessed every time I go and just see how much she loves people. I am encouraged by her commitment to serve and give up so much to be there serving Arlington. Lets just say they don't work a 9-5 there, its pretty much an 8 to whenever everything is done day and that would be every day of the week. But everything that is done at the mission is because of God. They bathe everything in prayer and trust Him to provide for them.
I really have a billion things I could say about these wonderful ministers of the gospel and the wonderful work they are doing in Arlington. I know they wouldn't like it. But I am grateful for such wonderful witnesses and I pray that God will continue to bless and use their ministry while challenging us to live with abandon for the glory of His name.
We also got to spend time with a bunch of really great kids telling them about Jesus and playing with them.
Janiece teaching the Bible verse to the kids. Psalm 119:105: 'Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.' The hand motions really helped the kids remember the verse!
'M' drew a lovely heart picture with all of our names and wanted everyone to see it. We had to close our eyes though while we were walking there so we wouldn't see it until we were right on top of it.
Charles sharing with the kids how Jesus has changed his life.
Ashley coloring on the parking lot with two girls who came the second day.
'R' and I coloring our pictures. He was one of my favorites! A little rough on the edges, but really sweet and would randomly run up and give me a hug. He filled up cups with water for everyone and even delivered them.
Katie, Charles, Janiece, Ashley and Emmanuel. [We visited Southwestern Seminary on Monday night and they have a beautiful campus with this lovely garden]
Matt has worked at Mission Arlington for 13 years and loves Arlington. The city, the people and the ministry--which at times can be really tough. He shared some really challenging stuff with us every day. One thing that he said that is so inspiring to me is that missions isn't just what you do for one week a year when you go on a 'mission trip'. It should be a lifestyle and it should be the way we live the other 51 weeks of the year. He is a very humble guy, but he unashamedly challenges us to live following Christ's example. Giving worth to everyone, no matter what they look like, how much money they make or what kind of 'home' they have.
Miss Tillie started Mission Arlington 25 years ago. She is such a beautiful woman and full of wisdom. She is also the strongest lady I know, no joke! She loves this city fully. One thing that she challenges us and anyone who ever goes to Mission A with--that everyone needs to hear about Jesus. If it is pouring, hailing, sleeting, and negative 50 degrees, you better not cancel church. People need to hear about Jesus. They do not do anything half-heartedly and are so devoted to ministry. I love this woman.
Also in this picture on the far Left is Marc, Marc is the pastor of the church that we worked with on Sunday as well as where we held our Rainbow Express in the mornings. He is and his wife volunteer their time to minister to the members of that apartment community as well as hold down full-time jobs; they are raising two daughters and are about to welcome their third in 2 months. What an example of faithfulness in serving they are! We were blessed to be able to spend a lot of time with them!
Heather has been at Mission Arlington for longer than 3 years[because that's how long ago it was that I first went]. She is a great servant and loves the kids. I am so encouraged and blessed every time I go and just see how much she loves people. I am encouraged by her commitment to serve and give up so much to be there serving Arlington. Lets just say they don't work a 9-5 there, its pretty much an 8 to whenever everything is done day and that would be every day of the week. But everything that is done at the mission is because of God. They bathe everything in prayer and trust Him to provide for them.
I really have a billion things I could say about these wonderful ministers of the gospel and the wonderful work they are doing in Arlington. I know they wouldn't like it. But I am grateful for such wonderful witnesses and I pray that God will continue to bless and use their ministry while challenging us to live with abandon for the glory of His name.
We also got to spend time with a bunch of really great kids telling them about Jesus and playing with them.
Janiece teaching the Bible verse to the kids. Psalm 119:105: 'Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.' The hand motions really helped the kids remember the verse!
'M' drew a lovely heart picture with all of our names and wanted everyone to see it. We had to close our eyes though while we were walking there so we wouldn't see it until we were right on top of it.
Charles sharing with the kids how Jesus has changed his life.
Ashley coloring on the parking lot with two girls who came the second day.
'R' and I coloring our pictures. He was one of my favorites! A little rough on the edges, but really sweet and would randomly run up and give me a hug. He filled up cups with water for everyone and even delivered them.
its my job
I have been thinking a lot about the events that have been taking place in our world... genocides in Africa, civil unrest in the Middle East, and now an earthquake, tsunami and radiation leaks in Japan. I am reminded of the hope that we have in Christ. We can rest assured that in the end He wins!
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” — Psalm 46:1-2
However, I have also been thinking a lot about our world and how we have or have not impacted it. I think about our ignorance, petty arguments, complacency and general disinterest in anything except our own comfort and we have some pretty interesting times. All of these terrible things are happening. When will we wake up?!
My sister said was that there was a man who is Hindu who said that Christians don't really believe in a resurrection; otherwise they would not be living the way they are. How very true.
What about that hope? How is that challenging us and changing the way that we live?!
Didn't Jesus call us to leave everything behind and follow Him? Why, then, do we still posess everything that the world does?
Didn't Jesus say that we would be hated? Why do we worry so much about being accepted then?
Didn't Jesus tell us to go? Why, then, are we staying?!
Where is the urgency? Why do we not take His gospel seriously? Do we really not trust Him to keep His word?
Tomorrow is not guaranteed to us. We are not guaranteed another week or even another day. There is an urgency. Time is short. There are millions of people who are dying and will be sent to a Christ-less eternity. An eternity of lost-ness. If we really loved them, we would tell them--even if they are offended or don't want to be our friends anymore.
I have been so convicted and challenged of this. I have always thought I was not an evangelist and that it is the job of the person with the gift of evangelism to tell people about Jesus. False! It is my job. It is anyone who claims to follow Christ's job. If I don't tell them, then I have failed them. If I don't tell them then I don't really love them. They are going to hell. Let me repeat, they are going to hell. Hell is a terrible, horrible place, worse than we can imagine and they will be there for all of eternity.
How can I stand by and just let them go there? Especially when they could be with Jesus for all of eternity.
Father help us--help me-- to trust you and to preach your Word so that others will hear!
'Do not work for the food that spoils, instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life.' John 6:27
Recommended reading:
http://www.radicalthebook.com/
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” — Psalm 46:1-2
However, I have also been thinking a lot about our world and how we have or have not impacted it. I think about our ignorance, petty arguments, complacency and general disinterest in anything except our own comfort and we have some pretty interesting times. All of these terrible things are happening. When will we wake up?!
My sister said was that there was a man who is Hindu who said that Christians don't really believe in a resurrection; otherwise they would not be living the way they are. How very true.
What about that hope? How is that challenging us and changing the way that we live?!
Didn't Jesus call us to leave everything behind and follow Him? Why, then, do we still posess everything that the world does?
Didn't Jesus say that we would be hated? Why do we worry so much about being accepted then?
Didn't Jesus tell us to go? Why, then, are we staying?!
Where is the urgency? Why do we not take His gospel seriously? Do we really not trust Him to keep His word?
Tomorrow is not guaranteed to us. We are not guaranteed another week or even another day. There is an urgency. Time is short. There are millions of people who are dying and will be sent to a Christ-less eternity. An eternity of lost-ness. If we really loved them, we would tell them--even if they are offended or don't want to be our friends anymore.
I have been so convicted and challenged of this. I have always thought I was not an evangelist and that it is the job of the person with the gift of evangelism to tell people about Jesus. False! It is my job. It is anyone who claims to follow Christ's job. If I don't tell them, then I have failed them. If I don't tell them then I don't really love them. They are going to hell. Let me repeat, they are going to hell. Hell is a terrible, horrible place, worse than we can imagine and they will be there for all of eternity.
How can I stand by and just let them go there? Especially when they could be with Jesus for all of eternity.
Father help us--help me-- to trust you and to preach your Word so that others will hear!
'Do not work for the food that spoils, instead, work for the food that lasts for eternal life.' John 6:27
Recommended reading:
http://www.radicalthebook.com/
Friday, February 4, 2011
Amazing Grace
Been reading Ephesians this week. I recommend it!
One thing that has really stood out to me is that He chose us long before we even existed. He didn't one day realize that He wanted some things done, so he just randomly grabbed people to do it. We have always been His plan. And the most amazing thing about that to me is that He knew what kind of people we are! He knew that He would be dealing with a sinful, disobedient, rebellious people, but chose to use us and to show His glory through us. I am blown away. Check this out!
Ephesians 2:1-10
1. In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2. At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 3. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger. 4. But, God's mercy is so abundant, and His love for us is so great, 5. That while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved. 6. In our union with Christ Jesus He raised us up with Him to rule with Him in the heavenly world. 7. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of His grace in the love He showed us in Christ Jesus. 8-9. For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. 10. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.
One thing that has really stood out to me is that He chose us long before we even existed. He didn't one day realize that He wanted some things done, so he just randomly grabbed people to do it. We have always been His plan. And the most amazing thing about that to me is that He knew what kind of people we are! He knew that He would be dealing with a sinful, disobedient, rebellious people, but chose to use us and to show His glory through us. I am blown away. Check this out!
Ephesians 2:1-10
1. In the past you were spiritually dead because of your disobedience and sins. 2. At that time you followed the world's evil way; you obeyed the ruler of the spiritual powers in space, the spirit who now controls the people who disobey God. 3. Actually all of us were like them and lived according to our natural desires, doing whatever suited the wishes of our own bodies and minds. In our natural condition we, like everyone else, were destined to suffer God's anger. 4. But, God's mercy is so abundant, and His love for us is so great, 5. That while we were spiritually dead in our disobedience He brought us to life with Christ. It is by God's grace that you have been saved. 6. In our union with Christ Jesus He raised us up with Him to rule with Him in the heavenly world. 7. He did this to demonstrate for all time to come the extraordinary greatness of His grace in the love He showed us in Christ Jesus. 8-9. For it is by God's grace that you have been saved through faith. It is not the result of your own efforts, but God's gift, so that no one can boast about it. 10. God has made us what we are, and in our union with Christ Jesus He has created us for a life of good deeds, which He has already prepared for us to do.
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