Stars

One of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world is to look at the stars. There is something so captivating about their beauty. Its just humbling to think that the God who created each of those beautiful lights in the sky and knows them by name cares intimately about me. Its just one of those things that tends to render me speechless. Anyway, in order to see the stars clearly I have to drive way out into the country. This too is perfectly okay with me because I love going on drives. The farther away from the city and all of the other distracting lights the more clearly I can see the stars and their beauty. Just like those city lights, sometimes the distractions of this world cloud our view of knowing God and seeing all of His beauty. We get so caught up in the temporary lights that we fail to see the majestic beauty that God has to offer us. It takes us choosing to set our sights on the Lord to be able to grow to know Him more and to be more like Him. I don’t want to get so busy being distracted by the temporary lights of this world that I miss out on seeing the beauty that the Lord has to offer in my relationship with Him. James 4:8 says, “Come near to God and He will come near to you.”

Hiking Adventures

So in my opinion, most moments in life are teachable moments. There is something we can learn from just about everything, we just have to be willing to learn. Keeping this thought in mind, I went hiking with some friends. Personally, I love adventures. I love hiking and going fast and all of that kind of stuff and to make matters worse.. I am very competitive. As we began our quest up the mountain I did as I usually would and set up the mountain. About half a mile along the way I looked back to see that one of the girls who had joined us on the hike was a ways behind. Then, that teachable moment hit me. How many times in life do I get so caught up in simply “getting there” that I miss the opportunities to help someone else around me? Do I get so caught up in all of the things that I need to do or what I think is going to be best for me that I miss God give opportunities to love someone well? 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” I want my life to be more about Christ and the others around me and less about what may or may not be best for me. Plus if you think about it the real adventures in life come from getting there and make the prize so much better if you take the time to care for someone else along the journey. Also along the hike that day I had another thought. We stopped by a flowing river. It was so peaceful to listen to the sound of the water rush by and the stillness it that moment. I looked down into the river and watched the rocks. They were all so round and beautifully shaped. They didn't have the jagged edges as rocks typically do. Those rocks had been shaped by the rushing water. Shaping them into something beautiful didn’t happen over night. It took time and wasn't easy. Just as the water refines those rocks, I began to realize that the Lord was doing the same thing in my life. Its not going to be easy, in fact its probably going to hurt but with the time an rushing waters of this life the Lord is making me more like Him and into the woman He has created me to be. James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” As I kept hiking up the mountain, of course I kept stewing and well... tripping. I am terribly clumsy but I guess thats okay because I accept it. The funny thing though is that the times that I trip the most are the times that I take my eyes off of the path. Hello, teachable moment number 3. In my walk with the Lord I need to make sure that He is my focus because when I take my eyes off of Him, I tend to stumble. 1 Corinthians 9:24 says, “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” I want my life to be all about winning the prize and in order to do so I need to keep the Lord as my focus. Finally teachable moment number four. Let me be real with you, the hike was not easy. In fact, it was really hard. But because it was so hard, the view was that much more beautiful. I gained a whole new appreciation for the view and the beauty of God creation. In life, things aren't going to be easy. Things just simply aren't usually going to be handed to me on a silver platter, I need to remember that in those moments where the hike seems tough or too hard to climb that my God is faithful. James 1:12 says, “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” Clearly, there is a common theme. I need to keep my eyes only on the Lord for He is faithful.

Running lessons

So basically, its been a while. Sometimes I just get so caught up in trying to make things happen or in this silly little idea that I can be wonder woman and do it all that I seem to miss what its really all about. Right at that point, where I seem to think I have it all under control, God teaches me lesson. I am so thankful that God is so faithful and that even in all of my mess, He still chooses to purse me. Anyway, in case you were unaware, I love to run. Its one of those things that has always been an escape for me. Helps me to clear my mind or get away from the pace of everyday life. While on one such runs I noticed something. Running was so much easier when I focused on the path right in front of me rather than looking all around and focusing on whats going on around me. In my life this idea applies too. I need to be focusing on the Lord rather than on all of the distractions that the world throws past me. I need to trust God for each step of the what and yearn for more of the Lord and for less of myself. As I kept running that day the sun began to set and I found myself running in the dark. The path that I could surely see before was no longer visible. Sometimes in our walk with the Lord we can’t always see the path or where we are going but we can trust that the path is still there, just like God is still there. We need to “live by faith and not by sight,” as it says in 2nd Corinthians 5:7. Even when I can’t see the path or where I am going I need to trust the Lord and depend on Him as I strive to keep my eyes on the prize (Philippians 3:14).

The margins

The Margins

Ephesians 5:1-2 says, “ Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” The Green Team as well as Riverside Church, was challenged with this verse by pastor Daniel Black in Fort Myers, Florida. Throughout Jesus’ ministry one can clearly see that most of His ministry was done in the margins of His life. In those times outside of the spotlight and public eye, his ministry never stopped. In efforts to be imitators of Christ, the Green Team took on this challenge and made it a point not to miss the margins.

Right down the road from the hotel, in Fort Myers, where the team was staying, was a small, family owned bagel shop. A few staffers decided to change up the breakfast menu and ended up in this shop and formed an immediate bond with the owner, Adam. As the relationship began to grow they decided to ask him if he had any children whom they could sponsor to send to camp and they left it at that. A few hours later three children appeared in the camp office. The staffers would later find out that these beautiful and bouncy children weren’t actually the Adams. They were the children of Mrs. Diaz, a mother who happened into the Bagel shop a few hours after the staffers had left. These kids had spent their entire summer in the back room of a furniture shop where their parents worked and were itching for an opportunity to be normal children for a week.

As the week continued, staffers began to build relationships with each of the three children and God began to do a great work in each of their hearts. By the end of the week, William, Kira and Alex came eye to eye with the savior and accepted Christ for the very first time. The staffers gave them bibles and from the moment they received them, the children didn’t put them down. They dug into the Word and began to ask questions, not only to the staffers but to their parents as well. The Diaz’s, who hadn’t stepped foot in a church in years, didn't have any idea how to answer these questions. They began to wonder why their children had developed such a strong desire for the Bible as well as what had changed in them. She decided to make plans to start brining her children to church. William, who suffers with a form of muscular dystrophy, began to dig into Revelation. Alex, who was seven years old, began to ask Mrs. Diaz about a woman named Mary and someone named “Jose.” Because she had no idea how to answer this question, she came to the WinShape staffers. They were able to share the Gospel with her. Tears welled up in her eyes as she heard about the saving grace that comes freely and abounds for all who believe in Jesus Christ. She wanted to know more about the Gospel and this gift so she asked for bibles -- not only for herself, but for her husband and sister as well. The Diaz family made plans to have weekly family nights where they would spend time in the Word together. When the Diaz family arrived at Chick-fil-a Friday Fun Day, they didn’t come alone. She brought her sister and her sister’s boyfriend, who decided that they too wanted to start coming back to church. Christ’s love is contagious. Isn’t it beautiful how Jesus works through the margins in our lives? Take this simple story as a challenge. Are you doing ministry in the margins of your life or are you letting these moments pass you by? 

Isaiah 43:1

"Fear not, for I have redeemed you, I have summoned you by name, you are mine" Isaiah 43:1

I wish that I had the words to describe the freedom I find in this verse. It has always been hard for me to fully grasp the idea that I am His and that there simply isn’t anything that I can or cannot do to Merit Gods favor. Deep down I am so afraid of doing something thats going to disappoint God.  I long to be like David, a woman who is after Gods own heart and sometimes I feel as though I don’t live up to this call. The liberating thing is, is that God doesn’t see me the way than man sees me. While I may let my parents, friends, family and even myself down, there isn’t anything I can do to cause God to love me any less. He has fearfully and wonderfully made me (Psalms 149:13), with a specific purpose. While I was still a sinner He saved me and was the atonement for all of my sins (Romans 5:8). What amazing grace! 

God speaks though Isaiah reminding us not to fear! God has already paid our debt, He has called us by name, what do we have to fear? No longer do I have to fret disappointing God, He loves me anyway. He has redeemed me! When He paid the ultimate sacrifice on the cross, he paid my debt. He gave it all so that I might have life and life more abundantly (John 10:10)! So not only has God liberated me from fear, He has redeemed me and summoned me by name! Think about that. The God of the whole universe knows you and I by name. I think about my classes in school and to be quite frank with you, I don’t know everyone by name. Thats probably about 100 people who I see regularly and I can’t even name them all, but yet the God of the whole universe knows me by name. To think that He cares that much about me, and knows every intricate detail about my life is overwhelming but, it gets better. He says, “ You are mine.” Woah. The Lord of all the universe, has called me His own. I know that I am proud of the things that I claim or call mine. They are things that I treasure and hold with high regard and value. According to dictionary.com the definition of “mine” is belonging to or associated with me. We belong to God, He associates us with Himself. What an honor. Even in my weakness the savior has called my name and calls me His own. Find freedom in the fact that you are His and that He is holding you in the palm of His hands. Psalms 73:23 says, Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.”

Guatemala.

Tidbits of Guatemalan Lessons:

This past December, I was privileged enough to spend a week in the beautiful county of Guatemala. There we were able to help begin paving the way to a bright future for many Guatemalan boys. 

The Reality: Statistics show a grim future for the young boys in the area we were working in. Most 3 out of every 4 boys join a gang by the time they are ten years old. The average life expectancy in this area is 25 years old, due to the immense violence and drug activity they are faced with on a daily basis. The general trend for these boys is to impregnate a woman and leave. Women, left and abandoned, seek love from the next man who comes into her life offering some glimpse of hope and a brighter future. The men have their way and leave these women alone with a broken heart and responsibilities greater than they could have ever imagined. Young boys are left without a strong male father figure and thus fall into gang and drug activity. While all of this is heart shattering, there is hope for these boys. We serve a God who is able to do the impossible and a God who can make broken things whole. A God who cares deeply for every, single one of these young boys and who has a plan and a purpose for their lives. 

The good stuff: Matthew 9:37-38 says, “Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The plan: Obviously, the harvest in Guatemala is ripe. There is a harvest field full of work that is yet to be done there, and a dying people in need of a life giving savior. While there we were able to work with one man whose plan is to give some of these boys hope and a better future. Nathan, is in the process of building a home for these boys where they will be able to receive a quality education, Godly discipleship and a place to grow in the ways of the Lord. We were blessed with the opportunity to begin the preparation for the foundation of this awesome ministry. While there we began carving a road up the side of a mountain, moved hundreds of cinderblocks and rocks, tore out a tree and did basic land preparations for the great boys home that has yet to come. 

Lessons learned: Working in Guatemala was some of the hardest work that I have ever done. Each day we put sweat and yes, blood, as we received many cuts and bruises along the way, into the land that we worked and the rocks that we moved. That land was our mission field. It causes me to question my walk with the Lord from three different view points.

a.) Why am I not actively working with the same effort, the same amount of sweat, blood and tears in the harvest field that God has set in front of me on a daily basis? Each one of us have such a mission field in our “own backyards” if you will. 1st Corinthians 7:24 talks about how God has called us each to a situation and that God has us where we are. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” 

b.) Just as Nathan is working to prepare a better place for these boys, God is preparing a better place for us as His bride. Am I staying the course, and running the race towards the prize as Paul talks about in 1st Corinthians chapter nine? Do I make every effort to press onward towards the goal?

c.) What about the areas in my life that need work? Am I digging up the roots, pulling out the weeds and removing the obstacles in my life that hinder my relationship with God?

These are slight tidbits into some of the lessons that God taught me while in Guatemala. While these lessons may seem commonly taught I feel like its one thing to know them, and a totally different thing to actually go and live them out. I am striving for the work that I do in the harvest field that God has placed in my life to be a pleasing sacrifice to Him. To live passionately for my creator and to be able to live out all of the things that I know. 

God is doing great things, not only in Guatemala but in all parts of the world. Continue to keep the nations in prayer as the coming of our Great savior is near.  

Volcanoes.

While in Guatemala, God, as He usually does, taught me many important lessons in ways that I did not expect to learn them. One of these lessons came about through hiking a volcano. For those of you who don’t know, volcano’s are very steep. This little detail was one that I was unaware of, but anyway. We set out on our trek up the volcano. Considering the fact that I love to run and do so on a regular basis I did not think this hike would be too bad. Well, I was wrong, which is not unusual. I found that each step was a challenge. I had to stay focused on the goal of reaching the top the whole time (Philippians 3:14, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”). God began to throw ideas into my head as I climbed. This trek was very similar to my walk with Him. It wasn’t going to be easy, I was going to have to work at it and I needed to rely on Him each step of the way to make it to the top. Sometimes during our hike the volcano was very steep and it was hard to climb, it felt like each step I took wasn’t taking me anywhere. Other times during the hike we caught a breather as the land leveled out and we were able to look out and see how far we had come. This reminded me of my spiritual walk and how sometimes, it gets hard, I can’t see where I’m going and don’t feel like I’m going anywhere but in reality, I’m slowly gaining endurance as I work my way up the mountain. Other times its going to be easy, God is going to throw a simple blessing in my life and reveal His goodness to me. 

Finally, when we reached the top of the volcano, I was blessed with one of the most beautiful sights that I have ever seen. I stood in awe of Gods majestic creation. The top was unlike anything that I have ever seen or could have possibly imagined. Sometimes in our spiritual walks we have to climb the volcano, its going to be hard but what God has in store for us is so much better than anything that we could have ever imagined. The amount of beauty in His plan for us far exceeds the amount of difficulty in our trials.

As I easily climbed down the mountain I realized lots of things that I had missed on the hike up. I learned that just like in this hike, I need to focus less on the difficulty of my situation and more on what God is doing in the midst of my tribulations. The land near the top of the volcano was desolate and dead. Sometimes we have to walk through the dessert to reach the beauty of the mountain top. Then as we progressed down the volcano, we entered an area with dead trees. God reminded me of Psalms 23:4, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” I felt kind of like David as I hiked through the wilderness of the volcano. God was with me through my wilderness and had such a plan for me. Little did I know what was waiting on the other side as we approached an area of luscious green trees and plants. I noticed that the same soil that was in the wilderness was the same soil in which the beautiful plants grew. God sometimes sends us through the wilderness to prepare us for what He has waiting on the other side. The strength I gained from the hike up gave me endurance for the hike down, just like our trials prepare us for what God has in store for us. Its humbling to me how God works and speaks to us in mysterious ways, who would have thought that I would have learned so much from a simple volcano hike. What a mighty God we serve.