Isn't it strange?

I got this via email the other day, thought it was good, and wanted to share:

Isn't it strange how a 20 dollar bill seems like such a large amount when you donate it to church but such a small amount when you go shopping?

Isn't it strange how 2 hours seem so long when you're at church, yet seem so  short when you're watching a good movie?

Isn't it strange that you can't find a word to say when you're praying, but you have no trouble thinking what to talk about with a friend?

Isn't it strange how difficult and boring it is to read one chapter of the Bible but how easy it is to read 100 pages of a popular novel?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants front-row-tickets to concerts or games but they do whatever is takes to sit at the last row in Church?

Isn't it strange how we need to know about an event for Church 2-3 weeks before the day so we can include it in our agenda, but we can adjust it for other events in the last minute?

Isn't it strange how difficult it is to learn a fact about God to share it with others; but how easy it is to learn, understand, extend and repeat gossip?

Isn't it strange how we believe everything that magazines and newspapers say, but we question the words in the Bible?

Isn't it strange how everyone wants a place in heaven, but they don't want to believe, do, or say anything to get  there?

Isn't it strange how we immediately send jokes in emails, but when we are going to send messages about God,  we think about  it twice before we share it with others?

HondurasVideo2010

What a week!

What a crazy rollercoaster of a week! Some days have been good, others just strange, and another one or two were simply no fun at all! As with every day, it is through the grace of God that I’ve made it through – that we’ve all made it through!

I have been extremely stressed between work, school, and some other more personal issues. I wish I had the answers to all of life’s questions. I do not though. I know we’re not supposed to, but I'm often anxious and worry a lot... I have been extremely challenged with some things and by some people the past few weeks. This week a few conversations got me to thinking about lots of other things. I quickly became feeling overwhelmed. Not only did I feel overwhelmed, I even felt under attack.

By Thursday, I was extremely frustrated. I ended up texting three select friends asking them to pray for me. All three responded with kind words. One said, “When you start wanting more of God and not just more of His things (i.e. blessings, peace, comfort….) Hell sits up and takes notice and sends out an all out attack. Just know, you’re on the right track when that happens”.  I was definitely feeling attacked from every direction! The last message I got was from a friend reminding me that, “Attacked does not mean defeated!” Boy, was I feeling defeated. Nothing was going right. One thing led to another, which led to another, which led to a snowball effect.

Speaking of a snowball effect, have you ever noticed that worry has that effect? You start to worry about one thing, which is somehow linked to another, then another, etc. Your job is related to the money you bring home. When you think about money, you think about paying the bills. When you think about the bills, you think about your electricity, cable, water, phone, etc. When you think about all of that, you think about your kids, and the list goes on and on. Somehow, things to always be intertwined.

If you’re like me, you worry a lot about the future. You may wonder “What If”. I do that all the time! What if this happens or that happens? What if it doesn’t happen? Will it ever happen? I despise myself for doing that because it really shows a lack of faith on my part. God says, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen". – 1 Peter 5:6-11 (NIV).

If you’re like me, and need the reminder, here it is: God is in control! Cast your cares on him, and stop worrying about every minute detail of every situation. The devil will take any opportunity he can to cause you grief, pain, confusion, frustration, etc. Resist him! He does not have all of the power; God does!

Feet and Serving

This may sound like a strange combination, but I can’t get feet and serving off of my mind. I wrote about it in December, but one of my “moments” in Honduras was being at the feet of the people. Not just figuratively, but literally. We were at the feet of the people. We were on our hands and knees trying to fit children (and a few adults) with flip flops. I had a moment that is sort of difficult to explain. I knew I was doing exactly what I was meant to be doing there.  It didn’t matter how sore my knees were; I was at the feet of the people. I was serving them. I could feel the presence of Jesus. He was teaching me to be more like Him. He was teaching me to serve. Thankfully, He still is.

I heard a message a couple of Sundays ago at Friendship in Athens about Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. What a perfect message for me! It just reiterated everything I was already feeling. I have never gotten such a vivid image of what Christ actually did that day. I could visualize him putting the towel around his waist, preparing the water, and gently washing their feet. What a beautiful, yet humbling picture!

I haven’t been able to get the scripture off of my mind, so I’m going to share it with you. The Bible says:

“¹Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end. ²And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him; ³Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come from God, and went to God; ⁴He riseth from supper, and laid aside his garments; and took a towel, and girded himself. ⁵After that he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. ⁶Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord, dost thou wash my feet? ⁷Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now; but thou shalt know hereafter. ⁸Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. ⁹Simon Peter saith unto him, Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head. ¹⁰Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. ¹¹For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. ¹²So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? ¹³Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. ¹⁴If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another's feet.¹⁵For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. ¹⁷If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.”

Lots of things in Honduras caught my attention. One of the biggest things was all of the bare, dirty feet. When I was at the feet of the people, the scripture above came to mind. Jesus, the King of Kings, was willing to wash the feet of the disciples. He humbly stripped out of his clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. I can imagine him kneeling next to Peter. He taught Peter and the others how to be served. More importantly, He taught them how to serve. He gave them an everlasting example they we too should carry out. We must humble ourselves. We must get to the feet of the people who are in need. We must do the things that no one else wants to do or even sees a need for. That is what Jesus did, and that’s what He wants us to do.

Below are a few pictures of some of the feet of the people we served in Honduras:

 Would you be willing to wash their feet? Could you/Would you humble yourself as Jesus did?

Bonito Baby Boy!

Today I saw a picture of the most bonito baby boy in the world! I showed the picture to everyone who walked by my desk and even emailed it to someone. What can I say? I’m a proud tia (aunt).

This picture makes me smile and literally giggle. I just want to hold that precious baby and kiss that sweet face! He is so loved! I can’t help but think about the circumstances that Alejandro was conceived. Who knows where he and Karla would be if they weren’t at the mission. Praise God, they are at the mission though! I am so glad to know that Karla and Alejandro have a home where they are adored and loved, just as they should be! I look at this picture and it gives me hope. God can bring joy and happiness to the darkest and most hopeless of situations. This beautiful baby is proof of that!

What have you been doing?

This song is amazing. The part of it that always really gets me is "God, what have I been doing"? It convicts me every time. So, my question for you today is this: What have you been doing?

How long has it been since you've felt that fire?

I just have to say that I love to see God working! Yes, He is working on me and in my life. What really excites me though is to see Him working in the lives of others though. I had someone come up to me earlier this evening asking about my trip to Honduras. We spoke about Honduras for a little while, but then we got to talking about what God had been doing in his life. He thought he was saved at a young age and got baptized. Turns out, he was just a young kid doing what everyone else was doing. Almost a year ago this adult man was saved and baptized. Praise God!

This man is seeking God with everything he’s got. He’s trying to be a good influence for his wife and family, his co-workers, and his friends. He is diving into the word of God and trying to understand it all. He’s trying to figure out how it applies to his life. He told me about getting back into church and all of the great things happening in his church. He asked me questions. What a blessing to be able to spend time with another Christian and talk about how amazing our God is. How wonderful to help minister to a new Christian.

I couldn’t help but notice how on fire he was. I invited him to go on the Emmaus Walk. I told him that I thought he would truly enjoy it and learn a lot at the same time. I’ve invited men before. They all say no. Not this one! Not only did he want an application, he also wanted one for his friend. Did I mention that it’s amazing to see God working?!

After speaking to this man, I couldn’t help but think about us as Christians. I got to thinking about that fire we experience after our salvation. I also got to thinking about how so many of us seem to have lost that fire and fervency for God. So, here are some questions for you: How long has it been since you’ve felt that fire? How long has it been since you’ve been excited about God? How long has it been since you’ve had the desire to dive into your Bible and feast on God’s word? How long has it been since you’ve been excited to go to church? How long has it been since you’ve visited the widowed and shut-ins in your community? How long has it been since you’ve done whatever it is that you know God would want you to do?

Has it been too long? Can you even remember the last time you felt that fire? When looking through scripture, I found Luke 24:32. I kept thinking about that fire within our hearts… I kept wondering how to renew that fire after we feel like it’s completely burnt out... Luke 24:32 says, “And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?” Their hearts burned within them while the scriptures were opened. Maybe we should open our Bibles more often and see what happens. That fire that is feeling so dim and non-existent just might be renewed!

Until the Whole World Hears

I have been thinking a lot the past few months about us being His hands and feet. Every time I hear this song, it reminds me about the need... Sure there is a need here in the United States. There is a bigger picture though. There is a great big world outside of the United States. We need to be His hands and feet there too. We need to be open to the call. We need to be willing to go when we receive that call; no matter where it is and no matter what the cost.