She walked into the office with a task to complete. The day was going by well. She and her co-workers had plenty of things to keep them busy, and thankfully it wasn't just busy-work,which allowed the day to go by fast. She handed off the message then was reminded to check finances; something she had intended to do for the past couple of weeks but kept forgetting. Awaiting the file to open she thought of the end of the year where she would set aside whatever was left for a trip down to Mexico in November with friends. The file opened and the screen blurred except five red symbols. Instantly all previous thoughts vanished. Her mind went into panic mode. Not only does she not have money but she is in debt. How could this be? she asked herself over and over. Question upon question blurred through her head as she walked out of the office fighting back tears of frustration and unbelief. She went into a room in the back away from others pacing, but only for a short time because she knew that she needed to get back to work. As she returned to work the thoughts were to overwhelming. What am I going to do? She walked over and waited while her boss ended a phone conversation then explained. He smiled then said, "Don't worry about it where God guides He will provide. Trust Him."
Ironic how one can speak to others of Trust in God and they too say it of their lives which may be true but when a test comes our way we buckle.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God ; trust also in me."
Jesus to His disciples (John 14:1)
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Who Do I Think I am?
This past week I was talking with a friend. We were sitting in the main room downstairs in the dorms with approximately eighty people around whether upstairs in the main room we were or shuffling in between. He asked me, "What's something that has been a struggle for you?"
I began to explain, "Hanging out with the different groups that come down is probably one of the hardest things for me because I'm not a game playing, small talk person. I'd rather sit down discuss; what's going on in your life? what's God doing? how are you? etc. I want to create a relationship with someone then play games because then I know the relationship we have is based off of more then frivolous things."
All the while one of our mutual friends was sitting across the room playing a game of Egyptian Rat Screw (a card game) with the some of the group. He responded in love, "But when she(referring to our friend playing the game) sits down to play a game she is saying 'You matter to me. I'm taking time and investing it in you.' She's building a relationship with them as they play the game. Not everyone is like you and is able to dive into discussion and open up that way. We have to be all things to all people."
I didn't really know how to respond. It wasn't that I felt "burned" by what he said but that he was right. Who do I think I am? That I am able to say this is the way I am so if people have to do it my way because I'm not stepping out? I immediately thought of how one day I will be, Lord willing, sharing the gospel with Muslims in their culture - being all things to them. But who do I think I am that I can do that there but I can't even do it here with people of my culture?
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
_1 Corinthians 9:19-23
(italics, bolding mine)
It's not just about when I get there someday, yes be thinking about it but be living it out now. I wrote about this quote from another friend a little while ago, "I have Salvation and I know if should affect my everyday life. But what does that look like?" One way is to live all things to all people every day; now and then also when I get to wherever the Lord leads.
I began to explain, "Hanging out with the different groups that come down is probably one of the hardest things for me because I'm not a game playing, small talk person. I'd rather sit down discuss; what's going on in your life? what's God doing? how are you? etc. I want to create a relationship with someone then play games because then I know the relationship we have is based off of more then frivolous things."
All the while one of our mutual friends was sitting across the room playing a game of Egyptian Rat Screw (a card game) with the some of the group. He responded in love, "But when she(referring to our friend playing the game) sits down to play a game she is saying 'You matter to me. I'm taking time and investing it in you.' She's building a relationship with them as they play the game. Not everyone is like you and is able to dive into discussion and open up that way. We have to be all things to all people."
I didn't really know how to respond. It wasn't that I felt "burned" by what he said but that he was right. Who do I think I am? That I am able to say this is the way I am so if people have to do it my way because I'm not stepping out? I immediately thought of how one day I will be, Lord willing, sharing the gospel with Muslims in their culture - being all things to them. But who do I think I am that I can do that there but I can't even do it here with people of my culture?
For though I am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.
_1 Corinthians 9:19-23
(italics, bolding mine)
It's not just about when I get there someday, yes be thinking about it but be living it out now. I wrote about this quote from another friend a little while ago, "I have Salvation and I know if should affect my everyday life. But what does that look like?" One way is to live all things to all people every day; now and then also when I get to wherever the Lord leads.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Seasons
It was getting close to the week where I'd have to part with a close friend and I was told that life is full of many seasons and that this was one. I recognize that life is indeed full of season even nature reminds me of this as I walk outside, of course they are a bit more obvious when I live in Michigan. Throughout my life I have had several friends and throughout the years I have a couple close friends. In elementary school into middle school and junior high there were a couple but we grew out of picking our noses and playing with blocks...we started to become who we are. There were friends that were lost due to crushes and us thinking that whoever that "week's" was was more important. There were some lost because sports became more important or school. Then in high school friendship seemed to be deeper and I hoped that the day would never come to prove everyone true, "you don't stay friends with your friends from high school." Then there is the cliche of "distance makes the heart grow fonder" ...Now there have been many friendships that went through a lot throughout the years and have stuck through the drama, the relationships, and the distance. But I was just reminded of these seasons again this past week as I became friends with one of the groupos who came with her church then once again at the end of the week to say goodbye. When I came back for my second "semester" here I found myself not wanting to open up at all because I wondered if I could do it all over again...become so close or even close with people only to say goodbye. I wondered, when this season of goodbyes, as cliche as that may sound, would end? But then i realized that I can't live that way. Enclosed. Never to be real with people. While seasons are always changing and I don't think this season will ever end but to be transparent with people show them who you truly are...always in hopes that they would see you...you being a sinner saved by grace. And in hopes that they if they aren't already your brother or sister that through that friendship and transparency that they might and then we no longer have to say goodbye but hasta luego, see you later. Now this still as, so true as it is...does not make this season easy, easier yes but facil no. posible un dia...
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
God is moving!
brief sentences of excitement:
a friend of mine who is not a believer, is noticing a difference, I hope they realize it is Christ.
I've been praying and praying for a friend and I'm seeing fruit. In His time, in HIS time.
I thought I had a plan, as I always do and He thwarted it like He (always) does. Praise God for shaking my plans.
a person whose personality does not match mine and was a struggle for me, we are now friends.
worries of future, in His hands.
Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday
Praise the Lord for everyday and all He is doing
a friend of mine who is not a believer, is noticing a difference, I hope they realize it is Christ.
I've been praying and praying for a friend and I'm seeing fruit. In His time, in HIS time.
I thought I had a plan, as I always do and He thwarted it like He (always) does. Praise God for shaking my plans.
a person whose personality does not match mine and was a struggle for me, we are now friends.
worries of future, in His hands.
Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday
Praise the Lord for everyday and all He is doing
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Vapor - Really?
Last weekend one of my friends said something that has stuck with me, "Should salvation not effect our everyday lives? How would it look?" (And I have continued to ponder that then I started reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I read a little bit of this book then I'm overwhelmed and I have to stop and think and evaluate my life.
"It's crazy that we think today is just a normal day to do whatever we want with. To those of us who say, " today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money," James writes, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Wht is your life? You are a mist that appears for little while and then vanishes" (4:13-14).
oh and then
"Frederick Buechner wrote, 'Intellectually we all know that we will die, but do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as thought it were true. on the contrary, we tend to live as thought our lives would go on forever.'"
pg40
I'm that person Francis and Buechner describe. I think future for when I'm on the missions field, when I'm at the University, when... and yes I KNOW that someday I'll day but what if it were today would I be happy with my actions, thoughts, words? Would other people see me living eternally? For Christ?
"It's crazy that we think today is just a normal day to do whatever we want with. To those of us who say, " today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money," James writes, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. Wht is your life? You are a mist that appears for little while and then vanishes" (4:13-14).
oh and then
"Frederick Buechner wrote, 'Intellectually we all know that we will die, but do not really know it in the sense that the knowledge becomes a part of us. We do not really know it in the sense of living as thought it were true. on the contrary, we tend to live as thought our lives would go on forever.'"
pg40
I'm that person Francis and Buechner describe. I think future for when I'm on the missions field, when I'm at the University, when... and yes I KNOW that someday I'll day but what if it were today would I be happy with my actions, thoughts, words? Would other people see me living eternally? For Christ?
Friday, February 27, 2009
Todos Dias
Everyday.
You give me another chance everyday.
The day before or even the morning of
My thoughts may extend to you through struggle and confusion
Even at times anger but
Everyday your mercies are new
And you reveal to me a little more of your grace and who you are.
Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday.
You give me another chance everyday.
The day before or even the morning of
My thoughts may extend to you through struggle and confusion
Even at times anger but
Everyday your mercies are new
And you reveal to me a little more of your grace and who you are.
Praise the Lord for your all-knowingness,
For the grace and love I cannot fathom.
Praise the Lord for everyday.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Thoughts from Sunday Evening Message
What if we were the disciples and he asked us on the day of his crucifixion, "Follow me. Experience this with me." what if? would we? Would we want to go? Talk about fellowship as the first nail goes into His hands and He screams. then the first nail goes into yours and you scream all the while looking into each others eyes. Intimate Fellowship.
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
v.10-11
message from Phil. 3:1-11
that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
v.10-11
message from Phil. 3:1-11
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