So Long for Now

Why haven’t I written my closing paper on leaving the mission field yet? Why am I putting it off and avoiding it? Why do I consider not even writing one all together? Because once I do, it will become official in my heart and mind. I have lived my life trying to avoid sadness and pain, but sometimes these feelings are necessary, and it’s okay.

            I have been living in Costa Rica for the last 6 months. It seems to outsiders like I have been on a great vacation going to the beach and having adventures, but no one knows my heart besides the Lord. No one knows the wild changes that have taken place in my personal life behind the scenes, behind the cameras, behind closed doors, in my very small bedroom in my 2-room apartment.

            Sure, God has done glamorous work on the outside of things. I have seen kids change their demeanor as the love of Christ continually penetrates their hearts every day. I have seen lovers of God being led in worship and sinners come to the cross of life in repentance. I have seen mountains being moved in the lives of my team-mates, as well as the mountains literally moving in the 7.6 earthquake I experienced. As the ground all around me shook and I clung to Caitie and the doorway to stay standing all I could think about was, “This is your power, O God. Let it shake.” I have seen healing, and restoration, the fruit of forgiveness and submission, and I have seen prayers being answered in abundance. But what else has happened that one cannot simply see? We know from Romans 1:20 that, “Since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” But we also have this. Hebrews 11:1- “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”

            There is a boy here named Gustavo. Now, Gustavo is beyond you’re average kid. Not even 10 years old he spends most of his time at a neighbor’s house down the street from his own, speed-riding bikes that are too big for his feet to reach the pedals, throwing rocks and sticks with surprising force into the branches of a mango tree to knock a fruit down, and terrorizing people younger than him, older than him, smaller than him, and those twice his size. We can tell Gustavo is outside because we hear his deep boisterous voice yelling at someone or something, even when everyone is standing right next to him. He has one speed; FAST, and he has one direction; CIRCLES. Like a lot of the other kids in the Potter’s Field program, little Gusty (Which he made clear I was not allowed to call him) has had a hard home life. He has trouble sitting still and quiet in class, and even more trying to contain himself from beating up the other kids. It has just become a part of his nature to fight, to yell, to demand, and to disobey. In April, Caitie and I put up a sign on our fridge, “Pray for Gustavo and family,” to remember to continue lifting them up to the Lord in our time serving in Costa Rica.

            Pastor Mike and Pam and the Potter’s Field Ministry tour visited my home church in May. My mom went with my family and some of her friends and at the end of the service one of her friends, Robin, decided she wanted to help sponsor the program. There were hundreds of pamphlets out on the sponsorship table, with pictures of the Potter’s Field Kids from three different countries in sealed envelopes waiting to be taken home by willing supporters. I received a message from my mother on facebook within the next week, “Robin wanted to sponsor Potter’s Field. Her prayer child is a boy named Gustavo, he’s from Costa Rica, do you know him?” My heart jumped. Surely the Lord knows who needs prayer, and surely He takes care of those who are being earnestly prayed for.

            I accept that I may never see the fruit of the work the Lord has done through me here in Costa Rica. I may never see the final product of all of the memory verses we ran through with Gustavo about the love of Christ for him, all of the songs about the joy of the Lord that were taught, and all of the kindness we were able to give through the power of the Holy Spirit. But we have a declarative promise from the Lord in Isaiah 55:11 that encourages us, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

            There have been seeds sown here in the hearts of these little ones we’ve worked with, in Costa Rica with my team as well as in Africa and El Salvador with the rest of our 2012 ignite interns. These seeds will be watered as life goes on, and we need to trust God and remember that He is before all things and in Him all things hold together (Colossians 1:17). We think of the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 3:7, “So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.”

            It is hard to admit that this season in my life is coming to a quick close. It has honestly been the fastest and longest 6 months of my life. Today, I look forward to the next year of my life. I have no job, and a small amount of money. I get to see my God-loving, and God-fearing, boyfriend in 7 days. Like me, as of now he has no money, and no job. As of today he doesn’t even have a place to stay when we return home. I have seen God’s power and faithfulness in situations such as this before, and am eager to see them again. I have my Jesus, my rock and my salvation, and therefore I have everything I need. Today, I am content within. I am excited for the next chapter of my life because I only expect to see God work in amazing ways. Even in the mundane, I pray for the radical. I love Jesus and I miss my boyfriend and family like crazy. I know I have made life-long friends in Costa Rica, and I also look forward to returning to my friends at home. This walk in truth was not promised to be easy, but we also stand firm in the love of God, that is in Christ Jesus, remembering the words of Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit of our God, Romans 8:18- “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.”

WE PRESS ON!

            

Birthday IBS

August 27, 2012

1 Corinthians 7:3- “The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband.”

Interpretation: What does this mean? And what, exactly is my marital duty to my husband? Ephesians 5:22 says, “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord,” and verse 33 says, “However, each of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.” I am called to submit to my husband as to the Lord and also to respect him. In our culture the word “submit” sends shudders down our spines and can even put a feeling of slavery into our heads. But we must break this down Biblically. In the Godhead, there is the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. While all being separate, they are all one. In life, the Son submitted to the Father his whole entire walk, even to death on a cross. But it is important to bring to light that the Father loved the Son, and lead him to the cross only to resurrect him and bring life to all who believed. Submission can be slavery; Think of how often we submit to our sin. We know from John 8:34 that, "Everyone who sins is a slave to sin." But submission to the right constraints brings freedom. As a wife, I must be ready to die to myself and submit to the Godly man who will be my head, as Christ is the head of the church. When I do this as to the Lord, knowing with my own Spiritual discernment that the Lord will put someone who is hearing from Him in charge of my family, there will be peace. Love is more than just a feeling, love is strong, and unshakable, and committed. It is my duty to be all of these things to my husband, trusting that God has the right man for me who is going to give everything up for me, just as Christ did for the church.

Application: I will pray for a chance to submit to my authority today, as unto the Lord, and will do it joyfully knowing I am serving the living God. 

August 22, 2012 (39 Days Left)

        It’s pouring rain right now in Costa Rica. Caitie is at Puda Vida Church singing with Alex and Lizzie. Josh is practicing his finger picking on guitar. I’m sitting outside on a rocking chair. Our landlord's two dogs have adopted us now. Newton comes to me when I whistle to him and licks me till I push him away. Kayla is sitting outside of Josh’s apartment like a proud mama lion. Corey’s sheets hang on the clothesline. A familiar smell comes to me- like salt air on Cape Cod. I think of my grandfather and miss my youth. The rain makes me feel safe, like I’m closed into this little box, being hugged by the Lord. The thunder reminds me of who is in control. If I had to imagine the awe-struck terrifying glorious wonder of the Lord Almighty who spoke existence into being- I would imagine thunder would be a small scale of his presence. Yet the Lord speaks to us in gentle whispers. How mighty and mysterious is the One true living God. How curious that he loves us sinners so much as to do everything for us…to live as a human for us… and to die for us.

         I think of my time here in Costa Rica. It was hard. July was a hard month, it seemed to drag on and on. But now, entering August, it is hard to believe that it is already almost September, our month of returning to the States. But God is the master of time, and all things are in his complete control. There have been a lot of tears, a lot of brokenness, and a lot of joy and encouragement. All of the days of frustration and confusion melted away yesterday at Potter’s Field. One of the girls who comes every other week, Cindy, came and sat down next to me on the couch. She put her arm around me and whispered in my ear, “Te quiero mucho Megan.” My whole entire world could have stopped and I would only have one thing left to do to be complete- Praise Jesus.

        Tonight as I walked the muddy road from the church back to the apartments I found I didn’t have my usual heavy load on my shoulders. I am excited for the rest of my life. –and for me to die is GAIN!!!!! Jesus, thank you for this experience. Thank you for the hard lessons, thank you for everything that has brought me closer to you. I pray you continue to have your heart and hands on Costa Rica. I ask that you strengthen the next team to come as well as your servants here and their families.

        What do you have next for me I wonder Lord? I know things aren’t always clear-cut, but I trust you with my life. And you are always good. Even when things are bad Father, you are good.

         You are a mighty healer Lord. Continue to teach us, continue to train us, and continue to pour out your new mercies upon us every morning. I love you Abba, Father. I pray this faithfully and with thanksgiving and praise and expectation. In Jesus name, Amen!

Who is my master

August 20, 2012

1 Corinthians 6:12- “ ‘Everything is permissible for me’ – but not everything is beneficial. ‘Everything is permissible for me’- but I will not be mastered by anything.”

Interpretation: This verse seems to be Paul quoting an argument that people were making. In those days, one of the main sins was idol worship. Today, we don’t think of many people sacrificing animals to statues or praying to graven images. We don’t see any golden calves, and there are no high places built on the hills of cities. But the world hasn’t changed its ways of worship, it has simply changed its name and makeup. We may not sacrifice animals to “gods,” but we sacrifice our time to things like computer, music, other people, all over spending time with God. Golden calves take the place of golden jewelry and shiny cars, the high places in our lives include human philosophy, the media, and the approval of man. People were arguing that everything is permissible for them through freedom in Christ, and is Paul reminding them that not everything is beneficial. While we have freedom in our Christian life, we recognize that our freedom comes from submission to the right constraints. Paul writes in Romans 6:15- “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” And enforces this in v. 21 with, “What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of?” Things are permissible because of God’s grace, but we must remember Romans 2:4, “Or did you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance, and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you towards repentance?” We are no longer under the law, and therefore no longer slaves to sin. We are free under Christ who bought us out of slavery and took us into sonship and we must remember John 8:34-35 when Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family but a son belongs to it forever.” Christ is our master, let us not be mastered by the desires of our sinful nature anymore.

Application: I am going to pray that God reveals to me things that I am mastered by today, and submit to him for my freedom; knowing that everything is permissible for me, but not all things are beneficial. 

Good News

August 13, 2012

1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters not adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Interpretation: I myself am guilty of a lot of these things; Sexual immorality, idolatry, thievery, greediness, drunkenness, swindling. And along with these, a whole other list of things I have done or failed to do sits written in the annals of the books of heaven, waiting for judgment. Or at least, they were until Jesus washed them all away, and replaced my mistakes and failures with his perfect life’s righteous atonement. So here’s the punch line- If the “wicked,” along with all others on this list, will not inherit the kingdom of God…we must realize that no one is going to be inheriting the kingdom of God!! 1 John 1:8-9 says, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.” Now who do we go off confessing to? Our friends whom we have wronged? Someone we trust? A priest in a confessional? Hebrews 2:17- “For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people.” Matthew 27:51- “At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.” Jesus’ death on the cross tore the veil to the Holy of Holies that only a priest could enter once a year. We now no longer live under religion and the constraints of the law but through relationship and the submission to the Spirit. The word “confess” in the Bible does not mean simply to come clean, but “to agree with.” God knows that we are each sinners! That is why, in his great love and mercy, he sent himself as Jesus to pay the debt we could never fulfill, and to bring us back into peace and right standing with him by the blood of his Son. In v. 11 of this chapter Paul goes on to write, “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” It is so important in the times we live in to see that “homosexuality” is written included on this list of other sins! It is so important to understand that God does not single it out! That may not be a sin that I personally struggle with but I have already named the ones that have affected me in my life! It is ALL the same to the Lord, and he loves everyone equally and his death is sufficient for everybody. We will never be able to stand before our Holy God based on our own merit for (Romans 3:23-24), “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came through Christ Jesus.” An unloving God wouldn’t allow for redemption. An unloving God wouldn’t give second chances, third, forth, and fifth. An unloving God is not who I serve. I serve the God of all love, and of all grace and power. We are justified through our faith in Jesus Christ, and when that faith is sprung alive and goes to work in our hearts, that is when our lives begin.

Application: Connect a link to my blog on facebook. 

Leavened Lumps

July 30, 2012

1 Corinthians 5:8- “Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”

Interpretation: In v. 6 Paul tells us that “A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough.” In this verse, he goes on to tell us what the yeast represents. “Malice and wickedness.” I looked up the definition of malice and it said, “The intention, or desire to do evil.” “Wickedness” actually means the evil itself. If we keep this yeast of a little malice or a little wickedness in our lives, what can we expect now knowing that the yeast spreads through the whole batch of dough? The bread without yeast, or without malice or wickedness, is bread of sincerity and truth. I feel like that is where we all want to be; In a place of sincerity and truth. I know I do. But sometimes we can let even the seemingly tiniest of evil desires into our lives. It’s different for everyone; some people will be enticed by anger, some by jealousy, some by conceit. And we buy into these things and accept these things because we believe that they are going to get us somewhere positive, somewhere where we can feel justified, somewhere where we can have happiness and peace; we think that these things will lead us to sincerity and truth. In reality, according to this scripture, it is only the removal of those things that is going to get us to where we want to be! For malice and wickedness spread through our lives like yeast through dough, not leaving a part untainted.

Application: Continue to go through Galatians to let more of God’s word transform my life. 

Honestly how I'm Feeling

7/9/2012

1 Corinthians 4:8- “Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! You have become kings- and that without us! How I wish that you really had become kings so that we might be kings with you!”

Interpretation: I have all I want. I think that I need a new shirt, or a watch. I’m excited to go home so I can have my own car, join a gym, and eventually have my own house and my own life and family. I have all I want. I think that I want to take new photos, go new places, and fill myself up with food and with drink, but I already have all I want. I miss my friends and my parents and I am excited to be with everyone again. I am excited to have a job again and make my own income, but, already I have become rich. With my eyes on the world and my heart on my self and I feel empty and full of desires and needs. But God will bring to the light what is hidden in the darkness and will expose the motives of men’s hearts. When I come to the cross, and I sit at the foot of Calvary, and I watch the blood drip out of the hands of Jesus, the Holy and mighty maker of all things, he looks unto me and only says, “I love you.” I do have all that I want. Love, mercy, grace, and understanding unending. I am rich beyond measure. Why do I get up and leave this place? To chase after gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, that will not stand through the test of the fire? And what do I have that I did not receive? And if I did receive it, why do I boast as though I did not? I sit back down today, cross-legged and free underneath the shadow of the wings of God, filled underneath the cross of sufficiency.

Application: Today I will look for things I can do, or things I can give away to others, instead of looking to take care of my own. 

Tabernacle

June 25, 2012

1 Corinthians 3:17- “If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him: for God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.”

Interpretation: The Holy Spirit dwells inside of me. He makes himself comfortable to tabernacle among us, his small but important creation. How do I treat my temple? I used to destroy it. God says in Ephesians 5:18, “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit.” I used to drink and ruin the organs God gave me. I used to go tanning and destroy the healthy skin God gave me. I used to do drugs and all sorts of things that were hazardous to the one temple of the Holy Spirit that God gave me to take care of. Now that I am no longer in the dark, God is revealing more, less obvious ways He wants me to change to build up this temple and maximize it for what it is worth. Do I get enough sleep so that I can feel the prompts of the Spirit who resides inside of me? Do I drink enough water and eat enough whole, natural foods from the earth? Do I exercise and take care of the body He gave me? Do I grieve the Holy Spirit by my thoughts or actions? All of these things I am learning to do, and with the faithfulness and goodness of Jesus, they will come to completion.

Application: I will go running today in my mid-day break 

Written at the Ranch

1/17/2012

I want to write you a love song,
I want the earth to know
There is a hope
There is a place to rest your head,
There is a truth.
There is freedom.
There is love, faith, patience, and peace,
There is a creator
Who watches so closely.
There is someone who loves, forgives, and heals.
There is a king who is just,
And a judge who rules.
A friend who sacrifices,
And a father who never leaves,
Someone who listens,
Joy in trials,
And a light in the darkness.
A place with no more suffering,
No more death or tears,
There is a key
To the oppressor's chains,
No more self-righteousness, self-pity, or self-image,
The image of God
The breath of life
The blood of redemption
-There is good news-
It is waiting with open arms,
He is Jesus Christ

Contentment in Spiritual Gardening

June 18, 2012

1 Corinthians 3:10- “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.”

Interpretation: Paul is talking about how it is foolishness to claim to follow a certain person rather than God himself. He uses the example of how some may plant seeds, while others water them, but it is always God who makes anything grow. In relation to constructing a house, Paul says that he laid a foundation as an expert builder, for the foundation is Jesus Christ. It is awesome and encouraging to me to read that the great Paul understood that it is not important who plants, who waters, who lays the foundation, or who builds, for it is God who finishes everything and uses whom he will to complete his work. So many times I want to see the finished product, I want to plant the seed and water it and have fruit and flowers the next day. I want to lay the foundation, build the walls, and be the one who brings a house warming gift later that afternoon. God is reminding me to be faithful in the work he has put before me. To trust him with the finished products, and to do faithfully the appointed daily tasks he lays before me. Paul also says that we should be careful how we build. If the foundation is Jesus Christ, should not also the walls and ceiling be to the glory of God? We are a temple of the Lord; A dwelling place for the Holy Spirit. Nothing else matters beyond this.

Application: I will practice my guitar today working on worship songs to be sure that I am continually building Jesus on top of my foundation

Pruning hurts but leads to flowers

June 11, 2012

1 Corinthians 3:3- “You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men?”

Interpretation: So this is God speaking right to me. Jealousy and quarreling are still a part of me, and so I am acting as mere man. I think that the devil gets you to believe lies- minute by minute- that draw you back to worldliness and away from the life God wants you to live. We forget that we have been saved by grace- we don’t deserve anything we have. We look around at the church and try to match up ourselves to their standards; We put ourselves in a hierarchy and try to climb to the top. We still want to be number one. But Jesus says in John 13:14, “Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet.” There should be no jealousy, there should be no quarreling, these things are a result of keeping the flesh alive and not fully surrendering to the Spirit of Christ, who died to live in us. We all know that living by the Spirit bears the fruit that leads to life, so why do we get suckered into living as worldly when we already know living by the world bears fruit that leads only to death? God, help me to abide in you, so that you will abide in me. Help me to continue to die to myself daily in order that your everlasting love can shine through me to the world for your glory. Thank you Jesus for your word, Amen.

Application: I will stay off facebook this afternoon and instead spend time reading and doing productive things for the Lord.  

Goooood

June 4, 2012

1 Corinthians 2:12-“We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”

Interpretation: This verse brings me to a few other verses: 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love, and of self-discipline.” John 14:16-17, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him not knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry Abba, Father.” We have received the Holy Spirit of God who sets us free and guides us in all things. Our power, love, and self-discipline are all from the spirit of God. The Spirit testifies to the truth for us and confirms in us that we are indeed co-heirs with Christ. What has God freely given us? His Son, his word, his promises. In Luke 24 when Jesus reappears to his disciples, they still do not understand what was happening, but in verse 45 it says, “Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures.” The Spirit helps us to understand the things of God and have assurance in them. Romans 8:16 says, the Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” We should not look to the world for power or wisdom or knowledge because all of the help we could ever need was already given to us freely. 1 John 4:2-3 states, “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” We understand what God has given us because we do not have the spirit of the world, but the Spirit of understanding who is from God. And that is a free gift!

Application: I am going to spend alone time in the word today and write out some flash cards of scriptures I would like to memorize. Amen!

Got It

May 30, 2012

1 Corinthians 2:7- “No, we speak of God’s secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began.”

Interpretation: We speak about Jesus. Some people do not know Jesus, but before time began Jesus was destined for our glory. Our glory is in Christ, not in ourselves. God, I need help. I have all of these heart issues and no idea how to get a handle on them. I don’t want to be like this much longer- let alone for the rest of my life. I ask you to change me Lord, to change my heart so I can freely love others just as you loved me; So I can love you with all of my heart, mind, and soul, and not care what others think. I want to serve your Spirit living within me, but I keep fueling my flesh. I don’t know how to put this fire out, but I know that you can. Please show your mercy to me, I need it fresh every day. Please fill me with your Holy Spirit and lend me your eyes, your heart, and your ears for discernment and wisdom. Why am I so angry? Why do I refuse to let people in? Why do my relationships with the people I’m closest to- I end up pushing away? God eradicate this, I am tired of this anger…please send me to the root of it and lets conquer it together. I want to be a light, not this dark selfish love-sucker. I want to be a giver. I need your life, and your light, and please lead me to the answers I need. Thank you God, for you are faithful. I want to be a pleasure + a joy! …Not a burden! Please show me how to do this, please do this work in me Father. I recognize that I have these issues and I have probably had them for a long time and I have no idea how to handle them or get rid of them. But I know that you have the power to make this change in me. Please hold my hand Lord. Thank you Jesus for listening to my prayer, and always knowing the words of my heart before they even leave my mouth. Amen.

Application: Confess to Caitie what is on my heart, ask for forgiveness, and continue on.

Yup

May 27, 2012

1 Corinthians 2:4- “My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power…”

Interpretation: I always feel like I have to rely on myself to pull up the right answers at the right time or to say the perfect thing to someone in order to point them closer towards God. But by doing this I am not demonstrating the Spirit’s power and thereby not glorifying God by letting his glory work in me. Sometimes I definitely rely on the Spirit but for the most part I think that I try and work things out my own way. This reminds me of John 14:26 which says, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” It is the Holy Spirit himself who just brought that scripture back to my mind in order that the Father may be glorified. Paul’s power lied in his relationship with the Lord, it lied in his weakness, and upon his dependence on the Father. This is encouraging to me and I am excited to continue on my work by the power of God, not by my own knowledge or what I would consider wisdom.

Application: Memorize 1 Corinthians 2:4-5, and John 14:26.

Get It Elijah

May 22, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:31- “Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.’”

Interpretation: There are so many things that I have done that I love to talk about. I love swapping stories about the past as well as talking about the things God has brought me out of. But what gets me the most excited? The things God has done or God himself? How does one boast in the Lord? By speaking of him of course! The only thing I have the actual right to brag about IS my God, because my God is greater, stronger, and better over all life! Think of how much Elijah boasted about God to the 450 prophets of Baal. He didn’t hold back! He must have boasted in the Lord because he was so confident in him. And his confidence must have come from a relationship based in trust. I think I don’t boast about my God enough because I’m scared that I won’t know what to say or that I’ll misrepresent him. But, as it speaks about earlier in this chapter, our human words mean nothing in comparison to the word of God. No need to hesitate over sharing the truth :) ...It's GOOD NEWS! I love good news!

Application: Do things unto the Lord

BEAUTIFUL

May 16, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:25- “For the foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man’s strength.”

Interpretation: The foolishness of God is wiser than man’s wisdom, and his weakness is stronger than our strength! If this is true, how important must it be to trust in God and in his wisdom, strength, and power, which is, if we refer back to verse 24, Jesus! God is wiser and greater than man. Not just into others, but also into ourselves. I feel like I always need to do something in order for God’s work to get accomplished to it’s fullest peak, but God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness, so really all I need to do is fully submit and commit my way to him in order for him to accomplish what he wants through me. Also- God doesn’t make mistakes. God didn’t make mistakes in me being me and having the life, heart, and mind that I do. He set it all apart before the beginning of time. I need to trust Jesus to take care of me because he is the only one who is trustworthy!

Application: I will memorize this scripture tonight.

Jesus is the very wisdom of God

May 15, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:24- “…But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Interpretation: Proverbs 1:7- “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.” Proverbs1:20- “Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares.” Proverbs 2:12- “Wisdom will save you from the ways of wicked men, from men whose words are perverse.” Proverbs 3:13- “Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding…” Proverbs 3:19- “By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations, by understanding he set the heavens in place.” Proverbs 8.

Christ is the power of God and the wisdom of God. I remember being 15 and the only parts of the Bible I would read were Proverbs, the Psalms, and Job. I was so entranced by wisdom. I saw it as very valuable, and I would often ask God for it. It is cool that Christ IS the power of God, and he IS the wisdom of God. I asked God for wisdom, and he gave me Christ. I ask God for strength and it goes back to the glory of the savior. Everything in history points forward, while everything today points back, and it all leads to the cross. I don't need long drawn out speech, I only need to tell of the cross, of Christ, and use Jesus as my power and wisdom. His words, his life and resurrection. Jesus conquered death! That is great news!

Application: I will post another scripture as my status today, knowing it is God who changes hearts. [Matt 5:16!]

El Poder de La Cruz

May 14, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:23- “…But we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles…”

Interpretation: The power of the cross is the end game of Christianity. The power of the cross is the fruit of life. It is love so amazing that it was innocently and obediently led to death for the sake of the life of all who will put their faith in Christ alone. Why is Christ being crucified a stumbling block to Jews? Through the book of Acts Paul always preached in the synagogues first. He would bring up the scriptures and point towards Christ, but they always wanted to remain under the law. Romans 6:14 says, “For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.” (Romans 7:5-6 also good) Jesus came for the sake of love and grace; He came not to enforce the law but to demolish it. Religious people do not want to accept this. No one is good but God alone, and no one can get into Heaven on their own righteousness. The cross of God is foolishness to Gentiles because they are not even trying to keep the law. Jews and religious leaders don’t want to recognize grace, while Gentiles just want to live a good life. What is the cross to me? Not a stumbling block but a stepping-stone, not foolishness but logic and beauty. The cross is the key to the lock I have slung over the 10 foot high stone wall prison I built to protect my heart. The cross sets us free, mentally, spiritually, emotionally. The cross is power. The cross is death, and the cross is life to those who seek it.

Application: I want to preach Christ being crucified, but I need to remember that my own words won’t make the ultimate difference. The word of God is what penetrates hearts, along with prayer. I will find my note cards today and write down people’s names on them who I know need prayer. In the mornings I can shuffle them and will pray for whoever comes up!

Beautiful

May 10, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:19- “For it is written: ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.’” (Isaiah 29:14)

Interpretation: God will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and frustrate the intelligence of the intelligent. I feel like so often I have to do something wise and smart to stand up for Christ. On facebook I see people’s statuses about things of this world- how life is bad or how they want Obama to be re-elected. I feel like I have all of these opportunities to be a light- but usually when I say something I am outnumbered because the “wisdom” and “intelligence” of the world is made complete in ignorance. This verse makes me joyful though because I know that lies are illogical, and when people believe in them they will all have to eventually be frustrated and destroyed! God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and makes fools of the smartest of men. I so often feel like when I read these statuses I am being personally attacked and so my flesh wants to lash out in anger. But Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” WOW how refreshing! So yes, there are opportunities to be a shining light and a grain of salt, but we do not have to take the weight of the world upon our own shoulders. God is the one, by his word and his cross and his power, who is going to destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the intelligence of the intelligent he will frustrate.

Application: I will post 1 Corinthains 1:18 as my status and know that if anyone says anything foolish, I can come back to this and speak the truth in love and rejoice that the truth is going out + will accomplish the purpose for which God sent it, never returning void! This is the Lord’s battle, and my weapon is his word.

Oh Paul

May 7, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:16- “Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.”

Interpretation: Paul didn’t come to baptize but to preach the gospel, which he shares in the next verse, but here he shares who he has baptized. Along with Crispus and Giatus who he said he baptized in verse 14, Paul now makes the statement that he can’t remember if he baptized anyone else. I think about when I was baptized, I remember the day and the names of the two pastors who did it. It was important to me because it was something exciting and felt like a milestone in the journey. But Paul in these verses is exhorting the church in Corinth to be united under Christ, instead of divided under men. Paul baptized people because it was a command from God (Matthew 28:19- “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”), not because he was trying to gain or accomplish anything for himself, especially not followers or people who would make him into an idol and would fall away from the body of Christ to be a worshipper of man.

Application: Tonight I will do my other daily devotional book that I haven’t touched in a week to get more of God’s word in me to understand what he wants me to do and who he wants me to be IN HIM.

Unity

May 3, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:10-“I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

Interpretation: Wow wow wow wow wow! That’s a lot. Paul wants the church of believers in Corinth to be united in mind and thought. So where does true unity come from? And do we have in here in Costa Rica? How can we obtain unity with one another? What causes division anyway? Surely Paul heard of the power that came at Pentecost when all believers were of one accord, or the peace in Acts 2:44 when “All the believers were together and had everything in common,” right after the coming of the Holy Spirit when people were sharing everything they owned and resided in harmony. Paul wants the body of Christ to function as such, one body, one agreement, all serving the same living God by the same Spirit. I know that Satan is powerless against God; And against a body of believers who are dead to themselves so that God can be alive in them. When our God is for us, what can be against us?

Application: If my team is willing, I would like to pray together tonight to join and unite in mind and thought under the Lord. 

Doin' Work

April 30, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:2- “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be holy, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Interpretation: I love how Paul writes that his letter also goes to all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. This letter is truly for us, as well as the church in Corinth some 2,000 years ago. We are all called to be holy. I have heard that salvation takes a moment but sanctification takes a lifetime. It is interesting to me that I can see this refreshing process at work in my life. It surely is a process. After I cut drinking and drugs out of my life I thought I was going to be all set- but God continued digging through my heart- envy, selfishness, pride, things that God sees on the inside and so amazingly wants to replace with his love and truth. I pray for my heart to stay soft, understanding, and non-judgmental  to those who haven’t had this work yet begun in them because we’re all the same before receiving the grace of our Lord Jesus.

Application: I will pray tonight for strength for all of the believers in the places God has them and for strength in their trials (El Salvador + Africa teams)

1 Corinthians It Is

April 29, 2012

1 Corinthians 1:1- “Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes.”

Interpretation: Paul is writing a letter to the church in Corinth. He addresses himself as an apostle of Christ Jesus and brings up that it is the will of God. It was the will of God for me to be his servant and soldier of Christ Jesus just as much as it was his will for Paul. I have been praying since I came to Costa Rica for God’s will to be done in me everyday. I don’t know what his long-term plans are but I know I am supposed to be obedient to him day by day, and when I walk in joyful obedience his will is completed in me. I have done a lot of things out of my own fleshly desires and strengths but when I act outside of God’s will my actions turn back to the dust from which they came.

Application: I will memorize Romans 12:2 by tomorrow in order to strengthen my walk in God’s will. (Romans 12:2- “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- his good, pleasing, and perfect will.”)

I'm bad at creative titles but...

3/22/2012

Galatians 6:6- “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.”

Interpretation: I like this verse. Matthew 10:24-25 says, “A student is not above his teacher, not a servant above his master. It is enough for the student to be like his teacher, and the servant like his master.” So why must we share all good things with our instructor? I think of the friends I have who have gone up to the altar call by God’s lead in me inviting them to church, and His Spirit moving them to grab my hand and go up front and accept him. He has used me in this way many times, and each one is a blessing and an honor. Sometimes that is all there is, an altar call and then they don’t make it back to church. Sometimes they come a few times more, but there are a few, who are so precious to me in a different way than the others, because they actually let God change them. They are receiving instruction in the word, and when they hear good things, I love it when they share it with me! It is so amazing for me to see how God is working in a life, and that is just one reason why we should share all good things with our instructor. Also, in case there was any confusion and need for correction, the teacher could redirect the path of the student. I think of people who have instructed me in the word, my mother, my pastor, and the staff here. They must be so proud of us when we actually let God do work in our lives.

Application: Today I will write a letter to Cortney explaining good things I have learned since I have been here. 

Yep

3/22/2012

Matthew 11:5- “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”

Interpretation: Jesus didn’t give the disciples a yes or no answer to bring to John. What he did give them, however, is a little more convincing and reassuring than any yes or no could be. By not saying yes or no, he still leaves the choice to believe up to John, just as it is each of our personal decision’s to accept Christ as Lord and savior, even though God has made himself plain to us. Romans 1:20 says, For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities- his eternal power and divine nature- have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.” John was in prison and waiting for an answer about the God he so badly wanted to believe in. The blind receive sight; God can make the blind see as he did often in the New Testament, but also today he is the one who pulls the scales from our eyes to reveal to us who he truly is. The lame can walk and also those who have had no purpose their whole lives suddenly take part in the majesty of God’s will. Those who have leprosy have been cured, although there was no cure for leprosy. Just as our sin stains are taken away through Christ where there had been no hope of salvation before His promise was fulfilled. The deaf hear, and finally pearls are no longer being cast before swine but God’s word is making sense and feeding the believer. The dead are raised; we have gone from darkness to light, and death to life. The good news is preached to the poor. The physically poor as well as the emotionally poor, the spiritually poor, and the mentally poor. So let us ask ourselves, is Jesus the one who is to come? Or should we expect someone else? He didn’t give a yes or no answer, but his answer contained the loudest sound of a trumpet playing, “Yes, yes yes!”

Application: This is great news!! Yesterday I made a list of 10 main things I wanted to tell my family about when I came home in order to report exactly what I have heard and seen here at Potter’s Field. Today I will make a similar list for my friends. The report is positive, Jesus is the one!

Remember

3/21/2012

Matthew 11:4- “Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see:”

Interpretation: Jesus wanted John’s disciples to report to him what they heard and saw. This would not only build John’s faith, but build the disciples faith as well. John in this case was found doubting Jesus, even as a man of the highest significance within the group of the prophets. The disciples were putting their faith in action as they approached Jesus expecting a preferable answer. Right now I am sure I have people who believe in Jesus yet may have their doubts about all he can do, especially in my own life. In 7 days I am flying home to spend a week and a half with my mom, dad, and brother. I am so excited to report to them all I have seen and heard. My mom is a believer and, I’m sure like John the Baptist, anxiously awaits positive news. But I can also imagine, that like John, she has her doubts about the new person God has created me as. It can be discouraging to be a new creation and have others constantly line up their assumptions based on the “dead man.” This is especially difficult when it is someone who plays such an important role in your life. My father knows of the Lord but has never asked Him into his heart, and the last conversation with my brother ended around, “That’s good for you, just not for me.” It will be very important for me, therefore, to stay grounded in the Spirit and tell everything that I saw and heard, just the way it happened.

Application: I have experienced God moving so much in the past 3 months I don’t even know where to begin. I know that retelling stories and God-oincidences is going to heighten my faith as I remember all of the good things God has done in me. Tonight I will write out 10 main points that I want to share with my family when I go home, to increase their faith as well as solidify mine. 

Who?

3/20/2012

Matthew 11:3- “…To ask him, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

Interpretation: John the Baptist wanted his disciples to go and ask Jesus if he was the one who was to come, or, if they should expect someone else. Wait, wasn’t John the one to baptize Jesus in the Jordan River? Wouldn’t John have been there to see the Holy Spirit come down upon Jesus like a dove and heard a voice from heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased”? Interesting that John knew Jesus was the one whom God sent, yet he continued to ask and seek confirmation. I know and believe that Jesus is the way, and the truth, and the life. I know things like how God has a plan for my life and they are plans to prosper me and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope, and a future, but sometimes I want extra confirmation to these things. I don’t think that is necessarily a bad thing, but I also want to make sure that I don’t put God into a box where he needs to reveal things to me my way. Matthew 13:58, in reference to Jesus, says, “And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.”  I understand that we want signs and we want confirmation, but sometimes I think I can be too close to a situation in order to see it clearly for what it is. Here John the Baptist wanted to make sure Jesus was who he claimed to be, even though he already knew in his heart that he was the one who was to come. It is reassuring to me that Jesus answered the disciples and didn’t get upset for them asking. Jesus didn’t mind John wanting the extra confirmation.

Application: Sometimes I want confirmation in my heart on things. There are a few things that are on my heart that I want confirmation about, and will be praying about throughout my day. I will confide in someone with these things for more prayer, and seek answers in God’s word knowing I will find peace in his will. 

John the Baptist

3/18/2012

Matthew 11:2- “When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples…”

Interpretation: John the Baptist was in prison because king Herod wanted to be with his brother Philip’s wife Herodias and John was saying that it was unlawful. John had been prophesying about Jesus the messiah and was in jail when he heard the news about the things that Christ was doing.  He had gained a gathering of followers whom he sent to ask Jesus if he was the one who was to come or not. It is interesting that John still had followers even though he was in jail. It implies that although he was imprisoned, even for something he was not truly guilty for, he never stopped preaching and prophesying. He was still very concerned with what Jesus was doing and his disciples were faithful enough to stick by him and to go where they sent him. I think about when I feel like I am in prison. When I have been condemned and found at fault by the world even though all I have been doing is speaking the truth. When I feel beaten down, do I slow down? John the Baptist’s head was eventually cut off and presented to the king on a silver platter. Am I willing to risk my neck for the truth? And do I love enough to have my friends stick by me even when I am looking like a culprit to the world though I am simply trying to be an advocate for the truth?

Application: Satan can lock me up in a mental prison where I can find myself feeling hopeless and weak. It is important for me, like John the Baptist, to find out even more of what Jesus is doing so I can stay strong and even grow more in my faith. In the morning I will spend the time I would be doing my IBS writing in my journal to God, doing my other devotional book, and in prayer. 

Roller Coaster Favorite Ride

3/15/2012

Acts 1:7- “He said to them: ‘It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority.”

Interpretation: We always want to know when God is going to do something for us. We sit and pout and as our eyes remain focused on the not yet filled promise we sigh at our empty hands. Although our hands aren’t usually empty at all, just filled with all these other things we try and hold on to for comfort or contentment, which if we would only let go of, could make room for the things God is waiting to give us. Maybe it’s not that were waiting on God as much as he waits on us. He waited 20 years for me to stop messing around and start living for him and within the first month I had a list of requests I wanted God to do for me, or I at least wanted to know the times or dates, set by his own authority, that they would happen. I still do. God keeps reminding about Psalm 37:4, to “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” I think about waiting in line for a roller coaster. The line is long and when I keep looking at the roller coaster day dreaming myself on it I become anxious and excited, and the waiting becomes uneasy because I am looking ahead to things I shouldn’t even be trying to imagine because I am not yet there. It’s funny that even when I do, it’s never quite like I pictured it. Mostly because we don’t actually de-rail and go flying into the ground crashing and burning after all. If I take my eyes off, however, and focus on the friends who I’m standing with in the line, not only do I feel more comfortable, but the line goes faster! I also think of Deuteronomy 29:29, “The secret things belong to the Lord our God.” I think about the fall of man, the first lie Satan ever told to Eve was crafted to make her feel as if she was missing out on something, that God was withholding something good from her. I don’t want to fall for that lie. There are things I want in life but I need to continue to delight myself in the Lord, and before I know it I’ll be on that ride.

Application: Today I will write in my journal to God in the morning and throughout the day read the Bible and Out of the Comfort Zone. If I catch myself over thinking about when something I want is going to happen, I’ll read the word instead knowing it’s not for me to know. And that is not a bad thing.

When??

3/14/2012

Acts 1:6- “So when they met together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?’”

Interpretation: The people of God have been asking this question of Him since the moment the promise was given. Why do we always want to know what God is doing behind the scenes? And, if we did know, would it even help us to be more patient with Him? We always seem to want answers, but sometimes we’re even unhappy there. They were desperate for Israel to be restored. And I could not even imagine the excitement and mind-blowing and incomprehensible feelings they must have had as they traveled around with Jesus, the messiah, God himself in human flesh. They watched his resurrected body travel around town and now, finally, or so it seemed, Jesus was going back to the one who sent Him, and was coming back the same way he left, in the sky in a cloud of glory. Is it going to be in a few days Lord? Is it at that time you are going to restore the kingdom to Israel? Of course we know the answer is no, but they must have been thrilled. I remember before coming to Potter’s Field I was planning on going to the program in July. I was looking for a black and white answer, a yes or a no in scripture, or someone to tell me exactly what I needed to hear. When it came to be crunch time I decided to pray for God’s will, instead of an answer. And here I am. So God, you’re going to bring me that money I need in a few days right? When I go home? It’s like we can’t see how God is going to accomplish something so we just fill in the blank. And our attempts of trying to figure out how or when or why God is going to do something always fall short, if not backspin in the opposite direction. Something Pastor Don said when we were going through Philippians 4 was on the peace that surpasses all understanding. He said that we try to find peace by reasoning with our own minds. We try to create scenarios or conjure up thoughts that will supply our own peace for ourselves. God, you’re going to restore the kingdom to Israel…must be in a few days, right? But this would not be God’s peace. It would be the peace of man, not the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding. We need to continually trust in God’s promises, while letting God be God in our lives.

Application: I’m going to do my 365 day devotion today to continue to stay in the word and focused on God’s promises.

Pour

3/13/2012

Acts 1:5- “For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”

Interpretation:

Pour out your rain on my thirsty soul

Pour through my veins and cleanse my soul

Pour out your rain drown me down inside your love

Pour out your Spirit; send down your Holy dove

Pour on me

Pour through me

My soul was dirty

I need pure, I need pure, to see a rainbow.

Pour down your rain on this dusty old body

Pour through my brain, I want your living holy water

Cleanse my soul, rain down on me your love

Baptize me in the Spirit, transform me from above

Pour on me

Pour through me

My mind was dirty

I need pure, I need pure to see the rainbow

Rain down your grace on my bitter, hardened heart

Drench me in Spirit, come set your church apart

Cleanse my thoughts, and rescue me from pain

Baptize me in truthful streams, my loss becomes my gain

Pour on me

Pour through me

My life was dirty

You gave purity

I need pure, I need pure, I need pure to see your rainbow.           

Application: Turn into a song by next Monday.

Love you Scituate...more than you know.

3/12/2012

Acts 1:4- “On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift of my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.’”

Interpretation: The gift Jesus is referring to which the Father had promised them is the gift of the Holy Spirit, who he had spoken about before. In John 16:7 he says, “But I tell you the truth: It Is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” So what was the importance about the disciples staying in Jerusalem? The significance was great. Jesus continued to tell them in Acts 1:8 that they will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on them, and will be his witnesses in “Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The implications of them staying in Jerusalem at this time may have scared some of the disciples. At this time there was great chaos around the disciples because of the resurrection of Jesus. They could all expect to be persecuted for proclaiming the good news, yet Jesus tells them to stay until they receive the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit comes at Pentecost and Peter and John defend themselves before the Sanhedrin. Many miracles are done and many believers are added to the church. Stephen is martyred later on, and in Acts 8:1 it is written, “On that day a great persecution broke out against the church at Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria.” It is God’s will that we stick around our hometowns and spread the good word. If not a specific place of birth, our hometowns could be considered our family, and our network of friends and the people that we know. It is his will that we, as a group of believers, reach to all ends of the earth, without forgetting those people closest to us. Persecution may eventually allow us to brush the dirt off our sandals and move on, but it is important to know where our faith, hope, and power come from. Matthew 10:19-20 says, “But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say, for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.” The Holy Spirit is God living inside of us, and it is by his power that the work of the Father will be completed.

Application: My Jerusalem is my hometown in Scituate. God has put it in my heart to commit to visiting my high school while I’m home to be a witness to my old teachers, knowing that it is by the power of the Holy Spirit speaking through me and living in me that lives will be changed. 

A man reaps what he sows.

3/8/2012

Galatians 6:7- “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.”

Interpretation: Farmer Joe spends all summer planting corn seed on his 5 acres of land. When the fall comes, farmer Joe is excited to go out and see what kind of vegetable he will reap from spending all that time planting corn seed. Maybe potatoes will grow, or carrots, or if he’s lucky a couple apple trees will even shoot up. Of course this is not how things work. I wonder why we believe it is any different with the seeds we sow? Even non-Christians have a concept of karma, where you get what you deserve, re-incarnation, where your new life lines up in accordance with how well you did in your previous one, or even justice, where the good guy in the movie should win and the bad guy should go to jail. How interesting is it that we have this blatant understanding that a man reaps what he sows, and corn seed will grow into corn stalks, yet we put our faith in something as silly as the universe existing due to completely random, dumb chance? If the very reason we were here is for unsystematic reasons, why would anything have order or make any sense? We can all relate to a man reaping what he sows. And God cannot be mocked. People can profess to be Christians and they can make all sorts of claims about themselves, but God sees the heart and tests its genuineness. An amazing thing about Christ is that he doesn’t just give us what we deserve, good or bad, for we could never do anything “good” enough to deserve eternal life, but he gave us beyond that when he decided to die for us 2,000 years ago. Now we can sow belief, or we can sow disbelief, but in the end we will all reap what we have sown, and no one is going to get apple trees out of corn seed.

Application: I need to sow more of God’s truth and love into my heart. I will do my daily devotion book today, and IBS the scripture it gives me. I haven’t touched it for about 3 weeks but I want to be good. And so I must sow the right kinds of seed in my day.

Give

3/6/2012

Galatians 6:4- “Each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else.”

Interpretation: Why do we do the things we do? God tells us to test our actions, so we can see the real motives in our hearts when we do specific things. In the last 2 months I have been praying for God to help me improve at playing the guitar, and he has surely been gracious to respond to my requests. I could move different directions with this knowledge. I could look at someone who can’t play guitar as well as me and feel proud of what I have accomplished, setting God’s intervention aside for my own personal gain. Or, I could look at someone who plays guitar better than me and feel slighted and envious, and my pride would still destroy me. Here is the truth of what God asks us to do. God asks us to test our actions. To evaluate and become conscious of the way we speak to others or react to certain situations. He wants to create in us an awareness of the reasons behind our deeds. So while I’m playing guitar, I am being attentive of why I am playing it. He wants me to be proud in him and what he can do for his children, not proud of my own ability, which I know I would not have without him. He doesn’t want us to look to other people to determine where we fit in on a scale of 1 to 10. He wants us to keep our eyes on Him alone. When we stop comparing ourselves to others there is such a freedom, and we can take pride in the things God has blessed us with, instead of our arrogance eating us up and ruining the good work he is doing. I have nothing to be proud of apart from God. As Paul continues to write in Galatians 6:14, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.”

Application: I love playing my guitar. The next opportunity I have to play it when someone else is playing, instead of pursuing my own desires I will give helpful instruction to someone else, knowing I couldn’t play guitar without God, let alone even own one. 

I am nothing. What a relief.

3/5/2012

Galatians 6:3- “If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.”

Interpretation: This reminds me of a verse Jordan and I read on the plane ride to Montana. Proverbs 12:9- “Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food.” Why do we pretend to be something when we are nothing? Well, frankly, because everything that I have I have worked so hard for. Oh, wait, James 1:17 says “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” Well I only have those good and perfect gifts because I have had such great faith that I was going to receive them. Only, Ephesians 2:8 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Okay. Well these things I have I deserved. Except 1 Corinthians 4:7 says, “For what makes you different from anyone else? What do you have that you did not receive? And if you did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?” So why do we think that we are something when we are nothing? Nothing that we have makes us different from anyone else, we didn’t do anything on our own to require it and we didn’t even supply our own faith to receive the gifts we have from our gracious God.

Application: Tonight I will write out a list of things God has done for me since I have been here. I want to reflect on these to remind myself that I am nothing, and God is everything. 

I have only done my Duty

3/2/2012

Luke 17:10- “So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, “We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty.”

Interpretation: I have said a lot of things about what I’m going to say or do when I enter heaven. I think they’re all pretty cliché, like, “When I get to heaven, I’m gonna have a couple questions for you God.” Or saying I’m gonna dance around but…

You created the stars Father,

So all this beauty could be ours, Father.

I’m gonna sing to you, and you’re gonna listen to me.

You watch me like a hawk

With patience like a broken watch

I gaze at your creation,

And you gaze back at me.

You hear me when I cry,

And bottle up my tears until my face is dry.

You sweat blood for me, a master, a servant,

I didn’t deserve it. 

And then, after all that,

You took throne of my heart, sat

And you never grow tired of hearing my voice

God you love me so I can rejoice.

And my love for you is a small tarnished penny,

But you take my mustard seed and turn it to plenty.

You created the stars Lord, set the earth into orbit

And kept your eyes carefully upon it.

We have never been alone.

You send the rain to flourish life

Blood and water forgive strife

You even let me be your wife.

Rags to riches, sin to saint

The only way to appreciate

Is to bend and flex and move in the breeze of your call

Surrender it all.

A sweet smelling aroma of living sacrifice

Take my weaknesses and shine.

You stretched out the heavens and you’ll never forget us.

You,

The maker of everything from nothing,

The very essence of your existence is excellence,

every action, thought, and good and perfect gift from above.

You are the gift of love.

Let me love you with all of my heart, mind, and soul

Though I’m just a worthless speck of pointless

Floating down a sinkhole.

You are glory you are light,

You’re victory in the fight,

Though you’re peace you are still might,

You’re creation is raw and beautiful,

And all your words are right.

What can I say to you when I give you an account for my years?

You’re presence drops me to my knees in tears,

I don’t deserve a thank you, for truly

I am an unworthy servant, and have only done my duty.

Application: I will turn this into a song by next Friday and if my team is willing ask them to help be a part of it. 

Thank you

3/1/2012

Luke 17:9- “Would he thank the servant because he did what he was told to do?”

Interpretation: Do servants get thanked for the work that they do? A master might show his appreciation by treating them with respect, but a true servant is doing their job and doesn’t wait for a thank you. My mother is a servant if I’ve ever met one. Always placing the wants and needs of her family before her. She sees it as part of her job of being a mother and does it without waiting around for a thank you. In fact, what matters even more than a “thanks” to her is the way we show her our appreciation. She would much rather me be excited to spend a day with her and treat her with admiration than to give her a plain “thank you” which could easily be taken as empty words without an action behind them. We serve the living God and Christ. We don’t sit and wait for God to say “thank you” to us in order to continue responding to His call on our lives, but He shows His love for us in so many different ways. Besides the biggest thing which is often over looked and over cooked! Dying for us! He showed us what we meant to Him before we were even conceived of in the minds of men. Other than that, we get to live a life of adventure hand in hand with the one true God of the heavens and the earth, have prayers answered and our faith strengthened, and at the end of it all we get to go to Heaven. We are all waiting to hear that Matthew 25:21, “Well done good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your masters happiness!” That is not the end game though. The end game is Psalm 30:12, “…O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever.” God the master doesn’t need to say thank you to us, because above being God the master, He is God the ultimate servant. As servants of God, we don’t need to be thanked for doing what we were told to do because our lives are just a response of His true servant’s heart choice to come to earth and suffer persecution and death so that we may live. That is why God is the best master.

Application: I will email my mom tonight and tell her I look forward to spending quality time with her while I’m home, in order to show my gratitude that she has been a Godly master and servant to me in my life. 

Wait

2/29/2012

Luke 17:8- “Would he not rather say, ‘Prepare my supper, get yourself ready and wait on me while I eat and drink; after that you may eat and drink’?”

Interpretation: We are servants of the Lord, and He has told us to build his kingdom on earth and be prepared for his return. After He is finished with His work, we may find eternal rest in Heaven with Him. A lot of people, including myself, have been found yearning for the return of Christ. Since the time in Acts 1:6 when the disciples asked Jesus, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Jesus’ replied in v. 7-8, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives the call to the great commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.” Revelation 19:9 says an angel told John to write, “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” We are invited to that supper, and it is our job as servants of the Lord to prepare that supper for Him by responding to the call of the great commission and co-labor with God to bring as many souls to repentance and faith in Christ as is asked of us. Jesus tells us in Mark 13:33 about his return, saying, “Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come.” We are to prepare the Lord’s supper, and also get ourselves ready by ever abiding in the Spirit and staying aware to what is going on around us, looking for the signs of the return of Christ while ever-continuing to obey what is asked of us, and wait on God while He eats and drinks. When everything has been played out to the fullest, and God’s will is entirely completed, Jesus will return to us and we may finally eat and drink with him at the supper of the Lamb. Until then, we must continue to walk step by step following the Lord’s lead in the faith that God will complete the good work he has begun in us, and follow what Paul says in Acts 20:24, “However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me- the task of testifying the gospel of God’s grace.”

Application: There are so many more people that God has put on my heart to write letters to and pray for. I wrote my brother a letter two weeks ago and he hasn’t responded, I will write him again today because God has put him in my life to love him and true love never fails. We don’t have a relationship, but I refuse to give up and let the enemy win his soul. I will ask God to write this letter through me, and after that I will know the rest is in God’s hands and in his timing, and I’ll wait for the next step. 

Watch

2/28/2012

Luke 17:7- “Suppose one of you had a servant plowing or looking after the sheep. Would he say to the servant when he comes in from the field, ‘come along now and sit down to eat’?”

Interpretation: A servant serves until the work is finished. The master inviting the servant to eat before the work is completed is missing the point. As servants of the Lord, we are called to build the kingdom, and God doesn’t want us to stop working until there is nothing left to be done. There are Christians who go to church on Sunday’s and then live like death Monday through Saturday. There has even been a term coined “The sleeping Christian.” Someone who has salvation for themselves but doesn’t understand to go out and share the blessing is like a servant who is trying to eat before the master is finished. Mark 13 speaks on the return of the Son of Man to earth to gather the church into the Heavens. It proclaims that no one knows when that day or hour will happen except God, and compares it to the return of an owner to the house he asked you to watch. V. 36-37 says, “If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. What I say to you I say to everyone, ‘Watch!’” When I was a baby my mother had to play the role of my servant, simply because I did not have the abilities to take care of myself. She would spend all day watching me and giving me what I needed, and would feed me and get me settled before she even thought about sitting down and enjoying a meal for herself. As Christians, we have to both plow over the enemy’s lies that have this world entangled, and look after other sheep who share Jesus as a shepherd. That doesn’t mean that we are done serving God there. Ecclesiastes 5:12 says, “The sleep of a laborer is sweet, whether he eats little or much…” We are servants of the Lord, and we have been given a job to do. We will not be asked to sit down and eat nor shall we desire to do so until our work is accomplished and God’s will is fulfilled.

Application: There is an old friend who I have been putting off writing to. I’m seeing now that it’s really not my choice- it is a task given to me by my good master that I need to walk in. I will write it today and pray for my friend’s salvation. 

Mustard Seed

Luke 17:6- “He replied, ‘If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, be uprooted and planted in the sea, and it will obey you.’”

Interpretation: Here Jesus is telling his disciples about the amount of faith they need in order for God to do great things after they ask him to increase their faith. I think the more common verse I hear about faith the size of a mustard seed is Matthew 17:20 when Jesus tells the disciples, “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” I guess these things are exciting, but don’t get their full point across until we understand what a mustard seed is. Jesus says in Mark 4:31-32 that the kingdom of God “is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest seed you plant in the ground. Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds of the air can perch in its shade.” The mustard seed was in fact the smallest seed in Israel, so everyone who heard Jesus speak would be able to understand the amount of faith Jesus was talking about. I’m sure this blew everyone away. I often feel like I need to literally, “muster” up a great deal of faith and find scriptures to support me and put all of my focus into believing something, when that is not really what faith is all about. Hebrews 11:1 tells us “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see,” and verse 6 tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists.” I had faith when I flew to Montana that the plane was not going to crash, and I had faith this morning that the sun was going to rise. I must have faith each time I approach God that he loves me and he hears my every prayer. I feel like the obvious things come with faith that doesn’t acquire much of me, but when my true desires and wants are on the line I begin to question if God is going to let me have them. I need to take this application of small true mustard seed faith and apply it to my mulberry trees and my mountains, instead of things that aren’t that personal or vital to me. God wants to do great things in my life, not just mediocre, and I need to play my part and have faith that he is going to do that.

Application: I will IBS Hebrews 11 Pastor Steve style and learn how others had true faith so that I can hold more of God’s powerful word in my heart.