Here's the question posed to me tonight by my wonderful, awesome, God-loving son: "Do you think God loves the Devil?" Boy, he sure can come up with some doozies!
My answer: Hmm, I don't know for sure. And then he comes up with this: "I think he does, because it says in the Bible to love your neighbor." How can you argue with that?
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Going on a Treasure Hunt
"The fundamental ministry God would have all of us exercise as short-term visitors and servants in another culture is the ministry of affirmation. God is inviting us on a treasure hunt. Our privilege is to be so led by the Spirit of God that we can find treasures in this new context that had been hidden from our eyes previously. Not only were they hidden from us because we've never been there before (and even if we have), they may even have been hidden from the eyes of the people who live there. Thus, God invites us to lift up before others' eyes the way He is at work among and through them, and all the strengths and gifts they are bringing to their own community. We don't go to bring treasures. Nor do we go to take them home. Rather, we help discover treasures that are present among the people with whom we serve, and together with them we praise God for His great kindness."
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Paul sought to discover the power of the Holy Spirit and bring it to the people with whom he worked. In our situation, I believe this passage relates directly. We should not come to Mexico as superior and holier-than-thou Americans, but as humble servants of the Lord. We bring our own naievte in regards to the sex trade, and show our trust in His wonderful powers to heal and bring freedom. Paul felt his own abilities and attitudes were inferior and unworthy. But he knew he was a vessel of the Power of God. I do not know why I am being sent on this trip, but I know that He will use me in a way that only I can fill, and I pray that His Holy Power will be glorified through me. I hope to learn from and build wonderful relationships with the people I meet on this trip.
1 Corinthians 2:1-5
When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling. My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power.
Paul sought to discover the power of the Holy Spirit and bring it to the people with whom he worked. In our situation, I believe this passage relates directly. We should not come to Mexico as superior and holier-than-thou Americans, but as humble servants of the Lord. We bring our own naievte in regards to the sex trade, and show our trust in His wonderful powers to heal and bring freedom. Paul felt his own abilities and attitudes were inferior and unworthy. But he knew he was a vessel of the Power of God. I do not know why I am being sent on this trip, but I know that He will use me in a way that only I can fill, and I pray that His Holy Power will be glorified through me. I hope to learn from and build wonderful relationships with the people I meet on this trip.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Part I - The God of Mission
Part I of my Mexico Missions Trip Study begins with "It is God's World and God's Mission." How true! I hope to discover more about God, myself, God's people, and my place in God's mission.
"To engage in missions is to participate in the coming of the kingdom of God." We are instructed to write Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV). (Incidentally, this was one of my favorite hymns from Tar Hollow). I am seeking the kingdom of God by making the decision to participate in this (His) mission.
We are instructed to define the kingdom of God. I believe living in His amazing and perfect grace, seeing that my words and actions glorify Him at all times, constitutes the kingdom of God. What does it mean to seek His kingdom? To me, it means to put my faith in Him at all times, rather than in my own abilities. Any talents I have were given to me by Him - anything I do well, I do well because of Him, not me.
"Jesus is very precise about where we are to serve." We are instructed to write Acts 1:1-9. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. "We are called and empowered by the Spirit to be witnesses in our community (Jerusalem), our country (Judea), among people of differing cultural backgrounds who live around us (Samaria), and to the ends of the earth." What are the four spheres (areas) of witness that Jesus describes as it relates to where I live? My community equates to my family. These are the people I am with on a daily basis - who have the same beliefs that I do. My country equates to my friends. These are the people I choosed to be around. Those around me who have differing backgrounds equates to my coworkers - those I have been placed with to achieve a common outcome. Finally, the non-Christian community represents the "ends of the earth." These latter two (coworkers and non-Christians, often one and the same) are the hardest spheres in which for me to live as a witness. I dread conflict, so when anyone debates my personal beliefs, I instinctively shy away. On the other hand, it is easiest for me to live as a witness around my family and friends. I know I have the responsibility to teach my children to know, love, and serve God, and my friends have the same set of beliefs as I. "What does Jesus say is needed before we can be witnesses?" He says we will have the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray- "that God would use you as a witness on this trip."
Heavenly Father, I do not yet know why you have lit a fire in my heart to be a part of this trip. But I do know that you have a plan for me, to use my unique talents, and that your reasoning will be evident in Your time. I ask You to use me in whatever way glorifies You best. I ask You to use me to teach Your people about Your amazing, wonderful grace. For I know that in doing so, I will be able to bask in the warmth of Your holy kingdom. Amen.
"To engage in missions is to participate in the coming of the kingdom of God." We are instructed to write Matthew 6:33. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. (NKJV). (Incidentally, this was one of my favorite hymns from Tar Hollow). I am seeking the kingdom of God by making the decision to participate in this (His) mission.
We are instructed to define the kingdom of God. I believe living in His amazing and perfect grace, seeing that my words and actions glorify Him at all times, constitutes the kingdom of God. What does it mean to seek His kingdom? To me, it means to put my faith in Him at all times, rather than in my own abilities. Any talents I have were given to me by Him - anything I do well, I do well because of Him, not me.
"Jesus is very precise about where we are to serve." We are instructed to write Acts 1:1-9. The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. And being assembled together with them, He commanded them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, “which,” He said, “you have heard from Me; for John truly baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” And He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority. But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” Now when He had spoken these things, while they watched, He was taken up, and a cloud received Him out of their sight. "We are called and empowered by the Spirit to be witnesses in our community (Jerusalem), our country (Judea), among people of differing cultural backgrounds who live around us (Samaria), and to the ends of the earth." What are the four spheres (areas) of witness that Jesus describes as it relates to where I live? My community equates to my family. These are the people I am with on a daily basis - who have the same beliefs that I do. My country equates to my friends. These are the people I choosed to be around. Those around me who have differing backgrounds equates to my coworkers - those I have been placed with to achieve a common outcome. Finally, the non-Christian community represents the "ends of the earth." These latter two (coworkers and non-Christians, often one and the same) are the hardest spheres in which for me to live as a witness. I dread conflict, so when anyone debates my personal beliefs, I instinctively shy away. On the other hand, it is easiest for me to live as a witness around my family and friends. I know I have the responsibility to teach my children to know, love, and serve God, and my friends have the same set of beliefs as I. "What does Jesus say is needed before we can be witnesses?" He says we will have the Power of the Holy Spirit.
Pray- "that God would use you as a witness on this trip."
Heavenly Father, I do not yet know why you have lit a fire in my heart to be a part of this trip. But I do know that you have a plan for me, to use my unique talents, and that your reasoning will be evident in Your time. I ask You to use me in whatever way glorifies You best. I ask You to use me to teach Your people about Your amazing, wonderful grace. For I know that in doing so, I will be able to bask in the warmth of Your holy kingdom. Amen.
Joshua 3
Joshua 3
Israel Crosses the Jordan
1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grovea]">[a] and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over. 2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp; 3 and they commanded the people, saying, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it. 4 Yet there shall be a space between you and it, about two thousand cubits by measure. Do not come near it, that you may know the way by which you must go, for you have not passed this way before.”5 And Joshua said to the people, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do wonders among you.” 6 Then Joshua spoke to the priests, saying, “Take up the ark of the covenant and cross over before the people.”
So they took up the ark of the covenant and went before the people.
7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “This day I will begin to exalt you in the sight of all Israel, that they may know that, as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. 8 You shall command the priests who bear the ark of the covenant, saying, ‘When you have come to the edge of the water of the Jordan, you shall stand in the Jordan.’”
9 So Joshua said to the children of Israel, “Come here, and hear the words of the LORD your God.” 10 And Joshua said, “By this you shall know that the living God is among you, and that He will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites and the Hittites and the Hivites and the Perizzites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Jebusites: 11 Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is crossing over before you into the Jordan. 12 Now therefore, take for yourselves twelve men from the tribes of Israel, one man from every tribe. 13 And it shall come to pass, as soon as the soles of the feet of the priests who bear the ark of the LORD, the Lord of all the earth, shall rest in the waters of the Jordan, that the waters of the Jordan shall be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they shall stand as a heap.”
14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, 15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest), 16 that the waters which came down from upstream stood still, and rose in a heap very far away at Adam, the city that is beside Zaretan. So the waters that went down into the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, failed, and were cut off; and the people crossed over opposite Jericho. 17 Then the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan; and all Israel crossed over on dry ground, until all the people had crossed completely over the Jordan.
This is the passage that was read at the opening of our first meeting of the 2009 Mexico Team. Crossing the river involved a huge step of faith, considering the river continued to flow until they put their feet in. This trip will be my very first missions trip, and given the level of violence going on there right now, it is good to know that God has His mighty hand over the whole thing. I have been in a slump with regard to my Christian Walk lately - well, for probably at least a year. It's time to get myself out, and I think this wonderful group of women will inspire me to do it.
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