December 12, 2011

Galatians 4:11

"I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain."

Just last night Karlee, Janessa and I made dinner together, and were talking about how we could grow closer as a team. We have been struggling with that lately, as Janessa came later to Costa than Karlee and I. After some discussion, and with issues somewhat settled between us, I shared with the girls the notes I had taken from Pastor Phil McKay's message earlier that night (the other two girls were helping in the nursery, and weren't able to hear). I was excited to be able to share because the message is completely in spanish, and it has been a growing process for me in learning the language to understand and be able to then apply the message shared..

This verse wasn't one that Pastor Phil shared in his message. However, when I was searching for the actual verses to read to the girls I accidentally read this one instead of those that were correct. I had to chuckle with myself.. God did it again. One of the topics that us girls had discussed was the point that Karlee and I had come to Costa before Janessa, and had had time to share with one another, and to truly become close. We knew that this was able to happen because we lived together, and have been able to struggle through more things together than we ever imagined we'd have to. When Karlee and I shared with Janessa why we had grown so close, and suggested having one of us trade apartments with her so she could live with one of us and then the other over time, she didn't seem too fond of the idea. This was more-so because she had become accustomed to living by herself. It caused for some frustration when Karlee and I explained God had given us a peace about the decision to move us around (we both had been praying about it, separately, for some time), and that it would really help us unite as a team.

This verse was coincidentally just as we were feeling.. That we were afraid we had labored in vain. Karlee and I have experienced so much, grown and gleaned from one another through the trials we've gone through. The process of becoming closer was by no means, an easy one, for either of us, and God has really shown Himself present in our friendship through what we've been through. Now with Janessa joining, what we've seen, been through, and the things we've learned that have really helped us to be a team are almost diminished because we're starting all over again with a new member. That's not a problem, it's a growing process, and it has been on our hearts to make ourselves as willing to be close as possible because, as Karlee emphasizes, "there's a reason God put us all three here in Costa Rica at the same time..."

Janessa is in prayer as to what God will show her to do, whether He tells her she is fine living next door with her own time but still visiting Karlee and I every so often, or one of us moving, and doing the same thing ourselves. Whatever God shows her, I know He will give her a peace about it. It's just my prayer that I would be able to have a peace about what she decides too, and that it's the best thing for us as a team, lest Karlee and I have labored in vain to become as close as sisters to make our team the best it can be.

IBS-What Excuse Do You Have?

December 11, 2011

Luke 3:8

"Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our Father.' For I  say to you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones."

I haven't been keeping up with my IBS's lately, and have been finding it difficult to do so. I've been finding it difficult to do many things as I've been here on the mission field in Costa Rica. I have a hard time communicating with people back home(limited internet and calling time or service), helping my sister plan for her wedding in June, buying Christmas gifts for my new loved ones here, and just plain balancing living with the daily workload (How's that for a glimpse into my new life, hey?). While sitting in the cool, fresh air this morning, fellowshipping with my Father, and reading the gospel of Luke, I read this verse in chapter three. When I first read the verse, the very last part of it stood out to me, but after reading it and milling it over multiple times, the whole thing tugged on my "heartstrings". Firstly, the beginning, "bear fruits worthy of repentance.." A command, through John, from God, to us. To always be bearing fruit in our daily walks with the Father, and for that fruit to be worthy of repentance.. Worthy of repentance. What a concept. I usually combine this with meaning that there is something done wrong that needs to be acknowledged and repented for, yet John says.. bear fruit? Bearing fruit that is rotten and bad and harmful? No, here he must mean fruit that is worthy of bringing to the Father. When the fruit we bear, the things we do, the thoughts we think and the words we say are able to be worthy to be placed at the feet of Jesus and when we are worthy to hear the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant". Then, there are fruits worthy of repentance.The evidence of my life in Christ laid at the foot of His throne.

The second part, "do not begin to say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our Father.'" stands out to me as a rebuke. "Don't use your forefather's name as an excuse to continue with what you've been doing. Don't say that to let yourselves off the hook as having to do anything worthy of God's praise because your forefather was "holy" enough to make up for the rest of you.." We have no excuse. Just as we have had Abraham, and Noah, men who followed God with their lives as our ancestors, we also are sons of Adam, the one who led all men to fall. We have no excuse to use such as "I am a Christian, therefore I believe Christ has saved me from my sin, and I can continue to live in it". This is not so. We have no excuse, and just as John preached, so we shall live the life that is void of excuses, void of reasons to not do our Father's will.

The last part really enforces the  inability to use excuses while also emphasizing the real power of our true Lord and Savior. "For I  say to you that God is able to raise up children of Abraham from these stones.." God really has the power to do anything. He can bring light to the darkness, give the dead life, make the lame walk, and the blind see. Is there anything He cannot do? He doesn't need us to fulfill what He desires to be done on Earth, after all, He established the earth, the Heavens and everything in between... But He chooses to use us. He CHOOSES to not make His children out of the rocks of the earth, and use US instead.. Sinners, downtrodden, constantly failing Him and turning our backs on His beautiful gift of grace and mercy.

I am determined to finish the book loco amor by Francis Chan while I am here, in the next couple weeks, and also to reach out and invite someone new to Calvary Chapel Villarreal, to spread the good news of Christ, without using excuse that I can't do it, because my God, will use me. He will use me, to create His children instead of instead using stones.