So, I've been a total blog failure this Summer. Sorry about that.
I come home on Wednesday. That's so crazy. Time has totally flown by. There have been some awesome moments, some sad ones, some boring ones, and many exciting ones.
Today, I said goodbye to the boys from the farm, and some of the staff. Here are a couple highlights:
First, last night, Orlando, one of the guys who helps run the farm, showed me a video last night. The video was of this guy named Nick Vujicic who has no arms or legs. He goes around speaking to huge crowds about Christ. I had seen the video before, and it's pretty legit. I normally like to stay away from "overcoming adversity" people, but this guy has a freakin' awesome message. Here's a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td069At34TM
Anyway, Orlando told me that I remind him of this guy, which was really encouraging.
Second, today, I gave my watch to one of the kids at the farm. It cost me 8000 pesos (which is about 4 dollars) downtown in Medellin, but it really meant a lot to him. He then gave me something in return, along with an encouraging note. "Amigos por siempre"
So yeah, spending the last couple nights here in the city before I have to say more goodbyes. Hopefully, tomorrow, I will get another chance to talk to a guy I met at church a couple weeks ago. He told me about his life....which was filled with a lot of gang stuff, killing, drugs, and other crazy stuff. But he wants to change, and probably has changed a ton, but still struggles with the desire to return to that type of life. For some reason, he chose me, the gringo with limited Spanish, to open up to. So, while he was crying (this is a guy who at first seemed to have his stuff together) and sharing about everything, I was sitting there trying to pick up as many words as possible. We read Romans 8 and I got to share the story of Paul and how God used someone who did terrible things in his past (like kill lots of people) and some other stuff.
So.....I'll update again soon with more things that have happened this summer. Dios les bendiga!
31 July 2010
13 July 2010
Read this post to earn a special prize!
So, these are my notes for what I taught the youth at the churches here. I didn't say everything exactly how it is on here, but I followed this general outline and added or removed some things as I was teaching. If you read all of this post, you get a special prize (the satisfaction of having read all of the post).
1. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2. GIVING UP ON MIRACLES
I start with these verses because of what people think when they see me. I have had several people ask me if I have prayed for a miracle. I even had someone tell me that God was going to heal me. Yes, I used to ask God for healing, and when I was younger even expected it. I would ask God, "Why? Why me?" I could have given up on life and just waited around for physical healing from God.
But, fortunately, like Paul, I gave up on that specific miracle.
What if Paul would have stopped spreading the news of Christ because of his "thorn"? We wouldn't have half the New Testament, and the Gospel would not have spread to the Gentiles like it did.
What if I would have given up? I certainly wouldn't be here in Medellín. I wouldn't be in college. I wouldn't have gotten to do all the cool things that I have the privilege to do.
And according to this passage, I don’t need a miracle. God says that his grace is sufficient and that He is powerful in our weaknesses.
That's not to say that I don't wish I could walk. I would love to not have a disability. But that's not for me to decide.
3. James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
4. THE ADVANTAGE OF WEAKNESS
Why does James tell us to consider our trials "pure joy"? For us, it's hard to not be bitter during trials. If we can not be angry, that seems pretty good for us. But James tells us to be thankful for our trials! How crazy is that?
We ask for blessing all the time, but do we ever ask for trials? What would that look like?
What if, instead of asking for blessings, we ask God for whatever strengthens our relationship with him, whether that be blessing or trial? Are we willing to ask for trials in order to strengthen our faith?
This is where we have to figure out if we value comfort over our relationship with God. This is something we all probably struggle with.
God does not promise us comfort. He promises us trials:
"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world."
-John 16:33
We will have trouble, but God will give us peace.
5. IDENTIFYING YOUR WEAKNESSES
What are you "weaknesses"? Here are some that I found:
Fear.
Depression.
Finances.
Tough family life…or not having a family.
Insecurity.
Physical problems.
Pride.
Lack of trust.
Anger.
Doubt and Unbelief.
Temptation.
Idols: wealth, boyfriend/girlfriend, intelligence
6. WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES KEEPING YOU FROM DOING?
Are your weaknesses keeping you from following God in any way?
Let's look at Moses.
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff," he replied.
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."
6 Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, [a] like snow.
7 "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
8 Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground."
10 Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
-Exodus 4:1-13
God provided all these miraculous signs for Moses, and yet he still didn't believe that God could use him to do his purpose. Moses thought that because of his speech problem, God couldn't use him.
Often, we think the same way. But God used Moses to free the Israelites anyway.
Let's not let our imperfections get in the way of God working in our lives.
I don't have the gift of prophecy, but I think that for many of us in here, God has something he wants us to do…something that we don't think we can do. It could be anything: apologizing to a friend you have wronged, going to another country for college, becoming a pastor or missionary, or telling somebody about Jesus. I don't know, but if you are like me, there is always something crazy that God is wanting us to do.
My encouragement to you is to not be limited by your weaknesses, but to let God use you to accomplish his purpose.
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:13
1. 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 "To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."
2. GIVING UP ON MIRACLES
I start with these verses because of what people think when they see me. I have had several people ask me if I have prayed for a miracle. I even had someone tell me that God was going to heal me. Yes, I used to ask God for healing, and when I was younger even expected it. I would ask God, "Why? Why me?" I could have given up on life and just waited around for physical healing from God.
But, fortunately, like Paul, I gave up on that specific miracle.
What if Paul would have stopped spreading the news of Christ because of his "thorn"? We wouldn't have half the New Testament, and the Gospel would not have spread to the Gentiles like it did.
What if I would have given up? I certainly wouldn't be here in Medellín. I wouldn't be in college. I wouldn't have gotten to do all the cool things that I have the privilege to do.
And according to this passage, I don’t need a miracle. God says that his grace is sufficient and that He is powerful in our weaknesses.
That's not to say that I don't wish I could walk. I would love to not have a disability. But that's not for me to decide.
3. James 1:2-4 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."
4. THE ADVANTAGE OF WEAKNESS
Why does James tell us to consider our trials "pure joy"? For us, it's hard to not be bitter during trials. If we can not be angry, that seems pretty good for us. But James tells us to be thankful for our trials! How crazy is that?
We ask for blessing all the time, but do we ever ask for trials? What would that look like?
What if, instead of asking for blessings, we ask God for whatever strengthens our relationship with him, whether that be blessing or trial? Are we willing to ask for trials in order to strengthen our faith?
This is where we have to figure out if we value comfort over our relationship with God. This is something we all probably struggle with.
God does not promise us comfort. He promises us trials:
"I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world."
-John 16:33
We will have trouble, but God will give us peace.
5. IDENTIFYING YOUR WEAKNESSES
What are you "weaknesses"? Here are some that I found:
Fear.
Depression.
Finances.
Tough family life…or not having a family.
Insecurity.
Physical problems.
Pride.
Lack of trust.
Anger.
Doubt and Unbelief.
Temptation.
Idols: wealth, boyfriend/girlfriend, intelligence
6. WHAT ARE YOUR WEAKNESSES KEEPING YOU FROM DOING?
Are your weaknesses keeping you from following God in any way?
Let's look at Moses.
Moses answered, "What if they do not believe me or listen to me and say, 'The LORD did not appear to you'?"
2 Then the LORD said to him, "What is that in your hand?"
"A staff," he replied.
3 The LORD said, "Throw it on the ground."
Moses threw it on the ground and it became a snake, and he ran from it. 4 Then the LORD said to him, "Reach out your hand and take it by the tail." So Moses reached out and took hold of the snake and it turned back into a staff in his hand. 5 "This," said the LORD, "is so that they may believe that the LORD, the God of their fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has appeared to you."
6 Then the LORD said, "Put your hand inside your cloak." So Moses put his hand into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was leprous, [a] like snow.
7 "Now put it back into your cloak," he said. So Moses put his hand back into his cloak, and when he took it out, it was restored, like the rest of his flesh.
8 Then the LORD said, "If they do not believe you or pay attention to the first miraculous sign, they may believe the second. 9 But if they do not believe these two signs or listen to you, take some water from the Nile and pour it on the dry ground. The water you take from the river will become blood on the ground."
10 Moses said to the LORD, "O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue."
11 The LORD said to him, "Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD ? 12 Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say."
13 But Moses said, "O Lord, please send someone else to do it."
-Exodus 4:1-13
God provided all these miraculous signs for Moses, and yet he still didn't believe that God could use him to do his purpose. Moses thought that because of his speech problem, God couldn't use him.
Often, we think the same way. But God used Moses to free the Israelites anyway.
Let's not let our imperfections get in the way of God working in our lives.
I don't have the gift of prophecy, but I think that for many of us in here, God has something he wants us to do…something that we don't think we can do. It could be anything: apologizing to a friend you have wronged, going to another country for college, becoming a pastor or missionary, or telling somebody about Jesus. I don't know, but if you are like me, there is always something crazy that God is wanting us to do.
My encouragement to you is to not be limited by your weaknesses, but to let God use you to accomplish his purpose.
"I can do everything through him who gives me strength." -Philippians 4:13
01 July 2010
So, here is a video we took on a trail we explored today. Hope you enjoy.
In other news, there's not a ton of news. Things are going well, and we'll be back at the farm with the boys on Monday (keep your fingers crossed). I also got asked to teach the youth at church (both at the downtown church in the morning and the Robledo church in the afternoon) in a couple weeks, so I have been preparing for that. I have written out what I'm going to teach on and everything, now I just need to work on doing that....in Spanish. But I have another week to work on it.
I'll be updating again soon, hopefully.
Ciao, amigos!
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