Since being in Trinidad, there seems to be a theme so far that the Lord is teaching me. Love changes everything. There was a tent crusade Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, where the theme was love. This morning in Church, the theme was being the salt and light to the world. One of the ways to do that is to love.
One of many things that I love about Trinidad, is the people. Trinidadians love. They love each other, the church, and most of all the Lord. Being surrounded by people who daily choose to love each other despite differences in culture or religion, makes a world of difference. They shine God's light so bright that it is contagious. You cannot help but to feel at home and feel like part of a family when in Trinidad. Can we Americans say as much? When entering a church, immediately you are greeting with hugs and kisses and welcomed into their church family. I often wonder how American churches have thrived with what seems to be only a few people who reach out and love those who come through the doors. Love will change the world. It will change the world for the better.
I sat down this morning with the special speaker. During this time, we talked about how much beauty the Lord has surrounded us with in this world. How God is so merciful and gracious enough that He sent His only Son to die on the cross so that we could have life, and live life abundantly! What if we truly acted upon this love? What if instead of worrying about what others will think, or how something will never work out, we decided to forget the petty things in the world? We are nothing but dirt. We have been given new life in Christ! The only thing that is worth living and dying for is Him!
We live in and for the Lord! We die for the Lord!
Romans 14:7-8, "For none of us lives to himself, and no one dies to himself. For if we live, we live to the Lord; and if we die, we die to the Lord. Therefore, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's."
Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."
Our life is no longer our own. It is our duty, it should be our passion, it is our calling to share the love of God with others! This is life!
This is love, that God sent His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved! (John 3:16-17) So because of this life and love, we are to shine our light before men so that all may see the good works that we are doing in Christ so that they will glorify God! (Matthew 5:16)
God is a loving God. Lost people of the world will know that we are Christians by our LOVE. Our love for the Lord should be so strong and bright that anyone who knows us, knows that we are different. That we are a people set apart. That they want the same love in their lives.
What a difference love makes! Love Changes the World!
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Wednesday, June 4, 2014
Reflections
As the school year closes out, I am reminded of how much the Lord has blessed me. I will have completed my second year of teaching, one year in my home, and many other blessings along the way. How far I have come in the past few years, from planning on moving to China, to moving to North Carolina, to traveling to Haiti and Trinidad, and so many other things! Since then the Lord has continued to work in my life, as I seek to serve Him. Here are a few things that I would like to share with you about what has been happening in my heart and life.
Now that I am "settled" in my home and job, I have had multiple people tell me that the next step is finding a husband to complete the picture. That is all good and well, but why not wait on the Lord's timing and for God's man. For awhile I was struggling with my singleness, as I am sure most people my age have. As a result, I began to talk to the Lord through prayer about my life and how unfair it was that most of my friends are married and have children. My thoughts were so focused on the future, that God quickly reminded me that I need to live now, not in the future of what may be. God was faithful in answering my prayers of frustration, in that the God showed me that my life is now. I have time now to serve Him, to travel and do mission work, to leave on a whim, to pursue Him wholeheartedly with no distractions. What freedom and joy can be found in living in singleness! Who knew? That's not to say that I do not want to be married and serve the Lord with that special someone by my side, because I do, someday, but the Lord has given me a peace and contentment in waiting while serving. His time, not mine.
On another note, I am so grateful for having the opportunity to teach and coach at my school. God has been working in my heart with my students and hopefully they can see Jesus in me. I have had a pretty good school year. I am starting to figure teaching out. Although I do enjoy teaching, it is emotionally and physically draining. When I am frustrated, I am reminded that some students just do not know better, but I am also reminded that the reason for their actions is that they are lost. They have no purpose and have no understanding of what God has made us for; why life is worth living. It breaks my heart to no end, every day. This is when I know that God has placed me here to do His will; to show these students that life is worth living and that there is a God who loves them so much no matter what they have done.
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
"But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction."
Now that I am "settled" in my home and job, I have had multiple people tell me that the next step is finding a husband to complete the picture. That is all good and well, but why not wait on the Lord's timing and for God's man. For awhile I was struggling with my singleness, as I am sure most people my age have. As a result, I began to talk to the Lord through prayer about my life and how unfair it was that most of my friends are married and have children. My thoughts were so focused on the future, that God quickly reminded me that I need to live now, not in the future of what may be. God was faithful in answering my prayers of frustration, in that the God showed me that my life is now. I have time now to serve Him, to travel and do mission work, to leave on a whim, to pursue Him wholeheartedly with no distractions. What freedom and joy can be found in living in singleness! Who knew? That's not to say that I do not want to be married and serve the Lord with that special someone by my side, because I do, someday, but the Lord has given me a peace and contentment in waiting while serving. His time, not mine.
On another note, I am so grateful for having the opportunity to teach and coach at my school. God has been working in my heart with my students and hopefully they can see Jesus in me. I have had a pretty good school year. I am starting to figure teaching out. Although I do enjoy teaching, it is emotionally and physically draining. When I am frustrated, I am reminded that some students just do not know better, but I am also reminded that the reason for their actions is that they are lost. They have no purpose and have no understanding of what God has made us for; why life is worth living. It breaks my heart to no end, every day. This is when I know that God has placed me here to do His will; to show these students that life is worth living and that there is a God who loves them so much no matter what they have done.
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
"But I want you to be without care. He who is unmarried cares for the things of the Lord—how he may please the Lord. But he who is married cares about the things of the world—how he may please his wife. There is a difference between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit. But she who is married cares about the things of the world—how she may please her husband. And this I say for your own profit, not that I may put a leash on you, but for what is proper, and that you may serve the Lord without distraction."
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