Jesus Loves Me

Jesus Loves Me, such a simple, sweet song.  I have always loved Jesus Loves Me. If you come upon me tinkering on the piano, Jesus Loves Me, is one of the songs that I always play. Sometimes when playing or singing the song, I forget to listen to the words.

Jesus loves me this I know
For the Bible tells me so
Little ones to Him belong
They are weak, but He is strong!

Yes! Jesus loves me!
Yes! Jesus loves me!
Yes! Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!

Jesus loves me, He who died
Heavens gates to open wide
He will wash away my sin
Let His little child come in.

Jesus loves me, He will stay
Close beside me all the way
Thou hast bled and died for me
I will henceforth live for Thee!

Such simple words with a sweet melody! Easy to remember and loved by those who are both young and old. This song became very special to me a couple weeks ago. I was helping a team with a Vacation Bible School. Upon arriving at the location, there were kids already waiting for us under the big tent. Immediately, I noticed a young girl about age 10 looking for someone. Her eyes wandered over every person getting off the bus and then she saw me. As soon as she saw me, it was instant recognition. When I saw her eyes light up and locked on to me, I did not know what to do. (Did I know her? How did she know me?) She came running towards me, gave me the biggest hug and said, "Hi, Best Friend!" So I said, "Hello?" She stood staring at me with huge brown eyes, I asked for her name and introduced myself. (For her sake, I will only give nicknames). Her name was Chunky. She was not chunky at all, but I suppose she was when she was little.

After our introduction, she sprinted off down the street. I was really disappointed. Why would she run to me, give me a hug, and then run away? I walked around talking with the other kids, but was still pondering why she would leave. I then looked up and see her coming, carrying a little girl. Chunky walked right up to me, handed me the little girl, and told me that the little girl's name was Pinkie. I asked why her nickname was Pinkie, and she said that when Pinkie was born, she was pink, so the name stuck. Now, Pinkie was different from her sister. She was about 2 years old and she would not smile for anything or show any emotion on her face. All I received was a blank stare and the only time I received any type of emotional response was when I tried to put her down, she would lift her arms back up and want me to hold her. So that's what I did. I held her and followed her sister around that first day.

The second day, Chunky found me again, gave me a big hug and handed me Pinkie. I realized that these were going to be my girls for the week. I determined that Pinkie was going to smile that week. I wanted to see her as a happy child. Pinkie was stuck in my arms that whole second day and while in my arms I would hum "Jesus Loves Me" and tell her that I loved her. The team also sang "Jesus Loves Me" everyday. At the end of the second day, I got a small smile from her!

The third day, Pinkie and Chunky were walking hand in hand. Pinkie ran right to me with a smile on her face. I was praising the Lord! Finally, breaking through to this precious child! We blew bubbles together and she had a full belly laugh going, but anytime another member from the team would try to get her to smile, it was like she went back into her shell, and you would see no emotion on her face. Also on this day, Pinkie was sitting in my lap coloring her Bible story page, when suddenly I felt a warm sensation. Pinkie had wet through her diaper and all over my skirt. I picked her up and Chunky said she would bring her home and back to VBS once Pinkie's clothes were changed.

The fourth day, I could see a change in Chunky and Pinkie. Both were happy and Chunky was telling me she loved Jesus. Pinkie, even though she was smiling and laughing, had not spoke any words. Just like the previous day, Pinkie was sitting in my lap, when all of a sudden a felt a flood of liquid. I picked her up and sure enough she had did it again except for this time no diaper, which is what contributed to the flood. This time, I decided to bring her home myself. I walked Pinkie home, and waited for her to get into some clean clothes. She then walked back to VBS with me.

The final day, Chunky and Pinkie greeted me with smiles and hugs. I was not ready to let them go. This was our last day together and I was praying for the Lord to work in their lives. Since the previous two days resulted in me getting wet, I kept track of time and promptly brought Pinkie home to use the bathroom before a wet accident happened again. On our way back to VBS, they had begun singing songs. I sat down with Pinkie and Chunky was right next to me. When the youth started singing "Jesus Loves Me" I sang along as always. While singing, I realized that something was different. Pinkie was singing along. This little girl, who said no words at all in the past five days, was singing "Jesus Loves Me." I gave her a big hug and told her that yes, Jesus does love you!! I was so happy I started to cry. Chunky looked at me funny, but I just smiled.

I know that Pinkie is too little to comprehend Jesus dying on the cross to save her, but hopefully she understood that Jesus loves her. If she does not remember anything else, I truly believe that she will always know the song "Jesus Loves Me" and I pray that one day she will come to know Him as her personal Savior. The hardest part about being here in Trinidad, is leaving behind the children and people that I have come to love. I may never see them again in this lifetime. But God has given me a hope that one day, I will hope to see them again in Heaven, praising our Lord and Savior!

Yes! Jesus loves me!
Yes! Jesus loves me!
Yes! Jesus loves me!
The Bible tells me so!

All of us together! (You see no emotion on Pinkie's face, because that was her typical face to other people).

Chunky showing me her art work.

Pinkie smiling!

Love Changes the World

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!

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."

Daffodils and His Promise

 

My favorite flower in the entire world is daffodils. I think that most flowers are beautiful, but I absolutely love daffodils. Their bright yellow color is so bold and beautiful. I am amazed at how they just one day show up. It seems that at every year, right about this time, I am struggling with something and the Lord uses daffodils to remind me that things will come together, everything will work out. It is like all of a sudden out of nowhere appear daffodils. Daffodils are a promise to me, that God will create and has created something beautiful in our time of struggling. That is one reason, I believe that daffodils are the best. Out of a cold winter with ice, and snow comes something so unexpectedly bright and beautiful. Isn't it the same in our lives? When we are going through a "valley" where God seems impossible to reach and we don't hear His voice, it is only for a time. In life we will go through valleys and seasons, but God has promised us that this is normal. There is a time for everything and in time, He will make it beautiful. A daffodil only blooms at the very beginning of spring. After being under the freezing ice and cold snow, it pushes through the earth and reveals itself, in its time. Whatever you are going through right now, know that God has planned it and we should rejoice in the fact that He has planned it and makes it beautiful when the time is right. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1-15

"To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:

A time to be born,
    And a time to die;
A time to plant,
    And a time to pluck what is planted;

A time to kill,
    And a time to heal;
A time to break down,
    And a time to build up; 

 A time to weep,
    And a time to laugh;
A time to mourn,
    And a time to dance;

A time to cast away stones,
    And a time to gather stones;
A time to embrace,
    And a time to refrain from embracing; 

 A time to gain,
    And a time to lose;
A time to keep,
    And a time to throw away; 

 A time to tear,
    And a time to sew;
A time to keep silence,
    And a time to speak; 

 A time to love,
    And a time to hate;
A time of war,
    And a time of peace.

What profit has the worker from that in which he labors?  I have seen the God-given task with which the sons of men are to be occupied. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end.

I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives, and also that every man should eat and drink and enjoy the good of all his labor—it is the gift of God.

I know that whatever God does,
It shall be forever.
Nothing can be added to it,
And nothing taken from it.
God does it, that men should fear before Him. 

 That which is has already been,
And what is to be has already been;
And God requires an account of what is past."

Where Has Our Passion Gone To?

Where has our PASSION gone? 

Are we, am I, passionate about reading the Bible, studying God's word, spreading the Good News, and being His hands and feet?

The very first time that I saw the video below, I unashamedly cried. 

Where has my passion gone? Why I am I not that excited to dive in God's word everyday?! Shouldn't it be that way? 

This morning, a guest speaker at church said a few things that hit the nail on the head. "Stop pretending! We have become too comfortable as Christians...I have done my duty...I have punched my time clock..." There is nothing wrong with doing God's work, but where did our excitement and passion for God go to? I honestly believe that we do what is easiest. I do what is easiest and safest. 

When did I (we) lose the abandon all for Christ?

Have you ever been so passionate for something that it consumes your thoughts and actions. What if we as Christians, were so passionate about the Bible and sharing God's word? What if we got out of our comfort zones and did something instead of waiting for someone else to do it?

"How precious are your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with you." 

Psalm 139:17-18

Why I Am Who I Am

I have been asked a lot lately about why I do not do certain things, watch certain things, and act the way I do. My answer to those questions are here.

Why am I who I am?


I am who I am because of Christ in me.

"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ who 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."

Galatians 2:20

My life is no longer mine. When I made the decision to follow Christ and accept His free gift of salvation, my life no longer was mine. I no longer have be a slave to sin. I have been forgiven of my sins and now can live in the victory of overcoming sin and living a life of service to the one and only God! What greater life and purpose can one have? 

My answer to the question of why I am who I am, is probably not the answer that most want to hear. Without fault, I can say that if I did not have Christ living in me, I would be a different person. I would be a slave to the world and all that encompasses it. I would be wandering, like in a desert, with no foreseen water. This is why I am who I am. I cannot imagine a life of uncertainty, fear, and trying to find pleasure and satisfaction in the world, when only the world can give pleasure and satisfaction temporarily. If you feel like you are lost in the lies of the world please seek the One who can pull you out of slavery and darkness into His glorious light!

Living a life of service

Is my calling

My passion and desire

My goal

Me

 Because of Christ!

Why I Do What I Do

"May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you really can make a difference in this world, so that you are able, with God's grace, to do what others claim cannot be done."

 What is foolishness? Webster's Dictionary states that foolish is "having or showing a lack of good sense or judgment; absurd, ridiculous, insignificant, trifling." In the world today, Christians are seen as foolish. How can we really think that there is only one God? Believe in One who died and rose again to save all of humanity? Be willing to drop everything and heed to a calling that even we may not be able to understand. To the world, Christians are foolish. The world thinks that life is money, wealth, security, friends, family, and much more. What else is there to live for? We were made to do the seemingly impossible through God alone. No matter what the world says!

How can one person make a difference?

The answer is God's grace. What is grace? Unmerited/undeserving favor of God. God has bestowed upon us His grace. He gave us salvation, so undeserving, for all who would accept it. How am I able to make a difference in the world? I cannot. But, because God has given me unmerited favor, I can. Whatever the Lord asks of me, I am able to do. Not by me, but by Him alone! Others will say, "You cannot do it." "It is impossible." "How?" Others will claim that it cannot be done. I know that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."- Philippians 4:13

ALL things.

Even the IMPOSSIBLE. 

CAN be done through CHRIST! 

Why do I do what I do? 

Because this is my calling. I am called to do the impossible. I am foolish enough to believe that I can help, with God's grace, make a difference in the world by teaching and serving others. It is so hard and emotionally draining to see so many lost people who are slowly drowning in a sea of Satan's lies. I am called to believe that I can help one. If I help one, they help one and pretty soon one turns into two; and two into four; and four into eight. Now my one is now eight. Every day I have someone say that I am too attached. That I cannot care as much as I do. That I cannot save everyone. But, I am foolish enough to believe that I can. And I can, by God's grace, reach that one. Then that one will turn to eight. How can I not live my life in a state of impossible?