For what it's worth, here I am writing again even though I've kind of left this blogging thing go for months. I'm just not a good blogger. But, today, I feel like sharing something because the Lord Jesus blessed me as I took some time to read and think and pray about some sentences in Colossians.
In Colossians 2:9-10 Paul says that in Jesus "all the fulness of the Deity lives" and then he writes that we "have been made complete" in Him. Just as I let that sink in to my mind and my soul God helped me remember in a deeper way that He has freely and very kindly given me (and not just me but all who are saved by and believe in Jesus) EVERYTHING that I need.
If I need encouragement, I have it in Him, all I need to do is GO to Him and seek it and ask for it and realize that it's mine for the taking all because of His majestic kindness.
If I need the ability to love someone in a way that fits their need (in a good and right sense) then all I need to do is GO to Him and I will find that ability in Him when I need it.
I could go on but that's the idea that blessed me this morning. To any who might read this I really hope that God uses this little scribble to remind you of "every spiritual blessing" that is in Jesus Christ and how you have that if you belong to Him.
Thank you, Jesus!
18 May 2009
27 December 2008
Enjoying My Relationship with God
I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before - I probably haven't since I've been horrible at keeping up my blog in the last 6 months or so - but I've been reading through Emotionally Healthly Spirituality by Pete Scazzero (I'm not positive I have his last name correct, but suffice it to say he's a pastor of a church in Brooklyn, New York).
Anyway, my point is that God has really used this process to develop in my a sense of intentionally taking time at points throughout my day to stop...and just be still before the Lord...and enjoy Him, for Who He is and how He's has so lovingly treated me (and all those who are united with Jesus) with forgiveness and strength and encouragement and constant love so that I can learn to love Him and follow Him wherever He leads me.
It's really an amazing experience to be able to have the privilege of spending time with the Maker and Lord of Heaven and Earth! It really is! There is a heavenly joy there that satisfies very deeply.
God is so good!
Oh, by the way, our 1st Christmas in Lima was awesome. Sara's sister came into town and we so enjoyed meeting her at the airport, then opening gifts, then eating pancakes then, of all things, going to the beach! It will be a memorable Christmas, no doubt!
Anyway, my point is that God has really used this process to develop in my a sense of intentionally taking time at points throughout my day to stop...and just be still before the Lord...and enjoy Him, for Who He is and how He's has so lovingly treated me (and all those who are united with Jesus) with forgiveness and strength and encouragement and constant love so that I can learn to love Him and follow Him wherever He leads me.
It's really an amazing experience to be able to have the privilege of spending time with the Maker and Lord of Heaven and Earth! It really is! There is a heavenly joy there that satisfies very deeply.
God is so good!
Oh, by the way, our 1st Christmas in Lima was awesome. Sara's sister came into town and we so enjoyed meeting her at the airport, then opening gifts, then eating pancakes then, of all things, going to the beach! It will be a memorable Christmas, no doubt!
11 December 2008
Holidays
Wow. Thanksgiving has past and Christmas is on the way! How quick things move.
Thanksgiving was awesome even though leading up to the day itself I had a strange sense that this was nothing like what it should be. But, when the decorations went up and the people came over and the food was eaten - oh yeah, it was Thanksgiving. It ended up being one of the most delightful Thanksgivings that I can remember. It really was a blessing.
Thanks, Lord. It was unexpected in light of our first one away from family.
Christmas is on the way, as well as a transition from full time language school/tutor to ministry. I'm "chomping at the bit" as they say to get involved and yet, at the same time, I am fearful of attempting to minister in light of my level of Spanish. Clearly, this is a great case of seeking the Lord's grace and power to be at work in my huge weakness.
Thanksgiving was awesome even though leading up to the day itself I had a strange sense that this was nothing like what it should be. But, when the decorations went up and the people came over and the food was eaten - oh yeah, it was Thanksgiving. It ended up being one of the most delightful Thanksgivings that I can remember. It really was a blessing.
Thanks, Lord. It was unexpected in light of our first one away from family.
Christmas is on the way, as well as a transition from full time language school/tutor to ministry. I'm "chomping at the bit" as they say to get involved and yet, at the same time, I am fearful of attempting to minister in light of my level of Spanish. Clearly, this is a great case of seeking the Lord's grace and power to be at work in my huge weakness.
29 November 2008
11 November 2008
Immigration
So, yesterday and today Sara and I spent all day in the office of immigrations in Lima. We were waiting to finally get our "carnets." These are are permanent resident ID cards while we stay here in Peru. The process took almost 9 months, but it happened! Yeah!
Thank God for giving us patience through these two days of 5 hours of waiting in line to get these done. We could easily have given up and been mad but God graciously poured out His grace and patience into our hearts. For that, we are thankful.
And our dear brother in Christ and friend, Enrique, was instrumental in getting this to work. Wow! I can't say enough about him and his faithfulness through this whole time.
Thank God for giving us patience through these two days of 5 hours of waiting in line to get these done. We could easily have given up and been mad but God graciously poured out His grace and patience into our hearts. For that, we are thankful.
And our dear brother in Christ and friend, Enrique, was instrumental in getting this to work. Wow! I can't say enough about him and his faithfulness through this whole time.
14 October 2008
Mis Padres (My Parents)
Hey Y'all,
My parents were just in Lima, Peru (of all places) hanging out with their grandkids (and me and Sara, too, of course). It was wild and fun to have them here. At first they were a little concerned about what it would be like to stay here for 10 days. But, after that first taxi ride where they got to experience traffic in Lima and all the craziness that it entails....and they lived through it, they were fine.
We had a fantastic time reconnecting with them after last seeing them back in February before we left the States. It was a real blessing from Jesus to have them here and we are grateful to Him for allowing them to come stay with us for a bit.
They are back in the States now, safe and sound.
My parents were just in Lima, Peru (of all places) hanging out with their grandkids (and me and Sara, too, of course). It was wild and fun to have them here. At first they were a little concerned about what it would be like to stay here for 10 days. But, after that first taxi ride where they got to experience traffic in Lima and all the craziness that it entails....and they lived through it, they were fine.
We had a fantastic time reconnecting with them after last seeing them back in February before we left the States. It was a real blessing from Jesus to have them here and we are grateful to Him for allowing them to come stay with us for a bit.
They are back in the States now, safe and sound.
03 October 2008
Chesterfield Pres!
So, exciting news to report: five brothers in Christ came to Lima for several days just this past week to see what the Lord is doing and what the possibility is for them and their church, Chesterfield Pres in St. Louis, to be involved here.
It was awesome! These guys (and I know that you guys are reading this, but I'm being honest) were a real blessing to meet and spend time with. Clearly, it was something the Lord put together for them to be able to be here and spend time with us, the Lima New City mission team and some of our dear Peruvian brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to see the need that is here.
I don't know what the Lord has in mind with Chesterfield, but I, for one, am praying and hoping for the Lord to give us the priviledge of staying connected in an ongoing, meaningful way in the years to come. But, as we all know, the Lord doesn't have to listen to all of my ideas :) on the contrary, I need to shut up more often, listen and pay attention to His ideas! :) And so, I will wait on Him to see what He will say and do.
Also, this was my first time in San Clemente, a town that is a 3 1/2 hour bus ride south of Lima that was severely hit by the earthquake of August 2007. There is a whole neighborhood that grew up there that is entirely made up of folks who lost EVERYTHING in the earthquake. They lost their houses and all of their possessions and many lost family, too. So, the government gave them resources to build these "shacks" or as I call them "thatch huts" to be able to have something to call a home. But, the needs are great here among them. The need for reconstruction, the need for their hearts to get the Gospel and live for His Kingdom and the need for caring for all the many, many, many children that are there. And all of this revels the need for a church to be planted there to build up the Church that Christ has begun to build there. Many new believers there in San Clemente are asking for a church to be planted among them.
So, please, pray for San Clemente and the needs there that King Jesus already knows about is and is fast at work to meet them. Then, also, pray for those believers who may need to answer Christ's call to go and work among those dear souls.
Okay, all for now.
It was awesome! These guys (and I know that you guys are reading this, but I'm being honest) were a real blessing to meet and spend time with. Clearly, it was something the Lord put together for them to be able to be here and spend time with us, the Lima New City mission team and some of our dear Peruvian brothers and sisters in the Lord, and to see the need that is here.
I don't know what the Lord has in mind with Chesterfield, but I, for one, am praying and hoping for the Lord to give us the priviledge of staying connected in an ongoing, meaningful way in the years to come. But, as we all know, the Lord doesn't have to listen to all of my ideas :) on the contrary, I need to shut up more often, listen and pay attention to His ideas! :) And so, I will wait on Him to see what He will say and do.
Also, this was my first time in San Clemente, a town that is a 3 1/2 hour bus ride south of Lima that was severely hit by the earthquake of August 2007. There is a whole neighborhood that grew up there that is entirely made up of folks who lost EVERYTHING in the earthquake. They lost their houses and all of their possessions and many lost family, too. So, the government gave them resources to build these "shacks" or as I call them "thatch huts" to be able to have something to call a home. But, the needs are great here among them. The need for reconstruction, the need for their hearts to get the Gospel and live for His Kingdom and the need for caring for all the many, many, many children that are there. And all of this revels the need for a church to be planted there to build up the Church that Christ has begun to build there. Many new believers there in San Clemente are asking for a church to be planted among them.
So, please, pray for San Clemente and the needs there that King Jesus already knows about is and is fast at work to meet them. Then, also, pray for those believers who may need to answer Christ's call to go and work among those dear souls.
Okay, all for now.
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