Yesterday ended with a surprise blessing though it started with difficulty. We didn't have water coming to any of the taps. I flipped the switch on the pump by our reserve tank in the ground, but it wouldn't start. I called the landlady who called the plumber. While waiting, I climbed on the roof from our balcony to see if there was water in the tank on our roof. It was empty. But I did find my missing garbage can! It had been left there by the plumber the last time he came, lol! I then checked the pump again, but it wouldn't start.
I thought I would have to miss Wednesday Bible Study at the church at 7, as that is when the plumber said he could come. At 7:30, I tried the pump again, just to see if I could hear a buzzing noise, and for some reason it worked now. So I hurried to church, an hour late. The topic was prayer, (which is something I need to practice more and read less about:))
After the study, a lady turned around and started to chat in English with me. Another turned to listen, so we switched to Spanish. Then another lady joined us, and soon I was visiting with 3 ladies in Spanish, and didn't want to stop. It was really neat to have them want to visit with me, and I wasn't feeling like my spanish skills were holding me back!!
I was then asked spur of the moment to help in a skit for father's day. I agreed as I am allowed to read the lines, but I need to practice the pronunciation a few times before Sunday. The director has a passion for drama, and was very excited to have me give the lines in English and Spanish, like a sports announcer. I then took him out for burritos, and visited some more. I am meeting with him fairly regularly to encourage him. He encourages me as well as helps me practice spanish. I got home after 11pm. But it was great!
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Monday, May 12, 2014
Knowing God...Prove it!
What Kind of God Do I Serve?
Raw self-evaluation can be scary, but not many other things can accelerate personal growth like it does. Spiritually, it can be done daily at the end of the day, simply asking myself a few tough questions.
Here is one...What do I believe about God?
It is one thing to say what I believe about God...it is quite another to look at my life and let my life style and choices reveal what I believe about God. Actions and/or inaction speak louder than words...
When I forget to have devotions, or put it off, does that show God really is the #1 priority in my life? Do I wake up with God on my heart, when I lie down, are his precepts before me, do I meditate on his word all day long, do I pant for him like a deer does for water? Does 5 minutes, 15 or 30 give God the attention and time to really listen to his small still voice?
When I have small dreams, small ideas, small vision, does this show that I really have a big, BIG God who can do all things through me? Do I limit what God does in and through me with my small thinking, lack of boldness, lack of prayer?
When I am impatient and can't wait for things to: move forward, change, happen, does that show that I have a God who holds all things in His hands, that all things happen in His time?
When I am filled with emotions, yet joy isn't king, does that show that I believe in the One who gives me all good gifts, according to his goodness and pleasure? Am I satisfied to know and be known by the giver of life?
When I worry about finances, present or future, do I believe that God is Jireh, our provider? Can I trust him with my family and their future as well? Worrying has not helped me yet, so why do I return to it
My point is that it is one thing to say I believe something about God, but it is much more clear and true that I believe something if I live it out. If I say I believe that I will die if I eat contaminated fish from the ocean, but eat it anyways, I doubt anyone would think I really believed what I said.
Too deepen and live out my belief in, relationship with, and knowledge of God, I plan to read Knowing God by J.I. Packer, as well as Knowing God the Way He Wants You to Know Him By Chip Ingram, then meditate on what that would look like in a life completely sold out to God. Maybe I will have an update in a little while:)
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:3-4
Raw self-evaluation can be scary, but not many other things can accelerate personal growth like it does. Spiritually, it can be done daily at the end of the day, simply asking myself a few tough questions.
Here is one...What do I believe about God?
It is one thing to say what I believe about God...it is quite another to look at my life and let my life style and choices reveal what I believe about God. Actions and/or inaction speak louder than words...
When I forget to have devotions, or put it off, does that show God really is the #1 priority in my life? Do I wake up with God on my heart, when I lie down, are his precepts before me, do I meditate on his word all day long, do I pant for him like a deer does for water? Does 5 minutes, 15 or 30 give God the attention and time to really listen to his small still voice?
When I have small dreams, small ideas, small vision, does this show that I really have a big, BIG God who can do all things through me? Do I limit what God does in and through me with my small thinking, lack of boldness, lack of prayer?
When I am impatient and can't wait for things to: move forward, change, happen, does that show that I have a God who holds all things in His hands, that all things happen in His time?
When I am filled with emotions, yet joy isn't king, does that show that I believe in the One who gives me all good gifts, according to his goodness and pleasure? Am I satisfied to know and be known by the giver of life?
When I worry about finances, present or future, do I believe that God is Jireh, our provider? Can I trust him with my family and their future as well? Worrying has not helped me yet, so why do I return to it
My point is that it is one thing to say I believe something about God, but it is much more clear and true that I believe something if I live it out. If I say I believe that I will die if I eat contaminated fish from the ocean, but eat it anyways, I doubt anyone would think I really believed what I said.
Too deepen and live out my belief in, relationship with, and knowledge of God, I plan to read Knowing God by J.I. Packer, as well as Knowing God the Way He Wants You to Know Him By Chip Ingram, then meditate on what that would look like in a life completely sold out to God. Maybe I will have an update in a little while:)
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires." 2 Peter 1:3-4
Tuesday, May 6, 2014
Youth Camp...Hot, Dusty, Ordained
Easter week, middle of April, the time that El Faro church has a 4 day youth camp, and my first time assigned to lead part of a group effort. I was the sports/games leader, and I was excited and apprehensive at the same time. What made it a double challenge was that I still struggle to make myself understood clearly in Spanish, as well as not really having a grasp of the youth culture. To crank up the heat and pressure more, I was to keep the youth entertained and happy for 3 hours at a time.
Time to fall on my knees and ask God to help me in my weakness. He promises to do so 2 Cor. 12:19 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. NIV. So I knew I could count on God, my fortress, shield and high tower!
The first day was slow for me, getting a tent set up, looking around the camp for places to play the different games, and meeting people. I managed to put my tent under a tree, that happened to be flowering so I could wake up to the sound of a thousand buzzing bees, and within a few meters of all the tents belonging to the boys from our church. We had 17 youth come!!
The next day, after breakfast, it was time to start. I wanted to start with something easy to organise and a favourite for Mexicans - soccer. Because we had 5 teams formed from all of the youth from the many churches attending, from ages 12-18, I also had ultimate frisbee, which I had heard they had enjoyed in previous years. I left the soccer for them to organise, which they did without a problem.
I took the frisbee group a ways from the centre of the camp to find some open flat dirt/dust. After 20 minutes, we rotated through the teams. One team got to rest, which turned out to be very important. It wasn't long before we were glad for water and shade, as it reached about 30 degrees C. Overall the youth participated well, we improvised when the frisbee broke and used a football instead, and the soccer ran itself with the team leaders doing a great job.
The next day was much more work, as we had what they call a rally. I wanted a variety of stations or a circuit that would make them work as a team, use different talents and skills, and keep them from collapsing in another +30 degree day. We had exercise competitions, crawling through obstacle course, running over obstacles and climbing, solving puzzles, walking through a land mine course, pyramid building, smoosh boarding, piggy backing and wheelbarrows.
In the end, I think it was a hit, though the exercise station will need to be removed next time. We had a few youth collapse, and even had a hospital run (praise the Lord, everything turned out fine!) But the kids were sure wiped by the end.
The last day, we had a gladiator type of event. Each team chose participants to challenge other teams in events like egg toss, balloon toss, walking on your hands the farthest, sumo wrestling, and tug of war (several variations). This event was less time, and you could see that the youth were running short on energy towards the end. They had a great time cheering and participating where they were needed.
My one sadness is that I didn't get to use all of my ideas for games (Candy Man for sure next year, as well as some more water events!) One more day would have been great!
We trust that God was glorified at camp, through the many different things that happened, from preaching, prayer, devotions, and games. Thanks to all you who prayed me through this all.
Time to fall on my knees and ask God to help me in my weakness. He promises to do so 2 Cor. 12:19 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. NIV. So I knew I could count on God, my fortress, shield and high tower!
The first day was slow for me, getting a tent set up, looking around the camp for places to play the different games, and meeting people. I managed to put my tent under a tree, that happened to be flowering so I could wake up to the sound of a thousand buzzing bees, and within a few meters of all the tents belonging to the boys from our church. We had 17 youth come!!
The next day, after breakfast, it was time to start. I wanted to start with something easy to organise and a favourite for Mexicans - soccer. Because we had 5 teams formed from all of the youth from the many churches attending, from ages 12-18, I also had ultimate frisbee, which I had heard they had enjoyed in previous years. I left the soccer for them to organise, which they did without a problem.
I took the frisbee group a ways from the centre of the camp to find some open flat dirt/dust. After 20 minutes, we rotated through the teams. One team got to rest, which turned out to be very important. It wasn't long before we were glad for water and shade, as it reached about 30 degrees C. Overall the youth participated well, we improvised when the frisbee broke and used a football instead, and the soccer ran itself with the team leaders doing a great job.
The next day was much more work, as we had what they call a rally. I wanted a variety of stations or a circuit that would make them work as a team, use different talents and skills, and keep them from collapsing in another +30 degree day. We had exercise competitions, crawling through obstacle course, running over obstacles and climbing, solving puzzles, walking through a land mine course, pyramid building, smoosh boarding, piggy backing and wheelbarrows.
In the end, I think it was a hit, though the exercise station will need to be removed next time. We had a few youth collapse, and even had a hospital run (praise the Lord, everything turned out fine!) But the kids were sure wiped by the end.
The last day, we had a gladiator type of event. Each team chose participants to challenge other teams in events like egg toss, balloon toss, walking on your hands the farthest, sumo wrestling, and tug of war (several variations). This event was less time, and you could see that the youth were running short on energy towards the end. They had a great time cheering and participating where they were needed.
My one sadness is that I didn't get to use all of my ideas for games (Candy Man for sure next year, as well as some more water events!) One more day would have been great!
We trust that God was glorified at camp, through the many different things that happened, from preaching, prayer, devotions, and games. Thanks to all you who prayed me through this all.
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