Nov 2, 2010
The other day I was walking on the stone path that winds around a nearby lake, and I came across two sweetly shy girls. They had a plastic container that held a grasshopper and they were busily hunting in the grass for more of the little critters. I asked them what they were planning to do with them, and this is what they said: “We caught some yesterday and gave them to Auntie, and she fried them and made grasshopper fry.” Not the answer I expected! The grasshopper was unwittingly facing its last moments. Content, not realizing its coming end. Tragic.
Someone told me that grasshoppers “are crunchy and taste kind of like shrimp…” I was almost convinced that they didn’t sound too bad until the description continued, “…but the legs are scratchy.” I don’t think I’ll order grasshopper anytime soon.
Sometimes finding myself in a different culture is an interesting experience! Grasshoppers are not the only things I’m learning about, though. Recently, an Asian missionary energetically challenged my roommate and I, “Throw your life. You will gain it back. These are the Master’s words. ‘Whoever finds his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will gain it.'” This is from a brother who has faced the rigors of rugged missionary life and whose burden is for a people group that has been very closed to the Gospel. Sacrifice for the sake of the Savior is worth more than it costs.
There you have it, sacrifice…and grasshopper fry.
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Oct 20, 2010
I like to run. And when I need to get away and think, I’ll go for long runs. There is a 5 mile loop I try to run once or twice a week, if I have the time. Just the other day, I went a total of 9 miles, walking some of the way of course.
But, no, running is not what I got on here to write about. It’s the pattern I’ve noticed on days that I run distances– I can’t stop eating. It’s actually rather annoying. I’ll eat and eat and eat and still feel like I need to eat some more. But as with other physical experiences God used this to bring to mind a corresponding spiritual lesson. Our life as a “chosen people, a royal priesthood,” (1 Peter 2:9) is meant to be completely spent on Him who is our Lord and Savior. When we spend our lives on Him we will crave the nourishment that His Word provides; we can’t help but do so because we’ve completely emptied ourselves in His work. So just as I completely exhaust myself on long runs and so crave the food that my body can turn into energy, I need to crave the Word. If I intend to live the entirety of each day serving the Lord (which I do), then I need to be feasting on the Scriptures that I might have the “energy,” the “nutrients,” to keep me alive and able to press on.
The Apostle Paul calls this life a “race” and a “fight” (2 Timothy 4:7). Be battle ready and able to run. Feast on the Word today and everyday. Crave the Word like newborn babies do milk. (1 Peter 2:2) It’s what will keep you going forward and upward in life.
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Oct 14, 2010
I was thinking about my year as a student this week. I think the lesson that was etched all over my year was to own up to who I am and then see it in light of who Christ is. I am really good at dodging the truth, trying to hide my flaws, shifting the blame. I’m so totally flawed, and I know it, but I don’t want anyone to think so.
Through my year as a student God used almost everything I experienced (my house leader, my roommates, my job) to show me that (1) I need to be completely honest before Him about who I am, that means all my sin and shortcomings. (2) when I’m honest before Him, when I repent and take responsibility for my sin and failures, He goes about changing me and making me like Him in ways I never thought possible. And (3), my fellowship with those around me is so much richer and deeper as a result.
There’s complete honesty and humility at the foot of the cross. Jesus redeems our messyness. He is so good.
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Oct 5, 2010
“God is our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble.”
This is a verse that my little sister wrote out for me on a piece of cardboard before I left home. It has been sitting on my desk since I got to Gospel For Asia but it was only today – more than a month later – when I realized that this is what God has been teaching me for the whole time I’ve been here. Whenever I mess up or feel homesick, God is with me. I think that He has let me mess up so much while I’m here simply so I will rely on Him and remember that I am here for His glory – not because I am qualified. He is always so near to me. I am learning to listen to His voice and to accept His grace and peace.
His grace is His loving favor even when we continually mess up. He cares for me so much that he made a way for my sins to be forgiven. When I would be guilty before His throne – unable to have a relationship with Him – doomed to eternal hell, He sent a sacrifice. His son died for me that I might stand before him even with my imperfections. He can no longer see that I am not perfect.
Matt said in class this week that often we go before God and ask Him “How can You love me when I have done this sin?” He said that God just looks at us and says “Why are you bringing that up again? I distinctly remember forgetting that.” Our God keeps no record of our wrongs or our shortcomings. He only wants us to be able to live life to the fullest through being made into the likeness of His Son.
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Oct 1, 2010
It’s been a busy few months! Between School of Discipleship graduation, a support trip back home, training for my new job, and new staff classes just beginning, I have definitely been learning a lot about dependence on the Lord.
I find my self becoming easily stressed out and overwhelmed when I have so many things going on that I fail to even look to God for any help or answers. I tend to start becoming so busy that I no longer even make time for daily devotions to seek the Lord and look for His hand in these things.
I realized this is where I was a little over a month ago as I sat listening to a sermon about spiritual maturity. The basic message was that when we fail, the main sign of spiritual maturity is to run TO the Lord and the main sign of spiritual immaturity is to run AWAY from Him. I was able to fairly easily recognize myself in the latter. That realization was huge for me because it brought me running back to the Lord and rediscovering the rest that He offers.
So rather than trying to balance a thousand things during the day and then just coming back to the apartment to veg and watch TV, I am now striving to go before the Lord with my free time and be filled with His peace that He truly is sovereign and all these things I am worried about and dealing with are under His control. I like that.
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