Rebuke the microwave

We live in an age where the microwave is the most used item in the kitchen. Why the microwave? Because it’s fast. You want to re-heat dinner from last night? 2 minutes at power level 7. But why not warm it up on the stove top? Well, that takes 10 minutes...

Unfortunately, this mindset has passed into our lives with Christ. We want everything done now, every prayer answered in a few minutes or days. But then it doesn’t happen and He reminds us to...“Wait.” Wait for His timing? WHAT?! But I got stuff do to and people to see...I can’t wait for His timing, I need it done NOW!

I rebuke the spirit of the microwave out of our lives. There are so many places in the Bible that talk about the issue about waiting on God’s time, but the most recent one I read was Habakkuk 2:3 – “but these thing I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the visions will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, don’t despair, for he things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!”

Abraham waited 25 years for His promise to happen (Hebrews 6:15). That is as old as me!! And then it goes on in Hebrews 11: 13, 39 talks about how Abraham, along with all the other people of faith in the past, did not receive ALL that they were promised. It was their children that received it. So continue to wait, wait for His promises. 

Aliens

Deuteronomy 10 - ¹⁸ He administers justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the alien residing among you, giving them food and clothing. ¹⁹ So show your love for the alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. (also see Zachariah 7:10 and Leviticus 19:33,34)

The alien in different translations: the foreigner, stranger, or sojourner. Or in up-to-date terms, the illegal immigrant. Oh, ouch...illegal sounds like a bad word, an unacceptable word. It is a shame some people think that, because Jesus was an illegal immigrant to Egypt (and the Israelites were in verse 19). Now was He labeled as an illegal immigrant? No, that word was not created yet. He was an alien.

We helped out a family in the trailer park, by removing the insulation under their home and also removing damaged furniture in the house. One mother with 4 children, oldest being 5 years old who has been diagnosed with special needs. The mom cannot work, because she must take care of her kids and has no money for a daycare and no family to help her. Also, her husband has been stuck in the immigration office for the past year and they will not deport him to his country. They just have him stuck in jail. Justice?

Jesus loves this family. He knows exactly what they are going through. Jesus' family fled from terror and persecution and difficulty, trying to seek refuge in Egypt. This family did the same thing, they tried to seek refuge in the United States, but in today’s world there are so many laws and rules that now she is stuck. The only way out, is for us, the church, to help her [like Jesus commands us to]. This church we worked with has received God’s love. Like Eph 3:18,19 says that we will not be able to understand ALL of God’s love yet, but this church has continued to keep digging to find out how deep it is. They hear God’s heart, they feel God’s love...and now they show it to others, especially this family. Just like Jesus

interpretation

The first day of work in Bergen, New Jersey was an incredible day. Our job was underneath a trailer, removing insulation, which was a difficult task for sure, and the owners of the house were deaf so communication was limited too. Thankfully one of our team leaders, Bri, could sign! They also had a son, Josh, who was an amazing translator. He is 12 and LOVES his parents so much. At such young age, he realized how difficult it was for his parents to communicate and teach him, so in return, he translates (through signing) and is always there to help them. Wow, praise the Lord that a young boy can have so much honor, respect, and LOVE for his parents.

Bri, invited the family to dinner with us, which includes the whole Samaritans Purse team. And this family also brought their friends! The mother only speaks Spanish, but her three children are bilingual. We always have sharing time after dinner, for all the teams to share what God has done that day, and the children wanted to participate too, which they did! After a time of everyone sharing, the girl wanted to be the last one to share. She stood in front of everyone and talked about how her sister was scared of the flood, especially when the water started coming into the house, but she wasn't scared! She is a tough girl! Then she shared about how she lost everything. Every...Thing...*blank stare*...*silence*...she started crying because it finally hit her. Some of our team members quickly comforted her and took her into another room in the church. And there we sat; 2 parents that are deaf, their son who could interpret, 1 parent who only speaks Spanish, and her 3 children who could interpret. We talked about how this affected them and the difficulties it brought. And to make a long story short: they ALL accepted Jesus as their personal Savior! He is the One that can give hope. He has power to give peace that passes all human understanding (John14:27). Nothing else can do that. Things maybe can, but as you can see, the flood took them away. Jesus is the only thing that can LAST and can NEVER be taken away.  

Sandy

As you all may know, there was a hurricane named Sandy, which hit the northeast coast. My house was not affected by the storm, praise the Lord. The day after, my dad was watching the news and the devastation that happened, while I was trying to have my prayer time. I do not like the news, because all I hear is about all the death, abuse, hurt, and pain that is happening in the world. So, to focus on my prayer, I played some music in my earphones.

And God said, “So this is what you do when my people are hurting and in need...block it out with some praise and worship music.”

 OUCH. 

So I asked my dad how I could get involved and he recommended Samaritan’s Purse, and in a few days, I was in Bergen, New Jersey.

I’m staying at a church called North Jersey Vineyard Church and it has been incredible! We are cleaning out the insulation from underneath trailers, removing damaged items from homes, “mud outs” (which is removing flooring and drywall up to where the water has damaged), and sharing the love of Jesus to all the people we meet.

Tyvek is a beautiful thing. 

A Bible is given to each family that we help and everyone that helps out at the house signs it. it's a POWERFUL moment for the home owners. 

This first week, 30 people (that we know of) have accepted Jesus as their Savior! PRAISE THE LORD! That is AMAZING! People that have lost everything are finding their hope and peace in the Love that Jesus Christ has given to each one of us.

God is working in HUGE ways here. Revival would be an appropriate term. I LOVE it. 

And it's only because of this: prayer. 

Lame gifts are the best

The LAMEST gift I ever got was a journal for our senior graduation. Are you kidding?! A journal? So yeah, that was something I put deep into my closet, maybe to re-gift for a girl that would do a girly thing like journaling. BAM I journal now and am probably the most avid journaler you know.

Another LAME gift was the Bible on cassette tapes. BLAH! Someone considered that a gift? Again, way back in the closet. Then one day, I got the urge to use them in my car and...wow. Listening to the Word of God brings a fresh, new meaning and understanding to His Word/Voice.

I got a hat as a gift before and never wore it. For years. Then I realized while I was in the desert in Peru that a hat is an amazing invention.

While I was on the world race, I was on the airplane and got a little travel kit. Travel toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, earplugs, and a few other small things. Wow, those come in handy when you are traveling around the world. Best free thing ever.

So my advice to you: never consider a gift “lame,” because it just might turn into the most AMAZING gift after you humble yourself and realize how God-inspired that gift really was. Be thankful for the little things, and learn what the secret of contentment really is (Philippians 4:11-12). Once you are faithful with the small things, then you will be given greater things (Luke 16:10).

Fine...line

It is a fine line when it comes to Christianity. So many topics, issues, ideas, and the list goes on. An example: Where is the line between forgiveness and justice? Where is the line between resting in God’s presence and having discipline in seeking God’s face? I mean, yes, Jesus is OUR BEST FRIEND, but that doesn't mean we always do what we want to do. Sure, it’s OK sometimes, but honestly, it’s an excuse so that I don’t have to die to self. I want to relax or just think instead of press into God. So sometimes, we have to die to self and stay up late with Jesus or wake up SUPER early to talk to Jesus. He died for YOU, now it’s time to die to ourselves. Press in. our relations ship with Jesus IS a bed of roses and He wants us to relax, but He also wants us to die to self and press into Him, especially in the times we don’t want to. *cough*cough* example: FASTING. I hate fasting, because I LOVE FOOD! But I fast anyways, because I love Jesus so much and He requires it: Matthew 6:16, Acts 13:2, 14:23.

So there are MANY other topics that have made me realize it is a fine line. Another word that is similar is equilibrium. With this whole ‘finding the line or equilibrium,’ you need to be mature. I already gave an example and it’s all about maturity. Don’t be lazy, but at the same time, don’t get tied down to rules and regulations. Another example: line between legalism and holiness? Hmmm..
An ‘easier’ example is the one I was working through recently, which is where is the line between serious and joking. Do I just want to be a serious (sometimes ‘boring’) person all the time? No. do I want to be a joke (sometimes ‘childish’) person all the time? No. Be mature. Find the line. Walk it. And I would walk closer on the ‘HOLY’ side of things. I mean, let’s look at our God, 1 Peter 1:16.

Summer teams

What have I done with my summer? Well, it’s an incredible story! First, I want to bring and direct all the glory to the Lord Jesus Christ. Everything that we did was to bring glory to Him and to show people how desperate we are for Him.

This summer we had teams come down to live at the orphanage to help the building process. They would also visit all the ministries that we are doing here: the orphanage, daycare, garbage dump children’s program, local community children’s program, cell groups (community family groups from the church), and other random things too.

(watch this video: http://vimeo.com/47591922#at=0 )
I was with a team of inters that helped with the same thing: leading teams. It was such a cool groups of interns that we had (see the amazing race blog). We would encourage each other and up-lift each other, help each other, and HANG OUT! It was an amazing team that we had and God definitely put us together!

Teams…we had teams from all over the United States and Canada. Teams as big as 45 and small as 8. And teams would come at different times during the summer. We had it set up in blocks of teams for 10 days and then a break for 5 days. And then teams for the next 10 days and then a break, that way the teams could be with other teams and build connections and relationships. One time we had 100 people here…what?! So yeah, it was pretty crazy at times.

 

I also led one team that was in the jungle in Pugallpa. It was such an amazing experience and I LOVED IT! The jungle experience was completely different than the orphanage (because it’s in the desert). So it was a nice break to see a different part of Peru.

 

Leading the teams was normal. I mean children’s ministry and building is mostly the same all around the world. But the difference came during DEBRIEF. Oh that dreaded word…but this is where lives changed. THIS was the reason for the missions experience. The team had time to reflect on the day and the people here. That is the REASON for short-term mission experiences…to change YOU. And people did change. Topics started about how we are the same as the people in the garbage dumps. People have so much joy in the midst of trash. Who are the least of these in my community? Is there a spiritual garbage dump I can impact back in the States? What am I poor in? how are the people in the dump RICHER than me? And so many other questions that you would have to be here to understand.

 

If people left the missions experience unchanged…what was the point?