Crazy or In Love

         Whenever someone does something out of the ordinary or strange, like losing something they just had or squirting hand soap on their toothbrush, people here make the comment that they're either crazy or in love! The statement is funny, but has a ring of truth in it because sometimes love makes us do crazy things. For example, I love Nestle hot chocolate, Reeses, chocolate chips, peanut butter, cream of wheat, B&BW, dill pickles, etc. They either don't have them, they're hard to find, or just ridiculously expensive here, so I become the crazy person in the airport traveling with the maxed out check-in bag, almost exploding carry-on and rather large personal item. I hate traveling with a bunch of luggage... so why do I do it? My "love" for those things make it worth it to me.
          I've been challenged with love recently. If anyone were to ask me if I loved Jesus Christ, of course I would say yes, most people in Christian service would. But what does that really mean? Love is never stagnate. So what in my life is driven by my love for Christ?
           I could be religious and say going to church, I moved to another country to do missionary work, or I live without bagels, but that's not what I'm talking about. I have found that I can make a sincere decision in faith and then be driven by obligation. That's not what I'm talking about either and I don't want to live that way.  I think of love for Christ as something not just printed on my t-shirt, but something running through my veins and making my heart beat, energizing me for what lies ahead.  It's more than just action, it's who I am.

2 Corinthians 5:14,15 says, "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."My love for Christ should be seen in my desire for Him, excitement about the gospel, and my care for other people... it should be a reality in my attitude.

"In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1John 4:9,10) God's love drove Him to do something pretty crazy for me...personally, I ask myself,

Do I notice other peoples' needs?

Do I go out of my way to help?

Do I give even though it hurts?

Do I explain something with longsuffering for the 10th time?

Do I go above and beyond because it's important to someone else when I could care less? 

Do I do the monotonous faithfully and with all my heart?

Am I thankful?... for everything?

Do I look for opportunities to share the gospel, and take them?

Am I aware of the power of my words and try build people up?

Is my time being managed so that I'm really getting the time I need every day in God's Word?

 

It's everyday life.

 

 "Love makes us do crazy things, so what is your love for Christ leading you to do?"

-David Winsor

 

 

 

          Our internship team has just recently increased by two! I'm so excited for Andrea and Steve to be with us. They are both currently serving here in the school and are a huge help to us. Yesterday we went with Claudia and Betty into the city so they could get the things they needed to get settled in. It is so fun to be with them as they experience living in Mexico for the first time. I am super excited to see all that God does through them here and how He grows them through the new challenges He's bringing their way!

A Breath of Fresh Air

The past month I've been able to see and spend time with my family, friends have made a special effort to connect with me, visit with my church, and see God provide in unexpected ways.

I arrived home December 17th and we stayed in Virginia for Christmas. My highlights were that I met my niece Liliana for the first time, decorating sugar cookies, and having my friend Darla visit with us!




We headed to Tennessee for the weekend after Christmas to catch up with the App family (my sister's family), grandparents, cousins, aunt and uncles. The food was DELICIOUS and this year we had lots of fun with a Nerf war. :)

 

Eventually Christa and I headed to the Word of Life Missions Conference in Schroon Lake, NY with friends. Two years ago I was commissioned in this conference and this year I walked with my "class" of interns as we finished what we each set out to do in different parts around the world. It was refreshing and exciting to hear and share experiences and be an encouragement to new missionary interns heading out this month! I got to see some old friends too and it's just always fun to hear how God moves in each life in unique ways. You can watch the missions conference sessions using the link below!

                                     Word of Life Bible Institute Missions Conference 2013

This trip home I've been very encouraged about whatever it may be that God has in store for my future. It's a little scary yet also exciting to dream and pursue the unknown. God has been touching my heart in different ways and it will be interesting to see what He calls me to next!

I was able to visit with my home church a little and it was so good to see people who have been investing in my life for a long time now. This past Wednesday night I had the privilege of sharing my testimony with young teenagers that are going there now. SO FUN to share with them and answer questions from such an enthusiastic crowd!

 

I don't know what to do sometimes when faced with a specific need in my life... whether to share it, or not. I think that perhaps there are times for both. This visit home was a special time to see God provide. I'd been praying about some Bibles for the school and God provided for me to bring back 10 of them! Going to missions conference in NY from VA was interesting since Christa and I didn't have any money for gas. He provided for that in several ways, but what really stands out is that He chose to use people that didn't have much to give in the first place. Looking back and reading John 6:1-14 this morning has really encouraged me to have faith and trust God when facing needs I can't meet. It's a good thing that He's into doing impossible things!

Thank You, Lord, for Your faithfulness in my life! Increase my faith....