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!