Acts 2:42
- "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers."
"They continued steadfastly," in other words, they went on and devoted themelves to the doctrine, they continued to study with a heart that wanted more and more of the Word. In my walk with Christ, I know there have been times where I might slow down in my race. If I ever take a day off in reading the Word, it only seems to follow that I will go that whole week without opening my Bible. I realize in this verse that there is one thing I need more of, something that will keep me in the Word daily; I think people really underestimate the importance of this part in ministry, fellowship. I was born in Miami and my family lived there until I was about ten. From my birth up until I was about 7, were attended a Church called Jesus Fellowship. I had always thought that was a strange name for a Church, mostly because there were all these First Church's or Calvary Chapel's or Central Assembly's. Now I see however that really is the reason for going to a Church, the fellowship with other believers. On our second group street witnessing day, I met a man named Aaron. I asked him if he was a Christian, he told me yes but there was something about the way he looked at me and the tone he used when he answered me that made me think he was somewhat of sceptical about the faith. As our conversation continued, I found out that he was visiting Guatemala from Brazil and that while he was a Christian he stopped going to Church because every Church he has been too either adds to the word or takes away from the word. He told me that he can grow in his relationship with Christ just fine if he just sat in his room and read his Bible. I told him thats true, but going to Church and fellowshipping with other believers is a huge part of our walks with Christ. I then told him about Calvary and that they read through the Bible and that they should have a Calvary Chapel planted there. While we are running our individual races, we are running this race with the other racers. These are our brothers and sisters and we need to love them that way.
Pray that He will continue to remind me that the people in my life arent distractions, but lessons.
About Me
- LifeOfJay
- Hi, my name's Jonathan. I am serving Christ in Antigua, Guatemala in the Potter's Field Ignite program. I'm just someone trying my best to grow closer to Christ.
Sunday, March 30, 2014
I.B.S. #47
Matthew 5:20
- "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
The Pharisees know the law, the scribes know the law. I could never be as perfect as the Pharisees or scribes who not only know the law and abide by it, but they also memorize it and in a sense have it embeded deep into their minds. However these people are the ones who constantly show us, in the Bible, the difference in realtionship and religion. I see that the Pharisees and scribes were the ones who were constantly being rebuked by Christ because they held so firmly to the law of the Old Testiment, that they would condemn others for trying to grow personally to Christ. A lot of friends of mine and I believe just people in general, get turned off of Christianity because they say, "oh it's just a bunch of religion," "Christians are just abunch of stuck up people who think they're better than everyone else because they don't break their laws." It's sad to me that people view Christianity this way, but sometimes I cannot blame them for thinking so. The truth of the matter is that alot of Churches and people who say they're Christians do act this way. Honestly the problem with this lies in the pride of that person. Once we realize that we all need is a relationship with Christ, and that He loves everyone and came to save everyone, and that we are no better than the next person, we should be humbled
Read the Ten Commandments and think about how many times I have broken those laws. Ask myself why I judge others.
- "For I say unto you, that except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
The Pharisees know the law, the scribes know the law. I could never be as perfect as the Pharisees or scribes who not only know the law and abide by it, but they also memorize it and in a sense have it embeded deep into their minds. However these people are the ones who constantly show us, in the Bible, the difference in realtionship and religion. I see that the Pharisees and scribes were the ones who were constantly being rebuked by Christ because they held so firmly to the law of the Old Testiment, that they would condemn others for trying to grow personally to Christ. A lot of friends of mine and I believe just people in general, get turned off of Christianity because they say, "oh it's just a bunch of religion," "Christians are just abunch of stuck up people who think they're better than everyone else because they don't break their laws." It's sad to me that people view Christianity this way, but sometimes I cannot blame them for thinking so. The truth of the matter is that alot of Churches and people who say they're Christians do act this way. Honestly the problem with this lies in the pride of that person. Once we realize that we all need is a relationship with Christ, and that He loves everyone and came to save everyone, and that we are no better than the next person, we should be humbled
Read the Ten Commandments and think about how many times I have broken those laws. Ask myself why I judge others.
I.B.S. #46
Matthew 5:19
- "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
All of my life, or at least as far back as I can remember, my father has always reminded my brother and I to "Be part of the solution and not the problem." If there is one thing I really regret doing, it's not just sinning, but also encouraging others to do so as well. I guess I kind of felt that if I was only one doing these bad things, then I look even worse than everyone, so I figured I would take down as many other kids as I could with me. Which of course is so wrong, and as we see here, Jesus tells us that if we break these commands and then teach others to do the same, we will be the called the least in the kingdom. It was especially sad to watch these people I brought into sin because after I turned away from those sins, they continued to go in that way. He then says in this verse that whoever practices and teaches the commands are great. I think it goes without saying, being a Christian or not, we all want to be considered great in heaven. Man is aways striving to be great in everything that they do, so it only seems fitting that we should want to be one of the greats in heaven. Just like in any sport or any activity, if we practice at it, we will become great at it.
I need to practice these commandments that Christ has given us to become great in heaven.
- "Anyone who breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
All of my life, or at least as far back as I can remember, my father has always reminded my brother and I to "Be part of the solution and not the problem." If there is one thing I really regret doing, it's not just sinning, but also encouraging others to do so as well. I guess I kind of felt that if I was only one doing these bad things, then I look even worse than everyone, so I figured I would take down as many other kids as I could with me. Which of course is so wrong, and as we see here, Jesus tells us that if we break these commands and then teach others to do the same, we will be the called the least in the kingdom. It was especially sad to watch these people I brought into sin because after I turned away from those sins, they continued to go in that way. He then says in this verse that whoever practices and teaches the commands are great. I think it goes without saying, being a Christian or not, we all want to be considered great in heaven. Man is aways striving to be great in everything that they do, so it only seems fitting that we should want to be one of the greats in heaven. Just like in any sport or any activity, if we practice at it, we will become great at it.
I need to practice these commandments that Christ has given us to become great in heaven.
I.B.S. #45
Matthew 5:18
- "For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
The law will last as long as the earth lasts. Yet when the earth has faded away so will the law and all that will be left is Jesus, which is everything. In the end, the heavens and earth will pass away, the law will no longer exist, all the prophecies will be fulfilled and God will reign forever. Where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more cheating, lying, sexual immorality, stealing, cursing. There will be no more need for a law because we will be in the presence of God and He cannot reside with sin. The things of this world will fade away with the wind, but our Lord will rule forever; how can something that is temporary live in a world that is eternal?
Need to focus my mind on living for the heavenly things.
- "For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled."
The law will last as long as the earth lasts. Yet when the earth has faded away so will the law and all that will be left is Jesus, which is everything. In the end, the heavens and earth will pass away, the law will no longer exist, all the prophecies will be fulfilled and God will reign forever. Where there will be no more pain, no more suffering, no more cheating, lying, sexual immorality, stealing, cursing. There will be no more need for a law because we will be in the presence of God and He cannot reside with sin. The things of this world will fade away with the wind, but our Lord will rule forever; how can something that is temporary live in a world that is eternal?
Need to focus my mind on living for the heavenly things.
I.B.S. #44
Matthew 5:17
- "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill."
When Jesus came to this earth, He fulfilled every prophecy that was made about the coming Messiah. One thing that I really like about reading these prophecies in the Old Testiment and seeing them come true in the New Testiment, is seeing that Jesus fulfills them all, yet He doesn't fulfill them in the way that man would have predicted Him to do. They prophecied that the Messiah would come and rule over all the earth and they probably expected someone who would, physically, be mighty or strong in stature. However, we know He came as the innocent lamb who ruled and still rules the whole earth with His unfathomable power. He came here not to be serve but to too serve, through these acts of service we see man stand in awe and wonder at why a man who claims to be the Son of God would wash the feet of men, or sit and talk with the prostitutes and theives. He fulfilled the law and He fulfilled the prohecies, Jesus Christ is Lord over all, and we can say that in full confidence.
Before I pray, I need to seriously think about the God that I am praying to.
- "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy but to fulfill."
When Jesus came to this earth, He fulfilled every prophecy that was made about the coming Messiah. One thing that I really like about reading these prophecies in the Old Testiment and seeing them come true in the New Testiment, is seeing that Jesus fulfills them all, yet He doesn't fulfill them in the way that man would have predicted Him to do. They prophecied that the Messiah would come and rule over all the earth and they probably expected someone who would, physically, be mighty or strong in stature. However, we know He came as the innocent lamb who ruled and still rules the whole earth with His unfathomable power. He came here not to be serve but to too serve, through these acts of service we see man stand in awe and wonder at why a man who claims to be the Son of God would wash the feet of men, or sit and talk with the prostitutes and theives. He fulfilled the law and He fulfilled the prohecies, Jesus Christ is Lord over all, and we can say that in full confidence.
Before I pray, I need to seriously think about the God that I am praying to.
I.B.S. #43
Matthew 5:16
- "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
This little light of mine I need to let it shine. Whatever we are doing, we need to realize that we are representing something. When we go on trips with our school, we are representing them, when we go on trips with our church we are representing them, but if we look past our school, church, parents, sports teams, we see that all Christians are representatives of Christ. As far as I can tell, all of Gods other creations, meaning everything else but humans, I can look at and say wow an amaizing God made that, do you see how beautiful that sunset is, or that volcanoe is, or how the humming bird functions. Now, don't get me wrong, the human body is beautifully made, it's incredible to think about all that goes on in our bodies in just three seconds. However, it's sad in a sence that God created everything for a purpose, and us humans are the only ones to mess up. We're the ones who seek sin and deny God for all that He has blessed us with. Then again, perhaps I am looking at man in the wrong way to think that we are all a bunch of screw ups. Perhaps I need to be looking at the heart of man like our Lord does.
Pray that God will help me to see man in this way.
- "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven."
This little light of mine I need to let it shine. Whatever we are doing, we need to realize that we are representing something. When we go on trips with our school, we are representing them, when we go on trips with our church we are representing them, but if we look past our school, church, parents, sports teams, we see that all Christians are representatives of Christ. As far as I can tell, all of Gods other creations, meaning everything else but humans, I can look at and say wow an amaizing God made that, do you see how beautiful that sunset is, or that volcanoe is, or how the humming bird functions. Now, don't get me wrong, the human body is beautifully made, it's incredible to think about all that goes on in our bodies in just three seconds. However, it's sad in a sence that God created everything for a purpose, and us humans are the only ones to mess up. We're the ones who seek sin and deny God for all that He has blessed us with. Then again, perhaps I am looking at man in the wrong way to think that we are all a bunch of screw ups. Perhaps I need to be looking at the heart of man like our Lord does.
Pray that God will help me to see man in this way.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
I.B.S. #42
1 Corinthians 9:27
- "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
We arent to run this race aimlessly, as the previous verse says, as if we are fighting against the air. We need to be putting our bodies into subjection of what we are doing. If we are preaching to others the truth, but aren't practicing what we preach, we won't understand what we are telling others to do. Intresetingly, Jesus seems to ask that we do all that He did, and while that seems impossible because He is God and we are sinners, we can do what He did through the power of Christ. Jesus asks us to love others, He did that; Jesus asks us to care for others, He did that as well; Jesus asks us to pick up our cross everyday and die to ourselves, He did that as well. This is one of the greatest things that I love about Christ, that we can look at His life and see that He will never ask us to do something that He didn't do. It makes me think of the episode of the Office where Michael Scott is looking for the employee to take his position. He makes up a bunch of strange challenges to see who can handle each challenge, yet they're challenges that he wouldn't do himself because they were too dangerous. As we are representing Christ and trying to bring His word to others, we cannot tell people what to do but then not live that example out. Christ lived His life and only asks that we do what He did. Only through Christ are all things are possible.
Write "don't doubt" on my arm.
- "But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway."
We arent to run this race aimlessly, as the previous verse says, as if we are fighting against the air. We need to be putting our bodies into subjection of what we are doing. If we are preaching to others the truth, but aren't practicing what we preach, we won't understand what we are telling others to do. Intresetingly, Jesus seems to ask that we do all that He did, and while that seems impossible because He is God and we are sinners, we can do what He did through the power of Christ. Jesus asks us to love others, He did that; Jesus asks us to care for others, He did that as well; Jesus asks us to pick up our cross everyday and die to ourselves, He did that as well. This is one of the greatest things that I love about Christ, that we can look at His life and see that He will never ask us to do something that He didn't do. It makes me think of the episode of the Office where Michael Scott is looking for the employee to take his position. He makes up a bunch of strange challenges to see who can handle each challenge, yet they're challenges that he wouldn't do himself because they were too dangerous. As we are representing Christ and trying to bring His word to others, we cannot tell people what to do but then not live that example out. Christ lived His life and only asks that we do what He did. Only through Christ are all things are possible.
Write "don't doubt" on my arm.
I.B.S. #41
1 Corinthians 9:26
- "I therefore run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as once that beateth the air."
Therefore we run! Paul has just given us all pretty good reasons in the verses before this why we should be running the race for Christ. It's the only race worth running, because we will recieve the prize that actually matters. One of the hardest things that I see in others lifes and my own life, is running the race without uncertainty. He says here that when we run with uncertainty, we fight. If theres one thing I know, it's that whoever fights against God will lose. His will will be done. Therefore I need to make sure that I am running the race and not fighting against anything He has said.
Everymorning walk the campus and pray.
- "I therefore run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as once that beateth the air."
Therefore we run! Paul has just given us all pretty good reasons in the verses before this why we should be running the race for Christ. It's the only race worth running, because we will recieve the prize that actually matters. One of the hardest things that I see in others lifes and my own life, is running the race without uncertainty. He says here that when we run with uncertainty, we fight. If theres one thing I know, it's that whoever fights against God will lose. His will will be done. Therefore I need to make sure that I am running the race and not fighting against anything He has said.
Everymorning walk the campus and pray.
Wednesday, March 19, 2014
I.B.S. #40
1 Corinthians 9:25
- "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptable crown; but we an incorruptable"
We strive for an incorruptable crown. That's an encouragement for us. This week as we have the theme of discipline, its so refreshing to know that all that we go through, all our trails and tribulations, when we get through them with Christ, we will recieve an incorruptable crown. It kind of makes me sad to know that there are other people who are living in the world and for the world and who, because of thier descisions, are going through lifes hardships and when they reach the end of thier lifes, their crowns, their medals, their achievements will crumble at the judgment seat. It actually upsets me that the life I was living was a lie from the Devil that I fell for. With all the stupid stuff I was doing, I would have entered eternity and all I was on earth wouldn't matter. We need to be telling other people about Christ on a personal level. I know that I would rarely share the gospel with friends, but how in the world could I care about my friends and not tell them the truth.
Write Tell ALL on my arm
- "And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptable crown; but we an incorruptable"
We strive for an incorruptable crown. That's an encouragement for us. This week as we have the theme of discipline, its so refreshing to know that all that we go through, all our trails and tribulations, when we get through them with Christ, we will recieve an incorruptable crown. It kind of makes me sad to know that there are other people who are living in the world and for the world and who, because of thier descisions, are going through lifes hardships and when they reach the end of thier lifes, their crowns, their medals, their achievements will crumble at the judgment seat. It actually upsets me that the life I was living was a lie from the Devil that I fell for. With all the stupid stuff I was doing, I would have entered eternity and all I was on earth wouldn't matter. We need to be telling other people about Christ on a personal level. I know that I would rarely share the gospel with friends, but how in the world could I care about my friends and not tell them the truth.
Write Tell ALL on my arm
I.B.S. #39
1 Corinthians 9:24
- "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one recieveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."
My first thought after reading this verse might be a little bit different than everyone elses, which is good I guess in a sense, but after reading this the first time, I first thought to myself, "Man I hate running." Then I began to think about that a little more. One thing I know that when I or someone else is sharing the gospel I should avoid saying is that, "If you accept Christ, your life will be so much easier than everyone elses. You will get anything you ask for and your wildest dreams will come true." Reason being is because when we life for Christ, It's going to be rough. As Jesus told His disciples that the world will hate them as they have hated Him. The world will persecute us, they will hurt us because that is what they did to Christ. This verse seemed to have come more alive to me while doing this I.B.S. because if there is one thing I know, is that, for me, running sucks. I hate it. Of course there are some people who love it, who can go out and run for miles and miles and actually enjoy every minute of it. This makes me think of those who are continuously being blessed by God. I believe that God works in many different ways, and from hearing the testimonies of others I know there are people who didn't have to go through much to realize Christs grace, and there are some who had to be completely broken to find His grace. For me, I realize now that I may hate running, but we all have to do it in a Spiritual sense. While it may be extremely difficult to do in the beginning of our journey, the more we practice and train, the more learn from our mistakes of slowing down or getting overheated or sprinting then having to stop to catch our breath. We need to be running this race to the best of our abilities and these abilities have been given to us by God to help us run this race. I need to focus on my spiritual running and not my physical running
No more running in the mornings for the rest of training because it has been taking over my time with the Lord in the mornings.
- "Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one recieveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain."
My first thought after reading this verse might be a little bit different than everyone elses, which is good I guess in a sense, but after reading this the first time, I first thought to myself, "Man I hate running." Then I began to think about that a little more. One thing I know that when I or someone else is sharing the gospel I should avoid saying is that, "If you accept Christ, your life will be so much easier than everyone elses. You will get anything you ask for and your wildest dreams will come true." Reason being is because when we life for Christ, It's going to be rough. As Jesus told His disciples that the world will hate them as they have hated Him. The world will persecute us, they will hurt us because that is what they did to Christ. This verse seemed to have come more alive to me while doing this I.B.S. because if there is one thing I know, is that, for me, running sucks. I hate it. Of course there are some people who love it, who can go out and run for miles and miles and actually enjoy every minute of it. This makes me think of those who are continuously being blessed by God. I believe that God works in many different ways, and from hearing the testimonies of others I know there are people who didn't have to go through much to realize Christs grace, and there are some who had to be completely broken to find His grace. For me, I realize now that I may hate running, but we all have to do it in a Spiritual sense. While it may be extremely difficult to do in the beginning of our journey, the more we practice and train, the more learn from our mistakes of slowing down or getting overheated or sprinting then having to stop to catch our breath. We need to be running this race to the best of our abilities and these abilities have been given to us by God to help us run this race. I need to focus on my spiritual running and not my physical running
No more running in the mornings for the rest of training because it has been taking over my time with the Lord in the mornings.
Monday, March 17, 2014
I.B.S. #38
l Corinthians 9:22-23
- "To the weak, became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
A lot of times I look at people these days and I say to myself that they all need to be like Paul. What I mean by this is that I think we need to be one extreme or the other. We need to be 100% for Christ or 100% against Him. As I mentioned in my testimony, one of the biggest things I couldnt stand about my old life was the amount of hypocrasy in my life. Now dont get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone needs be either 100% sinful or 100% perfect because noone can be perfect. However I do believe that if we are to lay down our own desires and follow Christ, we need to have hearts that are truely on fire for Christ. The Bible says He spits out the lukewarm people, those who are claiming to represent Him but are doing a crappy job of it. This definatley is not an easy task however. I think it's probably the hardest way to go about life, constantly dieing to self, but what Paul says here is what we need to have in mind. "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." Dieing to self, living for Christ, being rejected by the world, going out of our comfort zones to go where God wants us to go; It's all for the sake of the gospel. That we might be able to be a part of it. That we might be able to used for the advancement of the kingdom of heaven. Which is the greatest honor that I think God has given us. I need to be using that gift which God has given me.
As this time of training is coming to an end, I need a refresher so I will pray that the Lord gives me strength to fight off that lukewarmness.
- "To the weak, became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
A lot of times I look at people these days and I say to myself that they all need to be like Paul. What I mean by this is that I think we need to be one extreme or the other. We need to be 100% for Christ or 100% against Him. As I mentioned in my testimony, one of the biggest things I couldnt stand about my old life was the amount of hypocrasy in my life. Now dont get me wrong, I'm not saying everyone needs be either 100% sinful or 100% perfect because noone can be perfect. However I do believe that if we are to lay down our own desires and follow Christ, we need to have hearts that are truely on fire for Christ. The Bible says He spits out the lukewarm people, those who are claiming to represent Him but are doing a crappy job of it. This definatley is not an easy task however. I think it's probably the hardest way to go about life, constantly dieing to self, but what Paul says here is what we need to have in mind. "I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." Dieing to self, living for Christ, being rejected by the world, going out of our comfort zones to go where God wants us to go; It's all for the sake of the gospel. That we might be able to be a part of it. That we might be able to used for the advancement of the kingdom of heaven. Which is the greatest honor that I think God has given us. I need to be using that gift which God has given me.
As this time of training is coming to an end, I need a refresher so I will pray that the Lord gives me strength to fight off that lukewarmness.
Saturday, March 15, 2014
I.B.S. #37
Philippians 3:12
- "Not as though I had already attained, either were perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
I love that we can look at Paul, who we view as this amazing devout man in Bible, who has one of the most amaizing testimonies and yet hes is so humble in saying that he just like anyother Christian and is simply a follower after Christ. This is all we can do while on earth. Simply follow after Christ earnestly. We will never be perfect, I will never be perfect; we will be perfect, however, when we finally see Him in His kingdom. When I arrive, I want to be given a "Well done" because of how I followed earnestly after Christ during my time on earth. It's kind of sad to know that no matter how much we sacrifice here on earth, we will never reach perfection. However it is pretty cool to know that what He has prepared for us in perfection is going to be so much greater than the amount of blessings that He is going to pour on us when we follow Him.
Continue to examine all that I have sacrificed and make sure I have given ALL things that are stopping me from growing as close as possible to Him.
- "Not as though I had already attained, either were perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus."
I love that we can look at Paul, who we view as this amazing devout man in Bible, who has one of the most amaizing testimonies and yet hes is so humble in saying that he just like anyother Christian and is simply a follower after Christ. This is all we can do while on earth. Simply follow after Christ earnestly. We will never be perfect, I will never be perfect; we will be perfect, however, when we finally see Him in His kingdom. When I arrive, I want to be given a "Well done" because of how I followed earnestly after Christ during my time on earth. It's kind of sad to know that no matter how much we sacrifice here on earth, we will never reach perfection. However it is pretty cool to know that what He has prepared for us in perfection is going to be so much greater than the amount of blessings that He is going to pour on us when we follow Him.
Continue to examine all that I have sacrificed and make sure I have given ALL things that are stopping me from growing as close as possible to Him.
I.B.S. #36
Philippians 3:11
- "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."
Well this verse doesnt make much sense to me. I have read this over and over and in the context and I cannot figure out how to write something down that will come straight out of reading this verse. I begin to read it in context and figure out something, but then I realize that what I figure out comes out of the verse before this one. The most I can seem to get out of this verse is this, that we have to give up everything that is not of the Lord before we can gain anything from Him. If we want the Lord to bless us, we need to have the heart for it. We need to actually want/strive/do something about our situation to recieve blessings from God which in this verse is the ressurection from our deaths. We all will die, but because of what we do with our lives, if we live for Him, for the kingdom to come, we will be resurrected from our sinning bodies and live in perfection forever in His presence. We need to be doing what ever we can, by any means possible to live for Him in order to actually grasp this resurrection
I need to go back and read the story of Jesus' resurrection
- "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead."
Well this verse doesnt make much sense to me. I have read this over and over and in the context and I cannot figure out how to write something down that will come straight out of reading this verse. I begin to read it in context and figure out something, but then I realize that what I figure out comes out of the verse before this one. The most I can seem to get out of this verse is this, that we have to give up everything that is not of the Lord before we can gain anything from Him. If we want the Lord to bless us, we need to have the heart for it. We need to actually want/strive/do something about our situation to recieve blessings from God which in this verse is the ressurection from our deaths. We all will die, but because of what we do with our lives, if we live for Him, for the kingdom to come, we will be resurrected from our sinning bodies and live in perfection forever in His presence. We need to be doing what ever we can, by any means possible to live for Him in order to actually grasp this resurrection
I need to go back and read the story of Jesus' resurrection
Thursday, March 13, 2014
I.B.S. #35
Philippians 3:10
- "That I may know Him, and the power of His ressurection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."
When I first copied this verse down, I initially wrtoe the power of His righteousness. I think the reason why I did that was because I never recognized the amount of power that He showed during His ressurection. The beauty in the fact that He died, rose from the dead, and lived forever. I remember a study that I heard a while back that said something along the lines of Jesus, while He raised the dead, was the only person to die, raise Himself back up, and never die another earthly death again. Interestingly enough, I always figured that yes Jesus can bring the dead back to life (in the physical sense) so of course He could raise Himself from the dead however, I guess I never saw the power, the magnificence in the fact that Jesus never truely died, He lives even still to this day. While we've been this week of I.B.S. on the theme of sacrifice, I've been realizing that we don't actually sacrifice anything to gain eternal life. I remember a little skit we did in highschol. It had two people with full trashbags over thier shoulders who were in desperate need to get rid of it. They both realized that little by little the trashbags gradually got bigger and bigger with more barbage inside of them. Then Jesus comes along and asks one of them to give them their trashbag. He asks what the catch is. Jesus says there is no catch, just give me your bag, I'll get rid of it all, and you won't have walk around with this burden any longer. So he gives Jesus the bag, is immediatley happy, and skips of the stage. Jesus then asks the next person and they say no. He asks him why? He replies, well it may be stinky and heavy but this is my trashbag and while I would like to give it up, I might need something in it later on. This is how I feel about when I "sacrifice" something. Everything that we live for in this world is trash compared to what Jesus has for us. The sad part about it is that most people, like myself, for whatever reason, want to hold on to those bags of garbage even we know it may be bad for us or unnapealing to others. I contually find myself holding on to trash and I just need to give it all to Christ.
I'm going to write trashman on my arm to remind myself to take all the trash to Jesus like a trashman takes garbage to the dump.
- "That I may know Him, and the power of His ressurection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death."
When I first copied this verse down, I initially wrtoe the power of His righteousness. I think the reason why I did that was because I never recognized the amount of power that He showed during His ressurection. The beauty in the fact that He died, rose from the dead, and lived forever. I remember a study that I heard a while back that said something along the lines of Jesus, while He raised the dead, was the only person to die, raise Himself back up, and never die another earthly death again. Interestingly enough, I always figured that yes Jesus can bring the dead back to life (in the physical sense) so of course He could raise Himself from the dead however, I guess I never saw the power, the magnificence in the fact that Jesus never truely died, He lives even still to this day. While we've been this week of I.B.S. on the theme of sacrifice, I've been realizing that we don't actually sacrifice anything to gain eternal life. I remember a little skit we did in highschol. It had two people with full trashbags over thier shoulders who were in desperate need to get rid of it. They both realized that little by little the trashbags gradually got bigger and bigger with more barbage inside of them. Then Jesus comes along and asks one of them to give them their trashbag. He asks what the catch is. Jesus says there is no catch, just give me your bag, I'll get rid of it all, and you won't have walk around with this burden any longer. So he gives Jesus the bag, is immediatley happy, and skips of the stage. Jesus then asks the next person and they say no. He asks him why? He replies, well it may be stinky and heavy but this is my trashbag and while I would like to give it up, I might need something in it later on. This is how I feel about when I "sacrifice" something. Everything that we live for in this world is trash compared to what Jesus has for us. The sad part about it is that most people, like myself, for whatever reason, want to hold on to those bags of garbage even we know it may be bad for us or unnapealing to others. I contually find myself holding on to trash and I just need to give it all to Christ.
I'm going to write trashman on my arm to remind myself to take all the trash to Jesus like a trashman takes garbage to the dump.
My Testimony
I guess my life is an example of someone who was blessed by God their whole life yet rejected/ignored all that He seemed to have given/said to me. My mother is the perfect example of a godly woman, my father the perfect example of a godly man. Because of the parents God had given me, I know what I need to be as a man, and I know what I need to love in a woman. He placed me in a Christian environment in every state, in my home, my education, and my church. I constantly was having the truth shoved in my face. But I would always spit it back in His face. I threw all His blessings away, the talents that He gave me. I didn't seem to be getting the approval, or at least in my childish eyes, the love of my parents so I looked for it in popularity. I began to attend a youth group that seemed to draw the popular crowd. Most of the kids who attended were hypocrites like myself, only there to hangout because our parents would let us go there on a Wednesday night. I learned from these hypocritical friends and the non-believing friends that I had, that you were cool based on how many girls you could get to "love" you every other weekend. That watching pornography, listening to the dirtiest music, and shoplifting were ways to fit in with the popular kids and to get kids to hangout with you. By the grace of God, I had a heart change. Sadly it took the fear of everyone I loved finding out what I had been doing to change my heart, but then again, my heart was so hardened by that point that I had to go through such pain to finally break down. By the grace of God my heart was changed before things got too late. I kept my virginity, I didn't spend any years in prison and I came to the realization of all the lies that Satan had put in my mind. My parents did love me and that the lusts of the flesh will quickly leave us in the gutter alone to die. As a child my father always would recite Psalm 1, to this day I know it, but however, I never realized the truth in that whatever he that brings forth good fruit does shall prosper, "but the ungodly are not so: but they are like the chaff which the wind drives away." Psalm 1:4. Yet Christ plucked me out of the gutter, the dusted me off, and gave me a new start. I would have to say that I have truly been living for Christ for about 3 years now. Now, having a change of heart, I view everything differently. I think the new worldview He has given me is what will keep me living all out for Him. There is no desire to go back to who I used to be any longer. I'm sick of my own hypocrisy, it annoys me to think of the things that I would do right before and right after Church. However, "If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." 2 Corinthians 5:17. I thank God everyday for the new mindset He has given me. When I allowed to Satan to get in my heart, I saw life the way that he wanted me to see it, my actions and my thoughts were set to his desires. However the same worked with Christ, when He changed my heart, Everything outward changed as well. Then, God did something in my life that caught me completely off guard. After my heart had changed and I had finally felt at peace with God and with my parents and with everything; my life felt perfect. Then God took away, what was in my eyes, the greatest thing that He had given me. A solid relationship with a godly woman. I became angry, not at God but at her and then eventually, myself. The devil used this opportunity to try and break me down from the inside out. Yet I felt God tell me that this needed to happen so that I could give 100% to Him at Potter'sfield this year without any distractions. However during my time here, I can see that Satan is trying to use what He can to get my focus off of God. However, God is continually providing for me with the examples I need that will continue to encourage my heart on my journey, during this year and during this program.
Proverbs 21:21- "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." Proverbs 20:7- "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after Him."
Proverbs 21:21- "He who pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor." Proverbs 20:7- "The righteous man leads a blameless life; blessed are his children after Him."
You Were Made For More- Book Report
If there's one thing that I would have to say that I don't like doing, it's reading. However, I always find that after I force myself to read a book, I end up loving it. Especially with my time here at Pottersfield, they seem to do an amaizing job of giving us books that have to do with exactly what were going to face and what we are personally going through. Throughout my life, my parents always told me that I was made for more than what I think I am. Of course I figured they were just saying that because they wanted me to strive for exellence. I now look back at my life and see how God has prepared me to face the things that He has put in my life today. Which, why my life isn't even half way over, so much more than I ever could have imagined.
I know it may sound cheesy, but the title of this book, You Were Made For More, completely says what this book is about. This book tells the stories of both men in biblical times as well the accounts of personal testimonies in how God has taken an "average" persons life and change it around and then continue to use that changed heart for the furtherance of His kingdom. In a way that, like the book is titled, that person would have never expected. While at a young age I never realized it, but the godly men in Bible times were just like the godly men of today, meaning they searched for God just like us, they grew closer to Him just like us, and they failed just like us. I guess I always looked at the men of the Bible as these devout men of God who were in a sense Holy and better than everyone else. This definatley is not the case, but I feel like at a younger age i never noticed all the sins that those men had commited back in those days. Now that I'm older, however I see that they face the same problems that we, as Christians face today.
It encourages me so much to be able to look at the lives of those who have gone before me and see how God had used them to do such great things. While I am just now starting my real walk with Christ, not resting on my parents faith, I can see already how Christ is moving through me and guiding my life with His divine plan. I would have never imagined two years ago that I would be living in Guatemala for 8 months serving and giving my all to grow closer to Christ. It's amaizing to see that God is already using me for so much more than I could have ever imagined and to know that He is just going to continue to bring me closer and closer to Him and farther and farther away from what I thought I would be doing with me life. I know understand that I was truely made for more.
I know it may sound cheesy, but the title of this book, You Were Made For More, completely says what this book is about. This book tells the stories of both men in biblical times as well the accounts of personal testimonies in how God has taken an "average" persons life and change it around and then continue to use that changed heart for the furtherance of His kingdom. In a way that, like the book is titled, that person would have never expected. While at a young age I never realized it, but the godly men in Bible times were just like the godly men of today, meaning they searched for God just like us, they grew closer to Him just like us, and they failed just like us. I guess I always looked at the men of the Bible as these devout men of God who were in a sense Holy and better than everyone else. This definatley is not the case, but I feel like at a younger age i never noticed all the sins that those men had commited back in those days. Now that I'm older, however I see that they face the same problems that we, as Christians face today.
It encourages me so much to be able to look at the lives of those who have gone before me and see how God had used them to do such great things. While I am just now starting my real walk with Christ, not resting on my parents faith, I can see already how Christ is moving through me and guiding my life with His divine plan. I would have never imagined two years ago that I would be living in Guatemala for 8 months serving and giving my all to grow closer to Christ. It's amaizing to see that God is already using me for so much more than I could have ever imagined and to know that He is just going to continue to bring me closer and closer to Him and farther and farther away from what I thought I would be doing with me life. I know understand that I was truely made for more.
Kids Club 2014 in Antigua, Guatemala
Here's just a little something something I whipped up for your viewing pleasure (hopefully) I hope to keep you updated with more videos and child stories during my field time here in Guatemala! Thank You for watching and Dios le bendiga!
I.B.S. #34
- "And be found in Him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith."
As Christians live this life, we have one goal in mind, to reach the gates of heaven, to enter and hear well done, my good and faithful servant. To reach this goal, however, we need to keep in mind that if we arent being His servants here on this earth, then we aren't going to truely feel like we have done well. While theres no doubt in my mind that it is possible to believe in Christ, read the Bible, stay in your house, do nothing about it, die and still go to heaven; I do believe that that would be foolish. If we are reading His word and truely love Him, we will do as He has commanded us to do, which is to go out and be a light, go out and spread His word. Of course that includes your town, your community, your church, your workplace. We need to remember though that if we are not sacrificing our lives for Him, the people around us may not see the example that Christ set for us. If we are supposed to resemble Christ, and we do nothing about our faith, what does that tell others about Christ? I know that this is something that I have failed at doing in my own town of Vero Beach. I would like to say there were specific times where I would slack off and be a bad example of Christ but that seemed to be me all the time. And like I said last I.B.S., I truely feel like I havent been really sacrificing everything to Him daily.
I'm going to draw a steering wheel on my left hand to remind me that I need sit in the passengers seat and let God take complete control of my life.
As Christians live this life, we have one goal in mind, to reach the gates of heaven, to enter and hear well done, my good and faithful servant. To reach this goal, however, we need to keep in mind that if we arent being His servants here on this earth, then we aren't going to truely feel like we have done well. While theres no doubt in my mind that it is possible to believe in Christ, read the Bible, stay in your house, do nothing about it, die and still go to heaven; I do believe that that would be foolish. If we are reading His word and truely love Him, we will do as He has commanded us to do, which is to go out and be a light, go out and spread His word. Of course that includes your town, your community, your church, your workplace. We need to remember though that if we are not sacrificing our lives for Him, the people around us may not see the example that Christ set for us. If we are supposed to resemble Christ, and we do nothing about our faith, what does that tell others about Christ? I know that this is something that I have failed at doing in my own town of Vero Beach. I would like to say there were specific times where I would slack off and be a bad example of Christ but that seemed to be me all the time. And like I said last I.B.S., I truely feel like I havent been really sacrificing everything to Him daily.
I'm going to draw a steering wheel on my left hand to remind me that I need sit in the passengers seat and let God take complete control of my life.
Monday, March 10, 2014
I.B.S. #33
Philippians 3:8
- "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ."
"Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss." Everytime I think of this song, I think of all the skits that I have seen with this song. As we have seen during our training here, for the most part at least, they all have to do with a person who chases after the desires of the flesh, gets themselves hurt from those desires, Jesus saves them from death, takes thier sins, dies for them, and raises again; conquring death. This verse reminds me that everything we used to do in the flesh we gave up in order that we could grow closer to Christ. Also, that while we may not have thought it was worth it during the suffering of the loss of it all, we gained Christ and in reality all we lost is all the garbage that we carried around with us. It's kind of cool that when you look at those skits we do, the person who Jesus is dieing for, is happy committing the sin until it starts to hurt her, then they begin to cry when it hurts them and when Jesus is being hurt because of them. It's funny/sad to think we think we suffer for Christ having to face this world and thier mockery when Christ died because of us. I makes me ask myself am I really dieing for Christ? I feel like I need to be suffering more for Him.
Mike will keep me accountable to serving during the things I dont like.
- "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ."
"Everything I once held dear, I count it all as loss." Everytime I think of this song, I think of all the skits that I have seen with this song. As we have seen during our training here, for the most part at least, they all have to do with a person who chases after the desires of the flesh, gets themselves hurt from those desires, Jesus saves them from death, takes thier sins, dies for them, and raises again; conquring death. This verse reminds me that everything we used to do in the flesh we gave up in order that we could grow closer to Christ. Also, that while we may not have thought it was worth it during the suffering of the loss of it all, we gained Christ and in reality all we lost is all the garbage that we carried around with us. It's kind of cool that when you look at those skits we do, the person who Jesus is dieing for, is happy committing the sin until it starts to hurt her, then they begin to cry when it hurts them and when Jesus is being hurt because of them. It's funny/sad to think we think we suffer for Christ having to face this world and thier mockery when Christ died because of us. I makes me ask myself am I really dieing for Christ? I feel like I need to be suffering more for Him.
Mike will keep me accountable to serving during the things I dont like.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
I.B.S. #32
1 Corinthians 9:19
- "For though I be free from all man, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more"
Having the power of Christ in our lives gives us that freedom above other men. We are not slaves to man but bondslaves to Christ. Therefore we are not forced to do anything that man tells us we must do, but to first and foremost answer to Chirst. Of course us Christians are called to respect authority, obey our parents, and obey the laws of the land but if our parents, the authority and law over us are corrupted then it is more important to follow what our Lord tells us to do. Just as we see the with apostoles while they did sometimes follow the law of the places they were, they only follow the rules of that which was in accordance with Gods word, and for doing what was right in Gods eyes they were martyrd. We must make ourselves servants to all of those who we are with, because this is where we will gain the more. I love the second part of this verse. Because while people would normally read the word gain and think, success, power, etc. Right now, for some reason, while im reading this I can only think of the word "Grow". When we become servants others, we will grow the more. While we may think that oh if we serve God will give us whatever we want, thats not the case because if there is one thing that i have learned in these past couple of years, is that God will bless us when we bless Him BUT, He will bless us in the way that He knows is best.
I will expect nothing for my service because it is whats required of me.
- "For though I be free from all man, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more"
Having the power of Christ in our lives gives us that freedom above other men. We are not slaves to man but bondslaves to Christ. Therefore we are not forced to do anything that man tells us we must do, but to first and foremost answer to Chirst. Of course us Christians are called to respect authority, obey our parents, and obey the laws of the land but if our parents, the authority and law over us are corrupted then it is more important to follow what our Lord tells us to do. Just as we see the with apostoles while they did sometimes follow the law of the places they were, they only follow the rules of that which was in accordance with Gods word, and for doing what was right in Gods eyes they were martyrd. We must make ourselves servants to all of those who we are with, because this is where we will gain the more. I love the second part of this verse. Because while people would normally read the word gain and think, success, power, etc. Right now, for some reason, while im reading this I can only think of the word "Grow". When we become servants others, we will grow the more. While we may think that oh if we serve God will give us whatever we want, thats not the case because if there is one thing that i have learned in these past couple of years, is that God will bless us when we bless Him BUT, He will bless us in the way that He knows is best.
I will expect nothing for my service because it is whats required of me.
I.B.S. #31
Luke 17:10
- "So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
This week of I.B.S. for me was a little frustrating, only because the verses we have been writing on were followed after the other and they are all teaching the same thing in a sense. While I'm not saying that it is a bad thing, I find it annoying that I can't seem to find a different application for these verses, but then again maybe that's what I really needed to learn this week. As our theme this week is on being a servant, these verses give a picture of that, but along with some other interns, I would agree that there might be other verses that would be better to study this week for the theme of servanthood. As we have finished this story of the master and the servant, we learn to not have a heart that only seeks profit for our service. We need to realize that all of the things what we are asked to do we are supposed to do, and we are not going to be given a pat on the back for the things that we are supposed to do. It was out duty to do so. That being said, it is our duty to die to ourselves and to serve others as Christ would serve them, so even in doing things for others that they didnt ask for we shouldnt expect an "Atta boy!" Because doing things for others that werent commanded of us is our duty.
I'm going to continue to serve meals.
- "So likewise you, when you shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, we are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do."
This week of I.B.S. for me was a little frustrating, only because the verses we have been writing on were followed after the other and they are all teaching the same thing in a sense. While I'm not saying that it is a bad thing, I find it annoying that I can't seem to find a different application for these verses, but then again maybe that's what I really needed to learn this week. As our theme this week is on being a servant, these verses give a picture of that, but along with some other interns, I would agree that there might be other verses that would be better to study this week for the theme of servanthood. As we have finished this story of the master and the servant, we learn to not have a heart that only seeks profit for our service. We need to realize that all of the things what we are asked to do we are supposed to do, and we are not going to be given a pat on the back for the things that we are supposed to do. It was out duty to do so. That being said, it is our duty to die to ourselves and to serve others as Christ would serve them, so even in doing things for others that they didnt ask for we shouldnt expect an "Atta boy!" Because doing things for others that werent commanded of us is our duty.
I'm going to continue to serve meals.
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
I.B.S. #30
Luke 17:9
- "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not."
Being employed in fast food, I know that you dont really get "thank you"s for doing your job becuase that's whats required of you. The things that they command you to do are the things that they also expect you to do. Not to say that you didn't feel apreciated as an employee, but in all honestly they have a standard that they keep you at, and you recieve recognition when you go above and beyond that standard. When we do the things that we aren't neccesarily told to do, that's when we recieve thanks from others. Why do we give thanks to God? because everything we recieve from Him is above and beyond what we deserve. We deserve death, but yet He blesses us all the time with life. We are blessed just to wake up in the mornings and for that we must give thanks to God. Christians serving other Christians on the mission field is almost like this serving circle; everyone serving everyone. So we constantly should be thanking one another for even the smallest acts of service that we do for eachother even if it is as small as taking the plate off your table. We also need to be making sure that we are serving one another and having the mindset that all that we do is for Christ and that we are not serving others so that they will say, "wow, what a servant" but because we truely have a heart to serve one another. I pray that I will continue to have a heart that wants to serve.
My application is to continue helping to serve meals.
- "Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not."
Being employed in fast food, I know that you dont really get "thank you"s for doing your job becuase that's whats required of you. The things that they command you to do are the things that they also expect you to do. Not to say that you didn't feel apreciated as an employee, but in all honestly they have a standard that they keep you at, and you recieve recognition when you go above and beyond that standard. When we do the things that we aren't neccesarily told to do, that's when we recieve thanks from others. Why do we give thanks to God? because everything we recieve from Him is above and beyond what we deserve. We deserve death, but yet He blesses us all the time with life. We are blessed just to wake up in the mornings and for that we must give thanks to God. Christians serving other Christians on the mission field is almost like this serving circle; everyone serving everyone. So we constantly should be thanking one another for even the smallest acts of service that we do for eachother even if it is as small as taking the plate off your table. We also need to be making sure that we are serving one another and having the mindset that all that we do is for Christ and that we are not serving others so that they will say, "wow, what a servant" but because we truely have a heart to serve one another. I pray that I will continue to have a heart that wants to serve.
My application is to continue helping to serve meals.
29th I.B.S.
Luke 17:8
- "But will he not rather say to him, 'prepare something for my supper and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and aftwerward you will eat and drink'?"
Jesus, others, then you. I feel like thats the only thing I need to write on this verse. The fact that it's the way of man to put themselves over others is one of the greatest issues we face. We find it so easy to put Jesus first, honestly I think thats just because He's not physically present. However, even in putting Him first, we don't completely understand that we can't simply love Him and not love everyone else as well. We are to place Jesus before anything or anyone else so that we can truely love other people. His love is the standard that we need to be using in the way that we treat eachother. In todays day and age, we don't really have masters and servants, but as a Christian I am to assume the role of a servant just as Christ did. When you think about it, for the Christian, there should be a never ending cyle of servants because everyone should be serving each other in some way. While I know it was just for a team building exercise, I thought it was really cool recieving our food at dinner but then waited for everyone to be seated before we began eating. It was nice because I know that everytime we eat, the same couple of people will help distribute the food and because of that they are like the last people to eat and they end up eating by themselves. When we waited for everyone to get a plate and sit down, we were able to fellowship with those who usually eat after us or who finish before we make it through the line.
This week I will help serve meals.
- "But will he not rather say to him, 'prepare something for my supper and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and aftwerward you will eat and drink'?"
Jesus, others, then you. I feel like thats the only thing I need to write on this verse. The fact that it's the way of man to put themselves over others is one of the greatest issues we face. We find it so easy to put Jesus first, honestly I think thats just because He's not physically present. However, even in putting Him first, we don't completely understand that we can't simply love Him and not love everyone else as well. We are to place Jesus before anything or anyone else so that we can truely love other people. His love is the standard that we need to be using in the way that we treat eachother. In todays day and age, we don't really have masters and servants, but as a Christian I am to assume the role of a servant just as Christ did. When you think about it, for the Christian, there should be a never ending cyle of servants because everyone should be serving each other in some way. While I know it was just for a team building exercise, I thought it was really cool recieving our food at dinner but then waited for everyone to be seated before we began eating. It was nice because I know that everytime we eat, the same couple of people will help distribute the food and because of that they are like the last people to eat and they end up eating by themselves. When we waited for everyone to get a plate and sit down, we were able to fellowship with those who usually eat after us or who finish before we make it through the line.
This week I will help serve meals.
Monday, March 3, 2014
Michael (Pato) Ronaldo
My first couple of Potter's Field Kids Clubs were some of the most fun times of my life. Getting to hang out with and grow closer to the kids of Antigua, Guatemala and being able to show Christ's love through kids songs and relay races was such a blast. Much like programs like this in the States, I noticed quickly that the older kids wouldn't participate as much as the younger kids were in the games or in the songs. This is what I would have done when I was the older of the kids group, so I made it my goal to reach out to those kids. One of the funniest things about these guys is that they have made nicknames for eachother. Most of which are named after different animals.
One of the first kids that I met was nicknamed Pato, which in spanish translates to "duck". I'm kind of ashamed to admit this but I didn't even know Pato's real name until I decided to write this story on him. Michael Ronaldo is his name, he is 12 years, old, in sixth grade, has two brothers and one sister, who also attend Kids Club. He loves fried chicken and you can always pick him out of the crowd because he always wears his white/red shorts with his soccer cleats. That being said, he loves soccer! While he doesn't play on a team at school, he loves to play anytime he gets the chance to. Not only does he attend Potter's Fields Kids Club program, he also attends the Tutoring that is offered from the Ignite students at the Center. Due to the tutoring, his academics have acceled noticably, and he has continued to learn more and more about God. His favorite Bible story is that of Jacob and Essau because it gives us a great illustration of what we should do to be good. Michael has been attending the Potter's Field Kids Club program since it had started. He heard about the program through hids friends from school, and says that he loves to come for pretty much everything that we do here but especially that he can come here and learn more about God. Not only did he hear about this program through his friends, but he also has made a ton of new friends through this program.
Michael is a leader. He is a child who has passion for things special to him, and who cares for those around him. When I see the way he interacts with the other kids, I can tell he doesnt know how much they look up to him. I continue to pray that Michael will see whats worth living for through this program, and that he will follow Christ and lead those who look up to him to Christ as well. Please keep Michael in your prayers, Thank you!
One of the first kids that I met was nicknamed Pato, which in spanish translates to "duck". I'm kind of ashamed to admit this but I didn't even know Pato's real name until I decided to write this story on him. Michael Ronaldo is his name, he is 12 years, old, in sixth grade, has two brothers and one sister, who also attend Kids Club. He loves fried chicken and you can always pick him out of the crowd because he always wears his white/red shorts with his soccer cleats. That being said, he loves soccer! While he doesn't play on a team at school, he loves to play anytime he gets the chance to. Not only does he attend Potter's Fields Kids Club program, he also attends the Tutoring that is offered from the Ignite students at the Center. Due to the tutoring, his academics have acceled noticably, and he has continued to learn more and more about God. His favorite Bible story is that of Jacob and Essau because it gives us a great illustration of what we should do to be good. Michael has been attending the Potter's Field Kids Club program since it had started. He heard about the program through hids friends from school, and says that he loves to come for pretty much everything that we do here but especially that he can come here and learn more about God. Not only did he hear about this program through his friends, but he also has made a ton of new friends through this program.
Michael is a leader. He is a child who has passion for things special to him, and who cares for those around him. When I see the way he interacts with the other kids, I can tell he doesnt know how much they look up to him. I continue to pray that Michael will see whats worth living for through this program, and that he will follow Christ and lead those who look up to him to Christ as well. Please keep Michael in your prayers, Thank you!
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| Michael's ready to play some Kickball! |
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| Alexis and Michael |
28th I.B.S.
Luke 17:7
- "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'come at once and sit down to eat' ?"
Christ gave His followers a couple of rules. some of which are that Christians are to be servants to everyone, Christian and non-christian just as Christ was. Also that we are to do unto others as they would have us do unto them. This verse reminded me of our hours here during servant time. Not that we were plowing or tending sheep, but that while we were out working, whether it be raking or pulling weeds or painting the walls or whatever, the RAs would come to us and ask if there was anything they could get for us while we do so. While pretty much everytime they asked us if we were fine I said yes, it was still nice to know that they seemed to care about us while we were serving. I have been to a friends house where, if they had someone doing yard work for them at night, they would pay them and then have them stay for dinner. Honestly, in doing so, you open another door to build a relationship with that person and also to tell them about Christ while showing an example of His love.
I need to pray daily that I would keep my eyes open for those opprotunites.
- "And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'come at once and sit down to eat' ?"
Christ gave His followers a couple of rules. some of which are that Christians are to be servants to everyone, Christian and non-christian just as Christ was. Also that we are to do unto others as they would have us do unto them. This verse reminded me of our hours here during servant time. Not that we were plowing or tending sheep, but that while we were out working, whether it be raking or pulling weeds or painting the walls or whatever, the RAs would come to us and ask if there was anything they could get for us while we do so. While pretty much everytime they asked us if we were fine I said yes, it was still nice to know that they seemed to care about us while we were serving. I have been to a friends house where, if they had someone doing yard work for them at night, they would pay them and then have them stay for dinner. Honestly, in doing so, you open another door to build a relationship with that person and also to tell them about Christ while showing an example of His love.
I need to pray daily that I would keep my eyes open for those opprotunites.
27th I.B.S.
Philippians 2:7
- "But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man."
This is probably one of the greatest things that I love about Christ, and it continues to show how much of a servant He truely was. The greatest and most powerful king, the ruler of all, would step down from His throne just to show how much He loves the world. It's one thing to serve in your home, it's one thing to serve at your own church, it's one thing to serve in your own comunity and state, but to leave the comforts of your own lifestyle and serve the people who don't even have enough money to buy clothes, or even shower is different. We humans will do that and then when we get to the location, complain about the weather or the food or the smells or the people. Can you imagine what Christ felt like? We left the United States, He left Heaven, He left perfection came down to this human run world and helped the lame, the poor, the blind, the sick, the lepers. He never complained about anything, can you imagine how good the food in Heaven was? And He's down here eating bread and wine. The only reason why He would do all this is for love, because He loved us so much, He would walk on this messed up earth just to die for us. Because He loved the Father and obeyed Him and because He loved us.
I need to be more sensitive to the Spirit so I will write LISTEN on my arm.
- "But made Himself of no reputation, and took upon Him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of man."
This is probably one of the greatest things that I love about Christ, and it continues to show how much of a servant He truely was. The greatest and most powerful king, the ruler of all, would step down from His throne just to show how much He loves the world. It's one thing to serve in your home, it's one thing to serve at your own church, it's one thing to serve in your own comunity and state, but to leave the comforts of your own lifestyle and serve the people who don't even have enough money to buy clothes, or even shower is different. We humans will do that and then when we get to the location, complain about the weather or the food or the smells or the people. Can you imagine what Christ felt like? We left the United States, He left Heaven, He left perfection came down to this human run world and helped the lame, the poor, the blind, the sick, the lepers. He never complained about anything, can you imagine how good the food in Heaven was? And He's down here eating bread and wine. The only reason why He would do all this is for love, because He loved us so much, He would walk on this messed up earth just to die for us. Because He loved the Father and obeyed Him and because He loved us.
I need to be more sensitive to the Spirit so I will write LISTEN on my arm.
26th I.B.S.
Philippians 2:5-6
- "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God."
Growing up in the home that I was raised in, I never thought that I can be like God. That just sounds weird to me. I did know that we are to strive to be like Jesus. In my mind I've always viewed Jesus as the perfect example of what a Christian should be. I always knew that God and Jesus were the same person, but never would I have thought to say, that we need to be like God. As we see in His word, God sends His Son to earth to save us all and to serve us all (John 3:16-17). So it would seem to me like what are to do based off this verse, is to have the mind of Jesus Christ and to spread the word of Gods salvation as Jesus did on earth, and serve all of those around us. One thing that I have realized while being in Gautemala, as it is a third world country, is that there is a noticable amount of poverty found here than back in Florida. It makes me think of how some people may think that they don't want to leave the comforts of their home to be a missionary in a third world country but when you think about it, Jesus left heaven to come here on earth. I am completely sure that the most beautiful place on earth can't even compare to the worst thing in heaven. For Him to leave His home, perfection, and to come to earth, imperfection, was the greatest act of being a servant for the Father. I need a mindset to understand that no matter what I see or do here, there is nothing that Christ hasn't done. He came to this earth and healed the sick, no matter how bad the situation was.
I need to look at everyone on this street as a beautiful child of God. I will write "we are all sheep" on my arm
- "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God."
Growing up in the home that I was raised in, I never thought that I can be like God. That just sounds weird to me. I did know that we are to strive to be like Jesus. In my mind I've always viewed Jesus as the perfect example of what a Christian should be. I always knew that God and Jesus were the same person, but never would I have thought to say, that we need to be like God. As we see in His word, God sends His Son to earth to save us all and to serve us all (John 3:16-17). So it would seem to me like what are to do based off this verse, is to have the mind of Jesus Christ and to spread the word of Gods salvation as Jesus did on earth, and serve all of those around us. One thing that I have realized while being in Gautemala, as it is a third world country, is that there is a noticable amount of poverty found here than back in Florida. It makes me think of how some people may think that they don't want to leave the comforts of their home to be a missionary in a third world country but when you think about it, Jesus left heaven to come here on earth. I am completely sure that the most beautiful place on earth can't even compare to the worst thing in heaven. For Him to leave His home, perfection, and to come to earth, imperfection, was the greatest act of being a servant for the Father. I need a mindset to understand that no matter what I see or do here, there is nothing that Christ hasn't done. He came to this earth and healed the sick, no matter how bad the situation was.
I need to look at everyone on this street as a beautiful child of God. I will write "we are all sheep" on my arm
25th I.B.S.
Philippians 2:4
- "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others"
I would categorize this verse as another die to self verse. While we would usually be concered about ourselves and our own well being, we are not to be doing so. We need to care about our own interests but not in the sense of physical wants or needs. When we look at our own intrests, we should ask ourselves, "Am I pleasing God in what I am doing?" If this is true then we should already be focused on the intrests of others. I love that everything God tells us to do comes naturally if we are living with Christ in us, and allowing the Holy Spirit to move through us. If we are seeking to be like Christ and if we are continually yeilding to what He hs for our lives, all these things will come naturally to us. The people who I know in my life who care way more about others interests over their own are people who we continually see Christ in. They are the ones who have made the decision to die to self and to allow the Spirit to move in a way that is unstoppable for the Evil One to creep in and shut them down.
I need to make sure I'm not allowing the devil to get the slightest hold on me.
- "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others"
I would categorize this verse as another die to self verse. While we would usually be concered about ourselves and our own well being, we are not to be doing so. We need to care about our own interests but not in the sense of physical wants or needs. When we look at our own intrests, we should ask ourselves, "Am I pleasing God in what I am doing?" If this is true then we should already be focused on the intrests of others. I love that everything God tells us to do comes naturally if we are living with Christ in us, and allowing the Holy Spirit to move through us. If we are seeking to be like Christ and if we are continually yeilding to what He hs for our lives, all these things will come naturally to us. The people who I know in my life who care way more about others interests over their own are people who we continually see Christ in. They are the ones who have made the decision to die to self and to allow the Spirit to move in a way that is unstoppable for the Evil One to creep in and shut them down.
I need to make sure I'm not allowing the devil to get the slightest hold on me.
24th I.B.S.
Phillipians 2:3-
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
We are to be filled with joy through everything that we do. If we do everything with the mindset of j.o.y., then we are doing it right. We should be having a bad attitude about it because we are tired, or because we dont like what it is we're doing, or because of the team we are doing it with because the first letter here is "J" which we all know stands for Jesus. If we are doing everything with the first priority that says, "okay, this is for Jesus." I think I would put alot more effort into it than I normally would. Now lets say your stuck on a what you consider a junky KP team. And you say, "Well I love Jesus and I want to do my best for Jesus but this sorry bunch of losers on the other hand..." that doesnt make sense because Jesus said that we cannot love Him but not our brothers and sisters. So when we say Jesus, then "O" for others we should be serving those who are serving with us. So when we're on KP, and we see that someones not having a good day, and their work is showing that, talk to them, help them out, our teams aren't going to grow stronger if we just sit there and complain, "Oh there goes Ben, doing backflips when he's supposed be doing dishes." Then there's the "Y" for Yourself. honestly while writing this I want to finish with just saying that there shouldnt be a "Y" because your supposed to be dead to yourself while serving others.
When doing anything, I need to work on physically expressing joy during work, so I will try my best to always smile during those times.
"Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves."
We are to be filled with joy through everything that we do. If we do everything with the mindset of j.o.y., then we are doing it right. We should be having a bad attitude about it because we are tired, or because we dont like what it is we're doing, or because of the team we are doing it with because the first letter here is "J" which we all know stands for Jesus. If we are doing everything with the first priority that says, "okay, this is for Jesus." I think I would put alot more effort into it than I normally would. Now lets say your stuck on a what you consider a junky KP team. And you say, "Well I love Jesus and I want to do my best for Jesus but this sorry bunch of losers on the other hand..." that doesnt make sense because Jesus said that we cannot love Him but not our brothers and sisters. So when we say Jesus, then "O" for others we should be serving those who are serving with us. So when we're on KP, and we see that someones not having a good day, and their work is showing that, talk to them, help them out, our teams aren't going to grow stronger if we just sit there and complain, "Oh there goes Ben, doing backflips when he's supposed be doing dishes." Then there's the "Y" for Yourself. honestly while writing this I want to finish with just saying that there shouldnt be a "Y" because your supposed to be dead to yourself while serving others.
When doing anything, I need to work on physically expressing joy during work, so I will try my best to always smile during those times.
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