Well, certainly a lot has happened since I last wrote, especially concerning my time in Brazil.
First of all, last Saturday, May 19, 2007, I officially became a college graduate! Yes, I walked across that stage, shook Dr. Habecker's hand and received my (fake) diploma and servant's towel. Time to go out into the world...I'm on my way!
Secondly, plans have changed with OMS. Due to the travel schedules of their missionaries, I will only be able to work with them through December. I will still be leaving August 14 and will stay for only 6 months. For you as supporters, this will not mean that any gifts will be lost or wasted! Money given to OMS for me is kept in an account designated only for me, and can only be used by me. I can use those funds at a later date on a different mission with OMS or I can designate them towards another ministry in Brazil.
This is obviously a very big change, considering I had been hoping to spend a year there, but I have been seeing more clearly every day that this is for the best. God knows exactly what He is doing, and sometimes there is nothing more for me to do but laugh, because this is just how things need to happen.
In the next few weeks, please be praying for my visa application, which I hope to mail by tomorrow. It is coming to the time that all the details will fall into place, and I am watching them do so, one by one.
God is GOOD!
Thursday, May 24, 2007
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Against all principalities...
One thing that I have been learning a lot lately is that God is bigger than every authority here on earth. Maybe my mind is a little more atuned to things like that, but it seems that in every message I hear lately, it is clear that if God is going to use me, He will do it by any means.
God does not use the same standards of worth as we do. In fact, His seem to make absolutely no sense to us. Why were the apostles, men who had failed in their academic studies to become rabbis, chosen to be the primary disciples of Jesus? Why does He say that we must be like children to come before Him? Especially in ancient Israel, children were seen as worthless because they could not effectively do anything. Similarly, we cannot actually do anything for God's kingdom on our own. Showing God our trophies and ribbons and award certificates does not impress him. Showing him our diplomas and degrees or flauting our grade point average merely makes him laugh. He does not measure competence and ability in the ways that we do, and we cannot understand His way.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 says this, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
By His grace, God makes us competent to be ministers of the new covenant. We all are to minister to that, displaying His glory, or being walking billboards of His love, grace and freedom. Maybe I will do that in Brazil, and maybe not. But either way, however God is going to work through me, I will not have very much to do with it, that's for sure. When I look at the big picture, I wouldn't have it any other way.
God does not use the same standards of worth as we do. In fact, His seem to make absolutely no sense to us. Why were the apostles, men who had failed in their academic studies to become rabbis, chosen to be the primary disciples of Jesus? Why does He say that we must be like children to come before Him? Especially in ancient Israel, children were seen as worthless because they could not effectively do anything. Similarly, we cannot actually do anything for God's kingdom on our own. Showing God our trophies and ribbons and award certificates does not impress him. Showing him our diplomas and degrees or flauting our grade point average merely makes him laugh. He does not measure competence and ability in the ways that we do, and we cannot understand His way.
2 Corinthians 3:5-6 says this, "Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant - not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life."
By His grace, God makes us competent to be ministers of the new covenant. We all are to minister to that, displaying His glory, or being walking billboards of His love, grace and freedom. Maybe I will do that in Brazil, and maybe not. But either way, however God is going to work through me, I will not have very much to do with it, that's for sure. When I look at the big picture, I wouldn't have it any other way.
Thursday, May 3, 2007
An itinerary
In the process of applying for my visa, I found I needed a travel itinerary...well, ask and ye shall receive. So the plan is that I'm leaving on August 14!!
There are still a lot of details to work out, but should everything go as planned, a ticket will be purchased (it is now only reserved) and everything will fall right into place.
God is so good. I am so grateful for all who are supporting me, and I grow increasingly excited about how He is going to provide in the future!!!!!
There are still a lot of details to work out, but should everything go as planned, a ticket will be purchased (it is now only reserved) and everything will fall right into place.
God is so good. I am so grateful for all who are supporting me, and I grow increasingly excited about how He is going to provide in the future!!!!!
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