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Beautiful Feet

Open your mouth. And speak.

"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

Romans 10:14-15

Okay - so this poem is super convicting.. "If I am not speaking life into you, I'm killing you... because of our pride we keep our lips sealed and pretend that we're mimes; not knowing that our audience is potentially blind. My God speaks braille - and it's only difficult if you can't see what He did for you."

As Christians, we MUST be telling others what Christ did for them. Jesus says, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matt. 7:13-14)

I have to continually remind myself of the realities of heaven and hell. I need to continually ask God to put my classmates, friends, and family on my heart. I need to continually ask God for boldness to share His truth unwaiveringly in love.

The last recorded words of Jesus are, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey evrything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matt. 28:19-20)

I can by no means do this by myself, and I will continue to fall short. I am so thankful that God's power is made perfect through my weaknesses. And I am thankful that there is grace thrust upon me from God in every direction. I am thankful for the many Godly men and women I have to look up to and walk beside as we live in, under and for Christ. I borrow a prayer from my boy Lecrae :) quite often. "By all means possible give me the strength to live and die by the gospel!"

Are you stuck in hush-modeism?

Another Elisabeth Elliot Post :)

Man of Dust

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

"As we have worn the likeness of the man made of dust, so we shall wear the likeness of the heavenly man" (1 Cor 15:49 NEB).

What a word of hope for us when we are discouraged with our own sinfulness! The old Adam is always there, rising in rebellion against the new life which Christ has given us. There is constant struggle, daily reminders that we are yet very unholy, very un-Christlike, very dusty. But a day will come when even I, with all my glaring faults, will wear the likeness of the heavenly Man. This gives me ammunition to fire at the Accuser. I shall be like Christ--just wait! You'll see!

The Glory of God

Title: The Glory of God

Author: Elisabeth Elliot

When God's power is manifested in the world, in his creation, or in his people, God is glorified. When we pray that our lives may glorify Him, we are asking that the self may be put down, for it is not possible to show the power of God and at the same time to glorify what George MacDonald called "the bastard self." We must be prepared to lose ourselves, whatever that may entail, that God may be all in all. Losing an argument for his sake, losing something we held dear, losing "face," reputation, a position of power or superiority, losing a claim on someone or on his affection or respect--can these be a part of the answer to our prayer to glorify God in our lives? Assuredly they can, for assuredly the Son Himself laid aside all such assets when He came to do the will of the Father.

"I have glorified Thee on the earth'' (Jn 17:4 AV), He said--and that glory was manifested through weakness, loss, and suffering. What a privileged position we are called to share.

Lord, lift up our eyes, away from ourselves and our small losses, up to that glory yet to be revealed. Teach us that it is only out of weakness that we are made strong, only as we suffer that we may reign, only as we lose that we may gain.

La Republica Dominicana

A song we sang all week was “Santo, Santo, Santo, yo quiero ver te” or “Holy, Holy, Holy, I want to see you.” While I have never actually thought about what it means to see God, or for the eyes of my heart to be opened, this was a prayer that God really answered while in the RD. Time and time again I saw hearts break and change right before my eyes.

Ruth, a girl about my age, came up to me and asked for help with her English homework in an ice cream parlor. I helped her and then proceeded to share the gospel with her. (Everyone in the country pretty much believed in God and Jesus, but had no understanding of grace.) So she believed that the Bible was true, so I asked her, "If you died today, would you go to heaven or hell?" She replied, “I would for sure go to hell. There is no way that a God so perfect and big could ever love a sinner like me.” This blew my mind. She had such an accurate understanding of who God is and who we are. We read a tract together and I explained that no matter how good or bad we are has no bearings on if we get to heaven or not -- it is only by the grace of God. It was so neat to watch this girl go from speaking confidently and loud, to quiet and cracky and burst into tears at the realization that God loved her and wanted a relationship with her. It is so sweet that God is the same in the US, the RD, China, and everywhere else in the world, even when cultures, etc. are so different.

I am so thankful I was able to spend my spring break in the Dominican Republic and see the Lord do incredibly crazy things! My understanding of who God is -- perfect, holy, AWESOME, good, BIG -- was like a full cup before I left in comparison to the ocean of huge waves that keep smacking me in the face with the goodness of God. While I am overwhelmed by the love and greatness of God, I know my understanding is still so little as to how amazing our God really is.

Suffering is a PRIVILEGE!

"You have been granted the privilege not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Him" (Phil 1:29 NEB).

"For the Lord who loves her suffered and wants her to fellowship with Himself. The joy of thus knowing Him comes not in spite of but because of suffering, just as resurrection comes out of death. I have a Savior because I am a sinner, and beauty is given the child of God in exchange for ashes.

We want to avoid suffering, death, sin, ashes. But we live in a world crushed and broken and torn, a world God Himself visited to redeem. We receive his poured-out life, and being allowed the high privilege of suffering with Him, may then pour ourselves out for others." -- Elisabeth Elliot

Jeremiah (my favorite ever) writes in chapter 20 verses 7-9:

I am ridiculed all day long; everyone mocks me… So the word of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long. But if I say, “I will not mention him or speak any more in his name His word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.

While Jeremiah suffered for God, he could not hold the Word of the Lord in. Is this what our lives look like? Can we not contain the love and truth of Christ?

Sing to the Lord! Give praise to the Lord! He rescues the life of the needy from the hands of the wicked. Jeremiah 20:13

Misrepresenting Jesus.

"We are not responsible for outsiders' decisions, but we are accountable when our actions and attitudes--misrepresenting a holy, just and loving God--have pushed outsiders away." UnChristian

LOVE

“To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless—it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.”

— C.S. Lewis"

Make War

James Chapter 1 - Paul hits it hard here.

1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.

1:21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

1:22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.

1:26-27If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

Oh, and chapter 4 verse 7&8 - Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Now one of my favorite songs from one of my favorite artists :)

Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you. Psalm 63:3 - GOD'S LOVE IS BETTER THAN LIFE!!!!! whoaaa