Right now I'm reading Elisabeth Elliot's book called Discipline: the Glad Surrender. Its really making me think about what God really calls us to when He calls us to Himself, to come and die and live a new life.
She says, "the conditions are not such as attract multitudes. Jesus stated them :
1. He must leave self behind
2. he must take up his cross
3. and come with me
The result of the decision is guaranteed:
1.Whoever cares for his own safety is lost
2.but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self
Elisabeth says that to be a Christian MEANS we are disciples...means that we leave ourselves behind.
So often I hear myself saying, like those she mentions, "Yes, I'll be a disciple, but no, I certainly don't want to leave self behind."
This is the essence of being a Christian. And its very hard...I know God is teaching me about how selfish and self reliant I am right now. Following Christ is not as simple and easy as praying a prayer, reading the Bible, and going on your merry way..it is about denying self and living for Christ! Before I was a Christian, I lived totally for myself, so the same sin creeps into my life as Christian- selfishness. I know God is changing me day by day, and I have to trust Him that He can and will. And that the Gospel isnt about me, not about doing enough good things...but this challenges me
Do I really believe that Christ is worth it? Do I believe He deserves my all? Is He my treasure alone?
Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
Praying that will be true for me every day.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Sunday, July 4, 2010
fundraising
My blog has been staring at me today, but somehow theres not that much to write about all my girls....Im fundraising. Most definitely the most challenging part of being a missionary in America! All the time I experience things like..."What a minute..where are you going?"
me: "what do you mean?"
"i mean, where are you going to be a missionary?"
Me: "the college campus. Furman University."
"oh. I thought you said you were going to be a missionary."
Sometimes I feel guilty that Im not in the 10/40 window, doing the real thing. Hang on.. This IS the real thing, Maybe not forever here in America, but for now. I know that people who think that missions exist only outside america dont mean to be rude or anything, maybe they have never talked to anyone outside a church about Jesus, faith, God, eternity, But, I challenge you- do it. Talk to someone that you may have known forever and not talked about spiritual things to, or someone you have just met, at the store, getting your nails done, wherever, and experience the truth - most people dont know HIm. Theyve heard of Him but they dont deeply know Him. Live for Him, treasure Him, spend time with HIm. we must tell people in our nation about the only One who can save us. Jesus.
Once upon a time, I had no idea there was more to being a Christian than just going to church and being a good person. I thought missionaries only needed to go to where people were hungry and physically broken. Somewhere not as fortunate. But, ironically, someone was a missionary TO ME. Someone came to me on the college campus. Someone helped me see the truth, and the need that right next door to my dorm room, across the hall, in the library, the dining hall, everywhere, people were wasting their lives. Ive learned this year how needy every single person is of a Savior. They may look like they have it all together on the outside, but what about their heart? We must be Jesus to the hungry, the poor, the brokenhearted, but we must also be Jesus to the rich, the businessman or woman, the arrogant teenager who is living for the future, the middle class mom who relies on herself to get things done. I was one of those people, searching for something, nothing was working. Until God changed me. I really really really really see a need for us to send people to our own children and youth. No one ever asked me about my personal relationship with Jesus till i was 19 years old.
Anyways, I have about 2 weeks to try and raise the remainder of my financial support! Pray that God provides. I have about 400 dollars a month left to raise, and I am praying that God supply it by July 21st. A big prayer I know, but please join me in it. I can tell you that while I have been meeting with people, I have been SO ENCOURAGED. Seeing people in Rutherfordton living for something greater than themselves. Seeing how they raise their children to be godly. Seeing how they want to be a part of reaching this next generation of leaders. And getting to share the joys of this past year with people.
here is a verse i am praying for this time in my life:phil 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
me: "what do you mean?"
"i mean, where are you going to be a missionary?"
Me: "the college campus. Furman University."
"oh. I thought you said you were going to be a missionary."
Sometimes I feel guilty that Im not in the 10/40 window, doing the real thing. Hang on.. This IS the real thing, Maybe not forever here in America, but for now. I know that people who think that missions exist only outside america dont mean to be rude or anything, maybe they have never talked to anyone outside a church about Jesus, faith, God, eternity, But, I challenge you- do it. Talk to someone that you may have known forever and not talked about spiritual things to, or someone you have just met, at the store, getting your nails done, wherever, and experience the truth - most people dont know HIm. Theyve heard of Him but they dont deeply know Him. Live for Him, treasure Him, spend time with HIm. we must tell people in our nation about the only One who can save us. Jesus.
Once upon a time, I had no idea there was more to being a Christian than just going to church and being a good person. I thought missionaries only needed to go to where people were hungry and physically broken. Somewhere not as fortunate. But, ironically, someone was a missionary TO ME. Someone came to me on the college campus. Someone helped me see the truth, and the need that right next door to my dorm room, across the hall, in the library, the dining hall, everywhere, people were wasting their lives. Ive learned this year how needy every single person is of a Savior. They may look like they have it all together on the outside, but what about their heart? We must be Jesus to the hungry, the poor, the brokenhearted, but we must also be Jesus to the rich, the businessman or woman, the arrogant teenager who is living for the future, the middle class mom who relies on herself to get things done. I was one of those people, searching for something, nothing was working. Until God changed me. I really really really really see a need for us to send people to our own children and youth. No one ever asked me about my personal relationship with Jesus till i was 19 years old.
Anyways, I have about 2 weeks to try and raise the remainder of my financial support! Pray that God provides. I have about 400 dollars a month left to raise, and I am praying that God supply it by July 21st. A big prayer I know, but please join me in it. I can tell you that while I have been meeting with people, I have been SO ENCOURAGED. Seeing people in Rutherfordton living for something greater than themselves. Seeing how they raise their children to be godly. Seeing how they want to be a part of reaching this next generation of leaders. And getting to share the joys of this past year with people.
here is a verse i am praying for this time in my life:phil 3:12-14
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
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