sábado, 29 de octubre de 2011

Jehovah-Jireh

The Israelites used many names to refer to God. I like this idea because when we refer to God, what to do we say?  "Dear God..." I just feel that is a very impersonal way to connect with Him.  Here in Puerto Rico, God is often referred to as Papa Dios. This name places a very personal connotation on God as our father. When the Israelites called to Him, they would call to Him according to His characteristics and the role He played in their lives.  For example, here are some following names that I learned this week during my Bible study (Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place):
  • El Elyon: The Most High God
  • El Shaddai: The Caregiver
  • Jehovah-Shamma: The Lord is present
  • Jehovah-Jireh: God will provide
  • Jehovah-Rapha: God who heals
     I want to talk about Jehovah-Jireh right now, because I feel like this is the name that God has been trying to get me to grasp since I set foot in Puerto Rico. Actually, to be fair to God, I think He's been sending me this message for a long time previous to my arrival, but I just didn't care to learn it. Today I realized that prior to my arrival, I was so much blinding by what God was not providing for me (what I thought He should have been providing for me), that I didn't care to see anything else, including WHY He wasn't providing what I wanted at that time.

     God provided manna for the Israelites in the desert every single day. He provided for them what they needed WHEN they needed it. That's what He does with me, with us too. He has not only given me exactly what I need for physical life here (food, a place to live, items for my classroom, kitchen supplies, etc), but He has gone further. He cares about the basic needs of daily life, yes, but not as much as He does about our emotional, social, and spiritual needs. He has given me the fellowship that I needed so badly with all of the amazing friends here. Yet He has given me the push, the nudge, and the reasons that I needed to get back into studying the Bible and spending time with Him. Being apathetic for so long wasn't good for me, and to be the person that I have a feeling He wants me to be in life, then it was time to jump back on the bandwagon. The way I feel about God right now is nowhere close to how I felt a months ago.

Jehovah-Jireh provides for ALL needs in our lives. Keep in mind, however, that the Israelites had to wake up every morning, go out and gather the manna. He will provide for our needs, that is true, but we also have be willing to receive it.

Last thought: The Israelites gathered enough for those in their tent. Why don't we also give what God has provided to us, to those who are in need or for those who cannot gather it on their own?

jueves, 27 de octubre de 2011

And if our God is for us, then who can ever stop us?

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to
be still." 
 (Exodus 14:14 NIV)

     I came across this verse earlier this week during my Bible study. The Israelites, led by Moses, were being pursued by the Egyptians. The Israelites, feeling scared and hopeless, had a sea ahead of them and an army behind them. These were the words that were spoken to Moses just before the instructions to lift his staff and observe the miraculous rescue that would follow.

     When I read this verse the first time this week, I had chills. It's been awhile since Scripture has had that effect on me. I'm glad that it did, because this is a verse that I cannot get out of my head this week. Last night as I was at our weekly womens' Bible study I began feeling very discouraged. When I got home and began going about my business I just felt like Satan was attacking me. This state of spiritual unrest lasted about 45 minutes or so, but I kept repeating Exodus 14:14 over and over again in prayer: "Jesus, you will fight for me. I just need to be still. YOU will fight Satan off of me right now. I need to just relax."  I went to bed still feeling horrible, but had this feeling that I should get online one last time before I went to sleep. Sure enough when I got on Facebook I had an answer from God. There was a message from a friend that was expressing the complete opposite of the lie I knew Satan was throwing at me all night. It was like God was confirming my prayer... HE was fighting for me last night.

     It's a pain that Satan never seems to stop. I've noticed his plan of attack often changes though. For the past couple of years at home there was one area of my life that he tore me to shreds with. It seemed like no matter how hard I fought, there was no relief. Here in Puerto Rico, however, I know he cannot touch that area of my life, for now at least. God's made it clear to me that I have relief. But now that I have a break with that area of my life, I am noticing Satan creeping in other areas. He isn't going to give up. Once we feel one thing is conquered, he's going to change weapons on us. Someone along the line has told me that anyone who actively pursues Christ and his ministry are Satan's greatest threats. He works double time on us.  I'm not sure if that's true or not, but it sure is obvious that he isn't going to back down. He will always find ways to get at us, even if he has to switch gears for awhile. 

     With that said, then it's a relief to know that he has nothing on our God. And if God is for us, then who can ever stop us????? (And yes, that is Chris Tomlin I am quoting.)

"The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

martes, 25 de octubre de 2011

Surprise Visit

This past Thursday night I was awoken by a strange phone call from my brother telling me to go look outside. Thinking he was crazy but wanting him to leave me alone, I go outside and guess who is standing outside my front door? Tony and Erin!!!!! How about the most incredible surprise ever, right!??! They stayed through the weekend and left Monday morning. We packed so much into the weekend, yet it was so much fun. My heart aches for them now, but it was the greatest weekend. I haven't laughed that much in a long time, and it was so encouraging to have them here with me in my little pocket of the world here. I could go on for paragraphs about how much I loved having my siblings here with me this weekend!

I have a friend at home who is having a baby any day this week or at least by next Monday. Please keep her in your prayers as she is in her final days :)

sábado, 15 de octubre de 2011

Eat, Pray, Love

Sometimes I feel like the Bible college graduate who has a wasted degree. It's as if I walked down that stage, accepted my diploma (or you know, the fake one until the REAL one comes in the mail), and BAM... my head is completely cleared and I know nothing about the Bible anymore. Of course I haven't applied all my Bible-related class knowledge to my job for the past two and a half years. Teaching in public schools and presenting programs at a public museum doesn't require (and allow for that matter) me to display my knowledge of the Scriptures to those I work with. And in all honestly, my time between college and two and half months ago wasn't filled with much ministry work on my part. But now things are different.

I always knew and dreamed that I would do missionary and ministry work. Even as a teenager I could picture my life serving in churches, leading Bible studies or whatever else I felt that I needed to do for the Kingdom. When you attend enough CIY conferences as a teen, it's really difficult to imagine a life without them :) As college ended and my career aspirations grew stronger, I sort of put those dreams to the back of my mind with the thought of "one day in the distant future." Well this morning I woke up and guess what? I am living in a new place. I am teaching at a Christian school, with Bible as a subject that I'm required to teach. I'm also serving in a new church- not only facilitating a small group for older kids, but helping to lead a Beth Moore Woman's Bible study. My life is the Bible now. I realize that I have gotten my wish- my dreams as a teenager have come true much earlier than I realized. Yet here I am feeling like I don't know the Bible at all. Last night I was faced with a conversation relating to the Hebrew nation and salvation, their lineage, etc. A conversation that I should have been able to easily say "Here's what I think and here's what the Bible says about it..." I was able to spit out a few somewhat reasonable sentences, but to be honest I was dumbfounded. I knew my position, I just didn't know why.

1 Peter 3:15 says "But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."  Thank you to my highschool youth minister, because that verse will NEVER leave me, thanks to him. Okay, so last night I wasn't presented with anyone wanting me to tell them all the reasons why I believe in Christ as my Savior, however I still needed to share my convictions. Being unable to do so left me so unnerved. I got out my Bible, did some poking around the New Testament, came up with specifics to back up my belief, felt better and went to bed. But that is not good enough. This is the Word of God that I claim to believe with all my heart, mind, and soul. My dreams in life have been to serve God in ministry my whole life. I've paid thousands of dollars to get a degree in it. Why don't I know it? 

Tonight I was watching the movie Eat, Pray, Love and thinking about how interesting it would be to go on a journey around the world to re-learn myself. Then I realized that I am here, I've already begun. I don't have to go around the world. Honestly I didn't even have to move to this island. What I need to do is to study. My journey isn't about me, it's about God and about giving my life to Him. So it's time that I open up my Bible, re-visit some of my college course required texts and learn this. Because now it's time for me to really apply it to my life, and to help others. So maybe my time here won't be Eat, Pray, Love. Maybe it should be more along the lines of Learn, Pray, Love. The "Eat" part is already taken care of here in Puerto Rico!

jueves, 6 de octubre de 2011

Where are you?

It's past midnight and just one of those nights where I have too much on my mind. So, what else should a girl do but blog?

Next week I will begin something new: leading a Women's Bible study. This will be with women from my school and church, and we will study Beth Moore's A Woman's Heart: God's Dwelling Place. Although Beth Moore is prominantly known, I've never done one of her studies before. Not sure if I've ever read any of her books come to think of it. At this point I've watched the introductory video in preparation for next week, and I am pumped. The main concept of this study is that God pursues us. He is in constant pursuit of us. In the introduction, Beth Moore says that God asks "Where are you?" Wherever we are in life, physically, spiritually, emotionally, He will meet us there.

This is a pretty loaded question for me right now. I'm in Puerto Rico, duh. I'm thousands of miles away in a brand new life that is drastically different than my life has been in the past few years. Everything I've been crying over, that I've been discontent about, everything that I've been begging God with every fiber of my being to give me (or give me relief from), I have been given. Ask and you shall receive. He's done so much so that I'm not even sure what do do with all of this: with a job and a full life that gives me purpose and meaning every day. With all the fellowship I could ask for. With the relief from things that Satan has used to torment me and tear my self-worth to shreds. Of course I miss home and my family, yet my life here is fulfilling so it doesn't make my homesick as extreme.

 That is where I am right now, and I feel that this question of  "Where are you?" is so pivotal in the continuation of this study. Leading this group of women is going to be a new but enriching experience.

So.... where are you? Wherever you are, that is will God will go as He pursues you.