True Faith

"We say things like, 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me,' and 'Trust in the Lord with all your heart.' Then we live and plan like we don't believe God even exists. We try to set our lives up so everything will be fine even if God doesn't come through. But true faith means holding nothing back. It means putting every hope in God's fidelity to His promises."

 

“Having faith often means doing what others see as crazy. Something is wrong when our lives make sense to unbelievers.” – Francis Chan in “Crazy Love”

 

A high-school student consumed with helping orphans in Haiti doesn’t make a lot of sense to most people. Moreover, a high-school student who hasn’t taken a single SAT or ACT and who has little interest in four years of independent college life seems abnormal. Having a strong desire to live in a third-world country without running water, eating rice and beans every day, and playing with dirty, sweaty little children all day for an entire month does NOT sound like the typical week at the beach most high school students celebrate at after graduation.

Yes, my life and dreams probably seem crazy to those around me. But I have faith that whatever God calls me to do with my life will bring more fulfillment than any of the pleasures this world has to offer. Some of my plans—such as seeing an orphanage built—will only work if God comes through. This is far greater than anything I could do on my own. It has been a real stretch for me to give control back over to God in the different aspects of this project, particularly finances. But God continues to show me that trusting in His provision and His plan for my life will bring true peace. He has overwhelmed me by His amazing provision thus far. In just a few short months, over $2,300 has been raised just by individuals who are willing to sponsor the project. Isn’t God awesome? I am so grateful for the ways He is stretching me in my faith!

Teach Me to Wait

To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul;

in you I trust, O my God.

Do not let me be put to shame,

nor let my enemies triumph over me.

No one whose hope is in you

will ever be put to shame,

but they will be put to shame

who are treacherous without excuse.

 

Show me your ways, O Lord,

teach me your paths;

guide me in your truth and teach me,

for you are God my Savior,

and my hope is in you all day long.

 

Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love,

for they are from of old.

Remember not the sins of my youth

and my rebellious ways;

according to your love remember me,

for you are good, O Lord.

 

Good and upright is the Lord;

therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.

He guides the humble in what is right

and teaches them his way.

 

All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful

for those who keep the demands of his covenant.

For the sake of your name, O Lord,

forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord?

He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.

 

He will spend his days in prosperity,

and his descendants will inherit the land.

The Lord confides in those who fear him;

He makes his covenant known to them.

My eyes are ever on the Lord,

for only he will release my feet from the snare.

 

Turn to me and be gracious to me,

for I am lonely and afflicted.

The troubles of my heart have multiplied;

free me from my anguish.

Look upon my affliction and my distress

and take away all my sins.

 

See how my enemies have increased

and how fiercely they hate me!

Guard my life and rescue me;

let me not be put to shame,

for I take refuge in you.

May integrity and uprightness protect me,

because my hope is in you.

 

Redeem Israel, O God,

from all their troubles!

 

Psalm 25

 

Team Reunion

This past Sunday, the team I went to Haiti with had a reunion, since our family will be moving to Texas in the next month or two. We wanted to have one final get-together before we left. Unfortunately, only about half the team was able to make it since the meeting was organized at the last minute. But we still had a wonderful time visiting with each other, laughing, and updating each other on the status of our projects.

 

I am really thankful that our team has been different than a typical missions team. Since we’ve returned from Haiti, we haven’t just slipped back into our normal lives and put Haiti in the back of our minds. Several of the team members—including myself—have taken action! One of the ladies on our team is working to get medical help for two little girls we met up on La Montagne. The baby with hydrocephalus is now recovering from life-saving surgery. The nine-year-old girl that we met will soon have surgery to repair the severe burns on her body sustained earlier this year. This lady on our team will be going back to Haiti in December to see the little baby and the progress she has made.

 

Another member of our team has collected items to send to Haiti. Everything from hair items, clothes, shoes, and money for food has been collected by him, and he is now researching the best way to get them to Haiti. Another team member has already sent in his application to go on the summer 2013 trip to Haiti through World Hope!

 

My Mom and my sister have been searching for Creole Bibles to send to La Montagne. We just received word this week that we will have 100 Bibles donated to us to send to the people on La Montagne! We just have to figure out how to get them there as soon as possible. And of course, I’ve been working towards building an orphanage on La Montagne, to serve the children on the mountain.

 

I don’t say all this simply to brag on our team (although I am proud of them!) I say this because I am so excited to see the way God is working in our lives. Before this trip, we were just acquaintances who happened to be going on this trip together. We were all excited about the trip, but we had no idea how it would change our lives.

 

First off, God truly knit our hearts together during this trip. We were all brothers and sisters in Christ before, but we truly became family on this trip. Since we’ve returned, I know that I’ve felt some withdrawal at only seeing them once or twice a week. J We pray for each other, encourage one another, keep each other accountable, and give each other big hugs every time we see one another.

 

Without the love, support, and encouragement from my Haiti family, I would be so discouraged about this project to build an orphanage. I can’t begin to express how very thankful I am for each and everyone on the Haiti missions team! They are an incredible blessing to me!

 

“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6

 

Somebody Tell Them

There's a child on the subway

His story is written on his face

And the pain he's felt, is enough to fill a lifetime

But he doesn't know any other way

 

Somebody tell him that the lost are saved

Somebody tell him that his debt's been paid

And let him know, love is calling out his name

Somebody tell him, he's a child of the King

And there is an end to this suffering

In hope that never fades, through grace that's made a way

Somebody tell him, somebody tell him now.

 

You can see it on the TV

Or in the middle of a crowded room

There's a sea of broken hearts that are longing

To be washed away by an ocean of truth

 

Somebody tell them that the lost are saved

Somebody tell them that their debt's been paid

And let them know love is calling out their names

Somebody tell them, they're the child of the King

And there is an end to this suffering

In hope that never fades through grace that's made a way.

Somebody tell them, somebody tell them now.

Oh somebody tell them, somebody tell them now.

 

Too many times we've all held back

The truth from those put in our path

So let us be the voice of love

Somebody tell them now

Somebody tell them now

 

Somebody tell them that the lost are saved

Somebody tell them that their debt's been paid

And let them know love is calling out their names

Somebody tell them, they're the child of the King

And there is an end to this suffering

In hope that never fades through grace that's made a way

Somebody tell them, somebody tell them now

Oh somebody tell them, somebody tell them now

 

 

“For, ‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

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 anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”

Romans 10:13-15

 

Disobedience

“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?” “The first,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” Matthew 21:28-31

 

The book I’m currently reading through is “Crazy Love” by Francis Chan. In it, he has a chapter giving a profile of the lukewarm Christian. He quoted this verse, and it made me stop and think for quite awhile. That’s actually pretty unusual, as I plow through books quite rapidly without a whole lot of stopping to think about one paragraph.

 

In many ways, my life reflects that of the first son. When God has asked me to do something in the past, I’ve tried to disobey. I’ve said no. But in the end, my heart is changed. Surrender can be painful at times, but in the end it is always worth it.

 

But so many in the Christian church today are like the second son. They give lip-service to God, but they don’t carry out His commands. John 14:15 says, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” The second son did not love his father enough to do what he asked. His actions did not reflect his words.

 

I would much rather eat my words, and swallow a whole lot of pride to obey God despite my initial refusal, than disobey and disappoint Him. What about you? Are you simply giving him lip-service by calling yourself a Christian, but not doing what He commands in His word? Or are you willing to humble yourself and do what He calls you to do, even if you swore you never would?