First of all, Happy Martin Luther King, Jr Day!!!!
I love God's timing. Today. Went to a beginner's modern dance class with my best friends and then we had lunch at Veggie Galaxy. YUM. Then as we're walking down the street, we see Memi from church and we hug and I see my friend Manny! So cool. So we walked home and we ran into his cousin Mike, who gave me a ride to work. Sad thing about religion is that people lose out on God because of the failures of man. People lose out on one of the greatest benefits of God's Kingdom here on earth, which is the incredible love and outpouring from the CHURCH, the bride of Christ. Sure there are some weird, evil, unhealthy, uncool people wandering the pews, and some doctrines that are a bit rigid, some people who are uptight, hypocrites, liars, cheats, but COME ON! Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater!!!! Why would you disregard one of the most beautiful life-giving, life-supporting, vehicle for change and liberation? You love God, but not His bride? I am so sorry, but do you really?!?!?! I don't know what to say to that. Is it okay that other people have other religions? They are in a burning building and you better get them out because these people that you so called love are going down in flames. No, this is not an easy religion to follow or relationship to walk out, but it's the truth. I love to know the truth, walk in the truth, and live in the truth. And yes, sometimes the truth HURTS. Sometimes it means someone has to be wrong. Sometimes that's every religion in the world that doesn't worship God and Jesus Son of God and the Holy Spirit Trinity. As I was praying for who I could share with Jesus with, an Ecuadorian man named Oswaldo got on at Park Street and sat next to me. He was learning English (he had an EF-Education First folder with him), which was an easy opening. I asked him how he likes it (he said it was his first day) and somehow we started talking about Jesus, when I told him that I am a missionary and asked him what his opinion on Jesus was. Oswaldo is a philosopher, and I heard a familiar refrain, “Jesus was a good man.” To that I responded, “He was claiming to be God.” I reminded him that someone who claims to be God, or the Son of God, is usually insane. I, and many of my spiritual brothers and sisters, believe Jesus was telling the truth. Anyhow, we got to JFK and he needed to call someone to figure out where he was going, and it turned out to be the same stop that I was going to. So I helped him find the address on GoogleMaps and we kept talking. He was saying that I was a kind of person, which I told him, “It’s because I am a follower of Christ, and the love that He pours on me I am able to share with others.” This, I believe, is particularly more true, the older we get. It’s easy for me to get fed up and stop helping others. Even as a young girl and teenager I have always been the sort of person to help someone out. Who knows why? I think maybe God made me that way. But the older we get, it becomes more of an evaluation. Do I have time to help this person? Do I have the energy? How much effort am I going to have to put in? Will it be a huge headache and back full of trouble? What am I getting out of this and how will it help me in the long run? Though I am most certainly a Christian and follower of Jesus, I am most CERTAINLY NOT a saint. It’s an admirable aspiration, to be as selfless as Mother Teresa, but the reality is much harsher than that. I think we are forced to make a similar evaluation every time we see someone in need; a beggar, an alcoholic, someone crying, a hardened heart, a plea for donations, the list is endless. But that’s why it’s great to have the Holy Spirit for advice. Should I help this person? What can I give them? How can I pray for them? Each person gets a tailor made witness direct from God. And I don’t always get it right. TRUST ME. But practice does make perfect. Walking in obedience to the Lord takes practice and discipline. But the rewards are truly Heavenly, not only after we die, but when we live. Giving to others and loving others sows incredible blessings and the JOY, the radiant JOY that comes from praying and giving and loving others is exponential!!!! The rewards come when prayers get answered (MANY OF THEM DO), in changed lives and hearts, in ministering, in knowing that some tiny thing that is not much to you means a BIG DEAL to someone else. I have seen a 50 year old man who was delivered from a 20 year drinking addiction after two months of prayer. This is the miracle of a life restored. You want to see a city transformed and brought to her knees? Share the faith! Join Change For Christ’s 2014 Evangelism Challenge and talk to one person about your faith every single day. I promise you will see YOUR life transformed. After sharing my faith with two people who drove me home from Boston Swing Central's Great Gatsby New Year's Eve party, I stumbled upon an exciting and worthy challenge. SHARE MY FAITH WITH ONE NEW PERSON EVERY DAY THIS YEAR!!!! |
AuthorI'm a missionary and evangelist in Boston, attempting to live my life as a reflection of God's glory, sharing the gospel of Jesus with a broken and hurting world, to bring them to Him to live a life of freedom, abundant life and joy! Archives
February 2016
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