One Step Behind

I believe one of the greatest struggles for Christians today is to accept being one step behind. I've realized this myself recently; that God is always going to keep us chasing a dream that we can't accomplish without Him. That it will become natural for us to feel as if we are one step behind, and that we should embrace this concept. If we are able to succeed at everything God calls us to alone, we will begin to take the credit for what God is doing in our lives. He deserves all the glory for every talent and accomplishment He created or enabled. Lately I've felt a little discouraged about finances for Bosnia, and my major (pre-medicine). I've never been so stretched academically, it's strange to me that I have to trust God about my school work. The other night I was talking to my mom, and in all her wisdom, she reminded me that God is going to put me in tough places, not only to strengthen my faith, but so that He gets all of the glory for the work he is doing in my life. I constantly have to remind myself that as I pursue God's plan for my life, that the journey is going to be hard, but that this is good because then I'll never forget how small I am and how much I need God's grace to make it through each day. I absolutely can't wait for that moment when I first taste that ultimate dream to be a full-time missionary. Living a life of surrender is not at all about an experience, a feeling, or a prayer of surrender. True surrender begins each morning of every day that we wake up. It begins with a prayer every day saying "God today I die to myself, help me to surrender to the plan you have for me today." I hope that each day as I pray that, that I more effectively seek the kingdom, and that I become an empty vessel each day for God to use. When I say seek the kingdom, I mean attempt to see the world as God sees it, to let the things that break Christ's heart to break mine, and that the things that bring God joy will bring me joy. I think of the poem footprints, and not just that we must be broken to be carried by Christ, but we must be humbled. As long as we believe that we are able to accomplish great things in this life without God, we will never feel the overwhelming peace of being carried by Jesus. Mother Teresa said, "I'm a little pencil in the hand of a writing God, who is writing a love letter to the world." Wow. I try to grasp that idea, that Christians should be little pencils for God to use to show His love to the world, a love so wide and so deep, and far too complex for any one of us to comprehend, let alone demonstrate. And yet we surrender, we allow God to hold us in his hand and use us for his glory, to use us to reach the world. Frederick Buechner said, "The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." Job 11:7-9 says, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens-- what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of the grave-- what can you know? Their measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea." THIS is the God that we serve. "Whoever does not know love does not know God, because God is love." (1 John 4:8). THIS is the God we surrender to. "Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." Isaiah 43:19. THIS is the God we live for. He makes the impossible possible, and the impossible is only possible when we are totally humbled before our King.
That you would be humbled by the grace of Christ,
Amber

"It was then that I carried you."

Generous Living

Recently, I've heard a series of sermons on generosity, and they've really impacted the way I live and also my view of missions. The main idea is that God enables us to live beyond ourselves. In 2 Corinthians 9:11 Paul writes, "You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God." God compels us to live a life of giving, and that as we give, we will be blessed with more to give. "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38. The call of Christ to give and to serve is not one that should be taken so lightly. The more God places longing in my heart for missions, the more I realize the call to live sacrificially. I think one of the most beautiful pictures in the bible of sacrificial living is the love of Christ for the church described in Ephesians 5. "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-27). Dietrich Boenhoffer describes this vividly, "When Christ calls a man, He bids him come and die." I hope that you will seek God's face and ask Him to charge you to live generously.
May the love of Christ compel you,
Amber

Bosnia Bound

I can't believe that in four short months I will be traveling to Bosnia! I am so blessed that God is opening the doors for me to go on this missions trip. I am praying that each day that I pursue God further, He will provide the necessary passport, shots, prayers, and finances for me to go on this trip. I believe that the Bosnian people are some of the emptiest people in the world. After the Bosnian war in the 90's, around 100,000 Muslim Bosnians were dead, and about 1.8 million displaced. This harm was brought by the Serb's, who claimed themselves as Christians despite this vicious and cruel genocide. While in Bosnia, I will be doing humanitarian aid such as food distribution, while also building relationships with the Bosnian Muslims. Our team will be living with them in their homes, giving us a great opportunity to share our hearts. Though I strongly believe in Christ being my savior, I look forward to learning more about Islam so that I can better influence and love these hurting people. I hope that you will pray for me. God never ceases to amaze me with His incredible plans for each of our lives.
"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." Ephesians 2:10
"I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship." Romans 12:1
"For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Philippians 1:21
May the Love of Christ compel you,
Amber