Acts 9
Today, I started what my Bible calls a "Two-Week Guided Tour." It lists a bunch of topics that one can choose from, like "Women in the Bible" or "Prayers throughout the Bible" or "Social Justice" or "Two Weeks Following the Ministry of Paul." The four I just listed are the ones that sounded the most exciting to me, and I started with Paul. Today, it had me read Acts 9.
I've read it before, but that's the cool thing about the Bible- you can read the same thing time and time again, and each time, you'll learn something new. I love it.
Today, it really hit me that God will use whoever he wants to use for his mission. Paul (Saul at the time) persecuted followers of Jesus. He hated them. He wanted them to die.
What's crazy is that Paul turns out to be God's main man. He eventually (not long after his conversion in Acts 9) travels all over, and also finds time to write letters of encouragement or instruction to tons of churches. Those letters then became like half of the New Testament. SO CRAZY!
I love this, because it's proof that even though I mess up, even though I'm not perfect and I don't always seek the Lord like I should, God's got bigger plans, and he will make sure they get carried out. So encouraging. I can rest easy.
26 May 2010
15 May 2010
Be Holy
Far too often I forget what's most important.
Lately, aside from school and work, I've been thinking almost solely of Uganda. Packing lists (I know... I've still got 3 months!), fundraising, thank you cards, emailing my contacts, malaria medicine, haircuts, doctors appointments, dentist appointments, buying a backpack... These things are all important and are necessary to think about, yes, but I've gotta be honest with you- thinking about and planning for these things is taking up time that should be spent in prayer about this trip. Time that should be spent reading the Word, learning more about how I can be Christ-like; learning more about how I can love and serve Uganda better.
It discourages me that I don't put prayer and reading at the top of my list. If it wasn't for God giving me a heart for Uganda, this trip wouldn't even be happening. But how can I keep this heart if I am not filling it up with love and wisdom from God's word? If I focus only on the outward aspects of this trip, I will get overwhelmed. I will forget why I am passionate about this. It will seem like too much work.
But when I open up the Word; when I am encouraged by reading and learning how to love and serve Uganda better... I get excited again. And I think that's pretty legit. It's pretty clear to me that God has to be central on this trip, otherwise I will burn out. I can't do it on my own. Nor do I want to.
Here's what I read tonight. Just what I needed, really.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action;
be self-controlled;
set your hope fully on the grace to be given you
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires
you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially,
live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed
from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ,
a lamb without blemish or defect.
He was chosen before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you believe in God,
who raised him from the dead and glorified him,
and so your faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth
so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
For you have been born again,
not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,
through the living and enduring word of God.
For, All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever.
[1 Peter 1:13-25]
Lately, aside from school and work, I've been thinking almost solely of Uganda. Packing lists (I know... I've still got 3 months!), fundraising, thank you cards, emailing my contacts, malaria medicine, haircuts, doctors appointments, dentist appointments, buying a backpack... These things are all important and are necessary to think about, yes, but I've gotta be honest with you- thinking about and planning for these things is taking up time that should be spent in prayer about this trip. Time that should be spent reading the Word, learning more about how I can be Christ-like; learning more about how I can love and serve Uganda better.
It discourages me that I don't put prayer and reading at the top of my list. If it wasn't for God giving me a heart for Uganda, this trip wouldn't even be happening. But how can I keep this heart if I am not filling it up with love and wisdom from God's word? If I focus only on the outward aspects of this trip, I will get overwhelmed. I will forget why I am passionate about this. It will seem like too much work.
But when I open up the Word; when I am encouraged by reading and learning how to love and serve Uganda better... I get excited again. And I think that's pretty legit. It's pretty clear to me that God has to be central on this trip, otherwise I will burn out. I can't do it on my own. Nor do I want to.
Here's what I read tonight. Just what I needed, really.
Therefore, prepare your minds for action;
be self-controlled;
set your hope fully on the grace to be given you
when Jesus Christ is revealed.
As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires
you had when you lived in ignorance.
But just as he who called you is holy,
so be holy in all you do;
for it is written: Be holy, because I am holy.
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially,
live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.
For you know that it was not with perishable things
such as silver or gold that you were redeemed
from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers,
but with the precious blood of Christ,
a lamb without blemish or defect.
He was chosen before the creation of the world,
but was revealed in these last times for your sake.
Through him you believe in God,
who raised him from the dead and glorified him,
and so your faith and hope are in God.
Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth
so that you have sincere love for your brothers,
love one another deeply, from the heart.
For you have been born again,
not of perishable seed, but of imperishable,
through the living and enduring word of God.
For, All men are like grass,
and all their glory is like the flowers of the field;
the grass withers and the flowers fall,
but the word of the Lord stands forever.
[1 Peter 1:13-25]
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