Practicing Trust

Each teacher through their week of lessons usually weaves a theme for their classroom, whether verbs or adjectives, semi circles or right angles.

A president has a certain motto that he bases his campaign off of.

A pastor weaves a general theme through out the church service.

And sometimes the Lord, in certain seasons of our life, He teaches specific lessons.

Sometimes it's patience.

Faith.

Being humble.

Having grace.

Or trust. Five letters. Count 'em. 1..2..3..4..5.. Five little bitty letters. T-R-U-S-T. Four consonants and one vowel. And it could quite possibly be THE hardest lesson you have ever learned.

That I am learning...


Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.
              -Proverbs 3:5-6

I can read those words and tell myself, Trust in the Lord...He shall direct your paths.

But when the Lord, through His word says, 

As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.-John 20:21

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.-Matthew 28:19-20

When what you want to see is a burning bush, and God speaking through it telling you, yes! I want you to give a year in the mission field. Yes! I want you to go and serve Me.

But all you receive are scriptures telling you to go. But yet, if I tell my Sunday school class that I believe the Bible is God's word? How can I NOT live like I believe that?

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. -Hebrews 4:12

And I have to trust Him.

Yes.

I believe Your words are living and powerful.

Yes.

I trust in You.

Yes.

You say to go even as You went and told people how much You loved them.

Then yes.

Yes! I will go! I will trust You!

Scared.

Nervous.

With my stomach in knots.

I will say yes.

Where You lead. I will follow. I will trust that Your hand is on my tomorrow.

Yes. I will trust you with my future.

I will give up the Now dreams, for the Future.

I had to learn that lesson again.

Will you trust Me?

Will you trust Me with your whole future?

Oh God, the same lesson in a month?

This. Is. So. Hard.

What does my future hold that I need all these lessons on trust?

Sometimes people say the main reason we have trust issues is because:




But I think it goes waaaayyyy deeper...

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. -Romans 3:23

I have sinned and fallen short. Therefore I am imperfect. And imperfect people have issues with trust. I mean, think about it... Trust is hard! You know I'm right...We're all friends here, you can admit it.

Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went home. And in his upper room, with his windows open toward Jerusalem, he knelt down on his knees three times that day, and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as was his custom since early days. -Daniel 6:10

I am not a great theologian but Daniel knew if he prayed he could be thrown into the lions den. But he trusted God, and he still prayed to the Lord as was his custom ''since early days.'' Daniel didn't start praying because of a new law, he had already been praying and trusting before this new deadly law.

"Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no injury whatever was found on him, because he believed in his God." -Daniel 6:23b

He believed.

Believe-accept somebody as truthful: to accept that somebody is telling the truth.

Trust-assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something: one in which confidence is placed; dependence on something future or contingent.  

Trust, five letters, defined as the assured reliance on the ability of someone. And I am so thankful that my Someone is Jesus.

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.-Isaiah 40:31

Those who wait on the Lord, they shall run and not be weary...

Will you wait upon the Lord with trust?

A Saturday

It was a late night and an early morning. A long drive and conversation on the way.

Titeres, or puppets, were unloaded. Stages set up. An apartment complex in a refugee neightborhood. Swarms of small children arriving in small clusters till there was anywhere from sixty to a hundred children.

A pastor in a red shirt, and it spoke of how he was too blessed to be stressed. He'd been in the area since 1967. Eyes that had seen many people, probably many in different walks of life. He spoke of the sex trafficking that went on there. Twelve murders in one month in a ten square mile area. Almost enough people to fill my graduating class. Twelve names. Twelve faces. Twelve stories. But will we every hear of them? No.

Two hundred and sixty-seven apartment rooms filled with children left to fend for themselves while parents are away. Left to run drugs across the dangerous intersection. Left to play in the parking spots that are in the shade.

I could see it in his eyes. Sadness, or was it loneliness? He was so young. Cuantos anos tienes? Tres.

Three little grimy fingers he held up. Five fingers on his hand I got to hold while we did the Limbo. Five fingers that were willing to be held. Five fingers that were not bothered by holding a stranger's hand. Five little fingers I got to hold.

What will happen in his home tonight?

I don't know. I do not even know his name.

I could not hold every child's hand. I could not find out all of their names. All I could do was give of myself. I can not give of myself to every child. But I could hold his hand.

Maybe someday he will remember that we sang of Jesus.

Maybe he will remember a girl who came to tell him about Jesus.

Jesus te ama.

Jesus te ama muy mucho.

She Had Jesus

Hello friends.

Months have passed since I have last blogged. But today I want to tell you a story, a story of a girl. A girl who second guessed herself more than once, felt small and unsure, nervous and a bit excited.

How could she just ask if she could go?

Wouldn't she be intruding?

How did she go about asking?

She sent the email a couple of weeks after being invited to go. And waited. A reply was sent. She received permission. Before she had even fully made up her mind. God made the decision for her, the flight was booked. Everything was falling into place. She would be flying to Guadalajara, Mexico. Would she fly alone? Into Mexico with her blond hair and fair skin, plus limited Spanish? Obviously God had the details worked out, she would come to find out.

Money was given towards her trip. The flight was paid for. And she would not have to fly alone. She was so grateful.

Approximately two months after finding out about the trip, she flew to Mexico. Greeted by the pastor she, and the others that met them there from a different US state, would be staying with. They left for their home for the next eight days. Packed into a van she looked at the city with a happiness of returning, but with sadness at the things she was seeing.

She arrived at the church and saw more old friends from her last trip there 2 years ago. Hugs and greetings went around.

The next day she found out the specifics of her purpose for this trip. Laying bricks for a new church that was 30 minutes from the home church that was sending out leaders to start new churches.

Her day started a little before seven am and did not end till around eleven that night. She worked from about nine am to about eight-thirty pm. She carried buckets of water, concrete, and kept bricks wet through out the day.

Never before had she been thankful for construction equipment. Equipment that mixed concrete, and moved dirt. Yet here she was thousands of miles from home and she came up with stuff she had never even used but she was thankful for them back home.

Each night as she laid down for bed after a long day's work of dirt, concrete, bricks and water. She tried coming up with ten things she was thankful for. Usually at the top of the list was hot water, but she tried to not use the same thing twice. When she got home she could not remember everything, but she did thank the Lord for gloves, gloves that saved her hands from scratches and blisters. Hot water that freely ran from her shower. And there was more, but for some reason when you are again surrounded by the things you were thankful for, you forget what all things made up your lists.

This girl saw sad things, she saw people surrounded by depressing situations yet those with the saving grace of Christ, she saw immense joy. Joy that freely flowed. These people had little, but they had the most important Thing of all.

Jesus

These people surrounded by garbage, sadness, grim statistics, (eighty percent of Mexico is in poverty) and the reality that by age twelve most kids will start using drugs. They had joy! And by being around these people who had joy, you started picking it up as well.

The lady that opened up her home for them to track mud and dirt into her home to eat most of their meals, had a beautiful smile. A smile that lit up her entire face. She had joy! Why?   

To put it simply, she had Jesus.

A Savior who put joy in her heart. She didn't say it out loud, or at least out loud in English, but there was no need. Her actions said it all.

And your actions will too.

What do your actions say about you?

What About You?

As I was talking to my dad the other day I was reminded of a saying that goes something like "God does not call the equipped but equips the called." And, oh how true that rings for me.

The Lord has called me to blog; I am enjoying it immensely! But I was not "equipped" to start a blog. I have a very limited knowledge of computers. Yes, I made my own Facebook and can navigate the site fairly well. I can Google things and find the answers I am seeking. I can navigate websites. But when you start talking computer-eze, I am completely lost!! When I started this blog I could not even begin to tell you what an RSS feed was, much less how to change a widget, or what a widget even was!

But how true the saying goes about "equipping the called." For He truly is equipping me with knowledge on how to blog, run a blog and I even installed an RSS feed with the help from a friend. I have learned how to do these things, even forged ahead hoping I didn't crash the blog completely and knowing that IF I did, I had wonderful friends who would know how to fix it!

And when we mess up, God is there for us.

So it brings me to the question I want to ask you: what has God called you to do that you feel you are unprepared for, unequipped, feel you might fail miserably, to do? I would like to challenge you to re-examine what God has called you to do. And whether it is something small that might seem insignificant if you do or don't do it (but we both know that nothing we do for the Lord is insignificant, right?) or something even bigger and scarier.

I want to encourage you today that if God has called you to do something, and you know that it was our dear Savior. He will equip you! For "God does not call the equipped but equips the called."

Be encouraged today dear friend, and know that you, through Christ Jesus can do all things.

Blessings,
Emily

Defining A Masterpiece

What determines a masterpiece, does it have to be really old and be made by a now famous artist? Here is a definition I found:

mas·ter·pieceNoun/ˈmastərˌpēs/

1. A work of outstanding artistry, skill, or workmanship.

2. An artist's or craftsman's best piece of work.

The following devotional is from Ron Hutchcraft Ministries entitled Untouchable Worth:

"You've probably had plenty of messages in your life that have made you feel more like the postcard than the masterpiece. Maybe you've been rejected, ignored, hurt, or used. Maybe you've been criticized a lot, put down, and all by people who didn't know who you really are. But because of all those negative messages, you have this lie playing in your brain - "you're not worth much; you can't do much; you're not good enough." Remember it's not your friends who determine what you're worth, or your critics, or your family, or your culture, or your boss. It is your Designer. He gave you your worth the moment you were conceived by Him. "

This was taken from an art website giving the definition of a masterpiece.

"Sometimes, as in the case of Michelangelo's statue of the Virgin Mary holding her dying son - 'The Pieta' - this is a masterpiece that is simply perfect in the same way a rose is perfect, nothing could be added nor anything done to improve it."

You are a masterpiece, simply perfect in the same way a rose is perfect, nothing could be added nor anything done to improve YOU.

Because you were created by the most famous Artist, God himself. Who two thousand years ago died a gruesome death on a cross, rose again on the third day, and is now seated on the right hand of God the Father, interceding on our behalf.

"Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us." Romans 8:34

Jesus is intervening on our behalf!

It also goes on to say that:
Verse 35 "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, sword?"

Verse 39 "...nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

You are loved SO much! We can't even fathom it!

Ephesians 2:10 says:
"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago."

When you're down and feeling worthless and less than you are; remember, <insert your name here>, you are a masterpiece! The Master Artist created you in His image.

"So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." Genesis 1:27

God loves you and He has a plan for your life.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16

You are loved so much, God's son, Jesus, died for you. So that you could know Him and His Father.

With Christ we find our true value. Some days it is hard to remember we are a masterpiece. I have to remind myself that I am a masterpiece, loved by God no matter what I walk through. So I turn to Ephesians 2:10 and am reminded that I am a masterpiece.
I pray you will find joy and peace in Jesus Christ.

Blessings,
Emily

P.S. I made this note and put it on my bathroom mirror, lately I have had to remind myself that I am a masterpiece. Why don't you write yourself a note, and place it where you'll see it often. Because I don't want you forgetting your worth.

Spreading Encouragement

Have you left Post-It notes somewhere? I have! Wanna see some pictures?

This one is on a bathroom mirror in Wal-Mart.

Same bathroom but different mirror.

A friend sent me her pictures. Enjoy!

On a gas pump @ 7/11.

7/11 drink counter.

Have a picture you want to send me? Cool! Send it to me @ missionredefining@gmail.com I can't wait to hear how you have encouraged someone.
Have you had to go into Secret Agent Mode trying to keep your notes anonymous? I bet it was fun wasn't it? :) I would love to hear about it! Leave a comment or send me an email.

God Bless and have a wonderful weekend!

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24

Feeling Stuck?

Need more ideas for your post-it notes? Tabitha came up with these and is letting me share them with you! Enjoy :)

• You are more than the choices you've made. "For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, and abundant in mercy to all those who call upon you." Psalms 86:5
• Looking for a friend? You can find one here: John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends."
• You are not alone. The One who created you knows how you feel. Turn to Jesus :) "If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." John 15:18
• You are loved more than you can fathom. "But God demonstrates His own love towards us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8
• What you're facing isn't impossible with God's help. "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?" Psalms 33:9
• Your true love has already found you! "I have called you by your name; You are Mine." Isaiah 43:1
• Need someone to talk to? Jesus is listening. "Cast all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you." 1Peter 5:7
• The Lord is near to the brokenhearted. "He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds." Psalms 147:3
• There could never be a more beautiful you! "I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made." Psalms 139:14
• You are AMAZING! "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" Philippians 4:13
• You are perfect just the way you are! "You made all the delicate parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb." Psalms139:13
• "We are hard pressed on every side yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

"Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones." Proverbs 16:24
Leave a comment or send me an email and tell me how you've spread some "health to the bones."