He doesn't Forget

So I recently got back from a mission trip to Belize and while I want to blog about the whole trip I realized I'm going to have to do it in many post as different things come to me. With that being said, here's the first post…
Two days of our trip were spent working in an inner city neighborhood of Belize painting houses and interacting with the kids in the neighborhood. The streets were burdened by gangs and run-down houses so it was pretty different compared to what we were used to seeing in our comfortable MA towns. In the midst of this brokenness, however, you can still see God's light shinning through.
We met a group of kids playing in an area by what looked like a half-built building. There was a tipped over oil can, broken glass, and other pollution all around this area. I noticed on the walls of the building were drawings of crosses and Jesus fishes (probably drawn by previous mission teams like us) and it reminded me that no matter how broken an area can be God still loves each and every person there. When we were coloring with the kids (we found some coloring books with Bible stories), the kids would look at the pages and they could tell you the Bible story. I thought we'd be going into these parts of the city and meeting kids who have never even heard of God, never mind know all sorts of Bible stories. It really opened my eyes to see that even though it may not have looked it on the outside, God was certainly taking care of the people of this neighborhood.
When I think about how small I am compared to how BIG God is and how much of the world he really looks after I find it hard to believe that God still remembers me. To see His light shinning in an area so broken is the biggest reminder for me that God doesn't forget about anyone.
So I leave you with this: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." - Deuteronomy 31:6

One the Road...uhh, Plane...Again

So I'm going on a mission trip to Belize on Saturday with the youth group at church for a week. While there we will be spending some time in the inner city and more rural parts of Belize (a.k.a. not the tourist parts) and talking to kids there about Jesus. We'll be playing games with the kids, coloring, doing (simple) magic tricks, and sharing our testimonies with them in hopes that we can teach them who Jesus is, because some kids never get the chance to hear about Him.
While I am excited beyond belief for this trip I'm also nervous. It's not like the pervious mission trips I've been on which were focused about building and being more of the "hands and feet of God" but this one has a lot to do with evangelism. I've been praying a lot this week that God will give us the words to speak next week and that He will watch over us and keep us safe next week. I'm also praying that God challenges us to dig deeper in our relationships with Him and trust in Him next week.

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

Dangerous Prayer

I wanted to talk about this song I'm really into, it's called "Dangerous Prayer" by Kathleen Carnali. Not only is this song just sung amazingly, but the lyrics have been making me think lately. In the song, Carnali is pretty much declaring how passionate really she is about Jesus, crying out to Him that He can do anything, she'll still go to Him.
"Jesus, rain on my parade, strip me down again so I'm desperate for you. Jesus, whatever it takes bring me to my end so I'm desperate for you, amen."
This song reminds me of The Beatitudes in Matthew 5 when Jesus is pretty much saying "Hey, if you're poor in spirit, if you mourn, if you're meek, if you really hunger and thirst for righteousness then you will be comforted and rewarded in Heaven. If people insult and persecute you because of Me, that's okay because you are blessed."
But would we have the courage to be willing to pray to be so voulnerable, when we've lost everything we've got that we're just SO desperate for Jesus? That's kind of what this songs saying. It makes me think, am I ready to just scream "HEY JESUS! I LOVE YOU MAN. I WANT TO FOLLOW YOU AND DO EVERYTHING I CAN FOR YOU NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES. I'M READY FOR YOU TO JUST TAKE EVERYTHING AWAY, BRING TO MY END, AND MAKE ME SO DESPERATE FOR YOU." That's a really scary thought. As Christians, we're supposed to be ready to give our entire lives and selves to Him. But are we? I don't know if I am, I know I want to be ready though.
Jesus gave His life for us, He didn't have to do that, but He did, because He LOVES us. That's powerful love. We should be ready to return that love, shouldn't we?
Just a little food for thought I guess...