Guatemala Day Two- Sunday- Continued

In my last blog, I described the beginning of the day, and I regret that I could not finish the story in one post. But nevertheless, here is the rest of it. So, now we are coming through a field of corn, and a small Mayan woman has saved us from the dogs. We thought we were lost, but found our way once again, to find the place at the mountain where locals come to burn offerings to their mayan god. The woman, who we learned to know as Michaela (Mik-eye-ela), pointed us into the right direction. She quickly ran to her house again andback to catch up with us as we walked to the point. She carried a basket of small trinkets all of dark color, dark green and black Jade. It seems as though she may be trying to sell them to us. "No Gracias," we tell her, as we have been used to saying those words all day through the market as everyone tries to sell you everything. When we got tothe top, we all just stood and looked for a moment, silent, at the spot-black, charred, dark, and burnt everywhere. There were candles, flowers, fruit, cigars-all burning on stones with crosses too. All black. But God was with us, so we had no fear.

We learned from Bill and from Michaela how the locals use this spot to burn chicken, turkey, and other animals here for "cleansing." They hope for some sort of blessings in return. This news made me sad. As I had been reading in Deuteronomy and Leviticus of the Old Testament and this all reminded me of the many many different types of offerings that the Israelites were commanded to give. They were required to give peace offerings, sin offerings, guilt offerings, and list goes on. Offerings of animals, grain, and wine. It all seems so needless. So many offerings, so much time, effort put into something that is really no benefit. Since Jesus Christ made the ultimate offering, the Israelites were no longer required to make of those old offerings commanded to them long ago. God does not want our incense and our b

urnt offerings. Only our open heart! How wonderful!

But this thought is so foreign for the Guatemalan culture. Upon further inquiring, we found out that this biggest rounded top rock is to believed to be the mayan god that the locals give their offerings to. It is said to resemble the face of their god, but I don't see a face at all. Perhaps it's all been burnt away. And what should stand right next to it?

Only a small cross with a figure of a person carved into it. Michaela told us that it is indeed "Jesu Christo" that was positioned on that cross. Bill began a conversation w

ith Michaela asking about the mayan god and Jesus. It is discovered that she believes in both the mayan god and God of the bible. But she believes that her mayan god is stronger ("mas fuerte") that Jesus, and this is why the Jesus on the altar is so much smaller than the mayan god rock.

In our conversation with Michaela, her mother joins us-Manuela. Ask we asked Michaela about the rest of her family, she told us of her father, Jose. Jose was in her house, sick. He has been sick for 11 years. She said it with a casualness in her voice. It was as if-it's so hard to find the words-maybe she was so used to him being sick, and never expected him to get better. It was just a state of fact, without any sign of emotion. But it is common for the Guatemalans to hide any signs of emotion for the most part. I, on the other hand, was not without em

otion. I was filled with a broken, crying heart and the words came to me "Pray for him." As I searched for the spanish words that I might use to ask her if we could pray for Jose, Bill began to ask her if it was ok for us to pray for him.

She said OK! And Oh, the excitement that filled my heart at that moment is indescribable! How awesome, that we get to pray for this man! That we get to bring the Holy Spirit into their house, be blessed and be a blessing. I walked with Michaela while Bill gathered the group and told them of what we were about to do. I shared with Michaela that I know t

hat God is bigger and stronger than anything, and that he can do anything. I told that He is great and full of love for us. I trust that through even my broken spanish, the Holy Spirit could give her an understanding of the Lord that was greater than she had ever known before.

As we came into Jose's room, which smelled of a bathroom, he began to sit up in his bed, with obvious discomfort. We told him that wasn't necessary, but he sat up anyway. He reached out his hand to touch our hands, each one of us. His hands were trimmed with long fingernails which curled on the ends. I imagine they were 11 years long.

After Jose shook everyone's hand, we began to pray for Jose with our hands laid on his body. There was no translation necessary. He couldn't hear very well, and probably knew mostly Quiche, which none of us could speak. As the prayer began, Jose began humming

aloud, and I could feel the Holy Spirit in the room with us. It was as though we were all floating there in the room. I was filled with "Amazing Grace" in my heart, so I let it out and began humming with Jose. As the men prayed aloud, I could hear Jose begin to say "Preparo, Preparo, El Senor, El Senor." (I'm ready, Father God) Jose was ready to receive God's gift for him. And I could physically feel Jose's body change as we prayed there for him. His hard stiff body slowly began to relax and soften beneath my hand. God was doing His work in Jose.

When we finished praying, we said our good byes, and thanked Jose and h

is family for allowing us into their home to pray for him. Michaela followed us back to the altar sight and showed us the way down the mountain toward the town of Chichi. We would not be going back the way we came, as it would be twice as far to get to Manos de Jesus. The skies were beginning to get dark with rain clouds, and thunder began while we were still in the house praying. But before we left the mountain top, we prayed as a team once more. We prayed for protection over Jose and his family and that God would take possession of this mountain top. While the thunder rolled once again, I had a vision of Jose showing God's glory through his healing to all who would pass his home on the way to the mountain top. He would tell them all that our God of the bible, the One True Living God, is stronger than these false gods. El Senor was his healer, and it came through grace, not burnt offerings!

As our prayer ended, the rain began. Our way was unknown, but we followed the path before us and kept moving toward the direction of the town. We did get very wet, but we also got home safely! I still pray for Jose and his family. There is no doubt that their life has been deeply moved and changed for their benefit since the Holy Spirit came to visit in a big way that day. They are not the only ones, I too was moved by the events of that day, as were the rest of my team. And now, I pray, that Jose's story has moved you too. God is big, and strong, and great, and full of love.

Now to Him who can do more than we could ever ask or imagine, to Him be all glory and honor forever and ever, Amen!

Day Two Guatemala 2011 - Sunday

As soon as the plane landed in Guatemala city, I felt alive! More alive than I ever do on a regular basis each day. And oh, how I long for that feeling here at home... All the people moving about, the colors, it is all so beautiful!

These were my first thoughts arriving into Guatemala. Day one (Saturday) of our trip was basically all travel time, so there's not much to share on it. It was mostly about gathering my bearings, getting to know my team mates - especially Jessi and Chris. (More on internal team happenings in a later blog.)

Day two, however, was very much more eventful. Atleast, for me it was. We started out the day like an average sunday and went to church. Well, I guess it's only average if you get to go to church in Guatemala every sunday. It was great to worship with other missionaries who were all stationed there. The service was not too different from the ones I am used to at Eternal. Children were playing in the lobby while the adults had some coffee, we sang some worship songs that I've never heard before, and we listened to an inspiring message.

Later, after lunch we walked through the market. Chichicastenango is home to the largest open-air market in the western hemisphere! (More on the market later, too.)

Monte Flor was our next stop. This is a beautiful property that Pray America is building various arms of their ministry onto. There is a shoe factory, a prayer chapel, and a new girls' home completely finished. There are plans for another orphan house, and other buildings on the property. You can find out more about Monte Flor at www.prayamerica.org. After touring Monte Flor, Bill (from our wonderful host family The Gardners) offered to take those interested on a hike up the mountain. Apparently, there is a site used for burnt sacrifice by the locals to their "gods." My blood was already pumping pretty good, as I had already tried out a few of the steep hills and jogged most of the way to Monte Flor, so I was excited for another chance to get my body moving and curious to see parts that I had not already seen. "OK," I said, "Let's go!" Only God knew where this path would take me!

Seven of us hiked up past the prayer chapel to the back line of the property and across the ridge toward the spot. Bill confidently led us along the path until a point where the ridge intersected an adobe house. We followed the path which traveled down the mountain, eventhough we knew up is where we needed to go. This is the point in our trek that I start to wonder if Bill knows where he's taking us. I am sure he's been up here before, perhaps we just forgot one of the turns. That's when Bill speaks up, "I'm sorry guys. I don't know where we're going, let's go back."

As we all made a 180 to go back up the hill the way we came, here comes two young Guatemalan men walking past us. Bill, in his best spanish, asks them for directions; and off we go, into uncharted territory, hiking up the mountain, a different way, without a trail. Finally, out of the jungle-like terrain, we walk into a patch of corn - a sign of civilization. Barking dogs is the very next sound we hear. Now I can sense danger around us, and all my senses are on fire taking in every little thing around me. To our rescue comes a little Guatemalan lady named Michaela as we later come to learn. The dogs scatter with a small sounding "Ssk, ssk!" from her mouth. She tells us we are close and points us to the top of the hill where the site is.

It is amazing how we even made it to his point. It is only at this point that I discover that Bill has never hiked up here before, and never met this woman before. Looking back, I see how it was all by God that we found it. So, that's how we got there; look for the next post on what happened when we got there.

You reap what you sow! (Proverbs series)

While reading through proverbs, I can across several verses that spoke to me in many different themes. Here is a repeating theme that stuck out to me. I just love reading the books of Solomon! His wisdom is straight from God, and the wisest words on earth.

Proverbs 11:17

"Your own soul is nourished when you are kind; it is destroyed when you are cruel."

I find this verse very interesting. It would seem that while a person may be acting cruel, their intention is to harm another, but in fact the harm is truly unto themselves. It is not others who are destroyed when you are cruel, only yourself. And similarly, when someone is being kind to another, while his intentions are to benefit someone else (valid intentions, by the way), he also benefits himself. He nourishes himself. When you are kind, it is not guaranteed that others are nourished-maybe so, maybe not-but for you, YES!

You get what you give; reap what you sow!

Proverbs 11:25

"Yes, the liberal man shall be rich. By watering others, he waters himself."

Here are some more words of wisdom that defy logic. How in this world of physics can some one possibly become rich by giving his things, his wealth away? Wouldn't he become poor? If you have ten dollars in your pocket, and you give one dollar away to every person you meet on the street, wouldn't you run out of money????? And quickly too? While logic says, "The more you give, the more you lose," GOD IS BIGGER!! You get what you give!

Something else to notice here...these words do not speak to the growth of the person getting watered. You can lead a horse to water, you can water a plant, but only God makes it grow. But you have guaranteed a watering for yourself.

Proverbs 19:17

"When you help the poor you are lending to the Lord-and he pays wonderful interest on you loan!"

This is the reason why the one who waters gets watered himself! It is counter-intuitive, against the grain, against our flesh. It is not a natural feeling; the flesh will not like it. What goes around comes around.

Proverbs 10: 22

"The Lord's blessing is our greatest wealth. All our work adds nothing to it."

While faith without works is dead, and we are called to be the hands and feet of God-doing his good works- our greatest wealth is not our works. His blessing is the only thing worthy to receive in this life. We cannot do anything on our own. All of our efforts are worthless, meaningless, nothing. It is only through Him, His power, His grace, His love that we can receive His blessings. And after receiving His blessing, there is nothing we can do to compare to that!

He is mighty! He is awesome! Trust in Him, He will never fail you!

Proverbs 10:24

"The wicked man's fears will all come true, and so will the good man's hopes."

Put your Hope in God, and it will come true!

(More on this verse later in another Proverbs series.)

To Him be the glory forever.

Amen.

Home from Guatemala!!!

We are back from Guatemala and getting back into our daily routine with work and home and school. The trip was so exciting and filled with "God sightings" everyday.

We helped build 4 houses for widows and their children. And what an awesome experience it was to be able to get to know each of these families-especially the kids! The children in this area have little to nothing according to American standards. However, despite their lack of things-toys, video games, netflix, etc- they are so filled with joy!It feels as though I left a little piece of my heart with each child that I met, and they have left a permanent impression on me. I can only hope that I left the same kind of impression on their heart as well. My prayer is that God will use those little moments to start a seed growing in their heart that will one day blossom into a mighty oak tree!

I posted some of the pictures up so you can see them. I tried to narrow it down, but it is still alot! I wish I could post one or a few of the "best" pictures here for you to see, but I couldn't choose just a few. There was really too much that happened to sum it up in a couple photos.

Probably too much for just one blog post! So I will add more this week and next as the time allows.

Anyway, I want to personally thank everyone who made this trip possible! You know who you are! With out your support-prayer and financial-this would not have been possible. Pray America is an awesome organization that we as a church have partnered with since 2007. And thanks to Pray America's permanent presence in Chichicastenango, so many lives have been touched and moved by the love of God. On our trip to Guatemala, Pray America's 600th house was built!!! So, now, over 600 families have been affected by the love of God, and you and I have been blessed to be a part of that. I just think that is awesome!

Thank you, thank you for your prayers. And keep praying! Pray for the continual growth of Pray America's ministry in Guatemala and Eternal Church, for the hearts of those in Guatemala who are just learning about Jesus Christ's love for them, and pray for missionaries around the world as well!

God Bless and Be Well!

Renewed yet discouraged

Well, it has been a while, hasn't it? So, over the past few months, I have been renewed in my journey to read the Bible in a short time. It has been amazing, reading God's story. I am reading chronologically, and I have found it very hard to put down. I am now almost halfway through! Hooray! God has spoken to me through the history of the Israelites as they followed Moses, as they were led under Solomon and David's leadership. I am currently reading in Chronicles, which can be trying, but it is exciting to hear parts of the story that are familiar to me (as this book is sort of a rerun). Reading so much, has brought me feeling so much closer to God than before.

What's more, I had the privilege to visit Chichicastenango in Guatemala once more.

As soon as the plane landed in Guatemala city, I felt alive! More alive than I ever do on a regular basis each day. And oh, how I long for that feeling here at home... All the people moving about, the colors, it is all so beautiful!

I can hear God speak so clearly while we are in Guatemala. So many amazing things He showed us! And hopefully, I will tell of them all here. As for now, I am back at home, feeling both excited about what God has planned for me and overwhelmed by all the daily mundanity that I face constantly. I did find a verse that helps speak to me, and this is my prayer and my hope.

"O my soul, why be so gloomy and discouraged? Trust in God! I shall again praise Him for His wondrous help; He will make me smile again, for He is MY God!"

Psalm 43:5

Calling of the first disciples (Mark 1:17-20)

When I read this short section from Mark, I had to read it again. When Jesus called his first disciples, He called and they came. It is as simple as that!

"At once they left their nets and followed Him."

"Without delay He called them, and they left...and followed Him."

Notice, they did not stop and think about it. They did not ask their friends and family if this was the best thing for them to do. They did not sleep on it. It was not a complicated matter. They SIMPLY stopped what they were doing, and followed him. How cool is that?

This is how we should live as well. He still wants us to follow Him. And my prayer is that we would respond in the same way the first disciples did. Let us put down our worldly concerns and follow Him.

Wisdom v. Folly (Proverbs 9-11)

I'm sure this comparison spans many more books and chapters of the bible than I am exploring here, but this is just what really stood out to me during this section of reading.

I've always felt that if you read just one section of the bible, (which I do not suggests, because it is ALL good) I would say, "read Proverbs." In the same way a poem can tell the same story as a novel, using less words in number, but more strategically planned words. Proverbs can get the broadest, most complex ideas across in such short statements, that it is mind blowing.

The 9th chapter of Proverbs begins with a comparison of two houses. Wisdom's house and folly's house. Wisdom's house is made from seven pillars, and inside she has prepared a meal with meat, wine and a set a table. She sends out maids to the highest point of the city to calls "Let all who are simple come in here!" She invites "those who lack judgment" to join her in her house for dinner. verse 6 says "Leave your simple ways and you will live: walk in the way of understanding."

"The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge (v. 13). There is no mention of pillars--she has no foundation, no rock to stand on. There is no mention of meals or maids--she stands alone, isolated, and has no intention of meeting your needs or providing comfort for you. Yet, she is deceitful saying nearly the same phrase as wisdom, "Let all who are simple come in here!" She says this also to "those who lack judgment," "But little do they know that the dead are in there, that her guests are in the depths of the grave." (v. 18)

Wisdom and Folly apparently seek the same person, just as God and Satan seek us. There intentions are vastly different. God loves us and wants the best for us. He goes great lengths to be sure we hear His call, that we are provided for. Satan only lures to the grave. He is deceitful and will disguise himself as anything to convince you to go to him. We must put on the armor of God to protect ourselves from this prowling lion.

In the following chapters of Proverbs, I read on to see many comparisons of wisdom v. folly, righteousness v. wickedness, upright v. unfaithful. The wages are life v. death. There is too much to list and go into, so you really must read it all!

There is a great importance placed on the mouth. "The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked." (Prov. 10:11) A wicked and foolish mouth destroys many things, and the wise hold his tongue and is delivered! I read over and over how the righteous and upright are delivered from trouble, while the very same trouble falls on the perverse and wicked instead.

There are many days when I look around and feel discouraged of the world I see. I see people who prosper while their deeds (seemingly) are dishonest. I do not know the hearts of others, and I should not judge those around me, so this is really only my perception I'm talking about. But so many times I feel that "life" is so hard. I work so hard and nothing comes easy, and I feel as if all my hard work may never "pay off." BUT!!! I find comfort in knowing that the wages for me is LIFE!

The Lord our Father in heaven says this, "Be sure of this: The wicked will not go unpunished, but those who are righteous will go free (Prov 11:21)." "The desire of the righteous ends only in good, but the hope of the wicked only in wrath (v. 23)." "He who seeks good finds goodwill, but evil comes to him who searches for it (v. 27)."

There is so much good stuff in this book, I tell you, you must go read it!

Parental favoratism gone bad....for good.

Wow, I have finished Genesis! Let me tell you, it was far more interesting than one might expect. In some chapters, I really thought I was reading the script to a soap opera. Seriously! Most of the men have at least two wives, a lot of them even have "women maidservants" who also happen to sleep in the same bed sometimes and bear children for them.

I guess it's meant to show that there are no perfect men in the Bible, EXCEPT FOR JESUS!

But one of the most intriguing sagas of Genesis to me, was the account of the life of Joseph. Son of Jacob/Israel and Rachel (Jacob's 2nd wife, probably the one he loved the most), Joseph was Jacob's favorite son. Joseph was gifted with prophetic dreams from God. One day after sharing a dream with his brothers in which they are were bowing to him in the form of sheaves of grain, his brothers grew more envious of him. Now, you all may know the story of Joseph and his beautiful coat, and how his brothers threw him down a well and tricked their father into believing that Joseph was eaten by wild animals. After being sold into slavery, he was blessed by God with dreams that would benefit pharaoh and put Joseph in charge of literally everything in Egypt.

During the famine which he prophesied, his brothers came to him not knowing who he was, asking for grain. At this point, one should be confronted with the question....What would I do in this situation?

"Here are the brothers who betrayed me. They sold me like cattle into slavery. Because of them, I have been through so much turmoil in my life. I had to sit in prison and treated horribly." Joseph must have been thinking. "But ahh, I am in the position of power and authority now. I can sentence them to imprisonment for what they've done, even death!"

Here is this HUGE temptation to have revenge against those who sinned against him. I'm sure satan is right there at his ear whispering, "You are justified in this revenge! You deserve to get even! They deserve death! Give them what they deserve!"

But no, this is not Joseph's choice. He shows mercy-undeserving mercy-just as our Lord shows us undeserving mercy! We deserve death, but that is not what comes to us. How gracious is our Lord that he shows mercy and gives love! I am so thankful for his love and mercy!

On an unrelated note...I come again across a new question. In Jacob's life, God changes his name, as He does with many in history. He changes him from Jacob (which means "supplanter, taking the place of another especially using underhanded tactics") to Israel (which means "wrestles with God"). However, many times after God changed his name to Israel, He refers to him again as Jacob, his previous name. There is even several places where he calls him by both names in the same sentence.

Like here: And God spoke to Israel in a vision at night and said, "Jacob! Jacob!" Gen 46:2.

If anyone should have an idea why this might be, do share. Well, off to exodus now. I am still behind in my reading, but I am still reading, and that's all that matters.

God Bless

So how am I doing?

Well, if this was about successful daily reading and staying on schedule, I would say, I have already failed and it's only day 24 out of 365. BUT, it is not about that, it is about spending time with God, and hearing His Word. I don't read each day like I should, yet. I didn't even start on Jan 1. My first reading was Jan 5th, and I managed to read 5 days worth at one time, it wasn't bad at all. Today is day 24, and I think I'm still on about day 18. Not too bad, I think. If it takes me more than a year, that's ok with me.
The point is to get into it and read it and leave changed. Each time I have sat and read, I gain a new bit of insight into Life and how to live and how to think. Not just from proverbs, but also Genesis, Mark and Psalms. Even in all the history that is hashed through in Genesis (that I have read so far), there is something to be gained from reading it.
I started this blog not just to catalog my experience reading, although that is a natural outcome of blogging, but because my reading to find answers is leaving me with more questions. Like how can Jacob be so blessed by God, when he has acted so wrong toward his brother, father, father-in-law? And why is it ok for Jacob to have two wives and two other maidservants that he lies with in addition to his two wives? I know God said to multiply, but I would not be a happy wife to Jacob. (approx. Gen 25-36)
I would love for any one reading this to join me if you feel the calling to. I am following the bible reading schedule from this website http://www.newlife919.com/reading-guides.htm I will be posting here questions, comments, and observations that I encounter in my readings. If you are reading the bible in a year also, and would like to post here with me, I am happy to use this place as a discussion board for other readers. Email me your interest, and I will add permissions for you to post. Happy reading, and I do hope you will join me.

Reading the Bible in One Year

So, I decided in December that I would make this year the year that I would read through the Bible.
Who am I? I am a christian whose walked through shadowed valleys, and open fields. I grew up attending church, learning all the frequently taught bible lessons, gaining all the moral lessons meant to be gained from these stories, and trying to be as good as I could be.
As an adolescent christian, I failed at "being good," and gave up the attempt as I quickly became covered in a spirit of shame and worthlessness. I traveled through the darkest valleys I have ever known, darker than I ever knew to exist before then.
And some how, through God's gracious mercy, and unfailing love, He carried me out of the valley and brought me into a beautiful spacious place (Psalm 18:1-19).
As a growing christian, I am learning that Christianity is not just about "knowing the stories," and "being good," but it is much more! I am learning that the Bible is not merely a collection of stories and moralistic fables like Aesop's Fables, but it is much, much more!
Christianity is about the Truth of God's love for us, which was so great that he sent his only Son, while we were dead in our Sins, not because we were righteous and deserving, because we are not. And the Bible is the testament of that truth, so that we may know the Truth, and the truth will set you free!
Knowing this now, about the Bible, I feel it is time, as a christian, that I read this book of Truth written by God. So that I may fully understand His Truth.