Beks 的个人资料Servant of God照片日志列表更多  |  工具 帮助 |
|
6月11日 May this be a city without Walls "While the angel who was speaking to me was leaving, another angel
came to meet him and said to him: "Run, tell that young man, 'Jerusalem
will be a city without walls because of the great number of people and
animals in it. And I myself will be a wall of fire around it, '
declares the Lord. 'and I will be its glory within." Zechariah 2: 3-5 What happens when a body of Christ chooses to live as Christ lived? You would have members from different congregations and different denominations working together to fulfill all that the Lord has called us each to do. What happens when prayer becomes the foundation of who we are? These diverse group of people would join in their hands and voices in one accord. What happens when each congregation begins to pray for the blessings and growth of another body of believers? Christ begins to break down the walls of our own agendas and He begins to rebuild the foundation of our beginnings. When all this starts to happen, amazing things start happening in the surrounding communities and everybody begins to see that God is truly at work here. The restoration of the broken hearted is redeemed and the network and connection of God's children is unified. It is a rarity to see or experience Christians of different denominations coming together to pray for the other, but this is exactly what happened last night! I can't begin to recap how God moved last night. As the pews of our church filled up for the first time in years, it was powerful to witness the beginnings of a great movement on the Island. The awkward "I'm from a different denomination" atmosphere was broken by the love that Christ had for us all. Nobody came in trying to show or prove something to another, they came in under the umbrella of Christ's mercy and grace. Let me tell you, it poured with His blessings last night! We sung songs containing such lyrics as "Prepare ye the Way" or "Open the eyes of my heart" and both those lyrics speak directly to the way that God was working last night. God is preparing the way and opening our hearts to receive all that He wants to provide. It's been a long time coming but these prayers are being answered and God is bringing us back to our humble beginnings. The scaffoldings of legalism and sectarianism are being lifted. He is regrouping His people and bringing back a passion that was once extinct. For those of you who have been keeping up with my journey, you know that I have kept trying to run from this place. I wanted a place where I could see God working; A place where I could be strenghed by the body of believers. From the campus of Rhode Island College, to the smallest churches on the Island, Over the last couple of years, God has made himself known within the different Rhode Island communities. He is sweeping through this place and placing me right in the midst of a revival! Yes, I still feel called to Africa, but it will be on God's terms and in His time. God is bringing unity to this place, and I can't help it but to Thank the Lord for keeping me here! It's not about where you fellowship or how you fellowship, it's about who you are felllowshipping for. The love of Christ abounds here. He has connected the branches of this Island and a great fruit bearing tree has begun to take root! The Hospital of Christ's building is being extended...these doors are open! In response to Zechariah chapter 2, Though this is a prophecy for Jerusalem, i see it as a promise for us too. It shows evidence of God...it shows the intricate ways that God is at work in this place. May this be a city without walls May the Lord be a wall of fire, of passion around us May we have the strength to flee from those places that are hindering us from serving Him May the fruit of this place be spread across this Island as well as the nations Let us be still before the Lord because He has begun the work of Redemption, Restoration and Revival May we learn to love the way that He loves us. 3月4日 Snow Globes In anticipation of Spring, i was walking the other day through grass
that was awakening to the warm air. The Robins were testing their vocal
cords and the flowers were playing peekaboo with the world. The
colorful development of all living things was evident with every step that
i took. As I continued this journey, I felt the riveting coldness of
small white dandruff. But it's not dandruff because you see, First
there was only one flake and then there was a whole flock. The snow
party that ensued was ridiculous and i came to the conclusion that i
think I'm living in...a giant snow globe. That's right a snow globe! I
feel like all winter we have been part of the amusement of the snow
gnomes. They sit on the outside of our little bubble and have been
shaking us up all winter. The snowfall has been continuous so they must
have been really bored this year. Then they fell asleep for a little
while so we had false hope of spring just being around the corner. They
want to catch us off guard so they sit there and wait for unsuspecting
people like myself to go and enjoy the warm weather. The little imps! The snow gnomes are driving me nuts, the tricky little devils. I know that they are laughing at me and they are just waiting for another time to catch us off guard..don't get me wrong, i am all about snow...in it's time and in it's season. But not when March comes roaring in and offers such prospects of such a deeper intimacy with the outside world. I've been inside for too long...I want out...i want out of this snow globe! Haha...all that to say that just when you think Spring is here...snow keeps coming back...Gah... 2月27日 Brick by Brick Hey Y'all So, I just got home from Visiting Ariealle, my teammate who went with me to Uganda this summer. On the way home I had some cool God time so i scribbled this out on the plane...it might still need some work but here is what I have so far..I know it's been some time since i sent out an email of sorts so i thought i would just give you a glimpse of what has been going on here..in the place that I once referred to as Nineveh. Caution: God IS at work here...please pardon my appearance as God continues to rebuild His foundation. The plans are already drawn up and the ground has been carefully measured. The wrecking crew have begun the tear down while the building crew waits patiently. Each man has their tasks, let the process begin! As the old foundation is being torn down, the new materials are set aside. The designer longs for the day when He can stand back and see it all come together, according to His plan. We know without a shadow of a doubt, that the finished product will be something behold. This is especially true in areas of who God is. God is the creator of all things and He sent His son from Heaven to Earth for the forgiveness of our sins. He paid the ultimate sacrifice; a love so unconditional that He gave His life and took on the sins of this world. God is the ultimate builder. When we stand back and allow Him to lead us, allow Him to build us, beautiful things are produced. The finished product is beyond our own expectations. God is so patient with us and there are times when we jump the gun and begin the building process on our own. When that happens, the foundation cracks so easily. The wood begins to rot, and the paint beings to peel off. Much like the house built on sand, the natural elements begin to corrode and destroy that which is poorly built. The wrecking ball is soon called in and the site becomes fragments of those things which once were. When the wrecking ball is turned on, the process is painful. Brick by brick the walls begin to shatter. With each brick, memories flood the depths of our own perceptions. Once the dust settles, the generational ideologies and mistakes are brought to light in the poor planning of our foundation. In the book of Judges, the Lord called Gideon to tear down the idols that His father built. In obedience, Gideon destroyed the ideals that he grew up with and allowed God to rebuild upon a rock. Caution, God is at work here! He is taking a wrecking ball to all that which we attempted to create ourselves. He is redefining what it means to change our thinking, especially those thoughts that have been ingrained in our minds and hearts since childhood. He is showing us that His plan is perfect, and we need to open our minds and hearts to a new understanding of who He is and who He has called us each to be. The idols of our father’s generation are being torn down…please pardon our appearance while God continues to do a great work here. Caution, God is at work! 12月17日 Pray for Rain“If you pray for rain, make sure you carry an umbrella” We have a tendency to trudge through life’s storms. We see the water raging and begin to think that we are drowning. The rain is seen as a driving force which shatters dreams. The picnic is cancelled, the wedding is ruined and the field becomes too muddy to finish the game. How often do we see the rain as a blessing? Are we willing to listen when the gentle pitter patter on the roof becomes a beautiful melody? I’m learning how to listen closely, preparing myself to put on my rain gear and go dance in the rain. In our droughts we pray for rain, never expecting an out pouring of heaven’s blessings. If you are going to pray for rain be assured that a torrential down pour will be the result! I’ve been in an interesting place lately. It is a place of abundant blessings. Prayers are being answered and there are times where I am just seeing the inconvenience of the stormy weather. I fail to remember that I prayed for rain in this drought and in turn, I am experiencing the melodic dance of heaven’s outpourings. In my last update, I wrote about how I thought I was being called to Colorado. God shut that door and I felt that I was being called to my Nineveh. In many ways, God has redeemed this place. Prayers that I prayed back in Colorado are being answered and I am excited to see what happens next. I feel like a little kid who just found a really good book and as I hide under the covers anticipating the next adventures of the upcoming page my parents are in the next room telling me to “Turn off the light. “Josh, Rebekah and Jacob go to SLEEP!” (Haha they said that so much that my cockatiel says that repeatedly.) Life isn’t one giant storm, it is a bunch of puddles that need to be danced in. It is a remnant of the storm. The SON always shines after the rain and if we look closely, we will begin to see that the SON is always shinning, even when it’s raining. Let our hearts be refocused so that we might be able to see that God is still present in our storms. Through it all He is our quiet strength that stands up and says “peace be still.” 10月21日 ALL HEREExodus 24:12 “Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be here; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them” When God called Moses up to the mountain it was as if He was saying BE HERE. Don’t worry about what is going on down the mountain, don’t worry what you’re going to do after the mountain BE HERE, be fully here. “Where ever you are be all there, Live to the hilt of every situation you believe to be the will of God.” (J Elliot)…I’ve been struggling with this lately. I have been struggling with being content in the places that I am. I have so many desires, so many plans and so many expectations that I have placed before God. Despite all this, I keep saying Lord use me, send me, teach me your ways and guide me on your paths. When the Lord sends us and then requires us to stay in the places that we are, are we willing to stay? Are we willing to serve God in the Valley while we wait to climb the mountain? The transition from Africa has been hard, when you leave a place that imbeds itself into your heart, you become homesick for the distinctive smells and the people that have impacted your life on so many levels. It was only a month but the connection that I feel with the Ugandans, with Africa, is so overwhelming that I yearn to be in Africa’s pearl once again. So many doors have been opened and the branches of God’s family has become so vast… to which extent are you truly home? Home is where your heart is and if God is in your heart, Home is everywhere you are. After a trip like this it’s hard not to get back in the saddle and say “Lord I’m ready for another ride! Ride like the wind Bulls Eye!” For a while I was praying about the next step, the next place that I was being called to. As some of you heard, a friend and I were planning on moving out to Colorado at the end of this month. After a couple of weeks of praying about it, we both felt like that the Lord was indeed leading us. We had confirmation and started preparing ourselves for the trek across country. After a couple more weeks however, we both had confirmation that that is not where we are supposed to go…right now. God works in amazing ways…It was as if He was saying….”what are you willing to do for me? How far are you willing to go? Then….”if I keep you in the valley longer are you willing to stay there too?” Like with the Israelites, my heart was already preparing itself for the promised land. I was getting excited about the prospects of milk and honey; anticipating the ways that I can serve the Lord on another adventure. It was convicting because as I was telling some friend’s about the struggles that I had with wanting to be in Colorado, they asked me “Bekah, while your waiting to go to Colorado, how is God asking you to serve Him here?” I guess you could say that that was another Kick in the face because as I look back, I have never been fully here. My heart has never been fully in Rhode Island it’s been elsewhere…in Colorado, in Africa etc…I have always lived for that next step and never allowed myself to concentrate on the here and now. “where ever you are BE ALL THERE.” Some ministering opportunities have arose here and for the first time in a long while, I am excited to be here. To have my eyes opened to the need and the ways that God is working and redeeming this place. It was a prayer in Colorado that Rhode Island would become a place that has the skin removed from their eyes to be able to see God calling out to us and saying HERE AM I. God is doing just that, though we might not see it completely, God is redeeming this place! Step back and begin to see God in the little details. His presence is outstanding! I’ll admit, it’s a little bit overwhelming to continuously see God at work, but again and again He has shown me how His provision, His Love, and His grace are constantly being interwoven and revealed through everything. Right now things look as though they are just mumble jumble but when we connect the dots we can see that there is actually something in the mess. The dots are actually coming together and making this awesome picture! As Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:7 “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.” I don’t know what God is doing now, but I know that with everything else…He still keeps on saying “I’ve Got it kiddo. When I say go you will go, but when I say stay, you will stay.”
Being ALL HERE, Beks 8月4日 Home Again“Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?” Isaiah 43:18 It’s hard to believe that a month has already gone by! It has been a month of indescribable illustrations which have further expanded my view of God. I arrived home safely and have brought home not only souvenirs but memories of a land overflowing with genuine joy and hearts that are ever open to the Gospel. God did so much this summer and once again I learned lessons of trusting in Him and that He is enough is all situations. I look back and I see how God has been so evident in all the small details of this journey. He has been preparing me for so long and that was made clear throughout the extent of my stay in Uganda. There are so many scriptures that I was brought back to or learned to look at in different ways that encouraged me as I continued to put one foot in front of the other in pursuit of God. We were able to work in 39 schools over the summer reaching over 11,000 children! 900+ children raised their hands to receive the Lord. In no way is it about numbers but like the Caedmon’s Call song, Two Weeks in Africa states, “God doesn’t need us but He lets us put our hands in.” How awesome is our God? In every situation He is there telling us “I’ve Got this one kiddo”. I cannot begin to tell you how much that phrase has meant to me. There is such comfort to know that even in those storms…God has it all under control! There was a beautiful illustration of this because as I was teaching one day, I was teaching the story of when God calmed the disciples in the storm. As I was teaching, it started to downpour. The tin roof augmented the magnificence of the current storm and if I didn’t love the rain as much as I do, it might have gotten a little intimidating. What a perfect object lesson because as I got to the part when the storm was going to be calmed I told them about how Jesus stood up and said “Peace Be Still!” As we all know, the storm stopped after that…I preceded to go outside and try and stop the storm myself (as I was going out there I was praying that God wouldn’t stop the storm too quickly..haha…it would defeat the purpose)….Thankfully, as I went out there and yelled “peace be still”, the storm picked up!..I came back inside and said “only God had the power to save the disciples and only God has the power to save you from your sins. I can’t stop the storm, and I can’t save you from your sin. Even if you listen to every word that I have said, Jesus is the only one that died on the cross for your sins. He loves you so much that he was willing to die for you! Then I asked the children “who is afraid of the storm outside? And the majority of them all raised their hands. In response I said “there are some of you who know Jesus but sometimes we get afraid and like the disciples, we think that Jesus isn’t there, but He is and He loves you so much..etc….It was so cool to see how the concept made sense to them. God uses everything and it’s beautiful! My month in Uganda was pretty intense and it’s hard to transition back as I find myself once again on American soil. I love Africa and the ways that God has revealed himself through this trip. Things are so different in Africa, so simple and so genuine. Here everything is so fast paced and so self centered that’s it makes the transition harder. It says in Revelation 3:8 “…See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut”..The doors have been opened wide and it will be interesting to see where God leads me next. “ I want to run to the nations and lift up the king I want to shout with creation to the Lord of everything I will stand upon the mountains Proclaiming the love of the Lord.” (Run to the Nations) We sung this song in training and it has become the anthem as God has continued to show me “how to sing his song in a foreign land” (Psalm 137:4). Below is a prayer from Francis Assisi that was read in Sanctuary the other night….After coming home from a place like Africa it really hit’s a cord…. “May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain in to joy. And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done.” Hope your days are all God inspired! Overwhelmed by the Beauty of God Rebekah p.s The pictures are in my Uganda album..Enjoy!
7月11日 Talking about "I was thirsty and you brought me a cold drink"
Quote "I was thirsty and you brought me a cold drink" 6月28日 Bekah Update 6-28-08Hey y'all We have been able to go to an average of 4 schools a day and the children are very receptive to the Gospel. There are some Muslim students that have been mixed in while we have been preaching, so it's been exciting to be able to witness to them. Each school averages about 300 students so I am teaching in front of large crowds. There goes my stage fright... Hahaha... When you look in those children's eyes and see that they are understanding what you are saying, even though it is through a translator, it pulls at my heart strings every time. 6月15日 Patient EnduranceThe LORD has appeared of old to me, saying: "Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with loving kindness I have drawn you. Jeremiah 31:3
Sorry it’s been a little while, but I arrived safely in Missouri and the last week has been a tight schedule regarding the classes and preparation for Uganda. It is such a crazy thought to think that this time next week I will be in Uganda, with my Ugandan family…breathing the air and drinking the drink (Not any crazy drinks…all of you who thought that should know better..LOL =) ).
During this last week, God has again showed me a lot about being able to trust that He is enough….in all things. (see the Blog entry entitled Unconditional Love In the March entries.) My team mate was unable to make it here until last Friday so it was interesting to go through the week. While everybody was team building, I did not have my team mate around to team build with. Honestly it was a little frustrating and a little weird but again God was like Bekah…You told me that you trusted me. HAHA>..it seems to be the pattern of my life, when I come into a new place there is usually a period where I am forced to rely on God. In Colorado, because I was the only housekeeper for a little while, I was by myself until they were able to find somebody to replace the 2 people that left. Then here I am, In Missouri alone again. Truthfully, we are never alone and that is something that God keeps on showing me over and over again. Those intense moments of revelation that I had before this trip were tested in those first couple of days. We put so many expectations before God and in those moments when He calls us out and asks us whether or not he is enough for us…we fail to realize that He knows what He is doing. We play out different scenarios in our minds and expect the situations that we come to, to be played out in the same way. God doesn’t work that way…as somebody said while they were sharing their testimony this week “God is dependable but not predictable.” It is such a concept to think about.. “God is dependable but not predictable”…I love it!
The ways in which God provides for us is unbelievable. He knows what we need and when we need it. When we are in those desert places he says here I am…dance with me. When we are in the valleys He calls out to us and says here I am Rest with me…when we are in our storms He calls out to us and says Here I am …Peace be still…and then when we are on the Mountains, he calls out to us and says Here I am, there I was, and I’ll be with you as you cross over the next horizon….rejoice with me! Its in those moments that we feel like we are all alone that God over and over again reminds us of why we are here. This place is temporary…if we can’t be content with God and the places that He has called us to while we are here on earth…then what’s the point? It’s been so amazing to see God in the little details throughout this last week.
Yesterday the group of us (there are about 40 of us here going to various countries this summer), went into inner city St. Luis to share with the children the Word of God. We have been taught how to evangelize to children using the wordless book. I’m not going to lie, it’s a little daunting when your packed into a van and then dropped off at the corner of a street….after you have been told “make sure you stay so that I can see you so if I need to come quickly I can. “ Or be careful, we don’t want to be out too late because that is when the drug dealers come out” or even “watch out they might throw a brick through the window.” The first little boy that we came to was so adorable! He was only five and was able to quote scripture so well! It inspired me! As my teammate Ariealle and I continued to walk down the street we came upon a park where they were having some kind of political church rally for Obama..I know that that is a little bit of an oxymoron a political church rally….haha…but it was put on be one of the churches in the area….So there were A LOT of people here. Ariealle and I asked the parents if it would be okay to share a story about Jesus with the Children. It was actually really neat to see how receptive they were…There were some testimonies later where the students talked about how the parents would start pulling there children from where ever they were and told them to sit down and listen to the stories. Ariealle and I were able to talk to groups of children at a time. And it was just really awesome to see the transformation of the children…they really got it…in that moment when you realize that God’s word is becoming alive in their hearts, that is the moment that you know that our God is such a great God! It was unbelievable!...There were 2 kids that received the Lord yesterday. One was a little girl named Marqui who was only 8 years old….she was so hungry to know more and the other was a 14 year old boy named Michael. If you could only see the neighborhood and the things that these children were accustomed to seeing every day, your heart would just break. God did some mighty things yesterday!
There was another group who was at the same park who were all called up on stage because they had seen us all around the park. ( we were all wearing the Brown CEF shirts…we didn’t stand out…no not at all). It was really funny because one of the boys up on stage, before we all went out was like what is that verse that talks about being more than conquerors…God showed him that he was more than a conqueror and through Christ he could do anything. Its just been really neat to see the ways in which God has been working here. The ways that he has been our hearts for missions this summer and the ways that he is establishing His call in our lives.
I will try to post more later but right now I have to go and study for a practicum…I have to teach a bible story…When Jesus calmed the disciples in the storm.
Keeping you all in prayer
Rebekah
P.S I AM FULLY FUNDED! God is so awesome and He has provided every penny of this trip! 6月5日 The time has come"The time has come the walrus said to speak of other things like ships and seals and ceiling wax and cabbages and kings and if the see if boiling hot and whether pigs have wings"
Here is the Fundraising letter that I should have just sent out....I will hopefully update more later.
After months of preparation, it’s almost time for my Summer Mission to begin. Many have prayed and many have supported me with gifts that have humbled me as I see God working through this incredible journey. The ways in which I have seen God’s intricate pattern throughout these last couple of months are incredible! Many have prayed and many have supported me with gifts that have humbled me as I see God in those small details of this journey. It is my prayer that I will be used of God to shine the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to hundreds of children trapped in darkness. As he leads me to the field, I am both humbled and excited to have this opportunity to make an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God. My mission starts this June 6th with two weeks of training in Missouri. During training, I will fine-tune my abilities in clearly presenting the gospel of Jesus Christ to children as well as learn how to serve cross-culturally. Then on June 20th, my team member, Ariealle Holden and I will set out for Uganda!
Through your great love and tremendous generosity, my trip is nearly funded! Thank you so much for your sacrificial gifts and prayer support. May God richly bless you for your faithfulness. I am trusting God to supply the balance of $880 to cover the cost of my summer mission.
Financial support is very important, but I also need your continued fervent prayers for this mission. Please pray for my team to have many opportunities to share the Gospel. Pray that our presentations will be clear and unhindered by the evil one, for open and receptive hearts among the children, and for God to shower His grace and mercy down to save many souls for eternity. Pray also that my teammates and I will have unity as we serve together.
Thank you for your prayers and support. God is going to do great things this summer!
Living in Awe of Him 3月31日 My Life is a Rocky MovieWow this is impressive!....Three entries in one month!...Wahoo! If I would have to choose which movie would correctly depict my life right now, I would definitely have to say any one of the Rocky movies. Haha….this is quite the funny/interesting analogy but over the last couple of weeks I feel like it fits my situation and it didn’t help last night when the Rocky Theme song played in my head as I walked out of Sanctuary. I have been wrestling with God lately and things keep coming back to the question “is God really enough?” Within the scriptures that I’ve found myself in, the topic of certain sermons and conversations that I’ve had, I’ve been forced to ask my self this over and over. I’ve said this before but God has really been calling me out lately as I examine my heart in contrast to his. In every Rocky movie, Rocky never defeats his opponent until the end. It’s the progression of one man’s journey.. of the trials that he must endure before he is capable of defeating the Ali’s, Mr. T’s, Apollo’s or crazy Russian dudes of our lives. In some ways I have been the Rocky at the beginning of these films. As much as Paulie is yelling at me in my corner, I am not listening and as a result, I am allowing the cheap shots to hit me thus leaving me with a black eye, broken ribs and a fat lip in the corner TKO”D. Eventually though, something Paulie says finally kicks in and I become disciplined in my exercise routine…and here I am running up those steps…*insert Rocky Theme music here* I wrote about Mark 10:17-31 and this whole scripture keeps coming back again and again…. I saw it in 1 Samuel 7… Where it is basically the cleansing period for the people of Israel…Samuel is older. Wiser, and he is growing into his position. He is in the process of removing the foreign gods that stand in the way of the Israelites for the one true God. It again forced me to ask the question of what is hindering me from my walk with God?
1 Samuel 7:3 “Return to the Lord with all your hearts….Prepare your hearts for the Lord, and serve Him only…”
This bible study then led to a sermon entitled “Your Personal Jesus”…haha…yeah God never ceases to amaze me ….This time it was through Acts….Acts 17:22-34 the instance of Paul noticing and pointing out the altar to the “unknown God”…of course you can’t read this without asking….What is the unknown god in your life? What is preventing me from serving God in the capacity that I can serve Him? …at first glance I always think of money, and things that hold monetary value….put pain can also be your idol as well as Relationships and brokenness. This scripture of course was tied into Ephesians 3:14-19…and the verse that really stuck out for me was 3:17 “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, that you being rooted an d grounded in love….filled with all the fullness of God….also Ephesians 4:1-3 “I beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called…endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace…
It didn’t help matters when my pastor, as he was giving examples of all these things that can be seen as an idol instead of God…he was looking at me and was, in saying let them go…he was really saying let him go because he has a southern accent..lol…so yes…haha…he was looking at me and saying let him go. This has great significance because that one thing between myself and God…that one thing that makes me second guess God’s place as being enough… is my desire to be in a relationship.
Of course this all had to be topped off with a friendly dose of Sanctuary….put it all together into the mix and you get one great recipe of “Kick in the FACE!” Of course we had to go through 1 Corinthians 7…We have been in 1 Corinthians for a little while because we are “SLooooowing things down!” and of course we had to go through this part, right now, when Paul talks about serving the Lord without distraction.
1 Corinthians 7:35 “that you may serve the Lord without distraction.
Haha or what about this one 7:34 “ the unmarried woman cares about the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in Spirit…
“Let each one remain in the came calling which he was called…Brethren, let each one remain with God in the state in which he was called.
In other words…our undivided attention to the Lord….
Pastor Lyle then went on to outline the ways in which on this path the we are on God has given us a compass, binoculars and a guide…
Basically we are learning the joy of the present moment “blooming where we are planted”
I get it God…as I get backed into the corner you’re outside the ring saying “I’ve got it kiddo”…This time I’m listening…this time instead of yelling “Adrian!” I’m yelling “Jesus!” I’m not going to be arrogant and try to this one my own because you oh Lord are ENOUGH! I Trust you.*Insert Eye of the Tiger* (My apologies for getting both of these songs stuck in your head…but as they are now there…think about the ways that you may have been backed into the corner…and the ways that God is calling out to you and saying “I’ve got it kiddo!”) 3月27日 Unconditional Love This week I was asked to lead a bible study on Mark 10:17-31. At first I was like oh this is going to be easy..it's a pretty straight forward passage which illustrates Jesus' reaction to a man who comes running to him seeking the answer to eternal life. Despite how many times that i have read and studied this scripture, this time I was confronted with alot of things and my struggles over these last couple of weeks began to be outlined in this passage. In reality, it was a HUGE kick in the face! As I prepare for ministry in Uganda this summer, it has not exactly been the easiest road. There are alot of Rocks and hills on this path, I feel like I am climbing Pike's Peak again! Some of the desicions that I have made have seemed absurd to alot of people. During this process though, I have been faced with very hard questions between myself and God...God is calling me out and challenging me to take up my cross and follow Him. There was one night where I was struggling with what's going to happen after I get back from Uganda....especially with my Job situation. I Currently have a job that pays pretty well and for the most part I like the people that I work with. This one night I felt called to basically tell my managers and coworkers...as well as some of the parents and students...that I would not be coming back to work for them after this summer. This was hard to wrestle with. Then I realized that I was placing my security in this place..my financial burdens and my fufillment of the status quo in having a real job was somewhat comforting.That night I felt like Peter because God called out to me and was like "Do you trust me?..Yes God I trust you...No Bekah do you TRust me? Yes I trust you...NO do You TRUST me? Yes God I trust you! A couple of days later i was hanging out in our Intervarsity office and God was like "Bekah am I enough for you?" Didn't we go through this already God? Yes I trust you and you're enough for me..."what are you willing to sacrifice for me?" It was then that I began to realize where this question was coming from...Because of where I've been in the different areas o my life it's hard for me to trust anybody..Over these last few years, God has redeemed the ways that I interact with people and he has established some pretty strong bonds between myself and otheres. It was in that moment that God was asking me sacrifice my relationships with certain people and submit my desires and plans and just take up my cross and follow Him to trust that He is enough. Honestly some of the emotions that I've had during all this have been pretty intense. Like the man in this scripture I feel like I have come running to God in search of the answers to my questions....those questions which if i...if we...listen to the answers they reveal our heart in contrast to God's. Can we be content in his answers or do we consider the cost too high? Do we fully believe that our desires, and out comforts are fufilled at His feet? Are we content in the answers that he's given us when it comes to taking up our crosses and following Him? Is he truely enough? 3月19日 EnoughEnough
So many times, As Christian we fall, I fall, into the mass game of twister in which we try to stretch ourselves thin, in an attempt to place our hand on the green circle in the far left corner of the mat. In reality the one three dots down would suffice. We do it to prove a point, to prove that we are capable of twisting and turning in accordance to the rules of the game. I love Twister, don’t get me wrong, but if we substituted our identity in a game of twister, how sore would we be from all the alterations that we make in an attempt to modify the character of who we are? When it comes to identity, what are the rules of the game? What molds are broken when the status quo is no longer observed? Are we really okay with the life that God has given us? I’ve asked myself this a lot lately and I can honestly say that though it’s been a long time coming I think I am content in this place. Content in the here and now and trusting in the grace and provision that has been poured into my life. If I was asked this a couple of years ago, my answer would not have been the same. I would have told you about who I wanted to be. I was at a pit stop where it was more comfortable to know where I was, instead of being focused on where I was going. I want to live a life undivided by my inadequacies and brokenness. We are identified not by what we are called to but by the one who has called us. When we “break ourselves open and pour ourselves out”, from the very core of who we are, we allow the testimony of Christ to be confirmed within us and our identity lies in who we are in him. Lord you’re everything I want, you’re everything I need. “Lord make my way prosperous, not that I achieve high station, but that my life may be an exhibit to the value of knowing God” (Jim Elliott) In all I do Lord let me honor you. Your Grace is ENOUGH. 1月9日 God's Camera “The sound of 'gentle stillness' after all the thunder and wind have passed with the ultimate Word from God.” Jim Elliot Hello All, Its been a while since I’ve sent out such a large email (address wise)…But things in my life have progressed pretty steadily, and now as I prepare for graduation (come May) I also find myself preparing for the trip of a lifetime. As of today, plans for Uganda are now OFFICIAL!.!!!! I received all the materials that I need to start preparing for a 6 week journey into this east African country. Praise the Lord! It really is amazing how all of this is coming together! As some of you may or may not know, these last couple of years have been awe inspiring when it comes to how the Lord has placed certain stones, certain places to which I have moved forward from. I am reminded of the Israelites when they crossed the Jordan. As Joshua finished crossing the Jordan, God commanded him to “take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan”(Joshua 4)…these stones served not only as a memorial to the people of Israel but they also served as a reminder of where God was and how he had moved the Israelites forward from the desert place. My crossing of the river Jordan started when I was out in Colorado. Its a representation of so many revelations about myself and the directions that God was calling me to. It has become such a place to move forward from and with each step I stand in awe of God’s Grandeur. First it was Colorado, and then it was the Urbana conference in St. Luis Missouri, and now the pieces are all coming together. In a lot of ways its as if God is teaching me how to use a camera. He’s bringing into focus the details of my life and showing me how they all lose their fuzziness when put into His perspective. The abstract images are now becoming part of a reality. The hows and whys are being put into a frame and its easy to see how despite my questioning and attempts to focus the picture, God is still there calling to my and saying “here I am!” Through much prayer, I have felt that the Lord has been leading me to work with children in East Africa. It has been a dream that I’ve had for a while but it was confirmed for me at the Urbana conference. As some of you know, it was an overwhelming experience to have hundreds of missionary organizations in one building. Your constantly asking yourself “which of these organizations, if any, have you been called to work with?” God showed me a lot during that conference and a lot of it had to do with the steps that I needed to take to start working with two of the organizations that I was made aware of. I feel as though my heart is focused mainly on Kenya but again the Lord has shown me Time and Season. Ironically the first organization that I talked with, God told me that I would work with them first. They don’t have a mission trip going to Kenya but to Uganda ( A country which borders Kenya). At first I wanted to ignore this whole Uganda thing but each day I had more of a peace about it. I have friends who have currently been called to Kenya and I must be honest with you…I was a little jealous. I was jealous because they were given the opportunity to go to Kenya before me. Then God pointed out to me that in light of what is currently going on in Kenya…I am not yet ready to work there. My time will come, but it is not now. Now I know that my place is towards Uganda. I don’t know what God has planned, but I know that its going to be amazing. Especially with the packet that I got in the mail today, this is all becoming a reality. Come June I will be working with Child Evangelism Fellowship in a mission trip to Uganda. It will be a six week camp. Two weeks spent training in St. Luis Missouri and 4 weeks spent on the field in Uganda. I ask that you keep me in prayer as I begin the process of fundraising to raise the funds that I will need to make this trip happen. Again and again I’m moved by the love, provision and grace that Christ has poured into my life. What a truly awesome God we serve. Hope your days are filled with all things amazing!..May they be God inspired! Never stop smiling. Living in Awe of Him Beks 12月16日 Lessons in Receiving
Lessons of receiving… The other night, in the midst of the beautiful snowfall, God was once again at work in the role of the teacher. Despite the frustration and slow attempts at making it home, He sat there in his quiet way directing me to let go of my stubborn ways and wait out the storm. It had taken me about 45 minutes to get from campus to route 44 (which on a normal day would have only taken 5 minutes.) The cars were grid locked and I had to keep getting out of my car every now and again to clean off the accumulation of snow. It was ridiculous! The answer to my unknown prayers was a phone call from a friend offering me a way out of the mess that I had found myself in. He invited me to his friends house not that far from Rhode Island college. I had met this family before but played the Bekah card and didn’t want to impose or be a burden to them. I wrestle with God a lot in my life…especially in those areas where I have to receive. I am a better giver than I am a receiver. “But God I can do this! I’m not the typical Rhode Islander that can’t drive in the snow. Let me show you.” “You have nothing to prove to me, I love you as you are, now go and receive.” “But Lord, these people are strangers to me, it’s going to be awkward.” ‘Go and Receive!” My car started slipping on the snow after that point… “Ok God!..I’m going, I’m going!” It was a night of many Godly revelations. I come from a place that is hidden among a Jericho like place of walls built both by pain and distrust, it's hard for me to receive. It's hard for me to realize that I don't have to do this whole life thing, all by myself. It's this exact concept that the Lord has been working on and showing me the importance of those who surround me. The Lord really showed me the strength of the community that he has brought around me. A community that is pouring themselves into my life without them even being fully aware of it. For the first time in a long time, there are those who are on the other sides of my wall attempting to bring down the walls from the outside while I'm still taking away those blocks from the inside of my fortress. The love that surrounds me is inspiring, it is truly a glimpse of what it’s going to be like. We were able to help out the neighbors of these friends and as my friend said we were being blessed by the chance to sit down, stop, and focus on shoveling and friendships. God’s lessons are so essential and deeper than our view of grace. 11月13日 Careful Trust“The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs...you will be like a well watered garden; like a spring whose waters never fail.” Isaiah 58:11
What does a well watered garden look like for a Christian? Cultivated in love and rooted in grace, with Christ as our gardener we are in a fruit bearing place. It is a beautiful metaphor to think of the Lord as our gardener. He is patient with us, He takes care of us, and He prunes us and shows us the areas in which we are in need of changing. Day by day he pays close attention to us and day by day he continues to rain down his love upon us as He showers us with His grace and mercy. Despite our short comings He still calls out to us in our Desert places and says “Here I am.” What a truly awesome God we serve! I love it when there is evidence of God in the small things in our lives; the ways that he reaches out to us and meets us where we are. A couple of weekends ago, I again found myself at Toah Nipi, an Intervarsity owned retreat center in Rindge NH, where I was able to reflect and absorb the implications of what it means to abide on the vine. It’s been a long time coming but this was also a weekend which enabled me to sit down and have a coffee house conversation between myself and God. I was able to examine my connection to the vine and see the ways that I was attempting to impress God instead of being real with Him. Throughout the John 15 study, repeated images of God as our vine and us as the branches fell into place. As a visual person I was able to relate differently to the metaphor of growing in God and waiting as He cycled through the process of pruning away my dead branches so that I might bear fruit. There is a time and a season for everything and I see this season as a healing season. There are so many things that I have overlooked and shoved under the carpet. Through this season I can see the ways in which God’s love is Deeper than Tears. Deeper than the tears that I have held back for far too long. It was a time that I was finally able to sit down and say “how is it between us Lord? When did I talk to you last and what has happened since?” (Lyrics to Hello Lord by Sarah Groves). Gods grace abounds and I thank the Lord that He is able to use certain things and events in our lives to redirect us to Him. He is constantly bringing us back to him, back to the community and body of Christ. He is constantly pruning away those dead branches that keep us focusing on Him. He gives us joy in His presence through the deserts, through the mountaintops and through the valleys. Commit your ways to the Lord so that he might clean and heal the fragments and scars of who we were to who he has now called us to be. We are children of the King! He is the true vine, the gardener who is cultivating in us His patience, His grace, and His mercy. He is the great love that has no boundaries, the friend of all friends. How long must we run away from Him? 7月28日 Another Work In ProgressLike my life this poem is also a work in progress. I realize more and more lately that each day is insight into how true that statement really is. So much to learn, so many directions to go....Where are the neon flashing signs? The code book of life? So many questions lately..Again, a ginny Owens song comes to mind.. "can't find the answers till you learn to question"...wow there are alot of songs in my head right now..."Go ahead throw it all on the table" (Chasing Windmills)...This is what I have for now.....
A Poem By me
Flying Blind past a tunnel of lonliness
looking for the light that eminates in holiness longing for a door not knowing what is in store which is the formula?
which is the way? where are the answers that won't lead us astray? Driving down life's highway
so many things that we need to say. How many times will we make a wrong turn? How many lessons are needed to be learned? So many questions leap from the mind, a true light in the darkness is hard to find. which is the formula,
which is the way where are the answers that won't lead us astray? Three steps forward, 2 steps back
the strengh I need is the strengh i lack. When do we know the time is right? When does a bird know when to take flight? How many years to a happily thereafter? When will four walls be filled with laughter? Which is the formula,
which is the way, where are the answers that won't lead us astray? What defines normal? What defines right? When is it proper to dance in the night? Circular motions that bring Deja vu
a heart that bleeds crimson and a darker hew How long must I go? how long and deep does this river flow? How high are the mountains? how vast are the plains? Which is the formula
which is the way where are the answers that won't lead us astray? Are all paths so lonely, heavy with tears how do the answers justify the years? The path is lightened by a man on a tree
through him, all of us can be free. Bearing the burdens of all that we are He's leaving the door widely ajar. His life is the formula
His life is the way He is the answer that won't lead us astray 5月20日 Some UpdatesTHE BODY OF CHRIST IS INDEED AMAZING
I thought I would share this response I recieved from a friend. It was in regards to the directions that God has called us in each of our lives. I know that there are alot of us who stuggle with either knowing or not knowing where we are going or where we should be. In the end, we are all called to be His child. "amen. In the midst of your questioning, waiting, comprehending, and pursual of your calling... don't forget to be who you are. You are a child of God first and last. I have had to learn again and again that no matter where your journey takes you, you are still a child of God that has been given specific gifts and a specific purpose. Your journey does not define who you are, your identity in Christ defines your journey. Too often the perils, joys, heartaches, blessings, and circumstances of our lives affect who we see ourselves to be -- as if we call ourselves "North" because we are heading North. The truth is that because we call ourselves children of God, there is no compass, there is no map -- everywhere we go is exactly where we need to be, in the presence of God. And the miraculous thing is that we can not escape that presence no matter how hard we fall down or run away. so praise God, my friend, because He has made you to be who you are and He can use you right where you are. Whether you end up in Rhode Island, Colorado, Kenya, or elsewhere, it doesn't matter because God is there with you. And since God is with you, you are not defined by your direction but by your calling, which is ultimately to be His child." amen. " If You WANT ME TO
“ The answers to a million questions are in the rocks that line our paths…you can’t understand where you are going until you know where you have been.” Me I have been doing a lot of reflecting lately on where I have been and where I am going. I can see God in tremendous ways. Each day becomes a new reflection of what Christ is doing in my life. How He is using me where I am at despite my inconsistencies and struggles. As with many other pieces of my life I am inspired by yet another song by Ginny Owens in her lyrics to the song “If you want me to” The pathway is broken And The signs are unclear And I don't know the reason why You brought me here But just because You love me the way that You do I'm gonna walk through the valley If You want me to Chorus: Cause I'm not who I was When I took my first step And I'm clinging to the promise You're not through with me yet so if all of these trials bring me closer to you Then I will go through the fire If You want me to It may not be the way I would have chosen When you lead me through a world that's not my home But You never said it would be easy You only said I'd never go alone So When the whole world turns against me And I'm all by myself And I can't hear You answer my cries for help I'll remember the suffering Your love put You through And I will go through the valley If You want me to I can relate to this song on so many level, as I cling to His promises I realize that the valleys lead to the mountain tops and then from there the valleys will continue but with more insight to the greater picture. What an amazing journey with Christ! It’s incredible to see how many times we fall but he is still there to pick us up and refocus our sights towards Him. " I will go through the valley if you want me to." 1月30日 All this and Jesus TOO“For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, that flow out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land in which you will eat bread without scarcity, in which you will lack nothing; a land whose stones are iron and out of whose hills you can dig copper. When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the LORD your God for the good land which He has given you.” Deuteronomy 8:7-10 I was watching the hindi movie, SWADES, the other day and was struck by the idea of what i tmeans to be a light to people even if it’s a small start. The image of being that one light that sparks many others is such an extraordinary concept. The main character in this movie wrestled with the decision to stay among his people or remain in America where technology and money were so readily available to him. I won’t summarize this movie for you as I think that if you had the opportunity you should watch it. The result of this movie was a quote which stated the following. “ Are you sure that you are making the right decision? Think about what you will lose.” “Yes, I must go back to India, because I’m thinking about what I will gain.” This quote is a representation of what my Urbana experience was for me. To trust in the Lord’s provision and plan for my life and follow through and proceed on this path that He has paved for me. "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."Jim Elliott For those of you who do not know, Urbana is a week long Intervarsity organized conference which focuses on missions and a greater understanding of what God is doing on a global perspective. This year it was held in St. Louis, MO and What an amazing period of interacting with God centered individuals who had a desire to dive into God’s call for each of their lives. Myself and 5 other students from my campus plus 22,000 other college aged students attended this conference. Every state in this nation was represented as well as 44 other international countries. Everybody joining together as the body of Christ would give anybody the chills because it was a small glimpse of what heaven would be like. There is so much symbolism in what this place has come to mean to me. If I had to explain this journey in one sentence I would say that it was a place, not of transformation but of confirmation. I can now understand “why this way and this load….how far must I go, till I see, till I know why.” (Lyrics by Ginny Owens) There are times when we are bound by our expectations and ideals of life. We go through certain experiences and in our minds we uphold the standard of what we perceive it to be. It is because of these expectations that we fail to recognize the blessings of our situations. We are affected when things don’t turn out the way we first thought that they should. As I boarded the bus in preparation for our 22 hours across country towards Urbana I had so many ideas of what that week would mean to me. I heard stories of intense communion with God and of people whoexperienced a life changing event through Urbana. I thought that I would be brought to my knees in reverent prayer and have no tears left by the end of the week. How quickly these perceptions faded to reveal the reality of my week. I had such a hard time not getting emotional because at first I didn’t think that I was really taking in what the speakers were saying. Now a lot of these speakers were missionaries who had already experienced the great heartache of an impoverished nation. For example, Ajith Fernandoone of the main speakers spoke about a women who he had worked with who had all kinds of things wrong with her. She had arthritis, she was a cripple and she suffered from many headaches. He asked her…”how can you realize that all these things are wrong with you and still be happy?”She replied “ see these hands…there are no nails here…look at my head there are no thorns here….and look at my side….Jesus took that spear from my side….all this and Jesus too.” What an unbelievable picture of knowing who we are in the Lord. This woman found joy because of Christ in her. I honestly got mad at my self for not being broken by this. I though that my heart had hardened towards sorrow and pain. I thought that it had been so prevalent in the media that I forgot what it was to feel compassion. Then the Lord spoke to me and made me realize that I was not lacking in Compassion. Compassion is one of my strongest assets and the Lord has shown me that time and time again. The Lord forced me to look back and see how he had been preparing me for this conference and my “call” over these last two years. My life has been a journey and He was showing me how He is in control…how He has given me the provision to move forward and take the next step with Him.. I did not need to get overly emotional for Him to show me how to take His hand and allow Him to lead. So many questions have been answered thus far….it’s been brewing for awhile but now I am more sure of my next step and my next direction. First it was the mountains of Colorado and now I feel like I am being called to Kenya. Slowly, the Lord is revealing the who, the what, the why and the how….now I am waiting for the when. With each passing day my heart cries out for that country….for the children and the culture. I want to be where they are… I was able to sit down and talk with missionaries from Both CEF (Children’s Evangelism Fellowship) and AIM (African Inland Missions) and I feel led to work with them. I will be starting off with CEF doing small term missions probably to Uganda (next summer Lord Willing). Then Eventually I feel like I will be working long term with AIM.At first it was quite overwhelming to have so many mission agencies so readily available. But again the Lord leads us and guides us…CEF was the first agency I talked to …not to mention that they gave out Smiley face stress balls…..what is more Bekahish than a smiley face stress ball…I talked to them and I just knew that I need not look any further. And then the Lord also lead me to AIM where I was able to sit down and pray with one of the missionaries who had also been to Africa. It was also a time where I was asked the hard questions that I needed to be asked. God is so faithful! Confirmation all around! Another example that can attest to God’s inspiring way of reaffirming his word for me was when my friend and I were walking around St. Louis we were talking about the directions that we felt led to. As we were talking we looked up and saw the brightest rainbow that either of us had ever seen…In the time that it took for me to take take my camera from my neck and snap the picture, the rainbow had dulled to about 95% of what it had been. It was as if the Lord was telling us, as he did with Noah, that we are covered under His provision, walk with him and He will continue to guide us. It’s funny where we are being led, she is being led to Iran and I am being led to Kenya and then another friend is being called toward India…just a small triangle from the global perspective of God’s kingdom. I am excited to see how the Lord is leading us and how He is strengthening the prayer support system. Amazing things are happening on my campus and individually I can see how He has prepared each of us for the direction of his call. He is reaffirming His word and promises in my life and opening my heart to a greater understanding of Him. I ask that you pray for me in these areas of stepping out even when the dark path ahead is illuminated by just a flashlight. In His quiet way, the Lord is making His word a lamp unto my feet and a light unto His path.(Psalm 119:105) “It’s the choice of a lifetime I am almost sure, I will not live my life in between anymore, for all that’s uncertain, for all that’s unsure, I feel like the timing is right I will hold it up hold it up to the light.” (DC talk Hold it up to the Light)… In Christ, Rebekah 11月13日 Traveling LightOnce again, I have discovered another amazing book by Max Lucado. It’s entitled “Traveling Light” and so far it’s a wonderful new perspective on Psalm 23. A verse which I have read over and over again but still there is something new to find. Max uses this psalm to illustrate the “Luggage” that we carry in life. As the back cover says, “Max walks us through a helpful inventory of our burdens.” As I read this book I realize more and more how often I have traveled with more than I could handle. I go through life repacking and reorganizing my burdens and in the process I forget to yield and lay them at the foot of the cross…. And to leave them there because “traveling light means trusting God with the burdens that you were never intended to bear.” Lucado uses many real life analogies of how to apply the essence of the 23rd psalm into everyday life. Only three chapters in and already I have found quite a few quotes that hit home. For example after talking about a jogging experience where he couldn’t decide what to wear on account of the weather, he finally decided to wear both things ‘just in case’. Well mid jog, he finds himself taking off the outer layers because it was just weighing him down. This quote was a result of this experience…. “What’s true in jogging is true in Faith. God has a great race for you to run. Under his care you will go where you’ve never been and served in ways you never dreamed. But you have to drop some stuff. How can you share grace if you are full of guilt? How can you comfort if you are disheartened? How can you lift someone else’s load if your arms are full of your own? (pg.8). And another one of my personal favorites so far…going along those same line…. “Counselors can comfort you in the storm, but you need a God you can still the storm.” (pg16) I’m sure I will be posting some more of these quotes…but I need some time to wrap my mind around these first couple of chapters first. Hope you all are having an absolutely amazing day…may it be God inspired. |
|
|
