HE IS ALIVE!! HE IS RISEN!! What a glorious Sunday morning as I awoke to the beautiful promise of life in My Risen King! I did not have Internet service (who knew) nor electricity this AM and was not able to listen to my favorite resurrection song, Arise My Love. So I did what any Baptist would do and I sang it and others at the top of my lungs, on my knees to My Precious Savior! I finished an amazing time of worship and reflection of what today means to me and then head to pick up Eric, the kids, and Jill. We get to the farm just in time for the service. We sing some of my favorite hymns (they did it in Spanish but this AM I sang them in English!) Josh speaks on the resurrection. He takes us all over the Word. He takes us to Romans 8:31-39 and points out the key to this very powerful passage. It is a passage that I have memorized and quote very frequently. Yet how had I been so blind to not see that the connection, the key to all of this was clearly stated in the midst of this powerful passage. I mean I knew that Jss is the key to all Scripture but had completely missed it in this passage.
It reads, “What then shall we say to these things? If Gd is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against Gd's elect? It is Gd who justifies. Who is to condemn? Chrst Jss is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of Gd, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Chrst? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Gd in Chrst Jss our Lrd.” WOW…look at that…the resurrection talked about in this very passage as that does everything. The verses about our election are connected by His resurrection to the fact that nothing can separate us from Gd because it doesn’t depend on us but on His glorious grace!
After the service, I had a great time of chatting with the brothers about different things HE has been teaching us. I am so thankful for these two as I learn so much from them and they like to hear what HE has been teaching me or challenging me with each week. I spent some time in the main house with Julie (letting Jill get to know everyone) and then head down to spend time with Stacy and the family. We eat lunch, Luis Fernando and another Colombian come down and we have an amazing discussion about His Truths. After some time with the family, Jill and I head back up to play with the kids and end up spending the entire day on the farm. I had some amazing conversations with Colombians that were there, the ladies, the kids, and just enjoyed being together as a family.
Monday, I wake up, spend time with Him and then head to a meeting. I come back from this meeting in the worst mood ever. I have feelings of being all alone, frustrated with my class work, no desire to meet with people for discipleship, no energy, nothing. I cry for no reason. I listen to the accuser remind me of the wretch I am and forget to listen to My Redeemer remind me of who I am in HIM. It was truly a rough day as I cried out to Him for help. I had no Internet to talk to family or friends and pry together. He used Monday to show me what parts of my life are not dead and that I have not surrendered to Him completely.
I wish I could say that this mood ended on Monday but no, being the disobedient stubborn child that I am – I allowed my emotions to affect me on Tuesday as well. I felt that there was nothing I could do well and just sat in His lap and cried for hours. HE being the Faithful Father that HE is met me there. HE whispered His sweet words in my ear reminding me of Who He is and to take my focus off myself and put it back on Him and His glory. He reminded me to stop looking at my circumstances and allowing them to affect me but seeing how each of these circumstances leads to the advancement of His gospel saving message. He asked me to give Him more of my flesh so that He could kill it and that I would be dead to that sin. He asked me to live in Him each moment and not focus on anything else. It was such a sweet time and I praise HIM for meeting me here and rescuing me from the attack I was under. I spent the rest of the day working on schoolwork, preparing for Palenque, and trying to catch up on reports and emails.
I will post what HE did during the wedding week when I get back from Palenque...
It reads, “What then shall we say to these things? If Gd is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against Gd's elect? It is Gd who justifies. Who is to condemn? Chrst Jss is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of Gd, who indeed is interceding for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Chrst? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written, “For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Gd in Chrst Jss our Lrd.” WOW…look at that…the resurrection talked about in this very passage as that does everything. The verses about our election are connected by His resurrection to the fact that nothing can separate us from Gd because it doesn’t depend on us but on His glorious grace!
After the service, I had a great time of chatting with the brothers about different things HE has been teaching us. I am so thankful for these two as I learn so much from them and they like to hear what HE has been teaching me or challenging me with each week. I spent some time in the main house with Julie (letting Jill get to know everyone) and then head down to spend time with Stacy and the family. We eat lunch, Luis Fernando and another Colombian come down and we have an amazing discussion about His Truths. After some time with the family, Jill and I head back up to play with the kids and end up spending the entire day on the farm. I had some amazing conversations with Colombians that were there, the ladies, the kids, and just enjoyed being together as a family.
Monday, I wake up, spend time with Him and then head to a meeting. I come back from this meeting in the worst mood ever. I have feelings of being all alone, frustrated with my class work, no desire to meet with people for discipleship, no energy, nothing. I cry for no reason. I listen to the accuser remind me of the wretch I am and forget to listen to My Redeemer remind me of who I am in HIM. It was truly a rough day as I cried out to Him for help. I had no Internet to talk to family or friends and pry together. He used Monday to show me what parts of my life are not dead and that I have not surrendered to Him completely.
I wish I could say that this mood ended on Monday but no, being the disobedient stubborn child that I am – I allowed my emotions to affect me on Tuesday as well. I felt that there was nothing I could do well and just sat in His lap and cried for hours. HE being the Faithful Father that HE is met me there. HE whispered His sweet words in my ear reminding me of Who He is and to take my focus off myself and put it back on Him and His glory. He reminded me to stop looking at my circumstances and allowing them to affect me but seeing how each of these circumstances leads to the advancement of His gospel saving message. He asked me to give Him more of my flesh so that He could kill it and that I would be dead to that sin. He asked me to live in Him each moment and not focus on anything else. It was such a sweet time and I praise HIM for meeting me here and rescuing me from the attack I was under. I spent the rest of the day working on schoolwork, preparing for Palenque, and trying to catch up on reports and emails.
I will post what HE did during the wedding week when I get back from Palenque...
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