When Light Strikes
So on Sunday at church I talked about the mission trip to Chicago. I wasn't all that nervous but I did speak really fast. Afterward a few people said Im a good writer, very deep. Hah, that's exactly what I wanted to hear! Well, here is what I said (word for word!)
I faced a lot of challenges when we went to Chicago for the weekend.I knew, going into it, that it would be a turning point for me in my walk with God. I knew I had to choose if I wanted to completely commit myself to the Lord for the year or let myself just be content.
This alone was hard to realize because I love to be content. Usually, I choose to settle, rather than strive for something better, because I dont want to risk bringing myself pain or tribulation.
Like a lot of people, I have a fear of change. But when looking at the bigger picture, its so clear that commiting myself to God completely is far more worth it.
Matthew 6:34 says "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble."
This verse was in the Saturday devotional that Julia made out for us. And it was so applicable to me because lately I've had a real problem with change.
I know Im not alone in this problem. The more I get to know other people, the more I realize it's a problem for a lot of us. To stay exactly the same for as long as possible, it feels safer somehow. And if you are going through some trials, atleast the struggles are familiar. Its hard to take that leap of faith and go outside your box. Who knows what attacks the enemy may have planned? Chances are, it will be even worse.
So, I choose not to change. Choose the road already traveled. Most of the time, I dont want to risk taking the wrong road so I stay still where I am. I always seem to forget that God has an even bigger plan than I or the enemys and its so much better than anything I can think of.
This weekend the Lord really challenged me to take a look at myself. He placed the concept of change infront of me so many times.
On Friday night, at the youth group in Cabrini Green, they talked about commiting our lives totally to the Lord. Taking that leap of faith. He youth leader said, "How do you expect to help someone out of quicksand if you get in yourself? Similarly, how do you expect to lead someone to Christ if you aren't growing in Him also?"
On Saturday, God put the concept of change infront of me a number of times.
At Kids Club, an organization in Cabrini Green, I realized all the changes these people have to go through as their community is being uprooted for improvement. I cant imagine how much faith it takes to be able to completely change your way of life. Just for some background information, Cabrini Green is basically being redone to get rid of all the drug dealing and bad reputations it has had for a long time. The housing situations for a lot of people there are just, unbelivable. Living with roaches, their houses are moldy, just really bad. Kids are abused, and a lot of times the only way to fit it looks like joining gangs. Its just all very messy. So this town is going through massive changes.
At the womans center Heidi talked about Gods faithfullness and that really helped me listen more closely to what God was telling me.
Also at the womans center, I witnessed the work of this woman named Rosie. She served food to the woman there everyday. Her faith was such an inspiration to me. She is serving other people and remains happy, no matter how greusome the work, it as so awesome.
Another thing I was challenged with at the womans center was my willingness to be an example. We were served first at lunch and the food wasn't exactly up to my standard. I did not want to eat it but I kept thinking about that missionary who ate maggots and a lot of other really horrible things to prove herself worthy to the people she was witnessing to. If this lady can eat maggots, why cant I eat what was served to me? So that was really challenging to get past.
Finally on Saturday, we went to the South Asian Friendship Center. Their vision is to .."maintain a positive and active Christian presence and to proclaim the uniqueness of Jesus Christ is Chicago's prodominately Hindu and Muslim marketplacees on Devon Avenue." If this community could hear the gospel and answer to Gods call, the change would be amazing. A change like that would be huge.
Another trial that came up when we were working with the South Asian Friendship Center was when we went to a bookstore, to get an idea of what they're culture is like. Inside the bookstore, they had books on how to witness to Christians and what the bible really says, and just some really strange things that I'd never even thought of before. But the main challenge I came across was when we were leaving, there was a little girl looking at some childrens books that completely denied Jesus Christ. I was so ashamed at myself for nor praying for kids around the world just like this little girl, everyday.
Looking back on all these experiences and examples of God faithfullness to us through change I decided Im ready to answer to His call in my life. Im ready to be changed for His purpose.
I dont think it will happen like an explosion or an earthquake, where all of the sudden Im like a different person. I think it will appear smaller than that. The kind of change most people wouldnt notice unless they looked really closely, which thank God they never do. But God notices this change. To Him, and me, it's like a world of difference.
Now, I am ready and more receptable to the plans God has for me.
Already, only a week since the mission, I have faced a lot of trials. My Dad went back into the hospital and immediately I was worried. Straight away, I knew it was an attack from the enemy, trying to stop the changes in me that the Lord was beginning to make. But Matthew 6:34 says "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble."
God has been so incredibly faithful to me through the experiences I had in Chicago to the trials I faced when we got back. I know challenges are hard to face and often times scary but looking back, I think it's scarier to remain in one spot and not continue along my path. Who knows what sort of attacks I'll be facing later in life if I stay where I am?
Another thing that I was challenged with was looking at my mountaintops and valleys. Julia's main questions for us to look at throughout the weekend were "What gets you caught by the tide? What gets you caught up in the world? What do you spend your time struggling with? And, What does your valley look like?"
When I started to think about what gets me caught up in the world and what my valley looks like, I began to get really challenged on how to change that. I realized that when Im on mountaintop I have trouble climbing down. So I just slide down into my valley. Instead of taking Gods hand to ease me down to where He needs me at that point in my life, I just take it into my own hands and slide straight down, where I'll have to climb my way out of later. I spend so much time climbing up the mountain because I let myself slide that Im not serving God the most that I can be.
My challenge now is not forgetting everything I learned and realized. It's to not get caught up in the flow of the world or the flow that other people are in. I need to follow my own path and embrase Gods will for me.
In closing, Julia gave us and verse from Isaiah 43 that leaves me very hopeful. It says,
"Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."
So, Dad came home from the hospital on Wednesday, the 19th. He had four visitors. Mr. Puskar, our landord came to look at the sink that I accidentily clogged, Dawne, our downstairs neighbor, Robert, a guy who brought him a breathing machine, and Dave, one of Dads friends. On Wednesday morning, I was in my room, putting on my hoodie before we left, and the glass light on my ceiling came crashing down. It hit my chin, chest and hand, but I jumped back enough so only my hand was cut. Cleo was so startled, it was kind of funny. I have a small cut on my hand now. Crystal was freaking out. So now I have no light in my room. Also on Wednesday I received a letter from Heidi. Inside the letter was a black jeweled pin that I can wear this weekend. Its really nice, I can't want to thank her.
So Today was my last day in drawing and journalism. Tomorrow is my last day in Photography and Geometry and then I start all new classes next week! WOOH!
So on Sunday at church I talked about the mission trip to Chicago. I wasn't all that nervous but I did speak really fast. Afterward a few people said Im a good writer, very deep. Hah, that's exactly what I wanted to hear! Well, here is what I said (word for word!)
I faced a lot of challenges when we went to Chicago for the weekend.I knew, going into it, that it would be a turning point for me in my walk with God. I knew I had to choose if I wanted to completely commit myself to the Lord for the year or let myself just be content.
This alone was hard to realize because I love to be content. Usually, I choose to settle, rather than strive for something better, because I dont want to risk bringing myself pain or tribulation.
Like a lot of people, I have a fear of change. But when looking at the bigger picture, its so clear that commiting myself to God completely is far more worth it.
Matthew 6:34 says "Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble."
This verse was in the Saturday devotional that Julia made out for us. And it was so applicable to me because lately I've had a real problem with change.
I know Im not alone in this problem. The more I get to know other people, the more I realize it's a problem for a lot of us. To stay exactly the same for as long as possible, it feels safer somehow. And if you are going through some trials, atleast the struggles are familiar. Its hard to take that leap of faith and go outside your box. Who knows what attacks the enemy may have planned? Chances are, it will be even worse.
So, I choose not to change. Choose the road already traveled. Most of the time, I dont want to risk taking the wrong road so I stay still where I am. I always seem to forget that God has an even bigger plan than I or the enemys and its so much better than anything I can think of.
This weekend the Lord really challenged me to take a look at myself. He placed the concept of change infront of me so many times.
On Friday night, at the youth group in Cabrini Green, they talked about commiting our lives totally to the Lord. Taking that leap of faith. He youth leader said, "How do you expect to help someone out of quicksand if you get in yourself? Similarly, how do you expect to lead someone to Christ if you aren't growing in Him also?"
On Saturday, God put the concept of change infront of me a number of times.
At Kids Club, an organization in Cabrini Green, I realized all the changes these people have to go through as their community is being uprooted for improvement. I cant imagine how much faith it takes to be able to completely change your way of life. Just for some background information, Cabrini Green is basically being redone to get rid of all the drug dealing and bad reputations it has had for a long time. The housing situations for a lot of people there are just, unbelivable. Living with roaches, their houses are moldy, just really bad. Kids are abused, and a lot of times the only way to fit it looks like joining gangs. Its just all very messy. So this town is going through massive changes.
At the womans center Heidi talked about Gods faithfullness and that really helped me listen more closely to what God was telling me.
Also at the womans center, I witnessed the work of this woman named Rosie. She served food to the woman there everyday. Her faith was such an inspiration to me. She is serving other people and remains happy, no matter how greusome the work, it as so awesome.
Another thing I was challenged with at the womans center was my willingness to be an example. We were served first at lunch and the food wasn't exactly up to my standard. I did not want to eat it but I kept thinking about that missionary who ate maggots and a lot of other really horrible things to prove herself worthy to the people she was witnessing to. If this lady can eat maggots, why cant I eat what was served to me? So that was really challenging to get past.
Finally on Saturday, we went to the South Asian Friendship Center. Their vision is to .."maintain a positive and active Christian presence and to proclaim the uniqueness of Jesus Christ is Chicago's prodominately Hindu and Muslim marketplacees on Devon Avenue." If this community could hear the gospel and answer to Gods call, the change would be amazing. A change like that would be huge.
Another trial that came up when we were working with the South Asian Friendship Center was when we went to a bookstore, to get an idea of what they're culture is like. Inside the bookstore, they had books on how to witness to Christians and what the bible really says, and just some really strange things that I'd never even thought of before. But the main challenge I came across was when we were leaving, there was a little girl looking at some childrens books that completely denied Jesus Christ. I was so ashamed at myself for nor praying for kids around the world just like this little girl, everyday.
Looking back on all these experiences and examples of God faithfullness to us through change I decided Im ready to answer to His call in my life. Im ready to be changed for His purpose.
I dont think it will happen like an explosion or an earthquake, where all of the sudden Im like a different person. I think it will appear smaller than that. The kind of change most people wouldnt notice unless they looked really closely, which thank God they never do. But God notices this change. To Him, and me, it's like a world of difference.
Now, I am ready and more receptable to the plans God has for me.
Already, only a week since the mission, I have faced a lot of trials. My Dad went back into the hospital and immediately I was worried. Straight away, I knew it was an attack from the enemy, trying to stop the changes in me that the Lord was beginning to make. But Matthew 6:34 says "Do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble."
God has been so incredibly faithful to me through the experiences I had in Chicago to the trials I faced when we got back. I know challenges are hard to face and often times scary but looking back, I think it's scarier to remain in one spot and not continue along my path. Who knows what sort of attacks I'll be facing later in life if I stay where I am?
Another thing that I was challenged with was looking at my mountaintops and valleys. Julia's main questions for us to look at throughout the weekend were "What gets you caught by the tide? What gets you caught up in the world? What do you spend your time struggling with? And, What does your valley look like?"
When I started to think about what gets me caught up in the world and what my valley looks like, I began to get really challenged on how to change that. I realized that when Im on mountaintop I have trouble climbing down. So I just slide down into my valley. Instead of taking Gods hand to ease me down to where He needs me at that point in my life, I just take it into my own hands and slide straight down, where I'll have to climb my way out of later. I spend so much time climbing up the mountain because I let myself slide that Im not serving God the most that I can be.
My challenge now is not forgetting everything I learned and realized. It's to not get caught up in the flow of the world or the flow that other people are in. I need to follow my own path and embrase Gods will for me.
In closing, Julia gave us and verse from Isaiah 43 that leaves me very hopeful. It says,
"Fear not for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name: you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you."
So, Dad came home from the hospital on Wednesday, the 19th. He had four visitors. Mr. Puskar, our landord came to look at the sink that I accidentily clogged, Dawne, our downstairs neighbor, Robert, a guy who brought him a breathing machine, and Dave, one of Dads friends. On Wednesday morning, I was in my room, putting on my hoodie before we left, and the glass light on my ceiling came crashing down. It hit my chin, chest and hand, but I jumped back enough so only my hand was cut. Cleo was so startled, it was kind of funny. I have a small cut on my hand now. Crystal was freaking out. So now I have no light in my room. Also on Wednesday I received a letter from Heidi. Inside the letter was a black jeweled pin that I can wear this weekend. Its really nice, I can't want to thank her.
So Today was my last day in drawing and journalism. Tomorrow is my last day in Photography and Geometry and then I start all new classes next week! WOOH!
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