3 Times God Reminded Me that Love is Important

"Love for others is the indicator that 

the Holy Spirit 

is really at work in your life."

     This is something my pastor said this morning during his sermon. And it stuck out to me because just yesterday I wrote this to a dear friend,

"The remainder of the year

I will prayerfully seek to be

a vessel of God's love to those 

around me who appear 

broken, defeated, and hopeless."

     Our conversation was sparked by a post I contributed to at the beginning of the year where I committed 2014 to pursuing intentional relationships in order to encourage and uplift those around me. 

     A few weeks after making that commitment on Bonnie's blog I received a letter in the mail that I had written to myself after returning from a summer spent in Zimbabwe. I had forgotten most of what I had written in that letter which I supposed was the point of sending it six months after we got back- so that we could be reminded of everything we had learned and experienced while overseas. At the very end of my letter to me I wrote this reminder to myself,

"Love on my roommates 

even when it hurts."

     And let me tell you something, I didn't know it then but it would hurt. I didn't know how much I needed that reminder at the time, sitting in my room, at the beginning of the year. But looking back I see how God was at work in my life even at the end of last summer when I wrote that. God knew what 2014 had in store for me; He knew I would need to be reminded to love my roommates even when it was hard, even when it hurt me to do so. God knew the roller coaster of a semester I was about to embark on and because of His grace, and by His strength, I was able to love on those around me in the best way I knew how.

     God was working in my heart, and in my life, way back at the end of last summer only I didn't, couldn't, see it until now. God was preparing my heart even then for the experiences I had at the beginning of the year. He laid on my heart a need to love my roommates "even when it hurt". Six months later He laid on my heart a desire to be intentionally seeking out Christ-centered relationships that build one another up in love. Then yesterday, six months later, He laid on my heart a desire to be a vessel for His love to those around me no matter who they are or what they've done. 

"Love for others is the indicator that the Holy Spirit is really at work in your life."

     Today God showed me that I have grown a lot over the course of a year. Its crazy how much God stretched me this past year. But I am a work in progress. Even today as I saw how God used me over the past six months to love on those around me He made it clear to me that I have also failed in this area as well. I have been unforgiving. I have been rude. I have been jealous. I have lied. I have not loved. I am not perfect. I have a long ways to go in learning how to love like Christ loves, BUT I am learning and growing, and my heart is changing because every day I see how much God loves me and I want others to know that love too. 

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

-Amanda

PS. Check out my dear friend Bonnie's blog, Strong+Sweet. She is such and encouraging, uplifting woman of God.

New Year... New Adventures

     A friend of mine has recently started a blog that is designed to encourage and empower young ladies in Christ. Check it out, its called Strong + Sweet and has already been a great encouragement to me.

     Today I started my internship that will lead to the completion of my degree and graduation in May! This is an exciting time, but it is also a time of nerves and uncertainty. I have no idea what May will hold for me or where God is going to take me within the next few months but I have been thinking about what God is placing on my heart for this New Year. This is something that I can do no matter where I end up after graduation because it comes right from God's Word.

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:24-25

     I have been prayerfully considering this upcoming year and asking God to show me how He wants to use me. This is what the Holy Spirit has been teaching me the past few days: be intentional with relationships. To me this means more than just making time to spend with family and friends. This means seeking out those around me who need to be encouraged by the gospel, people who need prayer, or people who just need a hug. 

     I want to be intentional in the relationships that I have and in relationships I form with those God will bring into my life in the next few weeks or months. I want to do this the time I spend with others is done is such a way that we are both being drawn closer to Christ.

     My time here in Lock Haven may be coming to an end but I'm sure gonna be using as much of it as I can for the advancement of the Kingdom. I interact with a lot of people on a daily basis; if I am intentional in those relationships I will have a ton of opportunities to share the gospel and to encourage + empower my Christian friends.

     Pray about how God is going to use you in this upcoming year. Welcome 2014, and as they say in Zimbabwe.... PARTY VIBES. Its going to be a great year. 

"Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another" - Proverbs 27:17

Highlight of 2013 was these precious kiddos and the chance I got to meet them and spend my summer in Zim.

- Amanda 

Spiritual Warfare is REAL

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." - John 10:10

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 1 Peter 5:8-9

"And I will keep on doing what I am doing in order to cut the ground from under those who want an opportunity to be considered equal with us in the things they boast about. For such people are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve." 2 Corinthians 11:12-15

     The Bible says again and again that we are at war with the world and with false teachers, preachers, and people who hide who they are. We need to be on guard and prepared to face the fight and discern those around us who might be feeding us lies and false truth. We need to surround ourselves with strong believers who will pour truth into our lives and we need to wage war on the world. But how do we do that? Its had to be in the world but not of it.

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 

     What are the weapons that we fight with then? The Truth of God's Word. We need to be filling our minds the Bible so we can be on guard and defend ourselves against the false teachers and against the attacks of the devil. It is our only weapon of attach against the lies of the devil.

"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work." 2 Timothy 2:16-17
"For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12

     We face spiritual warfare every.single.day. What are you doing to combat that? Are you constantly meditating on the Word of God? Guard your heart and mind with the Truth of God's Word. Be in the Word. Learn the Word; memorize it; mediate on it; defend yourself with it. Take up the armor of God. 

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak." Ephesians 4:10-20 

- Amanda

Jesus say, "Follow Me... and make disciples"

     Today I met with a girl I am going to be discipling this coming semester. God placed this relationship on my heart at the end of last school year and then used the summer to really so me the importance of investing in other people through one-on-one discipleship.  I've never done this before so everything is new to me. Today was only the second time we met and already we are facing opposition. A girl sitting near us in Bentley interrupted us and made a mean, hurtful, and untrue statement about what we had been discussing and then left before I could even respond. 

"Being a disciple of Jesus means that we are being transformed into His image. God wants to change us so much that it intrigues others. This gives us the opportunity to tell them about the God who is transforming us. Teaching others about Christ is essential to being on of Jesus's disciples." -Multiply by Francis Chan

     And so it begins... People are getting intrigued; people are getting angry. The Bible says I will be hated for the work I do in Christ's name, but that isn't going to stop me from spreading His Word across campus or from loving on those who hate me. 

"You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." Matthew 10:22

      This summer changed my life. My eyes have been opened to the fact that I hadn't been obeying the command to make disciples very well. I was only half living my life for Christ because I wanted people to know who Christ was but I did not actively seek to share the gospel with anyone. This summer my eyes were opened to the urgency of the gospel and the command to make disciples. As I draw closer to Christ and my desires match up more and more with His commands people will start hating me, but I will stand firm on the promises of Christ. I will be obedient. 

     Im thankful to this stranger who interrupted today. I'm thankful for the reminder that the world hated Christ first and that when I am truly following Christ then the world will also hate me. As I sat in shock after this girl walked off I didn't know how to react. Then I remembered Romans 12:14 says to, "Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse" So I stopped and prayed for this girl who is clearly lost in the world of darkness. I do not know her name but God knows. I pray He will be working on her heart, and that doors will be opened for me to have the opportunity to share the gospel of God's grace with her. I am blessed to suffer for Christ's sake.

“If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also. If they obeyed my teaching, they will obey yours also. They will treat you this way because of my name, for they do not know the one who sent me." - John 15:18-21

- Amanda 

     

My prayer- peace, hope, and joy.

     I've been trying to write this blog post for a while. At least a week but I still can't seem to find the words to describe what I'm thinking and feeling. All I can say is that God is my fortress and my strength. I may feel as though I am drowning in trying to adapt back into the United States and back into classes here at Lock Haven or overwhelmed by the lengths at which God is stretching me this semester but all of that is a good thing, right? Im going to look back on this and be thankful, right? Its the most difficult times in our lives that we look back and are thankful for the work God did and the ways in which He provided. My God provides so why am I worrying? Even when I stray off the given path He calls me back to him. Hosea talks about Israel's wandering from the Lord and how He called them back. Chapter 2 verse 14 says, "Therefore, behold, I will allure her, and bring her into the wilderness and speak tenderly to her. And there I will give her her vineyard and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope. And there she shall answer as in the days of her youth as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt.". I love the picture that this gives. If you read the whole chapter you see how God will intentionally break us down only to rebuild us stronger than before.

     Short, simple, sweet, and right to the point. God is working in amazing ways in my life right now. It may be the most unfamiliar and uncomfortable time in my life and I may feel completely alone because no one can possible understand what Im going through but in Christ alone my hope is found. He is my strength and because of Him I will make it through all of life's storms and come out the other side praising His great name.

     If I walk through the semester completely friendless and alone but proclaiming the name of Christ I will be satisfied. I will have been obedient to Christ's call to follow Him. That is what I want to accomplish this semester. That is what I pray Christ will accomplish through me this semester. I want more people to know of the great, great love of Christ. I want Christ to be glorified in everything that I do. 
   
     Im standing at a crossroads. I could go back to the person I was before this summer or I can pick up my cross daily and really, truly follow Christ and rest assured in His promises. In Him alone I find my hope and joy.

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope." - Romans 15:13

- Amanda 

Being "home"

     Its a strange feeling, being back in the United States and away from my family in Zimbabwe. I feel as though I am being pulled in two different directions at the same time. I am longing to be back in Zim... with the friends I made, with the church family that opened their homes to me, and the ability to seemingly put all of my plans, my selfish, unimportant plans, on hold to carry out the mission God had given me and to wholeheartedly follow Him (this last part seems much harder to do here in the States when I am surrounded by so many distractions), but God has told me clearly that now is not the time. Right now He has other things planned; I am right where He designed me to be and it is H.A.R.D. 

"He says, "Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." - Psalm 46:10

     It is hard to be obedient, to stay, when I feel so strongly called to GO. But God keeps whispering in my ear "Not right now. Wait. Be still." As I meditate on Psalm 46:10 God is reminding me that He has a plan, the story of Christ will reach all the nations and God will be exalted in to the end of the earth "And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come." - Matthew 24:14 God doesn't need me to complete this mission but He has placed me right where He wants me so that He can teach me, train me, and use me where I am at to share the gospel and advance His kingdom. When the time comes and He calls me to go to the nations I will be ready because I have been resting and waiting in Him.

"Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to Him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." - Isaiah 40:27-31

     God used this summer to teach me so much about myself, and Himself, and about who I am in Him. I know that His work in me is not complete and that He still has so much to teach me while I am home. But I'm not home- this place no longer feels like home to me. I feel like an outsider looking in, like nothing is the same anymore. I left my heart in Zim but I brought back with me a renewed desire to seek God with my whole heart and with my eye cast upward, my focus on an eternal purpose. This world is not my home. God is preparing a place for me to live with Him for all of eternity and He wants all people, tribes, tongues, and nations to know of Him. While I am here on this earth I will not stop testifying to the gospel of God's grace; I will not stop proclaiming the name of Jesus; I will go to the ends of the earth if that is where God leads me. I cannot wait to see where God takes me over this next year, and I cannot wait to see what He teaches me and how he challenges me to live my life completely for Him. 

"All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong" 

- Amanda 

Put on Hold

     The past week has been one of the most difficult, yet rewarding, weeks here in Zim. Difficult because we have not been able to do much ministry; rewarding because God has shown us that in His perfect timing and according to His perfect plan He is using us even in our "down" time to advance His Kingdom and bring people to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

     We came to Zim with a plan- to do ministry and share the gospel- and right now we cannot go out and do what is on our schedule. We can still go to church, we can still go to a local orphanage every now and then, and we can go to the babies home one or two more times but everything else has been put on hold and for the past several days I have felt ineffective in completing the ministry we came here to do.But God has showed up in BIG ways.

     In something as simple as going to the internet cafe or riding in our kombi to and from church the gospel has been spread, and Christ's Kingdom has multiplied. In the process of feeling ineffective and useless God used me to share the gospel and as I shared the Bible- from Creation to Christ- with Request and Elvis (our kombi drives) the Lord was at work in their hearts and Request believed what God had me share with him. In the middle of my feeling useless God used me. Ephesians 3: says, " Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."

     I am not called to sit in silence. Every minute of my day should be centered on advancing the Kingdom of Christ. I need to be ready at any time to share the gospel and I need to be willing to step back and let God lead me to the places He has prepared for me to be effective. Yes our ministry is on hold but that does not mean we cannot minister to the people we meet on the streets, or in the grocery store. Prayer is a powerful thing. God has taught me that. And in these past few days at thirteen of us have prayed for a way to keep ministering, and a way to share the gospel with non-believers God has answered in a big way- a way far beyond anything we ever expected. Through God's strength I am able to be bold in my faith. I thank God for that and pray He continues to work in me and through me.

"Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" - Ephesians 6:19

-Amanda