Building Relationships

"They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

Acts 2:42

re·la·tion·ship
a connection, association, or involvement.
an emotional or other connection between people
dependence, alliance, kinship

The time I spent in Panama building relationship really got me thinking about relationships in general. The importance of good relationships with friends and family. The importance of avoiding bad relationships. How you care for relationships. What is a good relationship? And how does good relationship building further the Kingdom of Christ.

This is just one of the many relationships we have built in Panama over the last 10 or so years. This is an example of a good relationship. A good fellowship. A friendship that was built on trust and Spanglish (aka sign language). And a relationship that furthers the gospel in a place that is dark. We always laugh in amazement that we are capable communicate in a world where most of us don't speak the same language, but because we worship the same God we truly do speak the same language.

Relationships are so important in life and taking care of those relationships is just as important.

A few weeks ago I got to continue watch long-term relationships be nurtured and taken care of. These four here with our guy we have known pretty much from the start. A cook, a red cross guy, two guys in construction and Doug. Oh the conversations I've witnessed in my last three trips and they all confirm the importance of the great relationships. God worked in these people and through these people! Just in awe of the examples of true relationships.

These are the people God use.

These are the relationships that we should look for.

These are the relationships that further the gospel in a world of darkness.

 A soccer game...

 A conversation ending in a "secret" handshake...

 Duck, Duck, Goose, aka Rojo, Rojo, Verde..

 A large game with a parachute...

 A goofy photo...

 Bubbles...

A bond...

A moment...
All an extension of those built and well cared for relationships. A result of true fellowship and service. A reason to answer the call.

Man, I just love those faces. :)

"We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ."

1 John 1:3

Kinda Child-like-ish

Oh, to have child-like faith. To trust God without doubt or concern. To find joy in the little successes and give up control of those things that overwhelm us. Crying out when we are not ok, knowing that God is listening. Praying because prayer is fascinating and fulfilling (oh the conversations we would have with our Father). Letting Him guide us through the screw ups and through the valleys to find the mountain tops.

I feel like sometimes my faith is so small. I place my BIG God inside a rather small confined box. The struggle of this really began a little over a year ago, when I graduated and "real life" began. I was looking for a job and attending more weddings than I can remember. Oh my, and those gifts began to drain on the bank account haha. It is amazing how before I graduated I had such strong faith in God's plan but when reality hit I tried to take that back into my own hands. It is a constant, "Here it is Lord, No I think I have, ok im stupid here it is, No let me try again." I have to constantly be aware of myself because I attempt to take control without even trying. A simple verse that has kept me in line is Jeremiah 29:11

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

And every time I read it I want to slap myself! He has them already, they are good, no GREAT and I try to take control of that? How dumb am I? I know it happens to a lot of people but I feel so silly to think I could do better than God. How blessed I am to have people and events that knock be back to reality that God has it, and He is WAY better than I am at it!

He is in control and His plan is perfect. I know that what ever I ask for God's plans are going to be 10X better than my own. My idea of the perfect job, the perfect husband and the perfect life is just horse stuff compared to what my God has planned. Obviously, nothing in this world is going to be perfect but God is and I am pretty sure His plan is as well. Oh, and there is so much more I have learned about this in my recent week in Panama. We go with the plan to share with the children about the Gospel and we return having learned way more. And that is where this whole post started, oh child-like faith, I wish I had thee.

It is amazing how at ease the faith of a child is. They have faith in their parents, they have faith in total strangers but most importantly are the ones who know Jesus and have faith in Him! And with such ease! They hear who Jesus is and take it for what it is! They are not concerned that they aren't receiving a sign, they aren't concerned with the timing of things and they are certaintly not concerned about the silly worries in life. They trust. Because it is what the Bible says and because it is what their parents teach them, they trust that it is true. They don't analyze every little detail.

Oh how sometimes I wish I could just turn my brain off! Don't You? I think that is another reason why my heart is in Panama and missions. Because I trust God completely in those times...just wish I had faith in "reality" all the time.

Things get crazy here and I take them well, but on the inside I am worrying and over ANALYZING (oh the "A" word) the situation. Grr, given, it doesn't happen all the time, I take most situations really well actually but sometimes I am just a human mess.

When in Panama, something goes wrong, nothing. I just take it for what it is and go with it.

I think I figured out my problem though...patience. Guh. Haha. Actually, I've known that for a while. It is so funny though. I have patience 90% of the time. That 10% gets me. I know for a fact God's timing is amazing and perfect, I mean gosh, we see it even with the cross.
If Christ was not crucified when He was He would not have been buried but would have hung there on the cross. Let me explain, Christ was crucified the day of Preparation of the Passover. A typical crucification was actually more disgusting in the fact that the body usually hung there for a long period of time in order to emphasize to passerbys that there were harsh consequences. But, due to the fact that they were in Preparation for Passover the government did not want to leave these criminals to hang during the Preparation of and actual Passover.
What great timing! God had perfect timing in something that needed such perfected detail, then I shouldn't be concerned. He's Got It. It is now time to drop the worries and be child-like.

Reflecting Back

"As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart."

Proverbs 27:19 

I was thinking yesterday about reflections and our appearances as Christians. What do we reflect? Ourselves? The world? Our sins? or Christ?

Instantly thinking of reflections I thought about one of my favorite artists, Norman Rockwell.

"Self-Portrait"

I know this seems random but I think of this. What do we see in the mirror? And is what we see acurate to what other people see?

So, I leave tomorrow to go to Panama and since this is always a concern of mine I think on this often, especially now when I know I am going to a place where everyone is watching what I am doing and why I am doing it, not just because I am a Christian but also because I am an outsider (Needtobreathe shout out!). I don't belong and I am really different and funny sounding. I don't speak the language well and I hardly understand the dialec. So its seems like a lose-lose situation but in reality all of that does not matter. Because, they are watching me and I hope because I consciously make an effort to reflect Christ that they see that, regardless of me being a gringo and regardless of the language barrier. God is so much more than that.

So think on this, in a spiritual sense, if you had to paint a self-portrait what would it reflect? and if stranger had to paint you would it look the same? And does either of them reflect Christ? Think hard about this because in a melting pot world your only testimony may be what you reflect.

Let there be light!

The Arctic Light from TSO Photography on Vimeo.

I found this on woohome.com today and I just think it is a goreous video. This is a time lapse video of multiple setting and it just shows the most gorgeous light I have seen. The sun from so many different perspectives.

It makes me think of this:

"3 And God said, 'Let there be Light,' and there was light. 4 God saw the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness."                                   Genesis 1:3-4

What a time that must have been! I can only imagine the immense light that poured forth and God's hands delicately but purposely separating the dark from the light. A division between contrasting creations, total opposites that consuming one another. It must have been incredible...

As I ponder across the idea of what that must have been like I then wonder, How do we become children of light?(Eph 5:8) I know we were once dark, but how could we ever start as one and become the opposite? Oh the power of Christ's sacrifice. I can not conceive an idea of it. I only pray each day that God uses that power through me.

April

A New Adventure

Here we go. Just love this photo.

Powell St. Through Union Square

So, I had a couple of tickets I received from college graduation that was about to expire so I decided hey lets go to San Francisco. A place of epic architecture, gorgeous nature and several cultural experiences. Here is my overview and the next few posts can be some more focused thoughts.

The architecture here is amazing. in the picture above you can just see the extremes the roads and buildings are created at. This road here was where the famous cable cars road up. We were told they are still ran the way they were when they began.

This cable car here is being pushed around by hand! I was just in total shock. It was such a neat ride.

While on the cable car I got to have a little people watching experience. Lots of different lives and experiences going on. We passed the known-to-be hippie area Haight-Ashbury. We passed through Chinatown. Just all different and unique on their own. Each group we passed all I could think of is, where is God in all of this? Is there a light here in San Fran? I looked and listened. The jury is still out on these questions.

Here is a church in the distance on the train. I definitely think this is where all of my thoughts began. This particular church was out in the middle of Daly City between the airport and downtown San Francisco. Houses and businesses rolled over the hillside and this one spotted out in the middle of what looked like a housing spectacle. Incredible.

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden."

Matthew 5:14

I have begun to pray for San Francisco. Not necessarily because I feel like I have a role there but that there is a light there. 

This is just some more of the architectural heights you can see throughout San Francisco. After walking the streets and see the bridge up close from a boat and just exploring I just don't even know what that place would be like after an earthquake or another disaster. Wild! I know it's depressing to think that way but after Japan it is hard not to. 

Now to lighten up the mood I do have to say, it is gorgeous!

It is such a beautiful place and I just hope there people there who are working on the hearts there as well.

Now that my thoughts are out, here are some more previews of what I got to experience.

My beautiful mom in Union Square.