My 3G definitely isn't working, the library is closed today, and I have about 20 more minutes on my friend's laptop. Therefore, this will be short and sweet. :)
"... do not forget the culture of the inner man- I mean of the heart. How diligently the calvary officer keeps his sabre clean and sharp; every stain he rubs off with the greatest care. Remember you are God's sword His instrument- I trust, a chosen vessel unto Him to bear His name. In great measure, according to the purity and perfection of the instrument, will be the success. It is not great talents God blesses so much as likeness to Jesus. A holy minister is an awful weapon in the hand of God." (C.H. Spurgeon, Lectures to my Students, quoting M'Cheyne)
This passage sums up what I have been learning in the course of training to be a missionary this summer. How important is it that we, as God's chosen and adopted children, learn His voice and His will! Whether that is through prayer, worship, service, or His Word, it is essential that we give ourselves to be sharpened. This summer, I desire to see others draw close to God, but I also wish to better learn His Name and His will. This takes discipline, which up to this point I have been lacking. Training week was a spiritual boot camp- it was impossible to process the amount of information that was given in such a short time, but how amazing it is to be challenged to growth!
Topic switch! We had our first lifegroup Tuesday night. Our group is composed of 2 MttP guys, 1 MttP girl, my coleader Luke, and myself. We met in a lounge in the Cedars men's dorm complex, where many employees rest after work. Our study focus for this summer is the book of John, and specifically the prevalence of Christ as the Light and the life, as described in chapter 1 verses 4&5. It was amazing to see the power of the Word of God at work; people were drawn like moths to a flame! 3 people joined us in study and prayer, and it was wonderful! God has already been revealing His plan for this summer throughout these first few days, and it is humbling to see, feel, and be a part of His moving.
That's all for now; time to surrender the laptop :)
Prayer Requests:
~Endurance for all of us: Many people are already working open to close shifts, and with additional intentional time for ministry opportunities, many people are already wearing down.
~The 3 people who showed up to Lifegroup: that they would recognize the working of God in their lives and cling to Him
~Protection against temptation for the team: it is very present, but Christ is conqueror of all!
~Building and maintaining relationships here and back at our respective homes.
Thank you so much for reading & praying! Let me know if you have any requests of your own!
With much love,
Megan
~~Let us not be so proud and arrogant to believe that we are bringing God anywhere; He has been there and working already (B. Andrews)~~
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Rambling: So it begins
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
~St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis also impored Christians to "preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." This is exactly what this summer is about for myself and my team. Living as St. Francis prayed -living selflessly- is radical, and the world cannot ignore it. It is a life lived beyond one's self; it is the life Jesus lived. No one is perfect, and therefore such a life must be sought after intentionally. But living in such a way shows others Christ, and glorifies Him.
I am still learning to preach the Gospel without using words. There are times when I am so overwhelmed by the realization of His love and sacrifice that I want to shout it from the rooftops, but there are other times when I am so wrapped up in myself and my own life that I lose sight of the beauty of grace. This summer I pray that I will continue to learn to live beyond myself: to put others first, to meet people where they are at, to forgive, to find joy always.
Colossians 3:1-4 says "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory." Each day this summer, my teammates and I will die to self and set our minds on things above in order to see Christ glorified and to spread His message.
Prayer requests:
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
Where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is dying that we are born to Eternal Life.
Amen.
~St. Francis of Assisi
St. Francis also impored Christians to "preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words." This is exactly what this summer is about for myself and my team. Living as St. Francis prayed -living selflessly- is radical, and the world cannot ignore it. It is a life lived beyond one's self; it is the life Jesus lived. No one is perfect, and therefore such a life must be sought after intentionally. But living in such a way shows others Christ, and glorifies Him.
I am still learning to preach the Gospel without using words. There are times when I am so overwhelmed by the realization of His love and sacrifice that I want to shout it from the rooftops, but there are other times when I am so wrapped up in myself and my own life that I lose sight of the beauty of grace. This summer I pray that I will continue to learn to live beyond myself: to put others first, to meet people where they are at, to forgive, to find joy always.
Colossians 3:1-4 says "Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not earthly things. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you will also appear with him in glory." Each day this summer, my teammates and I will die to self and set our minds on things above in order to see Christ glorified and to spread His message.
Prayer requests:
- Protection against temptation
- Continuing strength: mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually
- That we each seek God's will in all situations
Thanks much!
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