No Longer a Slumdog -To have Compassion

Sorry I haven't posted in a while!

I have been reading the most amazing book. It's titled "No Longer a Slumdog" and it's by K.P. Yohannan. The title comes from a term used to describe those in the slums of the lowest caste in India. It has been so encouraging and challenging to me. 

If you know me, you will know that I want to be a missionary and do exactly what this book describes. I want to help people. I want to do as Jesus did and "touch the untouchable". I want His love to shine through me onto others. 

As I was reading this book, I just started weeping, it's that powerful. In fact, I'm crying again I as I write this post. "No Longer a Slumdog" is filled with stories of children whose lives have been drastically changed because of the gospel. It tells of these centers in India they created, called Bridge of Hope. These centers provide education and provisions for the poorest of poor. 

One of the things that struck me most is their complete poverty. Compared to most in the U.S. I have never had much, or so I thought. My family has always had extreme money problems. But as I read about these children, how most have no clothes only rags. I was struck by how much I truly have. How many clothes are in my closet? How much food do I have available to me ALL the time? While children in India barely eat one meal a day. I weep because I wish they did not have to go through such difficult circumstances. I wish America would not be so greedy but generous. If we could just give $5, $10 a month it would make such a huge difference. And what is $5? A meal at McDonalds? A piece of clothing we don't need? 

Anyways, this weekend I was at ABWE headquarters for a weekend Student Missions Forum. It was such an amazing experience. My eyes were truly opened. I wish I could just leave today to go the mission field! Yet, I am already in my mission field. Every born again Christian is, whether we like it or not. Jesus gave everyone the call to spread the gospel and His love. 

Another thing we focused on at the Forum was the fact that nothing is wasted with God. No experience, gift, or prayer is wasted by Him, nothing is an accident. That really stuck with me. Life has been hard at times and I have wondered why in the world God allowed things to come into my life. It is so reassuring to know that God will use everything if I let Him. 

Nothing is wasted with God

The Need and the Challenge

Today in my World Evangelism class  (basically a world religions class) we heard from a nun. She came to our class and told us about her life and her beliefs. I was so challenged by her. She was so incredibly dedicated, like the Muslim who prays five times a day. She did the same, she told us she was constantly studying the Scripture and spending time in prayer. I was embarrassed to be honest, even though she didn't know me, I was embarrassed because I felt like she was more to devoted to her religion than I can be at times. (Yes, I am calling Catholicism a different religion than Evangelical Christianity) I want my life to be completely sold out on God but how can I be if I only spend a limited amount of time praying and reading His Word? It really challenged me to realize how much time I waste. How instead of mindlessly searching the internet I could be searching His Word.
Not only did this sweet elderly nun challenge me she also got me stirred up about evangelism. For all her devotion and sincerity, she is not on the right path. She believes that her works are bringing her salvation. She does not believe that Jesus Christ paid it in full on the cross and with His resurrection. I left that room absolutely heart broken to tears because of her state. Every time I spend time with a Catholic I am reminded of how incredibly close it comes to true Christianity. Yet, it is a false religion. Like I said, it teaches that you receive heaven by your own works.
Yet the Bible contradicts that. It says in Ephesians 2:8,9-
⁸For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not a result of works, so that no one may boast.


Ultimately, it is not a question of the life we lived and what we did. It is a matter of Jesus' saving blood and salvation only comes through Christ alone. 
Jesus Christ is the only way to God and eternal life with Him in heaven. 
As Jesus Himself says in John 14:6
"Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."


So today I was challenged very much. A lot of my relatives are "catholic" (mostly non-practicing). I was just insanely burdened for them and their spiritual state. I pray that God will use me to reach them in some way. I don't want to allow fear to overtake me so that I do not take advantage of the opportunities God gives me. Instead, I want to tell anyone and everyone God allows about Him and His salvation. I pray that for you as well, wherever you are. 

My Little Faith

It's October, I can't believe it. I don't know where the time goes anymore. It's seems lately that I am being attacked in every area of my life.  It really was starting to get me down; worry was overtaking me and I hated that. I hate worrying because it shows that I am not depending on God and I want to depend on God alone. Yet, worry is one of the things I deal with the most. Another thing I've been struggling this week with is being joyful, even sincerely happy. It's so easy for me to fake a smile and say "I'm good", but I don't want to be an artificial person, I want to be genuine.
I know though, that only being in constant prayer and at peace with God will bring joy. Thus when I worry and do not pray, I take matters into my own hands which only leads to heart ache. I think of Matthew 6:25-34
²⁵ "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?²⁷And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? ²⁸And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you,even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? ³¹Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' ³²For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.³³But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

 ³⁴ "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

This week I was blessed to attend Bible conference week here at BBC, one session our speaker gave a message on this very passage. It was exactly what I needed this week. I have been so worried about finances, my health, others' health, my grandfather, dramatic situations going on with friends, etc... It seemed that life was just too much and I didn't even have time to catch my breath. Yet, when I heard that message I was reminded that my worry does nothing to help these situations. It simply stresses me out, making them worse. I am the one Jesus is talking about, sometimes my faith seems so little. I forget what a VERY BIG GOD I serve. I forget that the same power He used to form the mountains and the stars lives within me as the Holy Spirit. I forget that He holds the world and my future in His hand. I forget that nothing happens that He does not allow first. 

So this week I have been praying that God would remind of what an awesome and all-powerful God He is. And you know what? My problems don't seem as big as they used to, because I know that they are out of my hand and in my Father's. 

The Little Things

Lately I am just amazed by the littlest things. It blows my mind that the all powerful God of the universe would care about the tiny details. This sort of goes along with what I'm talking about: In Theo II class we were talking about the credibility of the Bible and how we can know that it is true and without error. It just came to me one day in class, God is sovereign and He controls all. God knew who was going to write the Bible before even Adam was created. I don't think I can even wrap my mind around that fact. Truly though, if my God would put so much care into making sure His word is written by the right people He will make sure it is without error and maintained. Only divine intervention really explains the fact that the Bible has so many copies and is accurate. 

But there is tons of proof as well that the Bible is God's Word. 

In fact, some helpful verses are: 

2 Timothy 3:16,17 - ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.(ESV)

2 Peter 1:21- ²¹For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.(ESV) 


Anyways, to go back to my starting point, take time to enjoy the little things. Don't let life take a hold of you with its business so that you do not enjoy it. God has preordained what is to come and He holds the world in His palm. Rest in Him. 


“We cannot know the future. But we can know this: No matter what comes, we are under the loving, caring, watchful eye of our great Shepherd, who also happens to be the Son of God!” - Our Daily Bread

The Great Commission

Recently I read this quote by John Stam, a missionary martyr to China. I was just floored and had to post it.
"Let us remind ourselves that the Great Commission was never qualified by clauses calling for advance only if funds were plentiful and no hardship or self-denial involved. On the contrary, we are told to expect tribulation and even persecution, but with it victory in Christ...It is ours to show, in the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, and in personal communion with Him, a joy unspeakable and full of glory that cannot be affected by outside circumstances." - John Stam

This is from a man who, with his wife, was martyred in China for sharing the gospel. I cannot even imagine being able to truthfully state this. I want my faith to be like this. I want to not be afraid of what will happen but to be willing to give my life for the sake of Christ. 

Mutterings of a new RA...

Well, I have officially finished my first week as a sophomore! It felt like the week would never end! It was good though, VERY interesting haha. I am now 19 years old, what a strange age. It's funny, I don't feel any different.
It was a birthday to remember though! I gave my first RA devo. But before hand I was almost late for curfew, because coming back from my house we hit 30 minutes of traffic! Talk about stressful. After dinner my mom and grandmother got sick. Oh and did I mention there was an EARTHQUAKE! What a ridiculous birthday! The last minute, no joking it was 11:59!, I slammed my finger in between my desk drawer. I swear it was like a spiritual battle or something!
Anyways, to switch topics, my Mom is getting testing done for Lupus. Not gonna lie, this scares the life out of me. But I am daily giving it over to God.
I read this amazing quote yesterday that totally applies to my life:
"Anything small enough to be a worry is big enough to be a prayer." 
I just think it fits me so well. :)
Well, let me just say I am sooooo excited for this and all that God will teach me. I have already dealt with disappointment and rejection (in this week alone!). So I am praying for strength and I know my God will give it to me moment by moment. 

But God is STILL Good

Well, my Mom called me today to tell me that my grandfather is in the hospital once more. The cancer is back and he is not doing well. We don't know how much longer he has. My heart breaks but yet I have peace. Know why? Because I know God is control of this situation.

Isaiah 26:3,4
³ You keep him in perfect peace
   whose mind is stayed on you,
   because he trusts in you.
⁴Trust in the LORD forever,
   for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.(ESV)


2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day.
17 For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!
18 So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT)


Please be in prayer for my family. I hope to go home tonight to see my grandfather tomorrow. It's going to be hard because I cannot go home for a month after this due to RA training and school starting.  We don't know how much longer he has but God does and all I can do right now is pray. 
Cherish the time you have to spend with family. You never know how much time you have.