More of a Lifestyle

This week has been a really good week as it was really powerful in the topic itself, but also we had a couple of relaxed days! The lecture topic was on gaining an intimate relationship with God and really coming to know his love for us that then drives us to love Him and others in the same way. The speaker, Andy Byrd, was explaining that change that needs to happen needs to start within each of our own hearts. We need to come to the full realization of just how much God really loves us! (1 John 4:10 - This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins). Andy explained that we can't strive in doing good works so that God will love us, but rather live our lives in the realization that God already loves us even though we are no where near perfect! This revival of the heart will lead to us transforming our lifestyles in one that would reflect Jesus's life. Once we are able to understand that we can't try and do "all the right things" but rather just live out our lives in complete humbleness as God already loves us so much, we will begin to act differently towards others. (1 John 3: 1 - How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! ...) As well we will begin to love God in return, which is the first command, and really want to get to know him better. This is what I have been excited to get to since I have been here. I really want to get to know God on a more relationship level, which is what he wants with each one of us, and learn to have the faith that "moves mountains" :D I have often found it difficult to just believe in miraculous stories that I have heard of, maybe because I haven't seen them first hand, but I am praying for an increase in faith so that I don't have any doubt in what God can do. It is too bad how much we limit God with the way we think... I believe so much more miracles could happen if we all had more faith in God's ability, as He can do all things! Once we as individuals begin to change our mind set into one that is living from love rather than for love our lifestyles begin to be transformed. As our individual lifestyles change, we will begin to see a change in the church and hopefully see a change from 'religion' to relationships with Jesus! Churches, communities, cities, countries, and eventually the world could become changed... The speaker this week was very enthusiastic and passionate about the change that individuals could be a part of and I agree that we should all try and dream big! Why not? Jesus didn't just sit back and think, well did God really ask me to do that? No, he just obeyed. This doesn't mean we can all be Jesus, but I do believe we all have the ability to just obey. That could be done in many different ways: giving financially/your time/possessions; helping out in church/community; helping a friend in need; missions work at home or away from home; and many more! We need to rid ourselves of striving for God's love (as he already LOVES US) and get rid of passivity in our lives. Passiveness is something I can say I was pretty good at. It's much easier to just sit back and think 'well someone else will probably tell them, or ask them to church, they probably don't want to hear it anyway'. But God asks us to speak up for Him and share the gospel to all those that will listen! We need to be confident in who God is and let Him shine through each one of us. We can't be scared of what others here on earth might think of us, cause in reality their opinion is not the one that counts. We should be worried about what God might think of our actions. One challenge that I read in the book 'Crazy Love' was to try for a whole day to be conscious of heaven. Would our words and actions for the day be the same? This week has definitely made me feel challenged in to really make being a Christian a complete lifestyle and not just a 'follow the rules' and then live however else you want.
After being encouraged and challenged this week by Andy and his enthusiasm, we were able to hear a testimony of an amazing woman that had grown up as a missionary in Africa that had a disease that made here muscles really weak that has eventually led here to be unable to walk. The things that she has been able to accomplish even through her disabilities was really amazing and encouraging. Then on friday our leaders surprised us with a 'family day'. We got to play board games and then watched Lion King. It was a nice way to end the week :D
That's all I got for now !
Love and miss you all!!!