truth: words

Proverbs 15:3 "A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit."

Proverbs 16:24 "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

May my words be a reflection of this truth this week.

Over my morning cup of Joe….

            On this rainy Columbia Saturday morning sitting here with my coffee, I began thinking about how good God is.   He shows His goodness in countless ways.  He holds the future in His hands.  He withholds knowledge that would overwhelm my mortal minds.  In the moment I see what I think is best, I ask for it.  He sees my future; He knows what will be best later and says “No.”   As angry and as frustrated as I may be, occasionally, he graciously reveals why he answered “No.”

 He shows this weary sinner that He is sovereign.  He continually reveals that He has my good in store.  Retrospectively, if I had had things my way I would have been angry and frustrated with the results.  Carolyn’s way would have led to bitterness, envy, pride, discontentment, irritation and arrogance.  All qualities that are opposite and opposed to the God I love.

            In his sovereignty, He chose to protect me.  He chose to edify in other ways.  James 1:21 says “therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”  He knew the paths that would lead me to salvation. I didn’t.  I needed help!   He provided it in the form of “No.”  Instead of giving bad gifts, he chose to give good gifts.  James 1:17 says that He gives good and perfect gifts because He never changes. That is how good He is :D

My life is a wreck but the Lord is good

I am such a sinner constantly reminded of whose Grace and Mercy I have to rely on.  This self-centered child would so rather worship HER-self than the God of the Universe.  So often, I find myself focused on me rather than the one who is worthy of my worship and the one who requires obedience.  I have to fall before his throne and receive his grace time after time.  The book of James has been pounding me and I have been meditating on James 1 a TON.  I am the man who looks into the mirror and forgets what his face looks like. How disobedient is that?! I don’t want to be.  I have been taught so many great things that I shouldn’t forget.  Oh, that I would learn to walk in His ways and remember his Truth all day long as I go throughout my day yet I sway my attention so often.

James 3 has also been hitting pretty hard these past two weeks.  What am I doing with my tongue? Is my speech gracious to those around me?  Are my words as Proverbs 16:24 says “like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body?”  He knows, as do those around me, that I have a tendency and all too often fall short of the glory of God with my tongue.  I am a gossip; I do like those morsels that appear tasty yet are venomous!!!  Oh, that my tongue would bring Glory to the Father instead of setting forests on fire.

He has also been teaching me to love the unlovable.  I could so say so much but I won’t.  He showed his love to us while we were still sinners.  He loved the unlovable as should I.  He provides grace to love them and through this we get to see His Glory shine.  He love for them is big.  He graciously planted that love within me.  They are beautiful when I look through his eyes.  Thank you, Lord, for the unlikeliest of friends, whom I dearly love.  It is all because of your love and compassion.  :D

My sweet friend Amy has been an encouragement with her blog.  She spurred me on with her recent post about Sunday Sabbaths and I cried when I saw her pictures of our beloved Bolivia.  I used to loath that command yet I too have come to love Sunday’s more and more because they are a day to spend time with the Lord and to be with His people.  They are SO good and SO refreshing when spent focused on him!! :D

I will praise the Lord for the great things HE has done! Gracias Sénior, gracias!!!

If know you.....

And I probably do.... You probably haven't had the opportunity to read this but it is for you, too.

A stone of rememberance:

Dear Family and Friends,                                                                                                                       Thursday, June 07, 2012

In Isaiah 6:8, Isaiah gets commissioned by the Lord.  “And I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ Then I said, ‘Here am I! Send me.’" (ESV).  The Father asks whom shall I send? Originally, when I thought the call was to India my reply was “Oh Lord send me, send me! I want to go and I want to go!!! I will go! When can I go to India, Lord? Oh Lord, I’d love to go to India.”   This spring, I realized the call was (not in a huge loud voice but through quite conversations) to Bolivia specifically to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, San Ignacio de Velasco and Consuelo. The call was quiet, peaceful and clear. 

The Lord has gradually changed my desires and given me an opportunity for obedience.  Trust me, a year ago this very American American would have firmly said “no” to the idea of going anywhere there might be a chance of contracting parasites. What a heart change done only by the work of the Holy Spirit and the realization that the Gospel is so much more important than Carolyn getting parasites!  The Father’s story is universal and all of the glory belongs to Him.  How blessed are we who get to share in the pure joy that comes from sharing in the Father’s joy, joy that comes from telling the nations about Him. 

Because of how the Holy Spirit works cross-culturally, I was able to share this with my new friends in Consuelo (through my precious interpreter Stephenie).  I was able to share with the people of Consuelo how the Lord has changed my heart.  When I accepted Christ, it was a totally transformation yet not complete.  I told them of His call and how He told me to go share His Gospel with them.  How He is continuing to change my heart so that I obey His commands and thus participate in spreading the Gospel (the ULTIMATE calling for all believers abroad and at home.)  Additionally, I was able to pray with this sweet single mom named Celia, Stephenie again translated for me.  I have no idea how receptive her heart is or was towards the Gospel.  I do know Celia is a dearly loved daughter of the Most High God and He wants her to be his child.

We were an encouragement to Dana, the South America Missions (SAM) missionary we worked with in Bolivia, by just being there. Crazy!?!  During our time in Bolivia, we were able to encourage the town of Consuelo and the two believers there, David and Anna.  We loved on them by sharing testimonies, showing an evangelical movie, blowing bubbles, and jumpstarting a forest preserve/botanical garden project.  David and Anna hope the preserve and garden will bring economic development to their town. Ultimately, they hope to develop deeper relationships with the villagers and share the Gospel with them.  By loving the people we met missionaries, pastors and townspeople alike, we were able to participate in sharing the universal message of the Gospel.  We even got to share the Good News in English when conversing with a few university students studying English.  What a blessing!

My life will never be the same again since I went to Bolivia.  I have seen places and experienced events that changed my perspective and outlook on life.  I have begun to realize what does and doesn’t matter for the kingdom of God.   Furthermore, I have a greater heart for the nations because I have met their beautiful faces and heard their stories of transformation. I now have specific names, places and faces to pray for.

 The Lord continued and continues to challenge me.  Through meeting other SAM missionaries in Santa Cruz, hearing their stories and the stories of how my friends have been called overseas.  I have been challenged to examine my heart and my motives for going overseas.  Initially, I thought I was going to save people yet as time drew closer to the trip, I realized I was to go and be an encouragement to the Nations.  God didn’t need me to do work for him.  He has already been at work there long before I left Charlotte, North Carolina.  He wanted my servant’s heart.  He longs for my response to His question:  “Will you go for a few?” “Yes, Lord, I will go.  I will follow your example for your will is better than life and there is no monetary value on souls whatsoever.  The riches of heaven cannot compare with earthly wealth.  I will act as you, the Shepherd, do and seek the one that was lost, leaving all others behind.  I will forsake everything, the opinions and thoughts of family members and friends, wealth and worldly possessions to obey your commands.” 

The Lord did a great work while we were in Bolivia.  It doesn’t matter how many converts we saw or how many people we encouraged (the numbers are truly astounding and only the Lord really knows how many hearts were changed).   It was completely worth the price, whatever the earthly cost, for a team of 12 Americans to fly 3,871 miles, ride roughly 288 miles overnight to a small town and then trek 18 miles over dirt roads in a truck daily to a small village.  The price of blisters, sleeplessness and shower shoes are so minuscule in light of the Gospel.  Thanks you Father for all experiences we encountered on the trip.  He deserves all the glory, honor and praise!

 

He answered everything we requested prayer for during the trip was covered and answered!!   He provided the money so we all could go on the trip.  Thank you for every single prayer for our trip!  He provided clear beautiful days, most of the time. Praise the Lord for all of the work he did in the hearts of our team!  The Lord answered in so many ways.  Our team got along and was unified!  We worked together, prayed together and, in all events from rainstorms to truck rides, encouraged each other constantly.  NOT A SINGLE PERSON GOT SICK (on the trip) AND NO ONE GOT SERIOUSLY INJURED!!! Such a huge blessing!  Hearts were filled with gratitude, service and praise.  Amidst the constant awe and wonder of how to communicate across the language barrier, I heard lots of grateful hearts praise the Lord when communication took place, especially communication of the Gospel message.  What an awesome God we serve!! The JOY of the Lord is so much bigger than we could ever imagine!!!!  Gracias Seῆor, (thank you Lord) my life will never be the same!!

As they say in Bolivia “Chau!”

Carolyn

Challenged with “GO”

Pastor Cashwell started off the Calvary Missions Conference speaking about Matthew 28: 16-20 and The Great Commission.

“16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.19Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,20teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

The command to “GO” is for all Christians, believers on mission in their home country and believers sent out. We are all to “GO.”

Today was yet another reminder that, for me, “GO” means to Columbia SC.  For this season in life, “GO” means to stay.  For now, “GO” equals meeting my neighbors.  Matthew 22 says “37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.38This is the great and first commandment.39And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 

Yes, “GO” means to go to my physical neighbors who live next door and also to the foreign neighbors I share this world with. “GOing” is an act most loving and most kind.

For today, I will “GO” only to stay.

My favorite time of year is coming!!!!

No, not spring…..the Calvary Mission’s Conference is coming!!! And I CAN’T wait! Basically, the Nations and those who have gone to the Nations come back and share their experiences abroad.  How exciting is that?!?! 

The first Sunday is always my favorite.  I absolutely love seeing the Nations walk into the sanctuary.  To know families have followed the Great Commission to the ends of the earth is almost overwhelming.  Such a blessing to see!

This year Dana Wilson, a sweet woman of God I had the opportunity to meet while serving this summer in Bolivia, is coming back!  I am so excited to see her and to hear how the Lord has been at work in Bolivia.  This year will be such a great conference!

It also time, time to remember:

Psalms 96 “1Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! 2 Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! 4 For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. 7 Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! 8 Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! 9 Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth! 10 Say among the nations, "The LORD reigns! Yes, the world is established; it shall never be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity." 11 Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; 12 let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy 13 before the LORD, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness.” (Italics added by author, ESV)

It is time to be reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness.  It is time to look at the stones of remembrance we built and be encouraged by the work the Lord has done.

http://gobolivia2012.blogspot.com/

Convictions of a Scrub Wear(er)

Do you ever feel like people look at you and expect you to be kind?

I do, especially while wearing scrubs. I feel like people look at me and think "Oh you are in healthcare; you must love people and therefore be kind."

Yes, I think more about being kind while wearing scrubs and act in kindness whether I feel like it or not.

Yet the more I think about it, I realize that as a Christian, I should be full of the Spirit over following with joy and kindness. I should genuinely be kind and loving.

"22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."