I know my last blog post was very short and I have posted a video below of all the vlogs I have FINALLY edited during my time in Chile and currently working on Bolivia and Bulgaria. Sorry that it took forever and that I fell behind in doing that, but also thank you for being patient. I have been so focused and in tuned with living in ministry and being fully present that I didnt take the time to do some of the things that I enjoy to do like vlogging and editing my vlogs and writing new blogs. Obviously still learning that balance thing like I talked about in my Bolivia blog.
This month looks very different for my team and I this month, we spent 2 weeks in Bulgaria (video post soon), and we are currently spending 2 weeks in Kosovo (Kosova to the locals). Today I decided to step out of my shell and lead the devotional. The reason this is out of my shell is because I know if have wisdom but I’ve always thought my wisdom and leading was for students and kids and never once thought that I had anything worth saying to my own peers or those older and wiser than me.
To prep myself for this morning I opened up my mind and heart to God and told him that whatever he wanted to say to everyone in this devotional that he could do so through me, and that the words I speak would not be of my own but of his. Durning my prayer he kept bringing a message from Louis Giglo that I have watched a few times from the LIFT conference. It was for worship pastors and was about how all worship flows from the cross, the death (resurrection) of Jesus. I would like to share a little bit with you all what I shared with the team this morning (most of these points are from Louis Giglio).
Worship begins at the cross, and is rooted in the Gospel. Did you know that worship was performed at the cross? Luke 23: 44-49 “It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining. And the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last. The centurion, seeing what had happened, praised God and said, “Surely this was a righteous man.” When all the people who had gathered to witness this sight saw what took place, they beat their chests and went away. But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.”
Let me just emphasise one part of this story that blows my mind. Jesus breathed his LAST breath, and before one single drop of blood touched the soil, the centurian guard looked up and said “Surely THIS was a righteous man”, surely he WAS the son of God. In this moment his life was forever changed. The man looked up and KNEW that the man that just died was the son of God and that he was loved and that he was worth dying for and he needed to worship God for the sacrifice that was just made in front of him. In this moment he gave his life to Christ; who is dead on the cross in front of him and he is at the feet of Jesus and starts to worship him. It amazes me that Christ’s last breath changed one mans life then; but his death and ressurection has saved billions of lives since. We as believers can see this and know this all to be true which is why we worship.
Matt Redmen said “Worship is more about seeing than singing.” Now, how many of us have gone to church, worship night, etc. and felt a disconnect when trying to worship? We think its the atmostphere, we don’t know that song, the people around me are a distraction. The problem is not the music or the atmosphere but is us, we can’t fully sing until we see. The centurian didn’t see until the curtain tore and the ground shook and Jesus took his last breath, then he could see. Because he could finally see, then he could worship and sing to the Lord. “And you dont sing until you see, and if you sing when you see, your going to really really sing”-Louis Giglio. When you finally see you’re going to say “Surely THIS man is the Son of God.” and worship him.
When I was giving this devotional I was very spirit lead and I became very passionate about the words I was sharing and even starting crying. I was so confused by why I crying and even told everyone “Gosh! What is happening?” I joked and just told everyone it was because I love the lord so much. But it wasn’t, I mean I do very much love the lord, but I think I cried because the Holy Spirit was using me; live; in that very moment; God was present, to speak to everyone in a very real and passionate way. We know Jesus died for us and we give him thanks; yada, yada, yada; yeah we know this. But I think somethimes we forget, we constantly have to take the time and remind ourselves of the magnitude of what God has done for us. He sent his only son to DIE on a cross because he thought that each and every one of us was worth the ultimate price and we all are a valuable treasure to God.
Chile Part 1
Chile Part 2
