Disclaimer: I don’t
really feel like writing a blog but I know I should and I need to so I’m going
to but because I don’t want to, it probably won’t be that good. And since I’m
suffering from sleep deprivation, there’s a good chance it will be confusing
and infused with randomness and hilarity. Be prepared! Read at your own risk.
Muahaha!
really feel like writing a blog but I know I should and I need to so I’m going
to but because I don’t want to, it probably won’t be that good. And since I’m
suffering from sleep deprivation, there’s a good chance it will be confusing
and infused with randomness and hilarity. Be prepared! Read at your own risk.
Muahaha!
*CHOMP!* I’d say
angry badgers are pretty bold. They’re not afraid to let their true thoughts
and feelings be known. But they definitely don’t do it in love! Something God
is teaching me this month is how to be bold. Or more like showing me through
everyday occurrences how I’m NOT bold and telling me I that need to be 😛 Don’t
you just love it when He does that? I’m great at being bold about being myself,
dressing and acting differently and embracing my uniqueness. I mean, come on,
everyone pretty much knows I’m a bit crazy and different, right? But when it
comes to talking about God, identifying myself as His daughter, and sharing
about everything He’s done for me, I lose my boldness and shrivel up into a
little coward. What the heck! What. The. Heck. I have the greatest thing EVER
and I can save the world with it… and I’m scared to speak up?! Scared of what people
think of me?! Scared to be rejected and hurt?! What’s wrong with me? Because in
the end, none of that matters. God has given me strength and a voice. He’s the
only One whose opinion I need to care about cuz He’s the only One Who really
matters. And if God has accepted me, it sure doesn’t matter who else rejects
me. I mean, He’s GOD! So why do I keep listening to the lies that the devil
whispers to me telling me that I’m not pretty enough, not good enough, stealing
my joy? I don’t know; what I do know is that I need to stop listening to him
and start listening to my Abba. I need to learn to be more bold and confident
in who I am in Christ and live that way. So that means when I go to English
club today, I should invite people to study the Bible with me or go to church
or a home group or just bring God up in conversation. I talk about who I amplenty. If I’m trying to be like God and let Him take over me and live through
me, then He becomes my identity; therefore, I should talk about Him because I’m
talking about me and He is me, my identity. *reads back over the last sentence*
Ok, that’s a bit confusing… Why do you think I put the disclaimer at the
beginning?! But yeah, I need to be more bold about sharing Christ’s love. And
that’s the key. Sharing truth boldly but doing so in love. Because I care for
the other person, not because I want to be right. God, help me!
angry badgers are pretty bold. They’re not afraid to let their true thoughts
and feelings be known. But they definitely don’t do it in love! Something God
is teaching me this month is how to be bold. Or more like showing me through
everyday occurrences how I’m NOT bold and telling me I that need to be 😛 Don’t
you just love it when He does that? I’m great at being bold about being myself,
dressing and acting differently and embracing my uniqueness. I mean, come on,
everyone pretty much knows I’m a bit crazy and different, right? But when it
comes to talking about God, identifying myself as His daughter, and sharing
about everything He’s done for me, I lose my boldness and shrivel up into a
little coward. What the heck! What. The. Heck. I have the greatest thing EVER
and I can save the world with it… and I’m scared to speak up?! Scared of what people
think of me?! Scared to be rejected and hurt?! What’s wrong with me? Because in
the end, none of that matters. God has given me strength and a voice. He’s the
only One whose opinion I need to care about cuz He’s the only One Who really
matters. And if God has accepted me, it sure doesn’t matter who else rejects
me. I mean, He’s GOD! So why do I keep listening to the lies that the devil
whispers to me telling me that I’m not pretty enough, not good enough, stealing
my joy? I don’t know; what I do know is that I need to stop listening to him
and start listening to my Abba. I need to learn to be more bold and confident
in who I am in Christ and live that way. So that means when I go to English
club today, I should invite people to study the Bible with me or go to church
or a home group or just bring God up in conversation. I talk about who I amplenty. If I’m trying to be like God and let Him take over me and live through
me, then He becomes my identity; therefore, I should talk about Him because I’m
talking about me and He is me, my identity. *reads back over the last sentence*
Ok, that’s a bit confusing… Why do you think I put the disclaimer at the
beginning?! But yeah, I need to be more bold about sharing Christ’s love. And
that’s the key. Sharing truth boldly but doing so in love. Because I care for
the other person, not because I want to be right. God, help me!
So now what? Ooh, I
know! So last night at Bible study we watched a short video by Francis Chan
about what it means to be a follower of God. While he was speaking, the movie
was showing a boy in a room with four doors, each doorway representing a way we
could choose to go. Only one represented following God. At the end of the
video, the boy walked through the door that meant he chose God and the door
closed behind him. He was just in another room and when he tried to go back,
the door was locked. Is it weird that that is the one thing that I remember
most about the movie? 😛 I pick up on odd things… proof that I’m not normal I
guess *shrug* Anyway, I was really confused about that; shouldn’t it have been
a hallway or something like that instead of another room even smaller than the
first with no doors? But yeah… so Francis Chan was talking about how many
people claim to be followers of Jesus but aren’t really. He gave this
illustration. When he tells his daughter to go clean her room, she knows to
take action and go clean it. She doesn’t come back in a few hours and say,
“Guess what! I memorized what you told me to do!” She doesn’t form a small group
that meets once a week to discuss what would happen if she did what he said to
do. And she definitely doesn’t come back and tell him that she obeyed him in
her heart. We’re all too often like that with God. He tells us clearly what we
should do in the Bible and we come back and tell Him that we’ve memorized it,
or we go to church or discuss it, or we say that we’re living it out in our
hearts. But none of it actually makes it to our daily actions. We shouldn’t be
like that! If you say you’re a Jesus-follower, then START LIVING LIKE ONE!
That’s right. Get up off your butt and go start living and doing. Whether that
means inviting the person in the next cubicle to church on Sunday or listening
to a hurting friend or refusing to retaliate at an irate customer or giving
grace to those not-so-pleasant coworkers, go make a difference. Go be a
Jesus-follower!
know! So last night at Bible study we watched a short video by Francis Chan
about what it means to be a follower of God. While he was speaking, the movie
was showing a boy in a room with four doors, each doorway representing a way we
could choose to go. Only one represented following God. At the end of the
video, the boy walked through the door that meant he chose God and the door
closed behind him. He was just in another room and when he tried to go back,
the door was locked. Is it weird that that is the one thing that I remember
most about the movie? 😛 I pick up on odd things… proof that I’m not normal I
guess *shrug* Anyway, I was really confused about that; shouldn’t it have been
a hallway or something like that instead of another room even smaller than the
first with no doors? But yeah… so Francis Chan was talking about how many
people claim to be followers of Jesus but aren’t really. He gave this
illustration. When he tells his daughter to go clean her room, she knows to
take action and go clean it. She doesn’t come back in a few hours and say,
“Guess what! I memorized what you told me to do!” She doesn’t form a small group
that meets once a week to discuss what would happen if she did what he said to
do. And she definitely doesn’t come back and tell him that she obeyed him in
her heart. We’re all too often like that with God. He tells us clearly what we
should do in the Bible and we come back and tell Him that we’ve memorized it,
or we go to church or discuss it, or we say that we’re living it out in our
hearts. But none of it actually makes it to our daily actions. We shouldn’t be
like that! If you say you’re a Jesus-follower, then START LIVING LIKE ONE!
That’s right. Get up off your butt and go start living and doing. Whether that
means inviting the person in the next cubicle to church on Sunday or listening
to a hurting friend or refusing to retaliate at an irate customer or giving
grace to those not-so-pleasant coworkers, go make a difference. Go be a
Jesus-follower!
Ok, I think that’s
about it. Oh lol I guess it might be good to expound a bit on what I’ve
actually been doing here in Kyiv, huh? And no, that is not a typo. This is the
way Ukrainians spell it in the western alphabet so that’s how I spell it now.
Kyiv is a gorgeous city, full of historic architecture, classical buildings and
cathedrals, and overflowing with arts and fashion. There is a heaviness over
the city, remnants of a cold past fraught with socio and economic difficulties.
These people truly need the joy of the Lord to lift their spirits. But there is
life and happiness in the midst of it! Our ministry this month consists of
hanging out with college students and practicing English – in classes, at
English-speaking clubs, at Bible studies, and in events and outings that we
plan. It’s been so refreshing to hang out with so many people my age who speak
English! I love the people here (and the amenities; that helps put it way up in
my book lol we have hot and cold water from the tap, clean showers, western
toilet, comfortable beds, an oven…). The singular thing that I have enjoyed
most about this country is the dancing. Whee! I’ve been salsa and swing dancing
while here and will hopefully have the opportunity to go a few more times
before we head to our next country. Well, that about sums it up. I mean,
there’s so much more but I’m really just too lazy to write it now and I’m tired
of typing, and you’re probably getting tired of reading so I’ll let you go now.
Ta ta for now!
about it. Oh lol I guess it might be good to expound a bit on what I’ve
actually been doing here in Kyiv, huh? And no, that is not a typo. This is the
way Ukrainians spell it in the western alphabet so that’s how I spell it now.
Kyiv is a gorgeous city, full of historic architecture, classical buildings and
cathedrals, and overflowing with arts and fashion. There is a heaviness over
the city, remnants of a cold past fraught with socio and economic difficulties.
These people truly need the joy of the Lord to lift their spirits. But there is
life and happiness in the midst of it! Our ministry this month consists of
hanging out with college students and practicing English – in classes, at
English-speaking clubs, at Bible studies, and in events and outings that we
plan. It’s been so refreshing to hang out with so many people my age who speak
English! I love the people here (and the amenities; that helps put it way up in
my book lol we have hot and cold water from the tap, clean showers, western
toilet, comfortable beds, an oven…). The singular thing that I have enjoyed
most about this country is the dancing. Whee! I’ve been salsa and swing dancing
while here and will hopefully have the opportunity to go a few more times
before we head to our next country. Well, that about sums it up. I mean,
there’s so much more but I’m really just too lazy to write it now and I’m tired
of typing, and you’re probably getting tired of reading so I’ll let you go now.
Ta ta for now!
Enjoy the movie of us on one of our outings in a park! Special thanks to one of our awesome contacts Pete Y. for putting it together for us ^_^
