Passion. Strength. Discipline.
This place overflows with these things.
From sunrise to sunset they are constant servants
To the church and the community.
Inglesia Mas Que Vencedores… this church is our home this month.
Translated ‘More than conquerors.’
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?…No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us…Nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God.” Romans 8:35-39
We are in constant pursuit of kingdom work.
Nothing stands in their way, therefore nothing can stand in ours either.
They never say never.
On Friday, we were in charge of organizing a sports festival at a school 30 minutes out of town. We trekked 15 minutes through a corn field to an open area of grass. Greeted by 4 wandering cattle and their cattleman, we were in for a treat. Soon, 100+ children scurried down the hill to play kickball, frisbee, Tissue, Catepillar and relays. Pastor Melvin would go station to station, sharing the gospel in a way that related to teamwork and attitude.
Come to find out, these children never get to play sports at school.
The smiles and excitement on their faces, hearing them cheer each other on, laugh with each other… all of it made the day more than worth it.
With all the excitement, intensity, and passion shown in everything these people do, I wondered if this was the only side of Jesus they saw? The powerful, almighty, and victorious King. What about the gentle, loving, full of grace, sweet Son of the Father. Who knows our every thought and every need. I want to share the gentleness of the gospel here.
Yesterday my team summited the Santa Ana Volcano. At an altitude over 6,000 feet, the hike was tough. Two hours up and 2 hours back, the view from the top was sensational.
As we journeyed up, I found myself infatuated by the moments I was able to stop and pause, taking in the views, and enjoying the journey. Small conversations with the Lord. Thanking him for his faithfulness, his creation, his presence.
The strength we needed to get to the top of that mountain was not our own. We had to encourage each other, work together as a team, and not give up.
We needed the ‘more than conquerors’ perspective.
We needed the Pastor Melvin attitude.
And just like that we were at the top. Able to enjoy the sweetness of the view. We rested and took it all in… steam rising from the crater lake inside of the volcano, clouds passing quickly as if they were flying through us, and a panoramic view of a gorgeous lake and other mountain tops.
And at the top, the words of the song “Here As In Heaven” played over and over
The atmosphere is changing now
For the Spirit of the Lord is here
The evidence is all around
That the Spirit of the Lord is here
Overflow in this place
Fill our hearts with Your love
Your love surrounds us
You’re the reason we came
To encounter Your love
Your love surrounds us
In this moment the Lord put on my heart that the strength, passion, and power of the gospel is just as important as the gentle love of it. He’s the reason we came, and we’re encountering His love. We are conquerors in life, no matter how high or challenging the summit or how many stops along the journey. In our weaknesses he makes us strong! His love surrounds us- in the middle of a cornfield playing games with 100 kids who don’t speak your language, on the side of a volcano and at the top, or wherever you are today. Just look. The evidence is all around!
XOXO
Taylor
