God has taught me SO much within the last month. I've been reading the book Radical by David Platt.. all I know to say is.. WOW. I'm almost scared to try and explain this book because I know I can't do it any justice. Basically David takes Scripture and elaborates on it and the Holy Spirit has filled this book with amazing insight. Personally it has brought a whole new light to the Bible and the way I spend my time with God. The book talks about how so many people are in poverty. extreme poverty, and we (I) am worried about my sports, my clothes, my car, etc.. Notice "MY" is used a lot? America has put the emphasis on ourselves rather than others.. the whole definition of the American Dream is to further ourselves. YET 26,000 children die every day because they have no food in their bellies or they have a disease that is easily preventable. I just want to try and put that into perspective for you, for me.. The population estimate for Union County Georgia was 21,252 people in 2009. That would be equivalent to every single person living in Union County dying in ONE day. Wow? Also, almost half of the world lives on less than 2 dollars a day. 2 DOLLARS. My mind is blown away by these numbers. I am so convicted by the amount of my possessions and how I have been stewarding my time and money. Life is not all about ME having a good time.. but about me being used by God to meet needs in my school, in my community, in my country and to the ends of this earth.
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all of Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. Acts 1:8
And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" Romans 10:15 Thanks Jenna :)
Now, I can't stop thinking about those babies. Those sweet little babies in other countries of the world who are less fortunate. I am the queen of wasting food, and now it breaks my heart when I throw away uneaten food. I can't stop thinking about it. Every sip of clean water, I think of the water they drink.. My toilet water is more clean than some of the water they have, but most have none! My bed, my endless amounts of clothes, my hot shower, my many many pairs of shoes, my car, the amount of money in my bank account. They all make me sick thinking of those babies.
A lot of you reading this won't understand what I mean. You'll think I'm being ridiculous, or over-reacting. I don't know how to explain to you what Christ has revealed to me. That is the best I can do.
God has shown me His heart. How He loves us.. How He desires for us to get over ourselves, to look past ourselves and at the greater need right around us. Our brothers and sisters are in need. I'm struggling right now with how to focus on the little things. I'm struggling right now with realizing the people all around me are in desperate need for more of Christ. At school my goal is to not look down at the floor when I walk past someone in the hall, but to look up in love and have the courage to look someone in the eye and simply say hello. "It's the bread and cheese." The little things matter so much. I want to live this truth out in my life.. but it's still about getting over myself and out of my comfort zone.
Please pray for me, I've had a lot of AWESOME opportunities opened up to me and right now I'm just praying the Lord's perfect will in my life. I want to follow Him obediently. Please pray for my friend, Jenna who is going to Uganda next fall for four months. She needs our support financially and in prayer. There is more info here at: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161847787209010
