God over all the earth...

{{Happy Birthday, DAD! I LOVE YOU}}

A friend of mine recently wrote: "One important fact to keep in mind is that the Gospel transcends cultures. There will always be differences in ways people live from one country to the next, but because Christ’s message is the same in Honduras as it is in America, Christians can live for God wherever they go."

Reading it, I am reminded of my first days here in Honduras, and how I was hit by the reality that I am here - in a foreign country - without anyone I've known for more than a day or two. And then how God reminded me that He is God over all the earth... not just the part of the earth that I've always known... and that I am not alone because He is with me. Looking back at my journal for those first days, I wrote, "it is easy to be 'spiritual' back home where you are comfortable - to be viewed as a good Christian and seem to have lots of faith - but here, in order to be able to LOVE others, to be able to get up and face the day and the numerous problems that are out of our control, we HAVE to stay close to the Lord and in His Word - because otherwise we fail.
I remember praying for Honduran friends, praying for opportunities to share Christ's love, praying that the Lord would help me and speak through me as I went to teach kids about Him even though I was terrified of commanding a classroom...

How easy it has become to live here. For quite a while now I have been very comfortable living in this culture, I have a lot of great friends (both Christians and non-Christians), and am so comfortable teaching that I hardly prepare for my classes any more. Praise the Lord for answered prayer; however, in my comfort, I have found that I rely less and less on God and more and more on myself and my own capabilities.
Granted, I am grateful that I am no longer nervous about teaching, and feel so blessed with the community of friends and believers around me, but I realize I have lost something very sweet - my daily dependence on Jesus Christ.

So then what is the answer - I mean, who wants to live under the constant feeling of being inadequate that reveals our need for Christ? Yet I am foolish to think that I am adequate in myself to do all that Christ calls me to.
In Romans 12 we are urged to renew our minds as we offer ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord. Perhaps the answer doesn't lie in being in uncomfortable situations so much as daily dying to self - waking up each morning and giving up my own will for the Lord's.. remembering that I have been crucified with Christ so that I no longer live, but it is Christ in me that is alive and at work in the world.. that through Him I am equiped for every good work.. so that when I leave here, or wherever I am, I can look back and say, as Paul did to the Corinthians, that "when I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified."

It is all for Christ. all for His glory. all over the earth.

Alegrense los cielos, regocijese la tierra!

Grande es el Senor,

excelso sobre todos los pueblos.

Sea alabado su nombre granioso e imponente:

El es Santo!