Hope springs eternal. There is something about the approaching springtime that brings a “newness” with it. Something about opportunity, a new start, a different mindset.
Presently the team and I are in a new season of our own. We have literally just moved into a brand new house (this past Thursday), a house with five bedrooms and 3 1/2 bathrooms, sort of a Mexican “frat house” if you will. We’ve just started exploring the nicer neighborhood, in hopes of reaching out to these folks as well as the colonias from our old ministry, which are still in progress (thank you, Jesus!).
We are continuing the remaining internships with the 6 girls and 1 guy on our team that remain after 5 others left for other callings at home. Although I greatly miss those that left last Saturday, I feel that this is also an opportunity for our team to become tighter knit while we’re still here.
After a tidal wave of changes, the tide has drawn out, and everything is still intact. Sure, a few trees are knocked down, roofs are smashed in, metaphorically speaking, but God’s people are still working to keep his kingdom here in Matamoros. We’re going from being spoon-fed our ministries to starting anew and stepping up. Our leaders have especially had to take on a lot in order to make up for the absence of established leadership.
Stepping up…scary thought, especially since it’s reality. I feel like I’m being called to abandon my constant inner monologue of “What about my needs, what about (insert complaint here),” and redifine every day what it says on my bracelet: “Jesús murió por tí, atrevete a vivir por él.” In other words, “Jesus died for you, dare to live for him.”
What does that look like? It could be manifested several ways. It could mean doing a favor for someone that already owes you ten favors. It could mean asking a crying woman on the bus how she is doing and if she needs help. It could mean resisting the need to call out an annoying thing someone does (such as never replace the toilet paper or pop their gum all the time) when it’s really not a big issue.
Or it could mean abandoning your need to feel cared for, unignored, considered, and spared hardship or extra burdens for the sake of glorifying Christ. For me, it’s that, plus forgiving someone who has wronged you.
Before I continue, I must add an aside to this blog. I received a comment from a stranger who was obviously very upset about my ambiguity regarding our pastor and probably gleaned judgment from my blog. Although I admit that the letter did upset me, and was written without understanding the situation we were in (how could he, he does not know the full story), he was right about one thing. It was already evident in my mind that I need to forgive him and do what I can to help, even though that may just end up being prayer and blog-posting.
It is by grace we are saved. Not works. If we were let into heaven by works alone, why would Jesus even bother? The point is to live a humble life, holy not on our own accord but according to his grace.
I believe our pastor, and everyone on this team, can continue on, no matter the scourges of our recent or distant past. We should do it steadfastly in trusting that the LORD will take care of us. Psalms 91:10-12 says:
If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. (NIV, bible.com).
Another passage I found relevant to our situation was in 2 Timothy 1:7-10:
7For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
8So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.
Grace is the ultimate gift from God. Why shouldn’t it be the light that we carry forth–no matter where we are in our walk with God–and let it sustain us?
