What about predestination?

One of my new friends sent me a short question today, asking for my thoughts on predestination. You know, just a little conversation starter. :)

I've thought about it often and at length, but it's still so hard to formulate an adequate discussion on God's role in our lives and eternal destinies.

Habakkuk 2:13, 14 (NIV)

"Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people's labor is only fuel for the fire,

that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD,

as the waters cover the sea."

Bethel's thoughts: No matter how hard I work (or how lazy I am), no matter how good I am or how full of mistakes, God says he'll still fill the world with knowledge of him. I just need to stand back and watch. :)

For God's Global Mission

   Over Christmas break last year (2013 already -- I know right?), I was privileged to go to St. Louis for Intervarsity Christian Fellowship's mission conference, URBANA '12.   It was similar to being a drop of paint, fallen into a bucket of swirled colors: a little overwhelming and incredibly bright, but invigorating, inspiring... and humbling.

   One of the first things Calisto Odede, the keynote speaker, spoke on, was Jesus' mission statement in Luke 4. Jesus had come to zoom in on the real problems of individuals, and to change their lives completely. It made people upset, however, that he addressed problems other than the ones they brought to him. They didn't recognize him for who he was, but instead of changing their view, they blamed him for not being what they expected. 

   This wonderful sermon gave me a goal for the conference: to not expect God to be what I wanted him to be, but expect him to do his work his way for his glory. I didn't meet the goal with any sort of ease, however; nor did I meet it with a large measure of success...but that you shall see later on. 

   The first morning we spent in St. Louis, I wrote in my notebook: God has things for me here that aren't what I came for. I had told myself I was willing to follow him whatever he asked, but I assumed (in big things and small, hardly significant decisions) that I knew already what he wanted from me. Urbana has God's word has shaken me up quite a bit. 

The stadium, filling with IV students and future missionaries

Myself and my bff Hannah, fresh off a 6+ hour car ride

Plans

So my life has devolved into this:

Step 1: see new email, phone message, etc. about something I need to do.
Step 2: ignore message until it is no longer pertinent.
Step 3: do laundry.
Step 4: realize that I should have done something about that something instead of letting it drop.
Step 5: get annoyed and promise to do better next time. (see Step 1)

Grr. I know I'm not the only one who lives like this sometimes. But sometimes, every once in a while, on my off days, I feel the tiniest bit like I'm the only one with so many plans that aren't going anywhere. See, I'm still in the planning stages on most of...my life.

I have some event planning to do for the CEF fall banquet (one of my favorite times of the year when we get to reflect on the summer and what God has done), and some sleepover planning so our summer missionaries can get together before the fall banquet (more fun!).

But there's also plans like, how will I raise support this fall so I can continue working with CEF, or should I quit working with CEF and get a normal part-time job to juggle with my current part-time job? File under "Job Plans."

Then there's my living situation; I'm in stage one of considering a move, stage one being, "who could rent a place with me?" and "what all must I consider before making a move -- proximity to my school, or to work, or whether or not I can also afford a car?" Also, "can I really afford a move when I may or may not be between jobs (see "Job Plans")?" That's a can of worms I file under "Place Plans."

Teaching again!

It seems like a loong time since I've taught 5-day club.

It has actually been a couple years, I suppose.

But a couple weeks ago, I got to teach with a couple of missionaries who needed a third team member.

The CEF Statement of Faith

I was messing around as usual today when I came across the CEF Statement of Faith. 
I like reading it because it reminds me of what's so vitally important about the Christian faith. Here's my favorite bit: 

   "...No degree of reformation however great, no attainment in morality however high, no culture however attractive, no humanitarian and philanthropic schemes and societies however useful, no baptism or other ordinance however administered, can help the sinner take even one step toward Heaven; but a new nature imparted from above, a new life implanted by the Holy Spirit through the Word is absolutely essential to salvation...

Isaiah's Commission | My Commission | Your Commission

In Isaiah 6, God shares his terrible judgement and hard news for His people with the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah saw God's holiness and was overwhelmed by his sins and those of his people. He also saw that only God could make him fit for service, as a seraph touches Isaiah's lips with a coal and says "your guilt is taken away and your sin atoned for" (v. 6-7).


The commission God gave to him was not an easy one for Isaiah to carry out, but he was willing to be used of God, no matter the task. God's will, it seems, has little or nothing to do with the desires or disposition of his vessel. His sovereignty and holiness make it incredible that he would put broken vessels to use in his perfect plan.

This reading had particular meaning to me as I thought about the teacher training I helped lead on Saturday. The teachers who came were so earnest in their desire to lead people to Christ that I was ashamed. They were eagerly responding to the call, "whom shall I send?" I hope they left our sessions feeling encouraged - I myself left feeling challenged by their questions and interest.

Am I willing to be used as a broken vessel in God's service; no thoughts for myself, but only thoughts for the person and message of Christ?

Overcoming

Life is not always very much fun, especially the life of a believer in Christ.  That might sound hopeless, but it's actually a declaration of hope in the nature of God. If God hadn't been willing to go to war with Satan for our souls, we would be in a heck of a spot. Quite literally, a heck of a spot... one of our own doing.

Oswald Chambers once said that "life without war is impossible, either in nature or in grace". Nature is at war because of the fall into sin, but the fight of grace in our lives is based in Christ. God's gift of His Son, which we'll be celebrating in full force 21 days from now, gave us hope for the future. But it didn't come without a cost.

If the Christian life is to be anything like Christ's, it is to be set apart and holy for God's use, however painful His usage is.

Summer statistics

Western Wisconsin by the numbers...


La Crosse Interstate Fair: 265 children reached, 85 decisions for Christ
Monroe County Fair: 12 children heard the Gospel, 350 books distributed

5-day Clubs:

Tomah area: 60 children reached, 4 decisions
La Crosse area: 265 children reached, 24 decisions
Eau Claire area: 78 children reached, 13 decisions

That's 126 children in Western Wisconsin who made decisions for Christ through CEF this summer!

Keats, Harry Potter, and the Matrix. Because I'm not a Poet.

Who was it who said, "a thing of beauty is a joy forever?"
Ah yes.
It was John Keats in his poem Endymion, and I think he was wrong.

This Easter...

Most glorious Lord of Life! that, on this day,

Didst make Thy triumph over death and sin;
And, having harrowed hell, didst bring away

Captivity thence captive, us to win:

Teach Me to Breathe

I had never thought of this before today, but perhaps... perhaps I've looked at my relationship with God backwards.

In my Sunday school class this week, our teacher mentioned how our brains eventually learn how to multitask, so we can walk and chew gum and talk on the phone all at the same time!

But while we are conscious of doing all this things, on a deeper level, our brain is controlling the function of our heart, lungs, eyes, and nerve endings. We aren't conscious of it, but our heart is beating and we are breathing as we walk, talk and chew.


So.
Instead of consciously thinking about God all the time - impossible to do; I know, I've tried - I need part of my brain to automatically think of Him when trials come or I see something beautiful. I need, in short, a sub automatic mental function that connects to my spiritual consciousness.

But I never had to train my brain to make me breathe on its own. I have had to strengthen my lungs to gain a greater air capacity, but my brain already knew to make me breathe without my help. But don't you think the same God, who made my brain keep me alive automatically, could make me able to run to Him automatically?

Change is Coming

So here we go, getting ready for another summer of seeing God transform lives!











This year, I'm not interning. Just working with the teens as they preach the Gospel.

There's nothing more fulfilling than seeing God work in the lives of young people - or older people. And that's what CEF is about... reaching children, and their families and caregivers. One child who had attended 5-day club was able to present the Gospel to children and parents at a fair later that year! She got to see the Lord use her as a worker for His kingdom - is there anything more exciting or life-changing than that?

The changes God produces in our lives have an effect on each person we come in contact with, bringing His love further and further outward until the whole world has heard the Good News!

Is this the summer when every tribe, every tongue, and every nation will hear it? God can transform any life; there is no task too large for God.

Celebrate!

Good news (and this besides the Gospel)!

This past week my teaching buddy and I were privileged to lead over three children to Christ!

Praise God!

It's harder to tell when a large group of children is praying with you, to know whether they understand and accept it or not. But we got to talk to a few individually, so that's why I say "over three." Most likely there were kids in the large groups that truly meant their prayer of response. And perhaps some of those personally counseled three haven't truly accepted it!

But that's OK... we've done our part, and God did the rest.

Hurray for God! Hurray for teaching buddies! And hurray for having a voice at the end of a long week of teaching!

Actually, I went to Mauston for a host meeting today, and was able to do the presentation in an almost normal voice. I say that with a huge smile, because my voice never ever heals this quickly from a cold.

Whoo, there's still so much scheduling to do - host meetings or mailings that need to take place - and more than a few calls and emails. Please pray I will rely on God and do my best...

*Cough Cough*

Hey everyone!

Or maybe I should say, hey everyone.
My voice is going, going... shortly, gone!

The only really bad part about this - besides that I get so bored when I can't talk! - is that I'm teaching backyard Bible club tomorrow.

:/

Yes, I do not feel good about this. My teaching partner Jojo and I both felt very brain dead after today's clubs, but God came through, and Jojo was able to lead a little boy to Christ!
If He used us, two worn out off-the-wall girls, don't you think He can use my voice?

(I guess I think so :) )

Christian Youth in Action

For the last two weeks, the team has been at training camp, learning how to teach 5-day clubs!

It was an amazing time of relationship building (as we're so fond of saying, not relationships between the genders - not those kind of relationships), a lot of mental and spiritual learning, and some fighting in the spiritual realms.

I really believe there were demons fighting us this year - whether it was trouble focusing or injuries and sickness, the kids were struggling to complete their learning... it was kind of abnormal. But... we had people asking God on our behalf back home and we spent some time each day asking Him ourselves. He blessed those two weeks of camp more than I can say!

During the second week as we taught practice clubs in the area, 22 children accepted Christ as their savior. 22 more received counseling for salvation assurance. It was awesome!

I was a 1/2 team leader - 1/2 student, which made life interesting at camp. But I'm really enjoying being an intern.

It's cool to see how the CEF leaders come to decisions and what they have to work through during CYIA training. It's also cool to see how they begin each day with prayer, and pray each time they meet together, usually sharing scripture too. I want to have a life like that, that is so full of Christ that in every circumstance His power is the first outlet I plug into! *

Grad!!

I'm so excited!!

Only three days until my graduation.

Until recently I thought it was ridiculous how much attention was given to graduating. "Why focus on my graduation," I sniffed. "It's a small step comparatively... It's not like I won the Nobel Prize - yet - or got married - yet."

But now... I'm excited! Maybe part of the reason is that I'm not worrying about what I'm doing after high school anymore. God not only tells me not to worry for my own sake; He says it's a sin to worry! It's such a relief to accept that His future belongs to Him and not me.

It should be a fun life after graduation.

I mean, it's been good up to this point, right? :D

Trust

Here's something I came across in my Bible today...

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep in perfect peace
him whose mind is steadfast,
because he trusts in you.

(A Good News Club verse -->) Trust in the LORD forever,
for the LORD, the LORD,
is the Rock eternal.

Trust is never misplaced when it's placed in His power.

Youth With Vision

I'm so excited! Today five young ladies came over to my house (including my little sister, who I thought would NEVER be willing to learn the Wordless Book), and they all left with the instruction to give the Gospel!

If you're a reader of the blog, you know that I had to cancel the Gospel seminar last month because no one could come, and I had a horrible migraine. This week, thank God, no migraine. But there was a misunderstanding. I didn't put on the invitations that we'd learn the Wordless Book over two days. So the families planned to come on Saturday instead of Friday. I waited on Friday, and no one showed (obviously if I'd had my head on straight I would have called to make sure they were coming)! So after getting that straightened out, we agreed to do the whole thing on Saturday. "Learn the Wordless Book in one day?" I asked myself. "Can it be done?"

Well, these young people are a lot sharper than I am, and frankly a lot more willing to listen. They understood the Wordless Book and presented it to each other wonderfully. I was in awe of them and God.

Afterwards one of the girls asked if I could "make something up" to teach them, because she wanted to do this again. "I could teach you guys anything," I answered, and I believe it would be possible. These girls are sharp! I can't wait to hear about their adventures sharing the Gospel with other kids. :)

Graph

Here's a funny little graph that shows how far my support has come. :)

There are so many wonderful people supporting me this summer! I'm so thankful that God supplies every need for everyone He calls. He never leaves us on our own, wondering what to do.