I've been doing a study in Ephesians recently...trying to memorize the whole book...it's slowly coming. I know a lot of people who don't believe in predestination. On one hand I can see why, but after reading scripture and praying and struggling about it, there's no way around it. I'm convicted it's true. You may not agree, but that is for you to work out in fear and trembling. Some other words for ''predestination'' are "chosen" or "elect". The more I study scripture, the more it is obvious to me.
It's not just an Ephesians 2:8-9 passage or Romans 8 passage, but it's the whole Bible. God chose Abraham, he chose Israel as a nation (whether they choose him in return is a different question), and he chose his disciples. I don't see any difference between my God in the OT and my God in the NT. There's no difference. When I first heard about predestination, I thought it was crazy...
And I'll admit that it doesn't have a definite line between some things...there will always be more questions! But one of our flaws as humans is we feel we have to know EVERY LITTLE DETAIL. Unfortunately, that's not how God works (but really it's not that unfortunate).
As I looked closer at scripture and talked to some people who I think are very theologically sound, I was even more convinced. I read over Romans 9 (which is a greattt place to start if you're not sure where you stand) and starting reading my Spanish version Bible in Ephesians 2. Verses 8-9 say, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."
In Spanish the word "grace" and "faith" are both feminine words. However when it says "this [is not your own doing]", the word for "this" is neutral. Hmmm...that's strange isn't it? This verse is talking about salvation. So I concluded that the "this" must mean the process of being saved. Yes, yes, we know it's through grace and faith, but it says that the process is "a gift of God". (Not to say that I'm an insanely awesome theologian all of a sudden--my theology isn't perfected).
Like I said I will never fully convince someone. This is a tough topic. However, the rest of scripture seems to point that God didn't just give this gift to anyone. (Even we don't do that--but let's not get our ways confused with how God is). Ephesians also says that, "he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we may be holy and blameless before him". And there are multiple other passages to look at about God choosing us first, and then we respond.
The point I'm trying to make is this: God chose us first. (We can't choose him first if he knew us before we were even existent). It is our choice that is our gift back to him (kinda used the wording from my pastor, Ben Roby). However, He already knows who will choose him and who won't. Israel won't be saved just because he chose them as a nation; likewise with the Jews. Christ is the only way, the truth, and the life. It is our choice to sin or not to, because God doesn't and can't live with sin. That was the purpose of his son coming for us.
Like stated (many, many times) there are many angels to predestination that I can't cover in a blog. You just need to read it for yourself, pray, and decide. (And by the way, I'm not saying that you have to believe in predestination to be saved, because I can't decide for you if you're going or not--that will be God's choice--once again).
I hope you found this helpful. If not, it helped me sort out some of my thoughts! haha.
"Porque por gracia son salvos por medio de la fe; y esto no de ustedes, pues es don de Dios; no por obras, para que nadie se glorÃe." Efesios 2:8-9
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Saturday, November 12, 2011
Surely Then it Multiplies
Last night I went to a Leeland concert. I absolutely love this band. They weren't about starting a pep rally, but actually putting our faith into works. They sang songs about how the church needs to wake up. But the song that really stuck in my heart was about the great awakening.
Leeland talked about how the "great awakening" in the 1700's that masses of people were coming to know Christ. Like whole towns were getting saved, and it moved from one city to another. And a writer wrote a poem about the great awakening, but it was lost. One day Leeland found it in a bible in a library, and put the poem into lyrics. This song is absolutely amazing.
Take a listen...When you really want a revival--you're asking for Jesus. This world needs to hear about Jesus. Don't pray for the revival--be the revival. Once you've really experienced the revival within yourself, you won't be able to stop telling others about it.
Leeland talked about how the "great awakening" in the 1700's that masses of people were coming to know Christ. Like whole towns were getting saved, and it moved from one city to another. And a writer wrote a poem about the great awakening, but it was lost. One day Leeland found it in a bible in a library, and put the poem into lyrics. This song is absolutely amazing.
Take a listen...When you really want a revival--you're asking for Jesus. This world needs to hear about Jesus. Don't pray for the revival--be the revival. Once you've really experienced the revival within yourself, you won't be able to stop telling others about it.
Monday, October 31, 2011
The Prayer of Faith
One of the people who I admire most in my life right now is someone who I see every Tuesday at FCA. His name is Joe Maggelet. He is a great example for me and I am very encouraged in how he prays. You can see what God is doing in him because he has such a zeal and love for God. And it shows in how he acts and prays.
He has been telling us to pray the prayer of faith. There are so many things going on in your mind and you think you can't tell God certain things--but he already knows them! He wants you to pray specific things--not for your benefit, but for His glory. My God answers prayers. Don't be afraid to pray for specific things.
Pray the prayer of faith.
He has been telling us to pray the prayer of faith. There are so many things going on in your mind and you think you can't tell God certain things--but he already knows them! He wants you to pray specific things--not for your benefit, but for His glory. My God answers prayers. Don't be afraid to pray for specific things.
Pray the prayer of faith.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
The Definition of Crazy
If you've ever had a fish, I'm sure you've had one like mine. She swims in her tank going back and forth, back and forth, all the day long. The same route of swimming. Up one side, across, back down, across to the other side. All. Day. Long. And I look at her and without hesitation say, "Wow, Alice, you are crazy."
I don't think it was a coincidence that I see this and continue to see it everyday. I think there is something to learn from her. As I look at my daily life and pursuit of Christ, I can see I do the same thing.
He has saved me from sin, that I am no longer bound to, and I go right back to it. We have been delivered from that domain, and I willingly swim right back over to it, out of the Light. Why?
It's not that I don't love God. I love him more and more each day. And it's frustrating to look and evaluate my relationship and see that I keep going back to the same mistakes. Extremely frustrating. It reminds me of the Galatians.
I think this will be a daily challenge for all Christians. It's so easy for us to fall back on our habits and do things how we want, how we're used to, without even thinking about it. And then we realize, wow, God, you really have a better plan. I messed up again. And again. And again.
Thank God for his grace. He not only gave us salvation, but he sanctifies us. And Christ died once and for all for every sin I have done, am doing, and ever will. His wrath is holy, and was justified, but motivated out of his love. Amazing.
Truly amazing grace. That we take sooo much for granted.
As I look at Alice every morning, afternoon, and evening. It is a reminder to me: I can't go back to who I once was. I need to continue on, press on. Run the race with endurance that was set before me.
My reminder--
2 Corinthian 12:9-10: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Philippians 3:7-11 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
I don't think it was a coincidence that I see this and continue to see it everyday. I think there is something to learn from her. As I look at my daily life and pursuit of Christ, I can see I do the same thing.
He has saved me from sin, that I am no longer bound to, and I go right back to it. We have been delivered from that domain, and I willingly swim right back over to it, out of the Light. Why?
It's not that I don't love God. I love him more and more each day. And it's frustrating to look and evaluate my relationship and see that I keep going back to the same mistakes. Extremely frustrating. It reminds me of the Galatians.
I think this will be a daily challenge for all Christians. It's so easy for us to fall back on our habits and do things how we want, how we're used to, without even thinking about it. And then we realize, wow, God, you really have a better plan. I messed up again. And again. And again.
Thank God for his grace. He not only gave us salvation, but he sanctifies us. And Christ died once and for all for every sin I have done, am doing, and ever will. His wrath is holy, and was justified, but motivated out of his love. Amazing.
Truly amazing grace. That we take sooo much for granted.
As I look at Alice every morning, afternoon, and evening. It is a reminder to me: I can't go back to who I once was. I need to continue on, press on. Run the race with endurance that was set before me.
My reminder--
2 Corinthian 12:9-10: But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness" Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Philippians 3:7-11 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
"If you are thirsty, come and drink"
I started reading The Silver Chair by C.S. Lewis today, and I was just astonished with a passage in the 2nd chapter. It is about an encounter that Jill has with Aslan. The passage is a bit long, but I will highlight specific things that stuck out to me. It goes like this...
...And the thirst became so bad that she almost felt she would not mind being eaten by the lion if only she could be sure of geting a mouthful of water first.
"If you're thirsty, you may drink."
They were the fist words she had heard since Scrubb had spoken to her on the edge of the cliff. For a second she stared here and there, wondering who had spoken. Then the voice said again, "If you are thirsty, come and drink," and of course she remembered what Scrubb had said about animals talking in that other world, and realized that it was the lion speaking...
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I--could I-- would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience...
"Will you promise no to--do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion...
It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted. You didn't need to drink much of it, for it quenched your thirst at once.
After reading, a couple verses came to mind about "thirst", but I looked up other references in my handy ESV to find more. -->
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Mt 5:6
"For I was hunger and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me," Mt 25:35
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again." Jn 4:13-14
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my sould thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Ps 63:1
"Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and mile
without money and without price." Is 55:1
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." Jn 7:37b
"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;" Rev 7:16a
And there are probably many other places that have a form of "thirst" in the Bible.
So to tie this all together, recently in church and in my personal time with God, he has been teaching me that I must come to him on His terms, not mine. I must count the cost, and the walk of faith. But the only way you can truly do that is if you CANNOT HELP IT. Jill's thirst must be quenched. She cannot help but quench it. She asks Aslan if he can go away, or make promises, but those are HER terms, not his. She has to count the cost of losing her life if he chooses to eat her, and she takes the risk. She counted it. We must do the same. Just like in Matthew 8, the fishermen are in the storm because they counted the cost of following Christ. He invites them, Jill, and us into the boat or to drink the water. He doesn't promise things won't get rocky, or edgy. That's a part of faith. He doesn't want us to come at our own convenience. He wants it all or nothing. And you can't go running to another stream, because he is the only one, and the only one who satisfies. There is no personal pick-this-and-drop-that Jesus. It's all him, or it's nothing. I'm tired of this comfortable "I have my own customized Jesus" lie that so many of us have fallen into, are falling, or will.
The disciples counted the cost and followed him to dangerous places---we should as well.
C.S. Lewis continues saying this...
"Come. Walk before me to the edge of the cliff."
Christ doesn't say, 'Come and stroll with me through the park.' It reminded me of the story about Abraham and Isaac. God tells Abraham to offer up his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. And Abraham goes in, without questioning, having faith that God can raise him. And God makes a covenant with him saying, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." (Gen 17:1-2) First, he makes a covenant because of his faithfulness and trust in God. Second, he says "walk before me, and be blameless" because walking is a consistent, intimate relationship and "blameless" is a sacrificial life of having no blemish. It is an intimate on-going relationship of transforming to be more like Him. And third, he says, "that I may make my covenant between me and you". The covenant is based on walking with him and being blameless. It isn't claim him, pick out what you want, and you're good. It's his terms, or no covenant.
So it's time: Count the cost. It's His limits. Are you willing to sacrifice everything you have, give your life, to follow Him?
...And the thirst became so bad that she almost felt she would not mind being eaten by the lion if only she could be sure of geting a mouthful of water first.
"If you're thirsty, you may drink."
They were the fist words she had heard since Scrubb had spoken to her on the edge of the cliff. For a second she stared here and there, wondering who had spoken. Then the voice said again, "If you are thirsty, come and drink," and of course she remembered what Scrubb had said about animals talking in that other world, and realized that it was the lion speaking...
"Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion.
"I'm dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I--could I-- would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience...
"Will you promise no to--do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls?" she said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren't come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion...
It was the worst thing she had ever had to do, but she went forward to the stream, knelt down, and began scooping up water in her hand. It was the coldest, most refreshing water she had ever tasted. You didn't need to drink much of it, for it quenched your thirst at once.
After reading, a couple verses came to mind about "thirst", but I looked up other references in my handy ESV to find more. -->
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." Mt 5:6
"For I was hunger and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me," Mt 25:35
"Jesus said to her, 'Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water that I give him will never be thirsty again." Jn 4:13-14
"O God, you are my God; earnestly I seek you;
my sould thirsts for you;my flesh faints for you, as in a dry and weary land where there is no water." Ps 63:1
"Come, everyone who thirsts,
come to the waters;
and he who has no money,
come, buy and eat!
Come, buy wine and mile
without money and without price." Is 55:1
"If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink." Jn 7:37b
"They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore;" Rev 7:16a
And there are probably many other places that have a form of "thirst" in the Bible.
So to tie this all together, recently in church and in my personal time with God, he has been teaching me that I must come to him on His terms, not mine. I must count the cost, and the walk of faith. But the only way you can truly do that is if you CANNOT HELP IT. Jill's thirst must be quenched. She cannot help but quench it. She asks Aslan if he can go away, or make promises, but those are HER terms, not his. She has to count the cost of losing her life if he chooses to eat her, and she takes the risk. She counted it. We must do the same. Just like in Matthew 8, the fishermen are in the storm because they counted the cost of following Christ. He invites them, Jill, and us into the boat or to drink the water. He doesn't promise things won't get rocky, or edgy. That's a part of faith. He doesn't want us to come at our own convenience. He wants it all or nothing. And you can't go running to another stream, because he is the only one, and the only one who satisfies. There is no personal pick-this-and-drop-that Jesus. It's all him, or it's nothing. I'm tired of this comfortable "I have my own customized Jesus" lie that so many of us have fallen into, are falling, or will.
The disciples counted the cost and followed him to dangerous places---we should as well.
C.S. Lewis continues saying this...
"Come. Walk before me to the edge of the cliff."
Christ doesn't say, 'Come and stroll with me through the park.' It reminded me of the story about Abraham and Isaac. God tells Abraham to offer up his only son, Isaac, as a sacrifice. And Abraham goes in, without questioning, having faith that God can raise him. And God makes a covenant with him saying, "I am God Almighty; walk before me, and be blameless, that I may make my covenant between me and you, and may multiply you greatly." (Gen 17:1-2) First, he makes a covenant because of his faithfulness and trust in God. Second, he says "walk before me, and be blameless" because walking is a consistent, intimate relationship and "blameless" is a sacrificial life of having no blemish. It is an intimate on-going relationship of transforming to be more like Him. And third, he says, "that I may make my covenant between me and you". The covenant is based on walking with him and being blameless. It isn't claim him, pick out what you want, and you're good. It's his terms, or no covenant.
So it's time: Count the cost. It's His limits. Are you willing to sacrifice everything you have, give your life, to follow Him?
Thursday, June 30, 2011
With Everything
Hillsong: With Everything
Open our eyes,
To see the things
That make Your heart cry,
To be the church
The You would desire.
Light to be seen.
Break down our pride,
And all the walls
We've built up inside,
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires,
We lay at Your feet.
So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.
God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Woah...
This song has been on my mind for the last week or so. I don't know what it is, but God has been getting me so excited about him. He has shown himself to me so much through nature here, through people, situations. So many places. And I've been thinking a lot about my life after this one and I get so excited about seeing a group of people who just love praising Jesus and lifting up his name! And we will get to do it forever. It's such an amazing thought!
I think it's about time that we, as Christians, should start getting excited! Get pumped about Jesus!!! Imagine it! Before the throne, praising the God who created everything!!! EVERYTHING! And we should be even more excited that he is using us, US, to bring more people to be excited about him! People that will get to share and fellowship with Christ! We get to have a relationship with him and get to know the God of this place! And later get to live with him and praise him!
Ah, I just can't explain my excitement. It's just overwhelming!
We need to get excited!
Anyone with me? !
Open our eyes,
To see the things
That make Your heart cry,
To be the church
The You would desire.
Light to be seen.
Break down our pride,
And all the walls
We've built up inside,
Our earthly crowns
And all our desires,
We lay at Your feet.
So let hope rise,
And darkness tremble
In Your holy light,
And every eye will see
Jesus, our God,
Great and mighty to be praised.
God of all days,
Glorious in all of Your ways.
Your majesty, the wonder and grace,
In the light of Your name.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout for your glory.
With everything,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Our hearts will cry
Be glorified,
Be lifted high,
Above all names.
For You our King,
With everything,
We will shout forth your praise.
Woah...
This song has been on my mind for the last week or so. I don't know what it is, but God has been getting me so excited about him. He has shown himself to me so much through nature here, through people, situations. So many places. And I've been thinking a lot about my life after this one and I get so excited about seeing a group of people who just love praising Jesus and lifting up his name! And we will get to do it forever. It's such an amazing thought!
I think it's about time that we, as Christians, should start getting excited! Get pumped about Jesus!!! Imagine it! Before the throne, praising the God who created everything!!! EVERYTHING! And we should be even more excited that he is using us, US, to bring more people to be excited about him! People that will get to share and fellowship with Christ! We get to have a relationship with him and get to know the God of this place! And later get to live with him and praise him!
Ah, I just can't explain my excitement. It's just overwhelming!
We need to get excited!
Anyone with me? !
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
"Have the Attitude of Christ"
Last week was a trying week for me. I had a teacher who was...very difficult to say the least. Let me just say, if I would've had her all 8 weeks, I would not want to be a teacher any longer. Here at Conversa (the school here in CR) each week we get a new teacher. Each class switches teachers, which I kind of enjoy. But last week, I had a teacher named Amira. She wasn't my preferred kind of teacher. She didn't explain anything. Simply wrote it on the board and asked, "Esta claro?" (Is it clear?) Then we would go around the room and do examples of how to use it, and move on to the next theme for the day. We sat in class mostly silent all day, and when we had a chance to talk, it was only to use examples.
The second day in class, she made me cry. If you know me well, you know that I don't even like to cry in front of my family or my closest friends. I don't like showing my emotions and vulnerability to others. So for her to make me cry, was very hard for me to handle--and it wasn't even half of the week yet.
So you might be wondering...well what did she do to make you cry??? Well, we were going over a tense called subjunctive. This tense is when you use sentences that have doubt involved. So if there is a doubt about something, use subjunctive. So it came around to me while we were doing examples and I was going to say, "It makes me happy that my sister will turn 5 years old next year", but I stopped mid-sentence because I don't want to have doubt that my sister won't complete 5 years. So Amira told me to continue finishing the sentence, so I did. And I told her I didn't have any doubt that she would. But Amira insisted that there was indeed room for doubt in the sentence.
Imediately my eyes started to water. I don't want to think that my sister may die before next year. And Amira asks, "Why are you about to cry? Why are your eyes watering up?" And it made me furious. I began crying, and told her, "I don't want to think about that! My 4 year old sister dying?!" And she started laughing. It made me even more angry. And I had a bitter, angry attitude the rest of the day.
On Wednesday, I was determined that things had to change in the classroom. So while I was doing my devotions that morning, I wrote "Have the attitude of Christ" on the inside of my hand. Right on my palm where I could see it. That day in class, whenever I had a bad thought or attitude, I looked at my hand and was reminded that I need to change. And throughout that day, things improved. We made Amira laugh and class was slightly more enjoyable. As the week progressed, things slowly improved. By the end of the week, we were playing games and laughing, and shockingly enjoying the class! Amazing.
It was amazing to see how fast things change when we strive to be like Christ. When we talk to him and rely on him. I couldn't believe how fast he worked in the situation. When we thirst for Christ, to be more like him, things change. Radically. And Amira was right--nothing is guaranteed in this life. My sister may not make it to 5- He could come before then, or take her home. When we have the right mindset and attitude, it makes a difference. And learning to be vulnerable is necessary sometimes. It is humbling. God is amazing.
I don't really know what else to say about that.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2: 3-8
The second day in class, she made me cry. If you know me well, you know that I don't even like to cry in front of my family or my closest friends. I don't like showing my emotions and vulnerability to others. So for her to make me cry, was very hard for me to handle--and it wasn't even half of the week yet.
So you might be wondering...well what did she do to make you cry??? Well, we were going over a tense called subjunctive. This tense is when you use sentences that have doubt involved. So if there is a doubt about something, use subjunctive. So it came around to me while we were doing examples and I was going to say, "It makes me happy that my sister will turn 5 years old next year", but I stopped mid-sentence because I don't want to have doubt that my sister won't complete 5 years. So Amira told me to continue finishing the sentence, so I did. And I told her I didn't have any doubt that she would. But Amira insisted that there was indeed room for doubt in the sentence.
Imediately my eyes started to water. I don't want to think that my sister may die before next year. And Amira asks, "Why are you about to cry? Why are your eyes watering up?" And it made me furious. I began crying, and told her, "I don't want to think about that! My 4 year old sister dying?!" And she started laughing. It made me even more angry. And I had a bitter, angry attitude the rest of the day.
On Wednesday, I was determined that things had to change in the classroom. So while I was doing my devotions that morning, I wrote "Have the attitude of Christ" on the inside of my hand. Right on my palm where I could see it. That day in class, whenever I had a bad thought or attitude, I looked at my hand and was reminded that I need to change. And throughout that day, things improved. We made Amira laugh and class was slightly more enjoyable. As the week progressed, things slowly improved. By the end of the week, we were playing games and laughing, and shockingly enjoying the class! Amazing.
It was amazing to see how fast things change when we strive to be like Christ. When we talk to him and rely on him. I couldn't believe how fast he worked in the situation. When we thirst for Christ, to be more like him, things change. Radically. And Amira was right--nothing is guaranteed in this life. My sister may not make it to 5- He could come before then, or take her home. When we have the right mindset and attitude, it makes a difference. And learning to be vulnerable is necessary sometimes. It is humbling. God is amazing.
I don't really know what else to say about that.
Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.
In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
Who, being in very nature God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!
Philippians 2: 3-8
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