Language

Today we are taking our final in the language class.  I do not know how I will do but I do know that I have done my best and that is all I can do.  Language studying is hard.  I am not a natural learner.  What I am convinced of is that language is key to effectiveness.  You cannot be effective in a foreign country unless you can speak the language.  Why be handicapped?  It is a tool in your arsenal that God can use.  Not knowing language may hinder what God can do through you.  Currently I am unable to have a conversation with my neighbor's children.  I am below a child in understanding.  Thankfully God loves children.

Finish strong

This is the last week of language school before a break.  When I first heard that we would take a month off after 2-3 months, I thought they were being lazy.  Now I know differently.  This is a grind.  It is as much emotional as mental and physical.  I am always ready for the break but I want to finish strong this week.  I want to apply myself to language study and to write one lesson plan.  Those are my two goals for the week.  If I accomplish them, I will be in good shape going into October.

Feelings make a horrible guide

I did not feel well yesterday.  But I went to class and had the best class I have had in a long time.  I learned, the class was fun, and I made progress.  Isn't it interesting that the day I felt the worst was the best day?  There are some lessons here.

1. Don't go by your feelings.

Feelings will lead you astray.  Feelings are horrible guides.  Determine what is important to you ahead of time.  Know your purpose.  Have a vision for your life.  Set goals.  Let those things drive you, not your feelings.

2. Do what is right even when you don't feel like it.

Successful people do what unsuccessful people don't want to do.  There is no gain without pain.  Action will change your feelings.  Feelings will paralyze you from acting.

3. Success in life is performing the right inputs and trusting God for the results.

You will reap what you sow.  Sow good seed when you don't feel like it, when it is hard and inconvenient, when no one is with you.  Do the right thing and trust God.  

Vision

Obtaining vision

Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Matthew 9:35, 36, 38 NIV)

 1. Jesus went

To obtain vision you must create access.  You leave the bubble you live in and go where the people are.  You do not find vision sitting on the sofa watching television.  You get out of your comfort zone and go.

2. Jesus saw

When you go, you will see.  Your eyes will be opened to needs and opportunities you never knew existed.  You will see what God sees. The Holy Spirit will open your eyes.  Jesus saw the crowds.  He left where He was went to the people and His eyes were opened.

3. Jesus felt

When you see, you will feel.  The Bible says Jesus had compassion on them.  Compassion is feeling a deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. You will never experience compassion until you go and see the need.

4. Vision is a solution to a problem.

God will reveal the problem and solution. The problem in this case was that the sheep were without a shepherd.  The people were harrassed and helpless.

Harassed- disturbed persistently with troubles and cares. Experience repeated attacks

Helpless- unable to help oneself, weak, dependent, disabled, unprotected

When the Holy Spirit creates compassion in you, you will see the problem clearly.  The first step in obtaining a vision is seeing the problem.

The second step is knowing the solution.  Jesus said to pray that God will send workers.  The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.  

When you give yourself access to people.  God will enalbe you to see and feel.  Then God reveals the problem and the solution.  Vision is a solution to a problem.  

So get off your couch.  Get out of your bubble and go where the people are.  Ask yourself "what is the problem?" and "what is the solution?"

What a difference a day makes

It amazes how much difference a day makes.  Yesterday I woke up in dread.  I just wanted to get through the day and go back to sleep.   This morning was totally different.  I woke up with expectation.  I am ready to face this day.  What is the difference?  Can I learn any lessons?

1. Don't go by my emotions.  They are fickle at best.  They are inconsistent and untrustworthy.

2. When you have had a bad day go to sleep knowing that things may be better in the morning.  Work a full day, go home, and rest.

3. Take my medicine.  It probably took a couple of days to kick in.  It matters.

4. Be disciplined.  Get up when you don't want to get up.  Go to school when you don't want to go to school. Work when you don't want to work.  Do the right things believing they will produce the right results.

Darkness

Is it bad to want the day to end before it starts?  I woke up this morning with a dread.  Don't want to go to prayer,  don't want to go to school, just want the day to end.  I dread the day.  It is time like these I go to the Bible.  My daily reading has been the one steady discipline of my life.  Today I read that everything else will pass away but God's word will stand and endure forever.  The Word of God is my rock.  It is my anchor in hethe midst of storms.  It is my fortress and hiding place.  I find safety and security there.  I go to the rock.  Friday morning the pastor preached out of Psalm 43.  The Psalmist ask why God cast him off.  Why is he oppressed.  Then he ask God to send his light and truth to lead him to 

1. The mountain of God.

2. His tabernacle

3. The Altar

There God will become his exceeding joy.

I desire for Jesus to become my joy and delight not other people, things, or circumstances.

Father do that in me.  Send your light and truth.  Bring me to your mountain, your tabernacle, and your altar.  May I experience you there.

The cure to frustration

One of the things I struggle with here the most is frustration.  Frustration is to disappointed, embittered, resentful, or disheartened.  I don't want to be this way.  The root of frustration is self.  I get frustrated because self does not get what it wants.  The cure to frustration is to crucify self.  It is to take Kevin off the throne of his heart and to put Jesus on.  A dead man cannot get frustrated.  A servant serves and does not care for self.  Father I ask you to enable me to crucify self.  I ask the Holy Spirit to kill my sinful nature, the flesh.  I ask you to develop the fruit of the Spirit in me.  May I be long suffering.  I need your help.  May I live/dead.