What I Learned This Sunday

September 1, 2014

Happy September everybody!

On Sunday we went to two churches. 

          The first one, was a very small church that only had around 20 people attending. One of the missionary families we are working with, is leading this church and helping it grow spiritually. Even though the church was not ravishly decorated or had a heater, I could see that the people had a passion for God. They were thankful for the little that they had. Even though they didn't have a complicated sound system, a praise team, comfortable seats with cushions, or even a heater, they praised God with a thankful heart. 

          These people sang their hearts out during worship, which was led by a single man with a single guitar singing into a single microphone, and there was a genuine desire for God's grace. It didn't matter if they didn't have much, all that mattered was getting closer to God. 

          God showed me how it wasn't all about having nice things, but having a thirst for Him.

The second church we attended was a mission church and it was bigger with more people attending than the previous one. They had more "nice things" but they definitely used all of what they had to praise God. I definitely enjoyed the upbeat songs we sang for worship, it was nice to feel the Latin culture around me again. A few people got to share their testimony and it was interesting to get an insight of how they felt and how God helped them through their troubles. One lady shared a Bible verse that stuck out to me, Isaiah 43:2. God speaks to the people of Israel. Isaiah writes,

He says, "You will pass through deep waters.

But I will be with you.

You will pass through rivers.

But their waters will not sweep

over you.

You will walk through fire.

But you will not be burned.

The flames will not harm you."

          Wow. Even if trouble comes our way, God will ALWAYS be by our sides.

After hearing this verse, I got curious and I decided to read on.

Verse 4 says, "You are priceless to me.

I love you and honor you.

So I will trade other people for 

you.

I will give up other nations to 

save your lives."

          Woah. Priceless to  GOD? The almighty one who created the heavens and the earth? God?

Then He says how He loves us. How He HONORS us. Not only does He confess His love for us, but He says that He will give up other NATIONS just to save OUR LIVES. After all, He did send His one and only son as the ultimate sacrifice. How amazing is that?

          Right now I am reading Radical by David Platt and he wrote how our faith is not measured in how big the church is or how expensive the building was, but by the thirst we have for God and His Word. The book got me thinking about how blessed I was to freely worship God wherever and whenever I wanted. In other countries, it's even dangerous to admit that you're a Christian! 

          I admit, some days I take advantage of this freedom, but now I want to be thankful for the privilege to have a Bible in the language in which I can understand, to have a church to attend, to have a strong Christian family, to have Christian leaders and pastors around me to help me grow in my faith walk, and for God Himself. For always being next to me no matter what situation I have, am, and will face.