la gran comision

What I'm learning: Tonight I got to hear a pastor from Dominican Republic speak at church, and it was incredibly powerful. He spoke with such passion and conviction. He was talking about how nobody knows when Jesus will come again...so what are we doing with our lives? He compared the world to a piece of dust. We are so tiny, and He is so big. How incredible is that He loves us, even though we are such a small and sinful world.

"What I saw was just too beautiful to have happened by accident."

-Eugene Cerrin, Apollo Astronaut

from: here

The pastor read through parts of Acts, and focused on this big question: "Que va a hacer con el resto del tiempo que el Dios le da a usted?" Translated, that means what are you going to do with the rest of the time God gives you on this earth?

He read Acts 1:8, which I loved. "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” I really liked this verse, especially because I am in a different area of the world. God can use us wherever we are, in Oregon or in Costa Rica.

We also talked about the power we receive from the Holy Spirit. When we try to do things on our own, we are limited. When we try to only live on our own strength, we get so TIRED. This week I have had so much to get through, essays, tests, and being sick on top of it all. I should have leaned on God's strength and power, instead of trying to do it on my own. We NEED God's power to impact our communities. God's mission is GLOBAL; it's for everyone.

The pastor also said something very convicting. He said that when we are busy worrying about everything, we do not have the time for God. We need to speak with strength and boldness about our faith. This is something my host brother told me earlier this week. We need to BE BRAVE with our faith. We do not live to please people, but God. That's something I need to work on remembering. Acts 5:29 reads, "Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings!"

So, the big question of the night is what are we doing with our lives...? Are we living intentionally and with purpose?

from: here

After church got over I just spent time talking with people. I get sadder and sadder about having to leave. I feel like God is not done working in me here in Costa Rica...

Con mucho amor.