Learning from the Word

²² For the LORD will not forsake His people, for His great name’s sake, because it has pleased the LORD to make you His people. ²³Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. ²⁴ Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

1 Samuel 12:22-24 (NKJV)

I have been reading through the Bible, along with studying in 1 Peter, and it has been a really neat thing for me. It amazes me how many little nuggets of pure encouragement I have read in the Old Testament, such as the passage above. Verse 24 finds me right where I am in life...reminding me to fear only the Lord- not loneliness, language barriers, lack of ability in any form when it comes to this ministry (i.e. Bible Storying well), an uncertainty about my Fall plans, etc. I must serve Him in truth- with ALL OF MY HEART- and in doing so remembering all of the great things He has done for me....cause He knows my heart! I am, for the first time, starting to believe and see that He does know my heart and that is so neat....

1 Peter has been a champ...I recognize the ways the Lord desires to affirm me (because He knows I need it) through His Word and He has done that through this book. I have been thinking on what it means to be chosen by Him. I also have thought a lot about how chapter 2 talks on authority and submission, but also how Christ set the ultimate example of not threatening back or reviling back- rather, He committed Himself to the One who judges righteously... and He took on every offense- onto His own body- when He committed no sin...and how important it is to be led by that example. It is not about being right or saving my own face...it is about submitting to authority for the Lord's sake- when it is easy and when it is so tough... because it is a testimony of Christ that ought to be lived out in my life since the Spirit dwells within me. And then I just moved into chapter 3..which is, of course, supported by the previous 2 chapters...and I realize that my behavior and life and responses to people (especially authority) in my life are all important to the testimony of Christ. I cannot properly submit to any authority, or hopefully one day a husband, unless I am in true submission to the Lord. Otherwise, I will buck up and rebel against the authority...or I won't respond in a chaste or respectful way..and that type of hesitant 'submission' does not please the Lord. It is a learning process for me...

I will not have internet too often this month because there isn't any in the village I will be in...but I will probably type up an update to send once I do.

Please pray the Lord will continue to hold my heart in His hands, that I will trust Him in that, and that the Lord will work through me as I submit my heart, mind, and life to Him- allowing the Spirit to work through me...and that I will have a passion to learn the Bible stories- not to please man and to appear like a good missionary, but that I will see the importance of it being a tool to reach the people of Chupa... I honestly struggle with Bible-storying...but I think what I am learning in 1 Peter will help move my heart to a place of joyfully doing it..

Gracias! (I know more Spanish than that...promise!)