Ignite IBS
2nd Corinthians 1:12
For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially towards you.
I love how it says "our proud confidence". We have a proud confidence in God. The theme for this week is Wisdom, but we should have a proud confidence in more than just His wisdom. We should have a proud confidence in Him. Period. I know that's easier said than done. I really struggle with God and faith when I don't feel Him. I know I've touched base on this before but I still have a hard time with it. That's something I have to be honest with myself about. I'm working on it and praying about it everyday. I know what it's like to not have the proud confidence that God is noticing you. But through my few weeks of being here in Guat, I've seen God move alot! Ignite is teaching me how to open my eyes and ears to what God is doing. Being patient when I don't get the goosebumps. I'm just learning how to have the "proud confidence".
Applications.
Ask one of the RA's to pray with me about being patient with The Lord
Wednesday, July 26, 2017
James 1:5
Ignite IBS
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
I think there's times when we have trouble asking God for things. It's like we think we're setting ourselves up for disapointment because we might not get what we want. Or maybe we think the things we're asking for are unjust. As humans, there's gonna be alot of things that we lack, and alot of things that we pray for, but at the same time there's gonna be unanswered prayers. But this verse says that anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God and it will be given. I think it's wise to ask God for wisdom. Tonight I witnessed a great thing on wisdom. Me, some fellow interns, and some PFA staff went on an outreach to the emergency room here in Guatemala. Before we left I prayed that God would give me wisdom on this outreach. We were handing out bread with beans, coffee, and some church invtes to the people in the waiting room and we would also ask the people if they wanted us to pray with them. There was this old man with a cowboy hat in the waiting room. Matt walked up and gave him some bread and moved on. At first I passed on because he looked kind of intimidating. When I passed him, Matt looked at me and said "Are you gonna pray with him?" I looked back at him and was still scared to pray with him but I shot a quick prayer up to my Father and just prayed for the right words to say to this Guatemalan man that I could barely speak with because I barely speak any spanish. I walked up and said "Puedo orar por ti?" (Can I pray with you?) and he took his hat off and said "Si senor". I told the man that I speak "Poquito" (small amount) spanish and that I would pray in english. He looked at me and said "Dios no espanol, Dios no ingles." (God's not spanish, God's not english.) Just saying to me that God has no language barrier, that God understands every language so it didn't matter what language I prayed in. I got a staff member to interprate some of what he was saying and why he was there. He was there beause his wife having some sort of blood clot in her arm. We bowwed our heads to pray and I was about to start but he cut me off and just started balling and crying out to God in spanish. He opened his prayer with "Padre Dios". I've heard alot of spanish prayers in the almost three weeks that I've been here but nobody has opened it with the words "Father God" like this man did. He was passionate about it. After he finished, I prayed for him and his wife and stood up and told him "Dios La bendiga" (God Bless) and went on my way. I was walking around thinking about that man and what had just happened. What would have happened if I had not prayed for him because he was "intimidating". The blessing would of been missed on his and my part. I have no doubt God set that up. God gave me the wisdom I asked for and put me to the test.
Application.
I'm going to get on my knees and pray for the people I met at the outreach and ask God for wisdom every night this week.
James 1:5
If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.
I think there's times when we have trouble asking God for things. It's like we think we're setting ourselves up for disapointment because we might not get what we want. Or maybe we think the things we're asking for are unjust. As humans, there's gonna be alot of things that we lack, and alot of things that we pray for, but at the same time there's gonna be unanswered prayers. But this verse says that anyone who lacks wisdom should ask God and it will be given. I think it's wise to ask God for wisdom. Tonight I witnessed a great thing on wisdom. Me, some fellow interns, and some PFA staff went on an outreach to the emergency room here in Guatemala. Before we left I prayed that God would give me wisdom on this outreach. We were handing out bread with beans, coffee, and some church invtes to the people in the waiting room and we would also ask the people if they wanted us to pray with them. There was this old man with a cowboy hat in the waiting room. Matt walked up and gave him some bread and moved on. At first I passed on because he looked kind of intimidating. When I passed him, Matt looked at me and said "Are you gonna pray with him?" I looked back at him and was still scared to pray with him but I shot a quick prayer up to my Father and just prayed for the right words to say to this Guatemalan man that I could barely speak with because I barely speak any spanish. I walked up and said "Puedo orar por ti?" (Can I pray with you?) and he took his hat off and said "Si senor". I told the man that I speak "Poquito" (small amount) spanish and that I would pray in english. He looked at me and said "Dios no espanol, Dios no ingles." (God's not spanish, God's not english.) Just saying to me that God has no language barrier, that God understands every language so it didn't matter what language I prayed in. I got a staff member to interprate some of what he was saying and why he was there. He was there beause his wife having some sort of blood clot in her arm. We bowwed our heads to pray and I was about to start but he cut me off and just started balling and crying out to God in spanish. He opened his prayer with "Padre Dios". I've heard alot of spanish prayers in the almost three weeks that I've been here but nobody has opened it with the words "Father God" like this man did. He was passionate about it. After he finished, I prayed for him and his wife and stood up and told him "Dios La bendiga" (God Bless) and went on my way. I was walking around thinking about that man and what had just happened. What would have happened if I had not prayed for him because he was "intimidating". The blessing would of been missed on his and my part. I have no doubt God set that up. God gave me the wisdom I asked for and put me to the test.
Application.
I'm going to get on my knees and pray for the people I met at the outreach and ask God for wisdom every night this week.
Psalms 111:10
Ignite IBS
Psalms 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
What do you think of when you hear the word "fear"? I think of words like afraid, scared, and panic. I think alot of people misunderstand the term "fear the Lord". I used to not understand it. I used to always think of it like this, how can you love cliff diving if you have a fear of heights? How can you love your dad if he abuses you? It just never made since to me. How can I love God and fear God? But The Bible isn't talking about a fear that is deadening, but talking about a healthy fear. A clean fear. A respect. Like the verse says "A good understanding". Psalms 19:9 says "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgements of the Lord are true; They are righteous all togethor."
Application.
I'm going to ask Collin to pray for me to have and keep a healthy fear of God.
Psalms 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.
What do you think of when you hear the word "fear"? I think of words like afraid, scared, and panic. I think alot of people misunderstand the term "fear the Lord". I used to not understand it. I used to always think of it like this, how can you love cliff diving if you have a fear of heights? How can you love your dad if he abuses you? It just never made since to me. How can I love God and fear God? But The Bible isn't talking about a fear that is deadening, but talking about a healthy fear. A clean fear. A respect. Like the verse says "A good understanding". Psalms 19:9 says "The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgements of the Lord are true; They are righteous all togethor."
Application.
I'm going to ask Collin to pray for me to have and keep a healthy fear of God.
James 3:13-17
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James 3:13-17
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show you by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogent and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrasy.
"Do not be arrogent and so lie against the truth." That part was the part that stuck out to me. Saying be honest with others, be honest with God, be honest with yourself. I've known Matt for about 8 years and one thing that we are really good about is not just sharing with eachother but being 100% honest about the stuff that we're going through wether it be good or bad. I dont know how wise we are but I know we're both pretty understanding. If he doesn't feel like I'm being 100% honest, then he will call me on it, and he expects me to do the same for him. We help eachother be honest with ourselves. Even during these two weeks that we've been here we've talked alot about stuff that's just on our mind and struggles that we're having. We're human, we're gonna get jealous and we're gonna have selfish ambition at some point. The best thing to do about it is share it with somebody but more importantly share it with God and pray about it.
Application.
Ask a fellow intern what they're struggling with and pray with them about it.
James 3:13-17
13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show you by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogent and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrasy.
"Do not be arrogent and so lie against the truth." That part was the part that stuck out to me. Saying be honest with others, be honest with God, be honest with yourself. I've known Matt for about 8 years and one thing that we are really good about is not just sharing with eachother but being 100% honest about the stuff that we're going through wether it be good or bad. I dont know how wise we are but I know we're both pretty understanding. If he doesn't feel like I'm being 100% honest, then he will call me on it, and he expects me to do the same for him. We help eachother be honest with ourselves. Even during these two weeks that we've been here we've talked alot about stuff that's just on our mind and struggles that we're having. We're human, we're gonna get jealous and we're gonna have selfish ambition at some point. The best thing to do about it is share it with somebody but more importantly share it with God and pray about it.
Application.
Ask a fellow intern what they're struggling with and pray with them about it.
Mark 10:47-49
Ignite IBS
Mark 10:47-49
47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you."
What I really liked about this is where it says, "But he kept crying out all the more." That's just the best part for me. That he was getting shouted at to shut up, but he knew that Jesus could heal him so he kept on hollaring! It's just like that today. People tell you that what you're doing is hypocritical and full of hate. But in all reality we are trying to spread love. As Christians, no matter what, we're always gonna get hate from the world but that shouldn't stop us from reaching out and crying out all the more. You're gonna be looked down at, you're gonna get looks, you're gonna run into tough conversations, and you're gonna be sternly told to be quiet. But look at what happened to the blind man, he got his sight back for crying out to Jesus!
Application.
On Saturday at the Arch Outreach with cardboard testimonies, I'm going to pray outloud with atleast 3 people. No matter the language barrier.
Mark 10:47-49
47 When he heard that it was Jesus the Nazarene, he began to cry out and say, "Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!" 48 Many were sternly telling him to be quiet, but he kept crying out all the more, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" 49 And Jesus stopped and said, "Call him here." So they called the blind man, saying to him, "Take courage, stand up! He is calling for you."
What I really liked about this is where it says, "But he kept crying out all the more." That's just the best part for me. That he was getting shouted at to shut up, but he knew that Jesus could heal him so he kept on hollaring! It's just like that today. People tell you that what you're doing is hypocritical and full of hate. But in all reality we are trying to spread love. As Christians, no matter what, we're always gonna get hate from the world but that shouldn't stop us from reaching out and crying out all the more. You're gonna be looked down at, you're gonna get looks, you're gonna run into tough conversations, and you're gonna be sternly told to be quiet. But look at what happened to the blind man, he got his sight back for crying out to Jesus!
Application.
On Saturday at the Arch Outreach with cardboard testimonies, I'm going to pray outloud with atleast 3 people. No matter the language barrier.
Matthew 8:9-10
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Matthew 8:9-10
"For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave 'Do this!' and he does it." 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Isreal."
What really stuck out to me in this verse was the first part. "For I also am a man under authority". That was good for me to hear. It was humbling. It took me more than a few "read and re-reads" to get the verse. As soon as I started to understand it, my dad popped into my mind. As the son of a business owner, I see my dad work and be in authority of his men, telling them where to go and what to do. The main thing I see about my dad in that sense is that he has someone in authority over him, Jesus. I work for my dads company, so not only am I his son, I'm also one of his men. Just like I have faith that my dad will point me in the right direction as I drive off from the shop in the service truck, my dad has faith that God will point him in the right direction for his family, business, finances, and so much more. God has been working on my heart with 0obeying His authority and having faith that He will shape me into the leader He wants me to be. Because to be the best leader, you must first be the best follower.
Application.
I'm going to apply this to my life by consciously following God and have my room mate (Sam) to keep me accountable by telling him how I did for 5 days.
Matthew 8:9-10
"For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave 'Do this!' and he does it." 10 Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Isreal."
What really stuck out to me in this verse was the first part. "For I also am a man under authority". That was good for me to hear. It was humbling. It took me more than a few "read and re-reads" to get the verse. As soon as I started to understand it, my dad popped into my mind. As the son of a business owner, I see my dad work and be in authority of his men, telling them where to go and what to do. The main thing I see about my dad in that sense is that he has someone in authority over him, Jesus. I work for my dads company, so not only am I his son, I'm also one of his men. Just like I have faith that my dad will point me in the right direction as I drive off from the shop in the service truck, my dad has faith that God will point him in the right direction for his family, business, finances, and so much more. God has been working on my heart with 0obeying His authority and having faith that He will shape me into the leader He wants me to be. Because to be the best leader, you must first be the best follower.
Application.
I'm going to apply this to my life by consciously following God and have my room mate (Sam) to keep me accountable by telling him how I did for 5 days.
Luke 8:22-25
Ignite IBS
Luke 8:22-25
22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. 23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a feirce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and be in danger. 24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?
"Where is your faith?" That was the part that caught me. Put yourself in the disciples shoes for a sec. Jesus is on your boat in the middle of a storm...sleeping. That would deffinitely be a test of faith for me. Jesus was on the boat but wasnt doing a huge miraculous thing, and the disciples freaked out. Jesus was present but silent. Jesus knew what was going on but chose to be still. It really just goes to show that God is on His timing, not ours. I know I struggle with faith when I don't see God doing a huge miraculous thing in my life or in the people around me, when He is present but silent, when Jesus knows whats going on but chooses to be still. I need to focus more on what God DOES and HAS DONE rather than what He ISNT DOING or DIDN'T DO. Theres an older country song that says "Thank God for unanswered prayers." That has stuck with me for a while. I feel people pray for the things THEY want over the things that God wants for them. Think about it, if we got everything we ever asked for, we would be miserable. I'm not saying it's wrong to want something, I'm saying it's wrong to put your wants over Gods plan for you. We need to pray out of faith, pray out of trust, and pray for what the capital "G" GOD has for us.
Application.
I'm going to apply this to my life by praying outloud with one of the guys today about living through faith.
Luke 8:22-25
22 Now on one of those days Jesus and His disciples got into a boat, and He said to them, "Let us go over to the other side of the lake." So they launched out. 23 But as they were sailing along He fell asleep; and a feirce gale of wind descended on the lake, and they began to be swamped and be in danger. 24 They came to Jesus and woke Him up, saying, "Master, Master, we are perishing!" And He got up and rebuked the wind and the surging waves and they stopped, and it became calm. 25 And He said to them, "Where is your faith?" They were fearful and amazed, saying to one another, "Who then is this, that He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey Him?
"Where is your faith?" That was the part that caught me. Put yourself in the disciples shoes for a sec. Jesus is on your boat in the middle of a storm...sleeping. That would deffinitely be a test of faith for me. Jesus was on the boat but wasnt doing a huge miraculous thing, and the disciples freaked out. Jesus was present but silent. Jesus knew what was going on but chose to be still. It really just goes to show that God is on His timing, not ours. I know I struggle with faith when I don't see God doing a huge miraculous thing in my life or in the people around me, when He is present but silent, when Jesus knows whats going on but chooses to be still. I need to focus more on what God DOES and HAS DONE rather than what He ISNT DOING or DIDN'T DO. Theres an older country song that says "Thank God for unanswered prayers." That has stuck with me for a while. I feel people pray for the things THEY want over the things that God wants for them. Think about it, if we got everything we ever asked for, we would be miserable. I'm not saying it's wrong to want something, I'm saying it's wrong to put your wants over Gods plan for you. We need to pray out of faith, pray out of trust, and pray for what the capital "G" GOD has for us.
Application.
I'm going to apply this to my life by praying outloud with one of the guys today about living through faith.
Hebrews 11:6
Ignite IBS
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
When I read this, what do I think? I think about the word "impossible". The verse says it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith. When people tell me something is impossible, I have a hard time grasping what they mean. People (including myself) use the word so much in a illiteral sense that I have become numb to its actual meaning. Everybody knows what "impossible" means but I wanted to go deeper. So I looked it up in the dictionary. Impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done. Therefore without faith, the pleasing of God will not exist. Period. Lets go further in to the verse. It says "he who comes to God must believe that He is". This part stumbled me a bit. That He is what?? The answer to this lies in the verse. It's simple. He Is! He exists, He is possible! Not only is He possible, he has already proved Himself time and time again!
Application.
I have 2 applications for this. First, I'm going to watch the way I use words, so that when The Bible uses them I can soak it in better, fully understanding it! Second, to go to God with whatever I have and accept His rewards He has for me.
Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.
When I read this, what do I think? I think about the word "impossible". The verse says it is IMPOSSIBLE to please God without faith. When people tell me something is impossible, I have a hard time grasping what they mean. People (including myself) use the word so much in a illiteral sense that I have become numb to its actual meaning. Everybody knows what "impossible" means but I wanted to go deeper. So I looked it up in the dictionary. Impossible: not able to occur, exist, or be done. Therefore without faith, the pleasing of God will not exist. Period. Lets go further in to the verse. It says "he who comes to God must believe that He is". This part stumbled me a bit. That He is what?? The answer to this lies in the verse. It's simple. He Is! He exists, He is possible! Not only is He possible, he has already proved Himself time and time again!
Application.
I have 2 applications for this. First, I'm going to watch the way I use words, so that when The Bible uses them I can soak it in better, fully understanding it! Second, to go to God with whatever I have and accept His rewards He has for me.
Hebrews 11:1
Ignite IBS
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
So here's the question. What is faith? It is the subject of the whole verse. The core. We know that it is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. But how do we understand that? I looked up the deffinition of faith in the dictionary and found this. The deffinition of faith is "Confidence or trust, Religous belief, loyalty". Faith to me is more than just a deffinition though. As humans, to understand faith, we have to live with and through it. Practicing it everyday and not putting it off. Just like the first word says. "Now". It's the timeline. The base. The "When". Let your mind grasp the time of "Now". Not tomorrow. Not 2 thousand years ago. NOW!
Application.
I know it was a test of faith for me to come to Ignite, but that's not the end. I still struggle with faith. I mainly struggle with faith when I don't hear God or see Him, when He is silent. So today I'm working on putting feet with my faith. Being ok when I feel God is silent. Not getting down or doubtful when I don't get the goosebump feeling I want. After all, faith is the conviction of things NOT seen.
Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
So here's the question. What is faith? It is the subject of the whole verse. The core. We know that it is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. But how do we understand that? I looked up the deffinition of faith in the dictionary and found this. The deffinition of faith is "Confidence or trust, Religous belief, loyalty". Faith to me is more than just a deffinition though. As humans, to understand faith, we have to live with and through it. Practicing it everyday and not putting it off. Just like the first word says. "Now". It's the timeline. The base. The "When". Let your mind grasp the time of "Now". Not tomorrow. Not 2 thousand years ago. NOW!
Application.
I know it was a test of faith for me to come to Ignite, but that's not the end. I still struggle with faith. I mainly struggle with faith when I don't hear God or see Him, when He is silent. So today I'm working on putting feet with my faith. Being ok when I feel God is silent. Not getting down or doubtful when I don't get the goosebump feeling I want. After all, faith is the conviction of things NOT seen.
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