Paramedic vs Policeman

I LOVE ANALOGIES!!

Last week, as I was visiting a great friend in Nashville, I heard a sermon that has stuck with me all week. While the pastor trailed off on many tangents throughout his sermon, and quite honestly lost me a few times, one tangent led him to demand that the congregation be paramedics rather than policemen. While my mind had been twisted and mangled trying to grasp what exactly he was trying to state in the comments leading up to this statement, everything seemed to unravel in an instant with this brief comment, "We are to be paramedics, not policemen."

As the pastor continued back to the heart of the message, I sat pondering this thought. I was awestruck thinking about how we as Christians often accuse, accuse, accuse, yet we very rarely stop and assist a person "to good health" aka a strong relationship with Christ. Somehow with one sentence, my whole perspective was adjusted. I have never desired to be the accusing, hypocritical Christian, but I fell into the trap. (I wouldn't be human if I hadn't.) I spent my drive home Monday still mulling over this concept from Sunday morning, and I prayed that God would transform me from a policeman to a paramedic in all aspects of my life.

As I shared some intimate time with my Heavenly Father, He spoke to me through a direct application in my life. (I love when a good sermon can be directly applied to my daily life.) My thoughts were pulled toward school and my students. God opened my eyes to the children some would consider the "problem" kids, and I heard Him clearly say, "They need you to be their paramedic." Wow, talk about direct application!! I continued to pray, and I asked God that He would help me to become just that. I asked that He would revamp my attitude. I prayed that He would help me to discipline with love and follow through with encouragement to change the behavior. 

Lo and behold, only God knew what I'd be walking into on Tuesday when I returned. My kids were mean to each other, whiny, and very disobedient. I needed the strength of God, and I needed it quick. I wanted to be the paramedic, but all I could do was call out the misbehavior and move on. On Wednesday, I was led to a book that I had recently purchased called, "The Three Questions." This book led my class into a deep discussion about: 1) When is the most important time. 2) Who is the most important one? 3) What is the right thing to do. Thankfully a student took a Godly perspective of the story, and little did I know, but this book would be the start of something great among my students. I was able to use this story to introduce a "paramedic" aspect, and while change wasn't immediate for the entire class, many of my students quickly changed their behavior. 

I'm still pondering this analogy and trying to figure out what it means in all areas of my life. This message could not have come at a better time, and it totally changed my perspective of Christianity. I mean, we all know we're not supposed to be hypocritical, but do we go out of our way to help those in need rather than just calling out their mistakes or ignoring them altogether? Just something to think about...

The Devil Has No Foothold

If you're from the area or read the few discrete comments made in a previous entry, you know that earlier this school year our school district came under attack for a Bible program offered at school during school. The Bible program was immediately ceased, and the Christian organization in town began devising a new plan of action that would be commendable by the law while also providing this unique program for our elementary students.

At the time this was all happening, I had a child in my class come to me very upset. She was disheartened that the Bible program had been cancelled because her parents would not take her to church and she enjoyed these weekly, 20 minute encounters with God. Whether or not she knew the depth of it all is not for me to judge. I was heartbroken for her, but the situation was beyond my control. However, her pain led me to pray harder for the resumption of the program and to try more diligently to live out a Godly example and sneak "God" comments into my teaching.

Today new Bible forms were sent home. The Christian Association in town has contrived a way to take the kids to an off-campus location every other week for these Bible classes. It will still take place during the day which is permissible because we already attend school more then the required number of hours each day. As I passed out the forms at the end of the day, this same little girl burst into a smile as she ran around the classroom chanting, "We get church! We get church!" It was hard for me to get her to calm down and gather her things to go home. As the smile spread even wider, I knew that this was just another defeat of my God on Satan.

It's children like this little girl that make the Bible program worth it. It's moments like this that remind me that no matter how "bad" things may get, God is in control. We serve an awesome God, and even in the trials His love and grace will always prevail. 

Continued...A Newsletter from Long Ago

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and with this picture, I believe that to be true.

You see, if the photographer of this picture knew even half of what was going on in my mind on this day in June 2007, on this desolate beach in Peru, she may have set me down, forced me to pour out my emotions, and talked me through my conflicting thoughts. However, she did not know the stirrings of my soul in this moment as she innocently snapped a photo that leaves me speechless every time I run across it. 

As I stood on this beach, nearly 4 years ago, God continued revealing to me a path of life which would take me two more years to fully discover. It was at this place that I began to wonder about a future in Peru, but I still convinced myself it was a crazy dream and not a reality. Nearing the end of a two week mission trip, here I stood marveling at all that God had done in me and through me during this experience. I was a changed person; however, at the time, I didn't realize how changed I truly was.

Words cannot adequately describe the longing, brokenness, and pain that would follow me back to the States. My heart was changed forever, and my passion for Peru grew daily. 

If you've read my blog, you know how the story goes from here.

Needless to say, I am so grateful for this day in June 2007 and this quiet beach that allowed my mind to wander off deep in thought. I'm thankful for the friend who snapped this photo not knowing how meaningful it would later become. But ultimately, I'm in love with the Creator of this beach who never gives up on me even when I try to pass off his voice as my own crazy idea. 

And just in case you're wondering...since this day nearly 4 years ago, I have poured out my conflicting emotions and deepest thoughts to the friend who took the above picture. She is an amazing woman of God and one of many who encouraged me to follow God's call to teach in Peru. 

A Newsletter from Long Ago

Tonight as I was searching for old lesson plans on an animal unit I taught during student teaching, I came across some of my Spanish papers from high school. It was interesting to read articles written by my fellow classmates in Spanish just 6 years ago...to see what they planned to do with their lives compared to what I know of them now. As I read the articles, I was saddened by a few classmates who had big dreams for life after high school graduation but have since chosen the path of partying including drinking and drugs. However, there were also some articles that caused me to smile as what started as a "small" dream has since been handed over to God and formed into a pretty wild ride, changing the world one person at a time.

I was a little nervous to read the article I had written, so I passed it by the first time through and continued to read about my classmates. I was afraid my life would fall short of my dreams, and I didn't want to be a disappointment to myself or my peers. I didn't want to be one of those people my classmates would feel "sad" for as they realized that my life hadn't gone as I planned. However, eventually I was brought back to my article, and I realized I'm not too far off.

In my article I talked of moving to the Dominican Republic to teach children and do ministry. 

Later I wrote that I wanted to travel to other places such as Peru and Spain. 

It's interesting that having never been out of the country at this point in my life, God was already preparing me for the path ahead. While I didn't exactly end up in the D.R. I did end up living in Peru for a short time (and plan to go back). I taught children, and I did ministry with Kids Alive. I LOVED every aspect of it (well, almost everything).

Basically what I'm getting at is that at this time I thought the things I wrote were simply "dreams". I remember our teacher telling us to DREAM BIG and write whatever came to mind. Therefore, I dreamed really big, never imagining those dreams would become reality. God knew what He was doing the whole time...sadly, it took me two trips to Peru and lack of a job to realize that for myself :)

Eres Favorecido

Last evening I was unable to sleep. My mind was racing with heavy feelings for my friends, God's grace on me as a lowly human being, and how I was going to incorporate more of Christ into my every day living so that there is not even an ounce of doubt that I am a passionate follower of Christ.

Finally about 12:30 I decided that rather than lay in bed with my eyes open and my mind racing, it would be better to spend some time in prayer. As I began to pray, I had a heavy feeling pressing me to listen to a sermon from my church in Peru. I used to listen to these weekly, but I haven't listened to them in a while. I didn't want to get out of bed to get my computer and take the time to start it up, so I passed off the "thought" as a crazy idea that maybe I would do later. However, as I continued to pray and after I finished, that prompting didn't go away, and I became curious as to why after months of not listening to these podcasts would I randomly have a "desire" to listen to one. I gave in, got out of bed, grabbed my computer, and logged on to the podcast. There were 4 available to watch, all from the month of December. I wasn't sure which to choose, so I asked God which one was meant for me. I quickly heard his response, "December 12", and I realized my cursor was already highlighting that exact sermon.

I took some notes, and thought I would share the most important points.

• We are all children of God; it is up to us whether or not we accept His favor upon our lives.
• When someone has chosen the favor of God they are changed. We see this change in their smile, bright eyes, and the way they love others.
• You are blessed by God; you are favored by God.
• God has blessed you with everything that you have. There will always be people that have less than you and need more than you. 
• Whatever talents you have been given were given to you in order that you use them to glorify the Lord.
• Many times we do not recognize the blessing God has placed on our lives. We ought to be grateful for the things that HE has given us. 
• When much has been given, much is required. When God asks us to do something, it is always to advance His kingdom. 
• We have been blessed by God in order that we may in turn bless others.
• The world is waiting. There are people that are desperate to know the love and peace that only God can give. They are waiting for you to reach out to them and show them the mercy of Christ. You may be the only one to ever reach a specific person. 
• God is faithful. If we do as He asks, He will take care of the details. That which is impossible for man is possible for God. 
• The favor of God does not depend on how you feel. Sometimes the favor of God does not feel good, but in the end, everything is for His glory. Sometimes we think that what we are doing has no worth, but God is using us even when we don't realize it. 
• Look at what God has done throughout your life. Everything, good and bad, has occurred in order to help us to grow in faith and love.

Another great example of why I miss Peru so much...my Pastor Robert Barringer hits me on the spot all the time!! Lo and behold, this sermon hit right on the spot with my thoughts, and after hearing it, I quickly drifted off to sleep for 7 1/2 straight hours.

Earlier in the day I had read a short blog about serving others and living out the

will of God in 2011. At the end of the blog there was a quote listed

by Donald Miller. It went something like this...

"I will not watch 2011. I will participate!"

My question for you is...

Pasion para Servir! Lo tienes?? = Passion to Serve! Do you have it?