Philippians 2:8 now, "And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death on the cross."
        Jesus knew who He was! He knew He was God. He knew all the power He had, He could have just made everybody obediant to Him. He could just destroy the earth and start over or not ever again. I think that we often assume that God won't take our life away. He can! What is stopping God from destroying the earth? It's His love, and we are taking advantage of His love. We are not giving everything to Him as is "are reasonable service." We own everything to the One who gave His life to save our lives. I find it sad that some people say to God " thanks for saving me" but, then they go about their day like nothing happen. ( If this isn't you then I am not talking to you, I'm talking to those to whom this applies.) I was once like that, I would wake up in the morning and go about my day without even thinking of God and what He has done for me. I only talked to Him if I needed something. I only talked to Him if I needed help, obviously I was not in total surrender to His will in my life. However, I have come to a point of total surrender, and it was scary at first. I
had no idea what was going to happen. I simply said "ok Lord, I am here. Do what you want to do. This body, which you made, is yours." He then began a new chapter in my life and it hurt. I was broken, shattered really but, I needed to be. If He didn't do that, I would not have changed. Something He has shown me is that I had something in my life that I worshipped more than Him and that needed to be taken away. It hurt but, again it was needed to be done. Things still get in the way but, they are easier to push aside now. I have a much an actual relation with Jesus now and it's only getting better! I'm not saying that life if getting better, if anything, it's going to get harder. However, Jesus is with me, to help me get through the tough times and to lead people to Him. There are going to be storms but, the storms are not nothing in comparison to the eternal life I will
have in heaven with God! I encourage anyone who is living like I was to surrend to God and let Him have His way. It is hard, believe me I know it's hard but, I also know that there is nothing better than to be in the Potter's hands. He will neither leave nor forsake you. Please make the change in your life. You don't have to go on missions, that's not what I'm saying. Just let the Lord direct your steps. Just say in the morning " Lord please direct me to where You want me to go, to say what You want me to say, and to do what You want me to do." It's a daily thing too. Every day I get up I'm in a battle but, God is there with me, not to mention my teammates as well. I can prove the change in my life by looking at my first blog post, what a difference! I love God for His love and mercy!
            I will hold on to the promise of John 3:16 and continue to let God have His way in my life. Praise be to God for His unsearchable ways and His kindness.

 Now here is another IBS, Philippians 2:7 " but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant and coming in the likeness of men."
 Jesus left everything to come down to earth and save us from our sins, let me say that again. Jesus, God's Son, left all the joys of being in heaven and came down to earth and to serve a horrible bunch of people and also die for them. I know a few people that they think they are doing a great service when they go on a mission trip for a week or two. What they're doing is good but, their hearts usually are not in the right place. Then they go home to America and say "what a great person I am for helping those people." I'm talking about myself actually. I thought I was a great person for just two weeks of service. Now I am here in Guatemala and serving people for 9 months and I don't think I am worthy to do this. Please don't think I using false modesty because I'm not. I really don't think I'm worthy to do this for God but, He has given me the great honor to do so. Not that I have some great quality or that God needs me, because He doesn't. That is why I say it is a great honor to do this.
 Now Jesus left heaven and everything in it. I didn't leave everything I had in America. I have some of my things that I could have left but, I didn't. Jesus takes on the form of a bondservant. I am here serving but, not like He did. I am being treated very well, not like a slave would be. Even if I get the job of cleaning toilets, Jesus washed people's feet. I can use a brush and some kind of soap for a toilet, Jesus used His hands. I cannot say it enough that No one can out do Jesus. People have told me I'm doing a great service and they are right but, Jesus did way better then I could do in my whole life on this earth. Doesn't mean that I will give up doing good works, it just means that I am not as good as Jesus and never will be. I will continue to serve as unto the Lord God Almighty and praise be to God for the great honor to serve He has given me.

     Ok on to Philippians 2:5-6 " let this mind be in you which is in Christ Jesus, who being in th form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God."
     I am not Jesus, so naturally I don't think like Him. In the same way I'm not my brothers or sisters, so I don't think like them either. However, I need to think like Jesus does. The phrase " What Would Jesus Do?" comes to mind. Years ago I didn't even consider what Jesus would do for I thought I couldn't even begin to think what He would do. This is because I didn't know Him Like I do today. I have heard it was said that when you hang around with someone, you start to act just like them. If you are with them a lot you can predict what they are going to say or do. With this knowledge, I realize I must hang around with Jesus to be able to know how to be like Him. I can't say I have been around Him enough, who can say that for that matter but, I want to be around Him more often. Tonight I plan to ask Him to show Himself to me as I start to read the gospels. Praise be to God for His Love and correction.

     IBS Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others."
     I am very greatful to that of my parents who have lived out this verse when taking care of my sibling and I. They took care of us even when we were being difficult and disobediant. As a child I didn't know how I hard I was being for my parents. Now I see how much my parents looked out for not only me but my whole family. I am have been greatly blessed to have the parents I have. They are a living example of how a family should be and I will not forget that. I found out when I was 16 that my family is a rare one. I heard so many stories of divorce and immorality that many parents would commit. Leaving their children torn and confused. How do you tell a child, "we just don't love eachother anymore"? They will not understand why. They are too young to even begin to understand why daddy, their hero who is tall and strong and they feel safe around him, and mommy, their angel even if she isn't beautiful they think she is for they know who she is, can't stay together. My heart is broken for these children and anger is stired towards what the parents are doing. I know how
important both parents are. Dad teaches by living out the way a man in the house should be and likewise mom, shows how a woman should be in the house. They also are there to lead the children to God, which my parents did. Not only that but, they have been a big support for my siblings and I. They through love, even though I didn't think it was love at the time, disciplined us. I could go on forever about how much my parents have done for my family and I but, That would take up a lot of everyone's time. I'll just say a few more things. My parents are a great example but, it's because they learned from the greatest example in the universe. God had shown them how to treat others. They are a testiment to God's love and how it effects a family. Pastors are also like that of parents. We are being taught by all these great pastors. They are looking out for us and teaching us how things will go, out in the world. They care about us so much as to tell us to watch out for certain things. If I am wise, I will listen to the words of these pastors. Not only the pastors but, my parents as well for both care for my well being.
     With that all that said, I want to be just like my dad who took care of his family. Who also followed God in times of trouble and didn't just give up when their marriage got rough. My prayer is " God, please mold me into a man like my father, a man who will follow You and look out for the intrests of others, a man who will not leave his wife and children for selfish desires, thank You God for your love and mercy on me, amen."

     The IBS today is Philippians 2:3 "Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself."
     Why do we do the things we do? Is it to help others or to lift ourselves up? Do we actually love our neighbor or do we secretly want somthing in return? These are all valid questions that I think should be asked very often. I myself like to help people but, sometimes it's because I want to be reckonized as someone great. Or sometimes it because they have something I want and I'll help them so that I might get it from them in return. We are called to love our neighbor as our we would love our selves. How often do we think of ourselves? I don't know about you all but, I know that I think of myself very often. Not too long ago I took it to the other extreme, where I would tell myself over and over these very words "I am trash, they are gold. I am trash, they are gold." The passage says lowliness of mind but, it doesn't mean that low. This wasn't a very heathy way for me to think, for I easily got depressed and let myself fall back into sin that I thought would comfort me but, left me in worse condition then I was in. Sure I was helping others for their benefit but, left myself out in the cold when I didn't have to. Love your neighbor as your self. It's ok to some extent to love yourself, for if you didn't love yourself how would you know how much to love your neighbor? My little sister said something to my mother about me and my little brother. Now my little brother and I love our little sister and we do things for her without question and hardly without thinking about it. So what she said to mom was "don't tell Tim or Sam I said this mom but, when they get girlfriends, who is going to get me gifts or play with me? Now don't get my little sister wrong, she loves us and I know she loves the time we spend with her far better than the gifts we get her. Anyway, my point is that I love my sister in a very heathy way. She is family but, also my neighbor. Something my sister also said about me specifically was, when I was filling out the application for Ignite. The application asked for two weaknesses and that was easy for me to fill out, too easy but, the next question was fill out two strengths and I was stumped by that one. When my little sister heard I could anwser it she said, " that's an easy one Sam they are honesty and generousity!" Now I don't actually think very highly of myself and I don't say this as false modesty or anything because I truly don't think highly of myself. However, to hear her say that without even thinking was nice to hear. To know that she knew me and what my strengths are is very comforting and God knows I needed to hear that.
     I'll close with just one more thing, God has used my little brother and sister greatly in my life to show me these things and because of them I want to be seen by how they see me, not how I want to be seen. I will continue to be honest and generous for God and for my little sister. Thank you for your time.

    This IBS is Hebrews 13:17 "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you."
    The first part is "obey those that rule over you, and be submissive" Well, the first question is who are those who rule over us? It could be our parents, our boss, or our government. Obviously if the government goes against God we don't follow them but, do we obey the rules they set in place that don't go against God? Do you believe God is in complete control? Then believe God put all the leaders on earth in their positions for a reason and obey them in the Lord. It's actually that simple and if you want to know if they are against God in a matter. Pray to God and then read His word, waiting for Him to tell you so.
    The second part is why God put them there, or one of the reasons. "for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account." I would not want to be a leader that did not lead people in the ways of the Lord. Because he "will" have to give an account for the things he did. How scary it is know that, I'm not just talking about the president or your boss. The pastor of the church has to give an account as well. Maybe you are the leader, if so then it may be time to check what you do in your position. If you can't see anything wrong then I suggest praying that God will show you if something is wrong. He did in my life and I know He will for you. Things I didn't even realize were in the way hindered me from a closer relationship with Him and that's why I suggest praying to Him. Your life won't be the same.
    The third and final part is "Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." We are to let those who rule over us do it with joy and not with grief. Not that they are going to boss us around and have fun doing it but, we shouldn't cause them any pain or be hard to work with. I know this in my own life. I've had a horrible leader who would blame me for everything. I admit that some of it was my fault but, not all of it. I wanted to defend myself and say things but, once I thought about it, it wouldn't be very Christ like to do so. So, even though I wanted to fight, I held my tongue and it worked out better than it would have if I fought back. Once he got out what he wanted to say and I didn't say a thing, it ended right there. What would I actually gain from fighting back? My pride, my dignity, and my honor. Did you see all the pronouns in that? Only I would benefit from it. God would not have benefited from it, My testimony would most likely be destroyed and I wouldn't be able to witness to him. I would actually bring shame on my family's name. Not mention on God's name. I actually gain more for not fighting than for fighting, funny old world isn't it?
    I pray God will continue to show me what I need to change to be more like Him.

    This IBS is both Ephesians 6:1 "Children obey your parents in the Lord for this is right." and Colossians 3:20 "Children obey your parents in all things, for this is well pleasing to the Lord."
    Well, Children should obey their parents. However, who are the children? I think that often we think that because we are older, we don't have to obey are parents. I'm reminded of my mother and how she will still call me her baby and she is right, I still am her child. Being away from home makes me miss my Mom and Dad, not to mention the rest of my family.
    I need to realize that I'm also a child of God. If I then am a child of God, He is my Heavenly Father. If He then is my Heavenly Father I must obey Him. Not that I don't want to, I'm just giving another reason to obey God. He is a wonderful Father too. My Dad is great as well but, I must obey God first. Why not obey God anyway? He made me, do I need any other reason than that? I don't think so. God has given me life and the chance to serve Him. He doesn't need me here in Guatemala but, He gives me the opportunity to come here.
    So often many of us say "God needs me to do this" which is fine but, we "need" to realize that God doesn't need us at all. He made us yes but, He doesn't need us. For if we were to keep silent even the stones would cry out. God can make the stones sing of His Name. He can do anything but, sin, so He truly doesn't need us. However, He does want to use us and that is a great honor.
    Thank you for reading.

    Today's IBS is Romans 6:16 "Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one's slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?"
    We are given a choice in life, either serve God or the world. Nobody is going to make that choice for us and there is no neutral ground. We either go to God through Jesus to eteral life or, to the world to eternal death and suffering. I pray that we chose Jesus because it would be horrible not to see you all in heaven.
    We are slaves in this world, even if we don't want to acknowledge it. However, even though we are slaves, we can chose who we are slaves to. When I read this passage I'm reminded of the bondservant. A bondservant is a man who after serving 10 years so as a slave, is set free but, chooses to stay a servant to his master because he was so good to him. I have to tell you that God is the best master you'll ever have. He Won't leave nor forsake you. If you choose sin "which leads to death", Not just death physically but spiritually too. You Will Not Like the Result of your choice! I promise you!
    So, here is the question everyone must answer whether they like it or not. Whom do you serve? Think about it. I know I have. I choose Jesus!

   Hello again everyone!
   Today I want to share my IBS (Inductive Bible Study) with you. The verse for today is John 14:15 "If you love me keep my commandments"
  This verse is actually very clear and easy to understand. If we love God we should keep His commandments. Very simple however, not as asdone as it is said. I don't always keep God's commandments. I certainly try but, I am a sinner.
   I pray that God will show me what I need to change in my life to glorify Him.
   Praise be to God who will neither leave nor forsake me.

  It is so amazing that God is so gracious to give us his word. I'm constantly blown away by His word. Many things have happened these past few weeks and they were hard to deal with. However, because of the grace of God I am still here. I honestly believe that if God wasn't with me I would be dead. There have been times in my life that have completely overwhelmed me and I wished I was dead but, because of the Holy Spirit is with me. I am alive and writing this to you all now. The Holy Spirit Is the Great Comforter that God used to get me through those hard times. I am so grateful to God for all that He does and hope you all have the Holy Spirit inside you. For I know how much He can help each and every one of you.

           Hello all once again. I am glad to again be able to report the things that go on here. This has been a great experiance for me. I have learned so much from the staff and my team. I have also learned more about God. I honestly have learned more about God here than all the time I was at home. Not that home was bad, I just wasn't in the word of God. So in a way, it was my fault I hadn't learned so mush about God.
           I have had my spirit broken three times here. Not a fun thing to go through but, a necessary thing to go through. God has shown me so much about myself and His love for me. I am glad I went through the refiners fire.
           Well that's all I have now, I will report back ASAP. Praise be to God for He will neither leave nor forsake me.

    And I'm back with more info.
   
  Kids club happened today and it was fun to play with the kids. I don't much Spanish but, that doesn't matter to them. They play with me regardless. I don't know how to post pictures yet, but here goes nothing!

         YAY!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Five weeks into the program and I can now get this blog going :)
First of all I would like to think you all for waiting so patiently. I know you must have been wondering why I wasn't posting a blog. Well, here it is!

    First week was very difficult for me. I'm not a very social person, and suddenly thrust into a small community. Thankfully they all believe in Jesus and we have that common ground. I honestly don't have much in common with them beside Jesus. However, Jesus is all the common ground I need.
    I was broken the first week, too. Not an easy thing to go through but, a very necessary thing. For if God doesn't break me He can not use me. I was in tears all through the process and it was very painful but, as I said before it was necessary.
    Second week was fun and getting used to having friends my own age was interesting. I don't have many friends that are my age. It was hard to be with them because of that and the fact that they know things like famous bands and such. I don't know such things like that. It's still hard to be with them but, it's getting easier.
   Well internet is about to be turned off so that's all for today. I will make another post as soon as possible. Praise be to God.