In the world, but not of the world

Did you ever play that game “which is different?” when you were a kid? Where you have to look at a set of pictures and find out what things are different in each of them? Well, thats kind of what its like being a christian, or a missionary. People are constantly looking at our lives and trying to see what is different about us. 

I am blessed to have been raised on the mission field. But with this, it meant that I would be different wherever I went. On the field I am different because I am considered to be “the outsider” (even though I was born and raised here), and when I go back to the States I am different because I wasn’t raised there, and I am a MK. But this made me realize that that must have been what Christ felt like when He was on earth 2000 years ago. And this leads me to a question, why are we so scared of being different from the world? After all, Christ did come all the way to earth to save us from our miserable state, to set us free from the bonds of hell, and saved us with his marvelous grace so that we would be different from this lost world. I think the answer is pride, and self consciousness. We are scared of what others might think of us. We are bombarded day after day on the internet, and on social media, and on the streets, and in magazines, with what the world says we should dress like or act like. And we don’t want to lose face with our peers. The worst prison that people live in is fear of what others might think. If we are not careful with all the things we see and hear each day, we start wanting to become like the world. And the Bible tells us that that is how Lot fell. 2 Peter 2:7-8 ”7-And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: 8- (For that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day with their unlawful deeds.”  Sometimes what we don’t realize is that everything around us is influencing our spiritual life. First we start by just looking, then we start wondering what it would be like to go to those parties and to dress like that and to do those things, after all, they do it and nothing happens to them!! Well, thats the part where we start making excuses for why we can do those things, and before we know it we are off in sin, and with a broken heart. As my mom always says, “All that glitters isn’t gold.” And sin isn’t all that its cracked up to be. And what we fail to realize, is that God has called us to such a higher calling, then just being like everyone else. Everybody can be like everybody else, but being different, well, that takes courage, but it also speaks highly to the people who are around you. God’s desire for us is to be different, and to shine as lights in this world. 2Corinthians 6:17 “Where fore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,…”  Then comes the question, “Why should I be different?” And here is the answer, young lady God has made you so very special, and you carry a very important treasure inside of you! 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.” And his purpose for your life is that you would share that treasure with the world through the power that is in Him.  And don’t be shocked, if when you do decide to take the “high road” if people around you start noticing it, or start commenting on it. The bible says in 1Peter 3:15 “ But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give and answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”   And this next verse that I will share with you is such an encouragement to me. John 15:18 “If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.” That verse for me just makes it a whole lot easier to go through life. When people look at you ugly, just remember that verse. They’re not mad or angry at you, they are mad or angry at the one you have living in you. 1 John 3:13 “Marvel not, brethren, if the world hate you.”  Hold your head up high, be willing to be different. Remember you are a daughter of the King, so act like one! 1Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a ROYAL priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous LIGHT.” 

{Anna}

Pride and Patience

Hey everyone!! Elizabeth here :) Miera, our other blogger, is unable to continue with the blog. However, I will still be posting, and I will be announcing the replacement blogger soon! :) 
In the meantime, a very sweet lady from my church was so gracious to let me post one of her devotionals she did at a Bible study not too long ago. I hope it's as much of a blessing to you as it was to me!! 


For me personally, I have a very hard time being patient. I was raised as an only child, and was used to things running my way. I wasn't a brat, I didn't demand or expect things, my parents always  asked my opinion and let me make decisions. Usually small things like what resturant we ate at, or  what activites we did. I as I grew older I got used to telling people how things should be done and was under the opinon that I was right.  Most of the time I could persuade poeple ( especially my parents) to see things my way. So when I became an adult, and got married, things became very hard.  My husband didn't see things as I did, and didn't want to do everything that I wanted to do. Sometimes he wanted to eat somewhere different or watch a guy movie instead of a chickflick. Unfortunately it offended me, because afterall, my choices and desires were the right ones.
Not all of us have had the same upbringing. Not all of us were only children, but all of us, in some form, believe that we are right and entitled to happiness. We get so upset if anyone else dares to treat us poorly. If we are driving and someone cuts us off, or honks at us, we are outraged. We think "how dare that person treat me like that" or "I'm running late, they'd better get out of my way". I think that our lack of patience with others is because we are brimming with pride. We are so full of selfish pride, that we feel no one should ever cross us, or be rude to us, or make us wait. As Christians, the worst pride is our self-righteousness. We see ourselves as "higher up" than other "sinners". We might not struggle with a certain sin that they do, therefore we are better. That is , as long as we don't acknowledge the sin we keep hidden, like pride.  We become outraged if someone at church steps on our toes, or if we don't get praised and reconized for something we did that was great.
Luke 18:10-14  "10- Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. 11- The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. 12- I fast twice in the week,  I give tithes of all that I possess. 13- And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. 14- I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted."
Here the Pharisee is so proud of his righteousness, and boasts about how great he is. His heart is full of himself and swelling with pride. He wasn't there to please God, he just wanted others to see how he kept all the rules and lived an outwardly perfect life. Verse 14 tells us that the sinner went away justified, because he humbled himself.
To be patient, we must let go of selfish pride. We have to humble ourselves, and put others feelings before our own.  Leviticus 19:18 "Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the Lord."  1 Corinthians 13:4 teaches that love is patient. "Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up" Charity which is love, is long suffering and patient, it's kind and not proud.
Patience is a virtue we must ask God to help us cultivate. We cannot witness and show others God's love, if we are huffing and puffing, or slamming doors because things aren't going our way. The definition of patience is - the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset.
When others get snippy with us, or things aren't how we want them to be, we need to stop ourselves from biting back. We need to see ourselves as the sinners God saved. He always stays patient and loving with us, no matter how much we fail him. We are grateful of His mercy and grace to us, but the minute someone irritates us, we lose our tempers and our testimony. We must show God's love to others, by loving them with His love. His love is patient and forgiving. Give others the patience you would want to be shown.

-Amy 

~WHEREVER YOU ARE~

 -Are you standing at a crossroad

Wondering which road you should take?
And you're dreading
The decision
And a possible mistake
But the will of God won't lead you
Where the grace of God can't keep you
You will never be out of His care
Remember that the Lord's already there

(chorus)
Wherever you are
Wherever you're going
God is right there beside you
Seeing and knowing
Wherever you go
He already knows
What lies ahead and what's behind
You'll always find that He's never too far
From wherever you are

-You are waiting
To hear thunder
And see lightening in the sky
Oh, but God can
Work His wonders
Through a still small voice inside
Just keep listening and learning
And continue on your journey
Following the One who is the way
He's the only road you need to take

By: Joyce Martin McCullough, Harrie McCullough, Joel Lindsey