Wednesday, January 9, 2013
GCS Dominican Republic Trip
Highlights from GCS latest mission trip to the Dominican Republic in December of 2012
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Blessed
There is not a day that goes by that I am not reminded just how blessed I am. I have all that I need. In reality, I have most of what I want. Honestly, I am very well off compared to the rest of the world. Don't hear me wrong. I still struggle from month to month to make ends meet, but I don't worry about where my next meal is coming from or where I am going to lay my head down at night to sleep. I truly am blessed. Do I complain from time to time about my situation? Yes. Do I consider that to be ridiculous behavior? Yes, I do. Even with all that I have, and the understanding of the blessing of having it, I still feel like it is not enough and I should have or deserve more. I do not like having that sort of attitude. It frightens me that I think that I deserve better. You ever have these feelings?
Then I'm reminded of verses such as this found in Romans 2:4
"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
Truth is, in light of the gospel, I understand what I deserve. I understand what we all deserve. I understand that there is no one without excuse. I understand that I, in my humanity, I can not and will not ever be able to appease the judgement of a righteous and holy God. I am however, so thankful for a Father who loves me so much that He rescued me! I am thankful for the hope we have in the gospel. I am thankful that God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I leave you with this:
Romans 3: 21-31
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
Then I'm reminded of verses such as this found in Romans 2:4
"Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
Truth is, in light of the gospel, I understand what I deserve. I understand what we all deserve. I understand that there is no one without excuse. I understand that I, in my humanity, I can not and will not ever be able to appease the judgement of a righteous and holy God. I am however, so thankful for a Father who loves me so much that He rescued me! I am thankful for the hope we have in the gospel. I am thankful that God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
I leave you with this:
Romans 3: 21-31
21 But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it— 22 the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
27 Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. 28 For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. 29 Or is God the God of Jews only? Is he not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, 30 since God is one—who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith. 31 Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.
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