The element of change

Over this last month I have found myself asking, "what really matters?" (Sounds depressing I know but keep reading, hopefully you'll be encouraged.) Even though I don't live in the poorest area of the world I still can look out my window and see the effects of poverty right in front of my face. When you walk through the streets of a retired Tijuana garbage dump, the pueblos outside of Ensenada, or parts of the La Mision valley inevitably you're going to be surrounded by poverty, sickness and need. Our natural "Christian" instinct is to do something, to raise funds, to pass out food, to distribute clothing SOMETHING but Jesus says something very interesting in Mark 14:7 he says "For you will always have the poor with you, and whenever you wish you can do good to them; but you will not always have me." The words "you will always have the poor with you" rung very loudly in my ear. ALWAYS? Really Jesus? Always? So you're saying that no matter how big my food and clothing ministry grows to be; no matter how many orphans and widows I take in and provide shelter for there will always be the poor? Discouraging? Is it not? That no matter how hard and diligently we work, we will NEVER "fix" the problem of poverty. Now don't get me wrong, I know that the second part of that verse says, "Whenever you wish you can do good to them." I also understand the Matthew 25:40 verse that says "...to whatever extent you did to these brothers of Mine, even to the least of them, you did it to Me." I am in NO WAY discrediting the feeding, clothing or caring for the poor. It is a vital part of our Christian walk and was definitely a significant part of Jesus' ministry here on earth, but was it His main focus? Are clothing, feeding and educating the poor what our main focus should be? If we feed, clothe and educate a million poor people WITHOUT the gospel being shared, without Christ's name at the forefront of our efforts isn't everything we're doing pointless? If Oprah were to say... "Look, I've fed millions, look I've clothed and educated 10,000 African children this year," wouldn't we as bible believing Christians say "good job Oprah, where's the Jesus?" Point is, it is your job to allow the Holy Spirit to make you the element of change WHEREVER God has placed you; but not worldly change, gospel change. The change that that caused thousands to come to Christ on the day of Pentecost, the change that Paul encouraged Titus to bring about on the island of Crete, the change that is currently taking place all over the world. That is WHAT we're supposed to do! A while back I heard a sermon entitled "Jesus' favorite phrase" the point the pastor was making was that we constantly see Jesus saying the phrase "the kingdom of God is here!" We're in it, SHARE IT! Share by whatever means God gives you. If that's feeding the poor, do it! If it's clothing and educating underprivileged children, do it! If that's working at a desk pushing papers, do it! Wherever God has placed you, serve Him but MAKE HIS NAME FIRST. Glorifying Him MUST be our priority in everything we do... the praise of man is worthless compared to hearing the words "well done my good and faithful servant."

That's that guys!!!

How can you be praying:

-bible study is going wonderfully! I've got about 8-10 boys showing up weekly and Renae has 4-8 girls coming weekly to her place. Pray that the Holy Spirit would take over each and every meeting we have. Pray that the words flowing from our mouths would penetrate the hearts of each and ever kid. God's brought them here for a reason, there's no doubt of that.

-Oct. 2nd there is a large youth conference happening in Ensenada. We'll be taking our youth group there and are expecting a turn out of 200+ kids. I'll be teaching a class entitled "healthy relationships." Please pray that God would be preparing the kids hearts even now and ever one of us teachers to teach His truth and His word.

-Being that "element of change" I just talked about. It's still something I'm working on and will continue to strive towards. Pray that there would never be any timidity, or hesitation in sharing and speaking truth in EVERY opportunity given to me.