Spanish Blog: Before Time Began

   *Click here to read the story behind my Spanish Blog

 

There was a girl who fell in love.  She was not looking for love, but Love itself conceived of her, and pursued her, and slowly overpowered her, melting away all of her defenses and replacing them with gratitude.

 

 

As I have said in previous posts, the Creator God has captured my affections, and I am here in Peru as a response to the beauty and majesty of His great plan for the universe.  Apart from God’s work in my life I know that I am nothing, but my King has seen fit to include me in His conquest for the hearts of men—His marvelous plan to spread His kingdom over the whole world.  The Infinite has lifted the finite to walk alongside Him, learn from Him, and find its purpose in Him.  In this blog, I shall endeavor to share some of this journey—my journey with my King.

 

 

I have often heard the Christian life referred to as an adventure, a journey, a battle, or a friendship. But the description that has always seemed the most applicable to my life as a Christian is one that I hear used far less often.  When I think back on God’s working in my life from even before I trusted in Jesus as my Savior until the present, the best single word description I know of is a romance.  I love Joni Earickson Tada’s words, “He’ll say, shall we dance, and our endless romance will be worth all the tears I have cried!”  In context, Joni is talking about our relationship with our Heavenly Father when we reach heaven, however I firmly believe that He initiated our relationship long before that. 

 

 

You might expect that my journey began when I came to know the Lord for the first time, or even when I was born into this world.  But many verses in the Bible make it clear that my journey began before I was born.  The Lord assures me that He knew me before I ever existed in this world.

 

 

“For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.”  - Romans 8:29-30

 

*See also Jeremiah 1:5; Psalm 139:16; Ephesians 1:4; Galatians 1:15; John 15:16

 

 

Indeed, as I was reminded in a book I recently finished reading (Designed for Dignity, by Richard Pratt), God settled ahead of time the course my life would take.  He resolved before time began to have me hear and respond to His call, to declare me just and worthy through the righteousness of His Son, and to conform me slowly to become perfect like His Son.

 

 

Of course, these are all truths that I had to discover over time, for I came into the world, in August of 1986, hounded, like all people, by the imperfection and futility that sin works in us all from birth.  

 

 

Why didn’t my heavenly Father just perfect me from the beginning and raise me in His own celestial palace in heaven?  

 

 

Why did He ordain that I, whom He calls His beloved child, wrestle with sin and weakness—both my own and that of other people? 

 

 

These are questions for which I am still discovering the answers.  Perhaps, if you choose to continue reading my story, you may discover them with me.

Spanish Blog: I Was a Sneaky Child

  *Click here to read the story behind my Spanish Blog

 

As a small child, I was quite sneaky.  I remember planning ways to keep my parents from knowing about my disobedience. I would often shift the blame for things onto my little sister, who was just a year and a half younger than I.  And when my parents caught me in disobedience and sent me to my room for time out, I sometimes raced to put on multiple pairs of shorts so that I would not feel the spanking that I knew was coming.

I thought that living for myself and avoiding discipline was the best way to enjoy life. Thankfully, I was born to parents who looked to the Lord for wisdom regarding how to train up and discipline their children.  They always tried to discipline me in love as our heavenly Father does, teaching me about the consequences of my actions, and the correct way to seek forgiveness.  I realize now what a tremendous blessing this was for me.  

 

 

From even before I could really understand, my parents taught me about the sin in my own heart, and the forgiveness that God offers, and the joy that comes with submitting to His kingship over me.  They read Bible stories to me regularly, and took me to church every Sunday.  Most mornings I saw my parents spending time in prayer and reading their Bibles.  And as I grew older, my parents began to teach me directly from God’s word as well.  I remember sitting on my parents bed as a family and listening to my Father read to us from the Bible and explain how he understood it.

 

 

My parents taught me that because God created humanity in His image, we all belong to Him, and each person must be treated with kindness, generosity and respect.  These are truths which humanity seems to be slowly losing.  As we forgo our identity as sons and daughters of God, fear creeps in and we begin to live like victims.  We hurt one another as we attempt to protect ourselves from hurt (just as I did to my poor little sister).  We have forgotten that our heavenly Father longs to be our advocate and protector.

 

 

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.  ~ Isaiah 43:1-3

 

 

Even as I write about the sad decline of the knowledge of God and His good purposes, I am reminded, however, of many ways in which His truths are written on the hearts of every human being.

 

 

Friends in Cusco, your culture is such a beautiful testament to many of these truths! 

 

 

Despite the difficult circumstances many of you face daily you are so committed to justice and mercy.  You so readily celebrate noble causes and champion the plight of those less fortunate than yourselves, demonstrating incredible passion for the good and the beautiful.  You give such lovely respect to the image of God in mankind by the way you honor each acquaintance with a warm greeting and intentionally navigate each interaction in a way that preserves the dignity of the other.

 

 

These are attitudes and practices which I have observed over and over again living in Cusco, and they are such tangible evidence of the image of God in you!  So many of you naturally take up the call from Genesis 1:27-28 to spread God’s kingdom of honor, respect, and love over the face of the earth.

 

“So God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.  And God blessed them. And God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it,” ~ Genesis 1:27-28a

 

But friends, I beg you to also remember what God’s word proclaims next:

 

“Have dominion over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.” (Genesis 1:28b)

 

So highly has God honored you as His image bearers that He has called you to rule over the creation and cultivate it in propagation of God’s kingdom and eternal glory.  

 

Oh that you would not neglect this calling by worshiping the creation as if it were the ruler over you!  Oh, that you would rise to the high calling your loving Creator intended for you!  My prayer is that this message from God’s word will captivate hearts and minds here in Cusco and free people to live even more fully as the light in the world they were created to be.

 

My Thoughts on Christian Education

A friend recently asked me about how one could go about educating children at home from a Biblical perspective.  I've decided to share my thoughts on this here.

I recognize that Christian education is a highly controversial topic among believers, so know that I am merely sharing these thoughts as my own convictions, but I certainly do not condemn parents who through their study of scripture and prayerful time with the Lord arrive at different plans for their children's education.  

How to Apply the Bible in the Process of Homeschool Teaching?

 

I believe that theology is the integration point for all knowledge and all activities, and whatever might rightly be called an education must teach the lordship of Christ.  Education that does not do this effectively teaches that He is irrelevant to most of life.  Secular education leads people to compartmentalize subjects into categories and spirituality is relegated to its own compartment making it unnatural to see all of life as spiritual.  In my opinion, all subjects and aspects of life are greatly intertwined with God’s work in the world and His plan and purposes for it.

 

So how do we do we teach this way? 

All school subjects must be studied for the purpose of knowing God better and glorifying Him better.  The whole reason we as humans exist is for God and Him alone, and so the whole reason for everything in the world—including education—is for Him and Him alone.

-       We study history in order to see what God has done in the world and in the lives of humans from the beginning of time.  He is the main subject in History class, and events are all seen as the context of His work.  We always look for what He was doing, what His purposes were, and how humanity’s perspective on Him (or lack thereof) affected its response to those events.

-       In science we study the creation and processes in the natural world in order to understand the creator of these things better.  We look for reflections of His good purposes, His redemption, and His gospel message in all aspects of science.  God has put countless truths about Himself, His plan for the world, and His plan for us as His children into the fabric of our world, and we study it in order to know and glorify Him better.  He is the main subject in science.

-       In math, we study numbers in order to better understand God’s nature, as a God of order and consistency rather than a God of chaos.  Additionally, we study math in order to train our minds for service to our Lord and to be better stewards of the resources and opportunities He has given us to serve and glorify Him.

-       We study literature for the purpose of better seeing how humanity has interacted with truth and beauty bestowed on us by God throughout time.  Through reading the stories and ideas of humanity from throughout time, we become better equipped to participate in the great conversation throughout the ages between men regarding ideas and questions that matter—things ordained by God.

-       We also study writing and speech in order to become equipped and capable representatives of God on the earth.  Through winsome, clear, and compelling communication in these modes, we bear witness to the truth from our Father, the way it sheds light on all things, and the response that it demands from us in all areas of life.

 

When we study subjects without acknowledging God as the purpose, facilitator, and the way, we communicate to our students that some parts of our life and experience have nothing to do with Him.  In my opinion it is for this reason that the vast majority of adults—even Christians—go about the majority of their day without ever thinking about God and what He has to do with the small and large details of their day. Our education has taught us the habit of leaving Him out of it.

- Laura

Spanish Blog: Welcome Page and First Post

 *Click here to read the story behind my Spanish Blog

 

Welcome to my Blog!

  

To those who have honored my family with hospitality though we appear and act so out of place, 

 

To those who have been patient with us as we struggle to communicate in a newly learned language, 

 

To those who explained to us over and over again about holidays, traditions, and customs that we have been slow to understand, 

 

To those who have willingly entered into awkward interactions with us due to our ignorance of cultural norms, 

 

To those who have tried to protect us from theft, sun burn, food poisoning, and a host of other blunders we would have so easily walked into without constant warnings, 

 

To those who have graciously accepted our invitations to church, to Bible study, and to coffee meetings, 

To those who have repeatedly forgiven our loud and obnoxious North American tendencies,

 

To those who have included us in their friend circles,

 

And to those who have lavished love and kindness on us in so many ways:

 

 

This blog represents my desire to share my own heart and my story with you.  For those who honor me by reading it, I thank you.  May the Lord use my story to bless and encourage you in your own journey.

 

 

First Post:

Why are we here in Peru?

When I was a little girl I remember looking out the window of my parent’s suburban home and watching in awe as the huge trash truck rolled up to the curb to collect the garbage.  That truck was the most impressive vehicle I’d ever seen, and I hoped that one day perhaps I would attain to driving one like it.  In my young mind, such a position held much honor and status. 

 

Like most children, my aspirations changed often as I grew up.  I often pretended that I was a princess, possessing great beauty and grace.  Then as I learned about other professions, I daydreamed about one day being found to possess some coveted talent and becoming a famous acrobat, actress, or public figure.  Later on I dreamed of being a famous Christian leader who would lead many to Christ. 

 

I think we all dream, at least as children, about these two things: status and purpose.  We all want to know that we are deeply valued, and we have a unique role in this world.

 

I believe the reason we long for these things is because we were created to have them.

 

At the very beginning of God’s letter to humanity, we are told that He created man in His own image, imprinting us with His very Self, and then He honored us with an important mission—the highest of missions—to spread His kingdom of beauty, peace, and goodness across the world. 

 

“So God created mankind in His own image, in the image of God He created them; male and female He created them.  God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it.”

-  Genesis 1:27-28a

  

Your high status

You were created to represent the Living God, bearing His very image.  This status comes with incredible value.  John 1:12 says you were made to be a son of God.  And that status changes everything. 

 

And what about purpose?

Read Genesis 1:28 again.  You were created to spread beauty, and order, and delight—the very kingdom of God—over the face of this earth, and according to 2 Peter 1:3 the Giver of all good things has resourced His children with everything they need for fulfilling that purpose. 

 

Isn’t this what we all long for?  

My family moved to Cusco compelled by this good news that we so undeservedly received and with a desire to share this joyous truth with others.  But in so many ways your culture has revealed truth to us!  

 

 My next post will explain what I mean. 

New Spanish Blog

This morning I launched a new blog--this time in español!  

 

This past year many different projects and occurrences converged for me and resulted in my desire to start a Spanish blog addressed to the people of Cusco.  I shall try to share these things as I experienced them chronologically, however they all overlapped with each other as well.

 

1.     As I worked on the DPI project with MTW developing curriculum goals for onboarding missionaries it eventually became clear to me that a larger, unifying narrative around the gospel and our mission was needed to unify and clarify what we are all about at MTW.  As I sought to hear from the Lord about this I spoke with many different leaders from around the organization, listened to audio and video recordings which seemed to speak to this need for a unifying story, and I combed through literature which had been written and/or used by MTW leaders over the years. 

 

The word that kept popping up, and the ideology which seemed best to encompass everything the Lord was leading us to was Kingdom.  The kingdom metanarrative seemed to be one that could explain what we believe about the world, God, ourselves, and our mission.  So I threw myself into the kingdom metanarrative seeking to understand it better.  I spent hours combing the scriptures, I read articles, listened to podcasts, read books, and engaged in much discussion around the topic with my DPI subteam.  As a result, I became enthralled with the kingdom metanarrative.  My delight in the good news and my conviction that it really is good news—grew immensely.

 

2.     Derek and I watched a video series put out by Focus on the Family that challenged me regarding God’s heart for the nations, and the profound way that Jesus and Paul contextualized the gospel message for their audience.

 

3.     I was working on putting together our virtual prayer journey for Cusco, and as I worked through how to communicate the spiritual landscape here, my own burden for the people of Cusco increased. 

 

4.     I attended a Christian education conference which, through its focus on racial reconciliation, challenged me to see the way the gospel honors people of all cultures uniquely, and how important it is for us as witnesses to the gospel to honor different peoples in the way we present the gospel.  It is not a white American gospel.  It is good news for all people.  And in fact, we as Americans received the gospel rather late.  Other cultures played significant roles in the birth and spread of the gospel from the very beginning.  As we share the gospel we cannot act like we are bringing our message, but merely sharing that which did not originate with us, and that for which we are extremely grateful recipients.

I was challenged, through this conference, to see that the way we view our reception of the gospel and our participation in the gospel story really matters.  God honors humanity over and over again in the Biblical story, and treats us not as unworthy beggars, but as honored participants and key players in His story.  We must also see those we minister to in this light, and seek to honor people as our heavenly Father does.

 

5.     Many of the speakers at the Christian education conference referenced Augustine’s writing and influence on the church and its interaction with the gospel message over the years, so I decided to investigate the man myself.  I began reading his Confessions, because I had heard this work was a good entryway into understanding him and his writing.  As I read the introduction to the book, however, one statement by the editor really jumped off the page and struck me as significant.  The claim was made that Augustine and the apostle Paul were arguably the two single most influential Christian leaders in the early days of the church and, in the editor’s opinion, this was largely due to the way each of them shared the gospel through the lens of their own lives and experiences.  They put flesh and bones on the gospel by the way they applied it to their own lives and shared this broadly through their writings.

 

As always, I processed all of these different experiences and ideas through writing, and a letter conveying my heart’s desire for the people of Cusco resulted.  I wasn’t sure at first what to do with it.  For one, it was written in English.  But I also wasn’t sure whether a blog would even be something that would interest the people of Cusco—not to mention my message.  But as I prayed over the idea, and time passed the notion kept popping back up. 

 

Since returning to Cusco, the Lord has graciously provided a couple of dear Peruvian women—sisters in the faith—to help me with this project.  They have been immensely helpful and encouraging, reassuring me that my message will be well received by the women of our church.  So, that is my immediate goal—to encourage the hearts of the saints and remind them of how good the gospel is.  

 

The new blog can be found here, though I think I'm going to begin sharing the English version of my posts here as well--for those who may be interested in my message for the people of Cusco.

 

- Laura

Morning Glories

 

On one of my prayer walks this week these morning glories caught my eye, and I was reminded of some of the beautiful similarities between the life of the believer and that of the morning glory.  I love it when God uses creation to remind me of truth I need in that moment!

Morning Glories    -       They don’t thrive in overly rich soil, which produces lush, beautiful foliage at the expense of blooms.   -       They love full sunlight, and if the plant is young enough a transplant to a more sunny location can make all the difference.   -       Each flower blooms only once and dies the same day.     -       A combination of light and temperature signals trigger the flower to open at a set time via a biological clock so powerful that, once set by the natural day/night cycle, they will bloom on cue even in a dark closet.   -       The plant dilates in the morning as water fills their veins.  This water action becomes pronounced as the day progresses until the flower is unable to maintain the water content and it droops and withers.   -       Though morning glories bloom for an incredibly short time period, it is exactly the time frame during which their pollinators are most active.

The Child of God:   -       Often shines brightest in seasons of struggle.  Too much comfort and we fail to bear fruit.   -       The more time with our Father the better—even if it means some major upheaval to attain it.     -       Our lives are incredibly short—but a breath.     -       If we are regularly feeding through time with the Lord we will bloom and yield fruit even in the darkest places.           -       If we continue to feed on the Vine, we grow closer and closer to the Father, shining brighter as we near our return home.       -       Though our life span is short, it is timed perfectly for God’s purpose in us—a purpose that involves our own growth as well as that of others.

When the Scales Fall

I think one day we’ll realize that all of the songs that moved us, the movies and shows that we watched over and over again, the works of art that mesmerized us, even the moments in life that we cherished, were dear to us only in as far as they reflected God Himself—His truth, love, and beauty.  

 

- Laura