We’re moving today/tomorrow, and we won’t have internet at the new place until we get in installed (not that again!), so we’ll be back to the internet cafe for a little bit. I just wanted to let you know that you won’t be receiving our normal prompt responses.
Today I got to teach a neat lesson in our Ladies Bible Class. Sunday Carolina told me that she hadn’t had the chance to make up the roll for teaching, and asked if I minded teaching on short notice. So, I prepared a lesson Sunday night about trusting in God’s promises and His strength. Well, today, while eating lunch, I mentioned to Carolina what I was going to talk about and she said that’s basically what she taught about last week (I was sick last week, and didn’t attend). Yikes. So, I came home and wrote another lesson. It’s something I’ve been thinking about and studying for a while, so I hope it helps you all in your Christian walk as well. I’m just translating from Spanish, so the verses might be worded differently when I’m quoting Scripture.
How Am I?
What kind of person am I? How am I in the eyes of God? The truth is: I am miserable, I’m a sinner, I’m unfair, unrighteous, I’m lost in my sins. Well, I am these things without God’s help. Romans 3:9-20 explains that there isn’t any person better than another. There are no righteous, there’s no one with understanding, all are corrupt and we all deserve death (Romans 6:23, 3:23). This is how we are without God. Now, we are going to see that we need God, and that with Him, we can be just, righteous, wise, and saved.
1) We can’t do it alone. Luke 17:7-10 - In this example, Jesus taught us that it doesn’t matter what we do, always when we finish we should just say, “I’m a worthless servant; I haven’t done anything but do what I should do.” This means that we can never do enough works, good deeds, anything to deserve salvation. And, It’s much worse if we don’t do what we should do!! Galatians 3:3 teaches that we can’t be righteous by human efforts. Matthew 19:25-26 - Here the disciples asked Jesus who can save themselves (this shows the meaning from the Spanish), and how did Jesus answer? Did he say that we can save ourselves if we do enough works? Did he say that if we are better than the rest we can save ourselves? No, Jesus said, “For men it is impossible.” So are we all lost? No! “But with God all is possible!” Praise God! Now here we all need to take a moment and know that we can’t be saved by ourselves, that we aren’t better than our neighbor, because we have all sinned, and we all sin. Because we are unjust. Because we don’t fear God like we should. Because we lie, deceive, gossip, and sin. This is important to think on for a minute, because it is the truth, and it feels terrible. This is how the world feels, and how we felt when we were in the world. It’s awful, and I never want to go back to it! This also keeps us humble.
2) Jesus came to this world to save us. God is helping us. When Jesus came to this world, he said that he came for the sick (Matthew 9:12). This is a play on words, because we have already see that all humans are “the sick.” There are just some (like the Pharisees) who don’t realize it. Jesus didn’t come for some and not for others, and we all need the physician. The Pharisee’s weren’t “well” even though they thought they were. We’ll see this is Luke 18:9-14. Here Jesus talked about those who put their confidence in themselves, thought that they were righteous, and looked on others with contempt. In verse 11 the Pharisee compared himself with others, thinking that he was righteous because he was “better” than others. In verse 12 he began to list his works, and thought that those justified him. But, we see in verse 14 that he wasn’t righteous because of himself, and he wasn’t righteous because of God, because he didn’t realize his position or state. He wasn’t humble. With our text in Romans 3, if we continue to read v 21-26 we see that only God can justify us, and that He did just that through Jesus Christ.
3) So, how am I supposed to feel towards and treat God? (a)Like the man who left justified. Luke 18:13-14 - We need to pray knowing our state - sinners - and begging for compassion, mercy, and forgiveness. Many times we pray “forgive us of our sins” and move on, forgetting that this is a gift, and it cost God a lot! It cost Him many sufferings and sacrifices. Maybe we should say “Please have mercy on me, please forgive me, I’m begging!” (b) Be honest with God - He already knows the truth! “A sinner” Mark 9:24 - “I believe; help me with my unbelief.” God knows that we don’t have all the faith that we need, and that we sin, so why not be honest and ask for more faith. Saying to God, “I’m a sinner” or listing our sins gives us a reminder of our sins, and keeps us humble.
4) And what about works and obedience? This is a side note so that no one runs off thinking “I don’t have to do anything, because works don’t save me.” Keeping with our text, in Romans 3:31 we see that we obey the law and do good deeds because of our faith. 1 Thess 1:3 teaches that our faith produces good deeds, our love creates works, and our hope brings endurance. James 2:22 teaches that our faith comes totally connected with works, and you can’t have one without the other.
Conclusion - We see that we are sinners, worthy of eternal death, and that there aren’t works or human efforts that can save us. But, with God, through the sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ, we can be righteous and saved. We shouldn’t feel proud because we are better than others, but we also shouldn’t feel discouraged because of our state. There are many who become so discouraged by a sin, that they give up the fight. What we need to do is recognize our state, know that God sees it too (and provided a way for us), and because of this be humble when we deal with God and others.
Now, go look at our gallery for photos of our new house!!
This past Sunday was review day in our classes. Normally, I handle the first 25 or so minutes of class with refreshments, singing, and kid’s offering, and then the kid’s divide up for their lessons and activities. But, after we finish each section (this section was on “God: Our Creator”), we have a review class, which means all the kids stay together for the entire class period, answering review questions and saying their memory verses. This is a fun class for me, because I get to see what they all learned, and how they are remembering all of their memory verses. We give out candies (one per verse) to the kid’s who can say some, but not all of their memory verses, and a small toy to those who can say all of them. This review the kids had 3 verses to learn, and I was very impressed at how many of them could say them all. Especially in our 1st level class (up to 5 yr olds). Hopefully the toys will encourage their kids to learn all of their verses! I got some neat things too. The favorite was a small boat that had a balloon attached to it. When you blow up the balloon and let go, the air sends the boat racing across the water.
We’re getting all set to move. I’m so excited (if you couldn’t tell by the last newsletter). Yesterday we bought a refrigerator (under budget!!), and today we are going to buy a stove. Beyond that, we just need some sort of table and chairs and desk to get started. I got all sorts of cleaning stuff that I really needed, but now can totally justify (remember how cheap I am!) since we are going to do a deep clean of the house before we move in. I think we are going to pick up our new appliances Thursday and move in. In the kitchen, there is a big island, and half of it is cabinet space, and the other half is a bar. I think that will be really neat for when it’s just the two of us eating. The greatest thing about this house is that if I had the money to design and build a house this size, I would probably do it about the same. The rooms are good sizes, I love the way the kitchen, dining and living room are placed. It’s great! I can’t wait for someone to give me a for sure date when they are going to come visit me so I can buy spare room beds and such (hint, hint, mom and dad!!)
Our puppy is a little genius. I taught him to sit the other day (at only 2 1/2 months), and he’s doing it really well now! One good side of that too is that every time I have food, he thinks that he’ll get some if he sits, so he’s not bothering us! Today I worked on getting him to sit and stay sitting while I walked away a little. I was reading on www.pitbulllovers.com that you should teach the dogs to stay in the command position until you give a release command (like “okay”). That way you don’t have to teach a “stay” command. (I just hope that I don’t give a command and then forget to give a release and the poor dog will just be sitting there for an eternity) I was also reading on another website that a lot of trouble from pit bulls come when owners think “I’ll just raise him right” and don’t appreciate the kind of dog they have. It said it was important to exercise them physically and mentally (obedience training) or they’ll get bored, and become destructive (which equals dangerous because of their strength).
Well, I have been busy, and internet problems, and then sick, but I finally have the time, ability, and energy to write!
We had a baptism this past Friday! Francisca, Reyna’s sister, decided to devote her life to Christ. Carolina, Patricia, Cruz, and I all went to visit and study with her (along with her sister). We talked about God’s plan for each of us, and the importance of putting God first in our lives. This was a difficult decision for her, because it was against her husband’s wishes, but she realized that she had to put her priorities in order and God goes first!
We’ve been working hard getting all of the kids ready for classes. Luckily we had money remaining from last year’s church budget, so we were able to buy uniforms, shoes, school supplies and pay entrance fees for many of our kids. With this blessing, many students who didn’t study last year due to lack of funds were able to start back this year. I really see a future for the church here to have a school. One idea to start with is an after school program they have in Jinotepe. There, for about $1.20/month, students can learn extra things like wood work, cooking, sewing, and other practical skills. This keeps the kids learning and out of trouble!!
Oh, almost forgot to write about us moving. We found a really nice place not too far from here (on the way to Diriamba for those who’ve gotten to visit us), for about the same price that we are paying now. And, it has hot water throughout the whole house!! Woah, we are moving up in the world!! And, we’ll be able actually eat at a real table, and not holding our plates sitting on the couch or leaning over the coffee table!! We’re really excited. We should go and sign the contract tomorrow and hopefully move in next week! At first I started to grimace at the thought of moving, but then I realized, we don’t have anything! I think the washer and dryer are the only big things we have to move. The rest is just clothes. Plus, we now get to go shopping guilt free with all the money we’ve been saving up. I just hope this doesn’t make us too settled. We are supposed to live as pilgrims in this world, not over valuing our belongings, and that has been real easy since we’ve always lived in limbo between moving to Nicaragua, and waiting for a place to stay permanently. We’ll have to work really hard to be sure we remember everything we have belongs to and came from God, and is to be shared freely and easily parted with!