Small beginnings

"It is important that we are diligent in the assignments that are small and that go unnoticed by others" - Mike Bickle. I understand the promise of God to those who are faithful: "To those who are faithful over a few things will rule over many" - Mt. 25:21. The biggest tension with this is the longing to be great. I want to be noticed, but I understand the necessity to do things in secret. God simply wants my eyes on Him alone and to live under His approval in what I do. In light of my tutoring ministry, the Lord said the exact same passage from Mt. 25 reminding me that this is true faithfulness. Teaching a person how to get to know the Man (through reading) is very important to Him. It's given me a renewed strength to focus my tutoring times in teaching the Bible while also teaching how to read.

The 4th chapter in Truth and Transformation was astounding. The whole story with Sheela and the way her parents viewed her was troubling, upsetting, frustrating, and a mix of many more emotions. I'm glad that the author brought it back around to the point that what Sheela's parents did is no different than abortion. The same thought process is behind both of their actions, its just 1 of them is hidden while the other is not. I recently read some information that said people don't have any memories before the age of 2 or 4 years old. I thought to myself, "Well, since they don't remember anything before that time, it's as if they never lived it right? So you could kill a baby at age 2 and it wouldn't change anything in that babies life." (I am speaking from the perspective of a non-Christian). That kind of thought process scares me into thinking that it's possible that America could end up killing living babies. That is why we need our minds renewed (within the church and outside) to see the dignity and value of human beings in God's sight.

Taking risks & Tutoring

Oh man, each of these Lead Diligently qualities are contrary to the way I've been brought up... including taking risks. There's been little need for me to assert myself when I can do the bare minimum to get me by. However, I know how Jesus works and he requires nothing less than the best. I can't think of any moments in which I've taken initiative in the Christian or Biblical context, but I can definitely tell the difference between the man 3 years ago compared to today. The Lord has revealed through the cross that taking risks are painful, scary, and rewarding. Though Jesus was so kind in doing the unthinkable, He still can't make our decisions for us. The risk for Jesus is that there is no guarantee that He can receive love from us.

As I've been tutoring my student, she has been improving quite a bit. Recently she was showing me that she was trying to read 2 Kings in the Bible but couldn't understand it for very long (the Hebrew or ancient names completely threw her off). Her goal is to be able to read the Psalms and Proverbs. So far we've read Psalms 1 and 2, in which I was feeling the Spirit on them as I had to read slowing =) One of the challenges I've faced with my student is when I ask her to summarize 1 or 2 verses. She doesn't interpret the passage for what it means, but she makes it say whatever she wants to make it say. So 1 of 2 things are happening: 1) It's hard for her to read context, therefore she can't grasp the storyline of the passage or 2) That's how she's been taught to understand the Bible. All that to say, I'm hoping to pull away from the Psalms and get into the narrative story of Jesus so that she reads the context and interprets the Bible with simple understanding.

Truth and Transformation

I've read through the first five chapters so far and it has been a great book to read. I like the simple logic he is able to bring to the table concerning America and it's current state because of the contrasting experiences he has had in India. However, there's a point I'm not sure I totally agree with. He relates the prosperity of America to the foundations of morals it was built upon. Though our constitution had biblical principles in them, it is not Christ-centered (which is what I would imagine to be the way to receive blessing from God). Therefore, the fall of America isn't because we're losing Christ (but that is true within the church) but we are simply casting off the restraints to enjoy any manner of pleasure which we choose.

On another note concerning the book, I loved the story of Sheela, but not the tragic death that resulted from that. As a result of Mangalwadi's experience with Sheela, both he and Ruth have decided to save any children by any means necessary and give them a home. Though I've grown up most of my life detached of justice, I've become more aware that I care more about the wrong things being right than I imagined. Particularly when it comes to women and young children. Because of the daily pains that women and children face in the streets of America, I have had a growing desire to go into law enforcement or become a judge. I would like to be in the position of Solomon who asked for wisdom to lead a great nation. I want wisdom to save the oppressed from their slavery by either decision-making or physical deliverance from a situation.