On Missions, our youth pastor kept repeating an analogy that has stuck in my brain - the analogy of a bath being filled with water and then being drained. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit from God's "tap" we need to open up our plug so that His living water can spread out into the world. This is very applicable to what our lives should be like on a daily basis as Christians.
We need to believe that God is faithful to us. James 1:5-7 says that "if any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave in the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord." (NIV). How can you ask God for anything and not believe that He will do as He promises and grant you what you ask for. No person can ever have too much wisdom.
I was tested every single day on missions reading through a chapter of James per day - but I can finally say that I've read through a whole book of the Bible and that I actually learnt so many things about God and myself. In James 1:3 it says that "the testing of your faith produces perseverence."(NIV). When we face trials against our faith, we are strengthened. God will never give us a test that we cannot pass. Even when we are weak God tests us so that we may rely on Him for strength.
James 1:19 says: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry," Listening out for what God has to say to us is vital, for we cannot have a one-way relationship with God. We cannot continue to pray and ask for selfish wants. Just as we speak to God, He wants to speak to us - through His word and through others. If we become angry at insignificant things all the time, we are not living "the righteous life that God desires" (John 1:20) from us. We must learn to be patient and understanding just as our God is with us.
The Bible is full of commandments. But what is the use of reading these commandments and not applying them into our lives everyday? James 1:22-24 says: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like."
And so I challenge you to identify aspects of your Bible studies that are relevant in your lives and exercise putting God's word into practise.
Peace out
Courtzo
Tuesday, 13 December 2011
What a Mission!
I recently went on my third missions trip with my youth group. This year we went to White River, Mpumalanga here in South Africa from the 3rd to the 10th of December.
The forty members of the team, all of which were teens and young adults, stayed at The African School of Missions (ASM). We arrived at ASM on Saturday the 3rd in the late afternoon.
On Sunday, we attended a local, traditional church called Hosanna. It was really enjoyable to be involved in a different environment from what we were used to. It was a bit of a shock when the worship team from our church, which included myself, was asked to join in singing African worship songs. It was definitely a new but fun experience. On Sunday afternoon, we returned to camp for lunch and preparation for the week as well as some free time and team building activities.
On the Monday, we split up into three teams and set out for three different churches in town. We spent about 7 hours painting the insides of the churches with over 80 litres of paint which we were sponsored - it sure was incredible how God provided for us!
On Tuesday, two of the teams continued to paint their assigned churches while the third team set out to plant a vegetable garden at one of the feeding schemes set up by Youth for Christ (YFC).
From Wednesday to Friday, we were split up into two teams. For these three days we ran a holiday club for the local children at two different locations - Hosanna Church and the feeding scheme where we had planted the vegetable garden. The aim of Holiday Club was to have fun with the kids while teaching them Bible stories and about what God has done for us. Holiday Club included worship, games, a drama and skit, and a craft. The missions team was challenged by a difficult language barrier which made it difficult to communicate with people - especially children that could not speak English at all. We managed to pull through with the help of translators and a few of the girls on our team who got the message across to the kids.
I was privilaged enough to have led the worship on my team. To stand in front of all these smiling faces and to see how much they enjoyed praising God was just awesome. The kids had a whole lot of fun participating in the games and learnt some new ones to play in their own time even after we left.
Each day the leaders acted out a story from the Bible. On Wednesday we did the story of Joseph, on Thursday, the story of Daniel and finally on Friday, the story of the Prodigal Son. The dramas were both entertaining, educational and relevant as we linked each story to what God has done for us on a daily basis.
On Friday we organised for each child to make their own beaded bracelet. Each bead represented a different aspect of the gospel story. Green represents creation, black represents sin coming into the world, red represents the death of Jesus on the cross, white represents our purification and yellow or gold represents heaven. So we left them with something that they would look at everyday and remember what God has done in their lives.
We unfortunately had to say goodbye to all these amazing kids on Friday afternoon, having planted a seed that God with hopefully keep growing as they learn more about him.
We arrived back at the camp, had lunch, and packed up - ready to leave on Saturday morning.
The trip home was very short because I'm sure that everyone except the drivers slept most of the way. Although missions is so rewarding, it is exhausting. I was keen to be able to get home and have a thirteen hour sleep in my own bed.
This Missions Trip was very special to me. It was the first trip I've done without any family members with me. My first trip was to Malelane in 2008 and I was accompanied by my parents, my two older sisters and my brother. In 2009 I went to Zimbabwe with my sisters. And last year I was unfortunately unable to go on missions.
I really grew this week. Throughout the mission I just felt God's presence with me and He spoke to me through our daily devotionals reading through the book of James. He challenged me to change the way I lived, challenged me to not be a hypocrite. I really hope to change that, not for me but for Him.
I hope you are challenged to change too.
Peace out
Courtzo
The forty members of the team, all of which were teens and young adults, stayed at The African School of Missions (ASM). We arrived at ASM on Saturday the 3rd in the late afternoon.
On Sunday, we attended a local, traditional church called Hosanna. It was really enjoyable to be involved in a different environment from what we were used to. It was a bit of a shock when the worship team from our church, which included myself, was asked to join in singing African worship songs. It was definitely a new but fun experience. On Sunday afternoon, we returned to camp for lunch and preparation for the week as well as some free time and team building activities.
On the Monday, we split up into three teams and set out for three different churches in town. We spent about 7 hours painting the insides of the churches with over 80 litres of paint which we were sponsored - it sure was incredible how God provided for us!
On Tuesday, two of the teams continued to paint their assigned churches while the third team set out to plant a vegetable garden at one of the feeding schemes set up by Youth for Christ (YFC).
From Wednesday to Friday, we were split up into two teams. For these three days we ran a holiday club for the local children at two different locations - Hosanna Church and the feeding scheme where we had planted the vegetable garden. The aim of Holiday Club was to have fun with the kids while teaching them Bible stories and about what God has done for us. Holiday Club included worship, games, a drama and skit, and a craft. The missions team was challenged by a difficult language barrier which made it difficult to communicate with people - especially children that could not speak English at all. We managed to pull through with the help of translators and a few of the girls on our team who got the message across to the kids.
I was privilaged enough to have led the worship on my team. To stand in front of all these smiling faces and to see how much they enjoyed praising God was just awesome. The kids had a whole lot of fun participating in the games and learnt some new ones to play in their own time even after we left.
Each day the leaders acted out a story from the Bible. On Wednesday we did the story of Joseph, on Thursday, the story of Daniel and finally on Friday, the story of the Prodigal Son. The dramas were both entertaining, educational and relevant as we linked each story to what God has done for us on a daily basis.
On Friday we organised for each child to make their own beaded bracelet. Each bead represented a different aspect of the gospel story. Green represents creation, black represents sin coming into the world, red represents the death of Jesus on the cross, white represents our purification and yellow or gold represents heaven. So we left them with something that they would look at everyday and remember what God has done in their lives.
We unfortunately had to say goodbye to all these amazing kids on Friday afternoon, having planted a seed that God with hopefully keep growing as they learn more about him.
We arrived back at the camp, had lunch, and packed up - ready to leave on Saturday morning.
The trip home was very short because I'm sure that everyone except the drivers slept most of the way. Although missions is so rewarding, it is exhausting. I was keen to be able to get home and have a thirteen hour sleep in my own bed.
This Missions Trip was very special to me. It was the first trip I've done without any family members with me. My first trip was to Malelane in 2008 and I was accompanied by my parents, my two older sisters and my brother. In 2009 I went to Zimbabwe with my sisters. And last year I was unfortunately unable to go on missions.
I really grew this week. Throughout the mission I just felt God's presence with me and He spoke to me through our daily devotionals reading through the book of James. He challenged me to change the way I lived, challenged me to not be a hypocrite. I really hope to change that, not for me but for Him.
I hope you are challenged to change too.
Peace out
Courtzo
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