"We Must Protect This House".......

I'm reminded lately of how as a christian, this isn't our home. That earth is not our final destination. We are called by a higher more amazing power to live here for the time being and serve God. I know that, as christians, we hear this a lot. I'm not going to lie, every time that I hear this... it puts me back into my bible class in high school when we went through the purpose driven life book. (Great book). One of the chapters talks about how this is not our home. Earth to us is just a stop or resting place until we reach our home, which is eternity. But when you go to a christian school and a Christian college, you sit through religion classes day in and day out; you hear this and it pretty much goes in one ear and out the other. Have you ever really thought about it though?

This past sunday, the guest speaker at summit used this metaphor. He rents a house here in NC and him and his family live there until, I assume, they find their own home. Anyway, he was talking about when his kids are playing around in the house; he gets pretty protective of the house because it isn't theirs. Like his son was standing in the hallway with a crayon looking at the white wall as if it is a fresh new canvas for him to paint on. Then pastor realizes what his son is conniving in his mind with that crayon and pastor runs toward his children thinking his is going to protect that wall at all costs. The way pastor said it was a bit more hilarious then what I just typed to all of you. But that kind of resonated with me. This life that we have we need to protect it like that white wall. Everything on this earth is not ours... it all belongs to God and we should help to sustain it as longs as possible. It is like when you borrow something from someone... we don't destroy it or use until it can't be used anymore. When you borrow something, you are mindful that it says in working condition to give back the original owner. That is our lives... we don't own this life. It belongs to God. He owns this life of ours... are we going to destroy it or use it until its broken?
 So I encourage you to be mindful with this life... to understand that we are borrowing this life to use it for the good of God. Keep in mind 1 John 2:28-29 "And now dear children, remain in fellowship with Christ so that when he returns, you will be full of courage and not shrink back from him in shame. Since we know that Christ is righteous, we also know that all who do what is right are God's children." God will return to claim what belongs to him.... Do you belong to him?

Been to India and Back.....

It has been a while since my last post and I hope that you can understand why. I have been staying in India the last 2 weeks or so. I was working at the Missionaries of Charity for the last week, helping at one of the homes that Mother Teresa started. Overall, it was an amazing experience.

I was trying to figure out how to describe to everyone my trip to India. I started out writing all the things that we did, but it wasn't enough. I could tell you all the places that I've seen, but it wasn't enough. 

What my trip really was.... it was filled with love. According to webster's dictionary love is defined as without compensation; gratuitous. And that is what I was shown throughout this trip. It was God's love and the love for one another. "My command is: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down is life for his friends" John 15:12-13.  I spent five days with girls that have a love and show it to everyone that walks through the door, no matter who they are. There are no diversity limits to these girls, there are no caste limits for these girls to show love. However, these girls are mentally and physically challenged, but they are not any different than you and I. I helped to feed girls that are unable to feed themselves and that probably can't even recognize themselves in the mirror, but they have such a joyous presence in their life... it's inspiring. We are called by God to love everyone.. not matter who they are or what they are capable of doing. These girls will never be CEO of companies, or the next president/prime minister of any country. But what they will have is LOVE. They will continue to be a witness to me and others of God's love, and that is the greatest job of all. Through out my time in Kolkatta and with these girls, I could only keep thinking that we will all be reunited. That in Heaven I will be able to see these girls again, but when I see them... they won't have any problems. These girls will be able to run around, eat on their own, and not have any physical problems. This makes me so happy!!!!! I love knowing that if I never see these girls again on earth, I will be seeing them again in heaven. 

We were told that when Mother Teresa was with all the children of her homes that, that was when she felt the Lord's presence. I can see that, I felt that too. During my time in India, I had lots of fun but I was also transformed and renewed. God showed me a love that I will never forget. A love that I strive to show to everyone here in the United States. A happiness that I hope to gain within my own life. I owe those girls in Kolkatta my life and love because they showed me what I want in my life. 

But have no fear.. there were tons of laughs and lots of stories on this trip.. Just ask about the ridiculous dancers outside of the ticket center for the Taj Mahal. I have attached some photos beneath so you can get a little in site into India. There are also some videos on my facebook. 

Love God, Love People