Ma gandesc...

about 2 things this morning.

1. That we absolutely MUST function within a body of Christ. And, we absolutely MUST allow the different parts to function as they were created.

2. From Philippians...For it is God who acts through you according to His will and purpose.

When I think about the Body of Christ I usually see it as whichever Christians I am with at the moment. So, here in Marghita, I am a part of the Body of Christ of the Christians here at FCE. But, I am also a part of the Body of Christ at my home church in the city. When I am in the States and at my 'home' churches there, I am a part of their Body of Christ. And, all together, all of these Bodies make up the larger Body of Christ.
What I hadn't considered, before this week, is that even within the smaller Bodies of Christ that I am a part of here in Romania - we could be missing parts. I just assumed that if there were a group of people loving Jesus somewhere then all the parts were represented in that Body - whether small or large. This week, though, I've come to reconsider this assumption of mine. I have a team of 16 here. They have 'parts' that we do not have on our team. I have experienced such a CHANGE in ministry this past week by having this team here. I'm not trying to raise them up personally for praise. What I'm saying is that they have parts of the Body of Christ - roles in the unity of the church - that have not been present on our long-term team here at FCE.
I know they are here to do ministry in town and with the kids but there has been just as equal of ministry towards me. They aren't trying to do that on purpose - they are just using their God given roles and it has been happening naturally.
I am in awe of how God works. In experiencing this for about a week I have come to consider some points in relation to this.

1. I cannot take over roles that are missing on my team.

2. I need to embrace the 'body part' that Christ has given me here at FCE and devote myself to that/those. (Although, I think that God can change these at times.)

3. That my role in the Body of Christ is VITAL to the functioning of the Body of Christ.

4. When the body parts start working together, you long for that to be all the time. You start understanding why God WANTS us to function within a Body of Christ.

1 Cor 12:12

Eph 4:11

Caleb just woke up - need to close this for now.

Ma gandesc...

...about the Desert song off from the new Hillsong album that will come out tomorrow. You can hear the story behind the song and watch the video of it HERE.
When I worship something different happens with me and God. It's like He created me to best communicate with Him, and Him with me during worship. 2 nights ago I came upon that YouTube link with this song and it was a major time of me coming into His presence...
The words of this song really seemed to echo where I am and where I want to be. Singing these words to Him was a time of me admitting where I am not and where I am, letting Him comfort me and challenge me to a greater depth of relationship with Him.

Here's some from the song...
"You are still God, I have a reason to worship."
Isaiah 48
Listen to me, O Jacob and Israel, whom I called!
I am he; I am the first
and I am the last.
My hand laid the foundation of the earth, and my right hand spread out the heavens;
when I call to them they stand forth together.

Still God. This is the God that is still God.
Are we to a point in our relationships with God that r-e-g-a-r-d-l-e-s-s of our circumstances we can sing that line. That we can worship Him because He is the "I AM", He is the first and the last. He can tell the earth and heaven to freakin' stand forth together before Him!

Honestly, I want to say that my relationship with God is at this point. That even in the worst Job turn of life that I could sing this Desert song to Him.... If Caleb were taken from me tomorrow could I sing?

It's hard to admit, sometimes, where you are at. Yeah?

Where are you at today?

It's been awhile...

I know, it really has been. I apologize for that since this is an area that I really was excited about adding to my blog. When I began this section I thought I could handle it and the other 2 million things that needed to be done for my 1st in many years update trip to the States, as well as our very - very busy summer schedule with the CA orphan kids. I was wrong. I didn't really handle it at all. This will begin again though, hopefully sometime this week. It will, as stated, be updated weekly from here on out.

Since this is a devotional deal on what I'm thinking I will share one short deal.

I really love the word/s-phrase 'Ma aplec' in Romanian. Sometimes I find the Romanian language a little interesting. You have a bunch of different words to describe, basically, "to go" and are left without a nice array of words in the "awesome" category. Awesome has many relatives in English it seems. Anyway, Ma aplec is a phrase that I feel we don't have a great translation for. So, the tables are turned! Yes, we can say 'bow down' but I like the direct translation of Ma aplec...I take myself down (in a bowing sense). We use it in a worship song and sang that one again at church this morning. It always sits on my heart more than a lot of the words in this song - seems to hold a reverence in its meaning that works itself into my heart.

Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts.

Ma gandesc

Isaiah 64:3

3 For when you did awesome things that we did not expect,
you came down, and the mountains trembled before you.
(NIV)

We expect so much out of God. Our prayers are full of expectations. God I need this. God I want this. God intervine here. God bring this person to know you. God this is a huge problem, help.
God I want a husband/wife. God we want a child. God we have financial troubles.
God my work situation is awful. God ministry is drowning me. God come closer. God I want to know You more. God I want to be in Your presence more.

So your expectation list may look or be similar to some of these. Regardless, you have expectations every day. I have the same.

This verse from Isaiah has really challenged me though, to realize that God wants to do more than what I could ever bring before Him as an expectation. Awesome things. Awesome things.
Meaning, what I'm bringing before God is nowhere near what He can or what He wants to do.
That unknown - that's the awesome. The expectations we are bringing before God - they don't even touch 'awesome.' The thought of that puts me in awe. The thought of that makes me want to grab my heart, put it before Jesus and say "Change it oh Lord! Change it! Make it only want the unexpected!"

What does it speak to you?

Ma gandesc

"Let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice!" (from Psalm 105)

Caleb has a kids' praise album of songs just with scripture. Nothing added to them, just scripture. I have to say it's one of the best worship albums I've ever listened to - well, and it makes sense, because it's just His Word that you're hearing.

This verse above is in one of the songs on this album. What power there is in that line alone.
Is your heart seeking God?
Then it should be rejoicing!

The Holy Spirit has been bringing this to mind over and over again this week.

Kels, you frustrated with the kids not having families? You've been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Kelsey, are you frustrated with the way things are run where you work? You've been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Kels, are you tired and worn out from never ending needs in Marghita? Have you been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Kels, are you concerned about your finances and the upcoming update/raise support trip in June? Have you been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Kels, you feel like you've been given a new vision for Marghita and are frustrated because you don't see yet how God is going to bring that into action? You've been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Kels, you're sad because you can't take Caleb out of the country for a couple of months with you? You've been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Kels, you are broken over the hopelessness that surrounds Marghita. You've been seeking the Lord on this?
REJOICE!

Why are we not rejoicing people? Why are we not rejoicing...

Rejoice today.

Ma gandesc...

It's all about Gideon this week. The more I bring what God did with Him before the Lord the more I am in awe of the lesson it has left for us now. "Sorry Gideon, you have too many soldiers to kick the Midianites' butts." How often do we bring before God our "too little" and just complain about it?
Not once did Gideon complain or question God in His decreasing of the troops. If he would have I'm sure it would have been noted. If you take a look at chapter 6 Gideon show himself to be someone who has no fear of questioning God and double checking God's direction. God starts telling him that he has too many soldiers and all Gideon does is obey.
Things I have complained about in my life as "too little" or "not right" or "i don't like it this way" . . . .

Money.
Family.
Car.
Job.
School.
Marriage.
Kids.
Co-workers.
Boss.
Church.
Pastor.
Worship Leader.
Small Group.
Vacation.
Clothes.
Toys.
Food.
Cell Phones.
Electronics.
Friends.
Faith.
Love.

The list could go on, right?

The thing is, God could have defeated the Midianites with just Gideon flying solo. He probably only kept the 300 around so that Gideon wouldn't have a major freak out session.
He didn't need the 300 though. The Midianites ended up slaughtering each other in confusion. God truly did "hand" the Midianites to Gideon.

Why?

To show the Israelites His power. To get all of the glory for Himself. After all, the Israelites sure enjoyed giving glory and worship to other gods during this time. So God wanted this one all for Himself; as it should have been anyway.

So again, the question of, what do we complain about as too little...or not the way you expected things to be...or not liking something or someone a certain way etc...?

I'm pretty sure God has you in that "too little" situation to bring about some major glory His way. We need to have a serious heart-attitude check in regards to this. To become Gideons and see the "too little" as a huge opportunity to see God move in a powerful and awesome way!