We have officially been schooled

I can not begin to explain how my life has been impacted and radically changed in this place, not only through lessons and teachings, but also through the lives of people. Those that have impacted me the most have not been the beautiful or the strong, but the weak and the ‘insignificant’. Today, we were able to bring four disabled young children to the base where we are living. All four had some time of handicap and had been abandoned by their parents. At first it was very difficult to interact with them. They didn’t speak at all, they simply shook their head ‘yes’ or ‘no’. We had to help feed them, clean them, move them around, and they were completely dependant upon us. Three of these boys were brothers, from the ages of eight to thirteen. It was interesting watching them interact. They had their own type of communication and they always wanted to be around each another. The oldest almost guarded the younger, and there was this loving, protective, and dependent attitude shared by these brothers – they were in a way united, and united in love. It was such a beautiful picture. It’s interesting; God says he uses the weak to shame the strong. In these brothers, God demonstrated the beauty and necessity of love among brothers, not only maternal brothers, but those in Christ. I am convinced that these young boys, who are considered insignificant and useless, have put us to shame when it comes to love and unity. Here in Ensenada, when you are among believers, you call one another ‘hermano’ or ‘hermana’, meaning brother or sister. We are brothers and sisters in Christ, and it is such a testament to the outside world when we live in harmony and love. Psalm 133:1 says, “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity.” Also, there is a multiple of occasions where Christ calls us to love, in fact, he states that the entire bible is based on two commandments, to love God and love those around us. So let me encourage you to follow the example of the ‘insignificant’, to mirror the ways of the weak, and live in unity and love. “Above all else, love each other deeply, because love covers a multitude of sins.” 1Peter 4:8

Refining Fire

Just the other day, I was taking a walk on the beaches of Ensenada, looking out over the ocean as the tide was coming in. As each wave rolled onto the shore, gravity was sure to pull it back, moving the sand with it, sifting through the top layers of the shore. In that moment, God spoke to my heart, “I am going to sift you as the waters sift through the sand.” I feel like this something we all have to go through, a process in which God refines us, sifting through our character, removing the imperfections, and making us more like his son, Jesus Christ. This is not a comfortable place to be, no, it hurts to go through this refining process.
In the bible it often uses the imagery of gold refined in the fire. I recently heard a teaching on refinement, and the woman who was sharing with us spoke of a silversmith. She said, when someone is trying to purify silver, they heat the fire and place the metal in the flames. They stay near the flames edge watching the silver so that it doesn’t burn or go bad, and they wait. The silversmith will check the silver, and will only remove it when he can see his image in the metal. Isn’t that a beautiful picture? God is putting us through flames, a fire that is meant to refine. He is standing by and is near to us so that we do not burn; however, He will not pull us out of that place until He can see His own reflection in us. So persevere through those difficult times, God is refining your character, and one day, He will be able to see His reflection in you.

***Hey guys I know some of you have been having trouble posting comments on my updates, so I wanted to let everyone know an easy way to leave me comments on my website. First hit post a comment and it will take you to another page when a text box to write me a note in. Under the text box it says choose an identity. Check the anonymous button and then write your message and make sure you sign your name to the end of your note. Do not check google/blogger or other because it requires to you have an account with the server I am using. Anonymous will allow anyone to posta comment. Hope this helps!***

Also, here is my e-mail address to write me if you so desire (I love to hear from you guys, it helps when I get homesick): laurenconrad88@hotmail.com