In His name the nations will put their hope! Matthew 12:21

Today,,,

2009-06-10T00:35:00.002-04:00

...was quite an interesting day.

This morning we went to a city about 45 minutes from Campinas and gave two school meetings. The students (all highschoolers) responded well. Brandon has been a bit hit with the ladies down here. Considering he is several inches taller than me, the girls don't seem to care that he's 15. That made for some interesting situations at the school this afternoon and evening when the team went back for more meetings.
Unfortunately, I got sick right after lunch and ended up staying in the hotel for the afternoon to rest. Pastor Antonio's daughter, Rebeca, stayed with me and we hung out for several hours. I seem to be making a habit of trading in one illness for another- my stomach feels a good bit better now, but for the past several hours I have had the worst headache of my life. Thankfully this is an isolated incodent and no one else is sick. Everyone else was able to go and do "Redeemer" and give sketchboard messages, etc. I hear the students again responded very well. They were some heavy meetings spiritually with some good conversations after with some students.
Lizzy and Christine are working on learning the "God/man" sketchboard to do in the plazas in Rio, which would be awesome. I haven't done the "Joe" message in years, but I think I might do that too.
Aside from my stomach and head issues, everything has been really awesome. The team is communicating well and we really enjoy being with each other. Tonight Camila planned a special surprise party for us to get a taste of Brasil. We saw sides of each other we had never before experienced... Lots of laughing, dancing, eating... It was a good time. :)
Tomorrow after lunch we will set off on the 8 hour bus ride to Rio de Janeiro. I'm not excited about the drive (Please pray my stomach holds up and doesn't give me any more problems), but I am very excited to be there again and watch the team (except Mr. Mike who has been before) experience it for the first time.

Thank you for reading this and keeping up with us, and especially for praying hard for what God is doing here. We miss you all back home and will see you in about about 5 days!

Super Quick Update

2009-06-08T23:24:00.002-04:00

All are healthy and safe. We're doing really well.

Had an awesome day of meetings in 2 different schools and 2 different youth detention centers today. Had never done YDC meetings on OAC trips before today... It was fantastic! Had some really awesome conversations with a few inmates after. God is good and is doing cool stuff. Been awesome to watch our team work together and build into each other. Just as amazing to see each other begin to experience freedom in new areas of their lives because of the gospel. So beautiful.

More to come later! Thank you so much for praying!

Pictures!

2009-06-04T21:46:00.003-04:00

Bruno preparing his sketchboard to present to college students going to class at night. Great crowd. This is where the girl come forward to Bruno afterward in tears saying she had been told earlier that day she needed God. God showed himself to her in a really cool way that day!

Mariana helping Daddy load the truck after the meeting

Gorgeous sunset ouside the biggest mall in Latin America (in Campinas)

Bruno presenting his sketchboard message at his church's missions Sunday. He was planning to just explain their methods of evangelism, but as he began the preacher said, "No, Bruno, preach! Give them the real thing and give an invitation afterward!" Bruno was a little hesitant, as he was doing this in a service at his home church, but he did as the pastor told him to do... And several people accepted Christ for this first time that night!

Mariana being cute.

Showing an awesome movie to the kids in a school we worked at several days this week. The film is a digital animation, 40 minutes long, and very true to the biblical account in John. It starts with creation and the fall, then shows Jesus' life through his death, resurrection, and ascention. It's perfect for the kids, and we follow it with a sketchboard or Chemical Cross to further explain what they saw and invite them to respond.

My dear friend, Gisele. She now attends a church I worked with here last year. She is an amazing woman of God. She and I have had some awesome talks (and she is extremely gracious with my Portuguese).

A school we've been working at for the past 2 days. The faculty here has been awesome in opening doors for us and even recommending us to other schools in the city. The kids here were absolutely shocked to meet a person from the U.S. Literally, several would walk up to me and just stare, waiting for me to do something really weird and foreign, I guess. I attempted to tell them that I was exactly the same as them, just speak English instead of Portuguese. ...They proceeded to ask me for my autograph and ask me if I know Madonna.

Bruno doing Chemical Cross at that same school. The kids absolutely love it.

Listening intently to Bruno.

Thanks for keeping up with me on here! Please pray for the team from RCC as they leave tomorrow (Friday) night to arrive here Saturday morning. Also, specifically pray that there are no complecations with the last 2 of the team picking up their VISAs tomorrow morning from the embassy.

Many blessings and much love from down south!

a few pictures

2009-06-02T20:17:00.003-04:00

It's been a very busy week! Late nights and early mornings and lots and lots of school meetings... It's tiring, but it's definitely all worth it!

Here are a few pictures from my first week here:

Mariana hanging out in my room (which is actually her room that she's loaning me for a few weeks)

The fam hanging out at the park

My cutie "sobrinha" ("neice" ...here young kids refer to their parents' friends and their teachers as "aunt and uncle"... so my name for her is often "sobrinha")

This funky looking dude was just hanging out at the park. No idea what it is. Wasn't really anxious to get closer to him either. :)

Fun with Daddy in the mall... Though I'm pretty sure he was having more fun than she was :)

That's it for now... Having some trouble uploading pics to the computer, but hopefully will be able to soon!

Thanks for all your prayers!!

Quick Update

2009-05-27T23:23:00.002-04:00

Been much better stomach-wise... I haven't had any more problems there. Now dealing with a head cold- bad nose and throat stuff.

Yesterday Bruno and I set off for some school meetings early in the morning. We picked up Pastor Antonio (awesome guy- pastor of a great church, and has been really helpful to Bruno and Camila) and met his daughter (Rebeca) and another guy from his church (Jefferson). It was fun to let those two try out their English on me. ...It also made them gracious with my broken Portuguese. :) We had some good meetings in a school that morning (I did the "Heaven"sketchboard message twice), then went home for lunch and to pick up Camila and Mari. Went back yesterday afternoon and gave several more meetings. I did "Heaven" once more, and Bruno did "Joe" or Chemical Cross the other times for the older kids. Good audiences, great responses.

This morning I opted out of the early morening trip with Bruno. My throat was really swollen and my nose really clogged, so I stayed home and slept a bit more. Bruno came home at lunch time and said he had some great meetings that morning, and the teacher of one of the classes decided to accept Christ, along with a bunch of her students. Awesome. We hung out a rested up this afternoon, then went back to that same school tonight around 7. They gave us the huge room where all the students could fit at the same time (probably close to 400 students), and Bruno did an awesome "Joe" message for them there. One girl came up to him at the end with tears streaming down her face- She said one of her friends earlier that afternoon told her "You really need to find God. He is the ONLY source of true life, and he would never leave you." I have no idea what her other circumstances are/have been, but she almost didn't go to school tonight. She decided at the last second to go, and was so completely full of joy that Bruno had explained the gospel so clearly. She finally understood. Ah, so much good stuff.

Anyway, it's 12;30 here and I'm getting up at 7 to do more meetings tomorrow. There are lots of young kids meetings tomorrow, so please pray my voice holds up and my nose doesn't explode. Much appreciated. :)

Love to you guys back home! Thanks so much for your prayers!!

Hab. 1:5

2009-05-25T16:41:00.003-04:00

Past few days have been mostly good... My bags arrived soon after my last update, which I was very glad for. The poor guy delivering the baggage was on his way to drop off a wedding dress... a day late. (I prayed for the healing of his bruises he was about to receive.) Yesterday (Sunday) we hung out, walked around a park (it would be called a zoo in the states... all kinds of crazy animals running around- pics to come), then went to an open-air market to scout out places to go shopping with the team when they come.
After that we grabbed lunch, which was appaently the worst decision I've made since I got here. I ate all stuff I have eaten before, but I ended up getting really sick last night... All night. I'm a lot better now, though still a bit dehydrated and dizzy. So far I've kept down half a banana and a cup of juice. (Enough info on the sickness? I'll stop there :). )
Aside from that, I'm really glad to be here. It's so good to be with Bruno and Camila again. A bit strange to be a few countries east of Joel, but WAY far from David. Looking forward to being with my whole family again, hopefully sometime in the near future. :)

Hello from Brasil!

2009-05-23T12:01:00.002-04:00

Hey everyone!

Just a quick note to say that I made it and all is well down here so far. My luggage hasn't arrived yet, but hopefully it will by tonight.

Today Bruno is out doing meetings while Camila and I are here in the apartment cooking and taking care of Mariana. We were told that my luggage would arrive this morning, so we stayed to receive it, but when we called to check on it this morning, they said tonight at the earliest. Hopefully that won't keep us all at home for much longer. I think Bruno and I will be giving some meetings together over the next few weeks. He is teaching me the "Chemical Cross" presentation so I can do more than just the "Heaven" sketchboard. My Portuguese is still pretty rough, so we'll see how all these meetings turn out. :)

Quick update on the VISA situation for the team- I am told that the consulate has agreed to an appointment to reveive the applications on June 4th and will have them completed on June 5th before the team has to fly out. Praise the Lord! I am very excited to have my WHOLE team joining me in a few weeks. :)

On another note, in talking to Bruno and Camila I have come to find out that they both have one more year of seminary to complete their degrees, but can't afford to pay for it. And they only have a small window of time to complete their degrees before the government will make them start over (which would be 4 more years each) to recognize their degree as official and legal to use to share the gospel (their "career"in the govt's eyes). It would cost about US$300 total per month for a year to put them both through their last classes. I would SO like to figure out how we can help them move on through this process. Any good ideas?

Anywho, that's all from me for right now. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement! I am so grateful to know that my church and friends back home are having a big hand in the ministry here by praying.

Love you guys!

Urgent Request for Brasil!

2009-05-21T10:00:00.001-04:00

Hey guys,

I leave tonight for Brasil, and the rest of my team from my church is meeting me down there in about 2 weeks. We have encountered a big issue though- 2 of our team have not been granted permission to SUBMIT their applications for their VISAs until June 3 -at the earliest- and they are supposed to fly out June 5! These applications CAN take only 1 day to process, but this is their busiest season, and they say to allow 3 WEEKS for processing in times this busy. PLEASE please please pray that the consulate will be compassionate on our situation and grant their VISAs in less than 24 hours to these two can come down with the rest of the team on the 5th.

I will post updates as I receive them.

Thank you so much!!!
Lizzy

"Happy Hippie People"

2009-04-04T17:24:00.001-04:00

My friend Elena is a professional artist, and the paintings above are two of four she decided to paint and donate to raise money for my trip to Brazil. Two of them were sold before I even saw them. These two are left, and already I have received a few bids on them. Highest bid wins, but Elena specifically wants to be sensitive to students on a tight budget... In which case the earliest reasonable bid will win. : )

She has also made a few other wall hangings to be auctioned off. As soon as I can get a hold of my digital camera, I will post photos of those as well.

If you are interested, leave a comment or shoot me an e-mail: elizandrea@gmail.com

Thanks!

Brief 2009 Update

2009-03-17T08:55:00.004-04:00

I am way past due for an update, but I am going to keep this one brief for now...

Plans for this summer's visit to Brasil are coming along well. The RCC team has been practicing the wordless drama "The Redeemer" and learning it very well. We are about to break out the sketchboard messages and start training with those.

As far as finances go, I am still way short of my goal, but have just sent out a bunch more support letters. (If you would like me to send you a letter, shoot me an e-mail: elizandrea@gmail.com.) A few others on my team have just hit their total and are now bringing in a little extra for the rest of the team, which is a huge blessing. God is always faithful.

I found a flight I am hoping to book that would have me arriving in São Paulo about two weeks before the team would arrive. I found a fairly good deal on it, but cannot buy the ticket (or request my VISA) until I have raised more funding. But I am hoping to leave Atlanta on May 21 and return with the team on June 14.

More to come on the Bruno and Camila Costa and OAC very soon...

More Pictures:

2008-05-29T00:56:00.004-04:00

Click Here!

stuff: "worthless things or matter"

2008-05-21T23:37:00.003-04:00

2 Corinthians 5:6-10
Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.

I had always read this passage thinking of life on earth vs. life in eternity, our current bodies vs. the new bodies we will receive. But I think Paul could also be talking about situations we are in here and now on earth where we have the choice to act according to our flesh or by the grace of Christ. If we are at home in our bodies on this earth, if we consider things here on earth to be valuable, our minds’ focus and our hearts’ affection and will be on those things.

This one guy was asking Jesus what he needed to do to get into heaven. He said he had already been obeying the commandments, so he asked what more he should do. So Jesus told him to go and sell all his possessions and give to the poor. The guy walked away from that conversation extremely disappointed with Jesus’ answer. Then,

Jesus said to his disciples, "I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24)

I believe Jesus is referencing how attached we get to all of our “stuff.” Our focus is very easily moved away from Christ when we look elsewhere on a regular basis. Also, I think for most of us, we become very comfortable with what we have, where we live, the people we see, etc. It becomes less and less common to think of others before ourselves. We burrow ourselves into our nice little comfortable nest, and rarely choose or even think of giving sacrificially of our time, money, or any part of ourselves.

I definitely know people who are exceptions of this, but I know that for me, this is an easy pattern to fall into. I get really comfortable in my East Cobb home, working in a coffee shop, driving my own car wherever and whenever I want, and never ever going hungry or needing anything that is more than a 5 minute drive away.

This is something I have been chewing on for a while.

Thoughts??

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

Oi from Brazil!

2008-05-20T23:28:00.003-04:00

Thanks for coming by my blog!

To see some pictures, CLICK HERE! Only a few are up now, but there will be more soon!

My first few days in Brazil have been really good so far. Saturday night we had an outside meeting by a local scool here in Campinas (the subcity the Costas live in within the state of Sao Paulo), teaming with a local church. The worship team from the church performed some music (not worship music, but with Christian lyrics), and they even had some teenagers from the church perform a few really impressive hip-hop routines. (Reggae and hip-hop are very popular with the teens in Brasil, so this easily drew people in to watch.) Also, some people from the church performed a drama similar to the "Redeemer" drama we do with OAC, but to the song "Everything" by Lifehouse. (There are recordings of the drama online... I would higihly recommend watching it if you haven't seen it-- I get chills every time!)
During the drama, the pastor of the church asked if I would "say a few words" before Bruno presented the sketchboard. My first thought was that I didn't want to. They left it completely open-ended, and I was enjoying attending a meeting and watching it be led by other people. (I also didn't want to come across as 'the American chick who showed up and went on stage just because she was American.) But the pastor thought it would be appropriate and thought it could be a good transition from the drama to the sketchboard message, so I started praying that God would say something through me that would draw their hearts into the message, and/or confirm their thoughts if they identified with the drama (in which the person is brought away from Christ by drugs, alcohol, depression, etc., distracted by the things of the world, but not fulfilled by them).
-Please pray for the seeds that were planted in the hearts of the people who heard the gospel for the first time, as well as for those who accepted Christ that night! Several people came up to ask questions after the meeting, and they were also put in contact with the local church for follow-up.-
Also that night, God took down some of the walls around my comfort zone. Normally when someone would approach me and try to start conversation (in Portuguese), I would respond by saying (in Portuguese), "It's very nice to meet you, but I don't speak Protuguese," or something to that affect. So when a 12 year old boy came up and started talking to me, I was mortified that I could understand what he was saying, because that meant I had to respond... in Portuguese. We talked for several minutes, and God used him to bring me out of my fear of making a fool of myself. (Two 10 day trips and one 5 month class are not enough to make a person comforatble with a new language.) While I understand a fair amount, thanks to similarities between Portuguese and Spanish, I do not speak it comfortably, mainly due to my lack of practice. This was a blessing to "get over myself" and start speaking. : )
Since then I have found myself actually starting conversations with people. They are always gracious with my lack of a vocabulary, and seem to be glad that I try. Works for me!
These past few days have been mostly helping Camila and Bruno at home. I edited a few things for Bruno that he had to write in English, and I have watched Mariana (their 10 month old) while Camila has done housework, cooked, or relaxed. Also, I have been able to spend a lot of time with Camila, talking and looking through old pictures. It has been like one of those friendships where you do not see the other person for months or even years, but when you do see eachother again, you pick up right where you left off. Spending time with them has been such a blessing to me.
I need to wrap this up and grab some sleep, but thank you for taking the time to read this!
A couple more things to pray about:
-for the team from RCC that is currently preparing for some front-line ministry when they arrive here on June 8th: courage and preparation to battle spiritual warfare, both now and while they are here; unity as a team, to work together as one heart as we share the gospel; health and safety; that God would have "divine appointments" ready for us, that HIS name will be made great!
-for my continued health: I have had no problems, though my throat feels a little sore now.
-for God to strengthen me as I battle in spiritual warfare: Satan uses worry and fear pretty much every time I do any kind of ministry. I have been dealing with this, as well as having dreams that cause me to wake up fearful and exhausted. I am struggling to keep my mind out of the distraction of this fear, and focused on Christ and why I am here.
-that I will be a blessing and an encouragement to Bruno and Camila!
-above all else, that God will glorify himself through me and through this ministry!

Thank you again!

In His grace,
Elizabeth

Praise!

2008-05-06T00:38:00.002-04:00

God has been so good to me.

And on top of that, a friend of mine has connections to good service at the airport (yes, it apparently does exist if you're one of those "special" people!), and he got someone on the phone who was able to change my flight to Brazil from Tuesday to Friday for about $45 dollars.... MUCH different from the estimated $700 I had been told to expect. Praise the Lord! So as of now I am scheduled to leave Atlanta Friday, May 16, then I will be able to stay until I can return home with the team from RCC... and without getting the Brazilian police involved! Always a good thing!

I just need to say it again: God is so good. I'm in one of those places in my life where it is really easy to say that- I can see and touch and enjoy so many incredible blessings God is giving me. I know that a lot of life is not this way. But nevertheless, the Lord is good all the time, no matter my circumstances. My prayer is that the Lord will help me to cling to him all of the time, and that when the tough part of life shows its face again, my foundation can not be shaken, because it is built on Jesus Christ- the Solid Rock, and the only solid foundation there is. I am so thankful for the grace he offers you and me- certainly not because of anything I have done, but because he chooses to love us deeply. I can't wait to watch his glory continue to unfold!

PRAYER

2008-05-01T23:20:00.003-04:00

Here are a few things to be praying for right now:

-I am still around $500 short of my total need. Please pray that God provides the necessary funds however he chooses, as I leave in a week and a half.

-After three weeks of calling, I finally got a human being on the phone from the Brazilian Embassy. The problem is that I was issued a 30 day Visa, though I am scheduled to be in the country 31 days. (I sent copies of my airline tickets with my application, so this was either a mistake or simply a denial of the extra day on their part.) I explained my situation to the person on the phone, and she bluntly replied that I will have to go to the police department in Sao Paulo when I arrive in Brazil and request an extension. If they "feel" like allowing me to stay the extra day, I will be given some kind of permit that will allow me to leave the country a day later. If they choose to not give me this allowance, I will have to change my flight home, accruing an additional cost of $700, and causing me to leave while the rest of the team from RCC is still there doing ministry.
Please pray that God will soften the hearts of the people I end up dealing with there and that they will allow me the extra day.

-Please be praying for the people who will hear the gospel for the first time, and for those who will come to understand it for the first time. Pray that God will draw many to himself, using Bruno and Camila, the rest of the RCC team and me however he chooses.

-Above all else, please pray that God will be glorified in each situation that comes, and that we will fully submit to his leading in every circumstance.

More to come... Thank you so so much for praying!!

In His grace,
Elizabeth

This is My Story - part 1

2008-05-01T23:15:00.002-04:00

We should always give thanks to the Lord-He will not stop loving us!

(based on Psalm 107)

Some people wander around aimlessly, not knowing where to turn, and overlooking the Lord's invitation to protect them. They end up starving and have no water to quench their body's thirst for life.

Finally, they cried out to the Lord from the midst of their trouble, and he rescued them from all their distress! He showed them a straight path to walk in and gave them a beautiful land on which they could make their home.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things!

Some people sit alone in a deep pit of gloom and depression. They are prisoners of their own sin, chained to addiction with no rescue in sight. They are rebellious and bitter, quickly losing their grasp of anything they had ever thought firm. For the longest time they have heard the voice of their Beloved, but in their humanity, still choose to ignore it.

Finally, they cried out to the Lord, begging to hear his voice. Though they had rebelled, the Lord loved them deeply. He rescued them from their pit of dispair, bringing them out of the darkness and destroying all their chains. They were no longer bound to the world or even themselves.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he breaks down gates of bronze and cuts through bars of iron!

Some people are foolish and rebellious, all the while suffering from the life they are living. They stop eating and misuse their bodies, coming dangerously near to dying.

But finally, they called upon the Lord, and he rushed to their rescue. He saved them from dying and restored them.

Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men!

...Therefore
Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. (Matthew 7:7-8

UPDATED Itenerary:

2008-04-13T21:50:00.000-04:00

May 13, 2008: depart from Atlanta in the evening
May 14: arrive in Sao Paulo in the morning
May 14-17: ministry in plazas and schools in Sao Paulo
May 18: church in the morning then family time
May 19-22: more ministry in plazas and schools
May 23-24: Passion World Tour: Sao Paulo!
May 25-June 6: more life and ministry with the Costas (Bruno, Camila, and baby Mariana)
June 7-13: ministry with team from Roswell Community Church in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro
June 14: depart from Rio de Janeiro at night (leaving behind a large chunk of my heart)
June 15: arrive in Atlanta late in the morning

It has been more than a year since I was last with Bruno and Camila...

...And I cannot wait to meet their precious little girl!

from Psalm 40

2008-01-05T21:40:00.000-05:00

i identify...

Be pleased, O LORD, to save me; come quickly to help me. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me. You are my help and my deliverer.

i am awed...

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

i am encouraged...

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.

and now...

I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth.

I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.

The Life God Called You To

2007-12-04T00:16:00.000-05:00

Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches.

Was anyone at the time of his call already circumcised? Let him not seek to remove the marks of circumcision. Was anyone at the time of his call uncircumcised? Let him not seek circumcision. For neither circumcision counts for anything nor uncircumcision,

but keeping the commandments of God. Each one should remain in the condition in which he was called. Were you a slave when called? Do not be concerned about it. (But if you can gain your freedom, avail yourself of the opportunity.)

For he who was called in the Lord as a slave is a freedman of the Lord. Likewise he who was free when called is a slave of Christ.

You were bought with a price; do not become slaves of men.

So, brothers, in whatever condition each was called, there let him remain with God.

(from 1 Corinthians 7, ESV)

You Will Go Out In Joy!

2007-10-29T23:57:00.000-04:00

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,' declares the LORD" (Is. 55:8).
God is revealing this to me more and more every day. I do not have a clue what God has planned in my life, nor do I understand what he is doing with me right now. I do, however, know that God is good. He is faithful and trustworthy.
"'As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts"'(Is. 55:9).
Particularly over the past year I have found myself less and less content with the society I live in. I am no longer all right with giving large portions of my time and energy to things that are simply expected of me. This goes for areas of my life such as my education, as well as my lifestyle and the way I act and treat others. God is teaching more of the gospel to me and revealing more of the life he has freed me to live. Paul explains to the Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free" (5:1). I am only now beginning to realize how little of this freedom I understand, and much less that I actually live in. Paul continues: "Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery." Our flesh has been born into and raised in bondage to sin. But Christ has redeemed us from death and brought us into life through his sacrifice. I did not earn it. I did not deserve it. There was nothing beautiful about me, in and of myself, that would cause God's heart to soften towards me.
But God in his grace demonstrated his love toward you and me, in that while we were sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8).
God was pleased to save us while we were wretched and filthy. He was glorified in this redemption.I do not understand the gospel. I do not know why God chose to rescue me, even when I tried to rob him of his due glory by making my life about me. Yet God is glorified anyway. I do not understand the doors God is opening and closing in my life.
"'As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it'" (Is. 55:10-11).
He is opening doors and presenting oppprtunities I have never imagined or dreamed of. Granting me things I never thought to ask for. From teaching English in a Korean school, to working with highschool students, to the opportuity to live in Brasil, God has not ceased to surprise me in the past 8 months. He is stirring new desires in me, molding my heart to become more aligned with his own. He is teaching me to live and to enjoy his presence.
"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart" (Ps. 37:3-4).
As my desires become his desires, and as I learn to delight in living as his free and beloved daughter, I am satisfied simply by being with him. I am fulfilled and lack no good thing.
"'You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands"'(Is. 55:12).
I still struggle with wanting to hold in my hand all that I can, with my fingers closed tightly. I have no idea what tomorrow holds. I'm still scared of a lot of things. I still have unfulfilleed dreams and desires, for some of which I see no change in the near future.
BUT
Do not miss out on this.
To my friends who do not know my God, there is nothing on this earth that can fulfill us. But God can. And he does. And he invites you to live. Not only eternal, never dying life in Heaven, but real life- actual alive LIFE here and now on earth. It is absolutely worth giving up all the other stuff for it.To my friends who know and serve my God, do not miss this. "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world..." It is worthless, and it will not fulfill you. "But be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will" (Rom. 12:2). This is good. God wants to give this LIFE to you. He desires to remove every ounce of our flesh and our old selves from us and replace it with him- his character, his heart. He invites us to surrender all that we are to dress ourselves in all that he is. To experience him in every part of life. Jim Elliot wrote, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose."

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship" (Rom. 12:1).