Dying? Tomorrow?

My online classes always make me think. Sometimes more than other classes…Maybe because I actually have time to think about the material! Anyway, the prompt asked us to discuss what our emotions and actions would be like if we knew we were going to die soon. This is what I wrote:

“I would be sort of frightened at first and maybe disappointed that my time on earth was coming to a close. I would be excited too though, too.
I would be so very overjoyed to see Jesus and never be separated from His presence. I would be glad that I would soon no longer have to struggle with sin and pain, too.

Yet, like Jesse mentioned in his post, I would be saddened to leave others behind. I would want to make sure that I cleared up any disagreements an said things that I needed to say. I would also want to make sure that I wrote to and spoke to anyone who I believed needed to hear the gospel. And yes, I’m sure I would have some regrets; we all do.  

I would make sure that I got rid of most of my stuff before I died. I would try to make it easier for my family, since going through stuff after folks pass away can be difficult. Plus, I’m a pack-rat, so it would be a bit of a headache anyway!

I think I’d have a goodbye party for myself, too. Maybe even make up a program for my funeral and get stuff ready. Of course, that might freak folks out…

Thinking about this is a good reminder that any minute God could call me home. It’s best to be responsible now with relationships, possessions, and time. Today really could be my last…you never know.”

Do you miss Him?

A number of times, I’ve had this thought come to my mind, “I miss Jesus.” Sometimes, I thought that perhaps it was my desire to be closer to Him or become like Him…or even that my walk wasn’t doing so good lately. Yet, today I realized that it was a bit different. That feeling I get when “I miss Jesus” is a wanting for the physical presence of Christ.

I miss His arms around me even though He’s never hugged me.
I miss His voice, even though I’ve never heard Him out loud.
I miss being in His company, even though I’ve never sat next to Him.
I miss being able to talk to Him and see His face as He listens-but I never have been able to.
I miss running from a million miles and having Him catch me, although He never has.
I miss being able to cry for hours and have Him wipe away every tear that falls from my face with the perfect assurance that He’s there loving me regardless of life.
And I miss His laughter. It’s beautiful you know…

Someday that missing feeling will go away and never come back.

Distraction

SO….It takes a lot to make me sit down for an extended period of time. Continuously. Without doing anything else other than homework.

I sit down, work a little..then check my email, then my facebook, then look at people’s stuff, then some new photography business’s pics, then I go back to reading. For about ten minutes.

And it happens over and over. And finally, I’ve got some work done! Goodness, why do I waste so much time being distracted by the world! The internet is especially evil. I should turn off my internet for a bit, maybe that will help me get something done…

I was such a good student in highschool! I really was. I had great study habits…and now they are all gone. College took them away from me! I wonder what else college has done to me..I’m sure I could come up with an extensive list. Hmm, I’ll make one tomorrow.

Anyone else seem to have become more ‘bird-minded’ and distracted because of college? Or maybe it’s not college? What is the source of my loss of concentration? Is it just then internet?

Importance

The Importance of drinking

Is vital.

To the Existence of living.

It is crucial.

To breathe in the knowledge

Of Ethereal continuity

Which connects with One.

Fail to drink, to eat,

and die.

Slowly, painfully..

dry and starving,

You cannot make it

Alone.

Your arrogance,

In self-sufficiency,

Makes me weep,

After I die laughing.

Soon you will too.

The Light in the darkness,

Cannot be found by pushing

Blindly. In the Dark.

You have to accept the Dark within

To See the Light above.

Looking to oneself for

Guidance brings gnashing

Of Teeth…tearing of

Hair, clothes, life…

I fail.

You fail.

There is only

One who does not.

His touch is Real,

His breathe Reviving,

His love Redeeming,

His Hand Restoring,

All you have to do,

Is put yours in His.

Time Flies!

I’m packing to leave for a missionary conference, and I picked up my journal. Read from the last year and a half’s entries…wow, so much has changed! God has worked in great ways all around me and within me even more! I’m humbled by His grace, love, and mercy.

A lot has happened these last two weeks, including a wonderful visit from a very loved person,  an exhausting VBS,  and a runaway ‘cousin.’ So many emotions, thought, conversations and words. Too much to summarize. Yet, I’ve seen God work mightily, and have no doubt He will continue to do so, even in the harder areas (finance and leaving home again). He is ….I have no words to fill the blank, many rush to my mind, yet none adequate to name His truly mind-blowing BEING.

He IS!!

We’ve Got a Job to Do!

Today, I got to go to a Jr High grad. In Mexico, we have three years of Jr. High and three of High School. A bit more balanced! :) Ha, anyways, there were so many kids there! Each one in their own world with their own thoughts. It boggles my mind how many are living lives away and apart from Christ! The glorious wonders they miss out in living apart from God! It breaks me heart, yet challenges me as well. All of these need Christ. And so many more! What is a life if it is not devoted to bringing more souls to know this grand and magnificent One I call Lord and Savior!! I’d rather die a million deaths than live without HIM as KING of me.

Prayer

It is such a privilege to be able to pray for people. Thank You, Father  for allowing us to communicate with You through your Spirit and because of the death and resurrection of Your Son! To You be the Glory!!

What It’s All About

Today, I had to answer the question in class, “What is Christian Ethics?” It ended up being an enlightening time of typing for me!

~How are we to live our lives? How are we to know what to do or not do? What is Christian ethics?…..

It revolves around who we are in Christ.  “In Christ.”  Not next to Him, behind Him or before Him. IN HIM. Our whole life should be a development of that relation. When we believe that Christ can meet God’s requirements for us and we can be IN him before God, we are seen as Him. God no longer looks at a failed human being who failed to meet His “do’s” and “don’ts.” He sees Christ alone. If we are in Him, there is no better place to be!

When we place our faith in Him to bridge the gap between us a God, we begin a relationship. Rather, in many ways, we repair one. Ever since Adam sinned (breaking the glorious relationship he had with God), God has been offering a way to repair that. He offered the law, an impossible means of reparation. (As mentioned in the videos, Christian ethics is impossible!) Yet, this was followed by the sacrifice of Christ, a possible means to reparation of that relationship. The basis of our daily lives no longer has to be based on attempts to follow laws, or a set of ethical expectations, but it is based on that relationship. Many times, we liken the life of a Christian to a plant which needs to be nurtured and feed to grow. It is through the growth of this relationship with Christ that we know how to live. His living Spirit is what guides us!

Over the years, my mom mentions how she and my dad become more like each other each day. They adopt each others habits, or mannerisms, actions, or perspectives. Everyday they are becoming more into ONE person. I think I finally understand why Jesus calls the church of believers His Bride. Like a wife becomes more like her husband, He wants us to become more like Him. To be really IN Him. So much, that one day, we will not be able to find where Christ begins in our lives or where He ends. A seamless garment before God.

When you are in something, you are surrounded. Our lives need to be surrounded by Christ. Every moment, every breath should be IN Him. We are not our own, nor should we live that way.
In striving for this daily non-separation from Christ is where we find our identity in Him. When we give up our lives to Him, the process begins. There is no more Elise Reyes. I gave myself up to be absorbed by Christ. In Him, I should “live, breath, and have my being” as the Bible says.  It’s such an exciting and beautiful thing, it makes me want to shout for joy and cry at the same time.

Again?

So, we just said bye to one fellow missionary family last week. Now this week, another.

I really don’t like this goodbye business. Yet, missionaries have to do it over and over again. It’s a reminder in a way…not to cling to tightly to this world I guess.

Glad for Facebook though. I could not have survived as an Mk twenty years ago. Snail mail would have killed off all my friendships. I’ve been quite blessed to have been born to this generation! I’m also even more glad I serve a God who is sovereign and gives us only as much as we can take. He is so AMAZING!

Little Mexican Fishing Village

I read a friend’s post today about mourning her MK past. It reminded me of a lot of feelings I’ve had over the years about missing the past…reminded me of a poem I wrote a few years back too…

Little Mexican fishing village

Little Mexican fishing village down by the sea

Little Mexican fishing village loved by you and me

We lived our lives, dealt with strife

We thanked God for prosperity…

But times changed, as they are apt to do

Times, changed, greatly affecting me and you

Change brought horses, carriages, money

Things we just can’t live without

Machines, communication, progress

They called it…

Even though drugs and diseases came, too.

Tis said Saint Luke is more progressed

I say Saint Joe’s just fine.

At least it was…

But now, the paleteria’s been painted.

The plaza’s been re-vamped.

And now, for the first time in my life,

The town clock tells the time.