I'm not ready

http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/2012/01/over-here-again.html

Read this story.

All the way through.  I found this blog, from a blog, from a blog.  I do not know her, but I know that, at least, this particular post makes a whole lot of sense to my life right now.

I WILL write about student teaching someday, when I have some time.  (as if I will have time while student teaching)


Alphabet Music Challenge: K

When you listen to this song, dance - it should be hard to sit still.  Get up, jump around. Do something. At least add it to your work out mix.


Artist: K'naan
Song: Waving Flag

I'm Not Nice

Or at least I don't wanna be....

Anyone can be nice, not everyone can be more than that.

I've grown up "nice"; I always (tried) to do everything right by my parents, church and society. Therein lies the problem: None of that matters. The only opinion that matters is God's, and He does not call us to be nice. In fact, He calls us to "be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves" (Matthew 10:16 b) To me, that doesn't say "nice".

I've spent the majority of my time, side-stepping anyone who might have a problem with what I believe. I'll even venture to say that I'm not in the minority for this. (I'm right aren't I??) But if I read the gospels and what Jesus called us to do, I am so far off base it's ridiculous!

Read Matthew 10:16-20

16 “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.17 Be on your guard; you will be handed over to the local councils and be flogged in the synagogues.18 On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as witnesses to them and to the Gentiles.19 But when they arrest you, do not worry about what to say or how to say it. At that time you will be given what to say,20 for it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you."

As Christians, we always focus on verse 20, that's the easy part. Read just before it though "At that time..." At what time??? When you're ARRESTED?? When you're FLOGGED in the synagogues?? We have not reached this point, or touched the tip of the persecution Christ talks about.

Porque "Que Seguinte?"

Why "What Next?"

Growing up, I went on A LOT of mission trips... mostly to an orphanage in Mexico called Bob and Betty King Ministries to do whatever they needed us to do (lots of digging and laundry if I recall correctly).

One year, the mantra was "¿Que Sigue?", or "What Next?" in Spanish. The point was to remind us that there was always more to do and our attitude should always be a willingness to work and ask "what next?" This has become the personality of our church; everywhere we go we continue to do a job and immediately find or ask for the next one.

Fast forward: Earlier Today.

What would be a good title for my blog?"

As a college student about to go into my last year of my undergrad, I'm certainly trying to figure out what's next. The past week has been an insane time of making decisions for my future. "What next God?" It seems like such a constant question and sometime I really wish it would go away. I wish I would just know what's next and be able to walk in it. I don't really want to know my ENTIRE life, but seeing a little further seems like it would be helpful...

God apparently has different ideas about what He wants to tell us. We've all heard the analogy that life's like a puzzle, and we only see a few pieces at a time now. I'm tired of thinking about that phrase/saying, but it is true. I've also been told that if God let us know everything we would do in our lives, we probably wouldn't believe it or even want to do it. That's probably true too.

Anyway, right now I'm asking "What next?" and I suppose I'll always be asking. I hope I will anyway. I never want to lose my desire to follow in God's plan, and I never want to lose the willingness to do what's put in front of me and then go find the next task. There's far too much work to do for me to sit without a purpose.

One more thing: What language is it? the original was Que Sigue in Spanish right? Yep. Now it's in Portuguese. This is something too long to explain in one blog post, so I won't really try. Anyway, if you really know me, you already know why it's in Portuguese. At any rate, it will suffice to say that Brazil has my heart and I am planning on heading back to do missions work with Lighthouse International.

Que Seguinte? I don't know exactly, but I do know where I need to take my next few steps; that's enough. Past that I have to trust God to give me the answers as I need them.