Hmmm, how do I properly wrap up my summer? The word that has been coming to mind when people ask me how my summer was is ‘awesome!’ Although, one of the things I have learned this summer is that I use that word far too often! I have learned so much this summer and grown incredibly.
I want to use this outlet to share as much as possible but I also have no desire to put highly personal information online. What I can share here is the extent to which God showed me love. I gained a deeper understanding of what it is and the power and potential it holds. One of the thoughts that has been following me this summer is this and I propose it to you as well. On some fateful day you will die and be brought to the gates of heaven, what happens if there is some sort of test, nothing too intense, but you are asked “Why should you be let in?” What would you say? Because you believe? But do you really? How would you sum up in one sentence saying you have done as much as you could for God and you believe completely in Him? I have puzzled how to sum up living out the kingdom of God and while it is far from perfect, I would say ‘Because I have loved’. If we live a life loving one another and loving God, we are living the kingdom of God. It is so easy yet rarely done in our world. Our society has poisoned and diluted love. I feel I cannot talk about this subject without having to add a clause saying this is merely platonic love. We as North Americans do not truly understand that concept. We have the love that Hollywood gives us, and love for families, and love for cake. There is no longer this idea of a brotherly love mentioned so much in the New Testament.
If I talk without love, who would want to listen? If I have insights of wisdom but no love for people, what good is it? If I give away everything, but not out of love, I am no better than the one that keeps it all.
Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, doesn't have a swelled head, doesn't force itself on others, isn't always "me first," doesn't fly off the handle, doesn't keep score of the sins of others, doesn't revel when others grovel, takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, puts up with anything, trusts God always, always looks for the best, never looks back, but keeps going to the end. (I Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message)
Are you love? Are you loving? Are you living the kingdom of God?
I’m sorry, I did not mean for this to get preachy but you can hardly expect me to summarize my summer without talking about God! Along with learning a lot from God, we also did some work! As I believe I mentioned earlier we worked with a school in Tizate and ran an ESL class for pre-school to grade one. We also painted some classrooms which was a good time although being stuck inside for the last two/three weeks meant a real detriment to my tan! I would attempt to put more photos here but it really did not seem to work so well last time so I have put them on facebook and you can follow the link below, with or without an account.
Thanks for stopping by! And just to give a heads up, please stay tuned for my China adventures on this blog come January!
