Pace

Life is interesting sometimes…

This past weekend I “got out of Dodge” and spent a little time with my mom at the South Dakota State Fair. It has been eight years – close to a decade – since I had last been to the Fair. Doesn’t that seem like a long time!?! It was nice to go back though. I watched a few 4-H shows, went on a ride, and ate all the food you should only consume once a year! This time did remind me how much I need to share the following thoughts.

Pace – that’s the title of this post. (I know I’m using up all the running metaphors, but I think this will be the last! And the picante sauce logo just seemed to fit!) And kind of fitting to share on Labor Day! So, HAPPY LABOR DAY everyone!

Three weeks ago yesterday, my wife and I returned with 22 others from Jamaica. Jamaica, as I’ve mentioned in previous posts, was a truly wonderful experience. It was a chance to grow in my relationship with the Lord and an opportunity to extend that relationship to others.  One thing that settled on me as we spent time in Jamaica was the pace of life. It went, but it certainly wasn’t hurried. After all the busyness I had this summer before arriving, it was a very nice change of pace. I enjoyed relaxing a little bit and letting life go on without my constant watch gazing. We all worked hard; but it was about the quality of work, not the quantity. I needed that chance.

Fast-forward to when we arrived home. Here’s a little of all that I’ve accomplished in these three weeks:

Arranged a group and shared about our experience two days after getting back, caught up a week’s worth of class work in a graduate level course, finished that course, finished another course (so, writing lots of papers), wrote curriculum, devised new policies for work, gardened a ton of food!, removed rock and dug up area alongside our house where we used to have bushed (a.k.a. landscaped), made new bulletin boards, arranged files, figured out budgets, planned meetings, etc…

I think you get the picture. Often, it’s not felt like I’ve had a moment to breathe in these past three weeks because everything around me is telling me to go. I have felt the most unhealthy in all my life these past three weeks and all because of the pace of everything.

Why are our lives so cluttered and busy?

Why are we filling them with stuff?

Can we not just enjoy the quiet?

Scripture reminds us that our life is but a breath and that we are here only a brief moment. (See Psalm 8:4; 39:5; 103:15) Why should our time be spent of frivolous things that just wear us down? (I do want to be clear that not all the things I’ve been doing have not been for naught; nor are the things we can find our hands on.)

We move too quickly in this world. While we are often up to good things, are those good things pushing out God in our lives? This is where I’m coming from and have experienced some these few weeks. One of the things I’ve learned this summer (which I plan to share soon in another post) is that God inhabits the ordinary and mundane places of our lives the most. When we’re moving so fast that we don’t even have time to notice, where is He? But when we calm down and just be, then we can find Him.

It’s a true gift from God to be at rest. And He just might put you there!

So, it was truly fitting that getting away to go the State Fair would be a solace for my soul. My parents just enjoy life out at the Fair – they don’t push things but just are present. I needed that and I got that. God spoke to my heart and showed up as I rested in Him.

Find your rest today in Him. Set aside the labor, take in this moment of your life because it has such purpose, and enjoy God for who He is! Love Him and let His grace transform you!

Providence

I know I was going to tell of this story a little while ago and it never happened. I’m sorry about the service being lost and never getting to share this story! But I am sharing it now and it is such a wonderful testimony of how God works in the midst of our troubles and trials. It also showcases just how good He is at answering the prayers prayed over us before we left for Jamaica.

Here goes:

When we left for Jamaica and sent our bags through, one bag did not get labeled with a name and address. Lesson 1 learned: make sure everyone has their bag labeled to prevent someone else from taking it off the carousel.

When we arrived in Montego Bay, all our bags made it to Jamaica, but two were taken. We then got to spend about an hour trying to file a claim. Not the greatest way to enter into a new country. These bags had prayed over for safe travel, along with all of us, to make it to Jamaica. Well, they made it, but not to their intended destination.

That evening was sent in patient silence asking God to bring our bags back. Both included donations for the trip, and one had all of our plateware and utensils for the trip. We kind of needed to get those bags back.

In the morning, our devotionals asked us to read Proverbs 3:5-6, which goes: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.”

This was a morning where I had to trust God to have good purposes for those bags and just allow Him to handle the whole situation. In that moment of simple trust I found strength for the day and let the chips fall where they may.

It just so happens, that is all God was asking of me. Moments later, I received a phone call that one of the bags would be dropped off at the front desk that morning! God provides!

Bag #2 is a little bit more exciting! Waiting for our ride to show up, one of our youth, Ethan, made a comment to Rachel, who had lost her unlabeled bag (yup, I’m not giving it up!), that a bag over with another girl looked a lot like her bag. When she looked over, she was a little surprised and agreed. So, she went over to this other girl and asked her about her bag. And whose bag did it end up being? Rachel’s!

It turns out that the girl who grabbed Rachel’s bag was on her way back to the airport to turn in the bag and hopefully get her correct bag. However, her ride to the airport was running late. Coincidence?  I think not! Talk about God’s providing for us when we are forced to trust Him! God works in powerful ways!

Transformation

"It wasn't supposed to go that way..."

Ever thought that? I know I definitely had that thought a couple of times this past week! To start - I was supposed to have cell reception in Catadupa so I could update everyone as the week progressed along. That didn't happen. As soon as we left Montego Bay, my phone quit.

"It wasn't supposed to go that way..."

But, as it turns out sometimes it is just what doesn't go our way that God uses for His good work in us.

As we prepared for our time in Catadupa, we focused a lot on the transformation that occurs as we seek Jesus. Our hearts are enlarged and changed and made more into the likeness of Him. As I reflect on our past week in Jamaica, I know I had the thought that transformation would happen, but it would be when I was in Jamaica. It's not to say that transformation didn't occur, but I was banking on the majority of it to be then and not any other time.

I think this might have been the case with some of the youth who went along as well.

Today, as I was thinking about what God has done in my heart, I was reminded of Jesus' words from Luke 17:5-6:

The apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith!" 

He replied, "If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

What the disciples wanted was their faith to grow - which isn't bad - but what Jesus shows them is they were missing what they already had! He was letting them know that the faith they had was already sufficient enough to do mighty things.

Isn't is surprising how we can miss this? We keep looking for what we already have. This past week, I was looking for transformation and the evidence of it. I did see it, but I also saw that it had a foundation already started that allowed for that evidence to be showcased. It took time for that transformation to make itself visible.

I think for a lot of us we were looking for the evidence and wanted to see development in an instantaneous way. What God was showing me was transformation has already taken place. All the months leading up to the trip and the work we did in our small groups helped lay that foundation in order for that faith to mold and increase. God did mighty things through us but only because we sought God prior in relationship with Him and one another.

I am so excited for all the ways that our relationship with God will continue to shine forth His goodness as we seek Him. Transformation continually happens in our hearts in relationship, and what has happened this past week is only the beginning to the mighty things He has in store for our futures. To Him be all the glory!

Arrival

We have arrived! What a trip we've been on already! While all the flights went tremendously well, it did take a little while to get to the hotel. But we're here now; we're all safe; and we're resting tonight. With all the trials and frustrations today, it is exactly God's timing thathat I heard the words of Proverbs 3:5-6. Trusting Him for this whole trip will be our strength. Tonight, we're going to enjoy this place and trust God for our start tomorrow in Catadupa. Thanks for all the prayers family! Brandon

Run

I love running! I have been running for years and it has now been a decade endeavor in my life. I really started engaging in running when I was 16 and it has benefited my life in tremendous ways. It's also challenged me like I would have never imagined. It's brought out a competitive energy within me as well, and this has taken me to compete in various 5K's, 10K's, long-distance relays, a half-marathon, and a full marathon. It's crazy what starting something to lose a little weight has done in transforming my life in such a tremendous way!

As I think about running this morning, I am preparing to leave tonight to travel to Jamaica on a mission trip. This will be my first endeavor to Jamaica. I've always thought of it as a very cool place to visit. Over the past few months, I've learned so much more about the nation. The place we will be going to is called Catadupa and it is a place where hope has been taken but is slowly starting to rise. I pray that our time there would continue to build up that hope that comes in Jesus Christ.

Running has taught me many things about faith, AND putting that faith into action. Jesus Christ has called us to the narrow path. You have to walk to be on that path. That requires movement and an action. In running, you have to move your legs in order to get somewhere. Running requires movement and action. We can't be stagnant - we won't get anywhere!

In our group's mission opportunity, we're moving. We could have taken the moments of these next 10 days and rested on the lake. I know I could use a few days off! But my faith calls me to action. And my faith has pointed me to Jamaica, along with all these youth and adults. I don't know how God will show up in our lives, but I do know He will! And I'm excited to share when He does on here! Catadupa is a place on my path as I run after Christ. With this, I wanted to point out some verses that I've been thinking deeply about the past few weeks. I really like these verses, and something more might show up on this blog in the coming weeks. As I've learned how to run, these verses have spoken truth to the correlation of life in Christ:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

I'm going to run after Christ with a perspective of making Him known and affecting eternity. How are you going to follow after Him?

Purpose

Good morning everyone! This will be short, but I hope it is helpful! Welcome to my blog!

As a lot of you parents know, I am taking your children to Jamaica in a week! This will be the spot where I will post some updates and help you learn all that we are experiencing. I have written a number of things on this blog in the past (yes, it has been a while...), so feel free to check them out.

Also, I have another blog if you get curious for reading at atonementfargoyoungadult.blogspot.com. I'm excited for all God has in store for us this next week! Thanks for your prayers! Love, Brandon

Jeremiah 9 - 22

Hi everyone,

It's been a little while since I posted, but I am reading Jeremiah! And I am challenged by this book. Like I posted last time, I have read the book before, but I am seeing the verses with a new refreshment and I am enjoying being challenged.

What I am most gaining from reading Jeremiah is his heart for a lost and broken nation. These people completely disregard what he has to tell them from God, and yet, he still cries out for them to return to God and be healed. He despises their rebellion, but he does not want their destruction. He sincerely loves these people though they reject him.

It's got me thinking - how do I love the people I'm around? In my city? In my neighborhood?

Do I love like this?

Truthfully, I don't. I lament where our nation is going and I hate what so many young people have to go through. But I hate it from a distance.

Jeremiah didn't do this. He was right in the heart of the action and spoke truth. He had an audience that rejected him, but he still stepped out in obedience. And that's what God asked of him. Am I willing to do this?

In these chapters, there have been a few passages that I want to point out. The first is Jeremiah 10:23 - 25. This is Jeremiah's prayer and I love it. It says:

"I know, O Lord, that a man's life is not his own;
it is not for a man to direct his steps.
Correct me, Lord, but only with justice -
not in your anger,
lest you reduce me to nothing.
Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you,
on the people who do not call on your name.
For they have devoured Jacob;
they have devoured him completely and destroyed his homeland."

What I love about this prayer is Jeremiah's humility and acknowledgment that the whole world revolves around the sovereignty of God. It is His plan that is being accomplished in all our lives and it is His ways that will come to fruition. We have a spot in that, but ultimately, He lets succeed what He wants. Jeremiah surely praises the sovereignty of God in all situations.

Do we look at God the way Jeremiah does? When the world around us is going down the toilet, do we believe that God's sovereign hand is upholding His children? I do. Even as I think of the United States right now, I firmly believe that we are not going through anything that God has not ordained for us. He has challenged us to seek Him and be obedient to Him. In this, He promises blessing. But it's for full obedience - not half-hearted obedience.

This is a call to Christians in America. Have you been fully obedient to God? Have you submitted to His will and plans for your life, or have you only given Him a piece? If we've only been going about giving Him a piece, then we rightly deserve what we're getting. We're not fully obeying God. We're making our own way and fitting God to our idea of what's supposed to happen. In this, we're really not letting God be our God, but rather, we're making ourselves God and calling on God to acquiesce to us. How shameful of us! Christian America - REPENT! REPENT! REPENT! We are not God - God is God! He is sovereign, we are not! He is Holy and His plans are always righteous and good. Not ours.

And this brings me to the second section of Jeremiah I wanted to bring about. Chapters 18 and 19 are some of my favorite in the whole book; chapter 18 possibly being one of my favorite in the whole Bible because of how greatly it challenges what I've thought about God and how I view others. In chapter 18, God tells Jeremiah to go to the potter's house and look at the pots. When Jeremiah gets there, he sees the potter reshaping a pot because it didn't turn out just the way he wanted. The potter creates the pot to his liking, not the pot's.

This chapter tells of how God is sovereign. He does what pleases him. Now, some of us might look at these verses and think of how wrathful God is. It's true, God's wrathful character against sin is being displayed. But consider this point - if God hadn't reshaped Israel, we wouldn't be allowed to know God. If He hadn't opened up a way for Jesus to be for more than just the nation of Israel, we Gentiles would not know salvation. In His reshaping, we've been brought the opportunity to know Jesus and have a relationship with God.

God has created every person for noble purposes and for destruction. We never know who is created for what purposes, but isn't that a scary thing to think of? When I examine these verses, I see that there are possibly people around me that God has created to be separated from Him. That's very sad, but it's also His plan and purpose. Though He yearns for every person to come to salvation, He is also omnipotent to see how sin has clouded and dissuaded these persons. We must not forget that not everyone is saved. This should move us to care about them knowing the Gospel of Jesus! We should be sharing and being obedient in sharing truth. God longs for our obedience! Let's give it to Him!

Lastly, I just want to mention one passage. Being obedient to God is not easy. But we have to continue to push after it. And God will work. His Holy Spirit will burn within us! Jeremiah writes in chapter 20:8 - 9:

"Whenever I speak out, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction.
So the world of the Lord has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, 'I will not mention him
or speak any more in his name,'
his word is in my heart like a fire,
a fire shut up in my bones.
I am weary of holding it in;
indeed, I cannot."

God will not let us go! If we pursue after Him and fully surrender in obedience, He will not let us go down to eternal destruction. He will uphold us and defend us!

If you're pressing into Him, but having a hard time understanding, DON'T GIVE UP! DON'T GIVE UP! Strength will rise as you wait for Him! And let these words that Jeremiah declares about our God flood your soul with praise:

"But the Lord is with me like a mighty warrior;
so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail.
They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced;
their dishonor will never be forgotten.
O Lord Almighty, you who examine the righteous
and probe the heart and mind,
let me see your vengeance upon them
for to you I have committed my cause.

Sing to the Lord!
Give praise to the Lord!
He rescues the life of the needy
from the hands of the wicked." (Jeremiah 21:11-13)

God is fighting for you! He love you and yearns for you to lovingly follow after Him! Draw near to Him and let Him work mightily!

Love you all,

Brandon