Faith…
Well, I am currently sitting in Starbucks in town, waiting for our weekly English Bible study to start. It has been quite adventurous these past few weeks and I feel like I am sprinting just to stay caught up. Its not a bad feeling though, being busy, always having something to do. However, it does teach you something. I have been more challenged by the idea of “active faith” and discipline these past few weeks than I ever have in my whole life. About two and a half weeks ago I moved out of my house in down town Sevilla, in hopes of finding Spanish roommates somewhere. Tim had found a place in a zone called Bami, over by where the girls live. I headed out to the suburbs to stay at the Acton’s while I was on the hunt for a flat. With Dave’s help, we called about 20 different places and time after time it fell through. I searched both main campuses for housing signs, we called residencias, Spanish families, and about anything else that showed up, but nothing in the city was working out at all. Then we went to the university out in Burmujos where I was staying and we saw one sign of someone looking for a housemate. After a short call Dave said I could see the house the next day and by five pm I was moving in. It has been a relief and an answer to prayer having a house. It ended up being a brand new townhouse, my own big room, wireless internet, and a private pool… all of which were hard to come by in the city. I have also started private Spanish classes, Distance Learning Spanish through Liberty, and am finishing up my other online classes, so it is pretty crazy. Not too mention the three short term teams that are occupying the next three weeks. Again, it has been busy bit good. As I have been studying through Hebrews my concept of Faith is being expanded and deepened greatly. When we stop to really understand who our Faith is in and why Christ is worthy of our complete existence, it is a powerful thing. It has been encouraging to realize that I serve a sympathetic God who has been subjected to the same things I have been tempted by. Rather than scolding and pouring guilt on my back, day after day He picks me up, brushes me off and says “Brother, I know…” I am also taking on a new understanding of the grace and peace that is manifested in its perfection through Christ. I am in such need of His grace that it is impossible not to experience it. And there are so many things happening in my life and so many potentials exist right now that without the peace of God I would not be able to maintain consistency. All though I struggle so many times every day to stay above reproach, I still feel God is bringing me to a level I have never been. It is in the brief moments when I feel my life in it’s entirety is fluid with the love and power of Christ that I truly understand not only the necessity, but His ability to change this world. I pray that I will be counted worthy to take part in such a task every day given to me.
