"Your Name is Your Nature"

"You shall not make for yourself a carved image of anything...

You shall not bow down to them nor serve them...

You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain."

Exodus 20:4,5,7

For the first time in seven weeks I went to a mass in english.

I've loved many things about mass in spanish;
the familiar gospel,
the ten stringed-instrument band,
giving "paz,"
women in leadership,
incense,
just taking it all in, and
the little angles at the altar.

But I felt the need to seek out a service where
I can be a little more interactive.

It was almost the opposite of everything I expected.
Almost 90 minutes long, in stark contrast to our 45 minutes in the USA.
And the great echo of our long, narrow chapel made even english sound
foreign.
However, despite the waves of frustration, and my dipping blood sugar,
I felt as though I became very close to the backs-of-heads I was worshiping with.

And as little as I care for long-winded homilies,
the man had some good words.
Thanks to God for perking my ears.

Is God who we make Him to be?
Or is He as He tells us, in His Word?

We make God fit into our comprehension,

our lifestyles... and by this, we empty His name.

This priest said we are so apt to making false idols,

because we empty God's name.

"And your name is your nature."

Our problems with making false idols stems from our

problem with corrupting the Lord's name.

This turned my vantage point completely upside down.

I've only been advised on when to not say the Lord's name.

I've never been advised to preserve the Lord's name by

maintaining His nature.

This is incredibly refreshing for me and I know God allowed

me to be late for the first service so that I may hear this, and

also for the time He used to do some healing in our house.

I feel like I've got a new paradigm to grow from, 

I feel excited and encouraged to continue in this light.

"Your word is a lamp to my feet

and a light for my path."

Psalm 119:105

God'll Ne'er Let You Down

This has been one of my favorite songs
through winter in Chicago
and my trip here to Mexico.
This morning it's truer than ever before.

A Home

In pictures.

To be continued...

Las Maestras

A little about the teachers;

Because it can't go unsaid.

Always smiling and caressing on the surface,

while stirring with anticipation underneath.

They are a cool and tranquil breeze,

which takes speed in every down-moment.

You'd think my school was a soap set.

Secrets and tugging elbows,

everyday is exciting and I never know

quite what is going on.

You'd think my school was a soap set,

but they know how to keep their cool.

Bible Lessons via Jacob

"In this world, you will have trouble.

But be brave! I have defeated the world."

John 16:33

One of the endlessly refreshing lessons I've learned by dating a Christian is how God can reach us through other people. 

Tonight, like often before, and I'm sure in times to come, Jake supported me with God's Word. Or, God gave me His Word, through Jake.

While expressing my fears to return home (the major lifestyle change, missing the life I've built here, forgetting Spanish, relearning how to do my life in Chicago) Jake reminded me of the verse in John, which I wrote above.

How true!

Those words alone pacified my heart. 

Still, Jake went on to remind me of this story, when Jesus' disciples were afraid.

"One day Jesus said to his disciples,

'Let's go over to the other side of the lake.'

So they got into a boat and set out.

As they sailed, He fell asleep.

A squall came down on the lake,

so that the boat was being swamped,

and they were in great danger."

First of all, I love the setting of this story.

Jesus always has a motive, so I can only imagine He knew this would all happen.

I'm sure it was part of God's lessons for the disciples to place this squall on the lake, which serves as a good reminder that sometimes God places a disturbance in our lives for a reason. What tough love.

"The disciples went and woke Him, saying,

'Master, Master, we're going to drown!'

He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters;

the storm subsided and all was calm."

I also love this scene because it makes me think of small children, namely myself, running into their parent's bedroom during a storm. The calm Father wakes up and makes everything feel safe again. He's so nonchalant. But then...

"Where is your faith?"

What a catch. I think so many things about this.

I think about how God wants us to be comforted by Him, but not to the point where we become paralyzed by everything else. To the contrary, I know we should face challenges with bravery because we have our Lord with us. This is the kind of comfort that turns you out to face the world, it doesn't hinder your strength and keep you at home.

Jake reminded me that for the disciples, Jesus had even told them where they were going. Yet in the midst of trouble, they forget His word and turned to fear. I know I've become fearful so many times, even after God has told me His plan.

I have no doubt that my time in Mexico was a plan of God's.

I have no doubt that God planned for me to return home (this time.)

But that little transition is sometimes so daunting that it tweaks my heart, sending spasms to my brain, and I seem to loose my confidence in everything.

I have no doubt that God will carry me through. 

I just may have to be reminded.

I am sure God will use my time here as a key influence in my life, I can already tell.

I am sure I will eventually be happy to be back.

Thank you, Jacob Cole, for lovingly reminding me.

I am sure my part in all of this will require much more prayer and faith.

PS: Jesus calms the storm in both Matthew 8 and Luke 8.