The Cost

How much am I willing to give up for Jesus?

    Yesterday we visited Katie Davis' ministry: Amazima. It got me thinking about that question. She gave up her entire comfortable and familiar life for Him. Am I willing to do the same? In the Gospel's, Jesus went up to Matthew and just said, "Follow Me." Matthew immediately got up and followed Him. Jesus told Peter and Andrew to follow Him, and they dropped their nets and followed Him. They left a very well paying business to follow Christ. When Jesus called Levi, Jesus again went up to him and said ,"Follow Me." So Levi got up and followed Him. If they can easily get up,desert everything they know, then so can I.
     This picture is brought to life when we are in the village. The way to gather the children for the program is to simply walk a mile from our campsite to the main part of the village. As we walk down the red dirt road, lined with mud hutts, we hear the familiar voices of kids screaming, "mzungu!!" In which we reply, "Jangu!" (come). They drop everything and come running from their hutts to hug us and grab an available hand. The farther we walk down the road, the more kids we acquire until we reach our destination with a parade of kids following us. Why do they drop what they're doing to follow us? Because they have nothing to lose and everything to gain. Our faith needs to look like this. This world should offer us nothing, so that when Jesus says, "Come, follow Me", we drop everything, run to Him, and follow Him. To this world, the cost of following Christ looks large, but the reward is even greater! As Katie Davis says in her book, "I believe that nothing is a sacrifice in light of eternity with Christ."

"But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for Whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him." Philippians 3:7-9

Lauren

Worship

As I sit here on top of a mountain that overlooks hundreds of miles of Uganda, one of the most breathtaking views I have ever seen, I can't help but be in awe of the God who created this. The God who created this created me, loves me, and sent His Son to die for me. Wow!

I can hear a large stream close by and the deep rumble of it's waterfall making itself known. Thunder is growling from afar and I can see rain clouds watering the earth below. The cool breeze is blowing the freshest air I have ever inhaled.

It's a reminder that creation is constantly worshiping it's Creator. So why aren't we? This week we taught the kids about worship. The word "worship" in Luganda is translated as "singing". Yes that is a way to worship God, but it is not the only way. This is what we wanted to teach the kids. Worship can be anything that brings glory to God. We wanted them to know that they can worship God through their talents including: art, dancing, singing, sports, cooking, drama etc.

Worshiping God has an effect on those around us. Us missionaries had a worship night last week, where we turned off the lights and sang. Jesus was among us. The next day our gate keeper came up to one of the MST'S (Ministry support team) and uttered the most beautiful question, "Who is this Jesus and His love, that you sing about?" We never know who we are introducing Jesus to when we just do what we were created for, worshiping the God of the universe. We are all created to worship God, yet humanity has turned from Him. How can nature do what it was created to do, but we as intelligent humans can't seem to grasp it? Does nature know something that we don't? I think we need to take some lessons from creation.

"Praise the Lord from the heavens;
    praise him in the heights above. 

 Praise him, all his angels;
    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.   

 Praise him, sun and moon;
    praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens
    and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for at his command they were created 

  and he established them for ever and ever—
    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

 Praise the Lord from the earth,
    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
    stormy winds that do his bidding,  you mountains and all hills,
    fruit trees and all cedars, 

 wild animals and all cattle,
    small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,
    you princes and all rulers on earth, young men and women,
    old men and children. 

Let them praise the name of the Lord,
    for his name alone is exalted;
    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens." Psalm 148:-13

Lauren

"Deep calls to deep, in the roar of Your waterfalls; all Your waves and breakers have swept over me." Psalm 42:7