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Known & Loved

I am completely known and loved by God. Psalm 139:13-16 tells us:

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.  My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.”

God knows everything about us! Recently, I have found comfort in the truth that a Holy God chooses to know everything about me and love me for me.

How special is it when a friend or significant other remembers something near and dear to your heart? Maybe it’s your Chick-fil-a order or on a serious note, they remember to pray for you during a time of need. When someone remembers things like that, it makes you feel special because you are known.

As believers, we are constantly under attack. Satan loves to make us feel alone and tries to isolate us as much as possible. He tries to feed us lies that people don’t care, don’t remember and you are all alone.

Although friends and family surround me, there are many times that I feel alone. I have wrestled with why I feel that way and what causes me to feel alone when I am surrounded by people whom I love and I know love me.

Being known and loved by our Holy God is the core of the Gospel. God loved us so much that He chose to send Jesus to earth to live a sinless life. He KNEW how much He loved us before we were even born. And He knew what He needed to do to save us to be reunited with Him.

Satan wants us to feel alone because when we feel alone, we are isolated from the core of the Gospel- that we are known and loved by God.

Sometimes as believers, we have this wrong view of God that He keeps track of our wrongs to hold them against us. Our God isn’t Santa Clause. Our God is a gentle, compassionate, tender, loving God who only wants the best for us.

Since I have moved to Puerto, God has constantly reminded me that He knows. He knows when I am hurting. He knows when I need a friend. He knows what makes me excited and happy. He knows that I love the ocean, wildflowers, sunsets and ice cream. I can rest in Him because He knows me. Completely.

The same truth is for you too! When you put your faith and trust in Jesus as your savior, you become His child. Let me tell you, God loves His children.

It wasn’t easy to pack up my life in two suitcases, leave my family and friends and move to a country that I don’t even speak the language. But God knows. And because He knows me and loves me completely, He has tenderly cared for me through this journey and He will continue to do so through the rest of my life.

I have to choose to remember the truth that I am known and loved by God. Leaving no room for Satan to tempt me with the lies that I am alone.

You are known and you are loved by the most Holy God.

Kayla Miller, GEM Missionary

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Let’s Not Play The World’s Game

1 Peter 1:17 “Since you call on a Father who judges each man’s work impartially live your lives here as strangers and aliens in reverent fear.”

Luke 12:33-34 “Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is there your heart will be also.”

I was out in town today and I saw a Jaguar. Not the animal, but the car. I don’t really know anything about cars. But it was not one of the old Jaguars that look like they belong in an old James Bond movie. It was a modern, white model that looked like a race car. I’ve never seen very many Jaguars in person. I looked it up, and the average price of a Jaguar is $52,000 US. Just like Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Rolls Royces etc, these are cars that I’ve mostly ever seen on TV or in movies or magazines.

So even though I don’t know anything about cars, I know enough to know that certain brands of cars are highly desirable and expensive. When I see them in person my reaction follows a very set and automatic pattern: 1) I realize “hey that’s a Jaguar” 2) I try to feast my eyes on it.

Why do I do that? Why do I sense a compulsion to examine a car thoroughly? Isn’t it just a car? It has four wheels, an engine, and the part inside where you sit and drive. I see thousands of these a day. So why do I have this automatic captivation? I believe it is because I want to be awed and marvel at something that I know to be marvelous. I have cognizance of the notoriety of the brand so when I see one I think, “Oh there’s one. Let’s see it. Let’s see what it looks like. They cost a lot of money. Let’s see what something looks like that is worth that much.”

I have almost an identical reaction when I become aware of a famous person in my presence. Someone says, “Hey, isn’t that ______?” And I quickly turn to see if it is, in fact, that celebrity. It’s because I am captivated by those that are reputed to be awesome. I think, “Oh, well let’s see what he looks like. He’s supposed to be great. Let’s see what someone looks like who is that great.”

I am not pleased with the fact that I’m like this. Today I consciously and purposefully looked away from the Jaguar because I realized I was doing something stupid. As a Christian, I’ve been freed from slavery to possessions. As a born again son of God through the finished work of Jesus, I have an inheritance after this life that far outshines and outlasts any of the shiniest, best, highest quality, most sought-after and expensive possessions in the universe. Nothing that I or anyone else could purchase or achieve can compare with the status and true wealth a believer in Jesus possesses. So a Christian has been removed from the world’s economy in a way. We have a different currency. I have a different scale on which I value things, people, and experiences. My score-card for rating what’s important in the world is different.

But in these moments when I am faced with a world-class automobile or have an opportunity to glimpse a great one, I act as if I still belonged to the world and was still enslaved to play its game. I behave as if I still play and want to rack up points on this earth’s scoreboard. I covet the possession of those who appear to be really making it here. I desire the status of those who appear to inspire respect and admiration from the masses.

I don’t want to do that. I am so glad that I am freed from the bondage of playing the world’s game of “look what I have, I bet you wish you had it.” We are citizens of the most high country, adopted into the most prestigious family. We play in a whole different league. We live in the most exalted realm. We perform for the greatest audience. We are cherished by the One whose love and affection matters more than all of the respect of the globe one billion times over.

So why do I still in momentary lapses choose to play the world’s game? It’s silly at best. You don’t see Lebron James going down to the local neighborhood court fussing about fouls. Why not? Because he competes at the highest level. He is in the world’s most premier league of basketball. Why would he worry himself with little pick up games with no one watching? So why would I figuratively do the same thing as a Christian? Why would I covet a car, when I have entitled to me eternal, spotless, blameless, perfect righteousness that will gain for me a paradise in a mansion that will last forever and ever and never fade away?

So let’s not play the world’s game. Let’s not cheat ourselves and value the tinker toys and little red wagons of this world when we have waiting for us in the presence of Jesus a joy that is greater than all of the Jaguars in the world combined.

– Jason Faircloth, Director of Mission Advancement

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Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue

Recently I returned home for the graduation of my sister Abby (the world’s newest, and most beautiful, nurse). The trip had a double mission, for with the day’s flying by, I was running out of time to find shoes for my walk down the aisle. As usual, the time with family went too quickly, and I was left with one day to say yes to the shoes.

Now as women, and some married men, know, the search for the perfect shoe…. well, this can be quite the process. It’s an adventure that usually involves many different shops, maybe a lunch break, and in my case, much prayer, and reassuring talks from Mama. I wanted something classy and casual, lovely, and functional…basically, I had no idea what I wanted (many men are now understanding women a little bit more).

Five disappointing stores later I postponed my search and headed off to a friend’s house. We sat chatting about the wedding, school, family, all the things that come up when two friends are only together a few times a year. Right as I was about to bid my goodbye she asked if I needed anything for the wedding. “I have been searching all morning for the perfect pair of shoes.” I replied. “Oh, what color?” She casually asked as she stirred in the spaghetti sauce. “Gold.” She stopped immediately, and without saying a word went into the front closet and returned holding a pair of gold sandals. Somehow, they managed to be classy and casual…and can you believe it…lovely and functional.

Through the process of planning this wedding the only way I can describe these past few months is with the word grace. From the very beginning, I saw God’s love. I saw it in the way people volunteered to help me plan, the way my parents were so generous and excited even though it would happen in a place they had never known, even how my students hugged me and asked me to tell and retell the story of our engagement, and most recently when God (and Tracy Wu) blessed me with the PERFECT shoes.

The most amazing aspect of grace is how we can never deserve this gift. This also can be the most challenging aspect. My human instinct is to feel as though I owe something when given a gift, or I must somehow earn the grace. 1 Peter 4:10 says, “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.”

So, maybe we have a responsibility after all. When we receive grace, it should be a gift. A gift without strings attached. And then we read 1 Peter 4:10 and understand that grace given to us from God or others, this gift should be used to serve and bless others. And now I pray that you will be on the lookout for grace, even the small ways that are oftentimes overlooked in the business of the day, and be ready to deliberately find ways to give grace…even if it’s just a used pair of shoes.

– Sarah Quigg, GEM missionary

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Fighting for Attention: The Age of Instant Gratification

Intro

Everywhere we look, the world is fighting for our attention. Advertising and marketing are not in short supply and are swaying us towards the next product or the new thing. If not careful, our eyes quickly move towards receiving the approval of others and to living the most “secure” lives. I noticed this more than ever after moving to Mexico in August of 2016.

We left the security of our home, paycheck, and friends into the unknown. Two things were consistent in the midst of our transition. First, there was the constant pull of the world telling us how to live and what success looks like. Secondly, we knew that God was in control, constant, trustworthy to follow, and He was leading us to this move.

Success in the United States (and many other countries) asks the question: what will this do for me? In other words, is what I am currently doing going to benefit me? Is this move going to give us more money, more security, more happiness, and a better life and how long will it take for this to happen? Advertising through television, ads in the newspaper, articles online, and friends raving about the next big thing are constantly pulling us to do whatever to make ourselves a better lifestyle.

The other constant in this life is our God. Our God is all-satisfying, all-knowing, completely trustworthy, all-powerful, never failing, always constant, and infinitely valuable. A.W. Tozer wrote, “God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can, without anything other than Himself, meet and overflow the deepest demands of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.”

There are two constants in this life: one leads to true life while the other leads to destruction. One promises happiness and doesn’t give it while the other promises joy and delivers it. We are often too easily satisfied and the world is fighting for our attention promising what only God can deliver. 

False Hope at our Fingertips

Instant gratification can be defined as the desire to experience pleasure or fulfillment without delay or deferment (https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/235088). We are all guilty of instant gratification. In many ways, it dominates our culture. For example, in the United States, when the new iPhone comes out, many are lined up at the nearest store to purchase this product. Right when it comes out, they don’t have to wait, they can go to the store and get the newest product (of course, only if you have enough money for that).

In psychological models, humans often act upon the “pleasure principle.” Pleasure is the reason why we are so quick to find the easiest thing to gratify our wants, needs and urges. Currently, everything in our culture is being created and focused on instant gratification. We are losing the patience of waiting for a product because of the changing of culture.

One research focused its studies on the habits of 6.7 million internet users and their patience in waiting for a video to load. How long were these users willing to be patient? Two seconds. After two seconds, people began to abandon the video; after five seconds 25% were gone; after 10 seconds, half were gone (Prof. Ramesh K. Sitaraman Computer Science, UMass Amherst).
With amazon prime, you now have the option to receive products in two days or less. In some cities, you can order a product and receive it the same day! In one sense, the incredible technology and advancement helps us to receive things faster and can even help us to be more productive. However, I believe there is a danger here for Christians. If we are not careful, instant gratification can seep into our desire for joy in created things rather than the creator (Romans 1). It could lead to impatience on the promises of God and a desire to abandon the promises of God for some cheaper product.

If we don’t truly believe God can satisfy all of our longings, we will cling on to things that will only lead to destruction. The danger of instant gratification is this: the pursuit of created products that may bring instant gratification, but ultimately lead to empty lives. Instant gratification is false hope at our fingertips and we must battle the constant desire for this and seek Jesus, our true and only treasure!

The Battlefield (Flesh vs Spirit)

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. Galatians 5:16-25

As the scripture says, we know that the desires of the flesh and the desires of the spirit are against each other. It is interesting that Paul states that the things of the flesh are evident (v.19). Our natural tendency is to follow the things of the flesh. We don’t even have to try. Our sinful nature will always desire the things of this world. However, life in the Spirit is not what we naturally desire. If we daily don’t seek to know and treasure Jesus, then we will quickly see ourselves finding pleasures with things that will not fully satisfy. As Christians, we are called to keep in step with the spirit (v.25).

Romans 8:5-6 tells us that whoever lives according to the flesh sets their minds on the things of the flesh; also, whoever lives according to the spirit set their minds on the things of the spirit. So what does it mean for us to set our minds on the things of the spirit? We set our minds on Christ! He is the fruits of the spirit. We set our minds on the spirit as we seek to find pleasure in Jesus and Him alone.

When it comes to entertainment in this world, we should consider if it enhances our relationships, joy, and satisfaction with Jesus or hinders it. Use everything this world offers to enhance your enjoyment of Jesus and His glory. If it doesn’t enhance your joy in Jesus or point to His glory, then don’t do it. 

Hearts Desire (Is it Jesus or worldly pleasures?)

So the question this brings me to ask is this: What does your heart long for? Do you long for anything that gratifies your desires or do you long for the satisfaction of knowing Jesus? Our money, time, and conversation reveal what our treasure is. Does the way you live point to Jesus as your treasure? Do you desire to know Him above all else? If not, pray and ask God to give you joy in Him and to find treasure in Him alone.

Below are a few questions that we can ask daily to remind us to set our minds on the spirit, Jesus, the treasure of our lives.

  1. What do you desire more than anything else?
  2. What do you find yourself daydreaming or fantasizing about?
  3. What lies do you subtly believe that undermine the truth of the Gospel?
  4. Are you astonished with the Gospel?
  5. Where have you made much of yourself and little of God?
  6. Is technology interrupting your communion with God?
  7. What consumes your thoughts when you have alone time?
  8. When people see how you spend money, do they conclude that God is a priceless treasure, exceedingly valuable above all worldly goods?
  9. Is your use of leisure time or devotion to a hobby or how you speak of your spouse the sort that persuades others that your heart is content with what God is for you in Christ?
  10. Does your reaction to bad news produce in you a doubt or fear, or does it inspire confidence to trust in God’s providence?

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.” – C.S. Lewis

Daniel McDonald, Director of Communication

Daniel@globaleducationministries.org

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Brothers and Sisters, We Are All Missionaries!

Have you ever been on a mission trip to another country or another city? Have you ever spent a period of time praying, serving, and sharing the gospel alongside brothers and sisters somewhere else? I have had the opportunity to go on trips with four short-term teams where we were unified and served together. Together, we reoriented our week around a common purpose. Short-term trips are such a beautiful picture of the body of Christ serving Jesus together in unity.

Growing up, my understanding of a missionary was a person who commits their lives for the advancement of the Gospel in another country. In my home church, I met several missionaries like this that shared about all that God was doing in those places. As I grew older, I began to think that missionaries were the “more spiritual” ones. I thought they were the ones God has called to take the Gospel to people that have not heard of Him, and my job was only to share Jesus with those I encounter where I lived. I even began to question what I was doing with my life. Was I less committed to the advancement of the Gospel with an 8-5 job? How could God use me like He uses these missionaries?

These questions led me to seek the scriptures to understand what He has called all people to. Here, we will look at some common misconceptions of what we may have believed a missionary to be.

A Few Misconceptions

  1. Missionaries are more spiritual because of their commitment to live in another country and raise support. This is far from the truth. Every day, my wife and I are constantly being reminded of our need for Jesus and inadequacy in and of ourselves. The Bible tells us that no one is righteous, not even one.
  1. Missionaries are busy all of the time sharing the Gospel, investing in people, and serving others. Since my wife and I have moved here (Puerto Escondido, Mexico), we are finding it more difficult than ever to share the Gospel, invest in other people, and even to serve people at times. Yes, we desire to share the truth of Jesus, but the reality is that it is just as hard as before.
  1. Being a Missionary is only for the select few. God calls all of us to make disciples of all nations. It’s not “if you go” or “when you might go,” but the direct command to “go” and make disciples. (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
  1. A missionary is one who goes to another country to share the truth of Jesus with people who have not heard. God has definitely called all people to pray, give and go to all nations; however, a missionary is not primarily one who goes to another country or unreached people group.
  1. Missionaries that move to another place have the best plan and strategy to reach the lost. Most missionaries that move to another place to serve may have great resources; however, that doesn’t mean they have the best strategy to reach people. Often times, it is the natives that have the greatest impact. We also must remember that is the Holy Spirit who is empowering and giving direction to those seeking to make his name known, not strategies.

To understand what is a missionary is, we need a biblical perspective.

A Biblical Perspective

From the very beginning of the Bible, God dwelt among His people. He dwelt with Adam and Eve and even after they sinned, God set up a covenant with Moses to dwell among His people again. However, God did not only want to dwell with his people, He wanted to dwell in his people. Therefore, God sent his son Jesus to live a perfect life in the power of the Spirit. Jesus depended on His father and proclaimed the kingdom of God in the power of the Spirit. Many repented, were healed, and followed Jesus during His 3-year ministry.

Before Jesus left earth, he promised his disciples that the Holy Spirit would empower them to be witnesses of the kingdom of God all over the earth (Acts 1:8). As the Holy Spirit filled them, Peter (one of the disciples) spoke about the mighty deeds of God and 3,000 souls received the word of God and were added to the kingdom.

In the same way, we have the Spirit that was with Jesus and with the disciples. We are called in the same way to proclaim the good news of Jesus to everyone. Therefore, we are all missionaries sent by God, in the power of the Spirit, to proclaim the Gospel to all. From the life of Jesus, we see what is a missionary is. A missionary is a person who is sent by the power of Holy Spirit to proclaim the good news of Jesus with authority and boldness.

On Mission: Holy Spirit Empowerment

“Charles Spurgeon said, “Every Christian is either a missionary or an imposter.” Everywhere you go, whatever you do, you are a missionary sent by Jesus to love like Jesus, overcome sin like Jesus, proclaim the Gospel like Jesus, and see people’s lives changed by the power of the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.” – Jeff Vanderstelt

Paul perfectly describes the heart of a missionary sent by Jesus to make disciples. Acts 20:24 says, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” If you are a follower of Jesus, your primary motivation in life is to live as a disciple of Jesus who makes disciples. You are sent, by the power of the Holy Spirit, to make disciples of Jesus where you live.

How can we live as missionaries in every part of life? Like Paul did, we have to consider our lives as living sacrifices and seek to pursue Jesus and make Him known in our daily situations. Paul is the perfect example of a life empowered by the Holy Spirit. Paul’s strategy was becoming all things to all people so that some would know Christ (1 Corinthians 9:22). Being a missionary means that we strategize how to reorient our lives around the Gospel in our own context and join in God’s ongoing work.

There are many Christians that have reoriented their lives around a mission in another country. For example, we are here serving at a school so that many (children and their families) come to know Jesus and grow to become mature, multiplying disciples. However, this is not what makes us missionaries. All Christians have been sent as missionaries in their own context to reorient their lives around the Gospel and its work in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and friends. Therefore, let us prayerfully seek how God is working amongst us and embrace the call to make disciples of all nations.

danielDaniel Mcdonald graduated from Liberty University with a B.S. in Communication (2011) and a Master’s of Divinity in Evangelism and Church Planting (2014). He is serving as the Director of Communication for GEM, while his wife, Kristen, serves as the 4th-grade teacher.  Above all, they desire to make disciples by making Jesus known in Puerto and around the world.

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Running To Your Arms

One of the most (actually THE MOST) exciting event that happened in my life during the year 2016 was…getting engaged!! November 10, 2016 was a day that will forever live in my mind. Moving to a different country where I can share my faith as I teach, work with people who are focused on heavenly things, and get married to an amazing man…wow, God truly knows His children.

This beautiful town of Puerto Escondido is a place known for its beaches. And as the hour grows later, many people can be found surfing or simply sitting in a location to watch the sunset. The brilliant oranges, pinks, reds, and yellows, contrasted with the clear blue of the ocean is a sight only to be fully treasured in person. And I have quickly learned that these sunsets are even more amazing with a person you love by your side.

One Monday afternoon I was on my way to a beach called La Punta for a spontaneous sunset date. As I was running there, I began to feel this excitement in my heart. I was running to my fiancé. I was running to someone who loves me in all my weaknesses. Someone who wanted to face hard times and beautiful moments together for the rest of our lives. And even though we have only been dating a year I felt as though it was the beginning of our relationship, due to the butterflies ever increasing in my stomach. Then a thought made me stop (not literally…I kept right on running).

Here I am running to a man who loves me so much (I know because he buys me tacos all the time), but his love can never come close to the love that God has for me. That mental image of a person running towards someone that they love, someone they invest time and energy to learn more about, someone that invokes butterflies to flood their stomach.

That is how I want to be with Jesus. I want to treasure my time spent focused on learning more about Him. I want to think about His love and feel butterflies. I want to desire His presence and keep Him in my thoughts. I want to run…run into His arms.

IMG_7198Sarah Quigg graduated from Liberty University in 2015 with a B.S. in Special Education. She loves running and growing closer to God while exploring His creation! This is her second year teaching 5th grade at the Manantial School in Mexico.