Steak!

So here are 3 takeaways that I have gathered during my stay leading up to my last week of this amazing adventure. 1: God is faithful. Never underestimate what God wants to do with your life. Never did I imagine God using me in this way. This journey has been more than my words could ever say. 2: Slow down. Quit running around and quit running in place. We get exhausted and are so focused on how tired we are and what we have to do next, that we forget about what God wants us to do now. 3: I love steak. Yep steak, I will never take it for granted again. I haven't had steak in 8 1/2 weeks (yes I counted) and that is my first meal when I get back haha. Chicken, beans, rice, and tortillas is probably not gonna be on my menu for quite a while haha. These aren't the only takeaways obviously but these are 3 that's really stood out to me. Especially the steak part! But in all seriousness, I didn't know what to expect when I came down here. I think that was a good thing. Once I rid my mind and heart of all expectations, my heart and mind became open to what God is calling me to do. For some people this is harder than it is for others. For me it was pretty difficult because I am pretty stubborn. I can be very prideful and it can be hard for me to let things go. In the deep, impactful and wisdom filled words and song of Elsa's, "let it go" haha.  I had to come to the realization, whatever what will be, will be. I said I had no expectations coming down here but once I arrived and started experiencing life here, I quickly realized that I was only kidding myself. I did have expectations of what this was supposed to be like, and some of it was what I expected....like 5% haha but then the other 95% was a complete surrendering(and still is)of whatever is going to happen, is gonna happen. And the only thing we can do about it is pray and prepare ourselves for when things go array by asking God for wisdom and understanding. Asking God for wisdom and understanding is the best thing we can do. Remember the story of Solomon in 1st Kings 3?  The wisest king to ever live and ever will live. God told him those words actually. "There has never been or ever will be none wiser than you, the Lord said to Solomon". All because he asked for wisdom and an understanding heart. I realized that my expectations back in the states were pretty ginormous too. I'm sure you can figure out for yourself your own expectations. But what about Gods expectations for you? Are you living those? Earnestly think about it and look deep inside and ask yourself, am I living up to Gods expectations. I hope you answered no. It's impossible for us to be perfect. If you read Colossians 3, Jesus, through Paul gives us plenty of instructions to live a new life. But still it's impossible to be perfect. I don't say that to discourage, but to encourage and motivate you. Please get out your bible, or your phone, or whatever you have right now that has the bible on it and read Micah 6: 6-8! Actually, I will just put it in here. I want you to get this. I think this is how we live up to His expectations:

Micah 6:6-8 What can we bring to the Lord? Should we bring him burnt offerings? Should we bow before God Most High with offerings of yearling calves? Should we offer him thousands of rams and ten thousand rivers of olive oil? Should we sacrifice our firstborn children to pay for our sins? No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. 

If you earnestly want to experience Gods expectations for you, then I urge you to take to heart what it's says in verse 8. I suggest that when you pray, pray whole heartedly for wisdom, understanding, mercy, grace, and love. He tells us that all we have to do is ask in his name and we shall have it. 

So what are your expectations? Are you seeking perfect harmony with Gods expectations? Or are you trying to sing your own song? I hope you choose Gods :) 

P.s. I will let you know how my first steak dinner in 9 weeks goes!

"It" Fits.

We search and search and try to always find it. We are willing to sacrifice our plans, sometimes our dreams, and even sometimes our future for it. And when we do find it, we are often unsatisfied. We are often left with an emptiness that longs to be filled. So we continue a strenuous, bearing, weight filled journey until we find it again and repeat the same motions over and over. We yearn for it, we work for it, we cry, bleed, sweat, and plead for it. It fills us with joy, peace, love, and happiness.
For so many of us, this "it" is money, "it" is love, "it" is just some sort of sense of belonging, "it"may be a relationship with someone else, a dedication and passion for a certain sport....(guilty), maybe it's food, or sex, or happiness, or greatness, or fame, a new job, school, or maybe a family or even church! So often time our energy, our love, or our passion, is wasted on meaningless things that are only a short term satisfaction. So often times its used for the wrong things or at the wrong time or to only benefit you.
I don't write this to lecture you on something you already know because I have confidence that you may already be aware. I write this I guess, as a reminder and to encourage.
All of these things I listed can be great things and beneficial to our lives for sure. In fact I would say all of them are great things! And like I said, some are meant for a certain place and certain time.
So out of those things that I listed, or maybe apart from what I listed, what are you constantly seeking after, and which one do you seek after the most? (Rhetorical question hah)

Now you might be wondering, so why haven't you talked about God? What about the relentless pursuit of Him? And you might ask, where does God fit into all this? Well let me tell you this: God doesn't fit into anything. He's to big! You can't contain him. You can't lock him up inside a little box and pull him out only when you need a favor.  But rather everything, everything that is good and of love fits into Him. Once again it comes down to chasing after those things in the right place, and right time. The problem is we go through this crazy life thinking, "okay I gotta fit God somewhere here into my day, I gotta fit him into my everyday life, how do I fit him into my world?" Make him your world. That's how you do it. Once we do this it makes things a whole heck of a lot easier. It's an art we won't ever fully master of being God like or making him completely your world. It's impossible. We are only humans. But he loves when we try. He loves when we seek him like we seek those things we so strongly desire. Why not do yourself a favor and make Him your world because he has already made you his long before you were created in your mothers womb.

So back to the question, "what do you seek after most?" Writing all of this makes me think of
Colossians 3:23-  "Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people".
What if you sought after God the way we seek after money, fame, family, love, etc. The list goes on. What if we we were on a relentless pursuit of finding that job, that future husband/wife, a sense of belonging, and love within God! I'm guilty of this so don't think I'm just calling you out. We tend to say, well if we just keep God in the middle or the center of my relationship or marriage we will be fine. Or if God is in this "it" I'm pursuing, we will be okay. Well you might be fine, you might be okay. But you will never exercise the full, and powerful potential He has for you if you only keep him in the center, or if he is only in "it" and keeping him contained someplace. How about we put what ever we are seeking so relentlessly into God!  What if we chased after God with reckless abandon?

To bring what I only expected to be a small paragraph to an end haha....you can't keep God anywhere because you can't contain him. After all, he is God! He's everywhere! Remember this, to say "lets keep God in the middle" is a foolish thing to do because life happens on the edges, in the center, and apart from the center as well.

Love all of you!

Mom and Dad....

This week has been quite the adventure! This past week probably has had the highest highs and the lowest lows since I have been here. Very much a roller coaster of emotions! But it reminded me once again how important it is to focus on today and what you can do today and that is what matters most. You never know what the future will bring! This past week the bible studies have all been incredible to me. But there is one that stuck out. During a certain study last week I witnessed these boys hearts exposed, open and broken. Mine was as well. Like I mentioned before, these kids thank God for everything! Their mom, dad, house, food, etc. the list goes on and on! But, the other night we were having a bible study about obeying their parents and gaining wisdom and knowledge in the book of proverbs. We were all praying and one of the local Honduran staff that is staying here helping me, he started stammering and I looked over as he is praying and there are tears streaming down his cheeks. I look at a few of the other boys and all I see is tears and the strong attempt to keep the sobs hidden from their brothers. They were trying to be so strong but I could tell felt so helpless at the same time. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks as I felt my heart break into a tiny thousand pieces and sink into my stomach for these boys. I was reminded of the harsh reality for these kids. 3 of these boys' mom have died...Let that sink in. 2 of the others mom is in Prison.....and the two oldest boys mom is not part of their life nor does it sound like she cares to be part of their lives.....just think about that for a moment. What would you do without your mom? Or even your Dad for that matter. The loss, the bitterness, the questions, and pain they feel yet continually thank God for them! How?! I don't get it sometimes! I am so amazed at what God has done in these boys' lives! The awesome thing is that they have Lisa. (The foster mother) She has taken them in and has become their mom. She loves them like they are her own. She provides for and cares for them like she has had them their whole life, bringing them up in the way God called her to do. Every single kid in this house has lost their "paternal" mother and some, their father as well in some sort of a way or another..... As I stood their next to them, I felt helpless, weak, and tried my hardest to hold back the tears and be strong for them. I thought to myself "I haven't felt or had near the loss they have had and I was feeling this
way?!" I can't imagine being in their shoes. Even at 24 years old I am still learning from my parents. I still respect them the best I can as the Lord commands, and I thank God for them everyday. My dad still dads me, and mom still moms me haha and sometimes I get annoyed as an adult. But goodness I would miss it if they were gone! I am so thankful for the way they have raised me. Even as "abnormal" as my childhood was, they still did their best in teaching me wisdom, love, grace, courage, and faith. I was brought to tears with these boys as we gathered up in a tight group and just spent a few minutes praying and crying together. My heart open, vulnerable, and willing to hear what God has called us to do. Here is what he laid on my heart.
1: Always praise him. Thank him for every little aspect in your life, sunshine and storms.
2: Pray for wisdom to get through the seasons of life. Solomon did this and the Lord blessed him abundantly.
3: You are never to old for your parents advice. Thank that person who has been the rock by your side and raised you up in this life. For some of you, those people are our paternal, or step parents. For others it's your grandparents, and for others maybe it's foster parents. Whatever your situation is, never underestimate or downplay what those men and women you call mom and dad do in your life. They are incredible.  My post last week was about being childlike. Love and respect your parents or that authority in your life like you did growing up. It's amazing what the Lord will do if you humble yourself and become childlike again. And lastly, when it feels like you don't have that parent that "gets" it, or is to old to understand, or is to busy to care, or maybe you don't even have a parent at all, remember your Heavenly Father. He's the one that holds all wisdom, possesses all knowledge, and is filled with Love and corrects with gentleness. He is willing to give freely if you just ask him.

Grant me, yourself, and your parents a favor and let your Mom and Dad know how grateful and thankful you are for them. You never know what tomorrow or even the next moment brings. Don't wait thinking you can do it later. Maybe there is a later and I pray that for everyone that there is! But what if there isn't.....focus on what you can control. You can only control the now.....so now, call your parents lol.

Love you guys!!!

A Childlike Faith Part 2

So today starts the second day of the adventure within the adventure! Lisa has left for the states for a little bit so I'm in charge! And here is where the patience factor kicks in. Not just for the kids but for myself. I'm not a very patient person :| Haha I was a little nervous at first ( I can't imagine why) but God has given me a weird comforting peace about it and it's all good :)  I can't put into words the number of crazy God encounters have taken place here. These past two weeks have held some awesome,challenging, and testing periods of growth in my faith. From learning to show more grace to knowing when I must hold my ground. Teenagers test you. The Lord tests you. I prayed for patience...may have not been the smartest thing to do haha. I figured out that when you pray for patience, God only gives you more opportunities to become more patient! So therefore I'm being tested and refined. It's not a bad thing, just a hard thing for the flesh to accept. I'm learning to withstand it though haha. Trying to mentor these kids of a different culture and a different language presents a whole other challenge/opportunity in itself. I say opportunity because this is a chance for me make an impact, and let God work through me in these kids lives contrary to the social norms for a teenage boy in this country. Being in middleschool youth ministry for the past 5 years has helped tremendously to understand some of these boys tendencies and the challenges they present. But in all honesty, they are really really good kids! Of course they are all teenagers or pre-teen so they will have their teenager moments, but overall they are so full of love, joy, and grace. To be honest I don't know that I have seen as well behaved teenagers as these in the states. They don't really get fed the media garbage here that makes them want to be someone else or tells them how they should be or pressures them one way or another. Yes they have their peer influences, and can think for themselves, but I think it's awesome and I admire how they take such value in a biblical influence over their peer influence most of the time. Every night we all sit down and read through a chapter somewhere in the bible(usually psalms or Proverbs) and I am amazed, so amazed at what these kids hearts share! It's incredible! Then the prayers! Oh my gosh they are even better! Haha the way they pray has made me really rethink the way I pray hah. These boys pray for, and thank God for every thing. I mean everything in their lives. I feel bad cause I sit there and say Jesus thank you for this and this and please give me this and this and this and this....and this and this...and the list  goes on and on! I need/want to thank him more! After all, he is God and he gives us this amazing opportunity to live a life for him! I don't spend enough time thanking him for what he has done in my life. Even the "little" things they thank him for! This whole time I just keep on thinking of a childlike faith in Matthew 18:3. It's so simple, it's so basic. Children rely on their father or mother for everything they need. I need to be more like a child and start relying upon God for the things I need and stop being so self gratifying and self seeking and become more thankful and self giving. I want to strive to be less selfish and be more selfless. Well  I'm off to finish my awesome Honduran Coffee and get this day started. Have an awesome day everyone. I love you guys. Any questions or comments feel free to email me or message me on facebook.

A Childlike Faith

2 EYES

Weird title for a post right? Don't worry its nothing gnarly cool or gruesome scary ;)So as I promised here is my weekly post! As I mentioned in my last post, I am always astounded at the amount of faith that these boys have! Its contagious! It makes me realize how much joy, love, patience, kindness, fun, and simplicity that this world so easily robs from me back home. Its not just these boys though. Its the people here. Its such a simple way of living and to some points it can actually be frustrating because how simple it is.(If that makes any sense at all). I guess I'm not used to it. This last Sunday I was laying in the hammock up at the mountain house(sounds terrible I know) ;) and the Lord just really just started convicting me. I was laying there thinking of all these things I want to do, or think I have to do. Not just here but when I get back home and taking care of all these future "needs". I swear it was like the Lord reached down from heaven and bible slapped me haha. I was reminded of the verses:

 Matthew 6:34 
“So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.

 And Proverbs 3:5-6 

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding;
6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

Hey simple stuff right?! Not exactly, but here's something that I will be working on everyday and I challenge any of you too work on this with me as well: Every day we wake up looking forward to something. It could be one thing, or it could be 10+ things. That is not a bad thing. Not a bad thing at all....until you look so far ahead that things start to become out of focus and blurry and you are so focused on trying to see and fix whats out there ahead of you that we forget about what God has right here, right now or worst of all we forget about God. (Trust me, I am telling myself this too!) So God gave us eyes right? Most of us 2, and a limit to what we can see with those 2 eyes for a reason! Here are 2 things I concluded for myself during this last Sunday. 1st: Stop looking so far ahead, and stop being so self absorbed that you keep letting things get out of focus and you lose focus on Him. Think of the last time you tried to take a picture of something that you only had like a 4 or 5 second window to capture it in. You cant get your phone/camera/ipad etc. to focus and you become frustrated, angry, and sometimes just give in and give up at capturing that moment. Stop missing the everyday blessing. Stop missing that everyday moment that God has placed right at your feet in front of you. It could mean a changed life, a saved life. Maybe not physically but spiritually. It could be a comforting word in the midst of chaos, or warm hug when a loved one is cold and distant. Guys, don't let these moments, these gifts to change your life, or someone else's life just float away. Refocus your eyes on Jesus' throne and earnestly ask for direction and to see His will and His Kingdom come and these things wont pass you by. And if they do pass by, its only because you let them. 2nd: When you go blind, life seems out of focus, and things seem to big, reach for God and I promise you that He will guide you exactly where you need to be if you let Him and if you trust Him. Make Him your world, and He will show you that you are already His. He will do immeasurable feats with your life if you let him. It may not be the vision, or dream or idea of what WE saw in our future or it may not lay out like we think that its supposed to; but it doesn't matter. It does not matter. What matters is what God sees in your future, how you see God, and how much you trust that God will see you through each journey large or small. Do not over think this my friends. God likes things simple.....2.....2 eyes; that's pretty simple right?






I love all of you!






-Cody

Hey Guys! So today marks the first full week I have been in Balfate Honduras! Its been incredible already. I am constantly amazed at the work God is doing in the lives of these kids here! I arrived last Friday evening and got to meet all the boys and just hang out with them and even got to do bible study with with them. I am amazed at the maturity and discipline that these boys have, not only just in their Christian walk, but everyday life as well. Of course they are teenage boys or younger and they have thier moments but what teenager doesn't haha. I  wish I could go through and name and describe every single moment that has captured my attention this week, from briefly visiting the dump(a very poor community) to deliver cement to finish a house, to listening to these kids passion for Jesus, and having some pretty scary moments for us "gringos". haha This journey has been incredible so far and first I just thank God for instilling in me this desire to want to serve like this, and secondly I want to thank all of my friends, family and loved ones for supporting me through this amazing adventure! Its been quite the eventful first week and I am looking forward to the 6 more I have left! I cant wait to see what God has in store this week and I will keep you updated! Love all of you!

-Cody