Tidbits of wisdom

We are at the missionary training school in Mexico for 3 weeks. We've had some great teachings so far. Our day is pretty busy. Today we are going to go to an orphanage for most of the day. More on that later.

Here's some thoughts that I want to share with you...

We don't go out to the mission field because there are a lot of lost people. No, it's because God is worthy to be known, worhsipped and obeyed.

We define mercy as what's most convenient to us. God defines mercy as what can love the most people. Like Joseph. He was put in jail unjustly. He cried out to the Lord and the Lord showed him His mercy. And left him in prison.

We learn about animistic thinking. That is the view that God is a spirit to be appeased. This is not how God is. Here's a way it can slip into our thinking... you make the commitment to do devotions every single day. Then one day, you miss, you just don't feel like doing it. That day, on the way to work you are in a car accident. Then you think to yourself that if you had only done the devotion, you would not be in the accident. This is animistic thinking. It's the view that you are attempting to manipulate the spirit world to get what you want. This is prevalent in many foreign countries, and even in our own, in a less obvious way. No. God is a sovereign God.

Some old wives tales... In Mexico, if you watch a dog poop, you'll get pink eye. In China, if you get a cold, the more people you give it to, the faster you get better because it's leaving your body. Hahahahaha.

The most important work is the work that He is doing in our lives. The more work that God does in you, it ups the amperage in your life, and the more people will be able to see that light and to see it clearly. (Sort of like a light bulb, we are, afterall, suppose to be the light.)

A missionary pastor here in Mexico was our teacher for one of the days. His name is Ron Brink. In November, he was attacked by his neighbor. He snuck up behind him here at the school and hit him in the head. He was knocked unconcious and spent several days in the hospital. When someone asked him if he was going to leave Mexico, he said, "I'm not going to let this guy decide what we do with our lives just because he hits me over the head. I'm going to do what God wants."

By the way, we went to church last night, the same church from Sunday. Before we left, Kilaine came and told me that she didn't want to go with me to the children's class that time. She said she wanted to go alone!!! Answer to prayer.