When I saw a three weeks of “break time” approaching on my school calendar, I became excited.
The two schools I’m teaching at overlap, but one would be
having a semester break and I was thrilled.
I could catch my breath.
In Haiti, we used to call these times a “t-repo.” (a little rest). This was one place where I would catch my breath in Haiti...
Breaks in a schedule- even just a change up of normal
activity can be blessing. So I put my head down and pushed towards that break.
And I made it, but my “t-repo” quickly became busy. How do breaks disappear so quickly? Instead of one t-repo, I just had to grab small moments of
rest and reflection.
The first week, was spent wrapping up the weeks behind. Turning in grades, meeting with students,
while still teaching at my other school, it was busy.
Then came the second week and it held student celebration
times. Student trips literally involved climbing up and around mountains.
The first trip was organized by our Orthodox students. We
traveled about 60 km outside of Addis and visited an ancient stone church. We
hiked to where “holy water” flowed. We had lunch and learned about the church.
The very next day, the Protestant fellowship on our
campus climbed the mountain behind our school. At the top, we celebrated. We
played games and had lunch. We prayed.
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I caught a small
rest on top of that mountain as we sang worship songs and looked out over the
city.
My final week of break was also filled. Some visitors from
the USA came and I helped schedule some things for them, I visited some students’
homes, and I was invited to be a guest speaker at a Bible college.
My “t-repo” time was quickly gone. Now I’m looking
squarely into the face of another semester beginning tomorrow.
He is with goes with us on the journey. He doesn’t take a
t-repo from watching over us. I’m so
grateful.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of
the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can
fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even the youth grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall: but those
who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.
The biggest message I’ve heard God saying to me during these
days has been to keep my eyes on Jesus, and to look at His life as my example.
How did He walk through His days, through the towns He
visited? And does my life look like
His? Am I walking the same way?
At the Bible school I spoke for during break, I was asked
to talk about how to practically live out theology. (I was speaking to freshmen theology
students.) How should our lives look as we live out our knowledge of God?
I reminded them that Jesus is and remains our model. He
was literal walking theology, the Word on feet.
What did His life show?
1 Peter 2:21
Christ suffered for
you, leaving you an example, that you
should follow in His steps…
I believe if we’re living out our relationship with God,
our lives should look like Jesus’.
Whether resting in a t-repo or running, in busy days or bland days…. our
lives should look like His.
Here were some things I shared …
As Jesus walked
through this earth, His life showed…
·
CONNECTION
Jesus was connected with His
Father. He said I and my Father are ONE.
He was constantly connecting to His Father, rising early to pray,
disciplining himself to connect. He loved His Dad and knew to finish what He
came to do, He had to keep connected. And the connection showed.
Winds and waves obeyed Jesus.
Sickness and demons fled. Jesus was backed with power. He spoke with authority.
He had supernatural confidence.
Matthew 7:28-29
When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at
His teaching, because He taught as one who had authority, and not as their
teachers of the law.
Can people tell we’re connected
to God? Does our lives, words, and actions show that connection? It can. It should.
People need to see God, hear His
words. They can through our lives, if we keep connected.
John 15:4-5
Remain in me, and I will remain in you… apart from me, you can do
nothing.
Acts 1:8
You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will
be my witnesses…
·
OBEDIENCE
(a cross)
Jesus’ life also showed obedience. There was
evidence of a surrendered will. Jesus
obeyed his Father out of love.
John
8:28-30
…I do
nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. The one who
sent me is with me; He has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases Him.
Philippians
2:1-11
…Jesus,
who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to
be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant,
being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, He
humbled Himself and became obedient to death- even death on a cross! Therefore
God exalted Him to the highest place…
Do people know you have a King? That you
are part of a kingdom? Does your life reflect that? Do you obey God? Do the
hard thing? Even when it hurts or you’re not comfortable? If He tells you to
move, do you move? If He says be still, do you remain? If He says speak, do you
speak? If He says be silent, do you?
John 14:23
If
anyone loves me, He will obey me.
Luke
9:23-24
If
anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily
and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever
lose his life for me will save it…
With obedience, comes humility. We give
control and leadership to God. He can be
trusted.
·
HE WAS
A FRIEND OF SINNERS
Jesus was a friend to sinners. This
one was tough for the religious of Jesus’ day. They were constantly questioning
Jesus about who he had lunch with, who was around him, who he welcomed.
We’re not to love the sin, but
love the sinner. Remembering we’re all
sinners saved by grace. Jesus didn’t judge, he welcomed. He was approachable. Are we?
Matthew 9:11-13
When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your
teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” On hearing this, Jesus said, “It
is not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick….I have not come to call the
righteous, but sinners.
God can give you His heart, His
love for others.
Our lives should reflect the
heart of our God, who is concerned for the sick, the broken, the lost, and the
sinner in need of a Savior.
·
SERVANT
LEADERSHIP
Jesus was a servant leader. Serving
others is something many people don’t equate with success. Successful people
don’t serve others, they’re served, taken care of. Many cultures teach that leadership
is having people follow you- however you get them to.
But Jesus squashed this example
of leadership. He got a towel, wrapped it around His waist, and washed His disciples’
feet. Jesus said there is a new kind of leadership that you, as my disciples,
should be showing. It involves a towel, and putting yourself last, others
first.
John 13:12-17
When Jesus had finished washing their feet, he said… “Do you understand
what I have done for you? You call me “Teacher” and “Lord” and rightly so, for
that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet,
you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you
should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater
than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Mark 9:35
“If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant
of all.”
·
COMPASSION
Jesus life also showed deep
compassion. People asked Him for stuff, following Him around like a big mob.
But Jesus demonstrated compassion in response. He taught them, healed them, and
fed them. He didn’t stay away from brokenness. He walked showing compassion.
Matthew 9:35-37
When Jesus saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were
harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.
Matthew 8:1-3
A man with leprosy came and knelt down before Jesus and said, “Lord, if
you are willing, you can make me clean.” Jesus reached out his hand and touched
the man. “I am willing.” He said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his
leprosy.
Do our lives show compassion?
They should.
Colossians 3:12
Clothe yourselves with compassion, ….
·
MERCY
Jesus also showed mercy. Mercy is giving grace or love or kindness to
someone who doesn’t deserve it, they in fact deserve the opposite. We often tend to get even. To hold
grudges. To not forgive. But God tells
us there is a different way to live. In His kingdom, there is mercy. We extend
it because it has been extended to us.
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your heavenly Father is merciful.
John 8:1-11
A woman caught in the act of adultery was brought to Jesus. Law required
her to be stoned. Jesus said: If any one of you is without sin, let him be the
first to throw a stone at her…. those who heard began to go away one at a time,
until it was just the woman and Jesus. Jesus said: Has no one condemned you? No
one sir, she said. Then neither do I condemn you. Now go and leave your life of
sin.
Are we showing mercy to the
people around us?
·
SACRIFICAL
LOVE
Jesus’s life also showed a love
that was willing to sacrifice. Jesus laid down his life, literally for His
Father and for each of us.
“Love” is a word that is common
today- with many meanings.
But what does real love, the
kind that Jesus displayed for his Father and for us, look like?
It was a willingness to lay down
everything for someone. To suffer, to experience
loss, to sacrifice.
May we show that kind of love!!!
1 John 4:10-11
This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His
Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us,
we also ought to love one another…. We love because He first loved us.
John 15:13
Greater love has no one than this, to lay down His life for His
friends.
·
JESUS SHARED
Jesus’ life, His theology, was
shared. He lived in community and shared His knowledge, His heart, His tears, His
compassion, His mercy, with others as He walked through our world. May we do
the same.
We’re called to share God with
others, the incredible good news we know and have embraced. It’s not to be kept
to ourselves.
John 1:14
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.
Matthew 5:14-16
You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden.
Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on
its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let
you light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your
Father in heaven.
Matthew 28:18-20
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the
name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the
very end of the age.
During this Lent Season, as we continue to countdown to
Easter, may we stay in humility and reflection of our lives.
Is there evidence of Jesus being in us, working through
us? Do our lives look like His?
In T-REPO or complete busyness, JESUS should still be
seen in our lives.
May God give us courage to humbly examine our lives and
to draw close to Him for renewal and re-alignment.
Onward in His Grace!
Prayer Requests
-As my schedule gets very busy again, please keep my new
classes in prayer at Hope University. A
new semester begins tomorrow. May God give me good favor and connections with
students and staff.
-Please keep my two seminary courses in prayer as they
continue- that God will give me wisdom in teaching. Also, wisdom in an independent study course
I’m giving for one student in Leadership-Youth Ministry. I’m humbled to be able
to teach my Ethiopian brothers and sisters in Christ.
-Please keep my sister in prayer. Settling into South Sudan
has been a huge adjustment. Pray for her as the heat soars then rainy season
and mosquitoes arrive- that God will keep her healthy, encouraged, and strong.
-Keep our wonderful parents in prayer. They are such a blessing. They will celebrate
their 44th wedding anniversary on March 26. We’re so grateful for
their lives and examples.
Blessed Approaching Spring time to you and Easter
Celebration!!!
Holly
