it's 1:45 am and now, as well as many times, i ask how is it possible for God to even look at me. how can He look down on me and see what a sinner i am and not to destroy me. God's love and sacrifice are the reason why it's possible for Him to love us, even though we don't love Him always.
and this is not suppose to me a mere thought about our sinfulness (not at 1.45 am, for that maybe a better time) but it's a serious thing that's still in my mind. and now when i look back into this past year i see so much that i regret and that i've done wrong. i see myself going against God so many times and so many times He told me it was wrong what i was about to do. but my desires and my fear made me not to listen to His words and i chose to go my own way. and still i am here. i can be on my laptop at 1:45 am and write on this blog. and of course i wasn't evil all the time but that's not the point. the point is i (we) go against Him so many times and so many times do it willingly and still knowing what we're going into. and we're too weak to resist the sin and when we fall into it and we realize how much we need God's grace. then we turn back to Him and He's always there. but the next day we turn away from Him to go our own way. then we mess up again and we ran back to Him and He receive us again. and this goes over and over.
out of all the kind of things there's one that we can be always sure of. and that is that God is still there and never turns His back to us. everytime we mess up we can be sure there's a place for us where we can find what we need - grace. but we can't use this place of forgiveness just to go there and get what we want and then run back into the mess we just came from. we got to change. there is a sin i've been struggling with ever since i became a christian. and so far (after a year and a half) i have not succeeded in leaving the sin behind me. and i ask myself: how long do you want to go against Him? how much more time will it take you to turn away from the sin and run into His arms of love. it's so hard for me to see myself, on one hand as a christian, and on the other as a great sinner. but God sees us in a completely different way. in this way it doesn't matter what we do but what somebody else did. and that is the only reason why i'm able to write on this blog so late tonight to you all.
just because of the grace.
30 decembra, 2008
28 decembra, 2008
My God is Enough
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Psalm 73:25-26
24 decembra, 2008
22 decembra, 2008
Google is pretty funny
You all know those Chuck Norris facts, right? Such as:
- There is no 'CTRL' button on Chuck Norris's computer. Chuck Norris is always in control.
- Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird.
- Chuck Norris doesn't read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.
- When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.
and many more. If you want to know more go to: http://www.chucknorrisfacts.com/ . But I got surprised today with Google. Find out for yourself. Go to www.google.com and into the search field type in "find chuck norris" and click I'm Feeling Lucky. Have fun!
20 decembra, 2008
Dorast sleepover.
Last night we had a sleepover with our Dorast kids. We wanted to do something special for them and the sleepover seemed to be the best thing that came to our minds, simply just because it's one of the best relationship-building activity you can do.
The kids came at 5 as usually, and we had kind of ordinary Dorast. Warm up, games, some kinda teaching (my responsibility this time) and some more games. Then we had a dinner that Dominik prepared with some kids and I took some kids with me and we set up for a movie to watch and to have dinner. Then we all got together, prayed and ate.
Then we watched a movie. It was Facing the Giants. I now that a lot of people don't like the movie because it's over-happy-ending but you gotta admit that the movie has a lots of points you can talk about. After the movie Dominik made a delicious hot chocolate. I dare to say one of the best (if not the best) I've ever had. Then we played some more games and it was almost midnight and so we went to sleep. But the night. It was really bad. Not because the kids would make any problems, but I didn't prepare for sleeping at the Building good enough. I brought a blanket and since I don't wear a pijama I was there on the stage in my boxers covered with the blanket. I was freezing! So then at 6 am I put on my clothes and slept with them on (I didn't want to do it at first because I brought them for the church).
In the morning we woke up, ate some breakfast and cleaned up and set up for the church. About 5 kids from Dorast stood for the church and during the service we had a Christmas skit so it was really nice to have them there.
Well, that's pretty much what has been going on this weekend. I'm really glad that the holidays have come so I can get some rest after ŠPM, Romania, Dorast and bunch of other stuff. Not that I didn't like them, it was just too much lately (and we were caroling tonight). But I'm thankful for every single thing and person.
The kids came at 5 as usually, and we had kind of ordinary Dorast. Warm up, games, some kinda teaching (my responsibility this time) and some more games. Then we had a dinner that Dominik prepared with some kids and I took some kids with me and we set up for a movie to watch and to have dinner. Then we all got together, prayed and ate.
Then we watched a movie. It was Facing the Giants. I now that a lot of people don't like the movie because it's over-happy-ending but you gotta admit that the movie has a lots of points you can talk about. After the movie Dominik made a delicious hot chocolate. I dare to say one of the best (if not the best) I've ever had. Then we played some more games and it was almost midnight and so we went to sleep. But the night. It was really bad. Not because the kids would make any problems, but I didn't prepare for sleeping at the Building good enough. I brought a blanket and since I don't wear a pijama I was there on the stage in my boxers covered with the blanket. I was freezing! So then at 6 am I put on my clothes and slept with them on (I didn't want to do it at first because I brought them for the church).
In the morning we woke up, ate some breakfast and cleaned up and set up for the church. About 5 kids from Dorast stood for the church and during the service we had a Christmas skit so it was really nice to have them there.
Well, that's pretty much what has been going on this weekend. I'm really glad that the holidays have come so I can get some rest after ŠPM, Romania, Dorast and bunch of other stuff. Not that I didn't like them, it was just too much lately (and we were caroling tonight). But I'm thankful for every single thing and person.
19 decembra, 2008
My so long promised post about Romania.
OK guys, here you go. My summary from the last weekend I spent in Romania. We went to a city called Arad.
On Thursday evening Dominik and I left Žilina. Arrived there around 11.00 pm and went to do some little shopping for food for the next day. So we ended up going to bed after 2.00 am. Next morning we woke up 5.00 since we were suppose to leave to Romania at 6.00 am. So I woke up, took a shower and got into a car. The way there was quite peaceful and everything went smoothly. When we were crossing the Hungarian-Romanian border we had a little fun experience. We stopped to change some money and some Romanian guy was there with a bucket and asked us whether we want him to wash the windshield for us. We said no but he was kind of ignoring that. So he began to wash it. When the driver came to the car he was about to leave and the Romanian guy was like: Hey dude, I washed your window. Come on. Give me some €. So after this begging he gave him 1 euro. And he was like: What?! 1 euro? Give me more! After that we just drove away. It took us 8 hours to get from Žilina do Arad. And, we crossed a time zone. It was my first time.
After we arrived we met with the pastor of the church. And he explained us the history, the strategy, the goal of the church. How they work and what is their aim and how they are to reach it. I was impressed by the system they have. How their small groups and youth and Sunday services are all so well connected. They have a great strategy. They've planted few churches and are doing missions. Actively involve the small groups and youth into the ministry.
Then we visited their youth. It was really nice. We sang worship songs and the youth pastor was preaching. But there is a little thing that was too much for me - the youth pastor was talking too long for me - over an hour. But it was a good talk. And the churhc has this cool wireless thing there that you carry with you and you have headphones with a translator translating right into your ear. That was really good. Then we got split up into host families and went "home".
Next morning began quite early (I mean the previous night was only 3 hours long:) at 6.30 am. We went to a village about 20 km from Arad. A french couple is doing a mission there with kids. They're doing an awesome job. We were helping out there with chopping wood and making sidewalks. The girls were "playing" with dirt :D Here's a clip when I was working.
Then we went back to Arad because we had a meeting with the youth pastor to talk about the youth. But there was a think. A huge one. There was a protest in the WHOLE country. The government raised the car taxes. Have a look at the clip that Zac (one of my teachers from ŠPM) took. Please, notice the track that is pulling over to prevent another car from getting around.
Nobody knew how long this all might take. So after an hour of waiting and deciding we've decided to walk back to the city (it took us about three hours of walk - try it Americans! jk). It was a good walk. We were talking and it was a good time. When we got to the church we were 4 hours late for our meeting so we went to a coffee shop close-by and spent some time there. Then we all went for a dinner and back to our families.
Dominik and I wanted to spent some time with the guy we were living with. He is the worship team leaders and he just got back from the States where he spent 5 weeks learning how to do worship even better. Well, we were talking and then it ended up going to bed at 3.30 am! I woke up at 7.00 am and got really for the church. The guy's mother offered me a cup of coffee while we were eating breakfast and I thought that it would be really stupid and not good to fall asleep during the sermon. So I took one and I quite liked it so asked her for another one! Then we left to the church where we had our re-scheduled meeting with the youth pastor. And they had there coffee as well and I wanted to be sure I will NOT fall asleep during the whole service. So I had the third cup (it ended up I went to sleep at 9.00 pm without even sleeping in the car on the way back :)
I so enjoyed the sermon. This pastor went to college and seminary in the States and I love the way he preached. He preached the kind of way to he was living what he was preaching. He was using his voice and volume and his body and all of that made a really good impression to me. He made not to fall asleep. And the translator was perfect. She was like she would be reading it all off of a paper. Amazing. I dare to say the best translator I've ever heard so far.
After the service we took some sandwiches and left for home. The way back took only 6 hours since we used highways and we went to Trnava and not Žilina.Well I got to tell you all it was a great weekend and I hope I'll be able to use as much as possible from all that I've learned this last weekend.
On Thursday evening Dominik and I left Žilina. Arrived there around 11.00 pm and went to do some little shopping for food for the next day. So we ended up going to bed after 2.00 am. Next morning we woke up 5.00 since we were suppose to leave to Romania at 6.00 am. So I woke up, took a shower and got into a car. The way there was quite peaceful and everything went smoothly. When we were crossing the Hungarian-Romanian border we had a little fun experience. We stopped to change some money and some Romanian guy was there with a bucket and asked us whether we want him to wash the windshield for us. We said no but he was kind of ignoring that. So he began to wash it. When the driver came to the car he was about to leave and the Romanian guy was like: Hey dude, I washed your window. Come on. Give me some €. So after this begging he gave him 1 euro. And he was like: What?! 1 euro? Give me more! After that we just drove away. It took us 8 hours to get from Žilina do Arad. And, we crossed a time zone. It was my first time.
After we arrived we met with the pastor of the church. And he explained us the history, the strategy, the goal of the church. How they work and what is their aim and how they are to reach it. I was impressed by the system they have. How their small groups and youth and Sunday services are all so well connected. They have a great strategy. They've planted few churches and are doing missions. Actively involve the small groups and youth into the ministry.
Then we visited their youth. It was really nice. We sang worship songs and the youth pastor was preaching. But there is a little thing that was too much for me - the youth pastor was talking too long for me - over an hour. But it was a good talk. And the churhc has this cool wireless thing there that you carry with you and you have headphones with a translator translating right into your ear. That was really good. Then we got split up into host families and went "home".
Next morning began quite early (I mean the previous night was only 3 hours long:) at 6.30 am. We went to a village about 20 km from Arad. A french couple is doing a mission there with kids. They're doing an awesome job. We were helping out there with chopping wood and making sidewalks. The girls were "playing" with dirt :D Here's a clip when I was working.
Then we went back to Arad because we had a meeting with the youth pastor to talk about the youth. But there was a think. A huge one. There was a protest in the WHOLE country. The government raised the car taxes. Have a look at the clip that Zac (one of my teachers from ŠPM) took. Please, notice the track that is pulling over to prevent another car from getting around.
Nobody knew how long this all might take. So after an hour of waiting and deciding we've decided to walk back to the city (it took us about three hours of walk - try it Americans! jk). It was a good walk. We were talking and it was a good time. When we got to the church we were 4 hours late for our meeting so we went to a coffee shop close-by and spent some time there. Then we all went for a dinner and back to our families.
Dominik and I wanted to spent some time with the guy we were living with. He is the worship team leaders and he just got back from the States where he spent 5 weeks learning how to do worship even better. Well, we were talking and then it ended up going to bed at 3.30 am! I woke up at 7.00 am and got really for the church. The guy's mother offered me a cup of coffee while we were eating breakfast and I thought that it would be really stupid and not good to fall asleep during the sermon. So I took one and I quite liked it so asked her for another one! Then we left to the church where we had our re-scheduled meeting with the youth pastor. And they had there coffee as well and I wanted to be sure I will NOT fall asleep during the whole service. So I had the third cup (it ended up I went to sleep at 9.00 pm without even sleeping in the car on the way back :)I so enjoyed the sermon. This pastor went to college and seminary in the States and I love the way he preached. He preached the kind of way to he was living what he was preaching. He was using his voice and volume and his body and all of that made a really good impression to me. He made not to fall asleep. And the translator was perfect. She was like she would be reading it all off of a paper. Amazing. I dare to say the best translator I've ever heard so far.
After the service we took some sandwiches and left for home. The way back took only 6 hours since we used highways and we went to Trnava and not Žilina.Well I got to tell you all it was a great weekend and I hope I'll be able to use as much as possible from all that I've learned this last weekend.
14 decembra, 2008
Romania
hey guys,
i just got back home from my trip in romania. have lots of stuff i want to share with y'all but i'm tired to death right now. i'll try to post my summary from the weekend tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. until then this is the only thing you get from me: AN AWESOME, BY GOD BLESSED WEEKEND.
i just got back home from my trip in romania. have lots of stuff i want to share with y'all but i'm tired to death right now. i'll try to post my summary from the weekend tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. until then this is the only thing you get from me: AN AWESOME, BY GOD BLESSED WEEKEND.
11 decembra, 2008
Romania trip
Tonight, Dominik and I, are going to Žilina because tomorrow morning there's another exciting think with our ŠPM. We're gonna have something like a mission weekend. We'll be in a city called Arad where we'll be doing...actually I don't know what we're gonna be doing. I got an email that said to bring some working clothes and be prepared for mud. Well, you can make a picture. It will take us about 8 hours to drive there. We'll be staying in families from the local church we're going to help to. I hope I'll be able to gain from this weekend as much as I can. And please pray for Dominik as he was sick and not feeling good this week so he can enjoy
marek
marek
02 decembra, 2008
Prihlásiť na odber:
Príspevky (Atom)