Fear not

This student was so nervous giving her speech that her
friend came up to hold her notes.

"Don't be afraid, Mary," said the angel, "for you have found favor with God."

"Fear not," said the angel to the shepherds, "For behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."

"Fear not" said the angel as he spoke to Joseph. "Don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. The baby in her is from the Holy Spirit."

As I read the Christmas story this year, this phrase kept hitting me in the face. Now, I'm not exactly a fearful person most of the time. My parents have been known to call me "No-Fear Abby." But there are things that worry me. The future is one. There are elements of my future which I can't really control.

Yet, that which is of God is not to be feared.

Joshua was told multiple times (by God and by Moses) "Don't be afraid. God is with you."

And as much as "perfect love casts out fear," perfect trust does too. Fear looks at the uncertainty, trust looks at the one in Whom we're certain. He will never leave us, nor forsake us, and therefore we will not fear.

What worries you? Are there things in your life which you must believe God about when he says not to fear?

Here's one of my favorite songs about being victorious. From Rend Collective:

A trip to...

This week I agreed to teach a couple classes for an islander friend. He's taught a few of my classes when I was off-island, so when the person he'd originally asked to teach for him became unavailable, I agreed to teach. But on one condition: he had to arrange transportation for me. The place where he teaches is a full hour's drive from my town, more if you're taking a bus. Since he has a motorbike, that's no big deal for him to get there. But I don't have a motorbike and don't like the idea of catching a taxi bus at 6 in the morning in order to make it to class on time. So he arranged for a friend to give me a ride.

Let me tell you, the back of a motorbike is the best way to see the island. You've got an unobstructed view, can pick your way around a lot of the potholes, and breath the fresh air of the mountains.

Take a look at this video of part of the ride:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/56521309/20151221_104228.mp4


It's easy to forget, while living in the city, what a beautiful island I'm on. Most of the time I'm surrounded by dust, garbage, and buildings with peeling paint, and random animals wandering through the midst of it. Not to mention the noise. Riding through the countryside is like seeing the place with new eyes.

Anyway, I got to the village, went to the wrong middle school first, got to the right one, taught the two sets of students, and then headed home.

Next up: island tour by motorbike?

Just some seasonal thoughts

An unusually nice piece of road

There’s something about riding in an uncomfortable taxi bus that puts me in a poetic mood. I think it makes me more aware of what’s around me: from the body odor wafting from all the people around me, to the cool breeze coming from the window, the natural beauty surrounding me, the sheer drop-offs next to disintegrating roads… and then I put in ear buds and suddenly I’m in a movie with an awesome Christmas soundtrack. 

Truly He taught us to love one another

His law is love and His gospel is peace

Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother

And in His name all oppression shall cease. 

There’s oppression here, so much of it. The rich get favor from the courts and the poor are left to suffer. Corruption abounds and, as much as people are tired of it (see a popular local song titled “We’re Tired”), they also are resigned to it, because putting down one corrupt person inevitably means another rises up. 

O Holy Night makes me think of the longing of the world for redemption, for transformation, for change that can only begin with the heart.

I think, being here I see a far greater distinction between holiday songs and Christmas songs. Christmas songs sing of the Savior and His birth, the world-shaking, ground-breaking wonder of Christ in the manger. They’re just as true here on Clove Island as they are in North America. Holiday songs I can only sing ironically (oh yes, let it snow! Let it snow!), but the story of Christmas holds as much or more relevance here as it ever has anywhere else. This season, as I sweat while putting up Christmas lights and drink ice-cold chocolate milk, I see the importance of the “true Christmas spirit.”

So, as you sing the well-known songs and I sing them too, let’s pray for the world and seek to see His Kingdom come, His will be done on earth as it is in Heaven.