More Than I Can Handle

"For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for me will find it." -Matthew 16:25

“Jesus wrecked my life, shattered it to pieces,
and put it back together more beautifully.” -Katie Davis 

If you haven't read Kisses From Katie, then put it on your list of things to read. At first I was a little skeptical. I thought the book would be all about how amazing Katie Davis was. For example: how she left all she ever knew to live in rural Uganda at the age of 19, how she adopted 18 kids, how she decided to stay in Uganda (the list goes on and on). And yes, Katie Davis has done some incredible things- but only because she was obeying God.      

For a while, Katie didn't know if God wanted her to stay in Uganda or move back to the states. She didn't want to make the wrong or ungodly decision. As a Christian, this is something I am constantly praying/thinking about. Does God want me to go to Biola or Wheaton? Does God want me to be a nurse or a doctor? Does God want me to medical missions or work in the states? These questions flood (or flooded) my thoughts. I truly want to live the life Christ wants me to live. Katie explains that following God is the answer to knowing His will for our lives. He WILL make is will known if we are following Him. 

"I believe that God is in control, yes, but I also belief the we have a choice: I can follow Him or I can turn my back on Him. I can say yes to Him or I can say no. I can go to the hard places or remain comfortable. And if I remain comfortable, God who loves us unconditionally will continue to love me anyways. I may see His glory revealed in my life and recognize His blessings, but not like I could have." -Katie Davis 

When we are close to God and willing to do whatever He asks, we are living in His will. God will make his will clear. 

Katie shows that Christians aren't called to be safe. We are called to love. This can be the most dangerous calling, one that takes people across the world to places filled with disease and poverty. 

“We are not called to be safe, we are simply promised that when we are in danger, God is right there with us. And there is no better place to be than in His hands.” -Katie Davis 

As I go to Bolivia I know that I am living God's will. I am praying that- if I enter danger- I will remember that God is right there with me. 

"If God is for us, then who can be against us?" -Romans 8:31

The third thing God taught me about this book relates to poverty and disease. Perhaps my favorite quote from the whole book relates to nursing and missions (two things I love). 

"Disease is certainly not a sin. And poverty is not a sin; it is a condition, a circumstance that allows God's work to be displayed." -Katie Davis

Amen! Disease is awful, in fact it makes me sick. To know that it makes God sick but that it can be used to glorify his power and love is so comforting. God doesn't make people sick, we allowed sickness and disease into this world the minute humans starting sinning. He uses disease as a model for his love and compassion. He is the ultimate doctor and healer. 

Finally, I was struck by this quote. 

"God gives us more than we can handle." -Katie Davis

It is so true, yet I hear Christians (myself included) saying, "God only gives us what we can handle." REALLY? God will only give you what you can handle? I don't know about you, but I can't handle sickness or relationships without Christ at the center. I would be an awful friend and daughter/sister without Christ. God gives me more than I can handle, but then he fills in that gap. Without his power and strength I would be drowning in the pain of this world. By God's grace, I am able to serve Him in Bolivia. It it more than I can handle. Yet, I know that I am obeying God and He will use my weaknesses to bring glory to His name.    

You can find Katie's blog here: On Earth As It Is In Heaven

When Helping Hurts

In order to prepare for the trip, I have been reading about poverty. HOH requires every volunteer to read parts of When Helping Hurts before the trip. I wanted to share some of the things I learned from the presentation with you.

The idea that we are all poor was addressed. We ALL need Christ. To address poverty, we must come in with the idea that only God can rescue us sinners from poverty. He alone can make us rich with joy, compassion, kindness, and love.

This image shows some of the things that people think of as the causes and solutions for poverty.

The REAL cause of poverty is broken relationships. Broken relationships with God, man, and with ourselves are reasons why all of us are poor.

I have included some quotes that echo and reinforce what I wrote above.

"Poverty is the result of relationships that do not work, they are not just, they are not for life, they are not harmonious or enjoyable. Poverty is the absence of shalom in all its meanings." -Bryant L. Myers 

"Until we embrace our mutual brokenness, our work with low-income people is likely to do far more harm than good. -(WHH, p. 64)"

Poverty is rooted in broken relationships, so the solution to poverty is rooted in the power of Jesus’ death and resurrection to put all things into right relationship again.‖ (WHH, p. 77)

Poverty alleviation is the ministry of reconciliation: moving people closer to glorifying God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others, and with the rest of creation.‖ (WHH, p. 78)•

"Material poverty alleviation is working to reconcile the four foundational relationships so that people can fulfill their calling of glorifying God by working and supporting themselves and their families with the fruit of that work.‖ (WHH, p. 78)

Avoid Paternalism. "Do not do things for people that they cannot do for themselves." 

Understanding that missions is about glorifying God and that I won't ever be able to solve the world's problems is very important. Only God can change people and take them out of the cycle of poverty. I am glad I will be serving the only one who can truly make people rich! 

If you would like to read the book, here is the link. 
Here is the link to the presentation Hospitals Of Hope had me read.