"What are you guys doing?" Asked people on a dirty street in San Francisco.
A 7 year old with a glove on one hand and garbage bag in the other responded excitedly, "We're saving the world."
Our classroom spent time cleaning our corner of the city. Our plan was to go to the beach and help clean up from the oil spill. But, wisely, the city closed all the beaches. So instead we cleaned up our block. It was great. People gave great words of encouragement to our kids and our kids gave a great example what joyful service is. They raced each other with mostly smiles and laughter to garbage on the sidewalk to "save the world. They were an example of "doing something." I listened to a sermon a couple weeks ago and the pastor was saying that sometimes we see the greatness of the worlds need and get so overwhelmed that we get frozen and don't do anything. He said, "We can't do everything, but we can do something." The oil spill looks so huge and will take years to clean up, but we can do something. We can clean up the little corner of our neighborhood.
So some of you may be wondering what I ended up doing with the money God provided for me to give away. Well, it turned out much differently then expected. So the homeless guy that I had been seeing must have relocated for now, so I was back to square 1 as to what God wanted me to do with this money. So on my way work one day this week, I argued with God. I wanted to control the money. I wanted to control where it went to, who it went to, and make sure it was used for a "worthy" cause. He said, "just give it away. I'm in control, and oh, yeah, Nate, remember that you haven't always used what I have given you wisely, but I still provide for you." Ok, Ok, so in the midst of this argument a guy walks up and asks for money for food. Ok, Ok, God I get it. So I with shaky unsure hands give him some money still scared that it will get used for unwise things. He grinned and said that now he can go to McDonalds and have a real feast. Then I get to work and find out that one of our kids families is need of food, so I'm buying a food gift card for groceries.
Do I still feel a little uncomfortable about all this?? Yes, but this time, anyway, God said, "Just give. I'm in control."
God is teaching me a lot about simplicity and making more room in my life for Him and what He wants. It's tough sometimes. It means sacrifice I don't think I'm read for yet. It means a lot of trust that I don't think I have yet. Do I trust that God will really provide? Do I really trust that God will give me what I need? My desire for wants is still greater then for what I just need.
Lord, help to give up what I want to hold to. Help me to give up what I think will give me security, what I think I need to sustain me. Help me to give up security for what You want. I know that Your calling, Your way of life, is far better then what this world has to offer. Help to know this at my core. Help me to trust you. Teach me trust. Help me to give up control and give with great abandon. Help me to give up lovers less wild for you and your truly wild love.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Saturday, November 10, 2007
The happens of Nate!
Hey everybody!
Well, here's an update of what's been going on in the life of Nate. I know again it's been a while since my last entry, so here's what's been going on since.
1. I experienced my first earthquake! It lasted over a minute but was only registered as a 5.6. But, it got my heart a pumping none the less!
2. I've started running again! It's been great! It gives me great energy and is great for my mind. I had to stop for a week because of some heel issues and really noticed a difference in my energy and state of mind! I've never enjoyed running until now!
3. I will be having a job change come Jan.! The IEP for the kid that I've been a 1 on1 for got rid of me. Basically, the public school district didn't want to or couldn't afford to pay me anymore. They actually wanted to get rid of me the day after his IEP, but our head teacher talked them into letting me stay through Dec. But Oakes wants to keep me, so they have created a position for me. Basically I'll be a float, go were I'm needed. Possibly doing some teaching in order to allow a couple teachers to have a planning period! It will provide great diversity in my job. I'm really loving it there. It continues to be tough, but really loving the kids.
4. God has again provided in a great way for me. So much that it brought me to tears. The apprentices put money away each month to put aside as God money. Do whatever we feel God wants us to do with it. We've been talking about Jubilee and the idea of wiping debts clean and a real God centered idea of economics. So the other apprentices decided that they wanted to help me pay off my debt. I felt extremely guilty at first, why should someone else pay off my stupid use of money. There are many other people in this world with greater need then me. But, I graciously accepted. With the idea too that this way I will be able to give more sooner! It has definitely helped put a better perspective on what I do with my money and use it wisely so I can give more.
5. With the rest of the money we are doing an experiment with it. We each have taken some in an envelope that we carry with us everywhere. We use it as we listen to God and His calling. We are praying that God open our eyes to the needs around us. We may take homeless out to eat, buy bus fare, ect. We want to make sure there is a relationship there, so we don't just want to give the money, but use to possibly form a relationship. So, when we take someone out to eat to eat with them, not just hand them money. We are super excited about it!! There is one homeless I guy I see almost everyday on my way to work that I want to start taking to breakfast. We'll see! I'll let ya know how it goes!
So, there are my top 5 things that have been going on with my life right now! I'm always growing which can be draining, but it is so good! Thank you who have given me continued words and prayers of encouragement! It means a lot!
Well, here's an update of what's been going on in the life of Nate. I know again it's been a while since my last entry, so here's what's been going on since.
1. I experienced my first earthquake! It lasted over a minute but was only registered as a 5.6. But, it got my heart a pumping none the less!
2. I've started running again! It's been great! It gives me great energy and is great for my mind. I had to stop for a week because of some heel issues and really noticed a difference in my energy and state of mind! I've never enjoyed running until now!
3. I will be having a job change come Jan.! The IEP for the kid that I've been a 1 on1 for got rid of me. Basically, the public school district didn't want to or couldn't afford to pay me anymore. They actually wanted to get rid of me the day after his IEP, but our head teacher talked them into letting me stay through Dec. But Oakes wants to keep me, so they have created a position for me. Basically I'll be a float, go were I'm needed. Possibly doing some teaching in order to allow a couple teachers to have a planning period! It will provide great diversity in my job. I'm really loving it there. It continues to be tough, but really loving the kids.
4. God has again provided in a great way for me. So much that it brought me to tears. The apprentices put money away each month to put aside as God money. Do whatever we feel God wants us to do with it. We've been talking about Jubilee and the idea of wiping debts clean and a real God centered idea of economics. So the other apprentices decided that they wanted to help me pay off my debt. I felt extremely guilty at first, why should someone else pay off my stupid use of money. There are many other people in this world with greater need then me. But, I graciously accepted. With the idea too that this way I will be able to give more sooner! It has definitely helped put a better perspective on what I do with my money and use it wisely so I can give more.
5. With the rest of the money we are doing an experiment with it. We each have taken some in an envelope that we carry with us everywhere. We use it as we listen to God and His calling. We are praying that God open our eyes to the needs around us. We may take homeless out to eat, buy bus fare, ect. We want to make sure there is a relationship there, so we don't just want to give the money, but use to possibly form a relationship. So, when we take someone out to eat to eat with them, not just hand them money. We are super excited about it!! There is one homeless I guy I see almost everyday on my way to work that I want to start taking to breakfast. We'll see! I'll let ya know how it goes!
So, there are my top 5 things that have been going on with my life right now! I'm always growing which can be draining, but it is so good! Thank you who have given me continued words and prayers of encouragement! It means a lot!
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