Who Am I To Judge...

So this post is very long overdue but I have lots to fill you guys in on, so I'm just going to get started! I had the opportunity to spend a little over three weeks down in Ensenada, Mexico this past month. The purpose of this trip was to be able to see how a long established base runs their Mission Adventure program. Basically it was an opportunity for me to get hands on experience with the program and pick the brain of the program director to see what things have and haven't worked over the years. It also was an awesome opportunity for me to spend tons of time in prayer over what ideas God has in store for the program here in Pismo Beach. As I was praying I felt God saying that He really wanted Mission Adventure's to have an Isaiah 61: 1-3 focus. This verse talks about preaching good news to the poor, binding up the brokenhearted, proclaiming freedom for the captives, and releasing from darkness the prisoners. At the end of verse 3 it talks about replacing ashes for beauty, which I think so captures God's heart for His people; He wants to restore us, not fix us and send us on our way, but truly restore us and grow intimate with us. So my heart is to be able to provide an experience for the students that not only grows their relationship deeper with Christ, but teaches them about the commission that God has called us to, and equips them to free the captives and bind up the brokenhearted. I am very excited to be back and feel that I have gained even more purpose and direction for this ministry, which is very exciting!

On a totally different note, I have really been wrestling with some things spiritually that I would like to share with you. I find that when I ask God to stretch me, He never disappoints! I am almost scared to make this my prayer because I know that God always follows through. Lately I have been asking that God would really grow my heart for people in general, often I am so judgmental of people that it effects the way I perceive sharing the love of Christ with others.

One night in Mexico, we took one of the teams out to the red light district to pray over the street. As we prayed I spotted several prostitutes on the opposite corner and immediately felt burdened for them. I asked God if there was an immediate need I could meet and I felt like He said take the money you have in your purse and give it to them. I dragged one of my Spanish speaking friends along with me and gave this girl the money and told her that God loved her. As I walked away I felt like the biggest hypocrite. I was so willing to share Jesus with someone that was so obviously in desperation but then judge others who have a "put together" exterior. On the way home I sat in the back of the car and quietly cried as it hit me, Christ died for the woman that makes my coffee at Starbucks, he died for that Mexican prostitute, and He died for me. In James it talks about how He despises favoritism, and here I was picking favorites. So what is my point, my point is that God has called us to love Him and love others. He said that was the greatest commandment. And how often do we distort this, thinking that our mission is to correct others, know more about the Bible, do good things to gain favor in the eyes of the world, I know I do all the time. But He doesn't call us to be the judge of people, He just calls us to love them.