Chiapas Journal Day 1

Woke up this morning and felt somewhat refreshed for I slept well. In the preceding nights leading to this trip I was awakened by the Father having placed a burden in my heart to intercede for this trip and for the people that will be accompanying me to the town of Chamula. Felt as though my time of solitude with the Lord this morning was attended with His presence and was also comforted in this way. Mom got off to a late start as she had a long day on the Lord’s Day yesterday, and we set out to meet David (a brother from Ivonne’s church) in the metro. After waiting for an hour he finally arrived and we left to meet another sister from Remanente. After our uniting and much travel in the metro not having yet had anything to replenish the physical state of our bodies we went to eat. Mom and I shared a meal, and mom stloe soup from the sister from Remanente. Felt as though I ate more than is biblical and still am not in need of anything as I write. After eating we returned to my house and I finished preparing my things for the trip as well as the bags of gospels we would take. Everything went smoothly at the bus station, and we started our night of driving.
I though it somewhat cliché this morning as through grace approached the throne of Grace through the Scriptures. In Jeremiah 31 was reminded of the new covenant that God has made, and His faithfulness in saving those that are His. His sovereign work in changing our hearts and causing us to walk in His ways. Then in Mark 16 of the promised resurrection as Christ was. If that is to be our end why would one fear that which has no power to conquer? God is faithful to His promises and He will resurrect His people. And lastly in Acts 21 as Paul set out to Jerusalem and was encouraged not to go by the brothers for the danger he would face, but was so encouraged and found such comfort in his response. Paul knowing he would go to his death was unashamed. It is my prayer that as you read this you do not think I am going to this place to die, for such in not my purpose. I simply as Paul want to be faithful and unashamed of the call whether by life or by death. If I live here or there, I wish to live in such a manner that the Lamb would receive the full reward for His suffering, and if I die that I would die in such a manner that the Lamb would receive the full reward for His sufferings! I simply want to be unashamed to preach the gospel.

Paco seems to be preoccupied with work he has to take care of, I ask that you would pray peace for him. Mom seems to be doing well, not sure she quite knows what she is going to, but she is willing. David is in good spirits, and sees to me to be content. Esther, the sister from Remanente, is such an encouragement, and I am delighted that she is here.
Right before I started writing this I finished a book I had been walking through here lately called “Introduction to Puritan Theology “, if you want to know, yes I highly recommend it!! The last part was on Eschatology by Jonathan Edwards and he writes “It may seem a mystery to the world that men should be happy in death, which the world looks on as the most terrible of all things; but thus it is to the saints. Their happiness is built upon a rock, and it will stand the shock of death: when the storm and floods of death come with their greatest violence, it stands firm, and neither death nor hell can overthrow it…”

Thank you all for being the body of Christ! Hold the rope extra tight this week!!!!

Por La Gracia,
jonathan

To Know Him Deeply

I have finally taken the time to create a Blog! Over the past couple of weeks i have been stuck in one passage of Scripture; Philippians 3. The whole book is amazing, but God is just working in my life through chapter 3 right know. At the beginning of the year, like everyone else in America, i began reflecting on the past year, and the spiritual journey i had been on. Reflecting on the past always causes me to look forward to the things to come. I began to think of resolutions for the present year, and steps i wanted to take. In the midst of this feasting on Philippians 3. Paul begins describing who he was BC in his life, and the things he had accomplished. Then in verse seven he kind of switches gears and speaks of his conversion. In verse 8 he says "Indeed i count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For His sake sake i have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish in order that i may gain Christ." Paul says that everything he had achieved was worth nothing, as dung, in comparison to knowing Christ. That he would loose everything just to know Christ deeply. I want that! I want, to want to, forget about everything in life just for the purpose of knowing Christ deeply. I am reading a book by C. S. Lewis right now and he said "The New-Testament speaks a lot about self-denial, but not about self-denial as an end in itself." We can deny ourselves of everything, but if it is not for the sake of falling in love with Jesus than all we end up with is nothing. Paul even goes to the point of saying, " that i may know Him and the power of his Resurrection, and share in His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death", he would be slaughtered as Jesus was just to know Him deeply. I want that passion. Jonathan Edwards, in the course of his life, would right down resolutions. For instance: "I resolve to think on death often, and the circumstances there in". As i sit a reflect, and gaze into the future in what God has for me... I resolve to know Him deeply. Whatever means necessary, even if i have to "share in His sufferings" I want to know Him.