What it means to glorify God?

Today, I was eating lunch with a few friends at the house of very friendly Lady that invited us over for tritip? It was delicious, how else could it have been. It was a wonderful time and it was awesome to get to know someone older from church.

While eating we had an interesting conversation, in which this question came up: What does it mean to glorify God? How do we glorify God? Hayden suggested that it is given God his proper place. But what is his proper place, what does he truly deserve?

This is what got me thinking, what does it actually mean to glorify God?

It means that I must decrease, so that he can increase! It means that I must bow lower, so that he may be higher in my life!

I asked myself a further question: How much did he do for me?

The answer is so simple, but still so incomprehensible: He did all! He is the very Life that I live, he is the Love that I give, he is the Truth that I speak, he is the mercy that I show, he is the Beauty I see, he is the kindness I experience, he is all in all!

But what does that mean? I do not understand, I am just lost in my Father's arms.

Still he did so much more, not only did he create all just for my enjoyment, no he did so much more. He gave his very self, his Son on that rugged Cross, so that I could not only experience all of the above, but his very self! That is what man is made for that is what I desire.

So how do I glorify God?

By giving my very self, my all, my every breath. Everything less is dishonoring to God and I should not even bother. He deserves my all and even that is not enough. Still that's what I will give and nothing less.

I will not rest and not halt until the day that he returns in all his glory or until the last drop of my blood has been spilled and he calls me home to himself, saying: "Well done, my good and faithful servant!"

Why did I ever see this movie?

I do not know!

I left the movies feeling sick and angry or better to say saddened.

How can one movie do so much damage?

My heart cries out as I think about both the depictions of the Israelis and the Palestinians in the movie. I love both of them and then I see a movie such as this.

Why did I ever see it?

When He speaks

"Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures." (Luke 24:32)

This is just how I felt this evening between 7-8:30 pm, when God spoke to my heart for about an hour and a half and even beyond that. I had the amazing opportunity to hear Taysir Abu Saada speak tonight and it was the best thing that could have happened today. I was hoping to hear some interesting stories, but my expectations were utterly disappointed, God had so much better plans for me. Not only was the story of Taysir's life absolute amazing, but God used his words to speak to my heart in a way that is even rare for me. My heart burned within me for the voice of God was so clear, reminding me of so many things he had said in the past. God is so wonderful.

Seven years ago God began an amazing work in my life, bringing me to my knees to repent on the behalf of my people and the sins we have commited against God's chosen people. He placed such a love for Israel and the Holy Land in my heart and it began to ever increase. When I finally got the chance to go to Israel last Spring I was overjoyous, I had prayed for this for so long and now God allowed me to go. I had all these expectations of how it is going to be like, but God had other plans as usual in my life. He had decided to teach me some very important truths and enlarge my scope.

When I was in Israel, I did not really care about all the "holy places", I was rather filled with love and compassion for the people. But not only the Israelis, no, God had decided to place a burden on my heart for the Palestinians. He began talking to me about Ishmael and how the whole conflict is brother slaughter, Isaac and Ishmael and how God is so grieved about it. He has a plan for both of them yet and both of them need Christ, the Hope of Isaac and Ishmael. While the group I was with put all their emphasis on the Israelis and how it was their land given by God, my heart was thinking about the message of love that we have to send to both of them, for Love overcomes all hate.

One Incident really stuck to my mind and that was when one night we got back from a long trip through Jerusalem and on our way to the hotel, we stopped by this memorial place, it was getting dark and everyone wanted to go back to the hotel. But there were these fifteen Palestinian kids playing soccer and I could not help but get out of the bus and play with them. Joined by four of my friends, the only other young people on the trip we played with the kids for a long time till it was pitch dark and then walked back to the hotel. The place where this happened was just across Bethlehem. It was so awesome because before we felt like foreigners, but after this we were no longer strangers. That's when my love for the Palestinians was sparked. Later we got to go to the Gaza strip and the West Bank and see the need there.

Ever since then I wanted to go back and felt even stronger that God calls me at least for some time there to be a peacemaker, to be a bearer of his love and mercy. I am willing to lay down my life to see these kids in the streets of Ramalah and Gaza come to Christ.

But the opportunities were not there or so it seemed and I was still praying for internships and other opportunities and when Baroness Cox said that she might have the ability to get me into Sudan I was excited, though it was not what I felt God's ultimate plan was.

Then tonight came, Taysir told us his story, which is unbelievable and shared his vision with us. He will be moving back to Gaza, the place of his birth and do ministry in form of humanitarian aid there. They are renting a big house for several years. While he was talking, I could hardly sit still, for I was so excited and as soon as it was done, I jumped up and talked to him, shared what I just wrote and told him, how I would love to go and help him whenever there is a possibility, maybe coaching soccer and doing a few other things and he told me to send him an email, so that he can put me on the list for going, whenever it is safe.

Afterwards I went outside crying, being overwhelmed by the goodness of my God and the amazing ways he works, I praised him, while my heart was leaping. And then this verse came to my mind:

"Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the scriptures." (Luke 24:32)

He spoke to me tonight, may he speak to all of You as well, just be prepared for it will come when you least expect it.

What do I value?

Today something unexpected happened, after session I stumbled headlong into a discussion over Disneyland and Disney in general. It got pretty heated and to my surprise there were a lot more emotions involved than I had imagined, but that's how it is sometimes.

Since I really do not care about Disney or Disneyland, they are no concern to me. But something else concerns me and that is my friends, I love them dearly and I do not mean to hurt or offend them, especially over an issue that does not matter to me. So Herewith I apologize to Wren, Sarah, Greg and Sidney, I hope you will continue to enjoy what you like and do not listen to me in this regard.

I grew up with Disney myself, my dad bought all the movies up to a certain point, when the quality decreased and the morality got more questionable. I loved Robin Hood as a fox, he is still one of my all time favorites, but I never had the desire for Disneyland, maybe because it was so unrealistic living in Germany. And when I finally went in 2002, I was not intruiged at all, it just did not appeal to me, nothing that makes me want to pay money for it. But that does not mean that others can or should not enjoy it, I just don't.

For me other things are important, especially at this moment in my life! For the last few years I have been living my dreams or better to say: God's dreams for my life! Saving every penny to make yet another travel, go yet to another place and share what I am truly passionate about and that is HIM! This is what I am here for and that's what I am dying for, if that is the road ahead of me. All for the glory of my King!

So this is what I truly value! Christ my King and Savior of my wretched life. But I also value my friends and there lives and memories do matter to me, just not as much as my King.

I love You

Running

Today I ran for the first time since I tore my ACL and Meniscus last summer during Torrey Orientation. And though I despise running, it felt so good to just run and sprint. Yes, there was some pain in my knee and yes, I was easily tired since I am not used to running anymore, but still it was so good.

God is healing my knee and he will restore me completely, so that I can play soccer and volleyball again and do all the other active and fun stuff again that I love to do and that glorify my Papa.

While I am writing this, I think about a race that You and I am in. A race that is so much more important than any competition that I could ever be in, even in comparison to the Olympic race this one is so much bigger. It has the greatest prize in store for those who win, so that's why I should race with all that I have.

This reminds me of something a few years ago. Friends of mine and I were going to a prayer conference on top of a mountain. It had been raining all day, so that everything was wet and puddles of water were everywhere. As we walked up the mountain, my friend Kluntje challenged me to race, he is some 15 years older than I, but very quick, especially since he has such short legs. So as we started running he gained the lead quickly because of his quick acceleration, but the longer the mountain turned out to be, I started to catch up. Eventually I overtook him and was racing towards a sure victory. Just a few feet before the conference tent there was a huge puddle and I was wearing my good pants, so I hesitated for second and slowed down. This gave my friend the chance to overtake me in the last second because he raced strait through the giant puddle. I lost because I hesitated, being concerned with the things of the world.

After that I said to myself and God that I will never again stop for anyone or anything in this race. I will never again hesitate to lay down my life. If you want to really get to know me start running, for only while you run this race will you get to know me truly. Race with all that you have because I will, for I want to win!

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners compete, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it."
- 1. Cor 9:24

Just Sabbath

Today was just another Sunday and as I had made it my habit and honest conviction, I refrained from any work that could possibly be done. All last and this semester I have been doing so. Why?

Here is why:

As I woke up this morning, too late for church, but fully rested, a wonderful day began that I would not have had, if I had not set aside my Sabbaths for rest and for the Lord.

After realizing that I would have to rush to church to make it on time, I decided to stay back and instead spend some extensive time in the word and in prayer, which was wonderful. I love reading the Psalms. Then I took a long shower and went to lunch. Just as I was on my way to the Caf, it started to sprinkle outside and that meant that no one would be sitting outside. Wait nobody was not quite right, three of my favorite people in the world (Andrew, Melissa and Hayden) enjoyed the rain outside, while eating their lunch. So I asked how long they would be sitting there and if it was worth to join them, which it was.

Having first the rain wet our faces and later the sun dry it off, was just so beautiful and in addition to that a deep and longlasting conversation began. A conversation about living alone in the wilderness for a year to seek after God and what the benefit of that would be. From there we began to talk about God speaking to us and the reality of spiritual gifts, we talked about martyrdom and the desire to live a life consumed by God. So for 4 hours we talked and talked and talked about the things of God and never got tired. We shared the things that God had been doing in our past and those he is doing at this very moment. It was just beautiful! What else can I say! And now I am going to eat dinner with a few guys talking more about the things of God on this totally usual Sunday.

Are you asking how this is a usual Sunday?

Well, if you set aside a day for the Lord and let the Sabbaths be for you, to benefit your soul, to bring you to rest and to draw you to Him, transforming you evermore into his likeness. This will become your every Sabbath.

These are the words of our Lord:

"The Sabbath was made for man, not man for Sabbath." Mark 2:27

Be blessed my friends!

Shalom alechem

Take the World but give me You

Reflecting on this weekend and the days prior to it, there remains only one thought in my mind.

Take the world but give me You!

I rather die this very moment than to be seperated from the One who saved my soul. May he strike me dead from Heaven this second, if I cannot be in my Father's arms.

If this world is all there is and if the Christian life I see all around me is all there is, than why live?

If Sin is permanent and there is no overcoming, why live?

If friendships come and go, strengthen and weaken, but ultimately are like the passing of the wind, why live?

If the pleasures of this world are all that could be offered, why live?

If the longings of my heart cannot be fulfilled, why live?

Take the world but give me You!

Nothing else can satisfy, nothing else can fuel me, nothing else I desire.

Take the world but give me You!

.........


Song running in my mind:

Jesus, thank you for the cross,
For the blood you shed for me
The crimson stain of all my sin
Washed away in your great love!