God's Sovereignty in Our Weakness

Hey Guys,

Where does our striving and God's power come together in our battling of sin? This is something that I have been wrestling with for a while, how much of our discipline and God's power work together.

Recently I have been working through "power," and God's power in the midst of our shortcomings and total dependency. James 1:2-4 says "Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way." (The Message) Sanctification is a process, involving our own discipline and God's sovereignty.

We are waging a war with our flesh and the sin of the world daily, and we know we come out victorious in the end. Jesus Christ is our fulfillment and what our eyes are fixed on to battle the evil that is so prevalent in the world today. God's power and our fear of God should bring sin to a halt in our lives. We need to be terrified to face our awesome God on judgement day. We are set apart by the work of Jesus Christ on the cross but we are not sanctified until the day He returns.

Live life in expectancy of His return. Romans 12:1 says "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God- this is your spiritual act of worship." We need to prepare for the day of Christ return by beating our bodies and making them our slaves (1 Corinthians 9:27), so our flesh is starved and we are presentable to the King of the Universe.

Gracia y Paz

Luke

"Christ"ianity

Hey Guys,

Recently, when examining my walk with the Lord, some things came to the forefront of my mind, some questions that completely define my faith, that are lost in my religion. 

1. Who is this Jesus guy, and what did He do?

The term Christianity has His name in it, but how much of our religion does not revolve around Him. We talk about Him, we believe in Him, but how often do we meditate on the very act that defines our faith. Our beautiful, innocent, loving God, came down to earth and experienced the most brutality of man possible, as well as the wrath of God against all of sin, for us. 

I know for me in my walk, I desire to lead others to Him, to meditate on His Word, to live my life with Him as the example, but I rarely just sit and meditate and break for the very act that gave me life. At times I live in condemnation because of the very sin that He broke for, saying my loving Savior didn't do enough. 

When I kneel at the foot of the Cross and bring everything I have before Him, I should break. When I am going through my day, I should be thanking God for the incredible gift of life that He gave me through His act on the Cross. 

So when going through this individual question, it leaves me with the desire to meditate on the person of Jesus, as well as the act of His death and resurrection. I want to learn to love as He loved. So, my prayer, is that my life, will not be about religion, but completely a "thank-you response" to my Savior for what He did to give me life.

Gracia y Paz

Luke

Freedom from Bondage

Hey guys,

I am now back in the country and have been for about 3 days. This trip was an amazing experience and I am already missing the guys like crazy. It has been culture shock coming back to the States and I really miss Latin America already. 

Today we went to Chapelgate Presbyterian, my families home church. Pastor Mike Khandjian, spoke on Galatians 4:8-20 and the freedom from the bondage of sin through Christ's eternal sacrifice. 

His analogy was that of a dog returning to its vomit, like we return to the bondage of our sin and do not accept the grace that God extends to us through His Son. As human beings we have the idea that we have to work, we have to earn grace and be "religious". We have the tendency to "keep score," and work at our own salvation. 

Its crazy how many times I find myself counting up my sin and "keeping score," to be a "good Christian." That in itself is bondage, I return back to the condemnation I once lived under and do not accept the freedom that Christ's blood brings. After this trip, I have found a spiritual lull, and have seen myself trying to work out of it. How much of a flawed mindset is that? John 10:10b says "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Life to the fullest is joy. Christ came to give us joy and happiness and freedom. How exciting is life with Christ? How amazing are 2nd, 3rd, and 900000th chances? Our God is so good and He rejoices in us living out the freedom He offers us. 

I am just going to leave you guys with a question to ponder. "Are you allowing God to give you life to the fullest, or are you putting yourself back in bondage by trying?" This is what I am praying through right now, "I want to allow the King of Kings to give me life, and life abundantly. 

Thank you guys so much for following my trip and reading my posts and most importantly for the prayers you guys have extended my way. 

Gracia y Paz.

Luke 

Last Day

Hey guys,

So today is our last day in Nicaragua. We are going into Diriamba for a period of time and then we have a game in Managua. In Nicaragua no teams wear a uniform, they all wear whatever and just play. Batting gloves are impossible to get down here and jerseys are rediculously cheap, so, for the whole trip we have been trading players batting gloves for jerseys. Today our whole team is wearing the jerseys that we traded for in our last game. We are going to look like a Nicaraguan team, no matching jerseys, everyone playing in something different.
Today is our last chance to share the Gospel with an opposing team. I am so excited to finish this trip on a high note. Pray for our effectiveness today and that we dont look forward to all our travel arrangements but take advantage of the divine appointments God puts in front of us.
This trip has been amazing. God has changed the lives of so many people including my own. I am so excited to see the work God continues to do in the lives of these players, our own included. This trip has been full of so many miracles and great times. I have seen God do amazing things and cant wait to see what God will do with the players on my team back on their own campuses. I have never seen more guys come together with great leadership qualities and a heart to serve. Being united with these guys has been something that I will remember for the rest of my life. I know a bunch of these guys will be my life long friends.
Thank you guys for following this trip and I will continue to post what God is doing in my life for a long time. Thank you so much for your prayers and support, it has been an amazing journey.
Gracia y Paz

Luke

Market Day

Hey,

So being that there are only a few days left in our trip, today was market day. Market day is the day during the trip where the gringos (us) single-handedly stimulate the Nicaraguan economy. It was a lot of fun being with the guys and talking to people and bargaining down merchandise from $15 to $10 and just being together.
This group of guys has really become family, it will be very hard to leave these guys. We play games tomorrow and wednesday and then we leave early on thursday. After the rest of the team flies out I fly to Costa Rica for some more time. We will have two more days of ministry here and the Father has really blessed this trip and the effectiveness of us sharing the Gospel even through the language barrier.
Yesterday we played Leon, which is about 2.5 hours away. Alfonso, a guy who is from Leon, who has been pitching for our team the last couple weeks, shared his testimony with the team. It was so amazing the way the Spirit was moving and the way the people responded to his story. Jesus used story throughout the Bible and the power of story really influenced the people we played against yesterday. We play the same team again tomorrow and it will give us a chance to follow up conversations with some of the guys.
One of the greatest ministry opportunites we got over this trip was our bus driver. He took the job because he knew he would be driving a bus of Americans, so he would be payed well. He has been involved in our Bible studies and has been a part of all of our conversations. He shared his story last night and the impact this team has had on his life. Since we have been here it has been so cool seing the Lord work in his life.
It is great because of the follow up and discipleship that is in place through Crusade staff here in Nicaragua. I know that through discipleship God is going to raise up some of these men we have shared with to be leaders in their communities here in Nicaragua.
Please pray for the effectiveness now of the Nicaraguan church and there ability to disciple these guys who have surrendered thier lives to Christ. I know that if they get involved in solid Christian communities, which there are many in Nicaragua, that they will stand up and become leaders in the Diriamba, Managua, Mesaya, Leon, Granada, and the other towns that we witnessed in.
Gracia y Paz

Luke

God's work in Nicaragua

Hey guys,

This trip has been amazing. We have been playing and sharing with so many people and we have seen a ton of people come to trust the Lord. Its so good because they have a Campus Crusade staff here who will follow up with all these guys and establish discipleship and continue to pour into these guys lives.
We have had so great opportunites for service inside and outside the facility where we are staying. The other day we stayed here at the sight the entire day. We painted and scraped rust and also built the most amazing prayer area back in the woods. It was a great opportunity to bless Jimmy ( the guys who owns the place and works for Crusade), he only wanted a bench under a tree and we bulit 7 benches and a fire pit ( that we have used the last 2 nights) and lined a trail with bamboo. It was a whole team effort. As an added bonus we all got to use machetes to chop bamboo, and trees, and build a path. It was a great chance to bless him, he came out last night an had worship with us and it was amazing.
The other night there was some uproar in Hondorus (Nicaragua's border country) and Jimmy thought it would be a good idea to play a little joke. So alot of the guys were getting nervous because some violence had spilled over into Nicaragua (no where by us I might add) so at 4:30 am two nights ago while everyone was asleep, Jimmy had the guard unload a clip and set of fireworks right outside of our window. Guys where diving for cover jumping into closets and under beds and Jimmy came through with a camera and took pictures of everybody. I just thought I would add that little bit because it was one of the best practical jokes I have ever seen.
All the guys on the team have really came together as family. These 21 guys have so much passion it is amazing. We have all seen awesome things happen inside our team and in our outreach. We have all become family over a short period of time and its has been such a blessing being able to spend this last month with these guys.
Today we go to Granada because the professional team asked us to come pray with them before their playoff game and watch the game. Be praying for this because we will get the chance to share with around 10,000 at the stadium and more because the game is televised nationally. It is going to be an awesome opportunity to do outreach on a massive level.
I am so excited about what God is doing through these guys here and in the community in Nicaragua. We have built relationships with people and really touched peoples lives. The Spirit has been moving in awesome ways. I can wait to let you guys know what awesome thing God has in store next.
Gracia y Paz

Luke

Managua

Hey guys,

I only have a couple seconds. We went into a town called El Rosario two days ago to play a game. We played a team called the Juniors and I dont think they had a player under 40. This town was so poor we had kids in the dugout, on top of the dugout, on the field, chickens in left, and a pig in center. We got to share with about 200 people. After we gave the Gospel they burst into applause and it was the most beautiful form of worship I have ever seen. It was one of the highlights of the trip. Thats all I have time to tell you guys but it was amazing. Please continue to pray that the hearts of the people we share with are softened and open to the Gospel. I have seen amazing things happen through these guys and the Spirit is doing amazing things. We serve an awesome God and I am excited, as I know you are, to see what He is going to do next.
Gracia y Paz

Luke

Nicaragua

Hey guys,

I am sorry I have not been able to write for the last week. We have been crazy busy.. God has been doing amazing things down here. We have been playing everyday and sharing the Gospel with everyone we come across.
Nicaragua is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. We went to Masaya today which is a perfect picture of how romantic our God is, volcanoes and lakes and trees and everything you could imagine. We have been in Managua, Leon, Diriamba (where we are staying) and then we will be in Grenada tomorrow...I think.
The guys on this team are such a blessing. There are 18 players and 3 coaches and being around these guys 24-7 has been amazing. We have discipleship classes, inductive study into 1 Peter and classes learning how to share the Gospel, and our story effectively. There guys have shown me so much and they have such amazing hearts for the Lord and for people.
So far, at least 14 people have been saved and its been such a blessing being able to pray with guys who just accepted Christ as their Savior. Nicaragua is very poor, especially where we are staying and where we are playing and it has definetly opened the eyes of many of the people we are with. Spending time with the people and loving on them has been amazing especially the kids.
I am sorry it has been a while since I updated last. It has been an incredible blessing being able to pour into these people and learn so much from them. I know God has so many more incredible blessings to come. I will keep you updated.
Gracia y Paz

Luke

Lewisville, TX-culture capital of the US

Hey guys,

So this trip has absolutely rocked my world. I have fallen in love with the hispanic people and the latin culture so much. The hospitality and generosity of people who have so little is amazing. We have been working with El Camino which is a spanish speaking Baptist church in Lewisville, Texas. The pastor, Felix is a Puerto Rican man who is so on fire for the Lord and has made such an impact on my life in only a short amount of time.
On monday night we went over to St. Charles apartment complex. We played a huge game of futbol (soccer) and just had an amazing time talking to people and telling them about the Lord and finding out about their individual situations. I met so many guys who spoke no english and I speak very little spanish and even through that I was able to find out about their families, homes, lives and most importantly "novias" (girlfriends).
I met a man named David, he is a native of Nicaragua and lived only about 40 minutes from where we are staying. He has been a believer for around 3 years and his story rocked my world. The life he led then compared to the life he is leading now are drastic opposites and he has such a passion for the Word and the Lord it was such an inspiration to me. If any of you get a chance, a picture of me and him together should be on my facebook soon.
Tuesday, we went over to El Camino. The people there brought food from all from there native countries and I sat with a man named Jose. He spoke no english but his story rocked my world. He is from Mexico and has a wife and a daughter who is eight. They are still in Mexico with no money and he came here to find work. He cant find any and is living who knows where. And through it all he loves the Lord so much. That night we had worship, we sang songs in english as they sang the same song in spanish. I have never seen a man worship like him, it was so amazing. He prayed for us in spanish as we prayed in english and he fellowshiped with us for about two and a half hours.
In terms of my prayer needs at the moment....we travel to Nicaragua on saturday. Right now it is not the safest place to be espeacially for 21 gringos on a big yellow school bus. Just be praying that we really reach these people with a love they never experienced and effectively share the Gospel.

Cristo es primo.

Luke

Forgiven and Loved

Hey guys,

What an awesome thing, our Saviors love and forgiveness. How amazing is it that even after we give our lives to God and grow in His ways and really fall in love with Him, that we can still sin, so disgustingly against Him. And even more amazing than that is our perfect, pure God's unconditional love and forgiveness.
I was reading the Adventure Devotional the other day and it gave an amazing analogy that really rocked my world. It said just like a piano teacher when we mess up, the Lord says, "again from the top." That is so cool, it God wipes our slate clean and lets us "start from the top," He doesn't even remember how we messed up. Because I mess up and sin against my God so continually, I have grown accustom to reading through Psalm 51. If you are not familiar Psalm 51 is the psalm that David wrote when he committed adultry with Bathsheba, and after the prophet Nathan called him out for his sin. David says in verse 10, "Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me."
For me that idea is amazing. That after we sin, so disgustingly against God, He can forgive us and create "a pure heart," one that is blameless and white as snow. That is unbelievable to think about, imagine being able to forgive like that? The fact that no matter, what we do our God will love us the same. Luke 17:4 says "if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times comes back to you and says ,'I repent,' forgive him," that is how our Lord forgives, over and over again.
This being said, forgiveness is not an excuse for sin. Acts 26:20b says "I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds." Repentance does not only encompase asking for forgiveness but also turning from the sin committed because we love God and want to honor His name.
By the ways guys, I would also like to ask you all for prayer. I am in Dallas right now, taking discipleship classes and working out with my team before I leave for Nicaragua on saturday. We are working with the Hispanic community and with the spanish-speaking church here in Dallas. The community has been such a blessing, we went to church with my host family this morning at Crossroads Bible Church and the community has been so welcoming. Pray for strength and wisdom in speaking opportunites and that whatever said comes from the Spirit not from myself. Pray that our team molds and stays unified and lifts up the Name of our God and effectively shares the Gospel with people we come in contact with.
Grace and Peace.

Luke

Freedom to Love and Worship

Hey, 

Many people are confused with the reason behind the way followers of Christ live their lives. This lack of understanding can be answered very simply. Because we love God. Loving God comes along with a desire, a yearning to walk with our Savior and live in His Truth. 

Throughout scripture sin=death. And being that God is the God of life, the farthest thing from life would be death, therefore sin takes us farther away from the heart of our Creator. As disciples of Christ our desire is to be as close to God as possible; because we love God. 

Christ, through His eternal sacrifice, gave us freedom. Freedom from the bondage of sin and death and freedom to worship and love Him, not freedom to live in sin. As Peter says "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God." (1 Peter 2:16) We have freedom in Christ's blood to love Him, because He loves us. And how we show God that we love Him is to walk in His ways.

Using lovers as an example, say one of the people in the relationship is 100% devoted and head-over-heals completely in love and pursuing the other person with everything they have. While this person is so in love, the other person in the relationship flippantly runs around with other people and maybe says "I like you," but all the while the person who is in love knows of all the other people and all the other things and is just heartbroken. But instead of backing away, they just pursue harder, love more, and give more heart. This is the way we are with God, He pursues and loves, and breaks for us, while we run around with worldly things and break His heart more and more. 

God does not need us, but He wants us. He wants our love and our adoration in return for the love and mercy that He shows us. If no one on earth acknowledged God, He would still be God. Our privilege is the freedom He gives us to live with Him, walk with Him, and call Him friend. What an awesome thought, we get to call our Creator friend. David, a man after God's own heart, speaks of walking in Truth all throughout the Psalms and in Psalm 86:11 says "Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." 

Grace and Peace.

Luke

Standing Still

Hey,

As human beings, when we are put in a situation of crisis or one that needs immediate action what is our natural response? To fight? To run? To take everything into our own hands and take action? I know that is how I respond, if times are tough financially, or there is a situation I feel is needing "my" immediate involvement, I try to take the situation into my own hands. How arrogant is that?

The other day God took me to Exodus 14:14, where God was leading Moses and the Israelites out of Egyptian captivity. If there was any situation that needed fighting, or would lead people to use human force, it was this one. What God said to Moses and the Israelites hit me like a ton of bricks.... "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still." What an amazing thought... the Creator of the universe is fighting our own individual battles, all we need to do is give Him the reigns and let Him work miracles.

When we are stressed or worrying about anything in our own lives go to Matthew 6:25 where Jesus says "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life," which is a command... "do not," Jesus gave us a command not to worry, therefore worry is a sin. He told us not to worry because of what Exodus 14:14 says "The Lord will fight for you;" what more could we ever need.

So when you are worrying about life, about relationships, about health, "do not worry," our God is in control. He has thought about and loved us since before we were ever conceived. We have an amazing God who wants to take care of us, who wants to fulfill our every need and all we can do is surrender our lives to Him and not worry. Our God is good and faithful, and our situations will not always go away just because we say, "its Your's God," but that might be the Father teaching us to wait on Him and put our full trust in Him; that He will deliver us, and always keep us safe, because He loves His children. 

Grace and Peace. 

Luke

My Journey with my Savior

Hey guys,

This blog's purpose is to glorify our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. God has revealed Himself to me in amazing ways and I am so excited to share stories of our God with you. We serve an awesome God whose unconditional love is so crazy. Imagine loving unconditionally. No matter how many times we fall short He is always there picking us up and telling us how much He loves us. 

God has been pursuing us since the day we were born and that is such a cool thought. Psalm 116:1 says, "I love the Lord, for He heard my voice; He heard my cry for mercy." What an amazing thing, the Creator of our universe heard our, individual cry for mercy and sent His Son to rescue us and give us eternal life with Him. What awesome love. 

Over my journey with my God, He has continually picked me up, shown me mercy, forgiven me, and continued to have His hand in my life so amazingly. As humans we so selfishly have the idea that we deserve this or that God needs us. God knows His name, He knows He is awesome. What we are created for is to worship. Humans put this deep need for worship into objects that do not deserve it. God created us to worship Him and bring Him glory, that is why He is pursuing us- so we can have the privilege of worshiping Him.

My prayer for you guys is that you fall deeply in love with God. Our hearts can so easily deceive us into falling for imitations, but nothing is as beautiful and wondrous as the Cross. As I continue to see my God work miracles in my life I pray that through this you would see Him at work in yours as well. 

Grace and Peace.

Luke