"Remember this or you may fall into error by fixing your minds so much upon the faith which is the channel of salvation that you will forget the grace which is the fountain and source even of faith itself. Faith is the work of God's grace in us."
- C.H. Spurgeon
Not too long ago I was reading these words and then it hit me....Sometimes I think I am saved because of my own faith. I have failed to recognize that the faith that I DO have is simply because of His grace. Because He chose to give it to me. Everyone has a different measure of faith. To some the Lord gives faith to heal, to prophecy and to do miracles. To others he has given the faith to graciously love, to be patient, or to have a constant spirit of joy. Yet the same grace of God has been applied to all. It is because of His mercy that we can do even these things for Him.
I was discouraged yesterday after a conversation with a friend in which she challenged my views on why I believe the things I do. I did not get sad because I doubted my own beliefs, but rather because she did not think Jesus was worthy; because She did not know him as the saviour. I started feeling guilty. I told myself, "How can I be thinking of becoming a missionary in the future when I can't even present the gospel in a way that pierces her heart?" Later on that day I had my answer... "You do not save. I save. And it is because of my grace and the cross that you even have this opportunity to have faith in Me!"
How humbling, and how rebuking! I wanted to share this because I know many of us deal with guilt, with lack of discipline, with condemnation and shame. Or, on the contrary, we believe we are okay where we are. We're good to go. I go to church on sunday I pray here and there, and I am a good person. Being a good or bad person is no different in the eyes of God. I think we forget this. We have all fallen short of the glory. We all need the cross. Never get tired of preaching the cross and His grace because it is the power of God. (romans 1:16)
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— -Ephesians 2:8
Monday, April 30, 2012
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Vision
There is a specific calling each and every one of us has. There are also many gifts that makes us who we are. But....sometimes we either forget, become confused, or simply become discouraged. We don't want to pursue our calling because it's hard and many times we doubt whether it's really something we're passionate about. This happened to me with photography. Not to say that I believe it's my ultimate calling In life (because I lack talent and I'm sure there's room for growth). But I had ignored that passion in my life and I simply ignored it. The last time I took photography seriously was during high school, and I stopped learning. I was still the creative and artsy Michel, but I had ceased to practice.
Recently, I started updating every single dead talent of my life. Does that even make sense? How can talent be dead? Well I assume It's like a plant. If you water it and give it its necessary amount of light it will flourish. But If you don't maintain it, then it dies. So I have an unwritten list of the many talents I stopped doing before college and that now I have the time for. One of them is singing. I am now in a band with my husband called "Eyes on the Sparrow". There's six of us and we lead worship at our local college ministry, at Faith assembly. LeeAnn, one of the band members has been teaching me how to harmonize. Though I don't feel comfortable yet to lead the band, I definitely have learned so much. Last time I truly sang for a commitment was in middle school when I was in choir. The second thing I picked up again is my drawing. I haven't drawn a lot but my last outburst of drawings took place during my high school years. And my third passion, photography, is currently being watered and cared for. Why do I write about dead talents that are being brought back to life again?
Because when these things are ignored, it does not go away. It sits there in the back of your mind, incomplete, waiting to be fulfilled. Because Christ is my center, I do not find my fulfillment in these things, but I have learned to recognize that these are the gifts He has given to me so that I may use them. And that I may use them well. In wisdom and in Truth. DO NOT ignore what keeps you awake at night. When there is a vision in your heart, you must seek it out. Ask and you shall receive, Jesus said. Then ask, and ask, and ask, till you know why it does not go away. As I am booking photography sessions I realize why I loved it in the first place. And why God loves it that I love it. It is because I get to talk about Him. I get to actually spend an hour or so hanging out with people who have real problems, worries, and concerns. I get to hang out with these people and talk about Jesus. The one who calms the storm. Wow! What a privilege! With this said, is there a talent that is dead right now? That you have hidden in the back of your mind where it's dusty and getting rotten? You must revive it. You must ask why you can't forget about it. To Him be all the glory.
Matth 24:14-30
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Recently, I started updating every single dead talent of my life. Does that even make sense? How can talent be dead? Well I assume It's like a plant. If you water it and give it its necessary amount of light it will flourish. But If you don't maintain it, then it dies. So I have an unwritten list of the many talents I stopped doing before college and that now I have the time for. One of them is singing. I am now in a band with my husband called "Eyes on the Sparrow". There's six of us and we lead worship at our local college ministry, at Faith assembly. LeeAnn, one of the band members has been teaching me how to harmonize. Though I don't feel comfortable yet to lead the band, I definitely have learned so much. Last time I truly sang for a commitment was in middle school when I was in choir. The second thing I picked up again is my drawing. I haven't drawn a lot but my last outburst of drawings took place during my high school years. And my third passion, photography, is currently being watered and cared for. Why do I write about dead talents that are being brought back to life again?
Because when these things are ignored, it does not go away. It sits there in the back of your mind, incomplete, waiting to be fulfilled. Because Christ is my center, I do not find my fulfillment in these things, but I have learned to recognize that these are the gifts He has given to me so that I may use them. And that I may use them well. In wisdom and in Truth. DO NOT ignore what keeps you awake at night. When there is a vision in your heart, you must seek it out. Ask and you shall receive, Jesus said. Then ask, and ask, and ask, till you know why it does not go away. As I am booking photography sessions I realize why I loved it in the first place. And why God loves it that I love it. It is because I get to talk about Him. I get to actually spend an hour or so hanging out with people who have real problems, worries, and concerns. I get to hang out with these people and talk about Jesus. The one who calms the storm. Wow! What a privilege! With this said, is there a talent that is dead right now? That you have hidden in the back of your mind where it's dusty and getting rotten? You must revive it. You must ask why you can't forget about it. To Him be all the glory.
Matth 24:14-30
14 “Again, it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted his wealth to them. 15 To one he gave five bags of gold, to another two bags, and to another one bag,[a] each according to his ability. Then he went on his journey. 16 The man who had received five bags of gold went at once and put his money to work and gained five bags more. 17 So also, the one with two bags of gold gained two more. 18 But the man who had received one bag went off, dug a hole in the ground and hid his master’s money. 19 “After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them. 20 The man who had received five bags of gold brought the other five. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with five bags of gold. See, I have gained five more.’ 21 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 22 “The man with two bags of gold also came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘you entrusted me with two bags of gold; see, I have gained two more.’ 23 “His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ 24 “Then the man who had received one bag of gold came. ‘Master,’ he said, ‘I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 So I was afraid and went out and hid your gold in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.’ 26 “His master replied, ‘You wicked, lazy servant! So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? 27 Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest. 28 “‘So take the bag of gold from him and give it to the one who has ten bags. 29 For whoever has will be given more, and they will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what they have will be taken from them. 30 And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Monday, February 06, 2012
Married
Here we are! The newlyweds! It's been almost two months that we've been married and I can't wait for our one year anniversary :). How's married life? Great! Couldn't have chosen anyone better, more handsome, or smarter. It still feels funny sometimes to say "my husband" because it feels like we've been married for years, but it hasn't even been two months. So what's the update for the Castro's? Right now we are preparing the way for the Lord because in June of this year we head out to IRELAND! As we pray, and seek, and meet with our team, we are excited to see what the Lord has in store for us.This past week we talked about motive. Why we go, and why we even bother? We came to the conclusion that missions is not for the sake of my fellow man (so that he may better himself), but for His sake!! Doesn't he deserve the reward of His suffering? It is for His sake that we are going, and only for His. Our prayer is that God prepares our heart because even though Ireland is not like Africa, we are still dealing with unbelief, many cold hearts, and the worst of all....religious hearts. We hope to sow seeds (because we know we can't do it all) of hunger to know more of God. Please pray for us as we approach this moment.
On another note, we are trying to raise money for Ireland through photography!! Please check out my other blog : www.michyphotography.blogspot.com . There are some examples of my work there but the best is yet to come. Keep on checking it every once in a while and you'll be finding new stuff soon! This weekend I'll be shooting a couple who wanted to take pictures for their first year anniversary :) so sweet! If you want more information about the photo sessions just e-mail me at clarita.mayorga@gmail.com and I will send you all the info you need! Thank you guys for reading, and I will surely be updating my blog :)
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Putting Ten Thousand to Flight
Soon I will be getting married. Isn't that crazy? I know I have not updated much and never written about my boyfriend, who then turned into my fiance, who will now become my husband. Which I know that as a writer, that is almost impossible to believe. A writer does not write about their love? Impossible! Though I gladly would, instead I will take my time to write about what marriage means to me. Well, to us.
As a christian I have learned that my relationship with God almighty cannot depend on feelings. For if my relationship with the greatest Being cannot depend on feelings then what am I to believe about my husband? When I say my relationship with God does not depend on feelings I do not mean a passionless relationship. On the contrary,when one does not depend on feelings one can truly understand how to love at all times. This I had in mind before I met Brian, my fiance. I knew that I could not depend on what I think my life should be like, and to whom I believed I would fall in love with. When I decide to depend on feelings, I only choose to love in the best of times. But when I love at all times, then it does not matter what I feel, for I will always have to choose Love. That is, I will always choose for his highest good.
That being said, I will be getting married with Brian soon. A wonderful man I met during college at Sam Houston State. Brian is a special man because he also believes in what I just told you. I hear many people say "It's good to marry someone who believes the same way that you do. It is less problematic". Though it's true, that is simply society trying to get along with one another. Brian and I are not trying to comfort society; we are hunting society down with the Love of God.
The verse that I have prayed over my future husband over the years has been this:
"One man of you shall chase a thousand....and two put ten thousand to flight."
- Josh.23:10; Deut. 32:30. "30
When I met Brian I knew that if we were to be together, my life would not be purposeless. And I feel that sometimes that is what some girls fear: a man who will actually challenge you to live a life for another, and not for yourself. His check, my check should not exist in marriage. For marriage is powerful when both are working as one. If you are married and are trying to live life for yourself then no wonder you are tired....for one man can "only chase a thousand". BUT TWO,"shall put then thousand to flight". And that is my prayer for Brian and I.
Love, that our love for one another grow stronger each and everyday. And love, that we may not foolishly try to chase a thousand each, but that together we may be one in Christ, and put ten thousand to flight.
-Michy
As a christian I have learned that my relationship with God almighty cannot depend on feelings. For if my relationship with the greatest Being cannot depend on feelings then what am I to believe about my husband? When I say my relationship with God does not depend on feelings I do not mean a passionless relationship. On the contrary,when one does not depend on feelings one can truly understand how to love at all times. This I had in mind before I met Brian, my fiance. I knew that I could not depend on what I think my life should be like, and to whom I believed I would fall in love with. When I decide to depend on feelings, I only choose to love in the best of times. But when I love at all times, then it does not matter what I feel, for I will always have to choose Love. That is, I will always choose for his highest good.
That being said, I will be getting married with Brian soon. A wonderful man I met during college at Sam Houston State. Brian is a special man because he also believes in what I just told you. I hear many people say "It's good to marry someone who believes the same way that you do. It is less problematic". Though it's true, that is simply society trying to get along with one another. Brian and I are not trying to comfort society; we are hunting society down with the Love of God.
The verse that I have prayed over my future husband over the years has been this:
"One man of you shall chase a thousand....and two put ten thousand to flight."
- Josh.23:10; Deut. 32:30. "30
When I met Brian I knew that if we were to be together, my life would not be purposeless. And I feel that sometimes that is what some girls fear: a man who will actually challenge you to live a life for another, and not for yourself. His check, my check should not exist in marriage. For marriage is powerful when both are working as one. If you are married and are trying to live life for yourself then no wonder you are tired....for one man can "only chase a thousand". BUT TWO,"shall put then thousand to flight". And that is my prayer for Brian and I.
Love, that our love for one another grow stronger each and everyday. And love, that we may not foolishly try to chase a thousand each, but that together we may be one in Christ, and put ten thousand to flight.
-Michy
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Newsletter
I was expecting to come back from Africa deeply burdened by the great need that I would see but this was not so. In fact, I am overjoyed in knowing that God's work is being done through Pastor Gilbert and his family (the missionaries and our hosts) in Senegal, Africa. Pastor Gilbert Rowe and his family are originally from Costa Rica but felt the call of God in their lives to work among the Senegalese. This has been their true passion for eight years now and they will continue to serve till God directs them elsewhere. During our two weeks in Senegal our team of ten worked with Pastor Gilbert and the church. The church does not really have a name since Pastor Gilbert says he does not want people to be distracted by a name, but that all glory should be directed to God, who deserves all glory. I found this to be evident in every area of Pastor Gilbert’s life; he is a man who does not care to be glorified but puts all his care to glorify the One who gave him such a task in the first place.
Pastor Gilbert and his family have adopted 25 children who currently reside in the house in which we stayed. The children are provided with an education, food, clothing and most importantly a loving home. Each child has a different story and comes from a different family. Some have parents in nearby villages who could not afford to take care of them so they allowed adoption. Others have come from the same background but through a different channel. This "channel" is a youth program (only boys) approved by the Senegal government in which a Marabu ( an Islamic teacher) is allowed to adopt children from parents who cannot afford to raise them. These children are referred to as the 'Talibi'. The Marabu is in charge of teaching the Qur’an and providing a "home away from home". However, the Marabus cannot afford living expenses for the child so the child works all day selling rice and/or sugar from dawn to evening. Many Marabu's are corrupt and do not really care to teach, which leads them to be interested in the quota the Talibi children must raise each day. If these quota isn't met the Talibi are vulnerable to beatings and maltreatment. They sleep on floors, beg all day, and fungus grows on their scalps due to poor hygiene. Many of these Talibi run away from their Marabu only to be taken back or remain homeless. Last year three Talibi children arrived at the Rowe’s home. The three told the family that if they did not adopt them they would rather kill themselves. Pastor Gilbert and his family had no other choice but to take them in. This was a year ago and the children remain unclaimed by their parents and their Marabu.
I got to see many Talibi children because Pastor Gilbert has a breakfast program addressed specifically towards the Talibi. He provides breakfast for the Talibi before they go to work. I saw a boy as young as 5 years old coming to get his breakfast before going out to beg. Pastor's Gilberts interest is not just need based but he and his helpers also share the good news of the Kingdom of God to them each morning. Despite their lack of provision the Talibi are normal children .They wrestle, they play, and they laugh. Part of Pastor Gilbert's vision is that this innocence is not taken away from them.
Out of the two weeks we were in Senegal we got to go to one village for two full days. We did not spend the night there but we were there from 9am to 12am. As a team we provided medical care for those who were sick and at night time we presented the Jesus film in their native tongue. We had three stations:1) taking their blood pressure, 2) diagnosis with Nanni (the nurse), and 3) prayer. Each patient had to have a number in order to be seen. Their waiting room was the dusty ground beneath one of the trees that provided the most shade. I was part of the prayer team. We had an interpreter at all times in order to ask what we could pray for and to have an actual conversation. At one point I asked a woman who seemed to be pregnant, "How is everything going with your pregnancy?" She lowered her head and proceeded to tell me that she wasn't pregnant and that her baby was at home. I learned that when she had the baby she had not been cleaned right and her enlarged stomach was a result of a deeper infection. We heard cases like this all day but praying for them was not as much fun as preaching the love of Jesus. It was more enthralling to know that this village had never heard the name of Jesus. Many listened, watched the film, and even decided to follow Jesus after those two days we spent with them. Admi, one of the little girls from the village followed me around all the time while we were there. At the end I asked her why she was following and keeping after me; she responded, "because you are my friend”. Senegalese people are so friendly and loving that I even questioned my own motives of being with them. Do I love these people as much as they are willing to love me? We did not know them, yet they were willing to give everything as an act of service. It made me think of my responsibility as a carrier of the gospel. The good news is that Jesus came to die for our sins and that we do not have to be controlled by them but be free in knowing that we are alive In Christ, and that our old self has died. If I am alive to Jesus and dead to the world, then how am I showing this to my fellow man? Whether I am, or I am not, there needs to be a continuous love flowing out of me wherever I am because God is love. A mission trip does not start and end in Africa; on the contrary, it is a condition of the heart.
I became more aware of this on our last night in Senegal. We had just given away shoes to all 25 of Pastor Gilbert's children when Pastor Gilbert told his children, "We have just been blessed, now let's give them what we have as an offering of gratitude". Pastor Gilbert and his family told us (our team of 10) to kneel down, and when we did the children came to surround us laying their hands on our heads. As Pastor Gilbert started praying so did the children. They were praying in French but we heard the language of eternity: God's Love. There was not a single person whose eyes were dry by the time we were standing again. We had just experienced what Jesus told his disciples "Go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matt 28:16-20) These 25 kids had been discipled, taught, and led to live a life for God. I finish with the quote I put in my first letter:
"When God changes the heart and the spirit, the physical changes also. If you want to meet the needs of the poor in this world, there is no better place to start than by preaching the gospel".
-K.P Yohannan
My time in Africa was not to patch up a hole with an economical need, but to know Jesus and to make him Known.
Pastor Gilbert and his family have adopted 25 children who currently reside in the house in which we stayed. The children are provided with an education, food, clothing and most importantly a loving home. Each child has a different story and comes from a different family. Some have parents in nearby villages who could not afford to take care of them so they allowed adoption. Others have come from the same background but through a different channel. This "channel" is a youth program (only boys) approved by the Senegal government in which a Marabu ( an Islamic teacher) is allowed to adopt children from parents who cannot afford to raise them. These children are referred to as the 'Talibi'. The Marabu is in charge of teaching the Qur’an and providing a "home away from home". However, the Marabus cannot afford living expenses for the child so the child works all day selling rice and/or sugar from dawn to evening. Many Marabu's are corrupt and do not really care to teach, which leads them to be interested in the quota the Talibi children must raise each day. If these quota isn't met the Talibi are vulnerable to beatings and maltreatment. They sleep on floors, beg all day, and fungus grows on their scalps due to poor hygiene. Many of these Talibi run away from their Marabu only to be taken back or remain homeless. Last year three Talibi children arrived at the Rowe’s home. The three told the family that if they did not adopt them they would rather kill themselves. Pastor Gilbert and his family had no other choice but to take them in. This was a year ago and the children remain unclaimed by their parents and their Marabu.
I got to see many Talibi children because Pastor Gilbert has a breakfast program addressed specifically towards the Talibi. He provides breakfast for the Talibi before they go to work. I saw a boy as young as 5 years old coming to get his breakfast before going out to beg. Pastor's Gilberts interest is not just need based but he and his helpers also share the good news of the Kingdom of God to them each morning. Despite their lack of provision the Talibi are normal children .They wrestle, they play, and they laugh. Part of Pastor Gilbert's vision is that this innocence is not taken away from them.
Out of the two weeks we were in Senegal we got to go to one village for two full days. We did not spend the night there but we were there from 9am to 12am. As a team we provided medical care for those who were sick and at night time we presented the Jesus film in their native tongue. We had three stations:1) taking their blood pressure, 2) diagnosis with Nanni (the nurse), and 3) prayer. Each patient had to have a number in order to be seen. Their waiting room was the dusty ground beneath one of the trees that provided the most shade. I was part of the prayer team. We had an interpreter at all times in order to ask what we could pray for and to have an actual conversation. At one point I asked a woman who seemed to be pregnant, "How is everything going with your pregnancy?" She lowered her head and proceeded to tell me that she wasn't pregnant and that her baby was at home. I learned that when she had the baby she had not been cleaned right and her enlarged stomach was a result of a deeper infection. We heard cases like this all day but praying for them was not as much fun as preaching the love of Jesus. It was more enthralling to know that this village had never heard the name of Jesus. Many listened, watched the film, and even decided to follow Jesus after those two days we spent with them. Admi, one of the little girls from the village followed me around all the time while we were there. At the end I asked her why she was following and keeping after me; she responded, "because you are my friend”. Senegalese people are so friendly and loving that I even questioned my own motives of being with them. Do I love these people as much as they are willing to love me? We did not know them, yet they were willing to give everything as an act of service. It made me think of my responsibility as a carrier of the gospel. The good news is that Jesus came to die for our sins and that we do not have to be controlled by them but be free in knowing that we are alive In Christ, and that our old self has died. If I am alive to Jesus and dead to the world, then how am I showing this to my fellow man? Whether I am, or I am not, there needs to be a continuous love flowing out of me wherever I am because God is love. A mission trip does not start and end in Africa; on the contrary, it is a condition of the heart.
I became more aware of this on our last night in Senegal. We had just given away shoes to all 25 of Pastor Gilbert's children when Pastor Gilbert told his children, "We have just been blessed, now let's give them what we have as an offering of gratitude". Pastor Gilbert and his family told us (our team of 10) to kneel down, and when we did the children came to surround us laying their hands on our heads. As Pastor Gilbert started praying so did the children. They were praying in French but we heard the language of eternity: God's Love. There was not a single person whose eyes were dry by the time we were standing again. We had just experienced what Jesus told his disciples "Go and make disciples of all nations..." (Matt 28:16-20) These 25 kids had been discipled, taught, and led to live a life for God. I finish with the quote I put in my first letter:
"When God changes the heart and the spirit, the physical changes also. If you want to meet the needs of the poor in this world, there is no better place to start than by preaching the gospel".
-K.P Yohannan
My time in Africa was not to patch up a hole with an economical need, but to know Jesus and to make him Known.
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