Unnecessary Events vs The Necessary One

The other day I was asked to talk to a group of young girls about my time in Ireland. I learned and did so much there, so I prayed and contemplated what I thought these girls needed to hear. There are a number of good lessons the Lord taught me that I would love to share, but there is one in particular that, if I was going to talk at all about my time there, I believe they all needed to know.

My time overseas was a great training ground. I learned, and struggled, and prayed, and grew, and I am beyond thankful that the Lord chose to give me that opportunity.

But we all need to know that you don't have to go to another country to learn as I have.

I learned how to live in a way that Christ was the center of every moment of my life. Every person I encountered, every moment was spent focused on Christ. That is how it should be here.

You and I can have this sort of relationship with the Lord, one that's blossoming and blooming and growing like crazy. But what needs to take place, I believe, is a heart that is seeking God. One that wants to know Him more. God's word says that if we seek Him we will find Him. That's a promise. The Lord desires to have a relationship with us but is patient in waiting for us to respond to Him.

It has nothing to do with going to any particular location or event (Bible college, church camp, youth group). It has to do with your heart and your willingness to accept Christ and seek Him.

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart (Jer. 29:13).

But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul (Deut. 4:29).

And I particularly like this verse for the last part:

So that they should seek the Lord, in hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us (Acts 17:27 emphasis added). 

A Cold East Wind

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,” (1 Peter 1:6-7).

I heard a story of a man who was a missionary in Africa, where the land was so fertile that anything planted in the earth would grow abundantly. He went home to Ireland for a visit and was amazed at the beauty and delightful fragrance of the roses that grew on the Irish east coast. The missionary decided to take some of those roses and plant them in Africa. They grew and grew, but for some reason held not the wonderful fragrance that they had in Ireland.

When the missionary went back to Ireland he asked why the roses there had such a potent smell, and he got his answer.

It was the cold east wind.

Living in Ireland I can understand what this east wind is like. It comes from the Celtic sea and blows a damp, cold and harsh wind that you have no choice but to brace yourself for.

The roses that grew in Ireland held a pressure that the ones in Africa did not have to endure, and the results were astonishing. They became more vibrant and beautiful, and without that harshness, would never have held those beautiful characteristics.

As believers there are trials and hardships that we sometimes face. There are times I am so burdened with struggles that I even forget the Lord’s presence, but I found this story to be so encouraging. Yes, life can be difficult, but what is the Lord doing with it? He is using these trials to grow us and the result is a life that will be a pleasing aroma to the Lord.

I once walked past a flower shop in Ireland on a cold, windy, rainy day and the smell was unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I wonder, through the difficult circumstances and hurdles I face, is my life a pleasing aroma to the Lord? He is using the pressures we face to purify and mold and shape us. He is doing a work that we cannot see and through the pain, and the struggle, and the trial He is forming a beautiful you.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing,” (James 1:2-4).

Captivity and Blessings

Have you ever stopped and wondered why God let His people be captured by the Egyptians? Sure, there’s sin in the world and we know there is corruption because of that. But God is all powerful, He could have rescued them far earlier than He did, or even prevented the entire ordeal from happening.

I can spot a few reasons why He allowed it, and it comforts me.

1. God wanted to refine and grow them.

Throughout scripture we see the example of God purifying His people through heat and uncomfortable situations. This is not because He is evil. There are many examples of God letting His people, people who have a high calling, go through difficult situations, and it has always resulted in their growth. The example of Joseph during his time in prison, is one example. God used that time to cause him to rely on Him alone and trust Him for His promises.

 “I will bring the one-third through the fire, will refine them as silver is refined, and test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, and I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is my people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God,’” (Zechariah 13:9).

“For You, O God, have tested us; you have refined us as silver is refined… You have caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; but you brought us out to rich fulfillment,” (Psalm 66:10 & 12, emphasis added).

 2. He wanted to unite them.

God uses this pressure to unite them as a nation in a foreign land.

I believe that God wants His children to be united. In fact, Hebrews tells us we should be coming together with other believers.

“And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much more as you see the Day approaching,” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

And even Jesus prays that we will be one.

“I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me,” (John 17:20-21). 

3. He wanted to use the time to reveal Himself to them.

I have noticed that when I am in a difficult situation, and the pressure is on, and it seems too much to bear, all I can do is pray and listen. Often I only pray and don’t sit down long enough to hear the Lord speak. When I am going through something difficult, I want to get into the word and it’s during those times that He has seemed to reveal Himself to me the most.  

I’m sure there is more that God is doing in His people that I cannot see. He is constantly working. It’s my prayer that God will be doing a work in me and you. I hope He will take the pressure we are facing to grow us, refine us, and unite us with other believers and with Him. I pray He will draw us closer to Him and reveal Himself to us.

“Just as the wise sailor can use a head wind to carry him forward by tacking and taking advantage of its impelling force; so it is possible for us in our spiritual life through the victorious grace of God to turn to account the things that seem most unfriendly and unfavorable, and to be able to say continually, ‘The things that were against me have happened to the furtherance of the Gospel,’” (Life More Abundantly).

I Know Enough

There are many of you that may be going to school, perhaps college, and taking some very intellectually draining classes. Some of these classes are difficult and may cause a bit of discouragement.

I know throughout high school I often felt that I wasn't very smart. And it's true. I don't know very much. But as I prayed about going to Bible College last year, the Lord showed me something very important about what I do and don't know and I thought perhaps it may encourage you as it did me.

I wrote this a few months back when I was praying about going to school.

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I knew that I didn't have much.

But I had enough. 

I lost everything and I was over a 1,000 dollars in debt. And really I didn't know very much about the bible. But I knew enough. I knew that Christ died on the cross for my sins and he rose again so that I may have the hope of life. And that's all a girl's got to know. 

But after knowing that and learning more about the God I love, the desire, and even somewhat childish excitement I felt to know him more was very great. 

Some days I felt discouraged to know that I was uneducated and unequipped to lead and pour into His children the way He's called me to. But other days my heart was filled with awe and anticipation as I thought of all the wonders and mysteries of my sovereign God that I have yet to discover. 

There's a big world out there, I had to remind myself. It's filled with God's creation, and His children. He loves His creation but it was His children that He made in His own image. His love for millions of people that I will never have the chance to encounter on this earth is unending. And my desire to encounter as many as possible and make a difference, if even just a small one, is great. 

No, I don't know very much. Not about the world, or about God. Ask me my times tables and I'd have a hard time at it. But as I look at the cross I am reminded of one very important thing. 

I know enough. 

With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. (Psalm 119:10-11 ESV).

The Irish and Honesty

I arrived in Waterford, Ireland just a few days ago and have already learned a very important lesson.

There are a lot of different words and lingos that I am still learning, like what NOT to say and what TO say so I am not rude. There’s also certain people I need to learn to avoid like Gypsies and Travelers who often steal or beg. I still need to learn all the nooks and crannies of this town so I don’t get lost when I’m walking to class or the store.

But most importantly, I think we can all learn a thing or two from the Irish.

The thing with them is that when the Irish get saved here, they get saved. They don’t pretend or put on a façade. They’re honest about their sin and the church doesn’t judge them because they know that only the Holy Spirit can sanctify them.

In America, this isn’t really they case. Nobody is honest about their sin and it’s more hindering than anything. Everyone is fearful of judgment and so we’re not honest and don’t get the help that we may need. Often times we are not even honest with ourselves.

In ways it’s also selfish because we think that we need to have this perfect and good image and we don’t want OUR VERY OWN MISTAKES (which prove we are not good) to ruin that image. We say that our opinion of ourselves is a righteous one. This is very dangerous.

I’ve decided that if I don’t learn another thing while I’m here I will be okay with that. This hypocrisy and dishonesty is something I will choose to fight when I get home. We have the greatest blessing of getting to come to Christ just as we are. Be you. And be honest about who you are. The only opinion that matters anyway is God’s. And only because of Christ have you been made righteous before Him. 

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, (Romans 3:23-24).

 … but where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, (Romans 5:20).

There is therefore no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit, (Romans 8:1)

I Have a Small Announcement

I'M GOING TO IRELAND

Yes, It's true. I'm packing my bags, catching a flight and moving to Ireland for a semester of Bible College.

It's been a crazy year, friends. From the very beginning of 2015 I knew it would be unlike any other year previous. God has called me out into the unknown of another country, and once I realized I was going (even before I was accepted into the school) I knew I had my work cut out for me.

I busied myself with three jobs-yes three jobs- in order to save the funds I needed to make it out there. Even that wasn't enough, but the Lord saw me through it and He is so faithful. The only reason I am able to go is because the Lord is getting me there.

There has been many events in the past year that have made me believe that leaving for school would not even be possible ($ many car troubles, $ dental work, ect), and God has surely grown my faith in Him and I now know that where He has called, He will make a way.

It is my prayer that I will be able to write about my happenings across the pond and share with you what the Lord is teaching me. This past year has left little room for writing but I believe I'm finally coming out of it with new purpose and drive.

If you'd like to email me, it may be the best way to keep in touch:

baileygundry@gmail.com