It seems the theme of this past month can been summed up in the question, "Are you willing to lose anything/everything to follow Christ?" That is a heavy question. Is it not? It's one thing to say it and completely another to do it. What are you willing to lose for Christ sake? Or perhaps the appropriate question is, what are not willing to lose for Christ sake? Would you lose your job, family, friends, health, fortune, reputation, and dreams if it meant following Christ? What value does Christ have in your life? These are all challenging questions I know. When pondering these things in my heart I'm reminded of these Scriptures...
"Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."' -Luke 9:57-62
I do not claim to be wholly surrendered unto the Lord, although that is my hearts desire. I look back and remember telling God, "Lord, here I am. Send me! I'll go anywhere EXCEPT Central/South America." In other words, "Lord I'll follow you anywhere except..." HAHA! Who was I to put a limitation on God? Obviously my God does not work with limitations because we know I now live in Costa Rica (which I love). However I wasn't willing to do something in following God. Therefore the Lord needed to rid me of the stubbornness in my heart. What are you not willing to do, where are you not willing to go, what are you not willing to give, or what are you not willing to take in following Christ? For Jesus limitations did not exist. He simply said, "Follow me." Either you follow Him with your whole life or you don't follow Him at all. Remember a servant cannot have two masters. Give Him your entire life with all the things you've been clinging in your hands. Give them all to Jesus and follow Him. That's what I want to do!
This month I’ve been blessed to spend time with the young ladies in the area. In talking to them I see the daily struggle that is here, as in the States also. There are many who know of God and who love Him; however, very few understand the necessity of a personal relationship with Him. With Catholicism being the primary religion, there are a lot of people who attend church, but very few who ever open the Bible. Those who do have a relationship with the Lord battle between a life with Christ and the world which is ever pulling on their sleeve. My heart was overwhelmed to hear that one girl in particular has taken a stand for Christ. She has been a Christian for some time now, but was living in a backslidden state. In January she decided in her heart that she needed to get right with God. She started coming to our studies, spending time in fellowship with us rather than with her old friends, and she enrolled in our bilingual Acts class. In the past two weeks of class the Lord has been speaking about leaving all and following Him. What are you willing to lose for His sake? Everything? Along with everyone, she was challenged by these words. She had always been embarrassed to share about Jesus. Always afraid of what people might think. This week she decided to take the stand. She told two of her friends, “I’m leaving everything, to live for Jesus. I want all my heart and all my mind for Jesus.” This was her very first time sharing her faith! It’s because of things like this that the Lord has called me here. Our vision is not that we can stay and teach ticos, but that we can teach them how to study the Bible for themselves. We want to see them grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus so that they can share it with others and eventually teach others these things. The Lord is beginning to do this through this 22 year old girl.
A huge THANK YOU! I've been so blessed by you! Your prayers and financial support are very appreciated. Although financial support is something that I need each month, I covet your prayers so much more. My eyes have seen your prayers at work! Please continue to keep the other missionaries and I in your prayers. Pray for many hearts to turn to Jesus and grow deep in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Once again I'm so thankful for your support! Feel free to write me at liv2shine4him@msn.com
In Christ Jesus,
Vanessa Sanchez
"Now it happened as they journeyed on the road, that someone said to Him, "Lord, I will follow You wherever You go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head." Then He said to another, "Follow Me." But he said, "Lord, let me first go and bury my father." Jesus said to him, "Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God." And another also said, "Lord, I will follow You, but let me first go and bid them farewell who are at my house." But Jesus said to him, "No one, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God."' -Luke 9:57-62
I do not claim to be wholly surrendered unto the Lord, although that is my hearts desire. I look back and remember telling God, "Lord, here I am. Send me! I'll go anywhere EXCEPT Central/South America." In other words, "Lord I'll follow you anywhere except..." HAHA! Who was I to put a limitation on God? Obviously my God does not work with limitations because we know I now live in Costa Rica (which I love). However I wasn't willing to do something in following God. Therefore the Lord needed to rid me of the stubbornness in my heart. What are you not willing to do, where are you not willing to go, what are you not willing to give, or what are you not willing to take in following Christ? For Jesus limitations did not exist. He simply said, "Follow me." Either you follow Him with your whole life or you don't follow Him at all. Remember a servant cannot have two masters. Give Him your entire life with all the things you've been clinging in your hands. Give them all to Jesus and follow Him. That's what I want to do!
This month I’ve been blessed to spend time with the young ladies in the area. In talking to them I see the daily struggle that is here, as in the States also. There are many who know of God and who love Him; however, very few understand the necessity of a personal relationship with Him. With Catholicism being the primary religion, there are a lot of people who attend church, but very few who ever open the Bible. Those who do have a relationship with the Lord battle between a life with Christ and the world which is ever pulling on their sleeve. My heart was overwhelmed to hear that one girl in particular has taken a stand for Christ. She has been a Christian for some time now, but was living in a backslidden state. In January she decided in her heart that she needed to get right with God. She started coming to our studies, spending time in fellowship with us rather than with her old friends, and she enrolled in our bilingual Acts class. In the past two weeks of class the Lord has been speaking about leaving all and following Him. What are you willing to lose for His sake? Everything? Along with everyone, she was challenged by these words. She had always been embarrassed to share about Jesus. Always afraid of what people might think. This week she decided to take the stand. She told two of her friends, “I’m leaving everything, to live for Jesus. I want all my heart and all my mind for Jesus.” This was her very first time sharing her faith! It’s because of things like this that the Lord has called me here. Our vision is not that we can stay and teach ticos, but that we can teach them how to study the Bible for themselves. We want to see them grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus so that they can share it with others and eventually teach others these things. The Lord is beginning to do this through this 22 year old girl.
A huge THANK YOU! I've been so blessed by you! Your prayers and financial support are very appreciated. Although financial support is something that I need each month, I covet your prayers so much more. My eyes have seen your prayers at work! Please continue to keep the other missionaries and I in your prayers. Pray for many hearts to turn to Jesus and grow deep in the grace and knowledge of Christ. Once again I'm so thankful for your support! Feel free to write me at liv2shine4him@msn.com
In Christ Jesus,
Vanessa Sanchez
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