True Saving Faith
Is there such a thing as a “Backslidden” or “Lukewarm” Christian?
Matt 7:13-27
“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life and only a few find it.”
2 Cor 13:5
“Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves…”
God doesn’t guarantee heaven to everyone who merely professes faith in Christ, but rather to those whose faith is genuine who will never totally fall away from Christ.
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Separating True Believers from False
True believers have:
1. A deepening appreciation for Christ
2. An increasing disgust for sin
3. A growing desire to obey God
4. An expanding love for others
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Faith without works is dead
James 2:14-26
“What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? Even so, faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. But someone may say, ‘You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.’ You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons believe and shudder. But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up Isaac his son on the altar? You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected; and the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘and Abraham believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness,’ and he was called the friend of God. You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent out by another way? For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
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A person with true saving faith recognizes and professes Christ as LORD
Jesus says, “Follow me”. It is a call to surrender to His Lordship.
The Lordship of Christ is at the heart of true saving faith. Jesus proclaimed a call to discipleship, not just to make a decision or pray a prayer.
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A person with true saving faith strives to be like God and hates sin
“You may have the right questions, the right motive, attitude, and go to the right source, but you may lack a sense of your own sinfulness. You must hate your sin and want to turn away from the things of this life and live for God’s glory. Those who are not ashamed of their sin can’t be saved. It is absurd to suggest that a person can encounter the holy God of scripture and be saved without also coming to grips with the heinousness of sin and consequently longing to turn from it.” – John MacArthur
One may “accept” Jesus and still fall short. Take Judas: He responded positively to Jesus at first and accepted Him, but his faith was not genuine. He did not have a heart of sincere, penitent faith.
The individual who responds positively but not wholeheartedly may not have true saving faith. Christians with true saving faith will falter at times, but when they fall into sin, they will seek cleansing and not stay in that sin.
True salvation occurs when a person is willing to turn from their sin to Christ with a willingness to give Him control of their lives.
A true Christian cannot remain in a lifestyle of sin, because he will feel guilt in his soul. As children of God, we have the nature of God in us, and God hates sin. Therefore, if we are truly His, we will hate sin as well and seek to turn from it.
1 John 3:9
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”
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A person with true saving faith shows a change in lifestyle and an obedience to God
A profession of faith alone without a change in lifestyle is not true saving faith.
1 John 2:4
“Whoever says, ‘I know Him,’ but does not do what He commands is a liar, and the truth is not in that person.”
“Saving faith produces obedience. Disobedience is unbelief.”– John MacArthur
1 John 5:3
“This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome.”
1 John 1:6
“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.”
Ephesians 5:8
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light.”
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Jesus and the young man
Matt 19:16-22
“As Jesus started on His way, a man ran up to Him and fell on his knees before Him. ‘Good Teacher,’ he asked, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ ‘Why do you call me good?’ Jesus answered. ‘No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, do not defraud, honor your father and mother.’ ‘Teacher,’ he declared, ‘all these I have kept since I was a boy.’ Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’ At this the man’s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.”
The young man was not willing to give up his possessions. He did not have true saving faith because:
1. He believed being “good” was good enough. (Moralism)
2. He loved “the stuff” of this life too much. (Idolatry)
Salvation is only for those who are willing to give Christ first place in their lives. You must be willing to give up worldly possessions and pursuits if they are taking the place of God.
Luke 14:33
“… any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.”
James 4:4
“You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred towards God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.”
1 John 2:15-17
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”
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A person with true saving faith has compassion for others
1 John 3:14
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.”
1 John 2:9-11
“He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.”
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A person with true saving faith produces “fruit”
“Professing Christians lacking the fruit of true righteousness will find no biblical basis for assurance of salvation.” – John MacArthur
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The Sower and the Seeds
Matt 13:3-9
“Then He spoke many things to them in parables, saying: ‘Behold, a sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds came and devoured them. Some fell on stony places, where they did not have much earth; and they immediately sprang up because they had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up they were scorched, and because they had no root they withered away. And some fell among thorns, and the thorns sprang up and choked them. But others fell on good ground and yielded a crop: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”
Seeds = the gospel, the Word of God
Sower = anyone who presents the gospel
Soil = the human heart
The problem is not the seeds or the sower, but the condition of the soil.
Wayside – Seeds on the surface, eaten or trampled on. The message did not go from their head to their heart. It represents an unresponsive heart. It is the unpardonable sin, one constantly rejecting the Word every time he hears it.
Stony – Seeds’ roots did not extend enough. The message did not have a foundation. It represents a shallow, emotional heart of a person who gets easily excited and quickly professes a faith, with no true understanding or repentance.
Thorny – Thorns grow up and choke the growing seeds. This is one who lets the influence of the world rob them of true saving faith. It represents a person who primarily pursues career, house, car, hobby, etc instead of God.
Good – Seeds bear fruit. It represents the person who has true saving faith who obeys and produces fruit.
James 1:22
“But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
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Those who do not possess true saving faith are rejected by God
Revelation 3:15-17
“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.”
John 15:1-8
“I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.”
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True and False Prophets
Matt 7:15-20
“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thorn bushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.”
____________________________
True and False Disciples
Matt 7:21-23
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name and in Your name drive out demons and in Your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’”
______________________________
The Wise and Foolish Builders
Matt 7:24-27
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
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Wheat and the Weeds
Matt 13:24-30
“The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. When the wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir, didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where then did the weeds come from?’ ‘An enemy did this,’ he replied. The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No,’ he answered, ‘because while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. Let both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters: First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the wheat and bring it into my barn.’”
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The response of the true believer
Psalms 63:1-5
“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirst for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. I have seen You in the sanctuary and beheld Your power and Your glory. Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You. I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands. My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You.”
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The Will of God
1. That you be saved (1 Tim 2:3-4)
2. That you be Spirit-filled (Eph 5:17-18, Col 3:16)
3. That you be sanctified (1 Thess 4:3)
4. That you be submissive (Jam 4:7)
5. That you suffer (1 Pet 3:17)
6. That you be thankful (1 Thess 5:18)
Ps 37:4
“Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.”
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Barometer for Spiritual Growth by Charles Stanley
This list is not supposed to give you a precise evaluation in order for you to say you’ve “reached maturity”. But rather, it should be a guide by which you assess your own spiritual growth with prayer and meditation.
For each point, ask periodically, “Is this true of me, Lord?”
1. A hunger to know God more
2. A desire to know the truth of the Word
3. An increasing awareness of our own sinfulness
4. A quick response to sin, involving a genuine repentance
6. Understanding trials and temptations as opportunities for growth
7. Viewing service to God as an honor, not a burden
8. Viewing everything –both good and bad – as coming from the Lord
9. Faith to ask God for bigger things
10. Eagerness to share Christ with others
11. Earnest desire to give to the Lord’s work
12. An increasing awareness of God in every area of life
13. The priority of a personal devotional life
Be the person God wants you to be ...
<3 Trish :)
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Should Christians Get Tattoos?
I know that there are plenty of opinions about tattoos.
People ask me all the time, "How can you have a tattoo and be a Christian? Doesn't the Bible talk against tattoos?" And when I went to El Salvador, I not only had those questions asked of me in an argument, but I was also very rudely judged by a member of a church there because of my tattoo.
Needless to say, I answered his questions and hopefully taught him about something he "thought" he knew about.
I told him not only what made common sense, but also what the Bible teaches ...
This is the verse that people usually site when talking against tattoos -
Leviticus 19:28: Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
There are several things to understand about this passage and what it says, and how we as Christians should interpret it and respond to it. It's not a matter of reading it and blindly accepting it without questioning anything about it. It should be taken within context and dissected properly.
The Bible is a literary work, written by God himself...
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work..."
It can be read, studied and understood by those who desire to understand it. It is not a complete mystery, but it must be searched, and the treasures found within it will be worth the search.
Proverbs 2:3-5 .. "Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
So, let's look back at that passage and understand several things, so we can then make an educated decision --
1. What is the context of the verse?
2. Who is the passage talking to?
3. Does the passage apply to us at all?
4. Don't tattoos ruin our "temple"?
5. How do we respond to the passage?
Leviticus 19:28 "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
1. What is the context of the verse?
If you look at the entire chapter, you come to find out that it is talking about setting oneself apart. It lists a series of rules on how to remain "different" from the culture.
It gives other instructions such as:
"When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up."
“Do not mate different kinds of animals."
“Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed."
“Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material."
“Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it."
“Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."
So, it's not just about tattoos but there is a bigger picture.
2. Who is the passage talking to?
It is God's instructions to His people, Israel. He speaks to Moses and tells him what to tell the children of Israel to do so that others in the community would know who they were. It was God's appeal for them to be holy and set apart so that others would know who He was and that they were His. He wanted them to show others that they were against the worshipping of other gods.
Leviticus 19:1 "The Lord spoke to Moses, 'Tell the whole congregation of Israel...'"
In this passage, it is very clear who the intended audience was - the children of Israel and not us today.
3. Does the passage apply to us at all?
Even though it is specifically talking to the children of Israel, it doesn't mean we can't take those same principles and follow them ourselves. In fact there are several instructions in that passage that we can apply to our time and if we follow them, we are pleasing God.
“Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of worship. I am the Lord your God."
“Don’t turn to worthless gods or cast metal idols. Never make any gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God."
“Do not steal."
“Do not lie."
“Do not deceive one another."
“Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD."
“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor."
There is nothing wrong with following any principles of the Bible, if those principles are "perfecting" you and making you more like Jesus. But, some people will take entire passages that God wrote to specific people because of their specific wrong practices and blindly follow them and accuse others of sinning if they do not follow them as well.
These verses can be followed, but again, understanding the passage, it is God talking specifically to the Jews of that day, in order for them to be set apart from their community.
4. Don't tattoos ruin our "temple"?
Some people say that the verse should apply to us regardless because God says our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. They say that a tattoo "destroys" our temple.
Once again, lets look at that concept in the context of the verse where God talks about that..
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
When you look at it in context, God is talking specifically about sexual immorality ruining your temple and not about anything else. However, you can take the concept of "honoring your temple" and apply it to other areas of your life, and act accordingly to do so. For example, things such as exercising, eating healthy, staying away from harmful substances such as drugs, toxins, chemicals and smoke are all considered "honoring your temple". But it is still subjective to each person. Some people can look at their habits of not exercising and eating junk food as no big deal but it "ruins your temple" much more than getting a tattoo ever will. If that is gong to be the argument, that person would have to be the healthiest person in the world before he or she can cast that stone at anyone else.
Romans 2:1 "No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things."
5. How do we respond to the passage?
Jesus Himself said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. All the laws hang on those two. If you are looking at the Bible as a list of do's and don'ts, you're going to miss the point and miss the joy of God's grace.
Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it- Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There are commandments that God has given for our own good, to keep us from harm or to draw us closer to Him, and they apply to everyone, Jew or Gentile, and must be followed or we sin. They are laws and instructions that, if followed, will make us stronger Christians and make us holy, as God intended.
However, each person also gets his or her own convictions on the "gray areas" - those areas that God leaves to our judgment as we pray to Him for leading. For example, some people may feel the need to only wear long skirts to church or to not wear earrings or to go to church on a certain day. However, that is their decision. We should not condemn them for it nor should they condemn us for not doing it.
Also, we can't take passages where God tells Israel to refrain from eating pork and say, "Oh, I cant eat pork then. God doesn't want me to." Now, if you feel the conviction to not do that, don't it. But don't judge someone else because they do not have that same conviction.
Because of Jesus' resurrection, We are under God's grace and with that, there is some freedom from just following a list of rules and regulations. We're not called to be legalistic.
Some people look at it as a line. On one side of the line is following the laws and if you're not following them, then you're on the other side. They feel like as long as they follow these "rules" then they are OK - as long as they don't cross "the line".
But with grace, there is no line. It's a direction. You're either going towards purity through God's grace or you're not. And that direction hangs on those two commandments from Jesus - to love God and to love your neighbor - and your own convictions.
When doing anything, you have to ask yourself these questions: Will this accomplish God's will for my life? Is this glorifying God? Is this allowing me to love my neighbor?
If you ask yourself that, that will encompass not only whatever commandments God has already said but also it will stir in you any convictions that you have on the subject.
If you feel that you want a tattoo, pray about it.
If you ask those questions and have peace about the answers and whatever the tattoo will say , get it.
When I got my tattoo, I prayed about it and knew that whatever I decided to get would glorify God, even in that. So I chose to get a Bible verse written in Chinese letters. 1 John 4:16 ...God is love..
I wanted it to be artistic-looking, say something about who I am, and also show my faith.
Now if you pray about it and don't feel peace, then you shouldn't get it. It's all about your relationship with God, not someone else's. And if that peace is not there, it may be God trying to tell you something, or you getting the tattoo will do more damage in your life than it may in someone else's. And if you ignore that leading, there may be consequences and God may be displeased. Like I mentioned before, everyone's convictions are not the same and there may be things that God calls you to do that He doesn't call someone else to do. For example, He may place someone in your life who is a new Christian and by you getting a tattoo, it may cause that person to question his or her faith. And being able to shepherd that person is much more important than getting the tattoo. If someone in your life feels that you should not get a tattoo, then you should think very strongly before you get one. The Bible is clear on the stronger Christian doing right by the weaker, and that is God's will.
Rom 14:1-23 "... One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."
If there is any doubt in your mind of getting a tattoo, you should not get it. Because in doing so, you will sin because you're not being true to yourself and your own conviction and not acting in faith.
However, if you feel you want a tattoo, I hope my post has helped you to understand what God says about them and you have peace about it.
Feel free to send me a picture of yours!
Live on purpose ..
All for Him,
Trish :)
People ask me all the time, "How can you have a tattoo and be a Christian? Doesn't the Bible talk against tattoos?" And when I went to El Salvador, I not only had those questions asked of me in an argument, but I was also very rudely judged by a member of a church there because of my tattoo.
Needless to say, I answered his questions and hopefully taught him about something he "thought" he knew about.
I told him not only what made common sense, but also what the Bible teaches ...
This is the verse that people usually site when talking against tattoos -
Leviticus 19:28: Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
There are several things to understand about this passage and what it says, and how we as Christians should interpret it and respond to it. It's not a matter of reading it and blindly accepting it without questioning anything about it. It should be taken within context and dissected properly.
The Bible is a literary work, written by God himself...
2 Timothy 3:16 "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work..."
It can be read, studied and understood by those who desire to understand it. It is not a complete mystery, but it must be searched, and the treasures found within it will be worth the search.
Proverbs 2:3-5 .. "Indeed, if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God."
So, let's look back at that passage and understand several things, so we can then make an educated decision --
1. What is the context of the verse?
2. Who is the passage talking to?
3. Does the passage apply to us at all?
4. Don't tattoos ruin our "temple"?
5. How do we respond to the passage?
Leviticus 19:28 "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the LORD."
1. What is the context of the verse?
If you look at the entire chapter, you come to find out that it is talking about setting oneself apart. It lists a series of rules on how to remain "different" from the culture.
It gives other instructions such as:
"When you sacrifice a fellowship offering to the LORD, sacrifice it in such a way that it will be accepted on your behalf. It shall be eaten on the day you sacrifice it or on the next day; anything left over until the third day must be burned up."
“Do not mate different kinds of animals."
“Do not plant your field with two kinds of seed."
“Do not wear clothing woven of two kinds of material."
“Do not eat any meat with the blood still in it."
“Do not cut the hair at the sides of your head or clip off the edges of your beard."
So, it's not just about tattoos but there is a bigger picture.
2. Who is the passage talking to?
It is God's instructions to His people, Israel. He speaks to Moses and tells him what to tell the children of Israel to do so that others in the community would know who they were. It was God's appeal for them to be holy and set apart so that others would know who He was and that they were His. He wanted them to show others that they were against the worshipping of other gods.
Leviticus 19:1 "The Lord spoke to Moses, 'Tell the whole congregation of Israel...'"
In this passage, it is very clear who the intended audience was - the children of Israel and not us today.
3. Does the passage apply to us at all?
Even though it is specifically talking to the children of Israel, it doesn't mean we can't take those same principles and follow them ourselves. In fact there are several instructions in that passage that we can apply to our time and if we follow them, we are pleasing God.
“Respect your mother and father. Observe my days of worship. I am the Lord your God."
“Don’t turn to worthless gods or cast metal idols. Never make any gods for yourselves. I am the Lord your God."
“Do not steal."
“Do not lie."
“Do not deceive one another."
“Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the LORD."
“Do not defraud or rob your neighbor."
There is nothing wrong with following any principles of the Bible, if those principles are "perfecting" you and making you more like Jesus. But, some people will take entire passages that God wrote to specific people because of their specific wrong practices and blindly follow them and accuse others of sinning if they do not follow them as well.
These verses can be followed, but again, understanding the passage, it is God talking specifically to the Jews of that day, in order for them to be set apart from their community.
4. Don't tattoos ruin our "temple"?
Some people say that the verse should apply to us regardless because God says our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. They say that a tattoo "destroys" our temple.
Once again, lets look at that concept in the context of the verse where God talks about that..
1 Corinthians 6:18-20 "Flee from sexual immorality. All other sins a person commits are outside the body, but whoever sins sexually, sins against their own body. Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
When you look at it in context, God is talking specifically about sexual immorality ruining your temple and not about anything else. However, you can take the concept of "honoring your temple" and apply it to other areas of your life, and act accordingly to do so. For example, things such as exercising, eating healthy, staying away from harmful substances such as drugs, toxins, chemicals and smoke are all considered "honoring your temple". But it is still subjective to each person. Some people can look at their habits of not exercising and eating junk food as no big deal but it "ruins your temple" much more than getting a tattoo ever will. If that is gong to be the argument, that person would have to be the healthiest person in the world before he or she can cast that stone at anyone else.
Romans 2:1 "No matter who you are, if you judge anyone, you have no excuse. When you judge another person, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things."
5. How do we respond to the passage?
Jesus Himself said the two greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor. All the laws hang on those two. If you are looking at the Bible as a list of do's and don'ts, you're going to miss the point and miss the joy of God's grace.
Matthew 22:36-40 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law? Jesus replied, ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it- Love your neighbor as yourself. All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”
There are commandments that God has given for our own good, to keep us from harm or to draw us closer to Him, and they apply to everyone, Jew or Gentile, and must be followed or we sin. They are laws and instructions that, if followed, will make us stronger Christians and make us holy, as God intended.
However, each person also gets his or her own convictions on the "gray areas" - those areas that God leaves to our judgment as we pray to Him for leading. For example, some people may feel the need to only wear long skirts to church or to not wear earrings or to go to church on a certain day. However, that is their decision. We should not condemn them for it nor should they condemn us for not doing it.
Also, we can't take passages where God tells Israel to refrain from eating pork and say, "Oh, I cant eat pork then. God doesn't want me to." Now, if you feel the conviction to not do that, don't it. But don't judge someone else because they do not have that same conviction.
Because of Jesus' resurrection, We are under God's grace and with that, there is some freedom from just following a list of rules and regulations. We're not called to be legalistic.
Some people look at it as a line. On one side of the line is following the laws and if you're not following them, then you're on the other side. They feel like as long as they follow these "rules" then they are OK - as long as they don't cross "the line".
But with grace, there is no line. It's a direction. You're either going towards purity through God's grace or you're not. And that direction hangs on those two commandments from Jesus - to love God and to love your neighbor - and your own convictions.
When doing anything, you have to ask yourself these questions: Will this accomplish God's will for my life? Is this glorifying God? Is this allowing me to love my neighbor?
If you ask yourself that, that will encompass not only whatever commandments God has already said but also it will stir in you any convictions that you have on the subject.
If you feel that you want a tattoo, pray about it.
If you ask those questions and have peace about the answers and whatever the tattoo will say , get it.
When I got my tattoo, I prayed about it and knew that whatever I decided to get would glorify God, even in that. So I chose to get a Bible verse written in Chinese letters. 1 John 4:16 ...God is love..
I wanted it to be artistic-looking, say something about who I am, and also show my faith. Now if you pray about it and don't feel peace, then you shouldn't get it. It's all about your relationship with God, not someone else's. And if that peace is not there, it may be God trying to tell you something, or you getting the tattoo will do more damage in your life than it may in someone else's. And if you ignore that leading, there may be consequences and God may be displeased. Like I mentioned before, everyone's convictions are not the same and there may be things that God calls you to do that He doesn't call someone else to do. For example, He may place someone in your life who is a new Christian and by you getting a tattoo, it may cause that person to question his or her faith. And being able to shepherd that person is much more important than getting the tattoo. If someone in your life feels that you should not get a tattoo, then you should think very strongly before you get one. The Bible is clear on the stronger Christian doing right by the weaker, and that is God's will.
Rom 14:1-23 "... One person’s faith allows them to eat anything, but another, whose faith is weak, eats only vegetables. The one who eats everything must not treat with contempt the one who does not, and the one who does not eat everything must not judge the one who does, for God has accepted them. Who are you to judge someone else’s servant? To their own master, servants stand or fall. And they will stand, for the Lord is able to make them stand. One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind. Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God. For none of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone. If we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord. So, whether we live or die, we belong to the Lord. For this very reason, Christ died and returned to life so that he might be the Lord of both the dead and the living. You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: ‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’ So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, but it is wrong for a person to eat anything that causes someone else to stumble. It is better not to eat meat or drink wine or to do anything else that will cause your brother or sister to fall. So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the one who does not condemn himself by what he approves. But whoever has doubts is condemned if they eat, because their eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin."
If there is any doubt in your mind of getting a tattoo, you should not get it. Because in doing so, you will sin because you're not being true to yourself and your own conviction and not acting in faith.
However, if you feel you want a tattoo, I hope my post has helped you to understand what God says about them and you have peace about it.
Feel free to send me a picture of yours!
Live on purpose ..
All for Him,
Trish :)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Trip to El Salvador
Well, I’m back from my mission trip to El Salvador and it was great!
I’ve always wanted to go on a medical mission trip
to El Salvador, but even with my current RN license, I almost passed this trip up. It wasn’t until almost a month before the trip that I really felt God lead me to sign up. I said to Him that if He made the way for me to go, then I would make myself available, and I left it all up to Him. And, within a matter of weeks, I was able to get the time off from my job, raise all of the money and prepare for the trip. It was overwhelming and rushed, but He actually did it. And I thought, ok God, You must really want me to go. So, I went, and, I’m really glad I did.
God did so many amazing things through us and we built some great friendships with the people down there.
We were able to reach so many people through the medical clinics and outreach programs.
We went not only to administer medical aid, but to deliver much needed medical supplies, clothing, shoes and children’s supplies. We were able to conduct medical clinics in various cities throughout San Salvador where we took blood pressures, did blood glucose testing and with the help of a local doctor, prescribed numerous medications. We were also able to refer certain critical patients to the clinic for follow up with a doctor there in order to treat more acute diagnoses. We saw some fairly healthy patients with only a few minor issues to some very serious cases. Some ailments we were able to resolve on the spot and some we had to refer to the doctor, but I’m glad that we were able to at least show these people the love of God and help them to understand their symptoms.
My most memorable patient was a lady named Maria. She told me her story and I almost cried, but not sad tears… tears of joy for her and her family. She told me a story of how 30 years ago, her husband tried to kill her and her children. She told me how one night, he put a knife to her throat and she cried out to Jesus to save her. Somehow, the knife flew from his hand, and she had no idea how it happened. She said from that night on, she gave her life to God because she knew that He was the One who saved her and who was looking out for her. Even more, her eldest child told her she had to flee from the area for her safety and to have faith that all her children would be safe and that one day they would all find her again. She told me how now,30 years later, all her children are grown a
nd with their own families and she has just reunited with all but one. And this all happened within the past month! The last one will be meeting with them this month. It was such a sad but beautiful story! It was sad because she had to be separated from her children for so long but how wonderful that they all looked for her and found her! Also, she said her estranged husband was killed a few years ago because of his dealings with a bad crowd. She was so excited to have her children back and her faith in God was so great. She always knew that God was in control and that everything would work out according to His will. “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28.
We were also able to minister to the children in the different cities. We made bracelets with them, blew bubbles, made balloon animal
s, gave out candy, toys and clothes. We played soccer with them and just “hung out”. They loved all of it! It’s amazing how something so small as a sticker can light up a Salvadorian child’s face. And they all wanted my silly bands! There were children there so poor that they didn’t even have their own clothes. Just a t-shirt was such a blessing to them. Some of their parents barely make enough money to provide meals for them. For some, the one meal that a local pastor gives them daily is the only meal they even receive. It was nice to be able to bless them, even just a little.
All in all, we did exactly what we went to do, even with a few minor hiccups. God is good, and I’m glad I was available for Him to use! :)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
My Trip to Argentina AKA My Week as a Popsicle
All in all, the trip was awesome!! Despite my toes freezing off ... (ok, not really, but ALMOST!) Yes, it was THAT cold… at least to this native Jamaican/Floridian. Everyone in Argentina looked at me, in my six layers of clothing, like I was crazy; but nonetheless, I’m all about not getting hypothermia. :) ..
My team was -- Corey (team leader), Abiel, Carlos, Jenny, Sarah and Alex. It was a great team and we had lots of fun!
I gotta give a shout-out to my team leader Corey, b/c despite frustration from some of us on the 1st few days, he really kept his cool and focused on our mission - to reach the ppl of Argentina -- and he tried his best to help us make the most of it. Thanks Corey!! You know I luv ya! You're like my big (much much older) brother! ;)
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So, would I go back to Argentina?? … Most definitely!! But I will be bringing my long underwear for sure!
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Tricia’s Log…
Day 1…The Eagle has Landed!! ..
Here we are on our first day in Buenos Aires, Argentina! Our very loooong flight - about 10 hours -- got in around 7am and our first night will be spent at a hotel. Right now, we’re just waiting in the lobby of the hotel for the check-in hour to come. It’s about 8am and unfortunately check-in isn’t until 10:30… beautiful.. Time for a nap….
Great, they let us check in early, so Sarah and I finally get to go up to our room (332) to rest. We have a few hours to kill so we get a chance to actually sleep for a while. I’m so tired and it already feels like we’ve been here a few days!
After the nap, we all meet up for lunch and meet Eduardo, who is our partner pastor down here in Argentina. He and his wife, Gloria, are our mission partners down here. After lunch, we all go to the stadium, where we’re setting up for Abiel’s concert tonight at 6pm.
Today was pretty lax. We just set up and then it was just a lot of waiting around time, freezing our butts off – the normal temperature here is around 20-30 degrees. So after we set up, we were fellowshipping with some of the other Argentina natives and students that attend the church. We were also able to meet some of the leaders and pastors.
Argentina is pretty nice. Some parts of it look very much like America. It also reminds me a little of Bolivia, except a little cleaner, a lot less “colorful” as far as building colors and signs, and there are not as many people walking the streets. The people also look very different. Until they open their mouths and start talking Spanish, you would really think they were Caucasian American.
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Day 2…Knock Knock! …
Today, we got to hang out with some students from Word of Life (Palabra de Vida), did some evangelizing, and I was able to share my testimony at one of the churches.
In the morning, our group split up into 3 separate groups and went to 3 different churches. Corey, Alex and I went to Matthias’s (Eduardo and Gloria’s son) home and church in San Justo. First, we went to Matthias’s house and met with the students, where I tried my first “Community Tea Drinking”. Basically, they have a cup filled with tea leaves, where they pour water into and sip on it through a long skinny spout. Then they pass it around to each person in the circle until it’s all gone. Sound familiar? Exactly… But I promise, it was tea! It’s actually a very cool way to chill and get to know everyone. I met Patricia who was the sweetest girl. She knew a little English, so we spent the time teaching each other.
Next, we met at the house of a man who had very recently become a Christian.
He was known around town as being a very bad person and, after someone from the church shared the gospel with him, he completely changed! It was pretty awesome to hear about how he was before knowing Christ and to see him now. He’s such a testimony to the people in his neighborhood now about how the power of God can work in someone’s life. 
He’s a great guy, and he really welcomed us into his home. He also had the most amazing bird… He taught this bird to dance (bailar) and to attack anyone who tries to attack him! … So, we ended up having lunch there and then Alex, Jonathan, Leo and I went out into the neighborhood to share the gospel with some of the people. So we ventured out, knocking on doors… well… not really knocking though. See, in Argentina, it’s considered rude to go up to someone’s door and knock. Essentially, you are trespassing on their property so, instead of knocking, you have to stand about 1 foot away from their gate and clap your hands together… Yes. Surprisingly enough, it’s very effective! The people would actually come outside and talk to us! So we did that to a few doors. A lot of people were most likely sleeping though (“Siesta” in Argentina is from around 12noon till 2pm), but we were still able to talk to a few people, and 3 ppl accepted Christ!
The first time going out was very … interesting, because Jonathan and Leo knew very little English and Alex and I knew very little of the dialect Spanish that they spoke. So needless to say, full-sentence conversation was a rare occasion that day. One time, we decided to try to translate for each other and … well… you can figure out how THAT went. The next time, however, we decided to use those brain cells of ours and brought a translator (Yanel) with us. So sharing and talking between all of us was possible. Yanel is Eduardo and Gloria’s daughter.
Later that night, we went to Matthias’s church, where we had service.
Corey gave the message and Alex and I shared our testimonies to the congregation. Afterwards, we hung out and talked with some of the people there and then went back to Matthias’s house. There, Corey, Alex and I had an awesome time of worship! We sat on the floor and sang while Alex played his guitar. Being there with everyone and just having a spectacular day of evangelizing and fellowshipping made us feel so close to God in that moment. It felt like He was right there sitting next to us!
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Day 3… Mission “Vacation”?? ..
Today, with how the day went, we girls started to feel a little like we were on a Mission “Vacation” rather than a Mission Trip, and we were kind of frustrated about it.
We went to David’s church today, and I had originally prepared a PowerPoint on Reach Beyonds that I was going to teach along with Carlos and his presentation on Small Groups. I was fully ready to do it, until Corey found out that it really wouldn’t be “right” for a woman to teach in this conference of 30 or so male pastors. So, I had to warm the bench, which I wasn’t too happy about. I got over it, but the day still ended up dragging on. Since all the men were downstairs in the conference, all the girls were confined to a room upstairs, with no heat, coming down only for maybe a cup of water and a crust of bread all night….. Ok ok.. maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but we did feel very awkward and “unwanted”.
Not that we were “forced” to stay up there, but it’s just that every time we decided to venture downstairs, we were met with stares and the overwhelming feeling that we should be wearing head coverings and staring at the floor as we spoke. I’m sure it might have been all in our heads, but the vibe we got was definitely “boys only”. So as we spent our day walking the streets of Argentina, inviting people to the church and then playing cards upstairs the rest of the night, we plotted our next move. We decided that we would voice our concerns in hopes that we would not have any more days like today! So we talked with Corey and Carlos and devised a plan of how the girls can be of better use and how we can start making the most of this trip. We wanted to be able to do some labor, maybe help with the construction work and cleaning of the churches, or even showing some of the church members how to “reach beyond”. So, I guess we’ll see what tomorrow brings.
Tonight was also our first night in our host homes. Sarah and I are staying with Youth Pastor Santiago and his wife, Daiana. They speak NO English and even worse, the Spanish that they speak is a completely different dialect from the Spanish I know. So, as they were speaking to me, I felt like a mentally-challenged illiterate. It was pretty awful to watch. And, Sarah and I racked our brains trying to figure out how we would tell them about my milk allergy, since they would be cooking for us. We settled on Sarah just pointing to the cheese then to me, grabbing her neck and making an “I’m dying” face… But luckily they understood, “No leche”. .. Whew!
The house was very nice and quaint and they kept it very clean. But, the shower situation was very different. Instead of an actual working shower, they had some sort of box at the top that was connected to wires. They had to fill it with water right before taking a shower. The electrical wires heated the water to a temperature that I considered not suitable for normal, human non-leather skin.
Needless to say, after that experience in the shower, Sarah and I tried to figure out how to give up showers for the next week. I mean, how smelly is TOO smelly, anyway?? Well, we were able to speak in code somehow that the water was too hot and she lowered the temperature to a tepid trickle. Lovely. So, we went from burning flesh to hypothermia, and the water was now coming out as a light drizzle. I had to constantly twirl around in the shower just to wet my entire body. And, by the time I got out, it was about 5 degrees cooler. Perfect. Hey, we wanted a Mission Trip!! Woo hoo! Be careful what you wish for!__________________________________________________
Day 4… Girls Rule… Boys Drool :P ..
Today was a much better day! After much complaining from the girls about how little we have to do, we convinced them to let us do something. So today was our “Reach Beyond” day! Yay! A “Reach Beyond” is basically an act of kindness shown to someone else in order to display the love of God in a tangible way. It’s basically saying to someone, “God loves you and so do we!”
We were originally scheduled to go door-to-door, but ended up doing some reach beyonds instead and really showing the church members what ‘showing the love of God’ looks like. We first went to a local hospital and handed out free cups of coffee to the people that were in the waiting room.
We came prepared with cups, coffee pots, sugar, stirrers and even cookies. They were so blown away that it was actually free (gratis) and that we were doing this for them. It was great, and they really appreciated it.Some of the church members enjoyed it, but I don’t think they fully grasped the reasoning behind it. I think it’s going to take some time before they really grasp what it means to show God’s love in a non-invasive way. I really feel that God has called us here at this time to show them. Not really to “duplicate” Christ Fellowship in Argentina and teach them “our way or the highway” but really to show them what it is to have balance – to evangelize, to invest, to invite and to disciple. And being able to do the reach beyond with them was important, because we were able to show them first-hand what it’s like. All in all, it was awesome!
Later, Eduardo and Matthias were able to find a school that was in need of some painting. So, we went and were able to strip the paint, clean the walls and repaint them.
Also, in 2 days, I’ll be doing a mural on one of the walls!! I was so excited when they told me I could do that. I felt like God was really using me. I really started to feel bad at the beginning of the week b/c, even though I felt a compelling urge to come on this trip, with how things went the day before, I felt like I was wrong about my feeling. I became discouraged and really just felt like going home. But with today and doing the reach beyonds and the possibility of painting, I’m really feeling God’s tug on my heart again and I’m beginning to feel like God is really going to work through me on this trip… It’s great! Thank God for girls and their nagging! Woo hoo!!
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Day 5… Clean Up ..
Today was our clean-up day. We went to Jorge’s church and saw that it was… well… not as clean as it could be, so we decided to help them to beautify it a little more.
So, we separated bricks, laid tile, swept, mopped, picked up 7 bags of trash off the lawn and tried to make it look as inviting as possible. Jorge and his wife were so grateful and told us later how we were such an example to them of what it meant to serve. They said they never saw anyone work so hard and all for God and His people. In the afternoon, we all met for lunch at a church member’s house, and our group ended up talking with each other about how the trip has been going and what we would like to see changed. I pretty much spoke to Corey about my vision I saw for the church, in getting more of a balance and talking to the members about investing and inviting. I really felt strongly that people listen more to their friends and family. I felt that just constantly going up to complete strangers and sharing the gospel was not the only way or even the most effective way of inviting people into a loving relationship with Christ. It’s about investing, serving and living life together. After that, people usually become more open to hearing what you have to say and trusting that you have their best interest at heart. I shared that also with David, after he asked us to tell him our expectations of this trip. I wanted our testimony to be that we came to Argentina to serve the people and to show the love of Christ, not that “Americans just came to tell us a message”… As important as that “message” is, there needs to be a balance between serving and evangelism.
At night, we went back to Jorge’s church and had a worship service and message. We all shared our testimonies and Corey gave the message. Afterwards, we stayed and fellowshipped with the people of the church.
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Day 6… Painting, Anyone? ..
Today, the guys went back to Jorge’s church and were able to paint a little bit of the inside.
I was able to do a mural!
What a blessing. I never thought I would end up doing my passion down in South America! So, on one of the walls, I painted a tree with a tree house and two kids. Sarah and some of the people from the church were able to stay and help me to finish the mural on time.
They really liked the work we did for them and just could not understand WHY someone would want to do this for free. We told them that we just wanted to show God’s love to them, and the principal was so blown away by it that she wanted to know more about the church and the Bible! Sweet!After I finished the mural, we all met up again at the church for service at 7pm. It was also our “Good-bye” day where we got to see mostly everyone for the last time, and they gave us all a little gift and said thank you for everything.
There was also a huge bonfire out back that had a flame after my own heart! It was so warm, I almost melted – in a good, Miami-sun sort of way! Afterwards, we hopped on the bus, back to our host home. This night was a really good night though, b/c we were actually able to say more than 3 sentences to Santi and Daiana!
Nico, one of the former students from Palabra de Vida, had dinner with us, and he knew enough English to translate for us. So, we talked about cartoons, our favorite shows, stuff we like to do and just laughed about how we’ve finally communicated here on our last day! We finally got to find out a little more about them, so it was pretty special. Nico was a nice little gift from God.
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Now, I can’t go all the way to a foreign country and not make a fool of myself….
Tonight was also the backdrop for my most embarrassing moment … in Argentina, anyway! … Ready for it??
Well, we were sitting down to dinner in our normal fashion, talking and having a great time. Then, Nico had to leave, so they stood up to walk him to the door. Well, of course I just couldn’t let Nico leave without giving him a hug good-bye. It was the last time I would ever see him. So I stand up and “it” happened…. Well, it’ll actually be a little funnier if you knew a little background…
I wear my pajama shirt with my pajama pants that are way too big for me (they actually used to be my dad’s) … So throughout the week, I would constantly be tugging on them to make sure they were snuggly around my waist. Normally, I can feel when they’re falling and I’m able to pull them up. However…. with beautiful Argentina and it’s Eskimo weather, I needed to wear layers of stockings and socks every night to bed to keep my legs from freezing. So, it’s very difficult to feel the location of my pants on the outside. This is where the story picks up….
So, as I hug Nico good-bye and proceed to tell him good luck with everything and it was nice meeting him (whole nine yards), he starts to walk away and I slowly back up… only to see my cursed pajama pants square on the floor, at my feet! How long were they there?? … The world may never know! All I remember from that point on, was falling back into my chair and Sarah bursting out laughing at me. And we just start cracking up!! Daiana is looking at us both like crazy people of course because our translator is gone, so we’re just laughing hysterically! Well, we found a way to tell her and now she’s cracking up at me! Then when Santi walked in, she couldn’t help sharing the wealth! Classic! What night wouldn’t be complete without a little pants-dropping humor, eh? I don’t know when I’ve laughed so hard.
Coincidentally, Sarah and I had just traded embarrassing stories that SAME morning! … Well, this one is definitely going in the book!
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Day 7… Is There a Doctor in the House? ..
Well, my last day in Argentina. I’m a little sad to leave… It was cool to meet everyone and really get to know them and see how they live. It’s so different from us, and it was nice to have a change. Even though I’ll miss everyone, I am a little happy to be going home to my family and friends.
We had a good last morning with Santi and Daiana. She made some awesome brownies (milk-free just for me!) and we took some pics together. It was nice. I’m gonna miss them too.
Well, we were able to go to Palabra de Vida and tour the campus.
It is an organization that teaches students from all over the world the Bible and how to share their faith. It also has a Spanish program where students can learn the language no matter what other language they speak. I got to see Joyce (a student from Portugal) and Jonathan (the student from Chile that we went evangelizing with) for the last time. We were also able to stop by Eduardo and Gloria’s house and see them. Then we all went out to lunch, when Carlos got a little sick and was not able to eat. Then after that, came the projectile vomiting…. ok, maybe just regular vomiting…Pretty much, Abiel, Corey and Carlos all got pretty sick today. They were all throwing up, having stomach problems and just feeling pretty miserable the whole day. We ended up staying in a hotel on our "free" day.
As soon as we got there, they got much worse and were in their hotel rooms the rest of the night. Abiel wasn’t as sick so he ended up staying downstairs with us for a little, and going out to get something to eat with us. But earlier the next morning, he was throwing up a little. A doctor ended up coming to the hotel and giving Corey and Carlos shots and prescription meds. That hotel was another blessing from God, because it just so happened that they had insurance set aside just in case any guests became ill at the hotel. So, the doctor’s visit, the shot and the meds were all covered by the hotel! It was amazing! Well, we ended up going to bed around 1am… 3 hours before we needed to get up for our ride to the airport!
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Day 8… Don’t Cry for Us Argentina!! ..
4am – time to get up for the taxi to take us to the airport. Corey, Carlos and Abiel are still feeling pretty bad. So the girls helped packing the taxi with all the luggage and were able to push the luggage carts through the terminal. I felt really bad for the guys. They were feeling pretty miserable and they looked horrible (no offense, guys ). But it was great when we finally got on the plane, finally heading home! … 10 hours later, here I am, in my beautiful 100 degree weather! Crazy drivers, flip flops, tank tops, warm showers, automatic faucets, ability to flush toilet paper --- I missed you, Miami!
But, don’t cry for me, Argentina! I’ll be back! :)
~ Trish :)
Thursday, July 9, 2009
My Tribute to Michael Jackson...
A lot of people have their opinions of Michael Jackson...
How would you describe him?
Talented, Disturbed, Freak, Pedophile, Weird, Kind, Caring, Soft....?
He could have been all of those things, but most people seem to forget that one important description, the one that sums it all up.. the simple one..
... Person...
No matter what you may think of Michael based on what he had or had not done, he was a person. He was someone for whom Christ died. And no matter what people have called him over the years, God loved him, and my heart went out to Michael....
I grew up with him as an ever-present sound in my house. My brothers and sister loved his music and a year never went by without news of Michael - a new single, a new dance move or just some piece of information about him... Michael has always been a part of my life...
And although I "grew up with him" so to speak, somehow I never had the utmost, overwhelming reverence that so many people had, though I loved him and his music. I looked at him as a talented singer, who had a gift like no other. I know some people practically worshiped him for his innovation in the music and video world, but I recognized him as a person, to be respected and loved, but not 'worshiped'.
So, why pay a tribute to this 'person'?
Because, Michael really was a great person, and I cried bitterly when he died, because, despite the reverence, despite the fame, despite the unbelievable talent he had, despite the "worship" he received so much, he was lonely and deeply hurting, and my heart ached for him...
Each of us has a God-shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ. And while no one can judge where someone is in his/her life, the evidence of peace and contentment can be seen (or not seen)...
It was evident that Michael did not have that peace.
He talked about that.. His family admitted that...
And ultimately the world saw it.
But Michael was a great person...
And for as long as I've known him, I wanted so badly for him to have that peace. I saw this man, so hounded, so chased, so ridiculed and alone. He fought to be left alone, to have a regular life while still crying for attention..
I looked at him as a child that never grew up... a person who so desperately wanted to feel true love and looked for it in the only place he knew had it sincerely and pure -- a child's heart.. He surrounded himself with children, not for the reasons that some say, but because he was missing something that he had lost and was trying so desperately to find again... his childhood.
No matter what people may say, Michael had a genuine heart.. He loved people, and he was kind. He wanted to make a difference in people's lives and it was obvious that he did.
But, what was the cost?
He sacrificed his own happiness for the sake of others, and whereas some might call that honorable and noble, the tragedy lies in the fact that if he did not have God in his life, it would all have been done in vain.
My heart goes out to Michael...
Because, he had everything... and, essentially, nothing at all...
So, I'm paying this tribute to Michael today, not as a man to be worshiped or ridiculed, but as a person, a great person... He was by no means perfect or righteous, but I hope he will still remain in our hearts, not as the freak, but the talented, soft-spoken, caring person that he tried desperately to be.
May he rest in peace... I pray that he found God...and, by God's grace, my hope is that I will see him in Heaven one day...
~Trish
How would you describe him?
Talented, Disturbed, Freak, Pedophile, Weird, Kind, Caring, Soft....?
He could have been all of those things, but most people seem to forget that one important description, the one that sums it all up.. the simple one..
... Person...
No matter what you may think of Michael based on what he had or had not done, he was a person. He was someone for whom Christ died. And no matter what people have called him over the years, God loved him, and my heart went out to Michael....
I grew up with him as an ever-present sound in my house. My brothers and sister loved his music and a year never went by without news of Michael - a new single, a new dance move or just some piece of information about him... Michael has always been a part of my life...
And although I "grew up with him" so to speak, somehow I never had the utmost, overwhelming reverence that so many people had, though I loved him and his music. I looked at him as a talented singer, who had a gift like no other. I know some people practically worshiped him for his innovation in the music and video world, but I recognized him as a person, to be respected and loved, but not 'worshiped'.
So, why pay a tribute to this 'person'?
Because, Michael really was a great person, and I cried bitterly when he died, because, despite the reverence, despite the fame, despite the unbelievable talent he had, despite the "worship" he received so much, he was lonely and deeply hurting, and my heart ached for him...
Each of us has a God-shaped hole in our hearts that can only be filled by the love and saving grace of Jesus Christ. And while no one can judge where someone is in his/her life, the evidence of peace and contentment can be seen (or not seen)...
It was evident that Michael did not have that peace.
He talked about that.. His family admitted that...
And ultimately the world saw it.
But Michael was a great person...
And for as long as I've known him, I wanted so badly for him to have that peace. I saw this man, so hounded, so chased, so ridiculed and alone. He fought to be left alone, to have a regular life while still crying for attention..
I looked at him as a child that never grew up... a person who so desperately wanted to feel true love and looked for it in the only place he knew had it sincerely and pure -- a child's heart.. He surrounded himself with children, not for the reasons that some say, but because he was missing something that he had lost and was trying so desperately to find again... his childhood.
No matter what people may say, Michael had a genuine heart.. He loved people, and he was kind. He wanted to make a difference in people's lives and it was obvious that he did.
But, what was the cost?
He sacrificed his own happiness for the sake of others, and whereas some might call that honorable and noble, the tragedy lies in the fact that if he did not have God in his life, it would all have been done in vain.
My heart goes out to Michael...
Because, he had everything... and, essentially, nothing at all...
So, I'm paying this tribute to Michael today, not as a man to be worshiped or ridiculed, but as a person, a great person... He was by no means perfect or righteous, but I hope he will still remain in our hearts, not as the freak, but the talented, soft-spoken, caring person that he tried desperately to be.
May he rest in peace... I pray that he found God...and, by God's grace, my hope is that I will see him in Heaven one day...
~Trish
Friday, July 3, 2009
Kevin
Who would I say has had the greatest impact on my life... other than my parents of course?
Well, I think my sister, Cheryl and brother, Steve, have both helped me tremendously through the years, guiding me and giving me great advice, but when I think of everyone who's had a hand in molding my character and overall personality, no one's contributed to who am I today more than my brother, Kevin.
Although he's a full year older than me, I’ve always called him my “twin”. He and I have so much in common, and he understands me more than anyone (Well, him and Teresa are tied ;). His character is very rare to find in this world nowadays. He’s fair, intelligent, loyal, charismatic, and just a great person overall.
(And, he's not even PAYING me to say this! Wow! :D)
He's just a great person, and his honesty and integrity is admirable, as he sets goals for himself and achieves them, all the while maintaining a respectful and humble personality. No matter what, I can always talk to him, and he’s given me countless words of wisdom through the years, directing me on my path. He always seems to have the right answer, and he's always been my voice of reason when times were difficult.
When we were younger, I felt pretty jealous of him, because he never really got in any real trouble (and I ALWAYS did, for sure!) So, I saw him as this perfect lil angel and I was... well.. you know, the opposite! But, as I've grown, I've come to respect him a lot more. He's always kept his head on straight and made good choices. I can't be jealous of that. Instead, I'm glad that I have him as a great role model.
He has kept his baby sister out of many tight squeezes, and he is always there when I need a listening ear. I love him and no matter where I go in life, he’ll always be my best friend! ..
Awwwww! I KNOW!
Love you, big bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
~Trish :)
Well, I think my sister, Cheryl and brother, Steve, have both helped me tremendously through the years, guiding me and giving me great advice, but when I think of everyone who's had a hand in molding my character and overall personality, no one's contributed to who am I today more than my brother, Kevin.
Although he's a full year older than me, I’ve always called him my “twin”. He and I have so much in common, and he understands me more than anyone (Well, him and Teresa are tied ;). His character is very rare to find in this world nowadays. He’s fair, intelligent, loyal, charismatic, and just a great person overall.
(And, he's not even PAYING me to say this! Wow! :D)
He's just a great person, and his honesty and integrity is admirable, as he sets goals for himself and achieves them, all the while maintaining a respectful and humble personality. No matter what, I can always talk to him, and he’s given me countless words of wisdom through the years, directing me on my path. He always seems to have the right answer, and he's always been my voice of reason when times were difficult.
When we were younger, I felt pretty jealous of him, because he never really got in any real trouble (and I ALWAYS did, for sure!) So, I saw him as this perfect lil angel and I was... well.. you know, the opposite! But, as I've grown, I've come to respect him a lot more. He's always kept his head on straight and made good choices. I can't be jealous of that. Instead, I'm glad that I have him as a great role model.
He has kept his baby sister out of many tight squeezes, and he is always there when I need a listening ear. I love him and no matter where I go in life, he’ll always be my best friend! ..
Awwwww! I KNOW!
Love you, big bro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
~Trish :)
My Top 10
There are so many areas of my life that I desire to develop, and each area contributes to some aspect of my personality. I want to always be open to new opportunities and constantly pursue various interests, always striving to be versatile and do multiple things that I find interesting. Here is my top 10 things that I want to do with my life...
Maybe my list is a little boring, but... it's mine :)
________________________________________________________
10. Have a big family
9. Purchase, own and operate a bed and breakfast
8. Own several investment homes and businesses around the country
7. Do missionary work around the world, ministering to people
6. Travel the world – Italy, Spain, France, England, Scotland, Australia, and many other countries
5. Maintain an effective exercise program and a healthy eating plan
4. Become financially stable and debt-free
3. Develop my mural business and continue to pursue and improve on my artwork
2. Achieve training and experience in my nursing career, constantly expanding my knowledge
1. Accomplish my purpose in life (why I was born – whatever God’s will is for my life) - which is probably somewhere in 2-10! :)
~Trish :)
Nursing!!
Well, I'm almost done with my 4th semester in school (2nd in my actual Nursing program), and I'm soooo ready for December! It's been a crazy year, with all the tests, papers and clinical hours. But one more semester!!! Last week, I had 6 very crucial tests and I'm waiting for my results while trying to stay positive. If I don't pass these, I will not be able to continue with this program this year, which would set me back 1 year. So keep me in your thoughts and prayers! I would really like to continue...
I never thought I would ever be in nursing school actually.. I would undoubtedly burst out laughing if anyone asked me if I wanted to be a nurse! I always saw my mom doing it and while I thought she was awesome at it, I couldn't help but think, "I don't want to be stuck in a hospital all day wiping someone's butt for a living." .. At least, as a candystriper, that's how I saw it. It was nothing more to me than sponge-bathing and butt-wiping.. and of course the occasional site of blood! No thanks! But since my water-jug-filling days as a hospital volunteer, I guess I've come to respect nursing more and see nurses as much more...
I chose nursing because I want to make a difference in people's lives. "Yea yea, cliche much?" you must be saying, but it's really true! I feel that one of the most important things you can achieve is impacting someone else's life in a positive way.
I remember one time, I was with one of my patients and I was new to the hospital so one of the assistants was helping me. And she was completely used to working there so she was very mechanical about it. She just treated my patient like "a job".. "#12 of 39" or something.. And she was so rough with her, treating her so badly, and I could just see it on my patient's face. She didn't speak any English so I just looked at her, smiled and tried to calm her by rubbing her head and her arms. Well, before I left, this patient looked up at me, smiled and then kissed my hand, as if to say, "Thank you," ... That made such an impact on me. It's amazing how people can tell when you actually care, and they can tell when you really look at them as a person. I'll never forget that.
Nursing is so progressive and such an opportunity to directly show care and concern for others. There are not many other careers in which you can teach someone, counsel someone, treat his/her ailments and be a friend. It's diverse, versatile and constantly expanding with new possibilities. How can I do anything else?
~Trish :)
I never thought I would ever be in nursing school actually.. I would undoubtedly burst out laughing if anyone asked me if I wanted to be a nurse! I always saw my mom doing it and while I thought she was awesome at it, I couldn't help but think, "I don't want to be stuck in a hospital all day wiping someone's butt for a living." .. At least, as a candystriper, that's how I saw it. It was nothing more to me than sponge-bathing and butt-wiping.. and of course the occasional site of blood! No thanks! But since my water-jug-filling days as a hospital volunteer, I guess I've come to respect nursing more and see nurses as much more...
I chose nursing because I want to make a difference in people's lives. "Yea yea, cliche much?" you must be saying, but it's really true! I feel that one of the most important things you can achieve is impacting someone else's life in a positive way.
I remember one time, I was with one of my patients and I was new to the hospital so one of the assistants was helping me. And she was completely used to working there so she was very mechanical about it. She just treated my patient like "a job".. "#12 of 39" or something.. And she was so rough with her, treating her so badly, and I could just see it on my patient's face. She didn't speak any English so I just looked at her, smiled and tried to calm her by rubbing her head and her arms. Well, before I left, this patient looked up at me, smiled and then kissed my hand, as if to say, "Thank you," ... That made such an impact on me. It's amazing how people can tell when you actually care, and they can tell when you really look at them as a person. I'll never forget that.
Nursing is so progressive and such an opportunity to directly show care and concern for others. There are not many other careers in which you can teach someone, counsel someone, treat his/her ailments and be a friend. It's diverse, versatile and constantly expanding with new possibilities. How can I do anything else?
~Trish :)
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Crazy Chics!!
Tonight was so much fun!!!
I went paintballing with the peeps in Miami at Bigshot!!! Got clobbered by the over-anxious boys of course!! (Girls vs Boys) but it was super fun! And I have the bruises to prove it!
But the funniest thing was what happened after we got done paintballing when we were hanging out in the parking lot for over an hour -- us crazy chics! -- Rita, Mai and me..
I can definitely say we "bonded" considering Rita and I proceeded to bash our heads together..lol.... no, not on purpose! But how, you ask, can two fairly intelligent girls manage to forceably connect in such a way to now leave a mark??
Well, "someone" (who will remain nameless - ahem..Mailin) ;) .. came up with the bright idea of all of us jumping (yes, jumping) several times in the air and taking pictures of it.. Lol..
Then, since we had so many paintballs left, we decided to do pics of a "drug bust".. in which I retaliated by softly bashing Mai's head against the car :)
We were laughing so hard at the pictures, we started crying!
That, along with the dehydration and lost brain cells from jumping probably contributed to the head-banging experience..
We both ran over to see the pictures and subsequently each other's skulls! Classic!
Crazy chics!!
Pics soon to come... :)
I went paintballing with the peeps in Miami at Bigshot!!! Got clobbered by the over-anxious boys of course!! (Girls vs Boys) but it was super fun! And I have the bruises to prove it!
But the funniest thing was what happened after we got done paintballing when we were hanging out in the parking lot for over an hour -- us crazy chics! -- Rita, Mai and me..
I can definitely say we "bonded" considering Rita and I proceeded to bash our heads together..lol.... no, not on purpose! But how, you ask, can two fairly intelligent girls manage to forceably connect in such a way to now leave a mark??
Well, "someone" (who will remain nameless - ahem..Mailin) ;) .. came up with the bright idea of all of us jumping (yes, jumping) several times in the air and taking pictures of it.. Lol..
Then, since we had so many paintballs left, we decided to do pics of a "drug bust".. in which I retaliated by softly bashing Mai's head against the car :)
We were laughing so hard at the pictures, we started crying!
That, along with the dehydration and lost brain cells from jumping probably contributed to the head-banging experience..
We both ran over to see the pictures and subsequently each other's skulls! Classic!
Crazy chics!!
Pics soon to come... :)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
25 awesome things about me! ....
1. God is the most important part of my life. I seek to emulate the person of Jesus Christ in everything that I do, to know God, grow in my faith and tell others about the wonderful things that God has done in my life. I have a passion for outreach, missions and ministry.
2. I am West Indian … and no, I am NOT from India, Ethiopia, Guyana or Trinidad. I was born in Jamaica. My background is black, white and indian.
3. I am single and have no desire to be close to any guy or in a relationship until God shows me without a doubt the man that He has chosen for me to marry.
4. A kiss means a lot to me. I see it as a "piece" of myself that I refuse to give away to just anyone. I won't kiss my husband-to-be until our wedding day. It'll only be shared with him as part of the “package” of our marriage - a precious, intimate thing for him alone.
5. I frequently make up words. If it sounds good to me, it's a word. I can usually convince other people it's a word too :)
6. I love my family! They are the closest people to me. They’ve raised me to be independent, God-fearing and well-rounded. They are everything that I am and have taught me everything I know.
7. My brother, Kevin, is my "twin". We understand each other better than anyone else, and I respect him more than anyone in the world. He’s my “best friend” who’s always been there for me, says all the right things and is the most awesome Christian I know. We always know what the other is thinking and almost always burst out laughing at anything. He loves God whole-heartedly and never hesitates to guide me through the Word. People get annoyed around us b/c we have so many “inside jokes”.
8. I’m afraid of the dark. I can’t go into a dark area without turning on a light in front of me and one behind me. Yet, surprisingly enough, I can’t fall asleep without covering that “power” light on my DVD player.
9. I am allergic to whey protein... That includes cheese, ice cream, cream cheese, chocolate milk, cakes, pastries, candy bars, milk chocolate, milkshakes, hot dogs, pizza, Italian food, Mexican food…. The list goes on and on and on…, trust me!
10. I am in an Accelerated Nursing program and will be an RN at the end of this year. I will use my degree here in the U.S. as an E.R. nurse and on the field as a missionary.
11. I love animals (especially ducks and cats), and have two cats of my own -- Stormie and Rocky. They’re my “kids” until I have kids, and they’re the only ones I’ll spoil! :)
12. I have done mission work in Bolivia for the last 3 years and hope to expand to many other countries in South America, Europe and Asia. I will be in Argentina in August this year and hope to go to a different country every year.
13. My best friend, Teresa, is the most beautiful person in the world. She’s been my best friend for 11 years and it never ceases to amaze me how alike we are. She knows me sometimes better than I know myself. God has so perfectly mirrored our lives, experiences, thoughts and circumstances to make us so close. I thank God for placing her in my life!
14. I put my name and/or a smiley face after almost everything I write … Trish :)
15. I am Vegetarian … actually “Flexatarian” b/c I still eat Salmon ...and chicken every now and then... Unfortunately, meat is MUCH cheaper than Tofu ;)
16. Everything in my room is either perpendicular or parallel to each other and in a specific pile. OCD?.. Possibly. I hate things being out of place or haphazardly placed. My siblings have always known this and move things just to see if I’ll notice. I do...
17. I like to be understood, but hate to be analyzed. If you want to know something about me, ask me. I’ll tell you. Just don’t try to “figure me out”. You probably won’t.
18. I am an artist at the core and have been painting since I was six years old. I can’t look at a piece of white paper without drawing something on it. I run my own mural business, and landscapes are my favorite things to paint.
19. I love the beach at night. There’s something about seeing the moonlight hit the water, hearing the waves coming in and out, feeling the cool breeze on your skin that makes you feel amazingly close to God and makes the rest of the world just seem so far away.
20. I am a busy person. And I like it! :) I don’t understand people who have nothing to do, and they don’t understand me. I hate routine and get bored very easily. I have to do a variety of things all the time.
21. I can’t fall asleep without the sound of rain – either the real thing outside my window or my “Thunderstorm” CD. Love it!
22. My spiritual gifts are hospitality, teaching and exhortation, and I lead a Bible study small group at my church. My goals in it are to make people not only feel comfortable, involved and included, but learn about God, accomplishing their full potential through God’s purpose for their lives.
23. I love “Grandma’s” peanut butter cookies! If you ever want to get on my good side, just get me a lifetime supply of those. :)
24. I have a tattoo on my upper back that reads, “God is love” in Chinese. It is the first of many future tattoos. My next one will be a Jamaican flag with a paintbrush.
25. I minored in Sign Language in college, and now unconsciously sign every song I hear.
Thanks for reading!
~ Trish :)
2. I am West Indian … and no, I am NOT from India, Ethiopia, Guyana or Trinidad. I was born in Jamaica. My background is black, white and indian.
3. I am single and have no desire to be close to any guy or in a relationship until God shows me without a doubt the man that He has chosen for me to marry.
4. A kiss means a lot to me. I see it as a "piece" of myself that I refuse to give away to just anyone. I won't kiss my husband-to-be until our wedding day. It'll only be shared with him as part of the “package” of our marriage - a precious, intimate thing for him alone.
5. I frequently make up words. If it sounds good to me, it's a word. I can usually convince other people it's a word too :)
6. I love my family! They are the closest people to me. They’ve raised me to be independent, God-fearing and well-rounded. They are everything that I am and have taught me everything I know.
7. My brother, Kevin, is my "twin". We understand each other better than anyone else, and I respect him more than anyone in the world. He’s my “best friend” who’s always been there for me, says all the right things and is the most awesome Christian I know. We always know what the other is thinking and almost always burst out laughing at anything. He loves God whole-heartedly and never hesitates to guide me through the Word. People get annoyed around us b/c we have so many “inside jokes”.
8. I’m afraid of the dark. I can’t go into a dark area without turning on a light in front of me and one behind me. Yet, surprisingly enough, I can’t fall asleep without covering that “power” light on my DVD player.
9. I am allergic to whey protein... That includes cheese, ice cream, cream cheese, chocolate milk, cakes, pastries, candy bars, milk chocolate, milkshakes, hot dogs, pizza, Italian food, Mexican food…. The list goes on and on and on…, trust me!
10. I am in an Accelerated Nursing program and will be an RN at the end of this year. I will use my degree here in the U.S. as an E.R. nurse and on the field as a missionary.
11. I love animals (especially ducks and cats), and have two cats of my own -- Stormie and Rocky. They’re my “kids” until I have kids, and they’re the only ones I’ll spoil! :)
12. I have done mission work in Bolivia for the last 3 years and hope to expand to many other countries in South America, Europe and Asia. I will be in Argentina in August this year and hope to go to a different country every year.
13. My best friend, Teresa, is the most beautiful person in the world. She’s been my best friend for 11 years and it never ceases to amaze me how alike we are. She knows me sometimes better than I know myself. God has so perfectly mirrored our lives, experiences, thoughts and circumstances to make us so close. I thank God for placing her in my life!
14. I put my name and/or a smiley face after almost everything I write … Trish :)
15. I am Vegetarian … actually “Flexatarian” b/c I still eat Salmon ...and chicken every now and then... Unfortunately, meat is MUCH cheaper than Tofu ;)
16. Everything in my room is either perpendicular or parallel to each other and in a specific pile. OCD?.. Possibly. I hate things being out of place or haphazardly placed. My siblings have always known this and move things just to see if I’ll notice. I do...
17. I like to be understood, but hate to be analyzed. If you want to know something about me, ask me. I’ll tell you. Just don’t try to “figure me out”. You probably won’t.
18. I am an artist at the core and have been painting since I was six years old. I can’t look at a piece of white paper without drawing something on it. I run my own mural business, and landscapes are my favorite things to paint.
19. I love the beach at night. There’s something about seeing the moonlight hit the water, hearing the waves coming in and out, feeling the cool breeze on your skin that makes you feel amazingly close to God and makes the rest of the world just seem so far away.
20. I am a busy person. And I like it! :) I don’t understand people who have nothing to do, and they don’t understand me. I hate routine and get bored very easily. I have to do a variety of things all the time.
21. I can’t fall asleep without the sound of rain – either the real thing outside my window or my “Thunderstorm” CD. Love it!
22. My spiritual gifts are hospitality, teaching and exhortation, and I lead a Bible study small group at my church. My goals in it are to make people not only feel comfortable, involved and included, but learn about God, accomplishing their full potential through God’s purpose for their lives.
23. I love “Grandma’s” peanut butter cookies! If you ever want to get on my good side, just get me a lifetime supply of those. :)
24. I have a tattoo on my upper back that reads, “God is love” in Chinese. It is the first of many future tattoos. My next one will be a Jamaican flag with a paintbrush.
25. I minored in Sign Language in college, and now unconsciously sign every song I hear.
Thanks for reading!
~ Trish :)
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