Matthew 6:19

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

When the Devil Strikes.

To say the least myself and the other 4 interns had a great weekend.  Taking a half day on work to catch a bus to Manuel Antonio where we would spend the weekend walking through the rainforest spotting monkeys, sloths, exotic birds, butterflies, and seeing some amazing trees that have to be over 150 years old.

However, the excitement would only last so long.  After a relaxing, humid, sweaty, peaceful day at the beach and rainforest we headed back to our hostel room to shower, rest, and clean up before heading out to dinner to celebrate my belated birthday present from my parents, money to take us all out to dinner.  When we returned to our room and i approached our locker to grab some of my stuff it dawned on me. The lock was still locked, but the hinge and hardware which held the lock to the door had been forced open.

 

 It finally hit me.  When my Iphone, my Relix watch, my headphones, my Passport, my wallet (includes: license, debit card, insurance card, school i.d.'s), my camera, had all been taken.  He had searched through every pocket of our bags.  Two other interns had electronics and wallets taken as well.

I was in SHOCK. I can't even describe the feels I was feeling. It wasn't anger, it wasn't revenge.  It was a sensation of violation, disrespect, shock, questions like "why?", panic.

Having stolen more than $1000, a passport, a few debit/credit cards, licenses at the end of the day we were safe.  As I comptemplated what to do next and the shear utter anxiousness and violation we were reminded of Hebrews 10:32-39:

"But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so thatwhen you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,

Yet a little while, 
and the coming one will come and will not delay; 
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back, 
my soul has no pleasure in him.

But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls."

I could have responded with utter rage. I could have been enraged. I could have wanted revenge. But honestly, I didn't feel any of that. I was living. I was breathing. I had great friends, I had a God that was watching over me.  All that had been taken from me were THINGS. Things of this earth to be honest. Things I could replace very easily.  Material goods that quite honestly I was probably holding onto too tight.

After reading Hebrews I am reminded that our real treasures are up in Heaven. Our real hope in Christ our Lord.  In that, I have hope and faith in God's provision.

My father send me an email this morning that states, "Sorry to hear about your loss of things at the hostel.  God may be using this to have you lean on Him and rest in His provision."  What great words! To "rest in HIS provision." How often do I find peace and joy in the little that I have knowing that God will provide exactly what I need each and every day to do His will and not my own.

I cannot express more that through God's grace He has given me peace, insurance that He is in control.

I will note that I am on my way to the U.S. Embassy today with a police report and the few pieces of identification I have left.  I ask that you pray the process goes smoothly as it can be difficult sometimes processing this kind of thing in a foreign country.

God is teaching me something. He is growing me. I am learning to "lean on Him and rest in His provision."  When the Devil attacks will I cower? Or will I hand the pen of my life over to Jesus Christ and let Him script the story?  I can only trust and lean on the God of the universe and in that, I have peace.

Made by: God - For: GOD

*Week 6*

This past weekend I got to spend it with my host family, and what an amazing time it was!  With a full packed day on Saturday going to see my second Volcano, Irazu.  With a little car trouble along the way God got us there safely!!  After hiking around for a while and taking a 'few' photos we headed back down the volcano and stopped at an old psychology institution that has been abandoned for many many year. Though very creepy at times there were some awesome moments that I tried to capture...see more in my photos tab.  --I will say more about this later.

the Gang.

Volcano!

 On sunday I got the opportunity to go to the zoo!! Though different from the zoos I am familiar with where they have lions, giraffes, elephants and the like it was mainly filled with exotic birds, lizards, and monkeys!!!  One toucan was quite a friendly toucan and I was in awe of God's creativity and shear beauty of his creation.

Toucan Sam

I still have trouble understanding what God was thinking in the first two books of Genesis when he had completed creating Man and everything else with him and said it is "very good".  I look at so much of humanity and wonder, how is this 'very good'?  The sin that we live in, the lies that we tell, the selfishness and bitterness that we live in.  I struggle to understand what 'good' means.  I have this idea that 'Good' means mediocre, fair, there is something better but this isn't bad.  However if you look at the definition of 'good' you might be pleasantly surprised.


Good adjective  - pleasing; to be desired or approved of; appropriate to a particular purpose


Even from the very beginning God had a plan!  A GOOD plan that has a particular purpose, to show off his vastness and splendor.

This past weekend God revealed more of himself to me.  Through spending a weekend with my Tico family, the conversations, and relationships built, God showed up, reflecting "his good, pleasing, and perfect will" Romans 12: 2 intended for our lives.  As mentioned earlier I would tell about the psychology institution, so...




Though abandoned and quite eerie at times there were some amazing moments that I attempted to capture throughout this old abandoned building. One thing I have come to realize through studying architecture, through observing nature, patterns, forms, colors, and being constantly aware of those things around be I attempt to never miss a beat.  I have come to realize the power of light. The way it can transform a space from an old abandoned building with a desolate history. Below are a few photos that I captured:

 

As I look at the moments and light captured in these photos I can't help but remember the way God [light] ("for I am the way, the truth, and the LIGHT") can transform our lives. Broken, dusty, unkempt, rotting, abandoned, dirty, disheveled, torn, God still shines in.  The photo in the upper left I won't lie, was an accident. But what an amazing moment!!  A simple light, shining into such a dark, desolate room.  When we walk into God's light, He restores, redeems, gives grace, He forgives and soon the dusty doesn't seem so dirty, the broken are healed, the abandoned are loved, unkempt are restored and a picture of what was created as 'very good' is shown upon with God's light, glory, and splendor.  

A simple glimpse of the magnificence of God captured in one picture. What an amazing story. Made By God, For God.