We met these neighborhood children along the road as we made our way to Mission Ethiopia on Sunday. We sang and danced and
they practiced their English and asked for chocolates! ;)
Photo of Beth Zahnd and Tammy Flowers in front of the Rodeo Addis
restaurant. It was a 'cowboy' themed restaurant complete with burgers
and fries.
Day 1 reflection: God's plan
Have you ever had a time in your life that you knew that you were
fighting against God's plan for your life? When I first began attending
Wellspring church, our pastor asked the congregation, "How do you know
when it's God?" How do you know when it's God nudging you toward a path
or the enemy misleading you through your own selfishness and
insecurities? Many people spoke up that day and several key indicators
rose to the surface.
If you are wondering if it's God, you have to spend
time with God. Spend time in prayer, spend time in His word, spend time
in counsel with other followers of Christ. When you have returned to
those basics and find that a particular path continues to be revealed to
you, be certain that you are to follow.
One of the things that I
have learned over the course of the last year is that repeatedly in
history God even uses people's sin and disobedience to fulfill his
master plan. Why? How can such blatant
sins be turned to good? How did a perfect sinless Jesus Christ come from
the bloodline of a prostitute and adulterer?
Our Palm Sunday
service at Beza International church brought this into perspective. We
belong to a just God. We are loved by a God that holds us accountable.
However in direct juxtaposition, we are held in the hands of a merciful
God. How can judgement and mercy both describe our God?
The pastor
of the church demonstrated that the Ark of the Covenant is an
illustration of God's law and unfailing mercy. The ark is an elaborate
container that was intricately designed by hands led by God. The
container was built specifically to hold the stone tablets that were
etched with God's 10 commandments. Commandments that proved that each
human is a sinner and in need of a merciful God. Atop the closed
container sits two angels with their wings extended toward each other
creating what looks like a bench, a bench known as 'the mercy seat'
A container built to describe God's plan for us. He has a set of rules
that we are to follow, a path for each of us to take. However in his
unfailing love he cloaks that law with his mercy. Do we deserve such
forgiveness? Do we offer in return such forgiveness for others?
Colossians 3:14
And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a
grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over
all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect
unity.
by Tammy Flowers
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