Blog/ Devotionals

God created me for a purpose

5/16/2020

This week in Bible Club, we looked at Genesis 1-2. God created the world, merely by speaking. His final creation was man and woman. As we looked at the passage, we saw that God endowed man and woman differently from all other creatures.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings so that they are like us. Let them rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Let them rule over the livestock and all the wild animals. And let them rule over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own likeness.
He created them to be like himself.
He created them as male and female.
God blessed them. He said to them, “Have children so that there will be many of you. Fill the earth and bring it under your control. Rule over the fish in the seas and the birds in the sky. Rule over every living creature that moves along the ground.” (Genesis 1:26-28, NIRV)

The children and I talked about two ideas from this text. First, God created mankind in His image. Our capacity to love, to be kind, to create.....these come from our Father. Second, God created mankind for a purpose. He told humans to rule over other creation. They had a job to do, in other words. I encouraged the children to always remember that their lives have a purpose. No matter what negative messages they may hear, no matter how discouraged they feel, to always remember they have been created in God's image and for a purpose!

The children thought about what their purpose might be. "I think maybe I know.....when my sister was sick, I took care of her." Another child said: "God made me to be kind and generous with other people." Our short Bible lesson soon turned to games and chatter about building forts - the stuff of childhood. I love that in Bible Club, we can talk about spiritual things and kid stuff - the conversations flow naturally between friends. Lord, we pray that these children will always look to You for their identity and that their hearts remain receptive to Your Word.

Tabitha and Lydia

5/10/2020

In this week's Bible Club, we looked at two women from the book of Acts who remind us of the significant role God has ordained women and mothers to play in their communities and households.

Tabitha, a disciple, became sick and died. It so happened that the apostle Peter was traveling near her town when she died, and her church urged Peter to come. Tabitha was known for doing good deeds and helping the poor. When Peter arrived at the house where her lifeless body lay, all the widows showed Peter the clothes Tabitha had made. Perhaps Tabitha herself had been a widow. Peter, in the fashion of Elijah, Elisha, and the Lord Jesus Himself, prayed for this woman - and the Lord raised her from the dead. Because of this, many people heard about the power of God and many people believed in Him. (Acts 9:36-42) In life and in death, Tabitha pointed others to God.

Lydia was another woman God used to bring many to Him. She was a businesswoman, a dealer of purple cloth, whom the apostle Paul and his companions encountered at the river in Philippi one Sabbath morning. She already worshiped God, and when Paul preached about Jesus, the Lord opened her heart to receive Jesus. Lydia, recognized as the first European disciple, brought her household to Christ as well. After she and her household were baptized, she opened her home to Paul and his companions; it became a gathering place for believers in Philippi. (Acts 16:11-15; 40)

What do we learn from these two women? First, that they believed in and feared God. Second, God used them because of their faith. In their unique ways, Tabitha and Lydia made their lives, resources, and time available to the Lord to serve others. As a result, God used them to extend the Kingdom.

When we talked about Tabitha and Lydia in Bible Club, we related these characteristics of faith, service, and kindness to the women the children know the best, their mothers. "When we went to Mexico, my mom packed scarves and clothes for the people who don't have enough," one student recalled. The children have also spoken of praying with their mothers before bed, of reading Scripture with their mothers. The lesson exhorted the children to be like Tabitha and Lydia, who had great faith and served God. One day, the children in our program will themselves lead their own households, serve in their communities, and perhaps become parents themselves. May they be faithful in using their lives to serve God, and may He use them to bring many others to faith.

Grace in Community

5/2/2020

Once a week early in the morning, I have the privilege of gathering with a group of women for Bible study. Our time begins with prayer - adoration, thanksgiving, supplication. Admittedly, I am often still a bit groggy at that time in the morning; it is so refreshing to wake up to the voices of my sisters recalling the attributes of God as we pray popcorn style:

God, You are Almighty.
Holy, holy, holy
You are the Alpha and the Omega.
You are a good, good Father.
There is no shadow of turning with You.
You are my rock, my fortress.
Our Good Shepherd.
You are loving.
You discipline us as a Father disciplines a son.
....

The list could go on indefinitely. These distinctive and familiar voices speaking truth about Father God in community, in unity of heart, are a weekly reminder of God's grace in bringing people of all backgrounds together to worship Him.

So it is when we meet with the children in weekly Bible Club. Our Bible lessons are short. This week, we talked about Jesus' prayer for the disciples and for future disciples at the last supper. John 17:21: "Father, I pray they will be one, just as you are in me and I am in you. I want them also to be in us. Then the world will believe that you have sent me. " The children and I talked about how God wants His children to live in unity. The result? Then the world will believe that God sent Jesus. Unity is a testimony.

As we meet, what an encouragement it is to hear these little ones affirm their faith in God and recall the attributes of God. May these children never lose their childlike faith, and may they develop a lifelong practice of worshiping in community.

Trials

4/24/2020

God's living Word is always timely and relevant. The past two weeks, as I have read about trials in James 1, my initial understanding of the passage was shallow. Then trials started to come, and I began to think about how the passage applies to my particular predicament. How do I obey the command to consider it pure joy to face trials? Do I believe that the testing of my faith will produce perseverance, which will result in maturity and completion? I lack wisdom! Have I asked God, who gives generously to all without finding fault? If God gives me wisdom without finding fault, am I still finding fault with myself? Do I believe that He will really give me wisdom?

The words of other believers help me see God's Word in a new light too. A Bible study member noted that after facing trials herself, she finds that she is more merciful and less judgmental toward other people. At the time, her comment sounded good, but didn't strike a chord. Later, as I considered my particular difficulty, I recalled her words and realized that this is an important lesson for me to learn. In my struggles, I appreciate the graciousness and kindness of God, who gives me wisdom without finding fault. In turn, when I am frustrated with other people in their shortcomings (real or perceived), should I not extend the same graciousness and kindness to them?

Thanks be to God for His Living Word.

The Lord is at work

4/24/2020

In John 13, we see Jesus taking off his outer clothing and taking on the role of a servant, washing his disciples' feet before sharing the Passover meal with them. He explained to them afterwards, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."

This is a familiar Scripture, but this year, as I shared it in Bible Club, it was impressed on me that the Lord is visibly working in the lives of the children in the program, and I am seeing God grow servant leaders before my eyes. The Lord is at work in their hearts, minds, and lives. How exciting! While I do not know what their future will hold, I know that He is preparing them intellectually and spiritually to be a leader in the spheres of influence in which He will place them.

It is a great privilege to witness the Lord's work in their lives. Father, would you shape each child into Your image and give them hearts of kindness, humility, strength, and courage.? Use them mightily in Your kingdom.

There is Purpose in the Pace

4/19/2020

It's been about a month since Dallas County locked down due to COVID-19. As a nation, many people are experiencing challenging times - physically, economically, emotionally, and more. The closing of schools has also disrupted life for families and placed great challenges on parents who are now thrust into the role of homeschool teacher.

Thankfully, Emerging FIELD classes have continued without interruption. Reading classes had moved online already in early February. When COVID-19 hit, we transitioned to online Bible Club as well. The students gather together online on Fridays at 3:00 to hear a short Bible story, sing, and pray for each other. Seeing each other online brings some normalcy to their lives. These little ones are praying for their families and loved ones. We are learning from each other to recall God's character and to pray before we sleep, to help us sleep through the night. In this Easter season, we are also recalling the work of the Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, that He died for our sins so that our hearts may be made clean and reconciled to Holy God.

For some adults, the pace of life is slow right now due to furlough or layoffs. Life may seem rather boring, with no place to go and nothing to do. Things are moving painfully slow. When can life finally get back to normal? I heard a message this week reminding me that in the Christian life, it may seem like God is taking His time to bring about the change. Why doesn't He hasten that day? Yet God is still sovereign in all the slow circumstances. There is a purpose in the pace. Though I want things now, God is doing His work in me, transforming and working to bring about the results according to HIS timing. As difficult as that may be to accept, we must cling to hope in God's character and walk by faith, not by sight. He is faithful to keep His promises, and that's the foundation on which His people stand.

The Joy of Balance (La Alegría del Equilibrio)

11/28/2019

by Manña L.

Why Do I Feel So Stressed?
¿Por Qué Me Siento Tan Estresado?

Are you busy all the time? Are you constantly working to provide for your children? Are you always cooking, cleaning, and taking care of many responsibilities? Do you feel tired and unsure how everything became so unstable? Sometimes, when we have too much to do, our world can seem upside down. We oftentimes ask ourselves: “How did I get here?” The reason why our world feels so crazy is because we don’t have balance.

What is Balance?
¿Qué es el Equilibrio/ Balance?

Balance is a beautiful word (una palabra hermosa) that means to stay steady. It means that no matter how crazy things get, you will not be shaken or thrown off the path God has put you on. Balance is the word used to describe an equal amount (igualmente o lo mismo) of two or more things in your life. Think about balance on scale. If you want your scale to be level (lo mismo/ the same on both sides), you have to put two objects of the same weight on both sides. A scale that is “out of balance” has too much of one object, and not enough of the other. For example, the scale in this picture has three rocks on the left side and only one rock on the right side. This scale is out of balance because it has too many rocks on the left side and not enough rocks on the right side.

Our faith works the same way. Think of yourself as this scale. God Almighty loves when His children to have balance. When we have too much work, too much play, too much rest, or too much school, He is not pleased. He created us to live a life of complete balance, where everything we do has an equal amount of importance in our lives, but doing these things should not overwhelm us all the time.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says:

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.”

“Todo tiene su tiempo, y todo lo que se quiere debajo del cielo tiene su hora.”

In other words, everything on this earth has its own time, place, and purpose. Just like God’s planned for us, we are simply partakers (somos participantes). We get to enjoy the beautiful gift of balance in our lives.

So, How Can I Get Balance In My Life?
¿Cómo Puedo Obtener el Equilibrio En Mi Vida?

How do we balance it all when we can’t tell our left from our right, our up from our down? How do we get back on track when our world seems “topsy-turvy” (upside down/ como desordenado) all the time? The answer is very simple. When all is chaotic, or out of order, we need to ask God for Balance.

James 1:5 says:

“If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.”

“5 Si a alguno de ustedes le falta sabiduría, pídasela a Dios, y él se la dará, pues Dios da a todos generosamente sin menospreciar a nadie.”

If your heart feels heavy because you don’t know how to have balance in your life, you don’t have to figure this out on our own. Ask God for direction. He is loving and patient; His heart is generous toward you. He will show you how to find the balance you’ve been looking for if you seek Him (preguntarle) first.

Tu Casa Es Una Casa de Paz en Dios (Your House is a House of Peace in the Lord)

10/17/2019

By Manña L.

Many of you know that Emerging FIELD is a tutoring service. Some of you may also be aware that we are a faith-based organization. We love to serve our community and honor the Lord in everything we do.

In many Spanish churches, the phrase “Gloria de Dios!” is used quite often. It means Glory to God! At Emerging FIELD, we strive to bring that same glory to our Savior, Jesus Christ, while serving and tutoring the children at Arcadia Park.

For parents who may read this blog, searching for a means to give your child the best out of life: We want to encourage you to take what we give from these devotionals and teach it in your home when you can. We trust your judgement in knowing what to teach and when to teach it; let this blog serve as a guideline to bringing peace to you and your loved ones.

La Paz de Dios Esté Con Ustedes (The Peace of God Is With You)
¿Qué es la paz? (What is Peace?)

Peace is sometimes hard to describe. Peace can be a feeling you have, when all is still and you are not worried about anything. You say to yourself: “¡No te preocupes!” (Don’t worry about it!) and you find everything in your world is just right. Peace can also be what you see around you, when your surroundings are still and quiet. We want to encourage you to know that Peace is something good and El Spíritu Santo, the Holy Spirit, carries that peace.

La Paz es Un Regalo Para Ti. (Peace is a Gift for You)
During Christmas time, we like to give gifts to show goodness and kindness to other people. Our God is good all the time. He who is good will give you the peace and strength you need to keep going.

John 14:27 says:
“27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Peace is a gift that He gives to you from His Spirit (Galatians 5:22). The best thing to do with such a good gift is take time to sit still and receive it (let Him give you that gift). It is His honor to bless you with the gift of peace. It is your right to take the gift and receive it.

¿Cómo es la Paz in Mi Vida? How is Peace in My Life/ What Does it Look Like?

Peace in your life looks like being quiet in your heart. It looks like being joyful because of the Peace you find in The Lord. Peace is a quiet happiness that stays forever. Today, we ask that no matter what it looks like, no matter how hard things get, be still. There is power in choosing peace. Choose peace and you will find yourself empowered every day with new strength given by God. He is close and He loves you dearly. He wants you to have His peace.

We hope this devotional helps bring the peace you need into your home. If you have questions about how to get involved, or what days we have tutoring, feel free to contact us at:

Email: admin@emergingfield.org
Tel: 214-870-7257

Hope

1/1/2019

Some churches, notably those of African-American tradition, hold "watch night" services on New Year's Eve each year to usher in the new year. The late-night service includes a time of thanksgiving and worship, as well as asking God to watch over the coming year. A watch night service is a powerful reminder that it is the Lord who holds our lives, and our hope should be placed in Him.

There are so many things in which we may be tempted to place our hope for 2019. Once I finish the degree......once I get the promotion.....once I receive the authorization......once I have a child/ spouse..... Education, power, recognition, a visa/ green card/ citizenship, money, relationships - these are wonderful gifts that some people may receive, but we will be sorely disappointed if our hope rests in achieving these. Consider what the psalmist observed:

"No king is saved by the size of his army; no warrior escapes by his great strength. A horse is a vain hope for deliverance; despite all its great strength it cannot save." (Psalm 33:16-17)

God's way of working is mysterious. He can take a little and turn it into a lot. He can take a lot and turn it into nothing. Throughout the Bible, we see God using the few, the uneducated, the humble, the elderly, the little children, the unknown, the sinner, the five loaves of bread and two fish, the mite. It doesn't matter how little we have or are, just that we bring our all to Him.

"But the eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love....
We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield.
In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.
May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord, even as we put our hope in You." (Psalm 33:18-22)

Father, thank You for Your unfailing love that is beyond our understanding. Thank You for being our help and shield. For all the families and volunteers You have brought to Emerging FIELD, we ask that Your Presence be known and that You be the source of hope. We ask for Your watch care and loving-kindness over the families, especially those that are hurting or feeling hopeless. You are good.

Unexpected

11/22/2018

When it came time for Israel to replace King Saul, God gave the prophet Samuel instructions on how and where to find the next king. Go to the house of Jesse in Bethlehem; one of his sons had been chosen. Off Samuel went, and Jesse introduced his sons to the prophet. "Surely this is the one," Samuel thought when he saw the oldest.

But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." (I Samuel 16)

One by one, Jesse presented his sons. But none of the seven was chosen. Finally, Samuel asked if Jesse had any more sons. Jesse replied, "The youngest, but he is tending the sheep." This youngest son, of course, was David, whom Samuel anointed.

The Bible says David was ruddy with a fine appearance and handsome features. Yet that is not what the Lord was looking at. God was looking at his heart, for David was "a man after God's [sic] own heart." (Acts 13:22)

The outward appearance can be deceiving. As I read this familiar story recently, I thought of the children we work with. They are all beautiful children, with shy smiles and bright eyes, but frankly, some of them are small and skinny for their age. Add to that factors such as being raised by single mothers/ grandparents, low household income, speaking English as a second language, living in a cradle-to-prison pipeline zip code - the outward indicators are not in their favor.

Oh, but their hearts! The Lord looks at the heart. The heart of the fatherless child who regularly proclaims the love, faithfulness, and presence of the Heavenly Father. The hurting hearts of children who struggle in school. God is calling each to Him.

Father, thank You for looking at the heart. Help each child to hear Your voice as You look at their hearts. Cleanse and mold my heart that You would find what is pleasing to You.

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