Obedience and Submission

I have been feeling very convicted lately. I continually find myself trying to take the control and be the one to make the decisions in my life. I know this is human nature, but I also know better; that God has the final say. 

John 15:1-5 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful…No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me….apart from me, you can do NOTHING.”

Is it a question of obedience or submission? In my life, I think it’s both. Sometimes it takes everything in me to be obedient and submit to the things that the Lord wants, instead of what I think I want. According to this scripture, it is clear. Apart from Christ, we cannot do anything. He is the reason that everything works out according to His will. We must be humble in our journey because we know that it is only the Lord who is directing the steps. I am saying this as a truth I need to remember in my own life.

It is a beautiful thing when a person can hand themselves over to the Lord, and watch Him move; watch Him use that person and allow them to grow. Everything works according to His will, so why do we try so desperately to make things go our way? Whatever He does, it’s because it’s for our good and the good of His people. I commit to letting go this week and striving to give God the ultimate control, and be submissive to what He wants from me.

May Already?

I cannot believe that it is already May. Time goes by so quickly. Smallchangeforbigchange has been going through some changes, all in a positive direction. We have been analyzing which direction some of the projects are going, and really seeking the Lord and His guidance. He is faithful! In April we celebrated our year anniversary, PRAISE GOD! Lisa and I are in awe in how He has been such a part of this project and how He has confirmed His hand in it.  We also feel so unworthy to know such amazing families and be a part of this. Everything that is done here is what God allows to happen. The donations, the families we come in contact with, we truly believe are in God’s plan. Thank you to all of you, who are a part of this with us. To see the support we have on our webpage (the new one is http://smallchangeforbigchangeguatemala.com/) and on facebook blows us away! We constantly think of you all who are connected. Our only wish is that you could meet these incredible people.

I just finished an English class with Luis Pedro, who is also the one who is taking care of the Aquaponic garden. He is 17 years old and works with his father who has a furniture business. He is very dynamic, and loves being the one in charge of this project. As of right now, there are 20 tilapia in the pond part of the garden, and planted (and growing!) are spinach, celery, lettuce, and are going to plant tomatoes. As this is the prototype, we are still learning more and more about what works and doesn’t work. (In the beginning we had used unfiltered water and the fish died). We started with a small amount to see how it would go. The tank can hold up to 200 tilapia! It is an exciting project, and we are interested to see how it continues to grow.