A few months ago, I started helping lead a Young Adult Bible Study at my church every Sunday morning. This has been such an incredible blessing! Naturally, however, this has limited my weekend travels a little bit.
I feel that have become less of a tourist this semester and taken advantage of that fact that my time in Costa Rica is actually real life, not just a vacation. Saturdays have become a serene and Holy time where I recharge with the Lord and just rest.
Two weeks ago, Ashley and I took a day trip to the closest beach and enjoyed the ocean, ice cream, & reading under the hot sun.
Last week, I explored a nearby town, Belen, just because. It was so pleasant just to walk around the town and to watch what life is really like here. Fresh markets in the morning, families porch sitting, kids playing soccer on the nearby field, parents getting ice-cream with their kids after the game. I think that is one of the coolest things about spending an extended period of time in a foreign country, noticing the details-- really, truly experiencing it.I am so turned off by the falseness of tourism sometimes. They take something that was pure and beautiful and turn it into show with a souvenir shop at the end. I want to see what is real and authentic- notice the details and really experience it.
Recently, I started a new book that I discovered in the church library called "Good Morning, Holy Spirit" by Benny Hinn and I have just been getting rocked by it! The Holy Spirit is real and powerful wants to connect me to The Father and The Son in ways that I cannot do alone… This is something I know, but this book has been showing it to me in a whole new light.
The book says:
"The Holy Spirit is the power of God. He is the power of the father and the Son. He is the one who brings into action the performance of the Son.Yet He is a person. He has emotions…I cannot be in touch with the Father and the Son without the Holy Spirit (Eph 2:18)."
Your salvation in Jesus will transform you as a person.
But the Spirit will tremendously transform your Christian walk.
I don't want a walk of faith that is all for show- one that is made up of great facades & cheap souvenirs.
Holy Spirit, I long to know you intimately and personally.
Holy Spirit, I long to know you intimately and personally.
I want to see what is real and authentic- notice the details in my faith and really,
intentionally experience it.
I love your comparison of tourism and the Christian walk. SO true! We can be in a tourist town and not see the people, the country, for what it truly is. And we can be where Christians are, surrounded by things that spur us to holiness, and yet not see God for who He is.
ReplyDeleteI love that you were able to spend a day just enjoying Belen. This is a part of short-term travel I'm not often able to undertake and something I sorely miss!
Thanks, Annie! I love the way you phrased that-- we get distracted by the things that "spur us to holiness" and miss out on the real relationship-- what's there when it's just you and God.
ReplyDeleteI saw on your blog that you have traveled to lots of different places- I will have to go read more about your adventures! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
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