02/24/2024 – San Antonio Auguas Calientes, Guatemala
I am God’s beloved
I always knew God loved me because He sent Jesus to die for my sins, set me free, and to pay for my eternal life with God… but I never looked to God as a Father who loved me individually (outside of Him sending Jesus for me). I knew He cared about me; it is so evident by His faithful and steadfast love, His presence never leaves me, and He always keeps me safe. But I never knew He delighted in lavishing me with good gifts and showing me His love this way. He cares about the little things.
Psalm 37:4 Take delight in the Lord,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.
We as Christians and take this verse and pray for the biggest house, the fanciest vacation, the highest salary, and everything worldly we want. We are selfish, flesh focused, and blinded by pride. Do we actually delight in the Lord God? Do we hunger to seek Him and know Him? Do we love His voice? Do we long for His presence?
John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.
• God cares about our lives, He delights in us having complete joy. He gives great gifts from above to His children (Matthew 7:11).
• No, this is not about negating trials and tribulations or removing our dying to self as followers of Jesus. This is about how God loves us in special ways as a Father.
Here are some ways God has shown me his special love since being in Guatemala!
1. Traditional Guatemalan food is medium breakfast, large lunch, small dinner. We eat lots of beans, tortillas, and not a lot of fruits or meats. This diet change has been hard on my body and mind. The Lord has been sharpening me to be more thankful for His provisions, but in the midst of this small testing, He has began giving us more fruit from our host without us evening asking. Truly a gift. He saw me and cared, and gave me what my heart wanted because I delight in Him. (This was a larger breakfast at mens group)
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2. I care about my bible, I love God’s word. I met people here who have super cool hand crafted leather bibles and loved them. I didn’t covet, but prayed and asked God about it. One of our ministry leaders makes them for work and had offered to make one for me! But when He did, I hadn’t seen him for days and accidentally went separate ways after ministry. I was praying and praying because I didn’t have His number and right after praying, BOOM! He showed up for for my bible. The Lord saw my heart and heard me! Now I have a piece of Guatemala with me wherever I go.
3. In this season God is imparting so many gifts to me: in particular, music. This is a gift I never thought God would give or open my heart to . The people here are anointed musicians and love teaching me guitar and Spanish. They even helped me get a guitar so i can sing to the Lord wherever I go! God has given me understanding and is helping me grow in this skill so I can sing for Him and lead others to His presence! He is lavishing me with good things and I am so overcome by His special love towards me.
4. I am the only guy on my specific team, this has some difficulties but I love it because it has led me to press into Jesus more as a friend and I feel so close to Him. My ministry is amazing, I am so close to a lot of amazing men of God who love me like Jesus. Despite being with them in ministry and hanging out, I feel like I’ve lacked guy time. The Lord saw me, He loved me, and my ministry host pulled me out of ministry the other day to just hangout with him and go play pickle ball. Jesus loves me so much and cares about me as I serve and follow Him!
In this season I am learning how to receive His love and gifts and I am so thankful for how amazing God is!
John 16:26-27 In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.
Pray that I would always delight in the Lord Himself, not just His gifts. Pray that I would trust and ask Him for things as my Father. Pray for me to obey Him and follow Him in every way He desires in this season!
To give: https://adventuresinmissions.servicereef.com/events/adventures-in-missions-3/jan-2024-world-race-expedition-11-months/participants/noah-weinstein
This is just so beautiful all the way around. My heart delights in reading these and following along with you to where Jesus is leading you! Keep pressing in to be real with our King Jesus as He covers you with His grace. Much, much love always!
Beautiful blog, Noah! It is wonderful to see what you are doing in Guatemala!
I love hearing of the way God is showing himself to you and how you are showing Gods love to those you are interacting with. The story of you losing contact the man that makes leather crafted bibles was inspiring. Thank you for sharing and I look forward seeing you soon. I have asked to have a ‘guys time’ scheduled during debrief.
It’s so sweet how God has shown up in your life and blessed you in the little things that actually mean a lot! These are the things that build and strengthen our faith and that we recall during times of testing. God is real and He delights to give us more than we ask or think! (Eph. 3:20)