Modern Day Prodigal Son

So guess what? Country music has inspired me again and this time by total accident.

Before I get into my thoughts I have to tell you a story.....well two stories. First a parable....

The Parable of the Lost Son

¹¹ Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons.¹² The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.

¹³ “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. ¹⁴ After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. ¹⁵ So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. ¹⁶ He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. ²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. ²⁶ So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’

²⁸ “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. ²⁹ But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. ³⁰ But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’

³¹ “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. ³² But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”

Now my story....

A few days ago a friend of mine saw Brantley Gilbert in San Antonio and sent me a video of him singing. I don't know why but it got me thinking that I didn't have any music of his on my Spotify channel. So away I went to add some of my future husbands music to my playlist. Usually I just had 4 or 5 of their top songs to the playlist but something different happened on this day. I decided to scroll though his work and add song titles I found interesting. Of these songs one of them was A Modern Day Prodigal Son. Why did I add this one? I loved it because it is about one of my all time favorite biblical stories.

So here is the song please listen closely and and lyrics are in the video....

This song got me thinking.....what is your modern day prodigal story? What part did you play? Where you the one to return, the brother that was jealous, or the loving father that welcomed the son home? 

Part of the reason I love this story is one, because I learned I am not the only one in the family that loves it and two, everytime I hear it something changes for me. Me role changes, my ideas change, my feelings change, something changes. 

Everyone turns away from something at some point in their lives. I have turned away from the church, from my faith, and occasionally from my friends. Those moments were some of the hardest I have ever had to go through but they taught me something. When you turn back and return the love and celebration that occurs is crazy. For instance, when I returned to a church after not going for a while, they welcomed me with open arms and loving hearts. They have been my home for the last year because I am one of the lost sheep that returned home. It is those moments that I feel like the son that has returned. But really everyone has been that brother. It is easy to see what that brother has gone through. 

What about the father? What was he going through? I mean he technically lost a son. As I type this I think of another song that comes to mind. Listen to this song.....and yes it is country again. Sorry 

That is a dad that lost everything. And yet he never gave up. He waited.....and can you imagine that joy and celebration this Dad had when his daughter returned. He never gave up on her, never gave up hope. It makes me think that maybe the father in the Prodigal Son never gave up. He hoped and prayed that his son would return. Upon seeing his son again the joy that overtook him was unimaginable. He celebrated with the fattest calf. His message was answered and his son returned. 

So what do you think? What does the prodigal con mean to you? And really there is no right or wrong answer. This story can mean so many things. It all depends on what is going on when you hear it. And that is what is so amazing about this story. It can shift and form to be whatever God needs it to be and when it changes it will hit us in an amazing and forceful way. 

And that right there is one reason I love the bible. It is a true living, breathing, piece of work. While the words never change it is constantly shifting in meaning and ideas for each and every one of us. What I hear might not be exactly what you hear. What hits my soul might not even touch yours. And isn't that just amazing! The Bible never gets old.....it is a timeless piece of work. 

The word is alive and this story, this Prodigal son and Modern Day Prodigal Son proves that. It is a timeless piece that will constantly alter how we look at this world. 

So sorry for all the country but I hope you take it all to heart. 

Love you all and God Bless! 

Batman

Okay so I know I posted about superheroes a while back.....but I am wanting to add to it.

In my blog, for those of you that didn't see, I posed the question, who is your favorite superhero? I wanted to show how Jesus is the ultimate superhero, the ultimate sacrifice. But something came up the other day that got me thinking.

In the car the other day I was listening to a country artist state that for some music comes easy, those are the Supermans, for others it takes time, dedication, and effort....those are the Batmans, the ones that choose to be the superheroes.

And that is when the thinking started......are we as Christians not the Batmans of the church. Think about it, Jesus was born to save, born to be the hero, Jesus is Superman. But we, we are born to choose. We have to choose whether to step up and be the hero and show what sacrifice and dedication are or we can sit back and watch from a distance.

For those of you that don't know the story, Batman wasn't born to be a hero. Bruce Wayne, an orphan who's parents were killed in a robbery, was raised by the butler. He then went off and in the mountains of a foreign country he learned how to fight and be stealthy and everything it took to be Batman. That was when he returned to Gotham to save the people of the evil ways and become the hero the city needed. Bruce Wayne did what no one else could, he saved a city from it's own death and destruction.

Okay Courtney, so how does this relate to Christians and our walk with Christ. Well simple, be Batman. Take the steps to be more then just someone on the sideline. And no it won't come easy, but I can promise it will come. Like Batman, we have to learn how to be dedicated, how to be stealthy at times, how to help from the shadows, and how to be that light in the darkness. Jesus can't be the only hero, well we could. But like Superman it is sometimes nice to have back up from those that weren't born heroes, from those that choose the destiny for themselves.

So be Batman, be the superhero the world needs now, as we wait for the one that will help us soon. Be the Batman in the world and choose what to do.

In Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy there are many quotes that can be applied to our lives as Christians. Don't believe me let me show you.

Batman Begins:

At one point in the movie Bruce Wayne is talking to Ra's Al Ghul who states " You cannot lead these men unless you are prepared to do what is necessary to defeat evil." We must be willing to face anything that comes our way in order to achieve what is needed to be done in this world. There will be obstacles but we have to be able to move them. Another aspect of the movie is the rebirth of Bruce Wayne into Batman. Bruce "died," and while everyone close to him that he really had died he was really being transformed and reborn in to Batman, the "Savior" that Gotham needed. Now I am not saying we have to be Saviors because we can't but I am saying that we can be a fighting force in our own communities, we just have to "kill" off the parts that are stopping us. Before Al Ghul turns evil, he kind of becomes Bruce's priest, helping him obtain the skills that is needed to be a disciple, obtaining the skills needed to help Gotham. Just look at the clip below, without Al Ghul, there would be no Batman. Without our guide there would be no one to help lead us.

The Dark Knight: 

There are too many quotes for this one, but the whole story line proves what I am trying to say. In the movie Batman works to pass on the heroism to Harvey Dent, he believe that in order for Gotham to be saved he must have the people want to save it and Harvey Dent can do that. Isn't that what we as Christians are supposed to do? Yes we should also work and strive to create a better world but we should also want to pass the torch onto others so that it can continue. We must spread the news and works of Jesus Christ in order to obtain more disciples of Christ. In the following clip, Dent is dead and Batman understands that Dent needs to be the Hero not Batman so he sacrifices for the better of Gotham, he sacrifices his life for Gotham. 

The Dark Knight Rises: 

This one is a little harder but I think I can do it. This one more represents how we won't always have the perfect life with Christ, but if we work hard and strive to be better, we become stronger in Him. In the Dark Knight Rises, Batman does just this. Bane breaks Batman down and sends him to the pit. A prison in which the only way out is to climb out. Batman works hard to become stronger and better while in the pit. On his first attempt out he fails. But on his second attempt he realizes that the harness is limiting him, so he climbs out without it. He faces life or death in order to escape the hole that he is in. He must trust his work and strength and the strength of those around him to get out. We must do the same. WE might stumble and fall but with trust and faith in Christ no hole is big enough to keep us in.....sometimes we just have to take off the harness. Here is the clip from the movie see for yourself.....

So Rise! Bruce did!!!! 

We must be Batman, we must learn to adapt to anything to comes our way. We must sacrifice to help others. Jesus is Superman, let's be his Batman, let's help to form the Justice League. What do I mean by that. We must work with Jesus Christ in order to help the greater good. We must work together with Superman to be the best Batman we can be. We have to take our ideals and hopes and fight for them, no matter what. 

So there you have it. So my final question is this.....Do you want to be the Batman for the Christian world? 

God Bless!!!! 

The Most Common Language

Wow I am so sorry I haven't posted. I have been crazy busy with school and homecoming and I finally have a chance to sit down and write some more.

Okay so start off by watching this quick video. 

So this video means so much to me for two reasons, a) I love Bobby McFerrin and b) This proves something I have thought all along. And that is that music is the most common language that the whole world shares and because of that it links us in a very unique way. Think about it, during this video were you not resisting the urge to sing along even though you didn't know the answer. 

Music for me is life, it always has been and always will be. Music speaks to the soul for me and if creates a sense of calm for me. But what does this have to do with my journey with Christ. Well a lot actually. In church I love singing and making music for Christ. I feel everytime I sing or play djembe that I am one moment closer to Christ and the feelings that surround me complete this feeling. When I am lost or confused I listen to music to find my way, and I know I can't be the only one. 

Who out there has ever been in a car and turned on the radio to just sit and listen to what was on. Who ever just wanted to be alone so they put on headphones and just listened to what was on their CD or MP3 player. 

Music is a way to reach the heart and the soul. There is something out there for everyone and it is a great way to hear God's message.....and no it doesn't have to be just Christian music. It can be rock, or country, or pop, anything! Just look through my blog, I have had Country artists, I have had current pop artists on here, and I have much more to go. The message is everywhere and in every genre, is that not anything short of AMAZING?!?!  We all listen to different types of music so the fact that we can all listen to the music we enjoy and still be able to hear God's message is just awesome! 

Music has the ability to make one laugh, or cry, or happy, or dance, really music has the ability to do anything. Watching Pitch Perfect the other day one of the characters wants to write scores for movies because he states that music can set the mood and make the movie even greater. Think about that, it isn't the words or the acting (well okay maybe a little bit), but it is the music that helps set the mood. That is because music connects to the heart and the soul. It has the ability to tug on the heart strings. 

I love the sign above because it is so true. God is the DJ, he is in charge of the rhythm that is life. He can speed things up or slow things down as needed. He knows when to play the right songs. For example: some of yall might know how crazy school became for me last semester and the pain and worry I went through at the end of the semester. Well, one day as I was driving worrying about when I was going to graduate or what classes to take I rolled down my windows and turned up my radio. The station that was one was playing "Just Breath" by Faith Hill, well I didn't want to hear that at the time so I switched the channel.....well God had another plan on the new station "This is only a Mountain" was playing. That was God right there. I was worrying and panicking and here he was telling me it was okay and that I will make it through this minor bump in the road. 

Music is the most common language in the word. It is a language that can speak to the soul and speak to the heart. It is a way to get closer to Christ and is a way to hear his message. So here is my challenge to you.....listen to music closely and tell me what does your heart hear that your ears don't. Listen and really take in what is going on. I can promise that things will drastically change in a good way. 

God Bless! 

Courtney

 

Day 6.....the last leg of a journey

Writing today is bittersweet.....today is the last day of this amazing journey that I have been on.

Today started off exciting for me. You see we had our last clinic in La Romana today, but something more exciting happened. I had my first solo flight as a nurse today. No one looking over my shoulder, no professor asking why I choose what I choose, no second guessing my decisions. In four years of school today was a very special day for me. I felt like I was a nurse, not a student nurse, a real nurse. Okay granted it was at a mission clinic were it is mostly parasite and fungal infections but hey we all have to start somewhere. With my amazing translator Rebeca, we saw about 35 people at my station alone. All together, that clinic was expected to see 50 people......we ended up seeing 98! And they weren't just Dominicans. There were many Haitians there as well. Which proved to be interesting as Haitians and Dominicans do not speak the same language so at one point there would be 4 people talking....me to Rebeca, Rebeca to someone who spoke Haitian and then that Translator to the patient. It was really interesting to watch (It reminded me of playing telephone).

(Where the clinic was held at)

(MY SOLO FLIGHT!!!!)

(My amazing translator)

After the busy clinic morning we met up with the rest of the group at a pizza palor with boys from the orphanage and enjoyed a nice meal all together. It was actually really good pizza too and the afternoon was full of laughter and fun. 

The rest of the afternoon was full of the last VBS that the other group put together. It was fun to watch the kids sing and learn about the story of Christmas. The story was so fun to listen to as it was acted out and then all the kids got a bracelet with the colors red, green, blue, white, black, and yellow. They were then taught about how the entire bible can be summed up in these six colors. And while it was a story I had grew up hearing, it was so interesting to hear it in the middle of this adventure, in a time where I needed the reminder if anything else. 

Red- For the Blood Christ Shed for us and for his love 

Black- for our sin

White- For God's Forgiveness 

Yellow- for Heaven and the Streets of Gold 

Blue- For Baptism 

Green- for growing in Christ and for Christ 

The kids understood it, and now I have a greater appreciation for the story and the story of Christ in general. It is amazing what a VBS for children can teach adults as well.  

After the VBS, all the boys from the orphanage left as well as the other kids, and we got the opportunity to sit down and listen to the story of how the orphanage got started. It was started by a pastor and his wife who had been praying about it for quite some time. Well, the wife worked in CPS, and when one baby was brought to her because the women knew she couldn't care for him after getting the child from a single mother, the orphanage began. 10 years later, 70 boys have been through the orphanage, about 15 are there now. And there are some from the Dominican as well as some from Haiti.

What got me about the story the most, is the hope and prayers for the future. This couple wants the best for all the boys that walk through the door of the orphanage. And because of that there are currently hopes of building a place that is bigger then what they are currently in and soon. Due to having to soon move out of the place they are renting now, they would love to be able to build now but simply can't due to money issues so for now they are stuck looking for another place to rent at this time.

(Learning the story)

But something else happened in this time. Looking around, you could see the wheels turning in everyone's heads. As the pastor was giving costs to build (in pesos) you could see calculators out and trying to figure out cost, in US currency. One week, well less then that, two days at this orphanage and we are already all on board to help them out and continue supporting them anyway we can. "Going to the Dominican to help build will lower the cost? Okay so when do you need us to head back?"  At least that was what kept going through my head.

It is hard to believe that this trip is pretty much over. I am sitting on a bus thinking about all the things that have changed not only for the community here but for me as well. In a week I have changed. I know it is hard to explain that in words but I know it has taken place.

This song has taken new meaning for me in these past 6-7 days.

"I don't live I don't care, I don't want to say another empty prayer, I refuse to sit around and wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself, I could choose not to move, But I refuse!"

This song is my theme for the week. I refuse to sit back and watch as others need help. And I mean that in more then one way. I refuse to sit back and not help others in the Dominican and at home. Mission work isn't just about helping others in a different country, it is about helping those in your backyard. It is serving God in every way possible. I refuse to turn my back on someone that needs help. I refuse to think I am not good enough. I refuse to look away. I refuse to doubt God's plans for me. I refuse to think I am not strong enough to serve God's people in anyway possible! I REFUSE!

"I can do all things, through Christ that strengthens me"

Thank you for walking on this journey with me but I doubt this is the end.

God Bless!

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This was only the start......wait to see what tomorrow brings!
Thank you everyone for the prayers throughout my journey and please continue to pray as I continue on a path that God has put before me.

I love you all so very much, those I know and those I may not know. I started this blog for me, but through the things others have told me I am slowly seeing that there is more to it then just what I want and need and desire.

Until tomorrow!

"You are Only Dominican Once!"

First....sorry for not blogging this weekend. I got super busy and then sick and just didn't get to it but here we go......Day 5

Today was interesting for me on a medical level. You see we had run out of some medications (flu meds, anti-parasite, benadryl, etc.) So this morning as the others went off with the boys from the orphanage for a morning of fun, me and a couple others went off in search of a pharmacy. Once we got there I was surprised to see a still box of a building, and in front a line of people. You see pharmacies, or at the least the government ran ones, people had to wait in line to go to a window where they gave their prescription to the worker and then their money. Then the medication and change was passed back.....or if no change could be made the pharmacist would ask if there was anything else they wanted.

But that wasn't the most shocking. We went in looking for a lot, so the women working allowed us to come in to the little building and look to see if they had what we wanted. After about 20 minutes we got part of what we need.....
20 antifungal creams
10 bottles of flu medication
30 doses of anti-parasitic
20 sulfa drugs
Now are you ready for it.....all of that came to 840 pesos, 21 american dollars. For all of that!!! The other surprising thing that happened was the women wouldn't take bills bigger then 200 pasos. Because of the fact that the pharmacy was run by the government, and it was there for the poor, they would question why she had such large bills in her till.

Now, we didn't get everything we needed, so I also got to see the difference between a government owned and a privately owned pharmacy. The privately owned one was about the size of a small convenient store and the prizes were different as well. At that pharmacy we got about the same amount of meds for 6547 pesos or 167 american dollars.

(Government owned)

(Privately Owned)

After the pharmacy we went back to the orphanage where the ladies were cooking lunch while some from the other group worked on sanding furniture. And after using my nursing skills and then being kicked out of the kitchen after I cut myself, I decided to sand a little bit. It was fun being able to work with the others for a little while and it was really fun to be able to do something for the boys at the orphanage.

Once lunch was ready we all piled into the van and drove towards to park where everyone else was. The rest of the afternoon was full of playing baseball, swimming (yes in January), taking pictures, and laughter. It is amazing how much energy little boys could have....but I think at the end of the day we were all worn out while all the boys could have kept going.

Once we left we headed back to Bayahibe, well with a quick stop at the grocery store for a few of us (you have no idea how addicting that coffee is). That night I sat on the beach watching the sunset and enjoying my time with my new friends from Plano. And it got me thinking.

God really does put people in your life for a reason. If that be for a week, or a couple days, there is a reason for it all. There are so many people that I am honored to have spent a week with. There are a couple little boys that will never know how much they touched my heart and how they have changed my views and goals in life. There is a 90 year old women who just shines with Christ's love, and she taught me that I can be that way as well.

God has the ultimate plan. If you had asked me 4 years ago if going to TAMUCC would get me to the Dominican Republic, I would have laughed at you. Yes I had a heart for mission work but never did I think nursing school could be the gate to international mission work for me. And I am beyond grateful it has though. School, especially college, is about more then learning a trade or general knowledge. It is about learning about yourself and who you are as an individual, and it has taken me four years to realize that but I guess in a sense I am having my own epiphany. I am more then who I was four years ago. I have grown in faith and love of Christ. I have seen heartache and pain. I have seen my family grow so strong after being so hurt. I have learned that with God ALL things are possible. I have learned that I am a nurse, a daughter, a friend, a sister, a follower of Christ, and a child of God. I will go to the ends of the world to serve Christ. And most of all, I have learned......I am just starting.

This is only one sunset in a million in my life, but this sunset with those that surround me will be one I will always remember. This feeling is one I want to hold on too.

Well tomorrow is the last day of the mission trip. It is our last clinic and the last day at the orphanage, it is sad in a way because that means for now I have to leave this place.....but I am beginning to get the feeling that this will not be the last time.

God Bless!

Traveling....and a day at the orphanage.....Day 4

Today was so much fun. While we didn't do a lot in terms of helping others, we did get to completely take in the Dominican Culture and see some sites that I will treasure forever.

Today we left Santo Domingo to head towards Bayahibe and La Romana. Here is a map....Let's see if I can help.



Santo Domingo is in purple and La Romana is in the yellow.....Bayahibe is 20 minutes to the east of La Romana. And from Santo Domingo to La Romana is about 2 hours of travel time if I remember right. La Romana is home to the orphanage that we were to see during this trip.

But the trip to La Romana was full of some fun and relaxation for us. We traveled to downtown Santo Domingo to go to the Market Place for some shopping. Which can I say was quite an experience. From the outside the market doesn't look so bad but when you walk in you are ambushed by everyone wanting to sell you something, and when you have very limited Spanish it gets a little confusing. Of course, like most girls I was having fun shopping and I was super excited to get stuff for my mom and dad. In fact I was able to learn while shopping. For mom I got a pair of earrings with a blue stone in it called Larimar, a stone that is only found in the Dominican Republic and is actually quite beautiful.

(The outside of the market)

(In the market)

But anyway on to the cooler stuff. In Santo Domingo stands a church that is the first church build in the new world. Wow, how awesome is that!? I was able to see the first church ever in this world. The feeling looking at this church was simply breathtaking. I will post pictures in a minute; but, pictures will never do this church justice. It was amazing that this place that was finished in 1511 still stood so majestically. Don't believe me....Look

Upon leaving the church we stopped to have lunch by the sea and enjoy some time out of the van....that was very cramped. But after lunch we continued on our way to La Romana and to the orphanage. I would say the van ride was full of fun and joking but in all honesty is was full of snoring and naps. I think we are all exhausted and will take any chance we get to sleep at this point. 

But the exhaustion all changed once we reached the orphanage.....we all become energetic and excited. I think it had something to do with the fact that when we pulled up there was kids waving at us and smiling and just full of their own excitement. 

This kids were full of joy and excitement upon our arrival. We quickly introduced everyone and then ventured outside to play some volleyball in the streets......or try to anyway, it didn't really work out as we were dodging cars and trying not to lose the ball. 

(just a video of the volleyball playing, I hope it is okay I have never tried putting a video from my phone on here) 

What amazed me most about these boys is how quickly they came to love everyone that was with us. I even had a couple kids that attached to me and stayed with me for most of the afternoon. They were filled with joy and loved taking pictures with the various cameras that were around. They also loved looking at the pictures and pointing out who was in the pictures. They wanted to show us toys and games and anything else they could. They loved jumping and running around just like most boys do. Looking at these boys just filled my heart with joy and love, and it is only day 1 with them. 

                                         

Acts 20:35 

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, "It is more blessed to give then to receive." 

Well I thought I was there to give to these boys and the community but I am learning more and more that they are giving to me more then I could ever give to them. They were showing me joy that I have never seen before. They were showing excitement that I could only hope to possess one day.  

We were even excited when a visitor came by. A baseball player from the Detroit Tigers lived a couple houses down came to visit and take pictures with the boys. I honestly don't know who was more excited us or them. It was so cool seeing the interaction this man had with these boys and how we was so excited to meet with them and us. He even started asking us about why we were there and we were beyond excited to tell him.

(The tallest one is the baseball player) 

Today we also put in the bunk beds that they had built in Santo Domingo. That was exciting to watch because we went from just building them to seeing who will be sleeping in them and how excited they were to get new beds. And I can safely say it was a huge improvement for them as well. 

(Putting in the new beds)

(carrying in the new beds)

(Taking apart the old ones)

So today was full of travel and meeting the boys. Tomorrow I am sure will be a lot busier and more interesting.....but hey we all need one day to relax, even God did. And after a trip to Bayahibe in a van full of exhausted people singing N*Sync, Backstreet Boys, Disney, and any other songs we could think of all the way back because we were tired and hungry......well we all figured we were going to sleep soundly tonight. 

Oh and on a side note. Dinner tonight was amazing!!! Whole fish with tostadas and a coke. Man I could eat Dominican food all the time if given the chance. 

Til Tomorrow! 

God Bless