The Post That Was Suppose To Be A Video

I made a video. It was me sharing about my thoughts on the religion here and my personal experience with the Lord. It didn't upload. I've been trying for days to upload it on here and youtube. But the internet is too slow. So i will type the thoughts out instead. Kinda a bummer but it's better than not filling you in at all.

I have realized (being with a hindu family) that they are really into rituals. What you have to do, how you have to do it, how many times you have to do it... and so on and so forth. At first I asked myself why they felt the need to do this and it made me really sad. I actually cried after experiencing my first puja (worship) because I couldn't believe the bondage they were enslaved to...and all for these idols. I started to seek God. I knew that this was going to be my everyday life and I had to find a way of realizing God's power and truth in the midst of my grief for this religion.
First I thanked Jesus that my faith in Him does not have to be a list of rituals. The Lord requires a life of justice and for us to be pleasing to Him as an outflowing of God's grace. I thanked Him that I don't have to go through any motions in order to appease Him.
Next, I began to praise God. Everytime we do puja and they are praying to these idols, I praise God for how great He is. I offer thanks for this experience, my relationship with Him, and for being with me even as everyone around me worships falsely. I praise Him for who He is and all He has done. These moments of glorifying His name are some of the best and it is an amazing experience that cannot be described.
After this, I pray. I pray for my family and friends here to know the truth, to see a difference in my life, and for them to open their eyes as God reveals Himself. I also pray for God to bless them, despite everything.
Hindu puja is a challenging time for me but it has gotten better because I know that the Lord is right there with me.
I respect the hindu people though. I see how passionate they are for what they believe and how much they do for their gods. I think hindus think about what they have to for their gods. But I am thankful to live knowing that God will supply our every need. However, I think that we need to offer the Lord more honor and more praise. I mean, if they are doing all of these things for statues and idols...shouldn't we be offering our God, the God, so much more than that?

My time with God here is so rich and fulfilling. I don't sit in my room too often because I enjoy being with my family and friends (soaking up the culture) but when I do come in here it is my time with God. I gave this room to Him when I arrived here and made it like my sanctuary. My dad gave me a letter before I left which encouraged me to run towards the Lord and cling tight to Him as I am moving through this experience. I re-read that letter all the time. I have also been reading Oswald Chambers "My Utmost For His Highest" which gives me so much food for the day (thanks Kayla). Then, there is my daily calendar which my mom gave me. It has a new scripture everyday and then every few days my mom wrote me a message too. It always cheers me up. The scriptures always fully apply to whatever I am going through at the time and it is such a refreshing way to start my day. I am so thankful to my family for this. Such love I have been shown. God is faithful and true.
I can see a change in me already, and it has only been a month. It's hard to think about because I know in another month I will be even different from who I am now. But I look forward to the many hours I will spend with the Lord here in India. My faith in God is the only "familiar" I have from home. EVERYTHING else is different. It's great to know that the Lord never changes though and that He is the only thing I need to have be familiar while I am here.
I wish that all Christians could come live in India, not travel for awhile, but live here. Live with rich hindus while there is poverty right outside your window. To see the puja everyday, as you sit, in an expensive flat, with maids serving you water, while your family feed their gods an abundance of food, and yet there are kids starving right outside your front door. Find God in that. Because that has become my new reality. I wish that every Christian could experience that and be humbled. Be humble before the Lord.
You know that joy that is talked about in the Bible? I finally know what that is. I've experienced it. Sure, I'm not happy all of the time but I have this immense joy that comes from the Lord. I pray that you experience that joy too. He's grown me and shown me so much. I can't thank Him enough. I also want to thank you for the prayers and encouragement. Please continue to pray for me because I will continue to need it.
This year is going to prove to be a defining moment in my life and I praise God for that. I praise God that He is already bringing me to my knees. I'm in love with the same God that the church there is. It's great to know He is with all of us. I'm feeling the love of the Lord is Nasik, India. And in that I can say... hallelujah!