Servants of God

When I was in the Dominican Republic this last week, the ladies over there taught me quite a few things. On my trip to minister to them, they ministered to me.

They are so welcoming, they greet you with a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. They are your sisters and friends already. They are so grateful that we are there to help them and they thanked us a lot. Their gratefulness at anything big or small made me feel glad to be there -needed and wanted.

Most of the Christian ladies don't speak English and don't know what we say when we pray but they bow their heads in reverence and respect to God. Their love for God shines from their eyes and smiles. The love of the Lord radiates from their entire being. They are committed to the Lord and the jobs that He has given them and they do it all with a smile.

The ladies loved to feed us there, I guess because that's all they can give back to us. It's so sweet of them. And it also challenged me to be very giving of everything and anything I have. They give more than they can, yet I have so much and I keep what I need and want. They give their all in everything they do and every way they can.

At our first location, the pastors house was right beside his church and also right beside where our house was. The pastors wife had people coming in and out of her house every minute of every day and she greeted them all and was glad they were there, ready to give them what they needed as best as she could. She had projects all around, a sewing machine here to make things for the women, and a rocking chair and blanket in case a baby needed to be rocked, and an office and phone for the missionaries to call home, and someone cooking in the kitchen, and extra cloths over there as need for everyone, and a quiet room in case someone needed to talk -so many ways that she ministered!! Her home was not perfect but to me it was absolutely beautiful! Anyone and everyone was welcome in her home at any time. She was a true servant and showed me how it needs to be.

At our second location we were painting a school room. The first thing one of the ladies does is cook us some food and bring us drinks and jello. She was so happy to have us there and kept thanking us over and over again. She didn't speak English but that did not stop her from coming out to greet us. She didn't hide in the kitchen like I might have, and she didn't stand in the doorway to the school room like I might have, but she came in and welcomed us and brought us food. I wouldn't have had courage to do that unless I was told to, but she did it on her own and she showed me that that's how it needs to be.

All of these ladies are truly servants of God. They give their all, even when it might seem they have nothing to give, because they do have God's love to give. They don't hold back. And through this, they showed me how my life needs to change.

God's Word

7-28-12

In group Devotional this morning Zephaniah 3:17 was the scripture. Last Wednesday it was also the scripture. In the 'Trip Guide' book, for Day Two it is there again!
Surely this is God speaking!
Zephaniah 3:17 "For the Lord your God has arrived to live among you. He is a might Savior. He will rejoice over you with great gladness. With His love, He will calm all your fears. He will exhult over you by singing a happy song."
This is everything I needed to hear. Thank you God.


8-3-12

The Bible is a living book that applies to us still today. God spoke this verse into my life last year and I memorized it, and now as He whispers it to me again and again it reaches to the core of my being. He has arrived to live among me and with me, no matter where I live for however long. He is mighty! His Words of rejoicing and delighting in me bring me peace -the power of His love brings me a peace that passes all understanding. As He sings a happy song over me, it calls to me to sing back to Him. I'm filled with His word to be emptied again then He fills me and I give and over and over.
Are you listening for His words of love? Are you letting His love calm all your fears? He is rejoicing over you. Listen. He is loving you. Listen. He is singing to you. Listen to His singing.

Beauty

I didn't know. I should have known. I didn't know you could fall in love with a child so easily -so quickly without even speaking a word.
We had just arrived in the Dominican Republic and were driving down the paved, two-lane road. I sat in the passenger seat of the fifteen passenger bus. A mini-van with a little brown face smiling out the window pulled up beside us at a red light. She looks straight at me and I grin at her. At my smile, she lights up, waving back to me and showing off her white teeth with a big smile.
She's beautiful.
We play peek-a-boo for a little, with her coming in view and disappearing behind the window. She giggles the entire time and I can't help but feel joy at her delight.
The light turns green and we pull away and she's gone.
I don't know her name, or how old she is, or where she was going, or if she knew Jesus. But she was beautiful.

7-26-12 DAY ONE

I did not want to go overseas on a mission trip, with just me and God and a team of strangers. I wanted to say "no" and stay home where I am comfortable, and know what my job is, and have easy access to everything.
All (Thursday) morning I was nervous. My parents getting to go through security and waiting with me helped, but ultimately it was when I left them, got into the plane and sat down that the peace of God washed over my heart. No longer am I shaky. No longer am I worried. God is with me -I said "Yes" when He asked me to go and I claim His promises that He will lead and guide me and give me courage.
I might not have easy access to phone or Internet. I might not have my best friends beside me. But I know God is with me. And I do know my job. My job is to spread the love and hope of Jesus. God has never failed to take care of me in every way, and He will not forget me now. All this time He has been whispering words of love and peace.
"Just trust me, daughter."
So I look down from the sky and literally say goodbye to everyone and everything I love and tell God that I will trust Him.
If this brings one person to know the power of God, then it is worth it. And if this brings me just a inch closer to God, then it is worth it.
God is worth it. Saying "Yes" is worth it.

Matthew 10:38-39 "Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

Prayer

May today be all you need it to be. May the peace of God and the freshness f the Holy Spirit rest in your thoughts, rule in your dreams tonight, and conquer all your fears.

May God manifest Himself today in ways you have never experienced. May your joys be fulfilled, your dreams be closer, and your prayers be answered.

I pray that faith enters a new height for you; I pray that your territory is enlarged.
I pray for peace, healing, health, happiness, prosperity, joy, true and undying love for God.

My feet are glued... when I should be running

July 20th  

I’m disappointed in myself. July was a month I’d looked forward to with anticipation and expectation - and if I’m honest a little of anxiety. I was coming to find adventure and revival, yet here I sit, on a comfortable recliner, lounging in front of the TV. Music jamming in the back ground. Even though a week ago, I arrived a little bit out of my comfort zone, it isn’t that way anymore –this could be home. Looking back on my week, I realize I’ve missed opportunities for adventure, and I’ve chosen to settle and chill instead of getting out and reviving myself. All week I’ve put off anything too intense. I’ve expected God to meet me where I am, instead of getting out and meeting Him.

At home, it didn’t seem like I’d had opportunities for anything extremely radical, but now I’m away and it hits me that I have a huge habit to chill.

It’s my fault. It’s my fault that I don’t sacrifice my Saturday morning sleep to get up before the sun rises and get into the Word. Until now I didn’t realize that I’ve missed the unusual occasion to let God move not because He isn’t ready to move, but because I’m still standing still. I always wait for God to initiate our interaction, when I should be providing and offering my time and worship. God stands at my door and knocks, but my music is much too loud to hear Him, and on certain days where I’m buried in a good book, I have that door locked up tighter than a bank. My feet are glued to the ground, when I should be running the race.

All through Jesus’ life the things He did challenged us. He fasted for forty days! He healed people. He brought people back from the dead! He got up before the sun rose. He prayed so hard that His sweat was blood. He died the worst death possible. It seems to me that Jesus lived one day even better than the last.

So I ask myself one hard question: Is today going to be even better than yesterday? (Will it be hard to make it better? Ha.) Today will be better, because I’m rising to the challenge! Now that I’ve realized what I am (lazy), I’m going to fight this, because I don’t want to be content. I don’t want to be content, or disappointed in myself, or anxious. I want to be radical and Christ-like and running.

Will you rise to the challenge that Jesus set before you?

Heavenly companion

Last week, for nine days I went to the South Texas Children's Home in Beevill

July 20^th

I met a girl today at the pool. She was the newest girl to come to the home –just arrived this afternoon. She seemed lost. That was a good way to explain the look in her eyes. Overwhelmed –there’s another good word. Her eyes were curious, as if she didn’t understand why I was being so friendly. While we were swimming, slowly she opened up to me. Through a series of events, she told a few of the other STCH Kids and me why she had come to live at the children’s home. “I had a lot of trouble with school,” she told us with a shrug. “So my parents just sent me here.” Now, I’m not sure if she had trouble academically or socially, but as she spoke the words “my parents just sent me here” you could hear the hurt and confusion. I wanted to wrap my arms around her and tell her “God wants you. He won’t send you away and He will never leave you or forsake you. You’ll always have God.” I will pray that someone does tell her that.

I slowly got to know this girl for the next few days. On Sunday as I was saying goodbye, it was her I went to last. I didn’t want to say goodbye to her. I was ready to come home, but if I could have brought this girl with me, I would have. I had only known this girl a total of three days, and had only spent a few hours with her, but I already loved her as my sister. When I told her I had to go home, that I was leaving, she felt the same as I did –regretful that there wasn’t more time. She would have been a great friend. Pray with me that she will get in a relationship with Jesus, because then she will not only be my sister, and friend, but also a Heavenly companion for eternity.

This is a hard one for me to write, that’s why it’s taken so long and why it’s so short. The words did not come easy for me, but it was a story worth telling.