Honduras Reflection

Four local and three foreign mission trips and each time I walk away with something different.

What touched my heart most was a quick visit on Sunday to see Carlos and his family.  This beautiful family that gave so much to us last year.

It was a surprise visit you see, there were no calls first, just a pop in and see what has been happening over the last year.  And after everyone had hugged and said "hello" and we had taken pictures.  We shared a few whispers and determined that Carlos was turning 12 that next week.  We were going to stand around him sing "happy birthday"--that beautiful child who worked so hard on his home last year... heard our singing and started crying.

My heart broke.  

Our country has so many advantages, and my life was full of good opportunities.  I had gifts for every birthday--we didn't have much growing up, but I did have a roof... and food... and gifts on my birthday and at Christmas.  My sweet nieces and nephews get gifts from all of us each year.

I was overwhelmed with a sense of purity.  That precious child was so grateful for our singing in a language he didn't know.  My heart broke, but it was full.

"My commandment is this – to love one another just as I have loved you." John 15:12

What does it mean...

What does it mean to have "inexpressible joy"?  Better yet, what is it?

When I chose that title it wasn't because I'm a happy-go-lucky person... it's actually based on scripture.

Quick story: Sometimes those well-planned public speaking events don't go smoothly.  I had everything set... two balloons, a lit candle and an audience.

The balloons had smiling face.  Each balloon represented a Christian.

When held over the candle, the first balloon popped.

Heat added to a Christian's life can sometimes steal our joy--sometimes those unhappy, or hurtful events in our lives can take away the joy that we have as Christians.  It shouldn't if we are firmly grounded in God.

The second balloon didn't pop (when I practiced anyhow), why not?  Because it had 1/4 cup of water in it to represent the presence of God and the more time we spend in his presence the harder it is to let heat that enters take away that joy. 

Joy is used roughly 170 times in the Old and New Testaments

"I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be complete." 
John 15:11

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A joy that is about being God's own.  Not about material possessions, or money, or societal status--rather, knowing whose you are.

"You have not seen him, but you love him. You do not see him now but you believe in him, and so you rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy," I Peter 1:8

Indescribable, glorious, inexpressible, complete joy found in the presence of a set apart Creator who loves us, loves me, despite our foibles and faults.

Strive for inexpressible joy in your daily life! (Even when there's heat, especially when there's heat.)


(credit for the object lesson goes to the internet and resourceful people everywhere... unfortunately I can't find where I'd seen it first!--Google it sometime.)

'"behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God" I John 3:1a

Nobody can love us like Jesus cuz He is love! God is good all the time. May you all have a very special day and know you are loved!'

A msg from my friend B that I thought you could use. Because while I too hold no meaning for this day of "love" in the sense of relationship with a significan other... God is awesome and he does love us so that's well worth mentioning.

1 John 3:1

How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that weshould be called children of God! And that is what we are! Thereason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
1 John 3:1

Face of Love

Sanctus Real

You are the face that changed the whole world
No one too lost for you to love
No one too low for you to serve
So give us the grace to change the world
No one too lost for me to love
No one too low for me to serve
Let us see... let us be your face

Pause for a moment and consider this: how have you been the face of love? What have you allowed Christ to do through your life?

Do you have a passion and desire to share how big, how awesome, how great God is? If you don't... why not?

What is the greatest commandment? To love the Lord your God and the second is like unto it... love your neighbor as yourself.

Numbers 6

The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: the LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: the LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
Numbers 6:24-26

My sister likes to use this passage when she closes letters and signs cards. This was a blessing given Moses by God to give to the Israelites by Aaron and his sons. Sometimes I wonder--why don’t we speak blessings to one another more often? Does “Have a good day” or “bye” sound the same as “the LORD make His face shine upon you…”?

So claim that blessing oh faithful ones--oh precious children of our most awesome and amazing God. For you see those mishaps with finances, those struggles with the car, dangerous situations, and the relational issues you may be dealing with… those are your fires and trials and slammings from one who would rather you fall flat on your face than rise up and serve with the gifts and talents you’ve been given by our bigger, in control Creator and Refuge. Claim your peace.

Be of good cheer, He has overcome this world!

Temporary

Mountains and valleys exist in each of our lives, I hazard to say that the handful of people that read this blog know more pain than I do myself. Borrowing again from a devotional, let me share a revelation:

"So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Cor. 4:18

'You may not realize it -- but problems often "speak" to you.

They say things like, "You can't get rid of me. I'll be withyou as long as you live."

"Your parents died from this and you will, too."

["This pain will never end."]'

I've considered leaving the church I'm at on multiple occasions from the time that I started going there almost 4 years ago--sometimes I hear it and I wonder, did I make the wrong decision? Should I be serving somewhere else?

Lately, I've just started asking God if I can leave yet--I know it's not my permanent place, I can feel that. Maybe it's the military brat in me--what some might call "wander-lust"--this desire to keep moving beyond what's right here. Not being fully sure what God has in store for me, wanting to see it, but half in fear, hiding. Knowing that I never quite fit-in anywhere I've been or where I'm at currently. Constantly feeling like a total outsider.

Knowing that really what I want to want... what I want to desire more than anything else is to be not just a "reflection of something" but a reflection of Christ.

In researching the word "desire" the thought came to mind "as the dear panteth for cool waters so my soul longeth after Thee".

Have you ever been so thirsty? Have you wanted, desired, craved, sought out or longed for any one thing with all that you had?

I like this next sentence: "Desire is a strong feeling [...] that impels the attainment or possession of something that is within reach" did you catch that last part, impels, meaning pushes forward....

Pain subsides, what we see on this earth, it truly is temporary. So what are you pushing forward for? What you see, or what you can't see?

Today I got a devotional on when to rejoice. Sometimes I get devotionals or snippets and I think “why now?” Today is a down day, so maybe that’s why it’s in there, that being said let me share a few things from the email devo dated this day.

“If you only rejoice when things are perfect, you may not rejoice much in this life.”

Wow, so what does that mean? In the middle of the sadness that is this life so often, to quote my sister “be Christ-like” despite the hurts that are sometimes inflicted thoughtlessly.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” Romans 12:12

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Phil. 4:4

“God never changes. He's always good. Focus on Him [and there will be a reason to rejoice].”

Kids books * running water * Violet * a car that works * Hyder, Hyder * baby I-hop * ears * a job * beauty for ashes * boldness * sisters * brothers * genesis * daisies and roses * ferns * hallmark cards * sg videos * “angry eyes” * walking on the beach at night * breezes * a camera * poppies * mild days * handle-bar mustaches * puppets * creativity *

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am to be content.

Philipians 4:11