Month: October 2018

What Really Matters.

She was excited for the interval, hungry for the next chapter. It didn’t matter that she was sitting in the middle of a straw mat in the heart of Africa with Portuguese and local dialects all around her. She had patiently waited, greeting everyone and sharing in hugs and hand shakes. She had made sure everyone was settled and happy with various picture books and white computer papers for origami.

And so she happily smiled, flipping to her previous page and soaking into her book when in an instance it was snatched from her hands. She turned to me and laughed at the irony. A young girl sitting beside her motioned quietly for her to wait as the girl looked at the book’s pictures sporadically included in the English chapter book. My little girl just waited, See, she knew in this kid cultural moment it wasn’t rude. She saw the young friend’s bubbling over excitement. Books are so scarce here that they’re super exciting. And besides, this is just how you love people here- you share when it’s not always convenient.

The grace my little girl showed was such an encouragement to me. It has been a slow whispering, an awakening to the true value. Books and things are always fun, but the hearts of those around us make us laugh in the ironic moments and share willingly with those around us; even when they don’t read English, were a little too excited to contain themselves, and when the irony of the situation is just too fun to not share with locked eyes and a chuckle. Kids here see with their hands. And they almost always hand it back momentarily. It’s just a game of patience while everyone gets a look before you get it back. Community is strong here. And how beautiful to see my little lady play her role so sweetly.

And sure enough, with patience and the passing of 30 seconds, my beloved little girl was back to her thirst-quenching exploration of the world of yet another novel character.

People will always matter more than things.

And irony is totally worth laughing at

there on a straw mat in the heart Africa.

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The Important Things

Because sometimes you just have to bring the guinea pigs to the prayer meeting.

Those squeakers really were so quiet and respectful while we all enjoyed prayer service. 😉

And yes, it brought many smiles to adult faces.

– Family ministry at its finest. 😉

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At the Furnace

A passage has been brought to mind recently, emboldening Matt and I in the face of a very challenging visa situation that I am not at liberty to share details about publicly. But as Matt and I fast and pray over all the results of this and call upon our Lord, who is more than capable to display His power and glory in this situation, the passage has constantly been put on my mind.

Here three men stand in a country that is not their own, facing changed laws and a power display. Their words pierce me as they stand at the furnace with the confidence of God alone as they speak out,

O Neduchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up. – Daniel 3:16-18

When they spoke those words they did not know how God was going to move. They did not know the end of the story. So many times when we tell the tale we immediately jump to the conclusion, but we forget that those words were spoken while facing immediate death. There wasn’t a record to refer to to see how the story would turn out. It was happening right then.

I wonder if it felt as out of control as this has felt. As unpredictable. As defeating, in moments. How critical the timing of it all. How pressing and unimaginably hopeless in worldly standards.

So Monday, we covet your prayers, as we stand at the furnace – no not the literal one. God has yet to call us to stand at a literal furnace and we’re hopeful He will not, BUT we are willing to stand on His character alone no matter where He asks us to stand. He is all we can stand on. He will fight the battle for us, but even if He does not fight in the way we would like, His will get His glory from this situation. Be assured. Just as He reaped His glory in the situation with King Nebuchadnezzer at that furnace, He will receive all the glory here in this situation. We have no doubt about that.

We have exhausted all we, weak people, can do. We have done all He has asked us to do. And now we will stand back and watch Him move and applaud the lesson He is teaching all our hearts as we watch Him move. Those who believed Him to be true standing around that furnace alongside of those who did not yet claim His Great Name, all waiting to see how He would show up and what He would do.

We’re asking for His words to speak to the king. He goes before us and behind us and with us.

We covet your prayers that Monday we will stand at the furnace well on His behalf and that we will, through His strength alone, receive His response, even if it is “but even if He does not”.

We are willingly weak vessles.

Be glorified, Lord God. Be glorified!

Come, Lord, and receive Your Glory in all this.

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