Water For the World

Up at New Life International this week.  I love what they do here, and I love observing and being a part in it.

Today and yesterday, I have acted as guinea pig setting up and running a purifier all on my own, with only the instruction manual as my guide.  The objective was to see if someone who had no clue as to what they were doing could set up and operate one of those things. 

Also, this has been a good time to spend with part of my family that I do not see very often.  My cousins, Cierla and Isaac, have been so fun to be around these past few days. —–Well, Isaac is actually more of an intentional pest like my brothers, but Cierla is fun.  : )  (By the way, this is not said behind his back.  I am definitely going to tell him.  : p)

He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not, He Loves ME!!!

He is faithful.  When I am unfaithful, he remains faithful.  Unending faithfulness.  Did I mention that He is FAITHFUL?

A God of love….but such love.  How is it that he can love me with all of my faults, with all of my meanness, with all of my lack of goodness of which He has in abundance?  How is it that He can love me to such a point that I cannot understand, unconditionally, and yet He has enough love to love my neighbors, my friends, the people I pass in the grocery store, and people I will never meet?  How is it that I mess up time and time again, and yet he forgives, picks me up, dusts me off, and continues to love me?  What love is this but the greatest expression of LOVE.  Truly, forgiveness of my wrongs, refusing to hold them against me.  He looks at my potential, at what I can do for Him, through Him, at how I can love Him in return.  How?

Such a concept that I cannot fully understand can be summed up in those simple-sounding words that we hear so often, “God IS love.”  He is not a feeling, but He is an action.  In His case, “Luv is a verb,” and how thankful I am to be loved.

Forms

I had hoped I was finished with paperwork.    Oh well, I think I am now.

Faxed a whole packet of forms through yesterday.   Now to wait for “official” stuff.

Sometimes, I am super excited and cannot wait to be over there.  Other times I feel nothing.  I guess this is one reason my pastor is always talking about not going by anything you feel.  There are good days and bad days, but I have to do what I know I am supposed to do, whether I feel like it or not.

Another Step Forward

Paperwork part three finished. Doctor’s note acquired. Now to fax them. That will have to wait for Monday.

Now, I am going to sleep. Up for church in a mere six hours.

I may not be able to fly, but time sure does

One year older; one year wiser (hopefully).  Another year’s lessons learned, some the hard way.

Another year has flown by.  What did I accomplish?  Whose life did I impact?  Did I grow closer to God?  Have I made a difference?

Sometimes, it is hard for me to remember that life is not making myself out of bed and go through the same routine each day.  It is about living and serving joyfully, making a difference, and giving glory to God.  What is life, what is living, if I do not do it gladly and with joy, fulfilling the plans He has for me, even when I am not exactly sure what they are or where I am going?

Paperwork 2

More paperwork 

I actually got two more parts.  I am faxing the first part today, and the second part hopefully towards the end of this week.

Yay!  Sometimes a slow process, sometimes super fast….

So True…

“Thine is the Kingdom…” by Max Lucado

There are certain mountains only God can climb. Ascend them and you’ll end up bruised and embarrassed. Stay away from them and you’ll sidestep a lot of stress. These mountains are described in the final phrase of the Lord’s prayer, “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.” A trio of peaks mantled by the clouds. Admire them, applaud them, but don’t climb them.

It’s not that you aren’t welcome to try, it’s just that you aren’t able. The pronoun is thine, not mine; thine is the kingdom, not mine is the kingdom. If the word Savior is in your job description, it’s because you put it there. Your role is to help the world, not save it. Mount Messiah is one mountain you weren’t made to climb.

Nor is Mount Self-Sufficient. You aren’t able to run the world, nor are you able to sustain it. Some of you think you can. You are self-made. You don’t bow your knees, you just roll up your sleeves and put in another twelve-hour day … which may be enough when it comes to making a living or building a business. But when you face your own grave or your own guilt, your power will not do the trick.

You were not made to run a kingdom, nor are you expected to be all-powerful. And you certainly can’t handle all the glory. Mount Applause is the most seductive of the three peaks. The higher you climb the more people applaud, but the thinner the air becomes. More than one person has stood at the top and shouted, “Mine is the glory!” only to lose their balance and fall.

“Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.” What protection this final phrase affords. As you confess that God is in charge, you admit that you aren’t. As you proclaim that God has power, you admit that you don’t. And as you give God all the applause, there is none left to dizzy your brain.

From The Great House of God © (Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001) Max Lucado

Paperwork…

Today, I faxed paperwork part 1.  We shall see in a while what comes of that.

Keep praying!

I’m Back!!!

It has been a while, so here is some news:

Mother and Elizabeth (my younger-just-turned-16 sister) just got back from Venezuela.  Apparently, they had an awesome time with the kids,  hard work, huge frogs, and large bugs….  Eugh!

I have received some of the paperwork to return to Swaziland.  So, you can be praying for that- that God would open the right doors, and close others- that I would have faith in HIM.  I trust him completely in my head, but sometimes, it is a struggle to make my heart follow suit and rest completely in knowing that he is in control. 

Snow, Ice, and Everything Nice

When I left Louisville Saturday, it was 5 F.  Louisiana was a lot warmer.

A few days before I left, we had some major snow and ice.  Power went out and everything was crazy.  My university even cancelled classes three days in a row.  (A rare happening.)  At my house, the power was out four days.  My mother loved it.  She had a fire going and she was just having fun.  (Keep in mind that I was not there to enjoy the cold.  I had gotten snowed in so-to-speak at my grandparent’s house.)

Here are some pictures of the beautiful winter wonderland that was created by a couple days of snow and ice.