One week back stateside; one week back in the day to day, moment to moment, nitty grittiness of home...
When I'm away from home, I miss it so much. When I'm in my home, I'm overwhelmed by the stress of my every day life. Where is the green grass again?
The struggle is to be wholly present in the Holy Present- completely there where God has put you, where He is. Whether that be in Kenya, or Galveston TX. Present, engaged, and thankful for the moment.
For me, that can be easier when I'm overseas. Something about the foreign unfamiliar makes me stop and seek God, find His beauty, and be thankful for everything. I'm thankful I made it across the ocean in 2 different airplanes! Thankful to have a place to stay! Thankful for food to eat! Maybe its the fact that so many people in that area of the world don't; just being there makes you slow down and SEE things differently, and be thankful.
Coming home on the other hand? Immediately EVERYTHING gets crazy and complex, exhausting (or is it jet lag?), and SUPER SONIC SPEED. I have to be so intentional to stop my racing mind, my anxious heart; to slow down and see my God and listen to His Words, to trust in Him. I have to stop, look, and wait on Him.
Otherwise I'm immediately overwhelmmed.
"One of the most amazing revelations of God comes to us when we learn that it is in the everyday things of life that we realize the magnificent diety of Jesus Christ." ~ Oswald Chambers, My Utmost For His Highest (Feb 7)
But I am like a flourishing olive tree in the house of God; I continually trust in God's loyal love. I will continually thank you when you execute judgement; I will rely on you, for your loyal followers know you are good. Ps. 52:8-9
Friday, February 10, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Beautiful Things
God makes beautiful things from what we often call ugly. Will we reject Him in the moment because we don't like what is happening, or will we look for Him in the situation, find Him, and watch how He (and only He) can make beauty from the ashes!
After a massive oil pipeline explosion in the Nairobi slum of Lunga Lunga, maybe 100 people were killed and many more injured. The fire engulfed homes and buisnesses.
But God makes beautiful things...He is there when the ugly happens and He works is out for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Five new little ones added to the Namoi's Village family since I left last year. Praise God for the hopes and dreams of these little ones and all the the Lord is doing and will do in their lives.
After a massive oil pipeline explosion in the Nairobi slum of Lunga Lunga, maybe 100 people were killed and many more injured. The fire engulfed homes and buisnesses.
But God makes beautiful things...He is there when the ugly happens and He works is out for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.
Five new little ones added to the Namoi's Village family since I left last year. Praise God for the hopes and dreams of these little ones and all the the Lord is doing and will do in their lives.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Looking for beauty in a foreign land...
Looking for beauty is something like looking for the hand of God all around you. Its not hard to find in a place like Kijabe, Kenya.
Unique, tropical yet familiar, canalyas below heritage roses and a banana tree with green fruit growing.
I love the sceenery, our pourch over looks the great rift valley.
But I can't help but notice that the valley is littered with the white UNICEF relief tents of refugees still struggling for necessity after the post-election violence three years ago. Still, how many prayers since then? How much suffering since then?
In research I write the names of the newly diagnosed with HIV for one year past, and I ask the Lord how long? How long will these suffer and die? Burnt with the sin of the world?
I take this morning to rest, read, and walk looking for beauty...I search for butterflies.
But I am careful to walk clear around the hospital, for I know that place too well. It is a place of immense suffering: death, disease, dismemberment, loss. My roommate comes home from the hospital and describes the careful bathing of her patient; the skin sloughed and bleeding, the man hurt and angry. This is the kingdom, she says, to serve in the mess.
This is the kingdom.
Looking for beauty in the ashes, we are here to serve, light in a fallen darkness, salt of the earth. I want to see God. I want Him here, in this, to walk with him through all of this so I can see Him make beauty in the mess.
Unique, tropical yet familiar, canalyas below heritage roses and a banana tree with green fruit growing.
I love the sceenery, our pourch over looks the great rift valley.
But I can't help but notice that the valley is littered with the white UNICEF relief tents of refugees still struggling for necessity after the post-election violence three years ago. Still, how many prayers since then? How much suffering since then?
In research I write the names of the newly diagnosed with HIV for one year past, and I ask the Lord how long? How long will these suffer and die? Burnt with the sin of the world?
I take this morning to rest, read, and walk looking for beauty...I search for butterflies.
But I am careful to walk clear around the hospital, for I know that place too well. It is a place of immense suffering: death, disease, dismemberment, loss. My roommate comes home from the hospital and describes the careful bathing of her patient; the skin sloughed and bleeding, the man hurt and angry. This is the kingdom, she says, to serve in the mess.
This is the kingdom.
Looking for beauty in the ashes, we are here to serve, light in a fallen darkness, salt of the earth. I want to see God. I want Him here, in this, to walk with him through all of this so I can see Him make beauty in the mess.
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