I love that song from Boys to Men - When will I see you again and when will my heart beat again ....
I happend to run across my pics from Guatemala today and looking at the pics I still cannot verbalize what I felt and experienced there even three months later.
Some of the people I met on this year's trip are actually returning next year. I really long to see the children and friends in Guatemala again, but I also want to visit other parts of the world to see where God wants me.
Ethopia, Russia, Romania, Lima Peru .... where ??
I just want to serve. But as I look into the beautiful faces of these children in Guatemala ... I hear the words ... When will I see you again and when will my heart beat again ....
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
In the trenches
I was just meditating on being in the army this morning and if we had to pick someone to fight alongside us in the trenches what kind of person would we pick?
For many it would be the obvious choice of someone with a combination of strength, speed, endurance and someone who is able to shoot on target.
Who would we want leading us? Strong, mean looking men, with a gruff, baritone voice .... someone who invoked fear and demanded respect.
I am still reliving my trip to Guatemala and in all respects I really believe I enlisted myself in the army - the Lord's army. Or at least, the Lord's mini boot camp. :)
Our commander in chief is of course the Lord God Almighty and boy does he demand respect!! His presence is such that man cannot live and see God.
In the trenches though it was a little different. My leaders were two young, beautiful women with long, blond flaxen hair and gorgeous smiles. These women who could easily win a beauty pagent hands down had enlisted themselves in the Lord's army to fight alongside me in the trenches. Not just beauty pagents, these women are intelligent and ambitious enough to do just about anything they want, but they have decided to follow Jesus.
When we choose to fight in the Lord's Army it isn't physical strength or speed that matters. Nor does the Lord take outward appearance into account. What matters is whether or not we are willing to Trust and Obey, if we are willing to clothe ourselves with the Armor of God every day.
These young ladies have made the choice to Trust and Obey and that makes them stronger than any GI Joe who tries to make it on his own. I am willing to go into the trenches with these ladies any day as long as the Commander in Chief is Our Lord God Almighty.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of the dark world and against the spiritual forceds of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God so that that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand..... Ephesians 6:10-13
Monday, September 28, 2009
We Are Family - GUA Sep 20 - 27, 2009
NO - I'm not about to bust out in the Sister Sledge song ....
It is such a secure feeling to know that these people exist in this world - People who are Crazy for Christ ... Zealous for the Lord.
Alone, man is an island and can do nothing. With the Lord's help and guidance ... we are able to accomplish anything.
This is my dream team! A group of beautiful, smart, wise, funny, caring, warm, generous, gift, witty, talented and spirit filled people.
You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
Galatians 3:26-28
Happy to be Home, but sad to have left
I just came back from a trip organized by Buckner International Missions in Guatemala. I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with a group of wonderfully and beautifully made brothers and sisters in Christ. My new family and I visited several orphanages and girls/boys transitional homes to teach VBS and to personally help place shoes on the feet of these orphaned, abandoned, and/or poor children. I am still really swallowing it all in ... let alone digesting it.
My SOS (Shoes for Orphan's Souls Mission Trip) team members have come to mean so much to me. Although I missed my family/friends in Texas and am glad to be home, I am really missing not singing, dancing, laughing, praying, eating, teaching, serving and riding the bus with my family.
Nothing is by accident. God placed me in this group for a reason. Each unique person was only able to work harmoniously with the others because of the Spirit that lives and moves in each one of us believers. It gives me chills to think of the supernatural power of God that works in all situations and circumstances. You put this same group of diverse people in a secular, corporate setting ... Let me tell you ... it would be cut throat and we would be fighting for the corner office, a bigger promotion, it would be me me me... no doubt.
However, the Lord transforms those of us with a teachable spirit every day to become more and more Christ-like. Only the Lord can change the flesh led man into a spirit led man. Only the Lord can teach us servant leadership - placing shoes and socks on sometimes wet, dirty and too put it bluntly not so good smelling feet.
The Lord knows what he is doing when he does it - Maybe; those children did not particularly need me to put the shoes on their feet - maybe I needed their feet. Maybe, I needed to be humbled and warmed by their smiles and uncontained excitement over a pair of absolutely normal, common shoes. Maybe, I needed to see that despite all their hardships some of these little children were able to live, laugh and love. Maybe, I needed their sweet, loving kisses and their tight, cozy hugs and even some of their life threatening kung fu action lol ... the Karate Kid is no match for some of these tykes. hahaha
Maybe, I needed to see that just like I am childless they were motherless/fatherless, but none of us are alone or forsaken. Our Father united us together to be a family even if it was just for that moment. A moment that keeps playing over and over in my head and I'm sure is playing over and over again in the childrens' heads.
Jehovah Jirah, is our provider, and He is the creator of the heavens and of the earth. He made the stars in the sky and knows them by name. If it is his will the circumstances of these children can be changed faster than the blinking of an eye - for these little ones are his children and he knows them by name too. He can and will provide for these little ones in His time and His way.
Sure, the children were happy by our presence, with the fellowship, the songs, the story and with the shoes, but I today I believe God created this Mission Trip for me too. To teach me, to humble me, to renew me, to give me joy and peace and to bring me love. A different kind of joy and peace that only the Lord can give when we focus on His will and His work.
Because it is not about me or anyone else - it's about Jesus. My team and I slowly became less of us and more of Jesus. I am not boasting of about anything good in me or the rest of my team because I cannot boast ... I can only boast about my Savior Christ.... It is because He Lives.... We Live!
What I feel for the country of Guatemala and their people is something so different and so unexpected... One year ago I might have mentioned the word Guatemala about 5 times in my lifetime. But, today ... I am feeling pangs of separation, sadness, but I'm always reminded through people and nature that there is someone greater who is in control so I am also having feelings of Hope, Renewal, and a Strong Need for a Revival among the youth of our generation. We cannot not, must not lose hope in them - they are our future! We need to let them know that they can make a difference and I truly believe that our youth is and will continue to make a huge impact in this world. I saw this in the Young, but Caring boy who volunteers his time in a children's home on Saturdays. I saw this in our Young, but Strong Team Leaders. I saw this in our Young, but Dedicated Translators. I saw this in the Young, but Aspiring Children in the Transitional homes. I saw this in the Young, but Mission Driven teenage team member. A revival of the Holy Spirit is making a wave across the world. It is going to rock!!!
ohhhh Random Me (thats just me .... too many thoughts not enough time) - back to my trip....The things I was able to see and hear and do... WOW there are really no words that can bring justice to the experience.
The Good, the Bad, and YES, the VERY UGLY.
In the past seven days I encountered many things I cannot understand, many things I will never understand, and many things I do not need to understand
But through it all... if there is one thing that I know for sure is that GOD's Sovereign hand of protection and provision was with us every step of the way. And on the days where are steps were faltering because we were feeling sick, nauseous, overwhelmed, depressed ... Our Grandiose, Awesome, Living God carried us into the orphanages and children's homes.... and drew his arms around us so that we could draw our arms around these precious children. God's breathed His Spirit into us so that we could have the strength to hop, run, yell, shout, run and just love, love and love on these little blessings.
As I sit here introspecting - looking around my house, searching my heart and examining my life I realize that the work is far from done... I have miles to go before I sleep.
Nothing is by accident. God placed me in this group for a reason. Each unique person was only able to work harmoniously with the others because of the Spirit that lives and moves in each one of us believers. It gives me chills to think of the supernatural power of God that works in all situations and circumstances. You put this same group of diverse people in a secular, corporate setting ... Let me tell you ... it would be cut throat and we would be fighting for the corner office, a bigger promotion, it would be me me me... no doubt.
However, the Lord transforms those of us with a teachable spirit every day to become more and more Christ-like. Only the Lord can change the flesh led man into a spirit led man. Only the Lord can teach us servant leadership - placing shoes and socks on sometimes wet, dirty and too put it bluntly not so good smelling feet.
The Lord knows what he is doing when he does it - Maybe; those children did not particularly need me to put the shoes on their feet - maybe I needed their feet. Maybe, I needed to be humbled and warmed by their smiles and uncontained excitement over a pair of absolutely normal, common shoes. Maybe, I needed to see that despite all their hardships some of these little children were able to live, laugh and love. Maybe, I needed their sweet, loving kisses and their tight, cozy hugs and even some of their life threatening kung fu action lol ... the Karate Kid is no match for some of these tykes. hahaha
Maybe, I needed to see that just like I am childless they were motherless/fatherless, but none of us are alone or forsaken. Our Father united us together to be a family even if it was just for that moment. A moment that keeps playing over and over in my head and I'm sure is playing over and over again in the childrens' heads.
Jehovah Jirah, is our provider, and He is the creator of the heavens and of the earth. He made the stars in the sky and knows them by name. If it is his will the circumstances of these children can be changed faster than the blinking of an eye - for these little ones are his children and he knows them by name too. He can and will provide for these little ones in His time and His way.
Sure, the children were happy by our presence, with the fellowship, the songs, the story and with the shoes, but I today I believe God created this Mission Trip for me too. To teach me, to humble me, to renew me, to give me joy and peace and to bring me love. A different kind of joy and peace that only the Lord can give when we focus on His will and His work.
Because it is not about me or anyone else - it's about Jesus. My team and I slowly became less of us and more of Jesus. I am not boasting of about anything good in me or the rest of my team because I cannot boast ... I can only boast about my Savior Christ.... It is because He Lives.... We Live!
What I feel for the country of Guatemala and their people is something so different and so unexpected... One year ago I might have mentioned the word Guatemala about 5 times in my lifetime. But, today ... I am feeling pangs of separation, sadness, but I'm always reminded through people and nature that there is someone greater who is in control so I am also having feelings of Hope, Renewal, and a Strong Need for a Revival among the youth of our generation. We cannot not, must not lose hope in them - they are our future! We need to let them know that they can make a difference and I truly believe that our youth is and will continue to make a huge impact in this world. I saw this in the Young, but Caring boy who volunteers his time in a children's home on Saturdays. I saw this in our Young, but Strong Team Leaders. I saw this in our Young, but Dedicated Translators. I saw this in the Young, but Aspiring Children in the Transitional homes. I saw this in the Young, but Mission Driven teenage team member. A revival of the Holy Spirit is making a wave across the world. It is going to rock!!!
ohhhh Random Me (thats just me .... too many thoughts not enough time) - back to my trip....The things I was able to see and hear and do... WOW there are really no words that can bring justice to the experience.
The Good, the Bad, and YES, the VERY UGLY.
In the past seven days I encountered many things I cannot understand, many things I will never understand, and many things I do not need to understand
But through it all... if there is one thing that I know for sure is that GOD's Sovereign hand of protection and provision was with us every step of the way. And on the days where are steps were faltering because we were feeling sick, nauseous, overwhelmed, depressed ... Our Grandiose, Awesome, Living God carried us into the orphanages and children's homes.... and drew his arms around us so that we could draw our arms around these precious children. God's breathed His Spirit into us so that we could have the strength to hop, run, yell, shout, run and just love, love and love on these little blessings.
As I sit here introspecting - looking around my house, searching my heart and examining my life I realize that the work is far from done... I have miles to go before I sleep.
Speaking of sleep - I've gotta get ready to go to bed soon ... work starts tomorrow.
More to come about my trip to the beautiful country of Guatemala soon.... until then God Bless You and I Love You!
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