What matters

One year ago my husband boarded a plane to be an ebola fighter in Liberia, Africa.

It mattered to God that he went.

It mattered to him that he went.

It mattered to me that he went.

It mattered to the people of this planet that he went.

We trusted.

We hoped.

We believed. 

A year later I find myself after traveling across the world and back asking God 

what matters now?

I'm still trusting.

I'm still hoping.

I'm still believing. 

"Be still and know that I am God..."

Twenty thousand miles

By air and by car we have covered twenty thousand miles since mid July. 

What am I seeing?

Familiar places.

What am I hearing?

Familiar burdens.

What am I learning?

Familiar lessons.

What am I praying?

Not to let familiarity take hold of living an extraordinary life. 

"Whoever loses his life will find it..."

Lost and Found

Living outside of America for almost half of this year, I've been thinking about how God is molding me, shaping me, what I've lost and what I've found...

I have lost vain opinions about how I and other people should live, love, look, work, play, serve, worship, speak, drive, eat, dress, shop, save, spend, birth, learn, parent, help, plan, pray.

And I have found calm in a region used to conflict; peace in a city known for chaos; hope on a continent known for disease; satisfaction in a place of hunger; kindness in a country known for terrorism; love and friendship- from street kids, orphans, missionaries, refugees, men, women, pastors, preachers, couples, teenagers, children living in slums, on compounds, working in restaurants, for NGO's and on street corners, all from different parts of the world all gathered here for such a time as this. My life has been changed, forever and ever, amen. 

 

I don't think returning back to America will be easy for me as we have made friends here who are like family and the thought of leaving them brings us to tears. I asked my husband what he thought it may be like for me and how has he been able to transition back after having traveled out of the USA and served in now, over fifty countries.

He said, "it will be frustrating for you at first, for sure, but you will be okay, pray through it."

As he took my hand and smiled I knew at that moment that I've started to gain a glimpse into the man God gave me to marry and a peek into what he has seen all these years of how the rest of the world actually lives... Something that I've known to be true and hasn't changed from coming here is that there  is ONLY ONE WAY--- and His name is JESUS and His grace is sufficient. 

When I get off the airplane and my feet hit the ground in America, I have confidence knowing in my heart that He who has begun a good work in me will see to it to complete it... And I know this is just the beginning of the rest of our happyeverafter...

It's a big, small world and there is much work to do and many people to meet and learn, love and serve, pray and worship alongside...as my young friend from Bolivia told me, "there is America and Canada and then there is the rest of the world."

I'm excited, I'm expectant and I'm ready. This isn't a goodbye or ending to our life in Africa, no, this is just the beginning and so friends, near and far, we will see you all soon. <3 thank you for laying down your lives and loving us and so many others as if your lives depend on it. 

Stay dangerous and be careful for nothing. 

"Whoever loses his life for my sake will find it..."

"I am the way, the truth and the life.."

#gointoalltheworldandpreachthegospel

Stand forth

When things are 

Easy

Hard

Planned

Unplanned

Full

Empty

Sad

Happy

Chaotic

Calm

Safe

Unsafe

Paid

Owed

Helpful

Hurtful

Familiar

Unfamiliar

Certain

Uncertain

Promised

Unpromised

Healthy

Diseased.

Fair.

Unfair.

Ugly.

Beautiful.

Stand forth or don't.

"Not the cowardly... Shall inherit the kingdom of heaven..."

It is good.

These past six days I've seen miracles.

They have come in subtle and powerful ways.

I try to write but stop short, every time.

I think God wants me to hide them in my heart. 

He will let me know when to speak about them  or write or shout them.

I'm not seeking signs or wonders.

I'm believing with faith unswerving  and they are following.

Have you gotten to that place, friends?

Because it's time to stop playing. 

It's time to stop pretending.

It's time to stop doubting.

It just is...

It's time to believe 

and be restored 

and hope 

and holdfast to the things of God.

The multitudes are waiting.

They are in desperate need.

They are like sheep having no shepherd.

They are tired, hurting, lonely, scattered, orphaned, sick, afraid, without shelter, without clothing, without food, water, in prison, in distress and are widowed....

And yet, i think about the multitude who have all those missing things like rest, health, husbands, houses, peace, friends, safety, food, water, family and still aren't satisfied or content, aren't  sharing, doing, giving, going. 

And sometimes I wonder...

Who are the sheep without a shepherd?

Who are the least of these?

I ask my American friends and they seem to have an answer. 

I ask my African friends and they have a different answer. 

I ask myself and I have no answers. 

Whatever it is the Lord is teaching me through what I've seen Him do these past six days has ruined me again for the things of Him. 

And, that's all I have to say about that.

For now. 

"JESUS wept."

"My heart is steadfast..."

Here and There

Here:

Human Child Sacrifices

There:

Abortions

Here:

Some may call it house help

There:

Some would call it slavery

Here:

Small daily portions of food, just enough

There:

This way of eating would be a Detox/cleanse

Here:

Multiple wives 

There:

Divorce, remarriage, divorce, remarriage 

Here:

Guns, everywhere

There:

No open carry or concealed carry 

Here:

Dressing modestly is the normal

There:

Modesty? What? Are you a nun?

Here: 

Everyone says hello and smiles and wants to know your name and shakes hands and hugs and even curtsy sometimes 

There:

Everyone is plugged into a smart phone and doesn't want to talk to anyone else in person- 

Here:

Preachers, everywhere

There:

Preach the gospel but don't use words

Here:

Freedom means Christ 

There:

Freedom reigns 

(but doesn't mean Christ for many)

Here:

Families have been tortured and killed for Christ

There:

People made fun of, disliked, slandered and call it persecution

Here:

Disease goes untreated for lack of access to medical care

There:

Dis ease goes untreated for lack of compassion 

Here:

Terrorism

There:

Fear of terrorism

Here:

JESUS is the way, the truth, and the life

There:

JESUS is the way, the truth, and the life

Whether you're Here or There,

Call upon the name of JESUS

Endure, friends.

Holdfast, friends.

"Cast thy burdens upon the Lord and He will sustain thee..."

"Do not conform to this world..."

"Love others as if your life depended on it.."

Plans

Daily to do:

Wash yourself clean.

Take your evil deeds out of His sight.

Stop doing wrong.

Learn to do right.

Seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless.

Plead the case of the widow.

"We make plans, God orders our steps..."