Moving Back!

I leave tonight for the States. It's weird to think I'm moving back. Please pray with me as I seek the Lord in what's next. A chapter is closing in my life only for a new one to open. I anticipate that this new one will be just as full of adventure as the last. God always makes sure life is not boring! He's faithful through it all.

Bow The Knee

This song came to mind today:

There are moments on our journey following the Lord
Where God illumines ev’ry step we take.
There are times when circumstances make perfect sense to us,
As we try to understand each move He makes.
When the path grows dim and our questions have no answers, turn to Him.

*Bow the knee;
Trust the heart of your Father when the answer goes beyond what you can see.
Bow the knee;
Lift your eyes toward heaven and believe the One who holds eternity.
And when you don’t understand the purpose of His plan,
In the presence of the King, bow the knee.

There are days when clouds surround us, and the rain begins to fall,
The cold and lonely winds won’t cease to blow.
And there seems to be no reason for the suffering we feel;
We are tempted to believe God does not know.
When the storms arise, don’t forget we live by faith and not by sight.

still sick

Last Friday I woke up with a sore throat. I went to the school nurse and she said to get plenty of rest over the weekend. By Friday evening I was feeling pretty rough. Then Saturday I woke up full blown sick. I was in bed most of the day Saturday and Sunday. I went to school yesterday thinking I could last the whole day. Not a chance! I felt so miserable. I came home and slept for a few hours, got up for a few hours, then went back to bed for the whole night. Now it is Tuesday and I'm still not better. This cold/flu has wiped me out.

Testimonies

Just about every Thursday night I go to a singles gathering. We have good food and enjoy each others company. Tonight we all shared our testimonies. It always warms my heart to hear of how God speaks to each person in His unique way. The only testimonies we didn't hear were those of our hosts. Hopefully next week they'll share. It's encouraging to have fellowship with believers!

Deep Thinking

I’m wide awake and can’t catch even a wink of sleep. Lately my mind has been racing. It seems like I instantly think of something anytime someone (or even myself) makes a bold statement.

A few weeks ago some friends were talking about church. They were commenting on how they liked the worship at some churches but not the preaching at others. Or they liked the preaching but wasn’t too fond of the worship at others. So then that automatically made me think, “hmmm…so does that mean that only music is worship?” This is definitely the impression they were unknowingly giving. (They didn’t mean to give that impression…by the way.) Churches will many times call the man who leads music the Worship Pastor. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with this, but people should realize that worship goes beyond just singing to the Lord. Of course this led me to further study on the subject matter of worship. I looked up the definition in the dictionary on my laptop. It said –

the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for a deity : the worship of God | ancestor worship.
• the acts or rites that make up a formal expression of reverence for a deity; a religious ceremony or ceremonies : the church was opened for public worship.
• adoration or devotion comparable to religious homage, shown toward a person or principle : Krushchev threw the worship of Stalin overboard.

So then I looked at Webster’s first 1828 dictionary and it said –

Chiefly and eminently, the act of paying divine honors to the Supreme Being; or the reverence and homage paid to him in religious exercises, consisting in adoration, confession, prayer, thanksgiving and the like.
The worship of God is an eminent part of religion.
Prayer is a chief part of religious worship.

Honor; respect; civil deference.
Then shalt thou have worship in the presence of them that sit at meat with thee. Luke 14.


To adore; to pay divine honors to; to reverence with supreme respect and veneration.
Thou shalt worship no other God. Exodus 34.


What a difference! The original dictionary marks God as the one deserving of worship whereas the new one mentions not only God but ancestors and historical figures.

Worship is adoration. It’s not just singing to the Lord but wholly devoting your life to Him. It’s making sure that every act, word, or deed is pleasing to Him and gives Him all glory, honor, and praise. Worship is a daily dying to self to live for Him. It doesn’t just happen on Sunday, but every day of a Christian’s life. He alone is to be adored.

A few verses that I love referring to worship:

Psalm 29:2 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.

Psalm 95:6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker.

John 4:23-24 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Revelation 14:7 Saying with a loud voice, Fear God, and give glory to him; for the hour of his judgment is come: and worship him that made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and the fountains of waters.

Tonight someone mentioned a particular Bible college that’s very conservative. So we all started inserting opinions about that college and others like it. I participated in the conversation, but on the way home I started thinking more deeply about the opinion I shared. I actually went to a conservative Bible college. I loved it! I met so many godly men and women. My professors loved me and cared for me. Conservative schools may not be for everyone, but for me it was exactly what I needed. I grew tremendously in my relationship with the Lord during those years I studied. I almost wish I could go back and say, “Wait. Maybe these schools weren’t for you or me, but they’re good for many people. Not everyone needs to go to a less conservative or secular university. God works in all of us in different ways.”

Alas, I kept my mouth shut only to have my mind reeling at 11:30 at night.

Tonight I was encouraged by a friend to truly devote time to prayer. It’s been a rough week and I was sharing my frustrations with her. (not calmly I might add) I was upset about a few things, and I just couldn’t let them go. She’s a good friend. She kindly listened and then encouraged me to really seek the Lord about them. I was thankful that she was honest with me. I’d say honesty is what I appreciate most in friends.

Oddities

Do you ever feel like an oddball? Perhaps you have a certain style of dress, or music that you listen to, or opinions that others don't share. There are many things that set each of us apart. Sometimes I feel that way but not in manner of appearance. Sometimes I get so excited about what God is doing in my life that I want to tell everyone. Sometimes I just want to shout. I understand that sounds a bit charismatic but I don't care. I don't always behave the way I feel because of fear...mostly. I don't want people getting the impression that I think I'm super spiritual. I also don't want people to think I'm a hypocrite because let's face it - no one is perfect. I'm going to say things I shouldn't or do things I shouldn't now matter how hard I try not to. Even being in a Christian community I feel hindered to really express myself. In Bible college one of my professors used to call me "praise girl" because every day I had a praise to share. I didn't always have a prayer request, but I could always look for something to praise God about. These days it seems more acceptable to complain than to speak about God's goodness and abound with a heart of thanksgiving. I've decided to spend just 2 days in praise to God. I will not complain or groan or moan. I will only say aloud what will give honor to my Savior. Care to participate in my challenge? You are welcome to do so! Have a blessed day, and I hope you spend it giving glory to God.

Accident

This past Tuesday I got into a car accident. I can't help but reflect on God's protection. I was hit my a speeding matatu. A matatu is a van that picks and drops off people sort of like a bus. The matatu hit me on the driver's side at my wheel. He hit me hard enough to bend the wheel's axle. Just a split second later, and I might not have been able to write this post right now. I walked away with a stolen cell phone and a bruised cheek, arm, and knee. Praise God! I got a new phone yesterday, and I'm still waiting to find out the cost of the damages to my vehicle. Can I say again - Praise God? Things could have been so much worse. I cannot stop thanking Him for keeping me safe. Praise His name forever!!

Smooth sailing...I mean driving

The road that I take to work was a horrible road filled with potholes when I first moved here. In the last few years it has slowly transformed into one of the best roads in Nairobi. Each morning as I go to work I praise God that I have a smooth road to drive on. It may seem like a small, mundane thing, but to me it shows God's goodness to His children.

God's Promises

Today marked my third week of teaching children's church. Our curriculum is all about the promises of God. The first two weeks I taught about how God promises to meet our needs. This week I started teaching about how God will not withhold any good thing. I opened the lesson with an object lesson. I laid out a rolling pin, fork, knife, and cookie cutters. I asked the students to pretend they were 4 yr. old and were coming over to my house to make cookies. I gave them permission to play with the rolling pin to flatten out the dough, the fork to make designs, and the cookie cutters to make shapes. I told them that I was withholding the knife. They agreed that if they were indeed 4 years old it would not be safe to play with the knife. I related this to how sometimes God withholds things because they are not best for us at that particular time. I asked them if it was wrong to ever use a knife. They said no because when they get older they are fully capable of safely handling a knife. But at 4 yr. old it would not be safe. I would withhold it for their good. While teaching this lesson I thought about how this relates to my own life. For years I have desired to get married and have a family. These desires are not wrong. They are biblical. Yet God has withheld that desire from me. Rightly so!!... might I add. Had God brought a husband into my life any earlier I may not be on the mission field today. He is so very good to His children. He knows when the right timing to bestow gifts on us is. I don't know when God will or if He ever will bring a husband into my life, but I trust that He is sovereign... He knows best... and he will not withhold any good thing. What an amazing God we serve!

It's not malaria!!

I went to the doctor yesterday. They thought I might have had malaria, but after two tests that said negative the conclusion was that it's not malaria. Apparently I have a really bad bacterial infection. I found out today that it's in my lungs.

Change

As a child I was mostly quiet. I was the child in a classroom that wasn't noticed right away. Many times I sat by myself on the playground and read a book during recess. For many people who know me now this is hard to believe. I loved to read and explored book after book of fairy tales, Greek myths, and far off places like Africa. I may have loved to learn of new places, but I could be very timid at times and never expected to leave my home state except to visit somewhere else in the United States. It is definitely the Lord's doing in sending me to Kenya. Even before losing my parents I didn't like change. Each time one of my family members moved I cried because of the friends I had made in their neighborhood and wouldn't see again. It's a bit ironic that I live in a city that is ever changing. People come and go like the wind. Some people you 'click' with and your relationship flourishes in a short time. Others you put up with because you're expected to be around them. And still others it takes time, but only if time is available. While I'm tempted at times to close up and refuse to get to know a new person, I'm thankful for the many people I've gotten to know and talk with. I've heard their life stories and fun worldwide adventures. Praise God for His lovingkindness! Praise Him for new and old friends! Praise Him because He is indeed good to His children!!!

Little Blessings

School is back in full swing. I'm not sure if I've posted this recently, but - I LOVE my students!!! They think so deeply about the Word of God and always have me on my toes studying and talking to others about Scripture. I enjoy each of them, and I'll be genuinely sad when they move on to 6th grade next year.

***

School starts back tomorrow. Please pray.

Happy New Year!

Well it's a new year. Time to reflect on last year and decide what your going to do to improve the up and coming one. I'm approaching this year with trepidation and excitement all wrapped into one. I'm looking forward to what God's going to do, but at the same time I'm stepping lightly into this year as the past few years have been 'molding' years. The Christian life is most assuredly not easy. It is, on the other hand, rewarding - whether we gain treasures here on earth or we're storing up treasures in heaven. A relationship with Christ far outweighs any struggle we encounter! He gives us the strength and grace to push forward when all obstacles are against us. Interesting how I have to move to Kenya to comprehend more of God's character. I cannot say exactly why He moved me here, but I can say I've learned some pretty difficult lessons. I am more aware of myself as a sinner and God as a holy and righteous God. My many faults are more evident but so is God's grace and mercy. He's faithful and that's pretty much all there is to it.