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.