Pause to Praise

The Kimyal People Receive the New Testament from UFM Worldwide on Vimeo.

It's always nice to take a study break to see what God is doing around the world.

It's nice to get a big picture perspective when all I see is the work piled in front of me.

He is worthy of all my praise. Praise You, Father. All praise be to Y o u.

Contentment

"Now there is a great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world" -1 Timothy 6:6-7

"Je suis contente". A phrase that I wrestled with and finally accepted while abroad. I quickly learned in Paris that "Je suis contente que..." was more commonly used than "Je suis heureuse que..." (literally "I am happy that...").

I had a problem with this. Even though in French, "content" has the same denotation as "happy," the English-speaker in me kept seeing this "content" as this watered-down version of being happy. So to express my utmost joy, I kept wanting to say, "Je suis heureuse!"

But contentment is s0 much greater than I had thought. I joined another fellowship's worship on campus with my roommate tonight, and boy, am I grateful for the conviction He has given me. It's a bit scary every time He exposes this heart of mine. He peels back a layer of my heart, but He does it in such a loving way that I am grateful for the temporary pain. I trust that it is fleeting next to the work He has promised to do in me.

Throughout this final (oy!) fall semester, I've been realizing how difficult and beautiful it is to be "content". In fact, I can look back on many moments during this past week when I was "happy" but when was I truly content? If I'm not content with my Father, the Giver of all things, am I seriously waiting for something greater than a relationship with Him? Job? Security? Family?

Without contentment in who He is, I will be chained to this sense of entitlement. I'll constantly be expecting something from my Father who already gave it all for me. And when He doesn't give (fill in the blank), I'll question His love for me. This is one roller coaster that I want to get off of.

"Trusting is the fruit of knowing the true nature of God."

I know God placed me in 1 Samuel and the Psalms right now for good reason. His faithfulness to the Israelites, His unending love for His people, and His incredible display of mercy to the faithless are His prodding at my own callous heart. Daddy, I don't want to be so blind-sighted. I want to see You for who You are. Paul knew of His Father's goodness. His Father's love for him. That was the key to his contentment. May I step in obedience and trust this new month.

"Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance, and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me" -Philippians 4: 11-12

Je suis contente parce que Tu sois vraiment bon.

EDIT 12/22: Tim Keller on Contentment Thankful to've come across this today. 

Fall Fluff

"It's so fluffy I'm gonna dieee!"

hehe. Sometimes things are just so darn cute that I don't know what to do with myself. This crisp fall weather also leaves me in this euphoric state where I can't do anything but throw my arms up in the air and fall in love all over again.

Thankful for His creation. For the big things that take up the expanse of the sky and the small things that come into the world and give me giggles of delight. You just tickle my soul! :)

L'automne est finalement arrivé! :)

"Let the words of my mouth

and the meditation of my heart

be acceptable in your sight,

O Lord, my rock and my redeemer."

-Psalm 19:14

Refreshing News

It rained in Dallas today. A few months ago this would not have been a big deal, but after an entire summer without rain, I've never been so excited to see the dark clouds roll in yesterday or been so happy to hear the downpour that took me by surprise early this morning. After weeks yearning for even a SPRINKLE of rain, God sent buckets. It was as if the clogged faucet upstairs was finally fixed and months of stored water had just been hurled down from the sky. Sans umbrella, I ran out to the car as I wrinkled my face and grinned with glee, letting the water droplets hit my nose and freely roll down my cheeks. So refreshing today was. God is faithful. Just like in the days of Elijah, He answers prayers and waters the earth.

On that same note, I received news earlier this week of how God is continuing to water the plants across the globe, in beloved Cameroon. He is growing the seeds that He has sown there last summer. What a joy it was to hear about the team's safe return and to see my beautiful host family through the pictures that were posted. Oh my, how they have grown! Here's a little follow-up:

(L to R) Justin delivering my care package, Billy-Brunzie with what now appears

to be a full head of hair, Chelsea a few inches taller than the last time I saw him

2010. Here I am with my then-pregnant host mom Lucy

2011. Lucy today with her new baby Faith!!

2010. We planted non-native fruit seeds in Lucy's garden last summer

2011. Paul took a picture of its progress today! Praise God :)

Though the team was a lot smaller this year, those who went were able to share with the Wimbum adults a recording of the Kande Story, a story that educates about HIV/AIDS. What an amazing opportunity. I still remember the cries and funeral songs coming from a home in the village last summer. Even within the two short weeks that I was there, I would come across a family mourning the death of a young mother who succumbed to the virus.The world is broken and hurting, but God is moving and working. I find hope in that tonight, and I will rest in that tomorrow. I praise You Lord, for the Go-ers, the Senders, and the Intercessors this year. When I see that healthy baby and that growing plant, I see nothing but Your faithfulness. And I thank You that you care for us even more than a few plant seeds.

"I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God’s fellow workers. You are God’s field, God’s building." -1 Cor 3:6-9

Goodnight, and happy Sunday :]

Soli Deo Gloria

Frustration.

I felt lots of it while completing just a few simple tasks today.

Nothing out of the ordinary...simply folding papers and preparing envelopes.

But I was little miss cranky pants who wanted to go home and rest.

I kept thinking about what else I could've been doing.

It's frightening to see how full of sin I am

and how quickly I can fall back.

Changing.

I noticed my attitude shifts depending on what I'm doing

not whom I'm doing it for.

While I joyfully taught Bible stories to children under the Oklahoma sun last month,

folding pamphlets for next week's worship service seemed like such a chore today.

If only I saw each task as a pleasing sacrifice to the one and only.

Would I be just as joyful serving my family by taking the trash out

as I would be in babysitting the little ones from church?

Jesus said, "One who is faithful in very little is also faithful in much" (Luke 16:10),

but was I really being faithful in the little task that was given me

when I was grumbling in my heart? sigh.

Dear heart,

why so prone to forget?

why so prone to rebel?

why so selfish in all your ways?

Unchanging.

Jesus.

I need to cling to You.

Daily. Moment by Moment.

Every day I am tempted.

Tempted to take the crown

fully knowing that its weight will crush me.

Lord of my life, help me. Forgive me. Heal me.

"So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." -Cor. 10:31

Hunger

Famine in Somalia

The breakfast biscuit that I devoured this morning

isn't sitting too well in my stomach anymore.

While I hungrily scanned the menu, little did I know that thousands of children

were starving to death in this war-torn country alone.

Yes, Texas has been going through a drought.

It has been over 100 degrees here for as long as I can remember.

I sigh every time I step out into the heat

and groan when the a/c doesn't exceed its potential.

Yet, I'm still eating. I'm still sheltered. I'm still breathing.

But in Somalia?

They're starving. They're homeless. They're struggling for life.

What is a slight inconvenience to me is a life-threatening menace to them.

How much does it take for me to realize that I don't deserve the life that I have?

That it is only by the grace of God that I'm not over there starving to death?

News like this comes up all the time, but this one hit especially hard just now.

And it very well should. All the time.

My heart aches. I am so ashamed.

My head is already days ahead worrying about nonsense

when there are others who can't fathom living another hour.

Wisdom in spending. Diligence in prayer.

Humility at all costs.

God help us.

God help me.