Hope is not just faith for today…it is faith for every single day on earth until our hope becomes a reality at the coming of Christ. It is faith in the future tense. True, life-giving hope brings us a deep sense of joy. Even through the darkness and struggles we know that the victory has already been won and we will not be overcome if we hold fast to our hope in Christ.
grace for the undeserving
There is a type of love that arises in response to the beauty, value and other commendable qualities of its recipient. Grace is a different kind of love, one that exists although there is nothing commendable in the recipient. Grace only functions as such if its objects are the undeserving and the unable - those who have absolutely nothing to recommend them as a candidate for God's favor.
trust
“Remember it is I who orchestrate the events of your life. Don’t try to figure out what is happening. Simply trust Me and thank Me in advance for the good that will come out of it all. I know the plans I have for you, and they are good.” These words came to mind while I was spending time in God's Word recently. They convicted me and challenged me. It's so difficult to let go and allow God to lead.
certain in our uncertainty
To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should rather be an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God.
eucharisteo
So now, instead of just feeling excitement when I drive through those amazing fall-colored tree tunnels on the winding back roads or cuddle up in a super soft blanket, I see an opportunity to practice eucharisteo. It's opened my mind and my heart to a whole new depth of joy.
life update!
If there’s one thing the Lord has been teaching me about lately, it is His faithfulness. How it is so evident in every single moment of my life, big and small; it is so cool for me to look back and see the way that He has flawlessly orchestrated every single detail of my life for His glory. Even when I can’t see Him moving at all, He is always working things together for His glory. In everything. He is faithful.
God doesn’t call us to be comfortable
"But God doesn't call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn't come through."
love like children
I see their faces everywhere. I hear their laughter. I dream about them. Their smiles, their faces, their hugs, their kisses, their tiny hands in mine. I miss it all. So much. I try not to talk about how much I miss them because I feel like people will think I’ve gone crazy. Why do I miss them so much?
be still and trust
I've read this verse so many times, but today I’m comforted by the fact that even when I have no idea where my life is headed, He knows. God never promises that we will understand His will for our lives. That we will understand why He has us where He does right now. He does however promise to guard our anxious hearts and minds with a peace that transcends all understanding (Phil. 4:7). A peace that is somehow more comforting than actually knowing.
God is good. all the time.
Tiny little children, they can’t be older than three years old, sitting in the street with their hands cupped, begging for money or food or anything. They stare up at me and smile. I can’t get their faces out of my mind. Walking down the streets of Kabalagala, the “red light district” of the city, I see drunks lying on the side of the street and I see young girls who are most likely forced into prostitution to survive. Walking down the street I look into their eyes and I see so much brokenness, so much pain, I can almost feel it in my own heart.
love deeply
I have been surrounded by so many wonderful children. These children have captured my heart and taught me so much about how to love. Completely. Wholeheartedly. Unselfishly. They don’t think about how long they have with you or when you’re going to leave. They don’t hold back at all. They just love.
Uganda updates
I came to Africa thinking that I was going to be teaching, serving, and loving the children and the people here. And yes, I have been doing these things. We’ve been able to teach the wonderful children at Rays of Hope, the school in the slums of Kabalagala. We’ve been able to serve by helping with cooking, cleaning, and doing chores at the houses. And I have fallen in love with every single one of the children at the houses and schools we have gone to. But in reality, I have been taught, served, and loved so much more by every single person I have come in contact with.
He is enough
I woke up my first morning in Africa to roosters crowing, Lugandan shouts, and children’s laughter outside. It was beautiful. Walking outside I was greeted with wonderful hello hugs and beautiful good mornings from precious children. I’ve never received so much love and I didn’t even know them yet! We spent all day getting to know them and playing with them. It was great. Later that night we were upstairs and heard the children’s beautiful voices singing praises to Jesus. We walked downstairs and see them all on their knees praying out loud and crying out to God. It was the most beautiful, genuine worship I’ve ever seen.
courage
Courage is not about knowing the path. It is about taking the first step…with complete faith. I believe there is only one truly courageous thing we can do with our lives: to love unconditionally. Absolutely, with all of ourselves, so much that it hurts and then more.
love
Agape love speaks of a love drawn out of the heart based on the preciousness of the object loved. So how incredible is it that despite our inadequacies Christ still finds value in us. Enough to complete the ultimate act of self-sacrifice, of agape love, for us?
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