Let me paint a picture of a typical Friday of Camp LIFE. Children running
everywhere. New shirts, bandanas and shoes being worn. Dancing. Smiling.
Laughter. True joy. It's the only way to describe it. It's the best day some of
these children will have in their entire lives.
Now let me paint you a different picture. A father thrown in jail for rape.
A mother who was so sick she moved away, not knowing if she is even still
alive. A child being sent to stay with strangers to live a servant's life.
That's the beginning of the story I was told by Queen, a 14 year old girl who
attended camp this past week. One day, the people she lived with also left her.
She was essentially taking care of herself at just 14 years old. She went into
the market to get some food and when she came back there was a man waiting for
her in her home. The details of what happened to her that day don't need to be
repeated. Pain pierced my heart and my tears were uncontrollable when I heard
the whole story. Queen, not knowing what to do next, decided to tell her
neighbors about the horrific things that had just happened to her. Nobody
believed her. In fact, they called her a liar. They whipped her for telling
such stories. They cast her out.
Then, something miraculous happened. A friend of hers who attended Camp LIFE
last year told Queen to pray she gets to come to camp this year. She said that
is where you go for people to listen to your story and to care about you. So
Queen prayed. And the Lord answered her.
On Friday of camp, we told Queen she wasn't going back home. She was going
to come and live with us now. I looked her in the eyes and told her how loved
she was. I told her I loved her. I told her that her counselor loved her. I
told her God loved her. Over and over I repeated these words as I sat with her
in my arms. All of a sudden I realized Queen was crying. She was releasing so
much hurt and built up emotions.
After a while we just started talking and I was asking her all kinds of
questions about camp and how much fun she had. Then I asked her what makes her
the most happy and she said she loves to sing. I convinced her to sing for me
and these were the words she sang:
My God is great
I will worship Him
He deserves all the glory
My God is great
As Queen was singing, she closed her eyes and lifted her hands. Again, tears
streamed down her beautiful face. Her love for her Father was so strong and
evident. Here, a girl who has known nothing but hardship and struggle in her 14
years of life, is worshiping the Lord because that is what gives her the most
joy in her life.
It’s stories like Queen’s that break my heart, but remind me of God’s
beautiful love and grace. What a blessing it is for me that He has chosen me to
love on the children He loves the very most.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
There is Power in the Name Jesus
On Friday, I was a part of 2 more homes opening up in our Tree of Life Children’s Village. I’ve never felt closer to God’s heart then on one of these days.
The days before are used to set up the home. We work for days and nights trying to prepare for the openings. Sometimes we miss meals and sometimes we miss sleep and all the time our bodies are sore and tired. But oh, it is all worth it.
It’s worth it to see a family of 3 girls move in who hadn’t eaten in days. It’s worth it to see a girl escape the grasp of her alcoholic and abusive step father. It’s worth it to see a little boy smile who recently tried to commit suicide because his life was unbearable. I could go on and on. Story after story. It’s all worth it. Every single child is worth it.
Yesterday we played the theme song for Camp LIFE to the children who live at the Tree of Life Children’s Village. What a sweet moment to watch these words wash over those children:
Into the darkness You shine, out of the ashes we rise
there's no one like You, none like You
Our God is greater, our God is stronger,
God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
Think about that. God has gone into the darkest corners of this world to rescue the least of these. Nothing can stop Him. Nothing can stand against Him. He will come for His children.
There is power in the name Jesus
There is power in the name Jesus
To break every chain
To break every chain
What a sweet gift. These kids know all too well about chains holding them down. But God didn’t let them stay there. He will not forget His children.
There is nothing better than to hold open your arms and to have a sweet child, who maybe has never even been held before, come running and jumping into your arms. To see them smiling and laughing. To see them happy. It’s worth it.
It’s all worth it.
It’s worth it to see a family of 3 girls move in who hadn’t eaten in days. It’s worth it to see a girl escape the grasp of her alcoholic and abusive step father. It’s worth it to see a little boy smile who recently tried to commit suicide because his life was unbearable. I could go on and on. Story after story. It’s all worth it. Every single child is worth it.
Yesterday we played the theme song for Camp LIFE to the children who live at the Tree of Life Children’s Village. What a sweet moment to watch these words wash over those children:
Into the darkness You shine, out of the ashes we rise
there's no one like You, none like You
Our God is greater, our God is stronger,
God you are higher than any other.
Our God is Healer, Awesome in Power, Our God! Our God!
And if our God is for us, then who could ever stop us.
And if our God is with us, then what could stand against.
Think about that. God has gone into the darkest corners of this world to rescue the least of these. Nothing can stop Him. Nothing can stand against Him. He will come for His children.
There is power in the name Jesus
There is power in the name Jesus
To break every chain
To break every chain
What a sweet gift. These kids know all too well about chains holding them down. But God didn’t let them stay there. He will not forget His children.
There is nothing better than to hold open your arms and to have a sweet child, who maybe has never even been held before, come running and jumping into your arms. To see them smiling and laughing. To see them happy. It’s worth it.
It’s all worth it.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Crossroads
Wow. I apologize for my lack of writing! I can’t believe I’ve been here for over 2 weeks and literally haven’t had a minute to spare. But now it’s break week! Let me clarify- it’s a break from Americans, not from work! Now is the time to catch up on all the emails and other work I’ve had to neglect since getting here.
It would take entirely way too long to recap every single thing I’ve done or seen here so let me just give you an impactful moment.
One Thursday I got the opportunity to supervise a couple groups going into the compound of Kanyama 2. The Kanyamas are some of the roughest areas we work in. We had a younger group of girls about the age of 7 and an older group of girls around 13-14. They were the sweetest things EVER. By the end of the day some of the older girls were calling me their best friend and jumping all over me and hugging me. We picked weeds in the Community Resource Center (CRC) and then walked around evangelizing to the people who lived around the CRC. As we were leaving Kanyama 2, we took some back roads to avoid traffic on the main ones and we went through an area that is the roughest in Lusaka. It’s so horrible that the police won’t even go there. Trash didn’t just line the roads, trash covered the roads. They covered the sidewalks and created giant heaps all around. There were pigs roaming the streets along with goats, chickens and children. All of them, digging through the trash together. The air was putrid. There was nothing clean around us. I won’t even go into detail about the crime rate there. If the police avoid the area, that kind of gives you a hint of the hostile environment festering in the community. And then, all of a sudden we came to a light and just past the light the roads became paved and buildings appeared. Police motorcycles (yeah the first time I’ve seen that here) drove past us. Seriously, in the blink of an eye, we went from the absolute worst area in Lusaka to one of the richest. That is what Zambia is made of, rich businessmen and women living right next to the slums of Zambia. Ignoring them. Allowing the poor to live their lives parallel to the rich, but refusing to turn a head at their misfortune. My heart was filled with disgust. But then I was reminded that I live in a rich community of Dallas and right on the other side of the Trinity are the slums of Dallas. What are we doing for them? Do we allow the poor in Dallas to live their lives parallel to the rich and refuse to turn our heads at their misfortune?
We are the plan of God. There is no plan B. I’m just one chapter away from finishing Radical (sorry CG- I got a little behind! I promise to finish this week!) Anyways, in one of the chapters I recently read, it reads,
“Some wonder if it is unfair for God to allow so many to have no knowledge of the gospel. But there is no injustice in God. The injustice lies in Christians who possess the gospel and refuse to give their lives to making it known among those who haven’t heard. That is unfair.”
I read that quote and think of the injustice in all of us. As we walk past the homeless on the corners. As we refuse love to the orphaned. As we live our lives as if the whole world is perfectly fine.
God isn’t pleased by our strength, He is pleased by our faith.
You don’t have to be the strongest. You don’t have to be the richest. You don’t have to be the most courageous. You just have to have faith. He’ll use you in whatever way He wants. But for these kids and these people of Zambia, He wants them to know Love.
Those girls that I talked about earlier, they just needed to know that they were loved, cared for and beautiful. And guess what, God allowed me to be the one to tell them.
Every. Single. One. Of. You. Listen. Up.
YOU CAN DO THIS.
It would take entirely way too long to recap every single thing I’ve done or seen here so let me just give you an impactful moment.
One Thursday I got the opportunity to supervise a couple groups going into the compound of Kanyama 2. The Kanyamas are some of the roughest areas we work in. We had a younger group of girls about the age of 7 and an older group of girls around 13-14. They were the sweetest things EVER. By the end of the day some of the older girls were calling me their best friend and jumping all over me and hugging me. We picked weeds in the Community Resource Center (CRC) and then walked around evangelizing to the people who lived around the CRC. As we were leaving Kanyama 2, we took some back roads to avoid traffic on the main ones and we went through an area that is the roughest in Lusaka. It’s so horrible that the police won’t even go there. Trash didn’t just line the roads, trash covered the roads. They covered the sidewalks and created giant heaps all around. There were pigs roaming the streets along with goats, chickens and children. All of them, digging through the trash together. The air was putrid. There was nothing clean around us. I won’t even go into detail about the crime rate there. If the police avoid the area, that kind of gives you a hint of the hostile environment festering in the community. And then, all of a sudden we came to a light and just past the light the roads became paved and buildings appeared. Police motorcycles (yeah the first time I’ve seen that here) drove past us. Seriously, in the blink of an eye, we went from the absolute worst area in Lusaka to one of the richest. That is what Zambia is made of, rich businessmen and women living right next to the slums of Zambia. Ignoring them. Allowing the poor to live their lives parallel to the rich, but refusing to turn a head at their misfortune. My heart was filled with disgust. But then I was reminded that I live in a rich community of Dallas and right on the other side of the Trinity are the slums of Dallas. What are we doing for them? Do we allow the poor in Dallas to live their lives parallel to the rich and refuse to turn our heads at their misfortune?
We are the plan of God. There is no plan B. I’m just one chapter away from finishing Radical (sorry CG- I got a little behind! I promise to finish this week!) Anyways, in one of the chapters I recently read, it reads,
“Some wonder if it is unfair for God to allow so many to have no knowledge of the gospel. But there is no injustice in God. The injustice lies in Christians who possess the gospel and refuse to give their lives to making it known among those who haven’t heard. That is unfair.”
I read that quote and think of the injustice in all of us. As we walk past the homeless on the corners. As we refuse love to the orphaned. As we live our lives as if the whole world is perfectly fine.
God isn’t pleased by our strength, He is pleased by our faith.
You don’t have to be the strongest. You don’t have to be the richest. You don’t have to be the most courageous. You just have to have faith. He’ll use you in whatever way He wants. But for these kids and these people of Zambia, He wants them to know Love.
Those girls that I talked about earlier, they just needed to know that they were loved, cared for and beautiful. And guess what, God allowed me to be the one to tell them.
Every. Single. One. Of. You. Listen. Up.
YOU CAN DO THIS.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
a relaxing saturday
Today has been a nice morning so far! I slept in a little and then organized all of the ministry items people had brought to the villa these past two weeks. Ended up finding a lot of the stuff that was "missing." Funny what a little cleaning can do! After that I came to villa 37 where the internet is and have been working on some spreadsheets and other work stuff in order to get ready for next week!
Yesterday was a blast! I woke up and went to camp which on Fridays is at the hilltop at the Tree of Life. I stayed there for a couple hours and helped the summer staff girls get all the gifts for the kids organized. I watched them sing a few songs and then I walked down to the houses where the kids who LIVE at the Tree of Life were just getting out of school. I had so much fun just hanging out with them. There were a couple that just wanted to hang on me and have me hold them the entire time.
Of course I fell in LOVE with little Ackim. He is 6 years old and the oldest of 3 brothers that just got moved in 2 weeks ago. His two younger brothers got sponsored right away because they are just little babies. Oh but Ackim was SOOOO cute!! I hope he gets sponsored soon. (If anybody is interested.. let me know!)
Anyways, at dinner last night the Americans all give testimonies of their weeks and of course I just start tearing up because of some of the stories they told. It is always SO COOL to hear people that come for one reason or another and go home a completely different person. Gives me chills just thinking about it. God is so completely intentional about everything He puts in our lives.
I have to tell you what impacted ME the most yesterday. We have one little boy who just moved into the TOL and he has a disability in both his legs. Well I found out that when he moved into the TOL somebody had to physically carry him into the house because he couldn't walk. The next week he was getting around with some help of the other kids. YESTERDAY we had some of the kids run out and meet all the Americans and Gift wasn't one of the ones we picked, but as we let them go Gift took off RUNNING!! His legs were still bent in as he ran, but it didn't matter anymore. He was FREE. Seriously, the sweetest boy. While I was hanging out with them, he just kept coming up to me with the biggest smile and giving me hugs.
Today the new group of Americans come in! And we start all over again :)
Yesterday was a blast! I woke up and went to camp which on Fridays is at the hilltop at the Tree of Life. I stayed there for a couple hours and helped the summer staff girls get all the gifts for the kids organized. I watched them sing a few songs and then I walked down to the houses where the kids who LIVE at the Tree of Life were just getting out of school. I had so much fun just hanging out with them. There were a couple that just wanted to hang on me and have me hold them the entire time.
Of course I fell in LOVE with little Ackim. He is 6 years old and the oldest of 3 brothers that just got moved in 2 weeks ago. His two younger brothers got sponsored right away because they are just little babies. Oh but Ackim was SOOOO cute!! I hope he gets sponsored soon. (If anybody is interested.. let me know!)
Anyways, at dinner last night the Americans all give testimonies of their weeks and of course I just start tearing up because of some of the stories they told. It is always SO COOL to hear people that come for one reason or another and go home a completely different person. Gives me chills just thinking about it. God is so completely intentional about everything He puts in our lives.
I have to tell you what impacted ME the most yesterday. We have one little boy who just moved into the TOL and he has a disability in both his legs. Well I found out that when he moved into the TOL somebody had to physically carry him into the house because he couldn't walk. The next week he was getting around with some help of the other kids. YESTERDAY we had some of the kids run out and meet all the Americans and Gift wasn't one of the ones we picked, but as we let them go Gift took off RUNNING!! His legs were still bent in as he ran, but it didn't matter anymore. He was FREE. Seriously, the sweetest boy. While I was hanging out with them, he just kept coming up to me with the biggest smile and giving me hugs.
Today the new group of Americans come in! And we start all over again :)
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
adventures in London
well after 3 years of actually going into London, I decided I was done with that. Not being able to sleep on a combination of 20 hours of plane rides and up all the day before I left and then up for the 10 hour lay over in London is just really hard on a girl. Know what I mean?
SO one 9 hour plane ride down, 2 train rides, and MANY elevators and escalators, I made it to my home away from home for the next 6 1/2 hours and counting. Yes, I did all of that BY MYSELF. I must say, I'm getting pretty savvy at finding my way around ridiculously big airports. Ok, I may have asked for directions a time or two, but for the most part I did it alone.
I'm not sure what you would call this room. It was described to me as a cruise ship room but as I sit on the bed and look around, I'm pretty sure the length of my body could reach both ends. Ok, I just tried it. I'm about a foot and a half off. Needless to say, I'm more in a little pod then a room. (Jodi if you're reading this, remember when we wanted to share the yotel last year?? Yeah I don't know how that would have worked out!)
I would like to comment that I watched 3 movies and listened to 2 CDs on my trip to London. It is an excellent time to catch up on all the movies that I always had good intentions of seeing but never actually did. Adjustment Bureau anyone?
Ok, I'm off to take a quick shower and a nap!
Here's to hoping the alarm clock pulls through :)
SO one 9 hour plane ride down, 2 train rides, and MANY elevators and escalators, I made it to my home away from home for the next 6 1/2 hours and counting. Yes, I did all of that BY MYSELF. I must say, I'm getting pretty savvy at finding my way around ridiculously big airports. Ok, I may have asked for directions a time or two, but for the most part I did it alone.
I'm not sure what you would call this room. It was described to me as a cruise ship room but as I sit on the bed and look around, I'm pretty sure the length of my body could reach both ends. Ok, I just tried it. I'm about a foot and a half off. Needless to say, I'm more in a little pod then a room. (Jodi if you're reading this, remember when we wanted to share the yotel last year?? Yeah I don't know how that would have worked out!)
I would like to comment that I watched 3 movies and listened to 2 CDs on my trip to London. It is an excellent time to catch up on all the movies that I always had good intentions of seeing but never actually did. Adjustment Bureau anyone?
Ok, I'm off to take a quick shower and a nap!
Here's to hoping the alarm clock pulls through :)
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Faith the size of a mustard seed.
I am OVERJOYED to announce that I will be getting to spend 2 whole months in Zambia this summer! As most of you know, this is a dream come true for me. Since the moment I stepped foot in Zambia back in 2008, I’ve desired nothing more but to return again and again. And now, I’ve graduated college and have been working for Family Legacy for nearly a year.
This year for me has been filled with child sponsorships, playing a role in the development of our Community Resource Centers and helping create deep relationships between the children at the Tree of Life Children’s Village and their sponsors. Although my time has been spent in the states since August, it is the daily work I do that ensures transforming stories of the children in Zambia. This next story is one that has personally touched me the most.
Joseph walks the streets looking for food in the piles of trash that littered the ground. His bare feet land on sharp cans, plastic, rocks, and paper. His clothes are dirty, ripped and too small for his growing body. It’s the same shirt he has worn for the past 3 years. His thin frame reflects the truth of poverty. It reflects the truth of being the youngest in a house of 11. He lifts his jacket sleeves to reveal the malicious burns that adorn his arms. The embarrassment in his eyes proves the severity of his pain, physically and emotionally. The tears that flood his cheeks tell a story too cruel to fathom. His very own grandmother had thrown a boiling pot of hot water all over his body. Why would she do that? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. The fact is, she had the audacity to purposely abuse her grandson. The good news is, it doesn’t end there. He is now in our sponsorship program and has the care and guidance of a Discipleship Leader, a safe place to run to in case he gets locked out of his home at night, and an education that will grow him to be a leader of his generation. God does not forget about the least of these.
I tell this story to say that when you make the commitment to support me, you ultimately set off a chain reaction of eternally significant events. There are many more Joseph’s living in Zambia today – all waiting for just ONE of us to hear their story and take action.
Your support means more to me than I could ever express on paper or in words. Your contributions and prayers ensure that children and families are forever changed by the power of the gospel and forever changing the world in which they live. Joseph’s life will never be the same, and it is because somebody stood up and said “enough is enough”. Enough has been stolen from this young boy’s life, and this is where it ENDS. This summer I know we will meet countless orphaned children, where we learn their story and we say enough is enough! I invite you to be a part of their story and their testimony, one we don’t know yet, but God already has it in the works!
A few weeks ago, I was challenged to thank God every day for the things that I am not yet aware of. So I took that challenge and every morning as I wake up, I thank God for the day He has given me. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but He does. I realized as time went by, that I stopped worrying about how I would be able to pay my bills because I have an All-Powerful God taking care of me.
Currently, I only have 40% of what I need to continue working with Family Legacy. I have the strictest budget set in place and I have faith God will provide. With that being said, I have exciting news to share with you all. An anonymous donor has offered to give me $200 a month as long as it can be MATCHED! This is an incredible gift! I want to take full advantage of their generosity and ask you to partner with me to increase my monthly support by $400. Even if you can only afford to support me at $15, $25, or $50 a month, that is now doubled to $30, $50, and $100 each month! I humbly ask that you will prayerfully consider giving monthly toward my support account so I can meet the $200 matching gift and continue serving children just like Joseph. All donations are tax- deductible.
“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
A mustard seed is about 1/20th of an inch. That’s 1.27 millimeters. That’s the size of faith God asks for. And yet, we often times think that’s too much. Now is the time to sow those seeds, even if it’s as small as a mustard seed. So I’ve written this letter in faith. Faith that God knows exactly how to provide for me. God will take that faith and move mountains. May God richly bless you for your support into the lives of the countless Zambian orphans. I am eternally grateful for YOU!
This year for me has been filled with child sponsorships, playing a role in the development of our Community Resource Centers and helping create deep relationships between the children at the Tree of Life Children’s Village and their sponsors. Although my time has been spent in the states since August, it is the daily work I do that ensures transforming stories of the children in Zambia. This next story is one that has personally touched me the most.
Joseph walks the streets looking for food in the piles of trash that littered the ground. His bare feet land on sharp cans, plastic, rocks, and paper. His clothes are dirty, ripped and too small for his growing body. It’s the same shirt he has worn for the past 3 years. His thin frame reflects the truth of poverty. It reflects the truth of being the youngest in a house of 11. He lifts his jacket sleeves to reveal the malicious burns that adorn his arms. The embarrassment in his eyes proves the severity of his pain, physically and emotionally. The tears that flood his cheeks tell a story too cruel to fathom. His very own grandmother had thrown a boiling pot of hot water all over his body. Why would she do that? Honestly, it doesn’t matter. The fact is, she had the audacity to purposely abuse her grandson. The good news is, it doesn’t end there. He is now in our sponsorship program and has the care and guidance of a Discipleship Leader, a safe place to run to in case he gets locked out of his home at night, and an education that will grow him to be a leader of his generation. God does not forget about the least of these.
I tell this story to say that when you make the commitment to support me, you ultimately set off a chain reaction of eternally significant events. There are many more Joseph’s living in Zambia today – all waiting for just ONE of us to hear their story and take action.
Your support means more to me than I could ever express on paper or in words. Your contributions and prayers ensure that children and families are forever changed by the power of the gospel and forever changing the world in which they live. Joseph’s life will never be the same, and it is because somebody stood up and said “enough is enough”. Enough has been stolen from this young boy’s life, and this is where it ENDS. This summer I know we will meet countless orphaned children, where we learn their story and we say enough is enough! I invite you to be a part of their story and their testimony, one we don’t know yet, but God already has it in the works!
A few weeks ago, I was challenged to thank God every day for the things that I am not yet aware of. So I took that challenge and every morning as I wake up, I thank God for the day He has given me. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but He does. I realized as time went by, that I stopped worrying about how I would be able to pay my bills because I have an All-Powerful God taking care of me.
Currently, I only have 40% of what I need to continue working with Family Legacy. I have the strictest budget set in place and I have faith God will provide. With that being said, I have exciting news to share with you all. An anonymous donor has offered to give me $200 a month as long as it can be MATCHED! This is an incredible gift! I want to take full advantage of their generosity and ask you to partner with me to increase my monthly support by $400. Even if you can only afford to support me at $15, $25, or $50 a month, that is now doubled to $30, $50, and $100 each month! I humbly ask that you will prayerfully consider giving monthly toward my support account so I can meet the $200 matching gift and continue serving children just like Joseph. All donations are tax- deductible.
“For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
A mustard seed is about 1/20th of an inch. That’s 1.27 millimeters. That’s the size of faith God asks for. And yet, we often times think that’s too much. Now is the time to sow those seeds, even if it’s as small as a mustard seed. So I’ve written this letter in faith. Faith that God knows exactly how to provide for me. God will take that faith and move mountains. May God richly bless you for your support into the lives of the countless Zambian orphans. I am eternally grateful for YOU!
Saturday, April 9, 2011
it's not about me.
I'll be honest, I've been a little discouraged lately. Things haven't exactly gone my way. (notice the selfish "my" in that statement)
It's a good thing it's not about me.
"who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten my this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:16-18
"I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant." Joshua 24:13
You see, there is no cause/effect relationship between fighting and winning. Or between how hard you work and how much money you make. Take example from how hard peasants worked and how little they earned. Nobody worked harder and everybody had more.
So what's the point of all this? It's really just to remind ourselves that no matter where you've ended up in this life that you didn't get there by earning it. You got there by the grace of God.
"for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You delighted in them." Psalm 44:3
All that I have and all that I have accomplished has been through His hand and His hand only.
"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved EVEN IN HIS SLEEP." Psalm 127:2
That is a powerful verse. Friends, He PROMISES that He will provide for His children. Even when we are sleeping. Even when we are doing nothing. He provides.
So here is where I am at. I am continuing to thank God for the things that I am not yet aware of because I know that he is always working for me. That's easier said then done most days, but I am confident my Lord has a perfect plan already laid out for me.
It's a good thing it's not about me.
"who fed you in the wilderness with manna that your fathers did not know, that he might humble you and test you, to do you good in the end. Beware lest you say in your heart, 'My power and the might of my hand have gotten my this wealth.' You shall remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you power to get wealth, that he may confirm his covenant that he swore to your fathers, as it is this day." Deuteronomy 8:16-18
"I gave you a land on which you had not labored and cities that you had not built, and you dwell in them. You eat the fruit of vineyards and olive orchards that you did not plant." Joshua 24:13
You see, there is no cause/effect relationship between fighting and winning. Or between how hard you work and how much money you make. Take example from how hard peasants worked and how little they earned. Nobody worked harder and everybody had more.
So what's the point of all this? It's really just to remind ourselves that no matter where you've ended up in this life that you didn't get there by earning it. You got there by the grace of God.
"for not by their own sword did they win the land, nor did their own arm save them, but Your right hand and Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You delighted in them." Psalm 44:3
All that I have and all that I have accomplished has been through His hand and His hand only.
"It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for He gives to His beloved EVEN IN HIS SLEEP." Psalm 127:2
That is a powerful verse. Friends, He PROMISES that He will provide for His children. Even when we are sleeping. Even when we are doing nothing. He provides.
So here is where I am at. I am continuing to thank God for the things that I am not yet aware of because I know that he is always working for me. That's easier said then done most days, but I am confident my Lord has a perfect plan already laid out for me.
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