So much has happened in the last four weeks that I have put off writing for a few days because I didn't even know where to start. However, there is one thing that keeps coming up. One thing that I do know.
God is working!
"Jesus said to them, My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (John 5:17)
Throughout the last few weeks I have been "on" pretty much all the time. I was leading (with lots of help) groups of 40+ people. Also, I had the honor to be a prayer partner for Melodi while she was with the Living Hope team in Haiti. It was so neat to hear about how God is working in Haiti while at the same time being in awe of all that God is doing here in Nicaragua. What is so incredible to me is that while my body and mind were in a state of complete exhaustion, my spirit was in a complete state of awe. Do you know what an amazing God we serve?
I mean seriously think about it for a moment. The God we serve is working...in us, around us, through us (if we let Him) ALL the time and ALL over the world! I think sometimes I get this narrow view of where or how God is working. Well, not the past few weeks. God is drawing people to Himself all around the world. God is doing miracles, changing lives, forgiving, healing, moving mountains!
Each night our large group would get together and talk about all the ways in which we had seen God move that day. Sometimes we would talk for hours about all that we had seen God do. I was so encouraged by listening to others and by giving the glory to God for all He is doing.
I wish I could share it all with you. I wish I could give you eyes to see into me so that I could show you all that God has done. I think that is often what many people think when they get home from a mission trip. How do you explain to the people you love, to those around you, about all you have witnessed? You can't! There is no way they can know....truly know. At the same time, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Every time someone hears the excitement in my voice, the look of awe in my eye, or the lack of words to express how great my God is they will gain a glimpse into His goodness.
Yes, I have been exhausted. Yes, I have slept on hard surfaces. Yes, I have been hot...dirty....eaten up by mosquitos...sick at my stomach....and so on. And all I can say is....Yes, I am overwhelmed by God's goodness.... My cup overflowth!
What?
That doesn't make sense.
Oh, but it does.
Anyone who has gone out for the sake of the gospel is shaking their head right now. They understand exactly what I am saying. They know that God is working. They know that God allowing us a small glimpse into His goodness is overwhelming.
I am in a state of beautiful exhasution.....my heart is full of praise!
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
Praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all the angels;
Praise him, all the hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
Praise him, all you shinning stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Priase the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above the earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the pople of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!
God is working!
"Jesus said to them, My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I, too, am working." (John 5:17)
Throughout the last few weeks I have been "on" pretty much all the time. I was leading (with lots of help) groups of 40+ people. Also, I had the honor to be a prayer partner for Melodi while she was with the Living Hope team in Haiti. It was so neat to hear about how God is working in Haiti while at the same time being in awe of all that God is doing here in Nicaragua. What is so incredible to me is that while my body and mind were in a state of complete exhaustion, my spirit was in a complete state of awe. Do you know what an amazing God we serve?
I mean seriously think about it for a moment. The God we serve is working...in us, around us, through us (if we let Him) ALL the time and ALL over the world! I think sometimes I get this narrow view of where or how God is working. Well, not the past few weeks. God is drawing people to Himself all around the world. God is doing miracles, changing lives, forgiving, healing, moving mountains!
Each night our large group would get together and talk about all the ways in which we had seen God move that day. Sometimes we would talk for hours about all that we had seen God do. I was so encouraged by listening to others and by giving the glory to God for all He is doing.
I wish I could share it all with you. I wish I could give you eyes to see into me so that I could show you all that God has done. I think that is often what many people think when they get home from a mission trip. How do you explain to the people you love, to those around you, about all you have witnessed? You can't! There is no way they can know....truly know. At the same time, that doesn't mean we shouldn't try. Every time someone hears the excitement in my voice, the look of awe in my eye, or the lack of words to express how great my God is they will gain a glimpse into His goodness.
Yes, I have been exhausted. Yes, I have slept on hard surfaces. Yes, I have been hot...dirty....eaten up by mosquitos...sick at my stomach....and so on. And all I can say is....Yes, I am overwhelmed by God's goodness.... My cup overflowth!
What?
That doesn't make sense.
Oh, but it does.
Anyone who has gone out for the sake of the gospel is shaking their head right now. They understand exactly what I am saying. They know that God is working. They know that God allowing us a small glimpse into His goodness is overwhelming.
I am in a state of beautiful exhasution.....my heart is full of praise!
Psalm 148
Praise the Lord!
Praise the Lord from the heavens,
Praise him in the heights!
Praise him, all the angels;
Praise him, all the hosts!
Praise him, sun and moon,
Praise him, all you shinning stars!
Praise him, you highest heavens,
and you waters above the heavens!
Let them praise the name of the Lord!
For he commanded and they were created.
And he established them forever and ever;
he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.
Priase the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist, stormy wind fulling his word!
Mountains and all hills,
fruit trees and all cedars!
Beasts and all livestock,
creeping things and flying birds!
Kings of the earth and all peoples,
princes and all rulers of the earth!
Young men and maidens together,
old men and children!
Let them praise the name of the Lord,
for his name alone is exalted;
his majesty is above the earth and heaven.
He has raised up a horn for his people,
praise for all his saints,
for the pople of Israel who are near to him.
Praise the Lord!
The man holding the bible is Sergio, a man very dear to my heart. I turned around one day on a hike and saw these 2 men kneeling in the middle of a dirt path on the side of the mountain. They prayed together and this man accepted Jesus as his savior. Sergio saw me and called me over. He said to the man, "I would like for you to meet your new sister in Chirst!" Sergio has been out with the past 7 teams...7 weeks in a row....a beautiful exhaustion!!!!
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