Lessons from "littles"

  "When my little son was about ten years old, his grandmother promised him a stamp collecting album for Christmas. Christmas came and went with no stamp album and no word from Grandma. The matter, however, was not mentioned, until after his friends came to see his Christmas presents. I was astonished, after he had listed all the gifts he had received, to hear him add, "And a stamp album from my grandmother."

  After hearing this several times, I called my son to me and said, "But George, you didn't get a stamp album from Grandma. Why did you say that?"
  With a puzzled look on his face, as if I had asked a very strange question, he replied, "Well, Mom, Grandma said, and that is the same as." Not a word from me would sway his faith.
  A month passed and nothing else was said about the album. Finally one day, to test his faith and because I wondered in my own heart why the album had not been sent, I said, "George, I think Grandma has forgotten her promise."

  "Oh no, Mom," he quickly and firmly responded. "She hasn't."

  I watched his sweet, trusting face, which for a while looked very serious, as if he were debating the possibility I had suggested. Soon his face brightened as he said, "Do you think it would do any good for me to write Grandma, thanking her for the album?"

  "I don't know," I said, "but you might try it." A rich spiritual truth then began to dawn on me.

  In a few minutes a letter was written and mailed, as George went off whistling his confidence in his grandma. Soon a letter from Grandma arrived with this message:

          My dear George,

             I have not forgotten my promise to you for a stamp album.

             I could not find the one you wanted here, 

             so I ordered one from New York. 

             It did not arrive until after Christmas, and it was not

             the right one. I then ordered another, 

             but it still has not arrived.

             I have decided to send you thirty dollars instead 

             so that you may buy the one you want in Chicago.

         Your loving Grandma.

  As he read the letter, his face was the face of a victor. From the depths of a heart that never doubted came the words, "Now, Mom, didn't I tell you?" George "against all hope...in hope believed" (Romans 4:18) that the stamp album would come. And while he was trusting, Grandma was working, and in due time faith became sight.

  It is only human to want to see before we step out on the promises of God. Yet our Savior said to Thomas and to a long list of doubters who have followed, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29).

   ~Mrs. Rounds

(published on Feb 18th in Streams in the Desert a long time ago 

but meant for me to read today)

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On Feb 18, 2014 I prayed this prayer:

Oh God, I'm scared...not scared of not having a home, 

not scared of not having stability, not scared of not having

support...

but scared of missing Your voice, scared of missing

Your hand, scared of missing Your direction, scared of falling

for something that may be disguised as You but isn't You.

Thank You for Your Holy Spirit that is alive in me.

Thank You that as Your sheep we can hear Your voice, 

as our Shepherd. 

Oh God, I praise You that You never leave.

You are there for me.

Please remind me that You are here.

As the last 2 years played out, I did get scared.

   ...scared of not having a home, not having stability,

       and not having support.

   My flesh failed again and again and my doubts and

       fears spoke louder than my faith.

It's so easy to let difficult circumstances strip us of the very perfect provision 

and protection that God promises us. 

I'm praising God today for Grandmas, for timeless truths and the fact that He never forgets His promises!

   What about you?  What are you trusting and/or struggling to believe? 

     

Inside Out

I don't know about y'all but we are rejoicing that we made it to the other side of 2015.  While God delivered blessings in the midst of pain for lots of us, if I thought it was possible I would argue that the last 12 months were way longer than one year.  Can I get a witness??

Prayers were answered despite the 'crickets' at certain intervals.  Some answers were as we hoped they'd be and others just the opposite; some answers were simply "wait" (which isn't simple at all) and, well, some answers have yet to come. 

     I'm sure you can relate.

     Cue----> Life..

         ... inside and out!

In reflection, I can't help but see that these people I get to do life with are a beautiful reminder that I'm so blessed!

I still find myself trying to make sense of where we are right now, figuratively speaking and yes, sometimes even literally... (I'm beginning to loathe suitcases on a whole new level!) but soooooooo many of you prayed fervently with us throughout the past year(s) and for that we are SO grateful.  I can't even begin to tell you how much you mean to us!  I feel certain we are still Circling Haiti as 6 on a journey because of you!!

Though it didn't take us long after losing our housing in Haiti to realize that the 6 of us needed more than a 250 sq ft bedroom to work well (with others and with each other), we aimed to make the best of things.  Thanks to the gracious Heartline Ministries-Haiti crew, we "made do" until we just couldn't "make do" any longer.  

As you know, we were granted Cabila's VISA in April (after a 2 year long pursuit). God opened the door for us to go see our Stateside peoples (Hallelujah!) so when we were able to fly away for a bit, we all rejoiced!  We moved out of our bedroom at the Guesthouse on June 30th and we flew to the States for some family time and some much needed rest & recovery time, too.  It was our first trip 'home' as a family since Jan 2013.  

We set aside a couple of months to "fall into family" upon arriving in the grand ole USA, and then we dove 'head first' into fundraising.  As independent missionaries we are responsible for raising our own support to live and work in Haiti so we began traveling and sharing with churches and groups and families that were open to hearing our story regarding our love for Haiti.

Thank the good Lord we were embraced by family and friends when we arrived Stateside but (despite knowing it was going to be hard), I don't think any of us realized how hard it was going to be to rally the extra support and community needed for us to get back to work in Haiti...especially while discovering gaping wounds that just hadn't ever healed.  

Although our full-time missionary work in Haiti began in January 2013, we lost our financial support and housing after the first year so there we were--starting over.  Cabila couldn't leave Haiti at that time and we didn't believe leaving him here to go home and raise needed funds was an option so we prayed for direction like we'd never prayed before. 

        And 21 months ago, God led us to HEARTLINE. (smiles)

Fast forward a bit to now...... after 6 long (good but hard and long) months away from the amazing country of Haiti, I am now sitting on a bunk bed (back in Heartline's Guesthouse) IN HAITI typing this post.  (!!!!!!!)

We aren't fully funded yet and only 4 of the 6 of us could be here at this time so we aren't back permanently right now but God is faithful and you guys are amazing! 

My prayer continues to be, as 2016 has begun, that we will proceed with HOPE.  

     Hope that HIS plan for us, 6 on a journey, will carry on and that wounds will be healed.

     Hope that, though things are currently inside out, that we will thrive again soon.

     Hope that we will be found faithful to share Christ, regardless of location and circumstances.

     Hope that despite obvious needs, God will receive the glory when His plan prevails.

     Hope that we don't lose sight of our Savior while circling this country we madly love!

"He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle.  

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love

and His wonderful deeds...

for He satisfies the thirsty

and fills the hungry with good things."  

~ Psalm 107:7-8

 "Prayer does not change God, 

but it changes me in big ways.

It helps me accept the unacceptable.

It helps me trust God when 

all the circumstances are untrustworthy."

- Kathi Lipp

A Little Late Night Dancing

We've got a little over 3 weeks left before we return to Haiti so that Cabila can "stamp-in" to comply with his Visa regulations.  We won't be able to stay full-time yet so our travel plans are a little different than we had hoped/planned. 

As Christmas approaches we are all in a bit of 'emotional roller-coaster land'. As I shared in the last post, these past several months have been incredible but also incredibly hard.  

It's been a rough day mentally.  

My flesh looooooongs for stability and a place to call our own.  

I've wrestled with frustration and doubt.  

And lately, I've taken quite the whipping from my enemy regarding this fight.

I was "unplugging" tonight and listening to iTunes radio when this song came on...

In the process 

In the waiting 

You {God} are making melodies over me.

In Your presence is a promise

for I am a pilgrim on a journey.

You will lift my head above the mighty waves

You are able to keep me from stumbling

and in my weakness 

You are the strength that comes from within

Good Shepherd of my soul

Take my hand and lead me on

You make my footsteps and my path secure

so walking on water is just the beginning

Cause my faith to arise

And stand at attention

For You are calling me to greater things

You lift my head above the mighty waves

You are able to keep me from stumbling

and in my weakness 

You are the strength that comes from within

Good Shepherd of my soul

Take my hand and lead me on

I don't know about you but music speaks to me where words alone just don't reach.  

Call me crazy (it won't be the first time, I promise) but I absolutely love it when God serves up a personal playlist for me. He's hitting deep tonight, serving up one right after the other...

I haven't felt much like singing but when one of my favorite songs came on, I put my earbuds in so that all was drowned out except the words and music to "We Dance".  I turned it up and I was reminded of a late night with our Kinley over 5 years ago as I listened to these words: 

You steady me

Slow and sweet, we sway

Take the lead and I will follow

Finally ready now

To close my eyes and just believe

That You won't lead me

Where You don't go

When my faith gets tired

and my hope seems lost

You spin me round and round

And remind me of that song

The one You wrote for me

And we dance

I've been told

To pick up my sword

And fight for love

Little did I know

That LOVE had won for me

Here in Your arms

You still my heart again

And I breathe You in

Like I've never breathed 'til now

 

Oh Lord, when my faith gets tired

And my hope seems lost

You spin me round and round

And remind me of that song

The one You wrote FOR ME

And we dance

And I will lock eyes

With the ONE who's ransomed me

the One who gave me joy for mourning

And I will lock eyes

With the One who's chosen me

the One who set my feet to dancing

We dance

Just You and me

It's nice to know I'm not alone

I've found my home here in Your arms

As you pray for me, I pray that regardless of where you are (and even if you don't feel like singing), that you don't forget to dance.

*music lyrics by Bethel Music