This month I was able to visit a family who lives in Guyana, South America. We stayed in their home, ate meals together, walked home in the rain after visiting other friends, and spent many hours in their boat on the river. I watched them give hearty handshakes, exchange smiles, hold little scared hands. I watched them give rides, give encouragement, and give hope.
I watched them love.
You see — they’ve been living in a remote part of Guyana for almost five years now, ministering to the needs of the people in areas only reachable by small plane or boat.
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I’ve been working my way through Your 100 Day Prayer: The Transforming Power of Actively Waiting On God, by John Snyder, over at Counting My Blessings this summer.
I believe that finding this book was a God appointment in my life. You see, I’ve been praying about something for a VERY long time. God has blessed me with peace and patience most of the time, but occasionally when longing sets in and my heart hurts . . . well, I’ll bet you can relate.
One of my favorite quotes from the book is:
Prayer is not like rubbing a magic lamp to get our wishes granted.
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It’s been one of those days.
Who am I trying to fool? It’s been one of those weeks!
I can’t really explain it. Nothing big. No major disruptions. Just the blahs. Lack of focus.
I’ve let little annoyances become pervasive distractions. My productivity is down. My organization is gone. My normally upbeat cheerful self is less than upbeat and cheerful.
Can you relate?
I wish I knew what caused days like this. I wish I knew when that switch was going to get flipped so I could avoid it.
Then my wishes turn into TRUTHS.
For I have chosen you and will not throw you away.
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My daughter does not like to clean her room. She never has. In fact, unlike me, she seems to like clothes on the floor and stuff everywhere.
Years ago when she was younger, I once again brought up the fact that her room was out of hand, and she needed to spend time cleaning it up. She wasn’t happy. The more we talked (I explained, she debated) the more upset she got, until finally she burst into tears, and cried, “God made me this way, and you should love me messy!”
I assured her of how much I loved her, messy or not…but her room still needed work.
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It’s thrilling to get a love letter . . . to know that someone took the time to write down words of love just for you.
I was privileged to speak at a Women’s Retreat earlier this month where we focused on the gift of God’s love. We let His words of grace and mercy wash over us.
One of my favorite stories from the weekend was shared by Pastor Adrian Rogers on his radio broadcast, Love Worth Finding. This is my rendition since I wasn’t able to write it word for word while driving:
One day while her car was getting worked on at the dealership, Ann needed to borrow her husband’s new car to run some errands.
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Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?” (Genesis 3:13 NLT)
I’ve read this Scripture verse many times and always thought about how angry God must have been at Adam and Eve. As a parent, I know I would have been angry. I mean, really, the one tree they were told not to eat from is the one they couldn’t resist.
But not long ago I was reading this section of Genesis, and I heard something different in God’s words.
“What have you done?”
I heard sadness and disappointment.
God created Adam and Eve desiring the personal relationship He had with them.
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I am writing this today for those of you whose Christmas season isn’t looking so festive. You’re struggling perhaps. Or your finances are a mess. Or a loved one is sick. Or a child is rebelling. Or, or, or, you know. Life isn’t always that perfect picture .
And Christmas time?
Well, sometimes Christmas time hurts and looks nothing like we think it should look.
Know that right now, as I write these words, that I am praying for you as you sit behind your screen and read my words. You are not alone.
I am writing to you because I’ve experienced those kinds of Christmases.
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I met Arminda on my trip to Bolivia with the World Vision Blogger Team. Arminda has a mother, father, and four older brothers. She didn’t have the typical arrival to her family. You see Arminda was abandoned. Neighbors in this community had taked her from door to door trying to find someone to care for her.
This family didn’t ask themselves all of the questions they might have asked as they tried to talk themselves out of doing something “crazy” like taking in another child when they already had so little for themselves. They responded to her need. They gave her a home.
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