Looking unto Jesus and not at our doubts. The more we look at them the larger they appear, until they can swallow up all our faith, our strength and our joy.
But if we look away from them to our Lord Jesus, who is Truth, the doubts will scatter in the light of His presence like clouds before the sun.
Looking Unto Jesus, translated from the French of Theodore Monod by Helen Willis
Photo: shannonc5
Oh God, as your truth falls on my heart, let it be to me a sweet rain. Welcomed. Savored. Soaked up.
For you are my Living Water, and your truth births fruit in the dry and desolate places of my soul.
Duet. 32:2, Hebrews 6:7, John 4:14
We are in Asuncion this week for meetings, shopping…and a very special SURPRISE birthday party for three of our co-workers, turning 40, 50 and 6o respectively!
I had the joy of decorating for the party! The colors were black and white with red accents.
I love how these giant peonies hanging from the ceiling turned out…there were red ones too. I know you can get them pre-made in the US, but it really wasn’t too hard to make from scratch, just took a little time (but well worth it - I will definitely make them again).
The gift table centerpiece, just empty boxes wrapped up pretty! The fabric in the frame flanking it is leftover fabric from a skirt!
Just had to prove there really were some red accents! :)
These were to go in the food, but that didn’t quite work out so I just put them on the wall. Flexibility is key when you are making your decorations five hours away away from your party destination! :)
So you can see I have lots to be thankful about this week! Time to keep giving praise to the Blessed Controller of my life. I am so thankful for:
54. Chocolate Dipped Croissants in the capital
55. Absolutely no scarring to my optic nerve and a great report from my eye Dr.
56. New co-workers and their courage
57. Pain and the way it reminds me to think of others
61. El Principito saying thank you in his little baby voice
64. Ironing and the pleasure I get from removing wrinkles
67. Raspberry jam found!
69. That God is faithfully showing me areas where I am NOT thankful so I can change
71. Excuses to decorate
73. Polka Dots and the way they bring a smile to my face
74. People who keep loving even when it hurts and the inspiration they are to me
Grass rustles in the wind and the praise goes on.
Thanking the Giver of all good gifts for:
11. Grass waving in the breeze at sunset, catching the last snatches of light
19. The way his laughter diffuses any tension
24. Mud puddles and the joy they bring to little boys
27. Convictions reaffirmed
30. Little voices reciting Psalm 23
36. Darling Little Redhead’s reminders that we must cuddle first thing every morning (but how could I ever forget?)
44. Peaches and cream in Grandma’s blue glass and reminders of her love
48. Butterflies that fly with damaged wings (Oh, how I see God’s redemption of my life in them!)
By lamenting our weakness,
have we ever become more strong?
Let us look to Jesus,
and His strength will communicate itself to our hearts,
His praise will break forth from our lips.
Looking Unto Jesus, translated from the French of Theodore Monrod by Helen Willis
Photo: glendali
Every time it rains here in the Chaco, we get a new wave of bugs. So far the worst was the plague of beetles that decided to make our porch (and air conditioner) their graveyard, leaving the stench of death everywhere!
Yesterday these funky grasshoppers meandered onto our porch. They are certainly the most interesting bug to visit us after a rain. They move really slowly and stay together in groups. I took this picture after I saw them from my kitchen window all circled around like they were having a big powwow.
Thought you’d like a little peak into my buggy world! After all, doesn’t every missionary have a bug story?
It’s not just another pile of laundry…
or another stack of dishes.
It’s so much more for women who follow Jesus. Every laundry basket and kitchen sink becomes a heavenly altar, just waiting to receive our acts of worship, our acceptable sacrifice to the God of the universe.
I long to know that what I do all day actually matters. Yet no matter how many inspirational quotes I read about the importance of being a stay at home mom, no matter how many times my husband tells me he appreciates me, I occasionally still find myself resentful and grumbling about having to put the baby’s board books back on the shelf AGAIN.
It’s become pretty obvious to me that the only way I can maintain any long term passion for this job is to see each moment of my day as an opportunity for worship. Dirty nose needing wiped? “God, this is for you!” Peanut butter sandwich needing to be cut into triangles (squares won’t do!)? “Yes, Lord, thank you that I can serve you!” Superman’s cape needing reattached, “Oh God, my hands work for you!”
It’s nothing revolutionary, perhaps, but for me the simple act of speaking the truth changes my attitude about the mundane. Somehow laundry and dishes become almost desirable when they are reborn as opportunities to offer praise to God, my Strength!
And yes, I do need to say it over and over all day long because when I don’t, I forget. I forget that this is holy work and suddenly all I see are the dirty diapers waiting to be taken out to the trash, the leftovers needing to be put away and the toys strung from one end of the house to the other. I forget so quickly that these routine things have the capacity to be transformed into something with eternal value – the worship of the only true God.
I’ve decided to join Ann’s Gratitude Revolution so here’s the start of my list of a thousand gifts:
1) Truth – that it renews my mind and that it’s available in my language
2) Unexpected Hugs
3) Honey, Darling Little Redhead and El Principito…all producers of laundry and dishes…and opportunities to praise God! :)
4) Pancakes made with my sous chef, Darling Little Redhead
5) Wood puzzles with the baby and barking giraffes
6) A husband who cooks and cleans when I am unable (both with my eye crisis and again this weekend when I cut my hand and had to get five stitches)
7) Family on the mission field and our weekly dinner and game night
8) Nephews and Niece who love playing with my boys
9) For friends who accept me as I am
10) For Skype and email to communicate with family back home
