"Work hard, pray harder, and if you have any worries, take them to God--and leave them there." -Growing in Grace
First of all, wow! I can not believe I've been living in Haiti for over two months now! Routines are forming, I'm starting to retain Creole, and finally starting to be healthy! It's really hard to go through all of the happenings lately. Just this week, we were able to send twins home to there mama & papa after receiving assistance at GLA... Dixie just posted a blog about their story here Twins go home. I can not even describe the pure love and joy on that mama's face when she saw her two boys! Some other new things as of recently... Rebecca and I have started spending more time during the week at the toddler house, creole lessons have begun, and I was able to drive for the first time in two months (just up and down from the toddler house)!!! All very exciting things!
Some of the routines forming are "outside" of work too... Back in the states I never had a daily "routine". Working night shift, my world was kind of backwards. Never knowing when to be awake, sleep, eat, etc. But literally for the first time in years, I eat a "normal" breakfast, lunch, & dinner, I go to bed at night and wake up in the morning... Rebecca, Susie & I start the morning with devotions, and then I am able to end the night with devotions. Seriously, I know/knew how important it is to spend time in the Word, but I didn't realize how much it can change your perspective on the day. I've been a Christian for as long as I can remember, but the act of "pursuing God" has been kind of in the background of my mind. I've spent so much time worrying about school, family, finances, health. To be honest, for a while, sleep was more important to me than time with God. Just as relationships with people have peaks and valleys, so does a relationship with Jesus Christ. I just feel like I have been stuck in a valley of no quality time with God very long time. Recently in my devotions from the book "Growing in Grace" (a gift from Rebecca), a quote stood out to me.
"God asks that we worship Him with our concentrated minds as well as with our wills and emotions. A divided ans scattered mind is not effective." -Catherine Marshall
For a long time, I've had a divided and scattered mind. Life is busy, people are mean, prayers go unanswered, bills pile up... There are so many ways the devil uses to get your mind off of God and focus on things of this world. I have been studying Romans and tonight Romans 12:21 said it best "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."
Worry takes time from God, as each day progresses whether you live in the states, Haiti, Europe, or wherever in the world live, your worries up to God and leave them there.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayers and petitions, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
I know this is a lot of verses/quotes tonight... but they've been so crucial lately in my daily walk with God and in trusting God's will and plan for my life, I can't change the past but I can change my attitude, perspective, and life by trying to continually work on a deeper relationship with Christ. Again, peaks and valleys will always occur as in any relationship, but I pray the peaks outweigh the valleys.
...to be continued...
-B
Romans 12 (NIV)
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. On the contrary:
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink.
In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
