I have stored up your word in my heart,
that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:11
For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Hebrews 4:12
Last week I was really blessed to see God working in the heart of one of my 6th grade students in particular. I noticed that she hadn't been acting herself recently, so after class I pulled her aside and asked her what was going on.
"Miss Dinwiddie, I'm just really confused with my relationship with God."
We were both in a bit of a hurry because the next class period was just about to begin, but she said she would go out with me later that afternoon to tell me some more.
We had a really nice conversation. She told me she just wasn't content with where she was at in her walk, and that she wanted to know God so much more. It was such a blessing for me to be able to get a glance of the desires of a soft, precious, little heart being conformed to God's will.
Pastor Tallman always talks about being Bible-saturated, and for a while, I've been thinking a good way to really become saturated is to hide God's Word in my heart.
By the end of our time, we had decided that together we were going to start memorizing God's Word. I have always wanted to memorize Romans and when I told her that, she became very excited. So that's what we set out to do -- saturate ourselves with more of God's Word.
After school the following day, she came up to my classroom to come see me. We started talking about Romans. One of my 7th graders happened to be up there for math help, and she got really excited! She said she wanted to memorize Romans, too. By the next morning a few other girls had come up to me and asked if they could join us. So now there is a group of about six of us memorizing God's Word together! And I'm really excited.
Please pray for us as we hide God's Word in our hearts that much will happen -- meditation, conviction, encouragement, a greater understanding of our need for the Gospel and a deeper love for Jesus!
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Humbling Blessings
I'm glad God is unimaginably more faithful to me than I have ever been with this blog. ;)
It was decided that this year the academy would actually have a mid-term break or "holiday" and it would fall into this past week since we would have Friday (Malawi Mother's Day) off anyway. In one way, Mother's Day is a bigger deal here in Lilongwe than it is in the States. It is actually observed as a public holiday -- no school, and nearly everything is closed! In another way, since I left my amazing mom halfway across the world, it hardly feels right to be observing it without her! (Ndimakukonda kwambiri, Amayi!)
I have been so grateful for these last several days as they have provided for me a time of ample rest and reflection upon all that has happened since I returned to Malawi nearly two months ago.
This year my homeroom class, the 7th graders, consists of all girls! We kicked off the year with a sleepover at my house. We found ourselves enjoying some crazy bonding time with each other as well as some outlandish decibel levels as one can most definitely imagine with a group of ten middle school girls on a full tank of sugar.
My favorite part about teaching has definitely been the joy in forming relationships with the students and being able to share Christ's love with them day-to-day. Each morning during Homeroom Period, I have the privilege of praying with and for them and sharing from God's Word. Sometimes I get so discouraged by their apathy because I know if they would be doing anything else (besides math) they wouldn't lack so much attentiveness. A few weeks ago I had decided to take my girls through some of Amy Carmichael's "If" statements. What a blessing these have been as God has used them to produce some responsiveness and bring up some great discussions about the extent of our own selfishness and sinful desires contrasted with the perfections and righteousness as shown through the perfect work of Christ -- how we need him!
As my eyes were skimming through several of the "If" statements one day, I was quite convicted and humbled by the following:
"If I have not the patience of my Saviour with souls who grow slowly; if I know little of travail (a sharp and painful thing) till Christ be fully formed in them, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
Not only has He been patient with my own slow-growing soul, but He has caused it to grow at all. I guess that leaves me with no excuse not to be patient with the souls around me.
Humbling.
We've been blessed to be able to continue our outreach to the children in the village on Saturdays! A few weeks ago I read to them the humbling account of when Jesus washed the disciples' feet -- an amazing demonstration of his humility, and a beautiful preview of him bearing all our uncleanness on the Cross. I wanted to reinforce the concept and I had remembered my mom washing the feet of my Sunday School class years ago. . . If I still remember, then it seems like a good idea! So Khuzwayo and Chisomo (two of the African Bible College students), Whitney (housemate) and I did just this. We washed all of the feet of the kids in the village and encouraged them to wash the feet of their parents. I'll be honest -- it was one of those really humbling moments for me. Village mud and calloused feet don't faze me. But the thing was, the kids were pushing each other and shoving, fighting over who got to be next. In other words, there were no Peter-type characters in this story. We were having the opposite thing going. "Well, that was one fruitful lesson," I sarcastically think to myself. "I can tell they really understand Christ's demonstration of humility." Yet in the midst of this experience God was teaching me how much more I need to be washed. . . I learned so much of Jesus' humility through the lack of my own . And then I remembered that Jesus even washed the feet of Judas. This was getting pretty intense. I always find it a little bit irritating how as a teacher it seems like I learn so much more than the students in the process of trying to help them learn. But it's one of those humbling blessings.
Another blessing . . . hosting a Monday night small group at our house! The group consists of about twelve members from one of the local churches pastored by an ABC graduate. A couple weeks ago we were talking about how we as the body of Christ can come alongside those who are struggling with various things. Then one of the women broke down and told us that her sister was dying of stage-3 cancer, and she was understandably having a very hard time with it. We decided, as a group, to go visit the sister in the hospital and pray with her. By this time, I should have known that whenever I think I'm going to "bless" someone God quickly humbles me.
Well, I had never been to the city hospital in Lilongwe. . . I honestly thought I was going to vomit when I walked inside. I guess I'm used to hospitals trying to make things comfortable for those who are suffering physically. The bad smell wasn't like the "bad smell" of chemicals in a hospital in the States. . . I'm not sure I want to know what it was. The dirty mattresses didn't have sheets, and there were so many flies. And our friend's sister was laying there, dying, in conditions like this. I didn't even feel like laying in my own comfortable bed that night. I find myself silently praying again and again, "God, do something for her!" I don't know where she is at spiritually. . . who does except for God. . . but oh, if I knew she were one of His little lambs I would have wanted Him to have just relieved her from all of it right then and there.
And I couldn't take it any longer. Here I was going to "bless" this suffering woman and I end up standing by her bed sobbing uncontrollably while her family assures me not to worry. Humbling. Shandell, small group attendee, reminds me "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And I long for the salvation of souls. And I just long for Jesus. And I try to remember that He is even more broken over all of this stuff than I am.
So, I guess the common theme through pretty much everything I've written can be thought of as the following:
Katie: Lord, I want to serve you.
God: Katie, I'm going to humble you first.
Katie: Lord, I really want to serve you!
God: Katie, you really need to be humbled.
Katie: Lord, I really, really want to serve you!
God: Katie you really, really need to be humbled.
Katie: Lord, then I need a lot of grace!
God: Yes, Katie, but you have all the grace you need. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in all your weaknesses.
"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
On a lighter note, the chop-chop didn't attack me last night! :)
I kind of feel bad for killing it though.
It was decided that this year the academy would actually have a mid-term break or "holiday" and it would fall into this past week since we would have Friday (Malawi Mother's Day) off anyway. In one way, Mother's Day is a bigger deal here in Lilongwe than it is in the States. It is actually observed as a public holiday -- no school, and nearly everything is closed! In another way, since I left my amazing mom halfway across the world, it hardly feels right to be observing it without her! (Ndimakukonda kwambiri, Amayi!)
I have been so grateful for these last several days as they have provided for me a time of ample rest and reflection upon all that has happened since I returned to Malawi nearly two months ago.
This year my homeroom class, the 7th graders, consists of all girls! We kicked off the year with a sleepover at my house. We found ourselves enjoying some crazy bonding time with each other as well as some outlandish decibel levels as one can most definitely imagine with a group of ten middle school girls on a full tank of sugar.
My favorite part about teaching has definitely been the joy in forming relationships with the students and being able to share Christ's love with them day-to-day. Each morning during Homeroom Period, I have the privilege of praying with and for them and sharing from God's Word. Sometimes I get so discouraged by their apathy because I know if they would be doing anything else (besides math) they wouldn't lack so much attentiveness. A few weeks ago I had decided to take my girls through some of Amy Carmichael's "If" statements. What a blessing these have been as God has used them to produce some responsiveness and bring up some great discussions about the extent of our own selfishness and sinful desires contrasted with the perfections and righteousness as shown through the perfect work of Christ -- how we need him!
As my eyes were skimming through several of the "If" statements one day, I was quite convicted and humbled by the following:
"If I have not the patience of my Saviour with souls who grow slowly; if I know little of travail (a sharp and painful thing) till Christ be fully formed in them, then I know nothing of Calvary love."
Not only has He been patient with my own slow-growing soul, but He has caused it to grow at all. I guess that leaves me with no excuse not to be patient with the souls around me.
Humbling.
We've been blessed to be able to continue our outreach to the children in the village on Saturdays! A few weeks ago I read to them the humbling account of when Jesus washed the disciples' feet -- an amazing demonstration of his humility, and a beautiful preview of him bearing all our uncleanness on the Cross. I wanted to reinforce the concept and I had remembered my mom washing the feet of my Sunday School class years ago. . . If I still remember, then it seems like a good idea! So Khuzwayo and Chisomo (two of the African Bible College students), Whitney (housemate) and I did just this. We washed all of the feet of the kids in the village and encouraged them to wash the feet of their parents. I'll be honest -- it was one of those really humbling moments for me. Village mud and calloused feet don't faze me. But the thing was, the kids were pushing each other and shoving, fighting over who got to be next. In other words, there were no Peter-type characters in this story. We were having the opposite thing going. "Well, that was one fruitful lesson," I sarcastically think to myself. "I can tell they really understand Christ's demonstration of humility." Yet in the midst of this experience God was teaching me how much more I need to be washed. . . I learned so much of Jesus' humility through the lack of my own . And then I remembered that Jesus even washed the feet of Judas. This was getting pretty intense. I always find it a little bit irritating how as a teacher it seems like I learn so much more than the students in the process of trying to help them learn. But it's one of those humbling blessings.
Another blessing . . . hosting a Monday night small group at our house! The group consists of about twelve members from one of the local churches pastored by an ABC graduate. A couple weeks ago we were talking about how we as the body of Christ can come alongside those who are struggling with various things. Then one of the women broke down and told us that her sister was dying of stage-3 cancer, and she was understandably having a very hard time with it. We decided, as a group, to go visit the sister in the hospital and pray with her. By this time, I should have known that whenever I think I'm going to "bless" someone God quickly humbles me.
Well, I had never been to the city hospital in Lilongwe. . . I honestly thought I was going to vomit when I walked inside. I guess I'm used to hospitals trying to make things comfortable for those who are suffering physically. The bad smell wasn't like the "bad smell" of chemicals in a hospital in the States. . . I'm not sure I want to know what it was. The dirty mattresses didn't have sheets, and there were so many flies. And our friend's sister was laying there, dying, in conditions like this. I didn't even feel like laying in my own comfortable bed that night. I find myself silently praying again and again, "God, do something for her!" I don't know where she is at spiritually. . . who does except for God. . . but oh, if I knew she were one of His little lambs I would have wanted Him to have just relieved her from all of it right then and there.
And I couldn't take it any longer. Here I was going to "bless" this suffering woman and I end up standing by her bed sobbing uncontrollably while her family assures me not to worry. Humbling. Shandell, small group attendee, reminds me "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." And I long for the salvation of souls. And I just long for Jesus. And I try to remember that He is even more broken over all of this stuff than I am.
So, I guess the common theme through pretty much everything I've written can be thought of as the following:
Katie: Lord, I want to serve you.
God: Katie, I'm going to humble you first.
Katie: Lord, I really want to serve you!
God: Katie, you really need to be humbled.
Katie: Lord, I really, really want to serve you!
God: Katie you really, really need to be humbled.
Katie: Lord, then I need a lot of grace!
God: Yes, Katie, but you have all the grace you need. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in all your weaknesses.
"Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
On a lighter note, the chop-chop didn't attack me last night! :)
I kind of feel bad for killing it though.
Friday, August 13, 2010
Of a Promise and Pilgrimage
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
Romans 8:28
I'm here, praise God! And it was quite the adventure!
I flew into Lilongwe on Wednesday -- 22 hours later than I had planned. My luggage had been incorrectly labeled for pick-up in Johannesburg, South Africa, requiring me to go through Customs and then re-check everything again. But unfortunately, my flight from London to Johannesburg was delayed for a couple of hours and I had less than one hour to make it through the long, slow lines. After getting my passport stamped and racing through the baggage claim, I located my luggage and bribed a porter to help me rush to the check-in counter as soon as possible with my 66 kg. Unfortunately by the time we got there, the gate had already closed which meant I had not only missed the 10 AM flight but I'd just been separated from my traveling buddies!
I made my way to the British Airways office with my overstuffed backpack, computer bag, and three pieces of luggage. Because of the delay, they were able to change my ticket. . . but the problem was that there wasn't another flight from Johannesburg leaving for Lilongwe that day.
"We can put you up in a hotel until 1 AM this morning. . . then we'll put you on Kenya Airways to fly you from here to Kenya, and from Kenya to Malawi. You should arrive there by tomorrow morning. We do apologize for the delay, but this is all we can do for you, Ma'am."
I envisioned myself walking outside the South Africa airport loading all of my luggage onto a hotel shuttle and then unloading it off the shuttle, into the hotel and then out of the hotel, back onto the shuttle and off the shuttle, into the baggage check-in area. . .close to 1 in the morning? I decided to just wait the 15 hours at the airport. It sounded easier and safer.
And so I waited. . . and waited. . . and prayed. . . .and prayed.
First, I prayed for faith and trust. . . I was coming down with a nasty cold, and my energy level was so drained! I prayed that God would give me more energy and health, just enough for the 12 hours until check-in time so I wouldn't fall asleep alone with my luggage in the Johannesburg airport. And I prayed that everything would just go smoothly this time. . . that I'd make all connecting flights, that I wouldn't get lost in the Kenya airport, that He would enable a way for me to communicate with the people who were supposed to pick me up. . . I prayed for wisdom and safety and protection. . . I even prayed that God would provide someone soon -- someone that I could trust to watch my stuff for just a few minutes while I ran to the restroom! And all of a sudden I realized in a deeper way how much God really cares about me -- even all the small things that kept flowing from my heart that in the grand scheme of things are so teeny and insignificant. And this caused me to plead that He would display His glorious sufficiency through my own insufficiency and dependence!
And I thought on the sweet, sweet promise of Romans 8:28:
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
All. Things. Yes, ALL things! The cold, the luggage labeling snafu, the delayed flight, my exhaustion, an extra flight to Kenya! I didn't understand why. . . it made no sense to me! I was just trying to get back to Malawi to serve Him by loving on those kiddies at ABC Christian Academy. But there was something so comforting that almost made that 15 hour wait and extra trip to Kenya really enjoyable. . . because even though I still don't understand why it all happened, I had a lot of time to meditate on the fact that God was working all of it together for good. And especially when you feel so little and helpless, it releases huge burdens to be reminded that Someone so Great and All-sufficient is working all things for my good and His glory.
Nobody had any clue that I was in Kenya, but I was able to use my Malawi cell to contact a friend for an airport pick-up once I had landed in Lilongwe!
When I arrived to Lilongwe I had to pass through Customs once more.
Man at passport check: Passport, please.
Me, as I hand him my passport: I made it to Lilongwe!! I'm finally here!
Man at passport check: Welcome back to Malawi, Sista!
Me: Thanks! Wait, I mean. . . Zikomo!!
------------
Please pray for Moana, a girl I met on the plane and had an opportunity to share the gospel with.
Please pray for extra strength for all of the staff as we are getting everything ready for school to start this upcoming Tuesday.
Please pray that God would already be working in the hearts of each student.
Please pray that I would have wisdom regarding how many activities I should take on this year.
Please pray that we as a staff would keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus and seek to find all of our satisfaction in Him alone!
Romans 8:28
I'm here, praise God! And it was quite the adventure!
I flew into Lilongwe on Wednesday -- 22 hours later than I had planned. My luggage had been incorrectly labeled for pick-up in Johannesburg, South Africa, requiring me to go through Customs and then re-check everything again. But unfortunately, my flight from London to Johannesburg was delayed for a couple of hours and I had less than one hour to make it through the long, slow lines. After getting my passport stamped and racing through the baggage claim, I located my luggage and bribed a porter to help me rush to the check-in counter as soon as possible with my 66 kg. Unfortunately by the time we got there, the gate had already closed which meant I had not only missed the 10 AM flight but I'd just been separated from my traveling buddies!
I made my way to the British Airways office with my overstuffed backpack, computer bag, and three pieces of luggage. Because of the delay, they were able to change my ticket. . . but the problem was that there wasn't another flight from Johannesburg leaving for Lilongwe that day.
"We can put you up in a hotel until 1 AM this morning. . . then we'll put you on Kenya Airways to fly you from here to Kenya, and from Kenya to Malawi. You should arrive there by tomorrow morning. We do apologize for the delay, but this is all we can do for you, Ma'am."
I envisioned myself walking outside the South Africa airport loading all of my luggage onto a hotel shuttle and then unloading it off the shuttle, into the hotel and then out of the hotel, back onto the shuttle and off the shuttle, into the baggage check-in area. . .close to 1 in the morning? I decided to just wait the 15 hours at the airport. It sounded easier and safer.
And so I waited. . . and waited. . . and prayed. . . .and prayed.
First, I prayed for faith and trust. . . I was coming down with a nasty cold, and my energy level was so drained! I prayed that God would give me more energy and health, just enough for the 12 hours until check-in time so I wouldn't fall asleep alone with my luggage in the Johannesburg airport. And I prayed that everything would just go smoothly this time. . . that I'd make all connecting flights, that I wouldn't get lost in the Kenya airport, that He would enable a way for me to communicate with the people who were supposed to pick me up. . . I prayed for wisdom and safety and protection. . . I even prayed that God would provide someone soon -- someone that I could trust to watch my stuff for just a few minutes while I ran to the restroom! And all of a sudden I realized in a deeper way how much God really cares about me -- even all the small things that kept flowing from my heart that in the grand scheme of things are so teeny and insignificant. And this caused me to plead that He would display His glorious sufficiency through my own insufficiency and dependence!
And I thought on the sweet, sweet promise of Romans 8:28:
"And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."
All. Things. Yes, ALL things! The cold, the luggage labeling snafu, the delayed flight, my exhaustion, an extra flight to Kenya! I didn't understand why. . . it made no sense to me! I was just trying to get back to Malawi to serve Him by loving on those kiddies at ABC Christian Academy. But there was something so comforting that almost made that 15 hour wait and extra trip to Kenya really enjoyable. . . because even though I still don't understand why it all happened, I had a lot of time to meditate on the fact that God was working all of it together for good. And especially when you feel so little and helpless, it releases huge burdens to be reminded that Someone so Great and All-sufficient is working all things for my good and His glory.
Nobody had any clue that I was in Kenya, but I was able to use my Malawi cell to contact a friend for an airport pick-up once I had landed in Lilongwe!
When I arrived to Lilongwe I had to pass through Customs once more.
Man at passport check: Passport, please.
Me, as I hand him my passport: I made it to Lilongwe!! I'm finally here!
Man at passport check: Welcome back to Malawi, Sista!
Me: Thanks! Wait, I mean. . . Zikomo!!
------------
Please pray for Moana, a girl I met on the plane and had an opportunity to share the gospel with.
Please pray for extra strength for all of the staff as we are getting everything ready for school to start this upcoming Tuesday.
Please pray that God would already be working in the hearts of each student.
Please pray that I would have wisdom regarding how many activities I should take on this year.
Please pray that we as a staff would keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus and seek to find all of our satisfaction in Him alone!
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Let Worship Be the Fuel for Mission's Flame
You should be the praise of every tongue, Jesus.
You should be the joy of every heart!
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't . . . Missions begins and ends in worship."
John Piper, “Let the Nations Be Glad”
You should be the joy of every heart!
"Missions is not the ultimate goal of the church. Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't . . . Missions begins and ends in worship."
John Piper, “Let the Nations Be Glad”
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Thankful for. . . A LOT!
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Blessed to be back in the States for a summer reunion with the family!
I cannot lie. I genuinely thought God had grown me in patience through a year of teaching math to a bunch of children, through a year of waiting to see changed hearts, through a year of waiting for so many questions to be answered. Really, I thought I had more patience. . . until the trip home! Patience, Katie, patience. :) Flight cancellations, finally five flights, and delays, and layovers, and Customs, missing luggage. . . and NO sleep! But, my family loved the sleepwalking, fine mess that walked off the plane 50-something hours later anyway. And I think then I understood unconditional love a little better. Yes, they claimed me, staggering down the airport escalator with bloodshot eyes, a dazed look -- even with gazillion and three African braids.
The Lost African Girl? No way! I am so found! As broken and stained as I am, Christ claims me: "This one is Mine. I, Who knew no sin, became sin so that in Me you might become the righteousness of God." And so gladly and desperately and with a grateful heart I plead for His promised grace as I hide myself in the cleft of this Treasure, this Rock. I trade my ashes for beauty. . . His beauty. And I smile and cry as He wraps me in His righteousness.
Honestly, I'm overwhelmed.
Overwhelmed because God has given me so much.
And my mind is still trying to process it all. I hope it does the rest of my life.
And as it does so, I'm spilling gratitude and praying that He would give me the grace to be faithful with all He has entrusted to me.
As I reflect on these past several months in Malawi, these are just some things I'm so thankful for right now:
#1 Jesus, my Savior: His life, His death, His resurrection, His love, His power, His righteousness
#2 My Bibles: the living and active Word of God in my language that comforts, convicts, strengthens, rebukes, guides, and encourages me
#3 The Holy Spirit, my Helper
#4 My Education: the ability to be able to read the Word of God
#5 Mom and Dad: the first people that told me about my serious plight . . . and then introduced me to Jesus
#6 Prayer: the opportunity to pour out my soul before my Creator with the assurance that I'm always being heard
#7 My Church: a close-knit family in Christ, fellowship, accountability, sound teaching and preaching
#8 Communion: the opportunity to commune with Him, to intentionally remember the Cross, and proclaim His death and resurrection until He comes again
#9 God's sufficient grace: favor towards me that I could never earn but that has proved itself over and over again a thousand times through
#10 Books and a plethora of Christian resources in my language: resources to learn from and be encouraged by others who are persevering in the faith!
#11 Airplanes: transportation that allows me to see the global church
#12 God's power: the kind that is made perfect in my many weaknesses
#13 Good health and a strong body: the ability to have lots of energy around my kids. . .energy to tell them the greatness of a glorious God
#14 My students: they help me see Jesus as more precious as I try to explain to them the Treasure He is
#15 The babes at the Crisis Nursery: they remind me of my dependency upon Jesus in all things
#16 My three sisters and two brothers: the kind that I can call "friends", too!
#17 Brothers and sisters: my family in Christ!
#18 Opportunities to be used as God's tool in the midst of a hurting world, opportunities to share Him with others
#19 God's impeccable timing: the way He does everything for both His glory and my good, even when it means "wait"
#20 Music: another way to praise and give God the glory due to His name
#21 Freedom: the privilege to talk about the greatness of God and the beautiful gospel message, especially at ABCCA
#22 God's pursuit of me: His intense desire for me!
#23 Hope: eager anticipation and trust -- the kind that carries me through when it's placed in an amazing God who is fully capable of doing exactly what He promises
#24 God's beautiful creation: declarations of His glory
#25 God's patience: the kind exercised as I stumble along and grow -- sometimes so slowly
#26 God's perfect peace: inner calmness and surety in the midst of a storm
#27 The village: a reminder to me that Jesus is EVERYTHING I need
#28 Rest: when all my burdens are taken straight to Jesus
#29 Forgiveness: Jesus' healing and cleansing of all my unrighteousness
#30 Confidence: the kind that is unshakable because it is rooted in the LORD
#31 The sufficiency of Christ: in Him I lack no good thing!
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Mulungu Angathe (God is able)
"For nothing will be impossible with God." Luke 1:37
There's a Chichewa song that the African Bible College students sing entitled "Ulemerelo wanu/Angathe" which means "Your Glory/He is able."
I loved it the first time I heard it. . . The harmonies are gorgeous (and the Africans do amazing things with them!), but even more than that, I love the words. They are so simple, yet so big and so comforting to me. I didn't know until recently how the song was translated into English, except for the one part that is actually sung in English at the end: "Our God can do any thing, any time, any way; God can do anything, He never fails."
I think the times it brings me the most comfort are when I've relied on my own strength and then, not surprisingly, feel like everything is impossible. Sometimes at night when my head is on the pillow these words will serve as a lullaby and will sing me to sleep, "My God can do any thing, any time, any way. . . my God can do anything. . . He never fails."
I've known them since I was a child. But, like a child, I need to remind myself more often than I even think to.
God can do anything.
My God can make me see my sin and hate it even more. My God can forgive. My God can keep changing my heart so it becomes more and more like His. My God can keep softening it, molding it, transforming its desires. My God can turn my eyes from worthless things and put them back on Jesus, where they need to be.
My God can change the hearts of my kids and grow them in Him.
My God can save a whole village. My God can save all of Africa. My God can save anybody He chooses.
My God can use a broken vessel to shine His glory in a broken world.
My God can.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as I think about getting ready to return to the States for the summer. How much He has taught me about my own heart! And how much of a burden He has placed upon my heart for these kids at the school, many of whom I may not ever see again as they will be moving to other countries and attending different international schools. He's placed a burden on my heart for the people in the villages. He's placed a burden on my heart for the world. Sometimes, especially working with children, the fruit just isn't very evident. But God promises me that in the Lord, my labor is never in vain. (I Corinthians 15:58). He can do anything, and His glory will be made known.
Last night my housemate and I had six of the cleaners from the school over for dinner. We were all sitting around the table when a couple of the women started singing praise songs. . . and then they all started singing. . . and one got off her chair and started dancing! And then before I knew it, we were all off our chairs singing and dancing (as much as I could, anyway)! She asked if we knew any Chichewa songs.
"Do you know 'Ulemerelo'?", I ask.
And they sing it beautifully.
I didn't want them to stop. Ever.
I have no reason to ever stop reminding myself that God CAN do anything.
Mulungu angathe. (God is able)
God is able. He is able. He is able. He will not fail.
Mulungu angathe, angathe, angathe; Mulungu angathe salephera.
God can do any thing, any time, any way; God can do anything, He never fails.
There's a Chichewa song that the African Bible College students sing entitled "Ulemerelo wanu/Angathe" which means "Your Glory/He is able."
I loved it the first time I heard it. . . The harmonies are gorgeous (and the Africans do amazing things with them!), but even more than that, I love the words. They are so simple, yet so big and so comforting to me. I didn't know until recently how the song was translated into English, except for the one part that is actually sung in English at the end: "Our God can do any thing, any time, any way; God can do anything, He never fails."
I think the times it brings me the most comfort are when I've relied on my own strength and then, not surprisingly, feel like everything is impossible. Sometimes at night when my head is on the pillow these words will serve as a lullaby and will sing me to sleep, "My God can do any thing, any time, any way. . . my God can do anything. . . He never fails."
I've known them since I was a child. But, like a child, I need to remind myself more often than I even think to.
God can do anything.
My God can make me see my sin and hate it even more. My God can forgive. My God can keep changing my heart so it becomes more and more like His. My God can keep softening it, molding it, transforming its desires. My God can turn my eyes from worthless things and put them back on Jesus, where they need to be.
My God can change the hearts of my kids and grow them in Him.
My God can save a whole village. My God can save all of Africa. My God can save anybody He chooses.
My God can use a broken vessel to shine His glory in a broken world.
My God can.
I've been thinking about this a lot lately, especially as I think about getting ready to return to the States for the summer. How much He has taught me about my own heart! And how much of a burden He has placed upon my heart for these kids at the school, many of whom I may not ever see again as they will be moving to other countries and attending different international schools. He's placed a burden on my heart for the people in the villages. He's placed a burden on my heart for the world. Sometimes, especially working with children, the fruit just isn't very evident. But God promises me that in the Lord, my labor is never in vain. (I Corinthians 15:58). He can do anything, and His glory will be made known.
Last night my housemate and I had six of the cleaners from the school over for dinner. We were all sitting around the table when a couple of the women started singing praise songs. . . and then they all started singing. . . and one got off her chair and started dancing! And then before I knew it, we were all off our chairs singing and dancing (as much as I could, anyway)! She asked if we knew any Chichewa songs.
"Do you know 'Ulemerelo'?", I ask.
And they sing it beautifully.
I didn't want them to stop. Ever.
I have no reason to ever stop reminding myself that God CAN do anything.
Mulungu angathe. (God is able)
God is able. He is able. He is able. He will not fail.
Mulungu angathe, angathe, angathe; Mulungu angathe salephera.
God can do any thing, any time, any way; God can do anything, He never fails.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Meet (some of) my 8th grade girls!
We all have different stories. . . but we all are in desperate need of a Savior!
(from left to right: Kaitlin, Yodit, Shannon, Catarina)
KAITLIN (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I am from Nebraska, but I was born in Iowa. I've been in Malawi since 3rd grade (2004). My dad is a missionary doctor at an AIDS clinic here. We are with a mission called SIM. My mom is a counselor.
What do you like to do? I love to swim! I could live in a pool! My favorite subject is math. I love math!
What is your favorite Bible verse? Jeremiah 29:11 because it tells me how God knows everything that's going to happen to me! He loves me that much!
How can I pray for you? You can pray that I would pursue God and draw closer to Him everyday.
YODIT (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I'm from Ethiopia, but I've been in Malawi for six years.
I live in Lilongwe because my dad got a job here.
What do you like to do? I love to hang out with my friends.
What is your favorite Bible verse? My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16 because it makes me feel important.
How can I pray for you? I'm going to Ethiopia during the summer. My family is moving. Pray that the move wouldn't be so hard.
SHANNON (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I'm from Zimbabwe and Malawi. I've been in Malawi for 2 years. I moved away from Zimbabwe because it was corrupt.
What do you like to do? I like to hang out with friends, and I like sports.
What is your favorite Bible verse? I like Proverbs 15:3 because it makes me feel safe wherever I am.
How can I pray for you? Pray that my friends and I won't grow apart and that I'll go back to Zimbabwe one day.
CATARINA (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I'm from Portugal, but I was born in Malawi. I have been in Malawi for 14 years. My dad got a job in Malawi, so that's why I'm living here.
What do you like to do? For fun I like to hang out with friends and go to parties. My favorite subject is recess.
What is your favorite Bible verse? My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 14:26, because it gives me encouragement to go through life, even in hard times.
How can I pray for you? Pray that I do well at my new school if I have to move.
- - - - -
Please continue to pray for my students and for each one's relationship with the Lord!
(from left to right: Kaitlin, Yodit, Shannon, Catarina)KAITLIN (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I am from Nebraska, but I was born in Iowa. I've been in Malawi since 3rd grade (2004). My dad is a missionary doctor at an AIDS clinic here. We are with a mission called SIM. My mom is a counselor.
What do you like to do? I love to swim! I could live in a pool! My favorite subject is math. I love math!
What is your favorite Bible verse? Jeremiah 29:11 because it tells me how God knows everything that's going to happen to me! He loves me that much!
How can I pray for you? You can pray that I would pursue God and draw closer to Him everyday.
YODIT (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I'm from Ethiopia, but I've been in Malawi for six years.
I live in Lilongwe because my dad got a job here.
What do you like to do? I love to hang out with my friends.
What is your favorite Bible verse? My favorite Bible verse is John 3:16 because it makes me feel important.
How can I pray for you? I'm going to Ethiopia during the summer. My family is moving. Pray that the move wouldn't be so hard.
SHANNON (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I'm from Zimbabwe and Malawi. I've been in Malawi for 2 years. I moved away from Zimbabwe because it was corrupt.
What do you like to do? I like to hang out with friends, and I like sports.
What is your favorite Bible verse? I like Proverbs 15:3 because it makes me feel safe wherever I am.
How can I pray for you? Pray that my friends and I won't grow apart and that I'll go back to Zimbabwe one day.
CATARINA (14 yrs)
Where are you from? I'm from Portugal, but I was born in Malawi. I have been in Malawi for 14 years. My dad got a job in Malawi, so that's why I'm living here.
What do you like to do? For fun I like to hang out with friends and go to parties. My favorite subject is recess.
What is your favorite Bible verse? My favorite Bible verse is Proverbs 14:26, because it gives me encouragement to go through life, even in hard times.
How can I pray for you? Pray that I do well at my new school if I have to move.
- - - - -
Please continue to pray for my students and for each one's relationship with the Lord!
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