Be Still

An excerpt from my journal on 5/7:  Psalm 46:10 BE still and know that I am God Be STILL and know that I am God Be still AND know that I am God Be still and KNOW that I am God Be still and know that I am God Be still and know that I AM God Be still and know that I am GOD!! Lord, help me to take some time each day to just BE. Still my mind and heart, Lord to focus on you. Lord, help me to really know that you are in control. You are the Lord; help me to remember that it's not about me. Help me to contemplate who you are each day.

Be Still AND Know that I am God

The other night at a friend's house, we had an extended time of prayer, much of it silent. The Lord had me share Psalm 46:10. The night had started off with talking about all the references to "new" in the Bible. I had shared a few things [new life, new heaven and a new earth] and the verse "see, I am doing a new thing. Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" So when God nudged me to share Psalm 46:10, I was reluctant. Mentally I argued with God, 'I have already shared, I am an introvert, this is not new, I am not the group leader'. Finally I just said the verse one time. I told the Lord he needed to be specific and confirm it if he wanted me to do the whole thing. After a few minutes, our leader shared his frustration, confessed his difficulty with being still. Then I knew I had to be obedient and so I prayed it slowly, reflectively. The leader told me afterward that it was perfect for him, that it had been filled with authority, and that he had wanted me to go on. I had actually felt a slight nudge to continue, but had been so relieved to be done with it and stop. Afterward I felt a great sense of relief about some things I had been holding on to and needed to let go of.

He is Worthy

Lord, You are worthy Of a child-like faith And of my honest praise And of my unashamed love Of a holy life And of my sacrifice And of my unashamed love Words quoted from "Unashamed Love" by Ten Shekel Shirt"

Chincha Peru 2008

It's a hot sunny day here in Chincha Alta, Peru. We're sitting under a canopy tent in kid size chairs with colorful octagonal low tables. There is a nice cool breeze. The ground is sandy and dusty. There is a church to one side of us, and our tent city to the other side. We finished a breakfast of sausage and egg biscuits, rolls with jelly and juice and tea. After a time of worship and prayer for healing, we are listening to a teaching by Michael Hindes, a pastor from Michigan. He is talking about attitude. There are 27 World Racers, 5 staff, 5 translators, and 1 guest. There is a Hollywood film producer here to try to capture the story of the people here and tell the world how they can help. This area experienced an 8.0 magnitude earthquake on August 15th and about 600 were killed. Many lost their homes and their livelihood. Entire towns have relocated to makeshift tents with dirt floors and walls made of woven reeds, thatch, etc. Some are fortunate to have an actual tent from a relief agency, but they have been living like this for almost 5 months. We met people yesterday from the Tambo de Mora area and heard their stories. The village was a prosperous fishing village on the Pacific Ocean. Just before the quake, which occurred about 7 pm, the ground water rose inside their homes to about a meter deep. The three inch concrete floors simply buckled and the homes sank about 2 feet. The quake lasted three terrifying minutes. People ran to find relatives, some ran many kilometers back to Chincha in search of family. After the quake came a small tsunami. The people have relocated to safer ground further inland. Many husbands have to leave the area to find work.

Word for the Year

So, I've been trying to come up with a theme for 2012.  Will this be a year of adventure ... love ... journey ... how can i fit it into just one word?  God has taught me so much in 2011 and I am eager to see what 2012 will bring.  He is teaching me to wait on him, to trust him in all things, and to love wholeheartedly.  The year 2011 was a year of travel and transition.  I am so eager to be done with transition, to be in a more permanent home and to be settled.

In my childhood, if we asked my mother what was for dessert, she would sometimes answer "Wait and See."  Sometimes I think that God says that to us as well.  We are eager to know the future, but our wise parent knows that we don't need to know everything in advance and that some things are better as surprises.

So my theme, at least for now, is EXPECTATION!  I eagerly await the unfurling of His Plan for this year.