welcome to our world

So last week I was doing some journaling about what I have learned and experienced while on the mission field. Trying to really reflect on what's new before I return stateside and be aware of changes to help with reverse culture shock.
I think one of the huge truths that God really drove into my Spirit, is just the hugeness of the incarnation! I knew Jesus came to "seek and to save that which was lost", but I guess for whatever reason I never before had looked at the missionary example Christ set for us. He came into a world He didn't know.....he didnt know the culture, the language, the customs, the traditions,......He came as a babe, as a learner into this people group of the Jews some 2000 years ago! Wow, so much I can learn from Him......I must be a learner.....in language, in culture, in social ways, in traditions, in all things!
Entonces, I have always been a Christmas-y person...I love celebrating the birth of Christ, the gifts He puts in our lives, and the wonder of the virgin birth.....but this year there is something new stirring in me..........Christ set the standard......left all the glory and familarity of the heavens He knew...and came to a world unknown so that He might seek and save those who were lost like sheep without a shepherd thru His amazing, unending Love! How beautiful is our Savior....how much more of His love I have to learn and bask in :)

"Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2:5-8

a time for everything

This week has been bittersweet.....its super super exciting to look forward to returning home to visit with friends and family back in my home state over Christmas....but of course since its my last week, its been hard to say goodbye.....although its only for a few weeks, its emotional.
Today, I had an awesome visit with my friend V..... who is a fellow Christian wanting to grow in her faith.....I am blown away by the generosity and open hearts of the Mexican people. They give and give! When we were seperating she was asking when I would be back and sharing she would miss me. We both had tears in our eyes as we hugged and parted ways.

I am so grateful that God taught me an important lesson about two weeks ago that I can now reach back and recall that lesson once more. A few weeks ago I knew I wasn't going to see my friend C.... for a whole week and was hoping she would be coming to church with me that next Sunday. I was kind of nervous as to not see her for a whole week knowing the enemy would be moving against her as she was moving away from him and agreeing to visit church. But God really spoke to me and was like, "You know what? Can you just give her to me? I can do a much better job of taking care of her then you ever could. Trust me to hold her in my hands....I am more than capable." That was so like Wow! for me as I just really released her into God's care and let him do his thing as only he can! So that is where I am now.....emotional at times in leaving some good friends that I know have a lot on their plates right now, but yet at rest within for I know God is able to keep them and care for them with His amazing love that far, far outweighs mine!
LET GO, LET GOD! :)

If my people.....

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This past Saturday morning I really saw God answering this promise. The past few weeks have been trying at our base as we have had a lot of attacks from our enemy. This past Saturday, however, we had an awesome share time and then our girls group broke off for a prayer circle. We really felt the Holy Spirit descend and pour out a spirit of repentance. We had a great time of confession and humbling ourselves. How beautiful that among all the tear-covered faces, snotty noses, and open hearts; our Father heard and came to heal us! I am so grateful for the unity we are experiencing here, but most of all the unity we can experience of abiding as one in the creator of the Universe! Praise His Name ;)

changes

-just so you know, today in class we had some good discussion about privacy for those we work with here...to keep their names sort of undisclosed for privacy and security purposes......so with that......names will sometimes be 'coded' so to speak.....:)

I'm coming home

This past week God really opened my eyes to the truth found in the book of Hosea.....you see Hosea had this wife, Gomer, that was a prostitute....so often Hosea had to suffer the pain of an unfaithful wife and having her forsake his love.....God uses Hosea in this situation to reflect the relationship of Israel with Him......and the same is true of me....
Ive been a Gomer.
I have often forsaken my God, the lover of my soul. Often I have "exchanged the glory of God for the disgrace of idols." ch 4 vs 7 Because idols aren't simply a little figurine of Buddha...but we can make an idol out of our friends, our family, our boyfriend, our own self image, our interests...whatever.....
And that is what I have been guilty of, I have given my primary attention, love and adoration to idols.....
Chapter 5 is very humbling, "For as soon as trouble comes, they will search for me...."
How shockingly true.....I hate when a friend only comes to me when something is wrong...only comes to me in crisis mode.....but man how often do I do the same with God? How amazing that the creator of the universe wants to be my friend? to hear about my days..to hear the cries of my heart.....to hear my worries.....
How I long to run to him and enjoy that close friendship and simply chill with him...good days...bad days....silly days.....emotional days......all the days I have breath.

How beautiful the story ends as Gomer repents and turns away from the idolatry and in the same....the Lord says to me and to you, his children, "Then I will heal you of your idolatry and faithlessness, and my love will know no bounds, for my anger will be gone forever!" ch 14

Thank you Father...i praise you that you receive me time and again when i have left you and chased after other loves. thank you Lord that you always take me back...you heal me and your love has no bounds.....you are good father, i give you me :)