“Living a life of peace is a choice. Nothing can rob you of your peace–you freely relinquish it when you allow your circumstances to cloud your vision and cause you undue concern. God wants peace to be the fabric of your being and to encompass every aspect of your life. He wants you to learn to trust His heart even when you cannot trace His steps.”
-KnowJesus
I would love to have some great adventurous story about our ministry time here in the Dominican Republic, it would bring we all the happiness in the world to show you pictures of the orphans that we worked with our the houses we built. Sorry, that just isn’t possible. To be quite honest it brings me joy to share with you that a great majority of my days here involve laying on the floor reading, reflecting with teammates, and having conversations with The Lover of my Soul! Some days we are able to go to different public schools, do home visits in the evening, help with Sunday school classes; and when those times come I am able to be a reflection of Jesus because I am full to brim with His joy, grace, and love.
For me this has been a month of limitless rest in Him, a time to get to know my teammates, a time to break down and cry, or laugh till tears come because we just want some chicken. There have been times in this month when I wanted to break the lock off the door(literally), and run into the streets for some fresh air. Times where I have sat in the bathroom for fifteen minutes to get some alone time(the bathroom is my secret place…for real). There have been numerous opportunities this month to live in discontent, to complain, and honestly just feel pitiful for myself because “this is not what it is suppose to be like.” But listen…from one of the very first days I made the choice to live in Peace, to drink from His cup of Joy on a daily basis no matter the circumstance.
Months before launching my sister gave me a word that I am reminded of daily; she told me “He has made you a Person of Peace. That through you He is going to bring peace to your team, your ministry, and every person that you come in contact with.” I knew what she meant, but I honestly had no idea how that was possible. I remember googling person of peace, trying to figure out how I could make that possible. The fact of the matter was that I cannot make myself a person of peace; it is all through Him and His glory.
Everyday I wake up, deny myself and take up my cross(Luke 9:23). He has called me to be a person of peace, but He gives me to the free will to choose that peace to choose to drink from the cup of His joy. I am thankful for this month because I have truly been able to rest in Him, I have learned that it is necessary for me to be full in Him in order for Him to us me to pour out to others.
I battle with flesh on a daily basis, but it doesn’t really seem like a fight anymore because I know and have faith in the fact that my father is Powerful, and believes in me. He believes in me, calls me a person of peace, and allows me to drink from His cup of joy every second of the day.
Thank you all for your support and continuing to be apart of this awesome experience. It is truly an honor to be here and have you all by my side!!
Thank you,
Lee!!
