The D.R. Diarios
Dear God, it’s me… Margaret Lia.
(If you’re confused, the title of this blog is named after a book that we used to keep in our bathroom growing up as a kid. I can’t say I ever read it all the way through… don’t judge me.)
Every now and again, I pray to God as if I were writing a letter.
Dear God,
Please send a truck to run over that barking dog so I can sleep.
Sincerely Yours,
Lia
OR
Dear God,
I know that your manna provided for your people in the wilderness, but if i eat rice and beans again, I’m going to lose my mind.
With Love,
Lia
The past week, we led out in VBS in Mogollon. I was SUPER excited about the opportunity to bring God’s word in a variety of different ways. My team got together, planned out some great events, prepared songs, bought some craft stuff, prayed over it all.
We were VBS ready.
In all our preparations, we could have NEVER prepared for what was to come. Here’s a quick snippet of what went down each day.
Tuesday: (1st day of VBS)
Over 85+ kids show up in a one room, 10 bench worship room. We had 7 team members, one translator with a helper, and a BUNCH of kids that did not understand the teacher snap that meant to get quiet. WOW.
Wednesday:
The worst thunder and lightning storm known to man swept over our location at EXACTLY the times we had open for VBS. We did skits of Jesus calming the storm, oddly enough, when He says “peace be still” to the waters, a HUGE lightening bolt crashed down and knocked out all power. With a tin roof, fat rain drops, thunder and lightening… it was a contest to who could yell the loudest. Nature or us.
Thursday:
This day began so promising! We went through our Bible stories and got a Veggie Tales movie going in Spanish. As the older kids left for recreation outside, more than the majority wandered off and disappeared into oblivion. It was a bummer, but a few came back for discussion time.
Friday and Saturday:
Both of these days were cancelled due to rain.
It seems that any time I kind of… almost… barely… have any expectations set up for anything at all on this Race… it gets ran over by Dominican traffic and/or Satan’s ploys. At this point, here was my letter lifted up in prayer.
Dear God,
WHAT IS GOING ON??? What are you doing?!?!?! Please let me know.
Confused but still faithful,
Lia
Here’s the moral of the story.
In John 11, Lazarus dies and Jesus waited 2 days before even leaving to go to him. Before he raised him, Lazarus had been dead for 4 DAYS! (that’s gross, get the full mental picture on what that would look like) The statement that Jesus made to His disciples pre-journey to Lazarus’ house has changed my thinking on how He moves.
“Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”
Jesus knew exactly what was going to happen. He planned it that way. He knew the miracle that was about to happen and did it in a time line that would bring the MOST GLORY TO GOD! All His disciples needed to do was believe and trust and follow.
This is where the sisters really shined brightly! Despite lamenting their brother’s death, they still believed that Jesus has the power and sovereignty to RAISE HIM. Jesus helped shift that idea into the present.
WE SERVE A GOD THAT THRIVES IN IMPOSSIBLE SITUATIONS.
IN FACT… HE LIKES IT BETTER THAT WAY.
Praise God that VBS is impossible. We don’t have enough translators, room, reinforcement with people, etc… But we are not a people that shrink back. We are a people that perseveres and that says to Jesus, “Let’s join Him in His death” like Thomas did in Luke 11. I am absolutely positive that God has and will continue to move in our last day of VBS. I believe he will raise the dead in just the time that will bring Him the MOST GLORY! Our calling is to obedience, and even when I don’t understand how this impossible situation can bring good fruit… I will persevere for God’s glory and His promise that NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!
For nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God. Mark 10:27
Jesus replied, “What is impossible with men is possible with God. Luke 18:27
I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you. Matt 17:20
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible. Matt 19:26
