God love surprises
One of my favorite memories of Nicaragua ministry was beach day. I went with a negative attitude starting ministry. I didn’t really want to go to the beach. However God really had big plans for me today that I didn’t expect.
I was just about to get my towel, my headphones, and my Iphone, to turn out the world. I didn’t want to be there so mentally I was going to zone out and not be present. Well God has already sensed that and knew I needed a shakeup.
On my way to get my “Let’s not be present gear,” I met Liza
This little girl has stolen my heart and made me love even more and looking back I can’t imagine beach day without her.
Liza is 6 and her favorite color is white (only because I’m a gringo) and she loves Jalapeño chips as long as she can have a big gulp of water after. Liza is afraid of crabs but is not afraid of the water at all! I didn’t plan on getting in the water at all today.. Liza has so much faith. She has the most infectious laugh and smile. She has so much love. Liza has got to be is the sweetest girl in the entire world. (I may be a bit biased but let’s just all be a little gullible and believe it.) She is flowing over with Joy and happiness. She was such a blessing to me and exactly what I needed today.
She has so much trust and she has such a joy about her that I see in myself. To have faith like a child was literally what I was thinking about last night. To really pour out into full trust and dependence of Him. God gives me a full day of demonstration! I love you God! Liza was one of the most needed blessings today! Through a full day of collecting seashells, running the shore of the beach, jumping waves, playing in the sand, playing you can’t catch me, and loving on this beautiful child I feel so alive, so full of joy, and so full of my Kingdom purpose!!
This girl’s faith was so easily demonstrated to me. Faith that I wasn’t going to let her drown. Faith that I was not going to slowly put all 30+ shells back into the ocean without her looking. Faith that I was going to have fun with her. Faith that I was going to protect her from the very dead crab that was too close to her. Faith that I was going to love her. Faith that I wasn’t going to keep her mount on fire after eating the chips she clearly picked. Faith that I was going to help her laugh and enjoy herself. Faith that when the water got into her eyes I would check if she was okay. Faith that I would pick her up when a wave was coming so she didn’t get knocked down.
Reflecting on this I really saw how much faith I was putting in things of this world rather than in God. I realized that I needed to really reevaluate my life and my relationship with God.
I realized that I needed to have faith when I felt like I was drowning, because God is carrying me through and will not give me anything that I cannot handle.
I realized that I needed to have faith that when I took 30 steps closer to Go that He wasn’t going to push me back where I came.
I realized that I needed to have faith that I and God can have fun, we can laugh together.
I realized that I needed to have faith that when the scary stuff that God is letting me face and tackle, It will make me grow and be stronger.
I realized that I needed to have faith that God really truly believes that I am His beloved.
I realized that I needed to have faith that God wasn’t going to let the devil burn me because God has already won.
I realized that I needed to have faith that God isn’t going to let me down but that he is cheering me on,
I realized that I needed to have faith that every time that I do get knocked down God is right there picking me back up.
The crazy realization that just a small girl, in a blue dress, on a beach that I didn’t want to go to God really taught me about putting true dependence on Him. To truly step out into faith and believe that my ability is through Him and only Him.
I just want to pray blessings over Liza and her family that she will keep her innocence, her joy, and her love and use this to change the world. I pray that she will be surrounded by individuals who will love her unconditionally. I pray that she will grow up in the protection of our loving Father. I pray that she comes to know God loves her and she is His beloved child. I pray that throughout her life she will keep her childlike faith. It is in your name I pray Amen!
