Hi all!
Apologies that it’s been a while since I last posted – but things have been beyond words here (the sights, the lessons, the time with my squad). The things that I’ve seen and experienced over the last month have left me in awe and wonder – and I love it. It’s absolutely my plan to go back and fill you in on everything that’s been going on here in Nepal as well as recap the end of my month in India – but today is not that day! So please be patient with me as I try to put everything into words for you over the next couple of weeks. More blogs to come soon!
Today, I simply wanted to share with you something that I wrote during one of our “amad” times. Every morning before we go out and do ministry, we sit for one hour in “amad” – which essentially is the Hebrew word for “to stand, remain, endure”. So we “stand” in His presence for one hour each day – not actively praying or worshiping, but just listening and experiencing Him. It’s powerful and a wonderful way to begin the day. It sets our hearts in the right place for doing ministry – whether it’s ministering to slum kids, or prostitutes or simply allowing the Lord to direct our paths for the day (we call those “treasure hunts” and I’ll tell you more about those in a separate blog).
Back on October 14th, as I was sitting in “amad”, I had the urge to write a psalm (I was originally in the mood to read a psalm – one that expressed my exact feelings; but I then heard a voice asking why I didn’t just write my own psalm to Him). If you know me well enough, you know that I don’t really enjoy writing – and I never write anything poetic. But the Lord placed it upon my heart that morning and I’d like to share it with you now.
A Psalm of Natalie
You, O God, are faithful and good.
You have chosen me and anointed me and called me out of the darkness.
Even though I do not understand all of Your ways, I will trust You.
I place my life in Your hands, O Lord of my soul.
I pour out my life as a drink offering on Your altar and I bid You to come and fill me with Your presence.
You have offered me a place at Your table, a co-heir with Christ;
You have beckoned me with Your hand to rise up and join You in all Your mighty deeds and wonders.
You have taken the empty and broken vessel of my body and You have redeemed me.
The vessel overflows from the outpouring of Your love.
O my God, speak to me!
I want to hear Your voice.
Direct me in all my ways.
Let there not be a single moment without Your presence.
Remind me always of who I am in You, Lord.
Speak into my spirit, my innermost being.
I marvel at Your goodness and I am in awe of You.
All the glory be to You, O God.
Amen
So there you have it – nothing fancy. Just real and raw and 100% me. My encouragement to you is to try doing the same – write a psalm to the Lord. Whatever He places on your heart – praise Him, cry out to Him, thank Him, be in awe of Him! And then put it somewhere where you can go back and read it again and again when you need to – to remind yourself of all He’s done for you and all He’s doing.
For His glory,
Nat
