Welcome to the
randomness that is my mind right now. I’ll say sorry in advance for the jumbled
random thoughts that follow. As the title suggests, I don’t have one coherent
thought right now. I’m also sorry that I haven’t written a blog about Romania
yet. I’ve really dropped the ball on that whole deal.
randomness that is my mind right now. I’ll say sorry in advance for the jumbled
random thoughts that follow. As the title suggests, I don’t have one coherent
thought right now. I’m also sorry that I haven’t written a blog about Romania
yet. I’ve really dropped the ball on that whole deal.
I was just looking
back and I realized that I haven’t written a blog about what we have been doing
here. We have been staying in Bucharest at a place called Casa Shalom. Casa
Shalom used to be an orphanage, but right now there are only a few older kids that
are still here. From what I have gathered, the home has moved away from being
an orphanage (due to some changes in the law) to basically operating as a place
for missionaries to stay. So lots of WR teams stay here along with numerous
other mission teams (including a team of about 50 Irish people right now). We
have had such a great time here this month, and it hasn’t been all play, I
promise.
back and I realized that I haven’t written a blog about what we have been doing
here. We have been staying in Bucharest at a place called Casa Shalom. Casa
Shalom used to be an orphanage, but right now there are only a few older kids that
are still here. From what I have gathered, the home has moved away from being
an orphanage (due to some changes in the law) to basically operating as a place
for missionaries to stay. So lots of WR teams stay here along with numerous
other mission teams (including a team of about 50 Irish people right now). We
have had such a great time here this month, and it hasn’t been all play, I
promise.
For the most part
this month, the guys have just been doing random projects around the house. We
have done everything. We unloaded a container ( an entire semi truck full of
stuff), sorted clothes in their Goodwill type store, moved stacks of wood out
of the garage and back in, and threw all the random stuff we could find in the
garage thinking it was good only to empty and reorganize the entire garage a
few days later. I also got to mow the yard one day – which was awesome! I had
to mention that in a blog because I have a Nathan
Salley original picture that just has to be posted.
this month, the guys have just been doing random projects around the house. We
have done everything. We unloaded a container ( an entire semi truck full of
stuff), sorted clothes in their Goodwill type store, moved stacks of wood out
of the garage and back in, and threw all the random stuff we could find in the
garage thinking it was good only to empty and reorganize the entire garage a
few days later. I also got to mow the yard one day – which was awesome! I had
to mention that in a blog because I have a Nathan
Salley original picture that just has to be posted.
It has been a fun
month for sure. I have thoroughly enjoyed having work to do. It is always nice
to have projects (even if they are as random as moving a junk pile 20 feet to
the left). But it has been easy. That’s
not a complaint as much as it is an observation. We were talking the other day
about how to live in a way that is dependent on God’s power all the time. This
discussion arose in light of the work we have been doing this month. How do we
operate in God’s strength and not through our own strength when we are doing
things like mowing? Maybe that’s the wrong question to ask, but I’m curious.
Angela pointed out the way that we can know for sure we are relying on God’s
power when we step into a situation by faith. When we walk into a situation
where we know our power isn’t sufficient, we can then know that God will have
to work through us to complete the work. That makes sense. I can understand
that and agree with it. I usually don’t want to actually step into those places
though. That would be uncomfortable (why
does everything seem to come back to comfort?).
month for sure. I have thoroughly enjoyed having work to do. It is always nice
to have projects (even if they are as random as moving a junk pile 20 feet to
the left). But it has been easy. That’s
not a complaint as much as it is an observation. We were talking the other day
about how to live in a way that is dependent on God’s power all the time. This
discussion arose in light of the work we have been doing this month. How do we
operate in God’s strength and not through our own strength when we are doing
things like mowing? Maybe that’s the wrong question to ask, but I’m curious.
Angela pointed out the way that we can know for sure we are relying on God’s
power when we step into a situation by faith. When we walk into a situation
where we know our power isn’t sufficient, we can then know that God will have
to work through us to complete the work. That makes sense. I can understand
that and agree with it. I usually don’t want to actually step into those places
though. That would be uncomfortable (why
does everything seem to come back to comfort?).
But my question
remains. What do I do about the things that are just natural and easy? How do I
rely on God in those circumstances?
1
Peter 4:7-11
7The end of all things is at hand;
therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another
earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to
serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles
of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the
strength that God supplies-in order that in everythingGod may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
therefore be self-controlled and sober-minded for the sake of your prayers. 8Above all, keep loving one another
earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to
serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles
of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the
strength that God supplies-in order that in everythingGod may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
This passage from 1
Peter is challenging. I love that we are called to serve by the strength that
God provides so that the result of the service is God being glorified! This
still doesn’t really answer my question though. All I do know right now is that
I must serve without grumbling or complaining so that God will be glorified.
Peter is challenging. I love that we are called to serve by the strength that
God provides so that the result of the service is God being glorified! This
still doesn’t really answer my question though. All I do know right now is that
I must serve without grumbling or complaining so that God will be glorified.
Philippians
2:14-15
14Do everything without complaining or arguing, 15so
that you may become blameless and pure, children
of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
that you may become blameless and pure, children
of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe
Switching gears…we
have also had the chance to play with some of the local kids. They came a few
days to Casa Shalom so that we could play with them and teach some bible
lessons. We have also gone to their village a few times to play with them. They
all come running as soon as our vans pull up, and they all jump on the back of
the van as we drive off. It’s been fun playing with these kids. The picture
below is from our horse races – we were the horses and the kids were the
jockeys. This went on for several round because for some reason, they just
didn’t get tired of it.
have also had the chance to play with some of the local kids. They came a few
days to Casa Shalom so that we could play with them and teach some bible
lessons. We have also gone to their village a few times to play with them. They
all come running as soon as our vans pull up, and they all jump on the back of
the van as we drive off. It’s been fun playing with these kids. The picture
below is from our horse races – we were the horses and the kids were the
jockeys. This went on for several round because for some reason, they just
didn’t get tired of it.
So that’s it for
now. Sorry for the randomness, but it is what it is. What do you guys think
about always operating by the power of God? Anyone have some wisdom they can
impart?
now. Sorry for the randomness, but it is what it is. What do you guys think
about always operating by the power of God? Anyone have some wisdom they can
impart?
