Bring your tired
Bring your shame
Bring your guilt
Bring your pain
Don’t you know that’s not you’re name
You will always be much more to me
Every day I wrestle with the voices
That keep telling me I’m not right
But that’s alright
‘Cause I hear a voice and He calls me redeemed
When others say I’ll never be enough
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
And greater is the One living inside of me
Than he who is living in the world
Bring your doubts
Bring your fears
Bring your hurt
Bring your tears
There’ll be no condemnation here
You are holy, righteous and redeemed
Every time I fall
There’ll be those who will call me
A mistake
Well that’s ok
There’ll be days I lose the battle
Grace says that it doesn’t matter
‘Cause the cross already won the war
He’s Greater
He’s Greater
I am learning to run freely
Understanding just how He sees me
And it makes me love Him more and more
On our first day at New Life Academy, the students sang us the song, Greater, by Chris Tomlin. The song was new to me, but tears filled my eyes when I started listening to the lyrics.
Cause I hear a voice, and He calls me redeemed. When others say I’ll never be enough. And greater is the One living inside of me. Than he who is living in the world.
I had the song stuck in my head for weeks. It’s one of my new favorites because the lyrics are words I need to hear every single day:
God is greater than the one in the world.
I am more than my guilt, shame, and pain.
I am redeemed, holy, and righteous.
The Lord can handle my doubts, hurts, tears, and fears.
I am cover by grace.
The cross has already won the war.
I am free from condemnation.
I can run freely in Christ.
Getting to know the kiddos here, it was humbling to think about the poverty they live in.
Some of the little girls get married as early as 8 years old. The teachers fight to keep girls in school, but their parents think being married will give them a better life. Families are so poor some need their daughter’s dowry to survive.
The only difference between them and me is the families we were born into. I did nothing to deserve the life I live.
My mom doesn’t usually advertise this, but she had a sponsor as a child. She remembers writing letters to her sponsor and getting Christmas presents from a church. Here’s a paragraph she wrote about her childhood:
When I was young, growing up in Hong Kong, I remembered visiting an agency worker periodically to deliver a photo and a letter about myself. My older sister always helped me write the letters. We would receive a letter from my sponsor family in return and a check which would cover the cost of my school tuition, school supplies, health care, and food. In those days, kids in Hong Kong paid to go to elementary school. With the support of my sponsor family, I was able to continue and eventually finish my first 6 grades of school. I remembered at Christmas, I received a great big box with toys, school supplies, stuffed animals, and clothing. I felt loved and special because this family, whom I have never met, cared enough about me to provide for my very basic needs. They might not know that their one dollar a day helped shape me into the person I am today.
I could have grown up like that too, just like these kids, but I didn’t. My parents gave me things these kids cannot even fathom right now.
As I pondered how my parents made a change, I caught myself thinking hard work, money, and education led to a better life, but that’s not true. Education, nutrition, loving teachers, and the ability to speak English allow the kids to help their families and future children, but that’s not enough. The Lord reminded me of something even greater.
I have the Lord, and I have hope. I am God’s friend and daughter. The Holy Spirit speaks words of life over me, like the lyrics of the song. He reminds me how He sees me over and over until my soul believes it too.
The odds seem against these children.There are people who will tell them they are not enough, but God’s words of truth are infinitely greater than Saten’s lies. I pray each precious New Life child truly believes what those lyrics say.
I pray those words sink deep into their hearts because they are true. God loves them more than I ever could, and only His love can truly change their lives. Every month, I can only do so much. My time comes to an end, but the Lord can stay with the people I meet forever. They need Him far more than they need me.
While my team begins ministry in India, pray for the safety, health, and unity of my team. Keep these sweet kiddos and their teachers in your prayers and consider sponsoring a child as they start a new school year in January! Here is The Hope Foundation website with a list of children awaiting sponsorship at $30/month for students in primary school or $45/month for high school!
Love and miss you all!
