Month 4
C: Cherishing the moments with a giving community
H: Holding fast to Your promises of life and hope that are on the way
I: Incredible accountability from the teammates
N: Newness in Your love, Your presence, Your plan
A: Awareness of the history and culture that are present here
This month has been a great opportunity to learn about my new team members. Our new team is 7-Up: Sara, Simeon, Debbie, Tori, Hakyeong and Mercy. Continue to lift up our team as we serve in this community in China.
We have seen so much of His promises for newness and hope. We see the physical change of seasons, from winter to the beginnings of spring in the cherry blossom trees. However, we also see the spiritual newness and hope that He is stirring up in the hearts of the people we are working with. There is so much hunger here–continue to pray for His Spirit to answer their calls. Pray for their hearts to seek answers in His presence alone.
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Although there is such a light of hope that is coming, working in the winter season is difficult. Especially when it is where my spiritual season is as well. In the depths of the winter season, the enemy attacks in many forms. I have experienced homesickness, physical health issues (migraines and sinus issues with the weather changes), and feelings of isolation. The enemy desires to bring us to places of loneliness to feel like the winter season will be unending and impossible to move out of–however, I thank the Lord for the community I have around me. They are a great source of accountability and encouragement as the attacks come and they are able to claim truths over my heart. The Lord continues to show me the importance of what my heart and mouth speaks out–do I choose life or death when I think? do I choose life or death when I speak? There is so much power in what I choose to believe. This impacts my physical, emotional, spiritual and mental wellbeing. And sometimes, your flesh cannot muster up the strength or courage to speak those, so this is when you call upon that beautiful community around you. They remind you of who you are and how valuable you are in His Kingdom.
In the winter season, the main area of my heart that the Lord is focusing on is a spirit of humility. He has allowed me to experience the attacks from the enemy to remind my pride that I am completely dependent on His strength–to give me exactly what I need in that moment (teaching the next lesson, responding to situations with grace and love, and pressing on in this race that He designed for me to complete). He continues to work on the fruits of patience and gentleness. Patience in circumstances that don’t turn out as I expect them to do. Gentleness in how I react to the people around me–realizing that my Savior spoke in gentleness even when bold things were required to be shared.
Psalm 25:9 “The Lord teaches the humble what is right, and the humble He leads in His way.”
One day as we walked to lunch in the cafeteria, my teammate, Mercy, said I’m glad it is windy today, maybe it will blow out the skunk smells. I thought, that is a perfect way to think about my spiritual winter season. The Lord is willing to blow away the stench and gross smells that the winter season can leave around…and His wind brings in newness and fresh breath.
I’m resting in that wind.
Appreciating the newness that is on its way.
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As I started this month, I was challenged to ask how He wanted me to be empowered in this month.
My answers:
1. Walk boldly in the favor He has given
2. Be relationally focused–demonstrating love and life
3. Claim the protection He has given–Isaiah 40–He has promised to be with me and make a great path
Prayers:
1. Continue to walk in the areas that He has asked me to be empowered in (from above)
2. Press into the difficulties of the winter season, leaving no area unturned or avoided
3. Transition to AFRICA!! We will be in Beijing for a few days for debrief, then fly out for our 3 months in Africa. *Our squad will also be raising up new Squad leaders (as our Squad leaders will be going home after month 5) and they will be raising up new Team Leaders as well. There will be team changes again.
