These lyrics sung last night at my campus ministry meeting seemed real fitting to the week I have had. I have seen a lot of pain, a lot of confusion but so much more faith!
Last Friday I got a note that one of my teammates might no longer be able to go with us on the World Race. Though, we both we heartbroken, she was able to let peace flow and able to trust whatever God wanted for her. I could not image the reality of no longer being able to go on the World Race and was so encouraged by her trust that God's plan is bigger and better and worth trusting.
Another thing with the World Race happened this week. We found out our new route which is: Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, Albania, Bulgaria, Romania, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, China, and Philippines. Bulgaria is now in place of India. This broke my heart. India has been one of the countries I have looked forward to the most. I feel called back to India and when routes went up with India, Guatemala and Romania I felt it confirming of God's call. This brought saddness for losing India but also excitement for Bulgaria. When I was eight and my family was looking at adopting another child from Romania we also looked at adopting from Bulgaria. Ever since I have felt connected to Bulgaria. The first time the Lord spoke a place of calling on my life it was Eastern Europe. Bulgaria falls into this and who knows, maybe where God is calling me first, so going to another country would be more fitting. Regardless of if I go to India next year or not, I believe God will call me back.
The other thing that happened this week was a dear friend's father going to be with the Lord. When I saw her at the visitation she was the one to speak life to me proclaiming the peace God had given them and that God is good and faithful and has good things in store. The following day during the funeral all four of the siblings read scripture:
Psalm 34:8 "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in the him."
Romans 5:1-5 "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."
2 Corinthians 1:5-7 "For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort."
1 Corinthians 13:12-13 " For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
I was amazed at the faith and hope that exuded from their reading the truth of the God we serve. This exuded from them in a season I could not image and fear experiencing one day. I could not believe how strong they were or at least trying to be. When I found out about his passing it reminded me of a quote I heard my freshman year of high school. It was a wife's response to hearing of her husband's death. She said "The Lord is God and He can do what He pleases." As bold as it may be, this was how I felt their response would be. I am NOT saying this makes it easy, because again I cannot imagine what is being experienced by my dear friend's and my heart continues to break and grieve for them. But I believe they are understanding the meaning of life and I am so humbled to learn this in such a situation.
Another point I want to bring up about the funeral is how they honored my friend's dad. They spoke so highly of how he lived life and lived it so fully. He lived and impacted people like we as Christian's are called to. The man speaking highlighted the point that Jesus says THIS IS LIFE, it's not only to come, but it is now! One of my favorite verses is John 17:3 "Now this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God". And I am so thankful for this reminder and having my faith built up by seeing it lived out by so many beautiful people around me!
I just pray this is our prayer every day, that we will live life, because THIS is life and it is to be lived, lived overflowing with peace, trust, love, truth, justice and above all overflowing with the Lord!
