This blog may seem very scattered, but I have SO MUCH awesomeness to share!!
To begin, I want y’all to read Daniel chapter 3.
This chapter has repeatedly been reappearing and spoken over me. Multiple times in Swaziland and multiple times here in South Africa.
Specifically I want to focus on verses 16-18.
“Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to him, “King Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand. But even if he does not, we want you to know, Your Majesty, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up.””
??
Before sitting down and reading this chapter again yesterday, my team leader and I were talking about my various tattoos. Then he said his friend has one that says, “But if not” that he loved.
I WAS SHOOK
Read the above verses again.
The men replied “But even if he does not.”
Think about the faith those words entail. The trust. The obedience.
I want to be more like these three men.
I want to be able to say “but if not” and TRULY be okay with the end results.
I pray that y’all think about this in your own lives. What are you holding on to tightly and not trusting God with? What are you halfway trusting him with?
I’ll even be honest here and share what I have realized. I have been half-way trusting God to fulfill my desire of having a family and husband. I would always say “I trust God will provide a relationship in his timing.” But then I would try to devise and make things happen in my own time.
Similar to this, I have always had this idea in my head that to be a missionary I have to be married. I need to meet someone in the United States BEFORE God can use me.
how funny.
God has REPEATEDLY shown me this is so false. I’ve met countless missionaries this summer who met in the US, but even more who met in the exact place God called them to. So this summer I gave this fear up to the Lord. I am learning and choosing each and everyday to completely trust in the Lord’s timing. I am also learning that God uses us exactly where we are. Often singleness is a season where God can utilize us even more! I was able to come on this trip this summer without having to worry/miss a relationship at home. Honestly what a blessing.
That leads me into my next topic, Ilzaan, WHO IS SUCH A BLESSING.
I had previously asked y’all to be praying for her heart.
WELL, in the past week Ilzaan and I have been reading in the gospel of John. She expressed she didn’t fully feel his love, so we began in the gospel I always have believed showcases Gods love perfectly.
The gospel of John also speaks about baptism. I was sharing with Ilzaan that I really want to get baptized here in celebration of everything God ha taught me this summer, but specifically in celebration of the Holy Spirit.
After this, Ilzaan asked me if she could also be baptized with me. To make my heart swell even more: last night Ilzaan asked me if I would be the one to baptize her.
I am in awe of our God. My heart is overwhelmed and overflowing. Y’all praying for sweet Ilzaan means the world to me and I hope you are praising God in the celebration of Ilzaan’s baptism with me 🙂
