Words are powerful.
The words we say to each other affect us. (one learns this real quick when living in very close proximately to the same 6 people all day, every day)
The words we pray are heard.
The lyrics of songs are meaningful to each of us in different ways.
But my favorite words are the ones God speaks to me.
There are three precious girls on my squad that I connected with at training camp back in May. We were placed on different teams and so when we come together on travel days at the end of each month, we began to ask each other to try and sum up our months in one word. Here are my words thus far:
Month 1, Ecuador: family
Month 2, Peru: depth
Month 3, Bolivia: love
Month 4, Albania: identity
Month 5, Romania: vulnerability and unity
Now in month 6, South Amazing Africa, I am working with two other teams. And guess what? Those 3 girls are on those teams! Best Christmas present so far is getting to spend some great quality time with these wonderful girls: Ginny, Lauren and Melissa. We are trying something a little different with our “words” this month.
Ginny, Lauren, Melissa and me
Ginny has been getting her word for the month in the beginning. So we all decided to pray about a word for the month that God wanted us to learn, work on, focus on, or whatever. And then, every week we will meet together and keep each other accountable in that. We call it “Porch Time.”
Anyway, my word for this month is Trust and Hope. When I was praying about “the word” I heard God whisper trust. And I thought, no that can’t be it. I have already learned that. Pretty sure I gave God a good laugh, and then I was unable to think of ANY other word, but instead I heard trust, trust, trust, trust over and over. Ironic that I couldn’t even trust that God was giving me this word! Ha
I think that hope is interchangeable with trust.
Hope came about as another word as I was reading Romans 5:3-5. It really stuck out that 1)Hope does not disappoint and 2) that the reason it does not disappoint is because God freely pours His love directly into our hearts.
Therefore, I always have hope that God’s promises are true and I can trust Him.
Also, our ministry this month is all about HOPE.
Everyday we get to bring hope to underprivileged kids through sports ministry.
I love it.
And I love those spirited, energetic kids already.
And so, I appreciate your prayers as God is teaching me these things. I am SO excited to be back in Africa and excited to learn to trust that the Father's hope will never disappoint me.
