- Never not be interruptible.This came to my thoughts as I was playing with the kids at the daycare, and Kathryn and I were talking about how kids will be a handful when we choose to have them one day. And since I’m a dreamer, my mind wandered to a picture of me having my quiet time at home, and my little ball of joy running and screaming towards me. You could either say, “Not now sweetie.” Or, “Come here my little princess!” God wants us to be interruptible. Because when we are, we are walking in Gods will for our life. If your schedule is so structured that there’s no room for God to interrupt you, then you’re doing life without Him, ultimately leading to destruction. That’s not fun.
- Pruning is painful, but it doesn’t mean punishment.If you’re not being stretched, then you’re stagnant. Quit living a microwaveable lifestyle, and come to the realization that you serve a crockpot God. Things take time.
- Die to yourself often. Another lesson learned at the daycare: it was a Wednesday, the day after an 8hr ministry day, compared to 5hrs, and my friend Alyssa is feeling drained at the daycare, playing with the kids, dreaming of her nap she’ll take afterwards. I mention that our host is coming over to share some stuff with us, interrupting with the nap schedule, and she had two options: she could’ve A: sulked in her mood and chose to throw herself a pity party, or B: she can die to herself, put her attitude aside, and be fully present and joyful with the kids. I saw her put her feelings aside and hop right into the craziness of these joyful children.
- Complaining is telling the Lord that what you have isn’t good enough. I am more aware now of the option to complain or not. Instead, I give it to God and move on.
- If you want something different you gotta do something different. You can’ttalk about getting results when you’re doing the same thing.
- If you want to improve in an area, it’s going to take commitment. Ihearso manydifferent conversations throughout my day, and a lot of them consist of areas people would like to improve in. Or, I either hear complaining about body image or a mental state. I’m human, and I do complain from time to time, but I see it as, if you’re going to complain, provide a solution.“This is too hard.” Find a way to make it more fun then. “Ugh my face is getting bigger.” Start working out, or stop snacking. Nothing worth having in life will be easy. It starts with your mind and choosing to shift your perspective, and then it takes action and commitment to not give up. Romans 8:18, “The pain you endure today does not compare to the joy that’s coming.”
- Just do what God wants you to do and you’ll be a happy gal. Spending time with the Father, waking up with praise and a joyful heart; giving the day into His hands, will leave you carefree and ready to conquer anything that comes your way, knowing that God has it under control.
- Until you can appreciate and become content in your current situation, you will not be promoted.Working at the daycare this month has been great. We play with the kids so much till we fall asleep in the afternoon. But, as we’re playing, the teachers that have been working here are sitting on the sidelines talking. I asked them the other day, “why don’t you play with the kids.” She said they did, but our hosts say they don’t. As they teach and go about their day they look miserable. They’re kind and loving women, but they don’t give fully into these children.
- No one is raised the same. There’s a right way and a wrong way. Extension of grace is needed when others do things differently than you. Good practice of patience.
- Community living is not a walk in the park.I’m on year 3 of living in community. It has its highs and lows. I learn a lot from being in community, but also have a lot of opportunities to practice the fruits of the spirit.
Going into month 9: Eswatini. It’s also when the parents of my squad mates visit to do ministry with us for a week! Keep them all in your prayers for safety for travel, and that they will get to experience God in a new way! See you soon Jersey!
