As I was writing this, I realized that Jesus keeps talking to me through the little things. I don’t think its coincidence or accident. It’s a love language, one that I am learning the further I get on this journey with Him.
I sit here on our couch in Kenya listening to the midday rain fall on our tin roof and I am overwhelmed by gratitude. I am so grateful that I am here. Grateful that God chose me for this journey. I chose this, but He chose me. He said, Yes, I see the desires of your heart and I am going to grant them. This year I have gotten to meet people that I never would have. I’ve gotten to visit more places in a year than most people do in a lifetime.
And along the way I haven’t always been grateful.
As I sit here, overflowing with gratitude from the Father and in His presence, I am convicted. How dare I spit on this gift from the Father by ever looking at circumstances negatively? It doesn’t matter how much my team doesn’t get along or does get along. It’s not about whether I get a real shower or a bucket shower. It’s about the fact that this life, this is a precious gift from the Father. How dare I see it any differently than what it is?
Thank you Jesus; that I am in Kenya. That I get to experience an African rainstorm, and see You in the little things, like the flowers blooming over our set of benches in the yard, or baby Joel’s little face. Thank you that I get to serve your people and that I get to learn what rest looks like in its truest sense.
Baby Joel and I hanging out on the benches!
Who am I to feel entitled to anything but gratitude to my Father?
Lately it’s been getting long and tiring, and communication hasn’t been the easiest, and it’s easy to get frustrated. It’s easy to be frustrated when you expect one thing and get another, when relationships don’t work and you have to work at them, and you run out of shampoo for the thousandth time. It’s easy to choose that over gratefulness.
Today I heard the Lord say ‘Make room’.
I believe what He is saying is to cast out the bondwoman and her child; make room for the freewoman and her child, born of a promise. You are free! Make room for the freedom to enter. The freewoman cannot live where the bondwoman is making her home. (Galatians 4:30)
These things, negativity, entitlement, frustration, etc. were crucified with Jesus. We are the ones who are picking them up, putting them on and bringing them to life. We are allowing them to live in a space not meant for them, choking out the things that truly bring life. Cast them out!
We are given the gift of life, so what are we choosing to give life to?
