Being a spouse, a brother, a sister, a friend, a son, a daughter, a grandchild, working in Haiti, being a teacher, being a Christian, doing ministry...All of it can carry so much weight at times. There is so much that is needed!
It's 5 o'clock and guests are coming and we need dinner, dessert, coffee! We're sitting in a meeting and it's going late, everyone is butting heads, and we need patience. Kindness. Wisdom. Our students look up from their papers, asking for guidance, attention, help...we need grace and discernment and Creole! Always more Creole...
It's partly because of all these pressures that we require set-apart time with the Lord each day (or as is frequently the case since moving to Haiti, several time each day!) My (Stacey's) devotional time this morning led me to this verse, which seems to tone down all of my daily expectations for myself.
Micah 6:8...
This is what the Lord requires of you:
that you do what is right,
that you love kindness
and that you walk humbly with your God.
These aren't optional things, but MUSTS. These are what the Lord requires of my life...and they are beautiful things. Things I want to require of my life, too. When I think of people the Lord has brought into my life that emanate these things to me, I think of truly beautiful people. Self-controlled. Patient. Not proud or malicious or gossipy. Not wildly popular people, or even people that are busily and deeply involved in dozens of ministries. Instead they are people that seem to quietly glow of our Maker...people that serve naturally, people that filter characteristics of our God.
Ah, that we might have renewed determination (lined with prayer!) each day to DO what is RIGHT. In all circumstances. To all people. In each moment. May we become people that have practiced kindness so diligently that it becomes something we LOVE. Something we LOVE to do...share...BE. And most of all, might we not only do the right things and share kindness, but do it while walking with our God! Without Him, our just acts and kind hearts are nothing but humanitarian...a mist. May we walk beside Him humbly...listening to His counsel, reveling in His glory and His love for us, soaking in His presence with all humility and joy.
As we seek to do what is right, love kindness, and walk humbly with Our God, we are blessed to find you walking beside us.
Hold firm!
Thank you! The ministry of this blog is more powerful than you know.
ReplyDeleteStacey -
ReplyDeleteGod continues to shine through you and inspire me. May God continue to rain down His love and grace on both Matt and you as you walk with Him seeking His will in all things great and small. He shall supply.
Love you both
Lori
dear roommate,
ReplyDeletei miss you. really really a lot. i like reading your blog. it makes me feel like we talk even though we don't. i'm going to write you an email. i love you.
bexley
Stacey and Matt, I have been so blessed, so many times by your blogs. Thanks for sharing your ministry in Haiti and encouraging me to be faithful here in Canada.
ReplyDeleteI'm praying for you. Michelle.
It is moments before I go into our church services this morning and I find your words simply inspiring for this day to be simply for Him. I also leave in the morning to pick up my daughter in the Philipines. Again your words strip away all the stuff and bring me back once again to His side (why do I continually get sucked away by the tyranny of the urgent?)
ReplyDeleteLove you both,
Charlie