We had a really nice weekend...lots of wonderful moments with Lily, lots of errands and tasks around the house and the Seminary completed, good talks with our families in the States and good time with some of our family here!
This morning we headed off to a near-by church because I've been sick and needed something "less-energy" as possible. We walked in only to find out that the preacher had called in sick that morning and a group of leaders thrilled to see Matt...Good thing he is "ready in season and out of season to preach the Word" (2 Tim.4)! He preached a sermon about God's power being perfected in our weakness, and discussed why the Lord can't work in areas of our lives that are thrilled with ourselves in, but only in areas where we RECOGNIZE our smallness and our inability to do anything by our own strength. It was great!
What a great chance for me, too, to allow Him to search my heart and show me where my pride keeps His power from shining through! "Most gladly then," Paul said, "will I boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me!" (2 Cor 12:9-10) Haiti has given us an excellent opportunity to lose so much of our dependencies on self: when we first came we couldn't even communicate, much less find anything, recognize anyone, drive anywhere, teach anyone or count on ourselves to take care of anything!
We were so desperate for His presence, protection, guidance and relationship those first weeks that we did little else but speak to Him, listen for Him and read His Word! While we've absolutely grown much more comfortable now with the culture, the language, the area and the people, church this morning reminded me never to allow my comforts, gifts, relationships and confidence to keep me from being what I am: Nothing at all but Christ in me!
Love reading your blog. Beautiful pictures (and words!)
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ReplyDeleteBeautiful, adorable Lily!!
Next,
Thanks for the whole dependence reminder, the situations change but that truth remains the same!!
Hope you are feeling better.
In His Love,
Charlie
I am glad your weekend was wonderful. Once again, Matt just never knows when the Lord is going to call on him.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Baby, ever changing.
Christ in you, the hope of glory...is one of my favorites. The Colossians 1 packs a powerful punch.
Love you all.
Lori
Matt's sermon and your reflection on dependance goes right with the study I've been doing on being poor in spirit. The book I'm reading defines it as: an absence of self-assurance, self-reliance and pride; the deepest form of repentancce; turning from your independence to total dependence upon God; brokenness.
ReplyDeleteLooking back, I'd say one of the most stressful parts of going on the mission field is that feeling of utter helplessness and cluelessness, especially when your friends and family are not around to help; even when you can communicate with them, it's not the same when they don't really "know" what you're going through...but it's obvious that that's just where God wants us! In our weakness, He is strong...He is glorified. What's more, when I look around at the lack of resources our friends and neighbors have, I'm struck by their comparative helplessness. Admitting our need for God is always easier when we realize how poor we are. But we can't forget the promise! Blessed are the poor in spirit, for THEIRS IS THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN! YAY!!!!:0)