 |
| My arrival into Dayton just before Christmas |
Topping my list of things to do were common things you
want to do when you haven’t been “home” for some time- I wanted to spend time
with family, visit my church, and rest.
Other things I wanted to try to enjoy included...
-consistent electricity and high speed internet
-hot showers with strong water pressure
-my car
-big mugs of chai tea from my favorite coffee shop
-and of course college football
I was thrilled to get to see a big football game with my family, watching the
Ohio State Buckeyes beat Alabama, sending OSU to the national championship. Great Job Buckeyes :-)
Also on my list to accomplish while I was home was to...
-repair my computer
-renew my clothes
-reset my budget
-restyle my hair
-recheck my health
-rewrite lesson plans for my classes
-and restock my supplies
And inwardly… I wanted to…
-reflect on the way behind
-reprioritize for the way ahead
- and to get refreshed, recharged, and refocused in all
areas with God
Looking at my list, it included alot of “RE”- words.
RE: when used at the beginning of a word- usually means to do something again, or to go back to an original place
or condition.
And when I think about life, both of those are part of the journey.
And when I think about life, both of those are part of the journey.
We often need something more than once, we need a miracle- AGAIN, a healing- AGAIN,
a breakthrough- AGAIN, energy,
wisdom, courage- AGAIN. We're not perfect and don't have ALL we need. But thankfully...God has an abundant supply of what
we need!
Also, thankfully, because of Jesus, God is in the
continuous and gracious process of remaking us, restoring us, into His original
plan and design for us. We are being REMADE and He goes with us on the journey.
Revelation 21:5
I am making everything
new…
2 Corinthians
3:18
… we are being
transformed into the likeness of Jesus with ever-increasing glory…
As a new year begins AGAIN, I AGAIN have been thinking about how I can best maximize my life in the time ahead. And God's been reminding me that I’m still “in the process,” of being remade, yet even as I get older and in my weaknesses, He is still able to use me.
2 Corinthians
4:16-18
Therefore we do not
lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, but inwardly we are being
renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us
an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is
seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen
is eternal.
2 Corinthians
12:10
My grace is
sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness…that is why , for
Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in persecutions, in
difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
As I pack this morning and leave this afternoon to head
back to Africa, my RE- to do list is still there. I didn’t get to everything
during my time at home. I still a lot of “RE’s” to lift up to God
in the new year.
But as I travel today, I will travel giving thanks to God that He is the author and finisher of our stories on earth and goes before and
behind us and beside us. And He is at work in us! He has what
we need again and again; and doesn’t give up on us- reshaping us and restoring
us for Him and His glory!
Deuteronomy 30:3
…when you return to
the Lord your God and obey Him with all your heart and with all your soul then
the Lord God will bring you back from captivity and have compassion on you…
Ruth 4:15
He will renew your
life and sustain you...
God has been reminding me too that He is bigger than whatever I need in the new year. He is bigger than what we all need.
Maybe you need healing; maybe a financial miracle. Maybe you
need a new job, or you need an open door. A relationship needs mended. A storm
needs calmed. Maybe you need a reset or a realignment. God is able and bigger than anything you face
and is able to bring you back no matter how far you’ve traveled away from Him.
Isaiah 40:28-31
Do you not know?
Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of
the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can
fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who
hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like
eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Psalm 71:20
Though you have
made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again…
Psalm 126
Restore our
fortunes, O Lord, … those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who
goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying
sheaves with him.
Jeremiah 30:10-11,
17
…do not fear, do
not be dismayed, I am with you and I will save you. … I will restore you to
health and heal your wounds….
Maybe the biggest thing you need is to return to God in the new year. God says throughout His Word…. RETURN to me.
His arms are OPEN and HE IS ABLE to do immeasurably more than all we can
imagine. I'm so grateful He continues to welcome us back.
Hosea 14:1
Return to the Lord
your God
Isaiah 44:22
I have swept away
your offenses like a cloud, your sins like a morning mist. Return to me, for I
have redeemed you.
Jeremiah 24:6-7
…I will build them
up and not tear them down; I will plant them and not uproot the. I will give
them a heart to know me, that I am the Lord. They will be my people, and I will
be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.
Joel 2:12-13
Even now, declares
the Lord, return to me with all your heart…Rend your heart…Return to the Lord
your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in
love…
Zechariah 1:3
Return to me and I
will return to you.
Genesis 18:14
Is anything too
hard for the Lord?
Isaiah 59:1
Surely the arm of
the Lord is not too short to save, nor His ear too dull to hear…
Ephesian 3:20
…to Him who is able
to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, to Him be glory…
A new year is a new start, a new season to re-prioritize
and give our best to God.
May this new year, 2015- be our best yet for God! May we move forward with confidence that we're being REMADE and we're His.
Thank you for your prayers and know I’m praying for you
as well!
Prayer Requests
-Please keep me in prayer as I travel today and for my time
ahead back in Africa- that God will help me maximize days and opportunities to
share His love.
-Please keep my sister in prayer as she continues her
transition to South Sudan to work with our church’s mission project there- that
God will surround her path and her heart with Himself.
-Please keep my parents in prayer, they are wonderful and
we’re so grateful for them. May God give them a wonderful new year.
-Please keep Ethiopia in prayer for the new year, also
the Horn of Africa overall, that God will do a new and fresh work in the lives
of people.
-Merry Christmas to Ethiopia today (January 7)- may God
be honored as people there celebrate.
Please keep in touch and know
you’re loved and appreciated.
Happy New Year-
2015!
No comments:
Post a Comment