It’s pouring rain on this mid August morning here in Ethiopia. It’s cozy with a cup of coffee. I’m thankful that electricity is on and I’m thankful to be back in Addis.
Life certainly is a gift. And in reflection of my time on planet earth overall, I’m grateful for the life God has given me to live, the family He blessed me with, and the places and people He’s led me to meet and get to do life with.
I think most of us are coming off of break time or summer vacations. And for me, it’s the same. I came back two weeks ago from a few weeks in the USA. I was thankful for the time with my family. And the chance to rest.
And now, I’m looking ahead, resetting for a new school year that for me begins on Monday.
Here in Ethiopia, there’s also a New Year approaching. In mid September, a new year will begin. So in preparation for a new school year at both schools and for a new year overall, I’ve been trying to take time to think about my life and what things I want to do in the new year to make it my best chapter yet for God.
I’m looking ahead and trying to dream big with God’s help.
What does He want this next chapter to look like?
I think before looking too much at the road ahead, it’s important and healthy, though painful maybe, to evaluate the road behind.
REFLECT…
Some of us don’t like that, to look behind.
My sister and I talked about that when I was home. She asked me… and I asked her … how has the past season changed you? How are you better for God? Stronger? What have you learned? Where have you fallen? Where have you struggled?
Not easy questions of a season of life, but importance ones.
Maybe the past several months held struggle or heartache, disappointment for you. Maybe a relationship ended or changed, maybe you lost someone. Maybe a door closed or a dream fell apart. Maybe no door opened.
Or maybe it was a great chapter for you. Where things moved, and you saw provision or protection.
For me, in reflection, my past one year here (Sept-Sept) in Ethiopia, was very good overall. I felt at a good pace in teaching and in life.
This past spring into summer, I saw two graduations and was able to celebrate being part of the lives of students. I still feel so humbled to get to be part of the lives of so many here.
I also experienced the beginning of the process of a wedding. One of my former best students, Hilina, got engaged. To see this process and to watch the proposal, was deeply touching and so exciting. I still smile remembering the meeting of the families. Then the actual proposal that left those of us watching with the biggest smiles that lasted for days. The wedding will be next January. So excited for these two and for their love story to continue…
After graduations, I had a great quick few weeks in the USA with my family. The shift in cultures was shocking. But the rest was so good and the chance to visit with my family. I’m so thankful for them. Thank you so much to those of you who gave and prayed to make my time at home possible!
Then I made a quick return to Addis a few weeks ago, and joined a Masters class in Youth Ministry. This two week intensive class was the beginning of a three year Master’s degree program that ETC would like me to teach in the future. It was a tight schedule for a few weeks, but was outstanding. This is the first Master’s program offered in Youth Ministry in the country and it couldn’t come at a more strategic time. So again, I felt humbled to be part of history.
Also, Ethiopia is experiencing big and needed change. And that is a praise and prayer item for the way ahead. A new prime minister was elected in the spring and everyone is so excited about the changes he has already made in the country. So, the feeling of hope and new opportunities abound. So that is a huge praise…
So, as I’ve reflected, overall, life here has been good.
But, of course, there have been challenges too.
So, I’ve been making a list… in what areas did I struggle? What started? What finished? What didn’t? What needs to change? Where were the areas of excess? Where was there too little? Was there balance?
Was there connection with God and others? Did I grow in my relationship with Him? Was there fruit, spiritual maturity evidenced? And if not, what happened? Do I look more like Jesus than last year? Can people tell I’ve been with Him?
Hard questions, but necessary I think before for a new season, a new chapter can begin, with all things in place…
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me oh God and know my heart, try me and know my thoughts, and see if there be any wicked way in me ….
Then, a reset is needed….
RESET
I’ve been trying to reset my life with God’s help.
After looking at my life, what needs cut, said, done? What needs added, realigned?
Without proper connection and a solid foundation, when storms come, things can blow down and dismantle. In this next chapter, I need to be set of the firm foundation of Jesus Christ. I need ready to weather storms and droughts. I need ready for mountain climbs and to do whatever He wants me to do. Am I ready? What needs fixed? What needs strengthened?
1 Corinthians 3:11
The only foundation is Jesus Christ
Maybe conversations need had. An apology spoken. I think often we move into new chapters without allowing God to help us close out old ones. And those come up later. Satan likes to barrage us with guilt and insecurity. We can’t let him have a stronghold over us.
1 Peter 5:8
Be aware, your enemy, the devil, roams around like a roaring lion, seeking who he may devour.
And I think in the reset comes repentance. Real honest conversation with God and others. I think you have to lift up ALL of yourself to God and ask for the reset, the realignment. It’s like surgery. You allow God to restore, renew, reconnect you. To cut things out, show you where things are off. Again, painful, but when we lift up our lives to God, He can bring change. We can’t realign things on our own. We have to have the great Physician’s help.
Psalm 51:10
Create in me a clean heart, oh God, restore a right spirit unto me.
John 15:5
Remain in me, and I will remain in I will remain in you, apart from me, you can do nothing.
Psalm 34:18
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.
Psalm 23:3
He restores my soul
1 Peter 5:10
After your season of suffering, God in all His grace will restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you
Do you need a reset? Realigned? Does something feel off? Deep within? God can help. He makes all things new. He restores. Gives perspective. Peace. We have to remain connected to Him.
LOOKING AHEAD…
Then as you look ahead and God resets you to move, what do you see when you look ahead? What do you feel?
Maybe you look ahead and there’s fear. Maybe you don’t like the road you’re seeing. Maybe it’s the same mundane thing. Maybe God is asking you to hold a position that you’d rather be free from. Maybe you’re entering a dark stretch of road where it looks lonely or you can sense there’s trouble/persecution ahead. Maybe God is asking you to return to where you’ve been before and you don’t want to.
Maybe for others, the way ahead looks exciting and new. A new job, a new school, a new hobby, maybe a new town or a new house. A new opportunity is opening. The blank pages ahead bring excitement to you as you look forward.
Whatever you see when you look ahead, I’m remembering with you, that we must allow God to lead us.
He has a plan for us and a future. And He can help us, even yet, to become all He’s created us to be.
Maybe it’s not road that concerns you. But maybe it’s yourself and you’re worried. You might say Holly…I’m too young. Or I’m too old. My body is tired, or I’m not healthy. I think getting older is one of the strangest things to experience. But, as my dad says often, you can get better with age, like wine. I’ve been encouraged in studying youth ministry the past few weeks, that God did some of the greatest feats in history through the young. Mary, Joseph, David, Daniel, Esther, Jeremiah, so many who were not yet even through adolescence were used in great ways by God. Then, I’m encouraged by others, who were called mid-life and very late … to go into ministry, build an ark, leave a land for another place. It’s not about age or even our physique, it’s about our heart and our obedience. God can use any life and write a new story through you. We can trust Him to use us in whatever season we’re in, no matter what our age is, if we allow Him to lead us!
It’s interesting too, sometimes, often times, the way God takes us or leads us, is not the way we’d like to go or even when we feel like we’re ready. He often goes a hard way or an unusual way in our own eyes. Why? I’ve seen there’s usual many reasons and they’re often compounded.
Sometimes He will take us up a mountain or through a desert to teach us about ourselves and Himself. To actually strengthen us for the next chapter. The trials are training. Just like Jesus in the desert, Moses in the wilderness, Joseph in prison… facing the challenge…even feeling our weaknesses… help the reset needed to take place, where our dependence on Him and in Him solidifies. He’s not about our comfort but about our character. It’s not about what we have, but who we are and who we are becoming. Sometimes also He leads us a hard way, into or through a storm, because there’s others there as well, who need a light or a testimony that you can give in that hard place. There can a witness there...through you, in the hard, desert places....
So whether a valley or a summit is ahead, God has numbered our days and knows the plans He has for us. He goes before us. If we allow Him to lead us, He will get us to where He wants us to go. He deserves our trust. And He doesn’t ask us to go alone or without Him. He’s with us through all of life. Our greatest friend, heaven’s champion, is with us. And He’s given us global family, brothers and sisters in God’s family, to also journey with us.
Jeremiah 29:11-13
I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future. For in those days, when you pray, I will listen. If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.
Psalm 90:12
Teach us to number our days, so we may apply our hearts to wisdom.
Psalm 28:20
I am with you always, even to the end.
What will the new school year bring for me here? The new year in Ethiopia? May God write the pages of the next chapter … It’s His story, His life in mine. May I do better, be better, for Him in all areas, showing His heart, His love, His compassion, His grace, His character, His truth, in all I do.
My prayer is that for you as well, in your new chapter of life… that you may experience Him in a new way. That looking ahead, as you move forward… that the next chapter is your greatest yet for God.
Blessings to you in the new fall season… with gratitude for each of your lives and examples…
Prayer Requests
-On Monday, a new school year begins at ETC. I have two classes: Intro to Missions and Intro to Youth Ministry. And will also be helping with other classes. Please pray for us and these classes. Also, as we move forward in developing the Youth Ministry initiatives and classes- that God will build His Church, the youth, and His people here
-Please keep Hope College in prayer and it’s fall start up in late September, early October, that God will also use me there to be an advocate for students and to represent Him well.
-Please pray for good health
-Please pray that God will show me clearly which students to really pour into.
-Keep my family in prayer. That this fall season for them will be their best yet.
-Keep Ethiopia in prayer, for the new Prime Minister, and health, peace, and opportunities in this new chapter.
-Pray for the people God has around me here, that our lives will honor you, as we laugh and journey together. I’m thankful for global family and the opportunity to live and learn from each other!
Thank you so much for your prayers.
Please let me know how I can pray for you as well.
Many Blessings again…this fall season, with love from Ethiopia….
