It seems like it’s just been a bad year.
Covid came. Shocking the planet. Life altered as we realized this weird disease and its germs could kill us and our families. So, we put on masks, spread apart, and closed schools and businesses. But this germ still spreads and continues to, despite precautions taken. It has reached into every kind of person and community. It has brought fear and stress and fatigue. It has caused loss and sickness and death.
It's the season to be thankful, but how can we be... when there's still so much struggle?
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| HUC Graduating Class Representatives... being trained on Covid |
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| HUC Staff Training on Covid |
Other storms came and are still around too. Sickness. Struggle. Death.
Here in Ethiopia … there was unrest and now big fighting is happening in our northern region. Ethiopians are fighting Ethiopians and its so sad. When will it end?
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-55023029
Despite all these things and probably more struggle that is ahead … I am choosing to give thanks!
Why?
I’m choosing to give thanks because all of this doesn’t change God or His plans and purpose for me.
I stand on a rock that doesn’t move, I’m anchored in a family and in an eternity that I’m already given and promised. If God chooses to sustain me here on earth, that is humbling and makes me feel such gratitude to be given the chance to know God here and love Him and share Him. I’m thankful for the life He’s given me and until the race is done… I will continue to try my best to represent Him well.
We can make it to the end and we can keep our hands raised in thanks because of hope!
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| God can be seen... |
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| ETC Graduation...Making it to the Finish Line |
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| Persevering |
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| Leading the Way... |
We can make it through!
God offers us salvation, freedom from the penalty of sin, and life forever with Him. It’s undeserved. And the hope we have in God, the freedom we have in God, the resources we have in God, the peace and joy and strength we have in God… can’t be taken from us. Covid can't take these things from us. Neither can Satan.
We are not promised an easy life. In fact, we are warned that life will have troubles. And as time gets closer to Jesus coming back, there will be wars and rumors of wars. But we are to take heart and fear not, keep our eyes on God and keep running on!
Our life is not about us or our stuff. Or our comfort. But it’s about God and making His name great!
The past few days, Haiti has been coming to my mind. It’s strange actually- to have lived in Ethiopia now ten years and still often my time living and working in Haiti comes to mind … and I remember those days. Why? I think for me because it was a frying pan. I entered Haiti having head knowledge of God but not really knowing Him or really understanding struggle…and I came out …humbled by what I had seen and how I had lived. In the struggle and heat and discomfort, I saw God and I saw myself. I learned God's heart and I learned to lift up my hands and praise Him... no matter how I felt. God won my heart and allegiance there. He called me to meet Him and know Him there at the cross and to carry that cross onward in my life and heart.
And that cross is what we have to climb on and cling to now. That’s our anchor…Jesus! We keep our hands open and our position surrendered….Jesus showed us how. We stay there in trust. We say…not my will but yours be done…and in that humility…God fills us with His strength, His courage, His perspective. At the cross, this place of meeting, this place of humility and connection, we have an anchor, we have stability. We get an exchange… our sorrow…for joy; our sin for His righteousness, our weaknesses for His strength. Our hearts can be filled with gratitude!
Thanks to Jesus, our identity and our destiny has shifted. We are God's and nothing can separate us from Him!
This year has been hard. Scary. Weird . Stressful. And it’s not over.
But I’m choosing to give thanks! I pray you will as well!
Be encouraged by these verses. I know I have been and continue to be....
Isaiah 43:2
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers; they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
Matthew 8:24-27
Suddenly a big storm came. The disciples woke Jesus up saying… “Lord, save us! We are going to drown.” He replied, You of little faith, why did you doubt.” He got up and rebuked the wind and waves and it became very calm.
Isaiah 26:3
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
John 14:27
My peace I give you. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 16:33
In this world you will have trouble, but take heart for I have overcome the world.
Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you and will help you and I will uphold you by my righteous right hand.
Psalm 107:28-31
Psalm 91
Malachi 3:6
Psalm 18:1
Hebrews 6:19
Luke 9:23
Proverbs 18:10
Psalm 73:24
Deuteronomy 31:8
Give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
Give thanks at all times for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
Isaiah 61:3
He will bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes; the oil of joy instead of mourning; a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
1 Corinthians 15:55
Where oh death is your sting?
Colossians 2:13-15
He forgave all your sins... Jesus disarmed all the powers and authorities and made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them on the cross.
Job 1:21
The Lord gives and takes away, may the name of the Lord be praised!
Hebrews 13:15
Let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise.
God is worthy of our thanks!
Praises / Prayer Requests
-Our graduating class of students at Hope University College finish their one month back to class this week. Pray for them as they conclude their years here and that despite the difficulties- they will have a good finish and feel pride to have made it to their finish line. I'm so grateful for these 400 graduating class students, some of my best students of all time. I'm so proud of them and will never forget them! Pray for their graduation on December 19th - that it will be a smooth and memorable finale for them!
-We are preparing to call back the next group of students to finish their one month intensive program to finish the past school year. Please pray for the 750... 2nd 3rd and 4th year.... students returning to campus next week, for the preparation and safety of this group and that all will go smoothly. Freshmen will be the last group called back to finish in early January.
-Please pray for my travel home for the holidays. I will travel Dec 21- Jan 2. Please pray for safety in travel and protection from Covid. Also a blessed time with my family as we reflect on the past year. Please pray for the fundraising I need to do as well.
-Please pray for Ethiopia and the fighting in our northern region. This country needs peace and the government needs wisdom!
-Please pray for my family- that God will continue to keep them safe and healthy. I'm so grateful for them.
I thank God for you! Thank you again for your prayers and support. Happy Thanksgiving to those celebrating this week. May we give a sacrifice of praise and choose to give thanks because God continues to be worthy!
