Another month is underway here in Ethiopia... March 2021.
It amazes me how fast time goes and how days and seasons move forward...despite challenge.
It seems like my city, Addis, has change happening all the time.
Buildings are going up everywhere....
Roads are under construction.
I was thinking about all the change the other day when sitting in a big traffic jam caused by road construction.
It really does seem to take forever here for buildings and renovations once started...to actually finish.
When the building or road is actually completed though..... the results can be astounding.
One of my favorite things to watch when I'm stateside are shows that "flip" things.
Often these are shows that flip rooms or homes.... from utter messes into beautiful places to live.
Shows like "Extreme Makeover- Home Edition" , Fixer Upper, etc.
I also like shows where people have positive change like Biggest Loser... where people get healthy and fit and their lives are "flipped".
All the building construction and road repairs has had me thinking about how God also loves to build and change us for His good! He has demonstrated His ability to "flip" situations and lives with such transforming power that it can leave our jaw on the ground.
Have you seen God do this in a heart, a life, a home? In a workplace, in a health situation?
God IS ABLE and loves to surprise us and delight with His ability to change things.
As you get older... you think more about what things should have been done at this point... things that should have "flipped" by now.
Is anything on your list? Change that needs to come and should have already? Maybe changes in finances? In fitness? In health? In a relationship? God is ready to help those flip. Will you trust Him to help you?
It's interesting to look back in the Bible and see the lives and situations He "flipped."
There are SO many...
The situations that seemed beyond hope....Israel's captivity in Egypt; battles that seemed lost; storms that raged; prison doors that were closed and chains that were fixed; the Israelites at the Red Sea and Pharoah's army approaching; diseases that had ravaged; blindness and leprosy and paralysis that had taken years from people; demons that had tormented; ... Daniel in the lion's den; Shadrack, Meeshak, and Abindigo in the fiery furnace; Lazarus in the tomb; Jesus on the cross... God took these and so many more...impossible and overwhelming and defeated situations and HE FLIPPED THEM... for His Good and His Purpose...again and again and again. He has shown His power to flip things!!!
And not just situations...but He also flips people. He changes lives. He turned people's trials and failures into testimonies and faith... He transformed people again and again and again... making heroes of faith from the most unlikely of characters....
-David- shepherd boy to warrior; adulterer and murderer- to a King after God's own heart
-Joseph- a prisoner to one who would save people and his own family from famine
-Moses- a hidden identity; a murderer and one who fled... to a deliverer of all of Israel
-Rahab- a prostitute to one who's faith and courage would lead to rescue and change for her family
-Saul- a persecutor of Christians- to Paul- the main writer of the New Testament and defender of Jesus
-Mary Madeline- demon possessed, to faithful follower of Jesus
-Samaritan Woman- an outcast to a witness
-All of the Disciples- simple, ordinary men to world changers
-God's people overall... flawed and sinful...yet through the power of Jesus...changed into a united family and army and kingdom of priests, darkness to light... Ambassadors.
God CAN change any situation and any life! But how can something or someone be flipped?
It seems...in these flips... that
1. Often darkness comes first... Desperation. A setback. A fall. A betrayal. Something hard.
2. Then seems to come a humility.
3. Then a cry out to God in faith for rescue.
4. Then a willingness to obey and follow .
And then... WAM... God's Spirit and Power came and flipped it.
We have access to THE Master Builder and Designer... of our lives...Our God is there ...with all the resources of heaven ... salvation and grace through Jesus Christ... access to power in God's Spirit... all there... ready and willing to put in the work to make the change.
Are you ready for change? Are you ready for a "flip"? God is ready to do the the work in you and your situation as you humbly submit to Him. Trust Him to do the work and finish it!
Today, Monday, March 8... begins a big time fasting here in Ethiopia for Easter. For 55 days... the Orthodox Christians will enter into a time of fasting and reflection...not eating things like meat and dairy... it's an act of humility ... and reverence... and remembrance...of God ...and His Son Jesus.... who gave the ultimate flip to humanity. The Creator entered His own creation to flip the end of our story... to save us from sin... to give us a chance of life over death... and salvation and redemption over an eternity of separation and death. The flip is ours to take or leave. And it's the biggest decision anyone has to make!
My prayer for this countdown to Easter... is the same as many...
I want to be quiet and reflective and reverent ... to really see where I am and where I need to be... what needs flipped in my life ...and to cry to God in desperation and humility and faith for the flips to happen and for the change to come so I can represent God well and become all He's made me to be! I want to live my life well ...committed to Jesus...and sharing about Him and what He can do and who He is!
If you need a flip in your life, in your circumstances.... reverently submit those to God. He's ready to flip things in you and around you...
No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9
Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up in due time...
1 Peter 5:6
Nothing is impossible for God.
Luke 1:37
He will finish what He started.
Philippians 1:6
Joy comes in the morning...
Psalm 30:5
He restores us
Psalm 23; 1 Peter 5:10
He is making all things new...
Revelation 21:5
Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the sun and the justice of your cause like the noonday sun, Be still and wait patiently for Him..
Psalm 37:1-7
He is the author and finisher of our faith.
Hebrews 12:2
We are being changed...
2 Corinthians 3:18
We are being built into a spiritual house where God dwells...
Ephesians 2: 21-22
Let God build you. Break you. Make you. Shape you. Let Him flip you and your circumstances. He's ready and nothing is impossible for Him!
Praises-Prayer Requests..
-Please pray that God gives me favor and courage to impact the best way I can as I continue to work and serve here in Ethiopia. That as He flips me and situations, even in the work I do, that I will trust Him and do my best to share Him. He has a plan!
-My work permit and residence ID finally cleared and this time it was a HUGE challenge. I thank God for helping this and for those of you who prayed! (Just this past Wednesday, all my paperwork cleared!)
-Please pray for Ethiopia- for this time of fasting in preparation for Easter- that God will do a new work in and through us here.
-Please pray for elections coming up in the summer... these elections have many nervous. We need peaceful elections.
-Coronavirus is still around.... though numbers and death rates seem low and not to be increasing. Pray we can get vaccines here and can keep and stay healthy!
-A big shout-out to the AMAZING Jim and Rosie Garrett, our adorable parents, celebrating their 50th Wedding Anniversary on March 26th...at the end of this month. We love these two so much and are so blessed to have them! They model true love and it's so endearing!
They married in 1971...50 years ago. My Dad was not working at the time... but he cashed his unemployment check and eloped with my Mom... they were ready to get their life together underway. . I love hearing all their stories from their early years. My Dad always tell us about the first meal my Mom cooked for him.. hot dogs (that weren't done...ha ha ) and beans. He said he loved every bite.
Please give them a high five and a big congratulations in and around this big celebration for them!
We love how they love each other!!! And are so grateful for their example!!! We love you Dad and Mom! Congratulations on 50 years!!!! Your love will be celebrated around the world!
How can I pray for you? What needs "flipped" in your life?
May we trust God to do what He does best! May we humbly submit to Him and watch Him "flip" all things for His good and ours. Watch what He can do!
May this spring season ... this Easter Lent season...and time ahead... be our greatest one yet for God.
Blessings and Prayers from Ethiopia!
