In Ethiopia, it's often hard to find a place where there is silence.
Streets are busy. Cafes are often loud. Roads are full of people talking and walking and buying things. Kids are running and shouting and playing. Dogs are barking. Cattle are "lowing."
A little over one week ago, I traveled to the US, arriving early this year for the Christmas, New Year- holiday season.
One of the biggest things I noticed pretty quickly here were places of quiet.
This past week, I enjoyed walks with my family, and I marveled at the silence.
The quiet neighborhoods. The stillness. The Christmas decorations. It was peaceful. Almost holy. As if things were holding their breath.
Many times in life, things can get busy and we can become overwhelmed. Even in quiet places, your mind can feel busy and disturbed. There can noise and stress. Demands can be great.
We see when Jesus walked here, He was often VERY crowded and mobbed wherever He went. People always wanted Him for something.
We see Him often going off alone to a quiet place to pray. He sought silence and stillness before His Father. He seemed to be refueled and refreshed in these times. He gave us an example to follow.
God can do alot when we close the door and sit at His feet and just be in His presence. "Doing" for Him is not the same as "being" with Him. In His presence, we can be real. We can be ourselves. We can cry. We can rage. He's ready and can take it. He knows us and loves us. He knows our struggles already. He can wipe every tear. Mend every broken place. Heal every wound. There is much God can do in us and through us if we're still and silent and with Him.
Have you stilled yourself recently in His presence? Have I? Or has the busyness of the holiday season already overwhelmed you? Have you sat in a silent night or a quiet place in a day to see what God might say and what God might do? Have I?
I believe God is there. Waiting in our day and in our night to be with us. To know us. To help us. To lead us. To comfort us. To speak to us. And not just during Christmas when we remember His birth, but He's there in every season of life. On every mountain, in every valley. In every waiting room. In every workplace. In every unemployment line. By every grave side. In every long line or long drive. In every jail cell or church pew. He's there, waiting to say something to us. Many times, we just don't seek Him or see Him. We're not looking for Him or listening for Him. I think we often miss Him and don't even realize it.
God says...
Be still and know that I am God ...
Psalm 46:10
If you seek Me, you will find Me...
Deuteronomy 4:29
Be still and I will fight for you
Exodus 14:14
Cease striving and know that I am God
Psalm 46:10
You will hear a voice behind you saying, this is the way, walk in it ...
Isaiah 30:21
In this world, you will have trouble, but take heart! I have overcome the world!
John 16:33
I am close to the broken-hearted...
Psalm 34:18
Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world
1 John 4:4
In my presence is fullness of joy
Psalm 16:11
I can supply all your needs
Philippians 4:19
Don't worry...
Philippians 4: 6-7
I am with you, even to the end...
Matthew 28:20
May we let God speak to us. May we be silent and still so we can hear Him.
A big prayer for me this holiday season is to try to power down all engines and to sit before God to see what He has to say. What has He taught me in the years behind? What do I still have to learn? What does He want me to know and do for the time ahead?
What can God do on a silent night? On a silent night over 2000 years ago, He changed everything. He came and most people missed Him. He gave the greatest gift ever given and the greatest gift still being offered to humanity. He gave His Son as a Savior for our sin and He gave us a King and Shepherd we can trust to lead us home. Praise God!
And there were shepherds keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, "Don't be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, He is the Messiah, the Lord..."
Luck 2: 8-11
The impact of one night, one encounter with God,
can change the course of your life, your family, your story and history!
Please pray for me this holiday season, that I will take time to rest and be still before God. To see Him, to know Him more. To hear from Him. To be filled with Him and rest in Him. Please pray He gives me opportunities to testify and to connect with friends, family and new and current supporters. I'm so grateful for ministry partners and global family!
I'm grateful for Jesus and this holiday time and this finale to 2023 so much.
Please pray for EvaSUE in the coming days and for the New Year ahead- as we seek together God's direction and His message for students and the nation. May we represent Him well and make Him known in Ethiopia and beyond. Please keep our staff and our newly launched staff in prayer. Also for two regions still not open because of instability and fighting. May we lift up Jesus in all the dark places!
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| EvaSUE...New Staff, Dec 2023 |
Please pray for the world! That light will shine in darkness. And that more will come into the family of God through Jesus!
Here are a few pictures from here in Ohio so far. I'm so grateful for my family (Dad, Mom, Noel-Mike, Lucy)
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| Best parents- Jim and Rosie |
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| Best sis- Noel Martin |
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| OHIO |
If you'd like to meet for coffee and to catch up in person or by phone this holiday... please let me know by email or facebook or by my Mom's phone. I'd love to meet with you and tell you what I've been up to and my plans back in Ethiopia on my return in January.
If you'd like to make a special Christmas or Year End gift for what I do in Ethiopia, there is a need for one-time gifts for airfare and for supplies. There are other big financial giving opportunities as well. You can message me to talk to me in person on those. I also need more monthly supporters. You can also sign up for that through the link below and can make a donation that way too:
Thank you again so much for partnering with me and praying for me. I'm so humbled and grateful!
Blessings to You All This Holiday Season!
With Gratitude- Holly
