"Throwing Shade"

Days have gotten extremely hot here in Ethiopia. The sun has increased it's intensity. 

Several times ... I've been stuck in traffic with the sun blazing down and I can feel myself getting burned as I sit and smolder. 

And it's had me longing for SHADE ...  a place in the coolness.

My first several years living in Ethiopia, I loved the year round fall like temperatures and the months and months of sun.  I would walk everywhere and sit outside to grade papers on rooftops. I loved seeing the hot peppers roasting on the ground and the big birds flying in the pretty blue skies.

Many people here carry umbrellas to provide shade from the sun,  and for a long time... I always found  this humorous.

But the sun's intensity is not comfortable like before... so the shade now is needed and desired by many, EVEN ME.

And this kind of shade is GOOD.  

But there's also "BAD" shade.

I always thought the phrase "throwing shade" sounded funny... but unfortunately it's not funny... when "shade" is thrown on you. 

"Throwing shade" means to "disrespect or ridicule something or someone, verbally or non-verbally." The talk or action is shady. It can be gossip or trash talking someone.

Has anyone ever "thrown shade" on you? How did you respond?

I think as you get older in life, you realize, shade will be thrown on you at some point.  It's just the nature of humanity. Also if you're a follower of Jesus, we're actually told to expect it.  

Don't be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through as if something strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad- for these trials make you partners with Christ in His suffering (1 Peter 4:12-13)

"I am sending you out like a sheep among wolves... Be on your guard... the student is not above his Master...if they talked about me they will about you too..." (Matthew 10: 16-17; 24-25).

Yet when shade is thrown, even if you're told to expect it, it can feel like a knife in the back. Anger and hurt can grow. Your integrity feels under siege. You want to get offended. You want to hit back. You want to defend yourself. Yet, it's so important in these moments ... to get alone with God so He gives you perspective. 

In the Bible, Jesus is our best example of someone who had shade thrown on Him. He was unjustly accused and questioned and condemned. Yet, He sought His Father's Will and perspective, though all of heaven's armies were at His disposal to refute people's doubt and accusations. Yet, He showed restraint and silence...

When the leading priests and elders made their accusations against Him, Jesus remained silent (Matthew 27:12)

When Jesus was accused, He gave no answer (Matthew 26:63).

Jesus did what I believe we are also to do when accused...we are to follow God's leading. And if none is given, silence is best. 

God helped Jesus respond the right way! He can do the same for us.

I think we have to think about ...WHY do people "throw shade" on others? Why do we?

There are several possibilities..

It could be a lack of understanding; maybe you've been hurt; maybe you feel insecure; maybe it's  pride. 

There are many many reasons for someone to throw shade. We are tempted to all the time if we admit it. We tend to speak before thinking and get emotional.

Yet Jesus didn't take offense to the actions against Him but actually offered people compassion and grace, even praying for them!

"Father forgive them, they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)

Our humanity will respond aggressively and defensively when we are wronged. We can easily internalize offense until it poisons us. But God can help us respond as Jesus did.

First -we have to keep in God's presence. To be in this shade and rest ... brings identity and peace and joy and hope and love for others. God offers us refuge in Him and good shade. When people accuse, we are at peace and rest in the shadow of God....

In the shadow of your wings, I will take refuge Psalm 36:7

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty (Psalm 91:1)

You have been a shade from the heat (Isaiah 24:4-5)

In the day of trouble, He will keep me safe in His dwelling (Psalm 27:5)

The Lord is your protector, He is there to shade you (Psalm 121:5)

But even with that protection, we can expect "hits" to come and "shade" to be tossed towards us. 

But at these times, we don't have to be surprised. We can be ready and respond the right way. 

The Bible tells us how...

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Always consider others as better than yourself. (Philippians 2:3)

Get rid of all bitterness, anger and rage, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you. (Ephesians 4:31-32).

The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28).

Every careless word you speak, you will be held accountable for (Matthew 12:36).

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).

Your words can bring life or death (Proverbs 18:21).

Keep a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ (1 Peter 3:16).

 As we continue to live and work where God places us...may we stay in the "shade" and "shelter" of God.

When bad "shade" is thrown on us, may we rest under the shadow of God in silence and let Him give us right perspective and right action. The world is watching.

Onward!

Praises and Prayer Requests

-It's been an honestly rough reentry back into Ethiopia. My work changed up a bit unexpectedly which brought stress. I'll share more soon. My work permit - residence visa was a huge challenge... but it should finish this week. I'm so thankful for the chance to continue to live here and work here and serve in whatever way God sets up.  Not my will, but His be done!

-Prayers needed for the way ahead as my new work becomes more clear and that I'll be right where God wants me to be! 

-Big praise for good health for me and my family in USA! May God continue to keep us safe.

How can pray for you?  

When "bad shade" is thrown at us, may we respond well and love others as we are loved!  

Life is a gift and God can use us where we are to shine for Him! 

Time to Rise ... 2021

It seems like everyone needs lifted after a year like 2020. 

Everyone took a hit. We were knocked down. An unprecedented year in the world when life as we knew it altered. 

Coronavirus ended up invading every country and took peoples' lives swiftly. It caused lockdowns, fear, economies to falter, and government leaders to struggle. 

Masks were put on. Hand sanitizer was applied. Businesses and schools were shut down. 

We were told to get down and stay down. To not go out unless absolutely necessary. God have mercy!

While we were waiting and watching and staying in and staying down... other hits came as they always do in life. 

Sickness, fatigue, stress. Other crazy situations came out of nowhere in many places. Natural disasters, fighting, protests, crashes. 

Our down position became lower and we felt squashed and paralyzed. Unable to move. Was this the beginning of the end?

We needed and longed for relief. A hand up, a hand out, something to give, something to break ... so life could be more normal like it was before.

Here in Ethiopia, we were hit like everyone else. Coronavirus came slower here than in other places. But schools and businesses shut, masks came on, and people struggled. 

We crouched down and waited for clearance to move, to open. 

The down and closed position felt like an eternity.

In the walled in spaces, behind the masks and closed doors, worry and fear crept in. Would Covid get me? My family? Would I swiftly be taken without a goodbye? Satan likes to mess with us and make us forget that we don't have to be afraid. 

But like everyone else on the planet, when I coughed or sneezed... I worried. Is this the end? Super hard. 

Yet in these times... of worry and fear....I found deep prayer and deep sorrow and deep gratitude for the roads behind and for people I've met and loved and for the life I've already gotten to live. I remembered why were here and that our lives are a very delicate balance and we are ONLY sustained by God. I was humbled by realizing how quickly it could end and we could be with God. 

Priorities and perspective and humility came in the quiet days and behind the masks... as I continued to hope for and look for the chance to get up again and live more fully and freely.

Finally in November, our school began to open and we started to move some. Though under strict protocol ... we were given permission to start groups of students and let them finish their school year in a "crash program." And it sincerely felt like a "crash." It started with our graduating class students.

Some of my favorite and best students of all time  would finish. We told them ... you will need to get up, help each other up, and make a mad dash towards the finish line. I watched them do just that... they got up, and moved together towards their finish line...

We also had surprise hits here in Ethiopia, that actually ended up frightening people even more than Covid.... We had tribal fighting break out. Then civil war and a big humanitarian crisis loomed in our north (it's still not resolved). 

But as I watched this GC (graduating class) group rise up, help each up, and push towards their finish line, I was moved and awed and inspired. I felt hopeful. 

On Graduation day, Dec 19, 2020, 350 plus Hope University College students turned their tassels...and I felt deep emotion.  They might not have thought it was an epic finish...but it was!  I will be telling their stories the rest of my life of how this class persevered!!!!

What God has been reminding me during this past CRAZY YEAR...is of is our ability, as God's people,  TO RISE. 

And I believe in 2021- He wants us to get up! 

How can we get up though after we've been so knocked down? Maybe you even still feel like you're being squashed under a shoe and rocks are rolling your way and there's no escape. Maybe you're still locked down. Your business and school is still closed... Your bank account is still empty... Your way is still blocked...

Yet, God has been saying to me.. and maybe He's saying the same for you... its time to GET UP!!

You have the ability to RISE! It's is in your DNA as a member of God's family. You can make it!!  

But how again if you're still feeling squashed? 

I believe to be able to get up ... you have to do two things: Remember and Repent...THEN Rise.

REMEMBER!

I think for us to get up from 2020.. we first to remember the power of our God- who He is, what He's done for us- and who we can be in Him!

We need to remember Jesus, the risen King we just celebrated, is IN us and WITH us. We can rise because He did! Heaven's champion, God's Son, Jesus conquered! Because He lives, so can we! 

Satan wants us to think... our sin is too big; our past too dark; the economy too bleak; corona too contagious; depression too suffocating; loneliness too extreme; that our sorrow is too heavy; the diagnosis is too bad; our faith is too weak and our energy too low. 

But God's Word says the complete opposite. 

We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength! (Philippians 4:13)

Nothing is impossible for God! (Matthew 19:26)

No weapon formed against us shall prosper! (Isaiah 54:17)

He will finish what He started in us! (Philippians 1:6)

We are more than conquerors through Him who loves us! (Romans 8:37)

He wants us to remember HIM and not forget Him and to keep our eyes on Him!

We also need to...

REPENT!

God wants us to learn in the storms and in the valleys. So easily we lose our way and we build our lives on things that don't matter. 

Where has your life gotten off track?  How is your faith in God now? Your trust?

Who or what are you living for? Is God at your center?

Repent! Ask God to wash you , renew you, transform you, ground you, center you, build your life on Him and for Him... He promises to restore you ... and refresh you!

When we humbly come to Him with every struggle and fear and pain we have... He can carry it all and can heal it all!

then..

RISE!

Get up! It's time. You might not have the vaccine in your arm, but you do have Jesus in your heart. You may have a mask on... but you can live and love and shine His light and share His truth!  Rise up!

Your story is NOT DONE! God has new chapters to write with your life and mine!

May we allow God to breathe His life and His hope, joy, peace, truth and strength into us in the new year! 

May this year 2021, be EPIC, for God's glory, not our own! May we represent a people who are not crushed but a people who rise and become better by the struggles we pass through!  If you see the Bible... this is already our story!

We are pressed, but not crushed..., struck down, but not destroyed... (2 Corinthians 4:8)

We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but those who believe and are saved! (Hebrews 10:39)

Praying this for us all!

PRAISES / PRAYER REQUESTS

Hope University College started and is now finishing the school year with its 2000 plus students. The class of 2020 finished and graduated on Dec 19th. I'm so very thankful and so proud of these 350 graduates who persevered. I will never forget them!  Please pray for these students as they now seek work. Also for all students as we finish and transition into a new school year this week!

I'm so grateful I was able to travel home for the holidays for a short visit with my family. Though the time was short, I was thankful that God provided safety and funds and clearance to get me in and out of Ethiopia with safety and health. I love my family so much. Thank you for those who gave generously despite your own hardships in 2020. May God Bless you in the new year!

I'm back to work after quarantining and another negative Covid test result. Please pray that I can help the school finish this "crash program" and wrap it up, then start a new school year in January. 

Big prayer is needed for my work permit and new residence visa (this week) as I change from being under ETC to Hope University as their Student Dean.

I was so happy to see one of my best former students, Dagi, get married last week. It's amazing to me that God gives us global family and I'm so thankful God allows us to go through the good and bad of it all together. Congrats and best wishes to Dagi and Samri!

Please let me know how I can pray for you in the new year!

Let's RISE up and be all God wants us to be! It's time!!!

Blessings to Each of You in 2021!

Choosing to GIVE THANKS

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? 

HUC Graduating Class Representatives... being trained on Covid

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!

God can be seen...

ETC Graduation...Making it to the Finish Line

Persevering

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

Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble; and He brought them out of their distress. He stilled the storm to a whisper; and the waves of the sea were hushed. They were glad when it grew calm and He guided them to their desired haven. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.

Psalm 91

Surely He will save you from the deadly pestilence.... You will not fear. Because he loves me, I will rescue him; I will protect him because he acknowledges my name. He will call on me and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.

Malachi 3:6

 "I," the Lord, "do not change."

Psalm 18:1

 I  love you Lord, my strength.

Hebrews 6:19

 We have this hope as an anchor for our soul, firm and secure.

Luke 9:23

 Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Proverbs 18:10

 The name of the Lord is a strong tower, the righteous run into it and are safe.

Psalm 73:24

I am always with you. You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with your counsel and afterward you will take me into glory.

Deuteronomy 31:8

 The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you. He will never leave you or forsake you. Do not be afraid, do not be discouraged.

1 Chronicles 16:34

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!