Caring for the Women of South Sudan

As I was praying for some of my South Sudanese friends recently, I was overwhelmed with God's heart for them. These women are married and have many children, yet I sensed that in many ways, they are like widows.

Many women in South Sudan do not live with their husbands. There are many reasons for this. Sometimes their men have to go where there is work. Sometimes they are estranged because of some conflict. Sometimes it’s because their marriage is more of a contract of utility than a relationship. There is too much to unpack here about the cultural norms, so I can’t explain as much as I would like--but just know this is not a cultural critique but rather me sharing the struggles of some of my friends and women like them.

God is passionate about caring for widows and orphans. He is passionate about caring for those who are disadvantaged and downtrodden. The Bible mentions widows and orphans as examples of people that should be cared for. So children that are without the love and care of parents or women that are without the provision and protection of husbands are very near to God’s heart.

I hope you will join me in praying for these women and their families. Please pray the blinders of cultural norms would be removed and that the truth of God’s Word would penetrate hearts. Please pray God would raise up some pictures within the culture of what God wants family to look like in South Sudan.

I have been blown away at the privilege of knowing these women and getting to see how everything from water wells to Bible storying can positively affect the families of South Sudan. Sometimes it still takes my breath away that God has made me one of His ambassadors, and I am overjoyed that I get to go and love on his behalf.

"All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” 

2 Corinthians 5:18-20

Remember Your First Love

I have been thinking a lot lately about life and what is primary.

What in our lives should we put first?

Of course, because I follow Christ, what is supposed to be primary is obvious: Jesus. It’s the next step in my thought process, though, that's been challenging me. How do we put Jesus as primary? Is it by devoting our lives to service? Is it by replacing “secular” activities with “holy” ones? Is it by standing up for the truths revealed in the Bible? Is it by doing something God wants us to do? 

Of course these things fit “inside” of the answer, but as I read Revelation 2 and what it says about the Church in Ephesus, I have to think that doing for the Lord is a secondary priority to “remembering our first love." So often, though, my next thought is, "But I'm American, and so the proof is in the pudding. If I love Jesus, I will serve Jesus, so I simply must quickly turn my affection into action. I need to get busy and do before someone starts quoting James 1:22."

I would never argue that doing nothing is the answer, but I keep finding myself just barely getting a glimpse of the feet of Jesus before I start feeling like I should run and help Martha. Perhaps more tragically, I have found myself at times trying to sit at the feet of Jesus only to become a better servant of His. I got it backwards.

I try to make Jesus a means to my service or fruit instead of making Him my deepest affection.

This is my struggle. I am not trying to make it yours if you don't struggle with this, too. I hope you read this and you feel like you have permission to be with Jesus a lot more than you thought was okay before. I hope you feel permission to say no to a service opportunity or a church activity in favor of spending time in the presence of God to love and be loved by him.

I think we might have to park our ideas about “our impact” and “our legacy." We will have to tame our cultural urge to produce a product at all times. Only then will we be able to feel comfortable making the trade from “doing for” to “being with.”

Let’s try and just spend time “remembering our first love." 

I want to build something for you, God

I want to build something for you, God. 

The desire comes with mixed motives I'm sure. It's hard for us as believers to meditate on the gospel and not come away with a burning desire to advance the Kingdom of God. To see our Jesus lifted high. He is just too good to keep Him all to ourselves.

On the other hand, when I am confronted with a lack of tangible fruit in some area of life, it's revealed that maybe my desire for this advancement is also motivated a bit by my desire to feel good about what I do. I want to feel like my life counts, like I'm successful, effective, and equipped. This desire is not bad, either. I believe this is a God-given desire.

It's when I find myself chasing significance and accomplishment apart from Jesus that I begin to walk away from the life God wants for me and toward the bits of death we call sin.

God may be responding to my statement, “I want to build something for you God.”

He may be saying:

I want to build something WITH you, son.

I want you to stop looking at your building project long enough to turn toward me and to take my hand. I want you to find my heart. Let’s look at this building together. Why don’t you ask me to move the bricks that are impossible for you to move? Why don’t you look at the things you are not equipped for as things that you need my help with, not things that prevent your success? After all, I don’t need builders. I can speak buildings into existence. I don’t need your service. I washed my friends' feet when I was with them.

I came to serve, remember? What I really want for you is more relationship. I want you to walk in the joy of holding the shepherd’s hand while we go together and carry out the ministry of reconciliation. I have given you an amazing mission to go out and restore people to their passionate, loving Father. Not because I am helpless to save them without your excellent work and strategy, but because you will get to know my heart as you seek as I seek and love as I love.

I could be wrong, but as I consider these statements, I think I find every single one is scripture. Help me if you think I am wrong. 

He wants to build something with us.

Do I have what it takes?

Do I have what it takes? It’s a question I had before I left the states and it is still the main question after a year of being in Africa. It's a question that's shaped my past, and I think it will be a question that has the power to shape my present and my future.

I have a hunch that I'm not the only one. You and I don’t just ask ourselves this question, we spend our time trying to look for evidence of the answer. We look at the results of our work or relationships and we critique ourselves about the quality of our results. If we don’t find flawless execution and better-than-average results, we begin to critique our personalities, skill levels, and our natural abilities.

We find things that could have been done better if one of these things were different. We look at ourselves and notice we aren't perfectly suited for what we do today. We might look for something we are better at. We might start to avoid situations that make us uncomfortable. If we are really “spiritual,” we pray for God to improve us.

Soon, our gifts and talents are our Lord instead of Jesus.  

Do I have what it takes? That is not a question we need to answer. It’s a question we need to go to war against. It's a question in direct opposition at times with the question we should be asking.

We should be asking, "What does God want to do in our lives? What is he calling us too?"

Beloved, it's not even about the results. We are off track from the beginning if we think God wants more from us: more results, more success, or more impact. Jesus doesn’t want more from us, He wants more of us. He wants us to be consumed with Him because He designed us to be consumed by Him. When we are consumed by Him, we bring Him the most joy and we ourselves receive the most joy.

He wants to lead us to places where we will find more of Him not to find a more significant life. He wants us to stop trying to find the way we can bring him the most success and start trying to find the way we can find the most of Him 

The application of this differs slightly from person to person, but all followers of Jesus are, by nature, missionaries. We can stop asking if we are good missionaries and start asking instead, "Lord, where should we go? Lord, who should we talk to? And Lord, What do you want us to say to them?"

My guarantee is this: He will lead us not to comfortable places but to ones filled with more joy and more Jesus. 

God has us here for a reason

The last three months in Africa have been filled with illnesses and sicknesses that the Pierce family has never encountered stateside--funky, not-so-familiar names like Giardia, Amoebic Dysentery, and now Brucellosis.  As painful and inconvenient as these yucky bugs are, they pale in comparison to the suffering around us.  

My heart breaks when I see children walking around with poorly healed limbs, now debilitated, because they had to lie in bed while their bones healed improperly without a cast. Malnourished children, thyphoid, and tuberculosis are common. Men, women, and children die of unknown diseases, malnutrition, and complications that can’t be resolved.

I see the terrible suffering of these people each day. I want to do more. I want to give more. And maybe the Lord is asking me to. When I put it before the Lord, I can’t help but see a bigger picture.

As long as governments continue to worship the idols of power and wealth, and their allegiance is not to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords--wars and famine will happen. Medical development and farming will be limited due to instability and corruption. More and more people will die. Displacement and instability will limit access to basic medical care and sanitary living conditions.

Near the refugee camps in Ethiopia, housing is scarce. Families pile other displaced family members into their mudhuts, so when one person gets sick, everyone gets sick. I am brought to tears as tragedy continues to unfold before me. But the answer isn’t better healthcare. BILLIONS of Billions of dollars are sent to countries just like South Sudan every year to help save lives and improve access to healthcare. Why isn’t the aid working? We know the answer. This battle is not against flesh and blood. 

Why would we invest two years or more of our lives here unless we had hope? Hope that we might have the opportunity to serve, love, and disciple a few South Sudanese men and women. Hope that those who don’t know Him might come to know our only hope, Christ Jesus. Hope that those who DO know Christ as Lord might be encouraged that, despite the suffering and sorrow they are enduring, they are born again into a living hope that cannot be destroyed by war or famine.

Please join us in prayer for South Sudan. For the leaders. For the soldiers. For the widows. For the orphans. For the dying. For the lost.

God has us here for a reason. Despite the sadness and grief that we see and experience here, we are blessed to be here. We are blessed to war in prayer for this nation, for these people, and to gather you with us in this fight. Thank you for your support.

“Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil.  For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”

Ephesians 6: 11-12

We are just "Regular" Missionaries

In January, while in Kampala, we had the amazing joy of meeting with other refugee missionaries that had been working in South Sudan. We got to spend time with them in prayer for the South Sudanese people that we love so much.

But a question kept coming up as I was introduced to different people.

"What do you do there?"

An innocent question, but granted most of them were doctors or in charge of orphanages. They had, what I perceived to be, “real jobs."

“Ummm…” I would begin to respond. “We are just regular missionaries. We drill water wells and have radio towers that share the gospel through Bible stories, but my main focus is discipleship.”

They were always so excited and would talk about the need for discipleship in South Sudan. But somewhere in the back of my mind I felt small. I had to fight Satan's lies that my job wasn’t as important because I wasn’t a doctor or nurse.

In the midst of the trials, God continues to push us into beautiful discipleship relationships. As I was walking home this week with some new friends, Nyateth and Nyamulan, a child with special needs passed us by. I clearly heard the Lord say, “Go back. Pray for her."

I immediately obeyed, but not without questioning. “Lord, surely you aren’t wanting me to pray for healing. Do I have that much faith?” I began to pray and the Lord led me to pray blessings and protection over her--that she would know the love of her heavenly father and that others would love her in the same way.

That was it.

The girls were a little shocked that I would turn us back to pray for her. Nyateth and Nyamulan are teenagers. They enjoy spending time with us and it seems that they look up to the ladies on the team like big sisters.

This is what I do in Africa. I just live. And God uses it. He uses it to demonstrate his love for someone who might not always feel loved.  He uses our lives to demonstrate to James our guard what it means for Jared to love his wife and children well. He uses it to demonstrate forgiveness, as I have to ask for it often. It’s our lives on display to a watching people. It’s His light in us, shining in the darkness.

What a privilege we have! It’s an honor, and it’s beautiful.

You have the same privilege. Jesus calls us to make disciples. This is no menial task. It’s our lives, and--ultimately--it’s the eternal lives of others.

Be encouraged, beloved. He is worthy!

God of Miracles

A few months ago in South Sudan, Brooke (my two-year-old) and I were hanging in a hammock. Abruptly, the string holding the hammock up snapped and we fell from about three to four feet above the ground. Brooke got out without a scratch. I had terrible pain in my tailbone, spine, and hip.

Because the clinic wasn’t easy to get to, I decided to give it a few days and see if it healed on its own. The pain was excruciating and only seemed to get worse. I stayed in bed for two full days, but on the third day, the pain was nearly gone.

A few days ago, another accident occurred. I found Brooke trying to climb down the stairs that has just been mopped. I scolded her and warned her that she could fall and get hurt. I swiftly picked her up and, at that very moment, we both went sliding down the staircase--her head hitting every step.

Miraculously, Brooke escaped with just a small bump on her forehead. My fate didn’t look as promising. My hand was badly mangled and fingers weren’t pointed in normal directions. The X-ray technician said it looked bad. The British doctor with 30-plus years of experience said I definitely had one, possibly two bones broken in my hand. Then the X-rays came back. “Did they x-ray the correct hand?” the doctor asked. Indeed they had. Second miracle of the day--I had escaped the fall with some bruising and swelling, but NOTHING broken.

1. Our God is one of miracles. If you need a miracle today, no matter how big or small, call on some brothers or sisters and have them pray with you. Let's lift one another up, encourage one another and ask God to show us His power.

2. I grew up without my father. It wasn’t the ideal situation, but God is our perfect father. He is there when we fall. In the small falls and the big ones. If you don’t know God as father, ask Him to show you. I pray that you will know Him as He is. One of perfect love, perfect strength, one who is passionate about you!

3. This is for parents: As I slid down the stairs with Brooke in my arms, every part of me wanted to protect her from the fall. But there was nothing I could do. The situation was completely out of my control. We don’t have control of our kids, but praise God that they are His. Let’s be faithful to shepherd them, care for them, and love them well. But at the end of the day, they are His children. Praise God! The perfect father, who looks after His sheep. He’s bigger, stronger and greater than anything I can offer them in my own flesh. 

LOVE

LOVE,  I want to tell you about what He’s been showing us about His love for us and His love for others.

God loves you and me. This BIG God came in the flesh to a pain-filled world, becoming the perfect sacrifice and taking our punishment for sin.

I know the beautiful and precious story of the gospel very well. It’s the only story I hear over and over again that can still bring tears to my eyes.

As God has been showing me His desire for me to live a life as a servant, He took me to the cross.

Philippians 2:5-8

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God,
 did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing
 by taking the very nature of a servant,
 being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man,
 he humbled himself
 by becoming obedient to death—
even death on a cross!

It was in His love for us that He humbled himself. And so as I was seeking a formula for how to become a humble person, he showed me.

It is loving others. 

Now how in the world am I supposed to do that? How can I love someone sacrificially as Christ did? We know that it’s Christ in us loving others. But I wanted to know what specifically is keeping this hindered in my life. 

And then He showed me.

I can’t love others sacrificially until I better grasp His love for me. I have this idol of self, which just won’t go away. He loves you and me perfectly. He loves us better than we love ourselves. When I get that, I can let go of trying to protect myself and love others freely. 

I want that! Don’t you?

I’m praying: God, help me to better know your love for me. Help me to let go of myself so I’m freed up to love others. And then Lord, FILL me with your love. May it pour out, may it overflow.

Conservation

So we got a dog. She’s really cute. Her name is ZaZu. From the beginning we knew she was not here for the purpose of being a family member, but more of an alert system for snakes, rats, and other vermin. 

So before ZaZu was even here, we decided she would eat table scraps.

For the first few days, it worked well. ZaZu was getting plenty to eat from the food we couldn’t finish each meal.  But as our eyes began to become more aware of our surroundings and as we came to the realization that some of our meals cost more than 30 times what minimum wage is here, our eating habits began to change.

Soon, we found our bowls empty after each meal. When we made too much food, we creatively found ways to stretch it to make it last another meal. So then, what do we feed Zazu? Dog food here is pretty expensive, so we asked around. What do other Mazungoos (foreigners) feed their dogs? The Answer: Posho and dried fish.

Posho is kind of a flour that thickens into this strange doughy substance. The dried fish is smaller than sardines and very….chewy.  The cost for Zazu to eat this stuff is about 5,000 shillings per week, a little under $2.50 USD.

When it came time to serve Zazu his first meal, we didn’t know how to make it. We had our guard, Mr. Cehphus show us how to cook it. It turns out this special meal we were making for Zazu is a common meal eaten by many locals as well, including Mr. Cehphus.

This by far is the hardest part of being in Uganda for me. I love Uganda: the traffic, the crazy driving, the steep hills, fresh fruit and beautiful views! But in this country, we are considered rich. And we are rich compared to the most of this world. But it’s so obvious here. And so less obvious when we are in the states. I don’t like being so different from everyone else. It’s a painful reminder that many people aren’t nearly as spoiled as I am.

So with that, we do our best to conserve more. Utilize our resources to the best of our ability. Because when we spend less, we can give more. We can bless more. And blessing people in the name of Jesus brings beauty to brokenness.

Sometimes I am so blind. Turns out, that is OK.

   A little over 8 weeks ago Keisha and I were given an assignment in our training with Every Village to come up with a strategy to reach out to people. Very soon I felt the Lord leading us to sit with a sign in a public place that said "How may we pray for you" --Simple idea. We had no idea if it was a good strategy or if it works, but we went with it. --

     We have been going every Friday at 3pm to Memorial Park with our sign and sitting there waiting. Normally we have one, and only one, person stop for prayer. Last Friday was a little different though and it put the rest of our time in perspective. At first we had some interactions with people that didn’t stop but just answered our sign with fun things like “that I can finish this lap strong”  and “that I don’t pass out” We also had a lady stop and ask for prayer for her father who has cancer. God keeps encouraging us with at least one request each time we go but the Lord really encouraged me on a much deeper level this time. As I sat there and pondered why I was sitting there and about the presence and activity of God. I suddenly knew that it did not matter if people stopped or not. It does not matter if we have spontaneous  relationships with people that do not know Jesus, or if we see people come to trust in Jesus through those relationships. Of course that is our hope and our purpose for being there (as well as to encourage and pray on others behalf hoping God will answer and draw people closer to Himself) but  in the end it does not matter what we saw with our eyes.  It does not matter if we are gratified by a positive result. Could it be that the sign and the weekly presence is making an impact on hundreds of people that I will never see? Is it possible that the Lord regularly answers our prayer... that there is a “distinct feeling of peace and warmth as people pass in front of us”? What is the impact of this momentary event?  

     As I watched pairs of people look over and start talking about the sign, I don’t know if they are making fun or if they are starting a life altering conversation about their differing beliefs. I am realizing though, that God does what He wants and He is capable of the latter. The most encouraging part though is that results matter a lot less than before. It’s a lot harder to become discouraged knowing that there are unseen things happening below the surface. There is an untold number of small interactions we have throughout our years that are unbeknownst to us, absolutely changing lives. There are moments in our life that we walk away from saying, “I failed” and maybe God has used them more powerfully than the opportunities that we wish we had. I know this, your God is indeed using your life even if you can’t really see how, and one day when all that is sad becomes untrue, and we are at the wedding supper that is promised, there will be some talk of the things that He did, that we were blind to see. 

It is not your business to succeed, but to do right; when you have done so, the rest lies with God. -C.S. Lewis

Step 2 .......

So I'm in this really weird place. It seems like an unfavorable place, and yet I know against my better judgement, that this is an awesome place to be!

Let me preface this post by saying that, people don't get why we are going to South Sudan. And that's okay.

But I have to make sure you understand this:  I know it will be difficult. It is okay. 

I will be on this soap box many times, sharing about the thorns and thistles me or my family are walking through and it is okay! We are expecting them, and we are expecting God to move powerfully through them. 

We are going to South Sudan because God is calling us to go there, and so whatever lies ahead, may I be singing when the evening comes. Worshiping the one who made it all!

So Friday (5 days ago), was my last day at work. So a few days later, I feel as though the Lord has picked me up and dropped me into a whole new world. It's called, being a stay at home mom. First of all, that title sounds really relaxing....it's not. Second of all, this has to be my biggest fear in the entire Universe. 

Those of you who know me, know that I am not scared by much. I usually charge head first into situations, thinking "I've got this" . Not with this, I will start crying at just the thought of it, because I know I'm not good enough or strong enough to do it, let alone do it well. 

And so, here we go. Step one to getting to South Sudan......quit job. Check. 

Step two, begin "Stay at home mom" status................................................... I can't do it!!!

This next part is really ugly, It shows the ugliness within my own heart and so I'm pleading with you not to judge me. 

For as long as I can remember, I have been surrounded by an environment that rewards hard work. You want something in life, you work hard and you get it. Pretty simple. So I've done that, at work. It's awesome! You work hard and you pretty quickly see the benefit of your efforts. Praise, promotions, etc.  

It doesn't work that way for Stay at home moms. My checklists don't get done and I can't seem to keep my house clean. The children don't reward you with compliments when you handled a situation well, or saved money in the budget by not buying something! Honestly, I'm in a little bit of a culture shock. 

On top of that, I am impatient and selfish with very little self control. I snap easily at my kids, and so I just can't do it. So how did Monday (my first day) go? Awesome. 

Yep, I didn't lose my temper once with the kids. I loved them well. We played together. I wasn't consumed with my own agenda, like I normally am. The problem? It wasn't me. I literally have not been myself this week.Staying at home with my kids (whom I love) is such a tremendously difficult task for me that I have been praying almost all day, every day asking God to help me to be the mom that I can't be on my own. And he has answered my prayers. And why is that so horrible? Because it makes me completely, desperately,  dependent on Him. I've got nothing. I can't do this on my own. 

I can only trust Him. 

God is asking me to pour out myself into these little ones. And I'm saying, "but God...theres no immediate reward". "Nobodies here watching me anymore and saying 'Well Done'". I'm no longer "Awesome", I'm a doormat. 

And yet God in His goodness, takes my ugly, selfishness and says. I'm changing you. No you can't do this on your own. You have to trust me. My Grace is sufficient for you. And Lord it is! Cut out this ugliness, whatever the cost. 

I love my children so much, I can't explain it. But I lack so many qualities that "Good Moms" have and so He has to do it! And so when I push people towards discipleship...."Who are you discipling?" I ask...."God commands us to make disciples!",  God has so clearly spoken. 

He has given me these blessings, my children, ...to make disciples. 

Aiden, Benjamin, Brooke.....I love you so much and I thank God for you! May you be blessed by my imperfections. May you know the depths of my love for you, even when I'm struggling to show it...and even more may you know the depths of love that your perfect father has for you, May you know Him, trust Him and walk with Him, pursue Him,  not by my doing...but by His graciousness in me. 

Lord will you give me an obedient heart? Will you give me a servant heart for my kids? 

Thank you for taking me to this place, where I am smothered, engulfed with my own sin. 

And you lovingly take me by the hand and say, I love you and I will never leave you. 

*** For the women who have been walking in this role... I admire you. You are everything I hope to be. I have looked up to you for years, and I am blown away at your sacrifice and the labor that goes into it all! My cousin posted this quote on Facebook yesterday , and I thought it applies well to this subject :-)

"You will come to know that what appears today to be a sacrifice will prove instead to be the greatest investment that you will ever make."- Gordon Hinck

Thank you Father, that you modeled a perfect love, a complete pouring out of yourself by your sacrifice on the cross. 

In Jesus name, Amen. 

Merry Christmas!

We are completely blown away by all of the generosity that friends and strangers have given this year to help us get to South Sudan! We have a big goal to meet of 60% before January 1 and are trusting the Lord with our jaws dropped as people continue to give so sacrificially.

We are so deeply burdened to get to South Sudan this summer, and are blessed by the support team, God has already put into place.

This verse has been heavy on my heart today, Revelation 7:9 "... a great multitude which no one could count, from every nation and all tribes and peoples and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb..."

What a beautiful picture. These are believers...gathered from all of history, from all parts of the globe, from all people groups  to worship HIM. If this is our finish line, for all believers throughout history, this is the time that will reveal exactly what we exchanged our life for, while we were here on earth.

I am praying for this day. I'm praying that each of us would count the cost of each day until the end. Thinking of the words spoken to my husband as we were called to South Sudan "Who will go for me?" and thinking of our sweet friends who are sacrificing so much to be a part of this call.

Thank you! and of course Merry Christmas!

January 7, 2011 - Everyone has a mission field

16 months ago, I started working at a property 32 miles from home. If any of you know me well, you know that commuting and traffic are my worst enemy. Nothing can make me lose my patience like traffic. I asked God repeatedly "Why are you sending me this far" What could possibly be your purpose? I didn't know it then but he began to use me on day one of my new position.
Less than 30 days into the new position, I had let go of an employee and was training a new one. For 13 months, I spent nearly every day with her, training her, listening to her, guiding her and gaining a friendship I now treasure above any earthly possession.
90 days ago, she called me out of the blue. She was hurting. She knew she needed HIM and wanted to go to church with me. I had heard her many stories of pain. Now she was commuting the 32 miles from home to hear about this father who loved her tremendously. The last 90 days have been such a ride to finally see Gods plan unfold for her. She leaves today to go away to college. I leave my job in less than 60 days to have a baby. God didn't waste ANY of my time and he won't waste any of yours if you ask him to use you. He planned each day that I gave to him. The extra time in the car was the perfect time for prayer. And the location although far for me, was just what the Father had in mind.
I sit here in tears, in awe of the fathers love for his lost children.In awe of his love for her! My task might seem menial to some, but I am so struck by his love for her. I hope I am communicating this well, because it overwhelms me to think that this is how he would use me. I am so blessed. WHAT A PRIVILEGE, to see first hand the shepherd searching for his lost, hungry and hurting sheep. He was searching for her. My heart cries out that she might know the depths of his love for her. I have learned so much about how he works. Days where I was complaining about a commute, there are so many things I would have done differently,if I knew that this was my specific task, but HIS hand was in it the entire time.

I can't wait for my next assignment. I pray for each of you, that you will be reminded to give each day to HIM. That we might ask, Lord how can I be a blessing to YOU today? That we remember there is no place to far, no task to pointless, when we are doing the Fathers work.
I want to encourage those of you who have been praying for a loved ones salvation. It may take years, for their heart to move, but be faithful, keep praying.
I want to leave you with a verse to start off 2011. We all know that Christmas is behind us, but in Luke 2:20 we see a very special little verse.
20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

What did they return to? Working! They went back to work. Their occupation was shepherding. And they went back Glorifying and Praising God. May your days be filled with HIS work, and may 2011 be filled glorifying and praising God!

-KP