He's Always Been Faithful

Has it been a crazy week or what? And I don’t mean crazy in a good way. Everything that happened in Boston and in West last week are absolutely awful but things that are happening here aren’t a walk in the park either. Some of the stuff my girls at my houses have to go through is terrible and I teach English at a public school where the majority of my first graders don’t know how to write more than half of their letters (difficult for me to grasp after seeing many of my dad’s pre-k students start reading in his class). On top of that, I spent four days last week with my girls at Casitas, many of whom don’t believe they are beautiful, special, loved, or created for a purpose. My heart is burdened and broken for the situations and experiences of my students and of all of my girls.

I know its would be easy to just say, Kellie everyone has difficult situations and difficult days in their lives, but 2 things. 1. I think that living here in SPS has made me more aware of the difficulties people go through in my own life and in the lives of others. Not to say that there have not been hard times in my life, anyone who knows me knows that’s crazy, but I’m the type of person to ignore problems and not deal with them, but here that is not exactly an option, gotta face things head on (Thanks Jesus for that sweet, not so sweet lesson). 2. I cannot begin to describe to you the difficulty and problems of this week in our house. Like I know that every day my girls have to deal with things that are difficult, things from their past and what’s happening in the present, but seriously this week was so much worse.

But, in extreme difficulties or in the case of Boston and West in extreme tragedies we’re given this opportunity to grow our faith and trust in God. The question is, “do you trust God?” A friend asked me this question the other day after she’d been asked the same question. Yes, of course we trust God. If my answer is yes why am I constantly worried and questioning what is happening? Why am I always trying to solve the problems by myself? Why am I not instead taking things to God in prayer 100% of the time? Man, what a challenge, but what comfort and strength and relief is found when I do that.

I read this passage in Jesus Calling the other day:

       "The media relentlessly proclaim bad news, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. A steady diet of their fare will sicken you. Instead focusing on fickle, ever-changing news broadcasts, tune in to the living Word - the One who is always the same. Let scripture saturate our mind and heart, and you will walk steadily along the path of Life. Even though you don't know what will happen tomorrow, you can be sure of your ultimate destination. I hold you by your right hand, and afterward I will take you to glory."

Life is not easy, its not a piece of cake or a walk in the park. We're not promised an easy life just because we chose to follow Jesus. He does say "...In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) He says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28). 

Our God is faithful and He is with us always. He is never changing. He is the same yesterday, and today, and forever!

One more piece of encouragement God showed me through a blog yesterday, lyrics to the song He’s Always Been Faithful by Sara Groves (I’m not a huge fan of the actual song, but the words I love!).

            Morning by morning I wake up to find 


The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine


Season by season I watch Him, amazed


In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways 


All I have need of, His hand will provide 


He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain 


He did not recycle to bring me gain 


I can’t remember one single regret


In serving God only, and trusting His hand


All I have need of, His hand will provide


He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song 


The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long 


God has been faithful, He will be again


His loving compassion, it knows no end 


All I have need of, His hand will provide 


He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful 


He’s always been faithful to me

Thanks and gig 'em.

Peace. Love. Pursue Jesus.

Kellie

Whom Shall I Fear

You know those moments when you are totally exhausted and hurting? Totally had one of those a few weeks ago. But God is great. He pointed me to the perfect passage in the Bible via morning Bible study with my girls and our house mom, Ecclesiastes 3. Reading it was a clear reminder from God that all time is His time, is in His control, and in His will. Even in times of weeping or in times of mourning or in times of searching or in times of silence it is a time to rejoice, because those times, while they may seem terrible and even unbearable are gifts from God. He gives us these times to test us, to grow us, to draw us near. Rejoice in those times when you feel despair. Rejoice because each day is a gift from God. Rejoice because He loves us. Rejoice because our Savior lives. Rejoice because He is making us like Him.

There are some days when it’s not easy to be in another country. I miss my family and friends and the community that I have in Texas. But I know that God called me here and that He wants me here. I know that God has been using this time and that He will continue to do so.  Pray with me that God uses the rest of my short time here in whatever way He pleases.

Just a quick update as far as what I’m doing here right now: I’m teaching English classes again. For the most part I enjoy it and I love my students (most of them anyway), but I really miss my girls from Casitas. I hate not being with them and not

getting to talk to them on a daily basis. But again, trusting God in that He has me with my students for a reason as much as I may miss my other girlies.

Pray with me:  

·      For wisdom in certain situations that arise and can be difficult to handle.

·      For English classes – that my students would be attentive and willing to learn, that they would see Christ in me even though I’m up there teaching them months and days of the week and verbs and not Bible stories, that God would give me opportunities to talk to and share the gospel with some of my students during our recess time.

·      For us as a family that we would remember to treat each other with patience and respect regardless of our emotions at a given moment.

·      That our times of Bible study every morning would be fruitful. That we would come to know God better and look more like Christ because of them.

·      That we would trust. Trust each other and trust our Savior, especially our Savior with every moment regardless of what it looks like in the here and now.

·      We have nothing to fear, pray that we would know that be constantly reminded of that!

Thanks and gig 'em.

Peace, love, and pursue Jesus.

Kellie