So today I was looking at our refrigerator that the girls constantly open and look in. It is pretty sparse comported to what is at home. In fact, what is in there pretty much sums up our food situation. Yeah, we have snack foods and boxed foods, but without the fridge foods life would seem much harder.
Now imagine our girls. They have probably never eaten like this ever. To see a hole that holds food must be unimaginable to their 3 year old brains. I really wish I spoke fluent Swahili. I could ask them what they think about this whole. Now I don't know if they had a fridge where they came from. They don't necessarily acted mesmerized by it, but they know that it holds the food that feeds us. They know there is sustenance that comes from this box. They know that their bellies get full and they feel better.
Eating is a strange thing. I have never really thought about food except for times when I am exerting a great amount of energy or I forget to eat. I have never been in a situation in which food becomes a dire issue. That's where I am spoiled. I live in a large home, with a large refrigerator, with large food boxes. I am truly spoiled. Our girls do not understand this yet. They do not realize that they will be coming to a place where food is not only plentiful, but rather cheap as compared to here. This is where I must diverge.
I have been reading the book of Job while I am here. I am reading it slowly so that I can grasp the fullness of the book. The way it goes around here, a sentence or two a day seems like a lot. Okay, so this is not the most uplifting book to pick out of the bible, but I wanted something that would challenge me. Something that would feed me, as my belly says "I'm hungry." I have never felt hunger for more than a brief period of time, but now that I am here, I feel it constantly. Being locked in the confines of our compound means we do not overeat. Yeah, we get to go to the store 1 time week, but it is hard to get what our bodies are used to.
So today I began thinking about the refrigerator and what it means to the lives of people around the world. I began to wonder if we use God like a refrigerator? Do we ask that He open up and give us something to satisfy us and then we ask Him to close up until we are ready for more? Living in America, I believe God has turned into a convenience for us. He is just like the local 7 Eleven where we can pop in and get a good dose of food and energy drinks and then mosey on our way. I know that I have used Him this way. "God get me through this and I will do ________________(you fill in the blank).
Recently our pastor Brett talked about John 10:10 and about how Jesus has come to give us life to the full. His interpretation was that the full is Heaven. Although I will tend to agree with him, I would also add that Jesus lets us get more out of this life than just a drive by. You see when I read this, Jesus is saying that he is more than a 7 Eleven. With him you don't need to stop by the 7 Eleven because he is already with you. Not only is he with, but the spirit of God is with you.
Now my belly may be saying it is hungry. It's not starving. My mind might be exhausted by negotiating 3 different languages. It's not broken. My muscles may be withering. I'm not dying. In fact we are thriving. We are well despite all of the challenges that are presented daily. We are growing as a family and making memories that will last a lifetime. We are living the life more abundantly. We chose to follow this path that we were called to. We knew it would not be easy. We knew that there were risks associated with it, and yet we heeded the call.
If this is what it takes to live more abundantly sign me up. If it means that we forsake all that is comfortable to make a difference in the world, sign me up.
When I started this blog it was meant to be a tool to let our friends and family know how we are, but as I as have gone forward with it has turned into an expressive psalm to God. This is the hardest thing we have ever done. I would never have been able to do this without a great marriage and friends and family praying for us. There have been times that this has seemed beyond us and overwhelming. The fits before bed can make you feel like this. The fits over not wanting to share another kid's toy can make you feel this way.
So I leave you with this? Do you want more abundant life in this world and beyond? Do you want to accept the challenge of sometimes having to walk down the hard road? Do you want to open you life to unexpected ventures? There is an adventure waiting, are you ready?
PS: Our paperwork will be delivered to the embassy tomorrow. Please pray that the investigation begins immediately and it goes quickly.
Now imagine our girls. They have probably never eaten like this ever. To see a hole that holds food must be unimaginable to their 3 year old brains. I really wish I spoke fluent Swahili. I could ask them what they think about this whole. Now I don't know if they had a fridge where they came from. They don't necessarily acted mesmerized by it, but they know that it holds the food that feeds us. They know there is sustenance that comes from this box. They know that their bellies get full and they feel better.
Eating is a strange thing. I have never really thought about food except for times when I am exerting a great amount of energy or I forget to eat. I have never been in a situation in which food becomes a dire issue. That's where I am spoiled. I live in a large home, with a large refrigerator, with large food boxes. I am truly spoiled. Our girls do not understand this yet. They do not realize that they will be coming to a place where food is not only plentiful, but rather cheap as compared to here. This is where I must diverge.
I have been reading the book of Job while I am here. I am reading it slowly so that I can grasp the fullness of the book. The way it goes around here, a sentence or two a day seems like a lot. Okay, so this is not the most uplifting book to pick out of the bible, but I wanted something that would challenge me. Something that would feed me, as my belly says "I'm hungry." I have never felt hunger for more than a brief period of time, but now that I am here, I feel it constantly. Being locked in the confines of our compound means we do not overeat. Yeah, we get to go to the store 1 time week, but it is hard to get what our bodies are used to.
So today I began thinking about the refrigerator and what it means to the lives of people around the world. I began to wonder if we use God like a refrigerator? Do we ask that He open up and give us something to satisfy us and then we ask Him to close up until we are ready for more? Living in America, I believe God has turned into a convenience for us. He is just like the local 7 Eleven where we can pop in and get a good dose of food and energy drinks and then mosey on our way. I know that I have used Him this way. "God get me through this and I will do ________________(you fill in the blank).
Recently our pastor Brett talked about John 10:10 and about how Jesus has come to give us life to the full. His interpretation was that the full is Heaven. Although I will tend to agree with him, I would also add that Jesus lets us get more out of this life than just a drive by. You see when I read this, Jesus is saying that he is more than a 7 Eleven. With him you don't need to stop by the 7 Eleven because he is already with you. Not only is he with, but the spirit of God is with you.
Now my belly may be saying it is hungry. It's not starving. My mind might be exhausted by negotiating 3 different languages. It's not broken. My muscles may be withering. I'm not dying. In fact we are thriving. We are well despite all of the challenges that are presented daily. We are growing as a family and making memories that will last a lifetime. We are living the life more abundantly. We chose to follow this path that we were called to. We knew it would not be easy. We knew that there were risks associated with it, and yet we heeded the call.
If this is what it takes to live more abundantly sign me up. If it means that we forsake all that is comfortable to make a difference in the world, sign me up.
When I started this blog it was meant to be a tool to let our friends and family know how we are, but as I as have gone forward with it has turned into an expressive psalm to God. This is the hardest thing we have ever done. I would never have been able to do this without a great marriage and friends and family praying for us. There have been times that this has seemed beyond us and overwhelming. The fits before bed can make you feel like this. The fits over not wanting to share another kid's toy can make you feel this way.
So I leave you with this? Do you want more abundant life in this world and beyond? Do you want to accept the challenge of sometimes having to walk down the hard road? Do you want to open you life to unexpected ventures? There is an adventure waiting, are you ready?
PS: Our paperwork will be delivered to the embassy tomorrow. Please pray that the investigation begins immediately and it goes quickly.
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| Josee |
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| Katie (possible new name coming) |
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| Our afternoon latte |
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| Reading time |
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| Playtime with Eli |
We love you SO MUCH!!! Thank you for sharing your psalsm with us - to challenge, inspire and encourage us. Your time in the DRC is forever changing us as you write and share your experiences. Thank you for your transparency, sincerity and genuineness. You are so incredibly kind to share so much with us! We Willises are now thrilled you have had to endure coffee even worse than what we have served you at our house;)! Thank you, McKinnis family, for your hunger to fully obey and follow an amazing and incredibly gracious God! I selfishly cannot wait to see how this time changes all of our lives. Praying for a fast investigation and favor with Brooke as well as a Mama who is desperately desiring her family to be whole and together... We LOVE YOU ALL!!!
ReplyDeleteWOW ~ preach it brother!!! I remain in AWE of how God is working in you all and through you all!!! You all have been an incredible example to me and to our family of walking by and in faith, obedience, sacrifice and so much more ~ THANK YOU!!!
ReplyDeleteThe papers go to the embassy today and we are praying for all of those details and know that God has gone before and will work to HIS GLORY and orchestrate it all!!! I look forward to hearing about more ways He will work.
Continuing to pray that the girls heal completely from the malaria, that you all continue to bond as a family, that Kate and Abby are doing well in OK, that the "Marie's" let go of fears and walk into and embrace love and security and trust, that you all have endurance for this journey you are on, and that you all are able to return home soon as a WHOLE FAMILY!!!
Thanks AGAIN for sharing your hearts, lives, love, struggles and faith with us all!!! TO GOD BE THE GLORY!!! Love and miss you all!!!
Gracie and gang
Great words for all of us, Darren - it really means so much to me to read about your journey of faith & courage, as well as what God's revealing to you as he's working through you & Valerie to change the lives of these two little girls and the lives of everyone your testimony reaches - it gives me encouragement every day! When we're following Jesus, we can expect our journey to be uncomfortable and even painful at times - but we press on for the prize of the upward call in Christ Jesus, right? Today this bible passage was posted on FB by two different friends of mine for different reasons, it almost immediately follows the famous "press toward the prize" verse and I think gives even more depth to what the "upward call" is about - it really spoke to me as well as what you shared in your post:
ReplyDelete"17 Brethren, join in following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern. 18 For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame—who set their mind on earthly things. 20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself."
Thank you for sharing what God's putting on your heart, and know that we are praying for you every day!
Renee