We have returned home to what you would call a happy ending. All of the children are adjusting to the "new" family rather well. Our biggest obstacle at this point is the animals, and we are making progress daily with this one. So why write anything at all?
Let me tell you of my current struggle. I want to be in the box again. We have returned to the land of too much, and I am struggling with this. I look around our home and I find things that can either be given away or tossed. Don't get me wrong, I still feel materialistic, but something has changed. Where I used to see happiness in something new, I now see excess and the eventual filling of the trashcan.
I recently received a gift card from my mother in law for my belated birthday, and now I want to spend it. The real question comes down to how I spend it. What do I want? What do I need? Do I need anything at all? I am now confronted with a real life decision. What do I do with my excess?
I really do miss the box we lived in. It was so simple. Life was simple. I want to keep that perspective. Preparing for my youth group tonight, I realized that God wants me to tell my story of the DRC all over again. The story prayer and miracles. Does prayer work? Do miracles really happen?
First hand experience tells me that both prayer works and miracles happen. Do they happen how we want them to? Not always. In fact, sometimes it looks like nothing is happening at all. Why pray when you don't see results? Why? Prayer is connection. Connection with our Creator. It is like picking up our cell phone and having a direct connection to the One who loves us.
Living in our little room in the DRC, I found this connection to be an important part of my day. It was essential. Now that I am back, I feel that it is still essential, but now it can get lost in the minutia of the day. I find that I am having to sneak it in, rather than making it a purposeful part of my day. Perhaps that what having 3 year olds does to you. Perhaps, I am just lazy and feel comfortable in my big elaborate home. Honestly, I know I need it. I feel more likely to get frustrated by the little things.
Okay, God, put me back in the box please. Let me feel the squeeze of the box so I can realize that there is more than me. Challenge me daily so I grow. Let me learn just like my girls are learning English; trial and error. Much more trial would be better though. Just like my girls constantly asking what something is, God let me ask more of you so that you can ask more of me.
Finishing for today, I am struck by how God can open our eyes to things we have not seen before. As I was preparing for my youth sermon, I wanted to look at the passage where God to me no more delay. As I was writing this I looked down and saw Ezekiel 12. I never read the beginning when I was in the DRC. What does it talk about? Exile!! Packing up for God. I have a feeling that this is about to become epic. I have a feeling that this journey is not done. Perhaps we have just begun.
Let me tell you of my current struggle. I want to be in the box again. We have returned to the land of too much, and I am struggling with this. I look around our home and I find things that can either be given away or tossed. Don't get me wrong, I still feel materialistic, but something has changed. Where I used to see happiness in something new, I now see excess and the eventual filling of the trashcan.
I recently received a gift card from my mother in law for my belated birthday, and now I want to spend it. The real question comes down to how I spend it. What do I want? What do I need? Do I need anything at all? I am now confronted with a real life decision. What do I do with my excess?
I really do miss the box we lived in. It was so simple. Life was simple. I want to keep that perspective. Preparing for my youth group tonight, I realized that God wants me to tell my story of the DRC all over again. The story prayer and miracles. Does prayer work? Do miracles really happen?
First hand experience tells me that both prayer works and miracles happen. Do they happen how we want them to? Not always. In fact, sometimes it looks like nothing is happening at all. Why pray when you don't see results? Why? Prayer is connection. Connection with our Creator. It is like picking up our cell phone and having a direct connection to the One who loves us.
Living in our little room in the DRC, I found this connection to be an important part of my day. It was essential. Now that I am back, I feel that it is still essential, but now it can get lost in the minutia of the day. I find that I am having to sneak it in, rather than making it a purposeful part of my day. Perhaps that what having 3 year olds does to you. Perhaps, I am just lazy and feel comfortable in my big elaborate home. Honestly, I know I need it. I feel more likely to get frustrated by the little things.
Okay, God, put me back in the box please. Let me feel the squeeze of the box so I can realize that there is more than me. Challenge me daily so I grow. Let me learn just like my girls are learning English; trial and error. Much more trial would be better though. Just like my girls constantly asking what something is, God let me ask more of you so that you can ask more of me.
Finishing for today, I am struck by how God can open our eyes to things we have not seen before. As I was preparing for my youth sermon, I wanted to look at the passage where God to me no more delay. As I was writing this I looked down and saw Ezekiel 12. I never read the beginning when I was in the DRC. What does it talk about? Exile!! Packing up for God. I have a feeling that this is about to become epic. I have a feeling that this journey is not done. Perhaps we have just begun.
Oooh, cool. I can't wait to see what God is doing!
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