Taking Time #9: Sandwiches & Hatian smiles

But God's not finished. He's waiting around to be gracious to you. He's gathering strength to show mercy to you. God takes the time to do everything right—everything. Those who wait around for him are the lucky ones. -Isaiah 30:18

Take time. It's a phrase and reminder to me that I can hear my mom saying to me in the back of my mind. Take time. Take time to listen. Take time to be in the moment. 

Well, this is exactly what today consisted of: taking time. I was blessed to get to love on some beautiful children at Children Household of Tomorrow today. We made salvation bracelets--sharing the beautiful story of Jesus. The beads also were used for their hair. But beyond the activity, we were able to just be with the children--blessing them with peanut butter sandwiches, and singing songs. Personally, the Lord directed me to a beautiful girl named Mona Lisa and allowed me to teach some of the girls ballet. They taught me hand claps and blessed my heart with the gift of laughter.

I believe that we are given moments by Jesus to learn how to be. This, after all, was what he did best, wasn't it? He looked into a situation, a person's heart, and intervened immediately. I am learning more and more this is what love looks like. It enters immediately into a situation, but never ceases to be completely present. The children today reminded me of this.

We were also blessed to pray with our translator's friend, Emmanuel, who was sick. It was a beautiful time of being present and meeting a situation head on with prayer--trusting our sweet Jesus to intervene. As tears of gratefulness flowed down the cheeks of his face, we were reminded of the power of moving in the small is a move in the BIG--how nothing is small to Jesus.

It was a beautiful first day in Haiti and my heart looks forward to many more to come. Here's to taking time!

Taking Time #8: Meditate in Thankfulness

May each day be filled with a remembrance of a ray of sunshine that is scooped up and poured over every second of your life. May I remember the small things and rest in a place of thankfulness. As I continue to walk on this journey of faith and trying to "process" along the way, I am reminded of how precious and beautiful LIFE is! 

This past week, I was blessed and honored to attend CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans) Summit 8 in southern California. It was a trip filled with stories and thoughts about the crisis and call on the church's response to orphans. There were stories of neglected children in our backyard of America, as well as in war-torn inflicted third world nations. It always seems that the innocent are inflicted by the sins of others. As I began to process what was in front of me, I was astounded at how the weather in southern California didn't feel like California. It was cold and wet and cloudy. But as the conference went on and we got to the end of it, the sun started to peek through and it was a reminder to me.

Even though there are many who are suffering and there is deep darkness in the world, there is a God who is greater. His LIGHT is brighter and He is the HOPE of the nations. 

On Saturday, I was released from my routine to explore on my own. Fortunately, the Lord has blessed me with friends all over the world--including California! So, I not only got to spend the day and night with my 2 long-time friends, Lauren & Stephanie, but I also got to go to the beach. And guess what??? The sun came out! The birds flew overhead and the smell of salt and sand filled my lungs. As a girl from the coast, I had personally been having withdrawls from the ocean. But how sweet is our God? He heard my prayer and put a double-portion of blessing on me. I jumped in the water (as freezing cold as it was) and laughed and praised the Lord in His goodness.

So, as I'm now back in Nashville and am processing a bit more, I am reminded of how important it is that we all meditate and rest in thanking God for who He is and all that He's done!

May your days be filled with laughter and your heart be filled with JOY!