Saturday, August 31, 2013
Prayers that Avail Much
Children standing in a large circle holding hands and singing songs in both Swahili and English... "Ni wewe, ni wewe bwana, ni wewe, ni wewe bwana..." Probably my most favorite song to hear them sing in the devotions circle. Picture that same circle with the children reciting memory verses, reading passages of scripture and explaining what they believe that passage is teaching them, and then those same children fearlessly offering prayers that come straight from their hearts. Pure and unselfish prayers. Can you just imagine how different the world and our circumstances would be if we only had the courage to pray such prayers?
Praying is nothing to be taken lightly. It is serious business. Whether the prayers be for forgiveness, intercession, thanksgiving, they are a time of deep communication with the One who has all of the answers we are seeking. Am I saying that you will always get the answer that you are seeking? Nope not at all. I can tell you several stories of prayers that I have prayed that have been answered, just not in the way that I thought they were going to be answered.
Have you ever listened to a child pray? If not, then I encourage you to listen to them. They are some of the sweetest prayer people ever. They pray with innocence. I can remember in Sunday school listening to a little girl praying for her family because they left the keys in the house and they were locked out. She prayed for them to always remember where they keys were. Innocent.. There were no strings attached. She just prayed about what was on her heart and in her mind to pray. They pray with a pure heart. They aren't jaded by the circumstances of the world. They aren't so filled with negativity that they can't see past their own noses. I have listened to countless children pray while here in Kenya. They pray with such gusto and passion. They are bold in their requests. They pray for those who are sick and hurting. They pray for their families. They pray for each other. They pray for the nation of Kenya. They pray with reckless abandon. They leave everything they have in their hearts in the hands of God, because they know that without Him, they are going to be in trouble.
What do you pray for when you pray? Are you praying dangerous prayers? Are your prayers safe and easy? I have noticed that as of late my prayers have changed dramatically. I am not praying the same safe and easy prayers I have prayed in the past. They have become much more bold. I have been praying for direction in regards to a longer term trip back to Kenya in less than four months after I return from the first trip here. I have been praying bolder prayers in regards to my relationship with a certain Kenya missionary. I have been praying prayers from a hurting heart for a group of children that need all of the prayers we can send their way. I have been praying most recently for children that don't have a safe place to sleep, enough food to eat, people that look out for their well being... Children that are just waiting for someone to step up and take a chance and sponsor them. Children that are waiting to get out of their current situation and have a chance at getting an education and changing their circumstances from dismal to hopeful.
Tonight my heart is full of things that need prayer. Want to know how you can pray? Here let me give you a list:
a. Pray for the children that are still waiting for sponsors to get them into the orphanage and out of the slums
b. Pray for the children in the orphanage. Pray for their house parents. Pray for the new girls that just arrived. Pray that they will adjust to their new living arrangements easily.
c. Pray for the teachers and staff at Seeds Academy.
d. Pray for the health of all those involved in the ministry here in Kenya.
e. Pray for two little girls in Eldoret that just witnessed their mother kill their father and were taken into the orphanage there.
Those are just some of the things on my heart. Many of the things that are on my heart I can't share with you. But you can still pray... God knows what is on my heart!
I encourage you to continue to pray and to pray bold prayers that don't hold anything back. Prayers that avail much... Wouldn't it be great to get to share testimonies about how we prayed these bold prayers and then marveled at what God did because of them? I look forward to sharing more of the stories from the things I have experienced here in Kenya!
Until next time!
Melody
Sunday, August 25, 2013
Reckless Abandon
What comes to your mind when I say the phrase reckless abandon? A car crash being left by the one who caused the problem? A child being left carelessly on the side of the road? I am just about certain that you aren't going to get a picture of what I am going to describe to you in just a few minutes.
Consider the following definitions:
Reckless:
without thought of danger
utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action
Abandon:
exuberantly excited
Perhaps you thought of the same meanings when I first mentioned the words, but even I was surprised at the definition for abandon. Exuberantly excited... That's pretty excited. I am picturing a child on Christmas morning, a girl getting engaged... lots of moments that would potentially lead a person to being exuberantly excited.
Now try to get in your mind's eye a picture of a person who could be described as one of reckless abandon. A girl is getting on a airplane with three suitcases of clothes, supplies, and other things she might need, a backpack and a large bag with other essential items. She leaves behind some family members, tons of friends, and a church family that means the world to her. At the end of her journey waits a man that less than a year ago was little more than a stranger to her and now he means the world to her. She quit a good paying job, sold her car and few possessions, and is now headed 9,000 miles away from home to live out the calling that God has on her life. What do you think? Is she crazy/ Has she lost her mind? Honestly what do you think about her choices? Going to live in a third world country relying on the kindness of people she barely knows to take care of her. I guess to some it must sound a bit extreme and radical even, and to others, nothing more than the normal expected behavior. Did she become a person of reckless abandon? I think so.
The girl had a choice to make. She could stay at home working in her comfortable job doing what she liked to do, or she could take a step of faith and follow what God is asking of her. She chose to make that step of faith and in the process is finding more and more blessings are coming her way. Going and serving the Lord doesn't require such extreme things of everyone. Some people aren't being called to the farthest reaches of the globe, they are being called to serve right in their own backyards. You don't have to go all around the world to serve the Lord with reckless abandon. You can be exuberantly excited in the work He has for you right at home.
Consider two stories from scripture. The first is found in Mark 14. It is the story of the lady with the alabaster jar. It was filled with expensive oil that could have been sold and provided for her family for a long time. She didn't consider the consequences. She only wanted to give her best to the Lord and she broke the jar and anointed him that oil. She didn't do it for the glory of being seen doing it. She did it because it was the best should could do for Him. She was most certainly a woman of reckless abandon. The second story I want you to consider is that of Ruth and Naomi found in Ruth 1. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were recent widows. Naomi told the women to go back to their people. The first daughter-in-law did just that. Ruth however says this "Wherever you go I will go, wherever you stay I will stay, your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die I shall die..." I don't know that I would have been willing to have said these things in this situation. Ruth was another woman of reckless abandon. Not thinking about the consequences of going to a foreign land, she quickly agreed to stay with her mother-in-law, and in the end was blessed abundantly for her choices.
For those of you that know me best, you will see the similarity in this story and the one of my own that is currently being written during my time here in Kenya. While some of it has yet to come true other parts of the story are all too familiar. The things that I know right now are that Kenya is becoming more and more like home every day and I am growing closer day by day with the children and with that special missionary I have been blessed to call my boyfriend for the last (almost) two months. I want to be this woman of reckless abandon. I want to be so exuberantly excited about the path that God is walking me down that I don't stop to consider the consequences of my actions. I want to be so wholly wrapped up in Him that the consequences aren't a part of my thoughts because of my desire to be obedient.
Today, I challenge you to find ways to be a person of reckless abandon in the places where you are.
Until next time.
Melody
Consider the following definitions:
Reckless:
without thought of danger
utterly unconcerned about the consequences of some action
Abandon:
exuberantly excited
Perhaps you thought of the same meanings when I first mentioned the words, but even I was surprised at the definition for abandon. Exuberantly excited... That's pretty excited. I am picturing a child on Christmas morning, a girl getting engaged... lots of moments that would potentially lead a person to being exuberantly excited.
Now try to get in your mind's eye a picture of a person who could be described as one of reckless abandon. A girl is getting on a airplane with three suitcases of clothes, supplies, and other things she might need, a backpack and a large bag with other essential items. She leaves behind some family members, tons of friends, and a church family that means the world to her. At the end of her journey waits a man that less than a year ago was little more than a stranger to her and now he means the world to her. She quit a good paying job, sold her car and few possessions, and is now headed 9,000 miles away from home to live out the calling that God has on her life. What do you think? Is she crazy/ Has she lost her mind? Honestly what do you think about her choices? Going to live in a third world country relying on the kindness of people she barely knows to take care of her. I guess to some it must sound a bit extreme and radical even, and to others, nothing more than the normal expected behavior. Did she become a person of reckless abandon? I think so.
The girl had a choice to make. She could stay at home working in her comfortable job doing what she liked to do, or she could take a step of faith and follow what God is asking of her. She chose to make that step of faith and in the process is finding more and more blessings are coming her way. Going and serving the Lord doesn't require such extreme things of everyone. Some people aren't being called to the farthest reaches of the globe, they are being called to serve right in their own backyards. You don't have to go all around the world to serve the Lord with reckless abandon. You can be exuberantly excited in the work He has for you right at home.
Consider two stories from scripture. The first is found in Mark 14. It is the story of the lady with the alabaster jar. It was filled with expensive oil that could have been sold and provided for her family for a long time. She didn't consider the consequences. She only wanted to give her best to the Lord and she broke the jar and anointed him that oil. She didn't do it for the glory of being seen doing it. She did it because it was the best should could do for Him. She was most certainly a woman of reckless abandon. The second story I want you to consider is that of Ruth and Naomi found in Ruth 1. Naomi and her two daughters-in-law were recent widows. Naomi told the women to go back to their people. The first daughter-in-law did just that. Ruth however says this "Wherever you go I will go, wherever you stay I will stay, your people shall be my people and your God shall be my God. Where you die I shall die..." I don't know that I would have been willing to have said these things in this situation. Ruth was another woman of reckless abandon. Not thinking about the consequences of going to a foreign land, she quickly agreed to stay with her mother-in-law, and in the end was blessed abundantly for her choices.
For those of you that know me best, you will see the similarity in this story and the one of my own that is currently being written during my time here in Kenya. While some of it has yet to come true other parts of the story are all too familiar. The things that I know right now are that Kenya is becoming more and more like home every day and I am growing closer day by day with the children and with that special missionary I have been blessed to call my boyfriend for the last (almost) two months. I want to be this woman of reckless abandon. I want to be so exuberantly excited about the path that God is walking me down that I don't stop to consider the consequences of my actions. I want to be so wholly wrapped up in Him that the consequences aren't a part of my thoughts because of my desire to be obedient.
Today, I challenge you to find ways to be a person of reckless abandon in the places where you are.
Until next time.
Melody
Treaures
See if you can picture this...
A dull brown wooden chest with a rusted iron lock..
Would you be tempted to look inside? Or would you just pass it up because what you see on the outside doesn't pull you in for a closer look?
Now picture this...
The lid to the chest is being opened and inside you see glittering gold coins, sparkling jewels gold bars... TREASURE...
The outside appearance of the chest didn't give you any clues as to what might lie inside waiting on you. However, you had to take a chance that what you might find would be worth the time and effort you put into it.
Treasure... such an interesting word. It is something that we hold on to because we believe it has high value. Expensive cars, huge houses, designer clothes, bigger and better electronics, flashy jewelry...High value items according to society's standards. Not, however, what I would consider to be treasure.
Treasures are things that are irreplaceable. They don't have monetary value necessarily, but their worth goes beyond what we could fathom in the way of monetary worth. Smiles from children, their hugs, their laughter, meaningful relationships with people, family, friends, salvation, experiences, once in a lifetime opportunities... those are just some of the things that I believe would be much more worthy of the title treasure.
Scripture says in Deuteronomy 26:18 " And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised and that you are to keep all his commands." A promise to the Israelites from the Old Testament, but no less applicable to us. God view us as His treasured possession. Isn't that an amazing promise? I rejoice in that knowledge. God treasures me. How much more meaningful would relationships with other people be if we treated them as if we treasured them? How much more effective would ministry be if we treasured people and not what they are able to do for us or the ministry?
While being here in Kenya, I have seen things that I can never unsee. I have heard things I can never unhear. I have smelled things I can never unsmell, and yet in all of that I treasure those memories. You can't buy experiences like this. In my children's Bible storybook, I have lots of little pieces of paper with notes and pictures on them. I will keep them there for a long as I can. They are special notes and pictures written and drawn out of love and to me that is absolutely irreplaceable.
I am a blessed woman indeed.I have a boyfriend that loves and cares for me. I have a group of children that call me mom. I have been in Kenya for almost two months now and still have another month to go before I have to leave to go home. Today as I sit here writing this blog, I can't even begin to count the memories that have been made here in Kenya that will forever be treasured gems in my memory. I can't even begin to write out all of the stories of the times that I have felt the arms of a child wrap around me and pull me down close to them to hear their stories, dry their tears, listen to their secrets, and hear sweet loving words from them to me. Today I ask of you only this, consider what you treasure most and whether or not moths and rust can destroy it. I leave you with this Matthew 6:19-21 " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust destroy. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is there your heart will be also."
Scripture says in Deuteronomy 26:18 " And the Lord has declared this day that you are his people, his treasured possession as he promised and that you are to keep all his commands." A promise to the Israelites from the Old Testament, but no less applicable to us. God view us as His treasured possession. Isn't that an amazing promise? I rejoice in that knowledge. God treasures me. How much more meaningful would relationships with other people be if we treated them as if we treasured them? How much more effective would ministry be if we treasured people and not what they are able to do for us or the ministry?
While being here in Kenya, I have seen things that I can never unsee. I have heard things I can never unhear. I have smelled things I can never unsmell, and yet in all of that I treasure those memories. You can't buy experiences like this. In my children's Bible storybook, I have lots of little pieces of paper with notes and pictures on them. I will keep them there for a long as I can. They are special notes and pictures written and drawn out of love and to me that is absolutely irreplaceable.
I am a blessed woman indeed.I have a boyfriend that loves and cares for me. I have a group of children that call me mom. I have been in Kenya for almost two months now and still have another month to go before I have to leave to go home. Today as I sit here writing this blog, I can't even begin to count the memories that have been made here in Kenya that will forever be treasured gems in my memory. I can't even begin to write out all of the stories of the times that I have felt the arms of a child wrap around me and pull me down close to them to hear their stories, dry their tears, listen to their secrets, and hear sweet loving words from them to me. Today I ask of you only this, consider what you treasure most and whether or not moths and rust can destroy it. I leave you with this Matthew 6:19-21 " Do not store up for yourselves treasures on Earth where moth and rust destroy. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where moths and rust do not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where you treasure is there your heart will be also."
Sunday, August 18, 2013
If Home is Where Your Heart is...
We have all heard the popular saying, "Home is where your heart is." I have most certainly found this to be true in my everyday life. My heart at one time was with a bunch of rowdy preschoolers in a small classroom in the middle of downtown Longview, Texas. My heart was with my mom and my dad and my grandparents and my family of friends, and so many other familiar things found only in the United States.
I love being a preschool teacher. I love working in Longview, Texas. I loved my mom, my dad, my grandparents. I love my friends. I love Chick-fil-A, KVNE, sweet tea, lemonade, salad, laundry that is dry in less than three days, the mall, scented laundry detergent and fabric softener, electricity that works 98% of the time without fail, fast wifi connection speeds, The Church at West Mountain, and oh how this list could go on and on. I love these things, you're right about that, I do love them. However, my question is now this; what if loving these things is keeping me from achieving greater things? What if I held on so tightly to these things that I can't grab on to the things God is offering to me?
I am here tonight thinking about this saying and how different my perspective has become as I have been here in Kenya. Home is where the heart is, I can't argue with that statement. I can only find myself questioning. What makes a place your home? Is it the people you share it with? Is it the experiences you have there? Is it a feeling that you belong and have a purpose in being there? All of these things are true about a place feeling like home. Have you ever walked in a church and just instantly felt that peace and comfort come over you? That is how I feel every time I walk in The Church at West Mountain. I feel comfortable and safe there. I feel happy and overwhelmed and excited and loved. What is it about a place that draws your heart there and makes it feel like it belongs? Is it the people? A scent or something else that triggers fond memories? My heart is being drawn in new and amazing ways. The longer I am here, the more certain I become that my heart is being drawn to this country and these people for a reason. A reason bigger than I can fully comprehend at this point in time. For now the question becomes, what am I going to do with what I can comprehend? To sit and do nothing would be an absolute waste of the potential God has placed within me. To act on what i can comprehend is going to require an enormous step of faith.
God has chosen me to be here at this time to fulfill His purpose for me. Whatever this season of life holds for me, I don't want to be held back because I am clinging too tightly to the things that are familiar. Do I miss things about being at home? You bet. I miss fellowship with my church family. I miss playing my flute. I miss hanging out with my friends. I miss seeing my friends' precious little ones that won't be so little when I get home. I miss laundry that is dry the same day you wash it. I miss having a grill in the backyard. I miss starry night skies (it has been cloudy every night I have attempted to go and look at the stars so far here in Kenya). Please hear my heart when I say this, as much as I miss those things, I am ready to give them up for the chance at experiencing God's best for my life. Yes, you heard me correctly. I am ready and willing to give up everything that is familiar to me and journey forward into this new phase of life and a new place to call home. This is a scary and uncertain place for me at this point in time. I've not been so bold as to admit this is what I am thinking to anyone other than that one special guy that God has chosen to bless me with as well. He is the one that knows my heart and understands how I really feel about all of this. The reason he knows and understands so well is because he feels the exact same way. Don't sit there and assume that he is the only reason I am feeling the way I am. He isn't the main reason I feel this way. The people here in Kenya have affected me forever. They have changed my perspective on a lot of things and there is no going back to old ways of thinking.
So if home is where you heart is, then where do you call home? The truth of it is this, no matter where we call home, the people we share it with and the experiences we have there together are what make it special. Take some time today to think about where your heart is and if that is truly the place that God has called you to be about His business. Because if you really stop and think about it, our hearts should be focused on Heaven and making sure that people around us know about the saving love of a Father that wants to see us one day when we finally make it home where we belong.
Hug someone special and make some memories with them! I know that is what I am going to be doing for the next month and a half, until my time is up here for this season and I return to the United States to begin the next phase of my journey.
Until next time,
Melody
I love being a preschool teacher. I love working in Longview, Texas. I loved my mom, my dad, my grandparents. I love my friends. I love Chick-fil-A, KVNE, sweet tea, lemonade, salad, laundry that is dry in less than three days, the mall, scented laundry detergent and fabric softener, electricity that works 98% of the time without fail, fast wifi connection speeds, The Church at West Mountain, and oh how this list could go on and on. I love these things, you're right about that, I do love them. However, my question is now this; what if loving these things is keeping me from achieving greater things? What if I held on so tightly to these things that I can't grab on to the things God is offering to me?
I am here tonight thinking about this saying and how different my perspective has become as I have been here in Kenya. Home is where the heart is, I can't argue with that statement. I can only find myself questioning. What makes a place your home? Is it the people you share it with? Is it the experiences you have there? Is it a feeling that you belong and have a purpose in being there? All of these things are true about a place feeling like home. Have you ever walked in a church and just instantly felt that peace and comfort come over you? That is how I feel every time I walk in The Church at West Mountain. I feel comfortable and safe there. I feel happy and overwhelmed and excited and loved. What is it about a place that draws your heart there and makes it feel like it belongs? Is it the people? A scent or something else that triggers fond memories? My heart is being drawn in new and amazing ways. The longer I am here, the more certain I become that my heart is being drawn to this country and these people for a reason. A reason bigger than I can fully comprehend at this point in time. For now the question becomes, what am I going to do with what I can comprehend? To sit and do nothing would be an absolute waste of the potential God has placed within me. To act on what i can comprehend is going to require an enormous step of faith.
God has chosen me to be here at this time to fulfill His purpose for me. Whatever this season of life holds for me, I don't want to be held back because I am clinging too tightly to the things that are familiar. Do I miss things about being at home? You bet. I miss fellowship with my church family. I miss playing my flute. I miss hanging out with my friends. I miss seeing my friends' precious little ones that won't be so little when I get home. I miss laundry that is dry the same day you wash it. I miss having a grill in the backyard. I miss starry night skies (it has been cloudy every night I have attempted to go and look at the stars so far here in Kenya). Please hear my heart when I say this, as much as I miss those things, I am ready to give them up for the chance at experiencing God's best for my life. Yes, you heard me correctly. I am ready and willing to give up everything that is familiar to me and journey forward into this new phase of life and a new place to call home. This is a scary and uncertain place for me at this point in time. I've not been so bold as to admit this is what I am thinking to anyone other than that one special guy that God has chosen to bless me with as well. He is the one that knows my heart and understands how I really feel about all of this. The reason he knows and understands so well is because he feels the exact same way. Don't sit there and assume that he is the only reason I am feeling the way I am. He isn't the main reason I feel this way. The people here in Kenya have affected me forever. They have changed my perspective on a lot of things and there is no going back to old ways of thinking.
So if home is where you heart is, then where do you call home? The truth of it is this, no matter where we call home, the people we share it with and the experiences we have there together are what make it special. Take some time today to think about where your heart is and if that is truly the place that God has called you to be about His business. Because if you really stop and think about it, our hearts should be focused on Heaven and making sure that people around us know about the saving love of a Father that wants to see us one day when we finally make it home where we belong.
Hug someone special and make some memories with them! I know that is what I am going to be doing for the next month and a half, until my time is up here for this season and I return to the United States to begin the next phase of my journey.
Until next time,
Melody
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Need
"And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19
"Mom, I need..." Can't you just hear a child offering up this sentence in regards to the latest video game, electronic device, cell phone, toy, shoes, backpack, and the list could go on for eternity. I NEED a new house, a new car, a new purse, new shoes, a new boat, a new gun, a new _______. We, as Americans, have confused what we need with what we want or feel we deserve. You can't turn on the television without being bombarded with commercials advertising the latest and greatest product that you'll ever need. Black Friday, after holiday sales, holiday sales, promotions, all of them used to convince us that we need to buy this, that, or the other.
Consider this... What do we really, REALLY need? We need food, shelter, water, clothing, and to feel safe and secure. Those are the most basic items that are needed for us to survive. We WANT nice clothes, a nice house, a nice car, gourmet food, and so on.
Hear my heart this morning please. We are blessed to have been born in America. We are offered chances and things people around the world would kill to have. God chose for us to be born Americans. There is purpose there. We have to be willing to embrace that purpose and utilize what we have for the furthering of what God has called us to do. Has God supplied all your needs? Do you have a house? Do you have clothes? Do you have food? Do you have more than you asked for?
This morning, as I am preparing to head to church with some of the most giving and thankful people I know, I am pondering this question. What do I really need? Here is what I have come up with so far. I need the children here in Kenya. I need to be in their presence. I need to hear their stories. I need to feel their arms wrapped around me. I need to hear their voices as they sing. I need all of that and more.
The children here are precious. I know I have said that on more than one occasion. It is the absolute truth. Many of you know that I have been having to stay at home for the last several days because I have been quite sick. It has not been the most fun experience of my life, but it was needed. I needed to rest. I needed to recharge. I needed to regain the perspective I had when I first arrived in Kenya. Friday afternoon, I was finally able to go see my kids at the orphanage. As soon as we pulled up, two girls were ready to run to the car to open my door. I was greeted with hugs and words too precious to repeat. Those words were for me from children who were speaking what God had undoubtedly put in their hearts to tell me. Tears threatened to fall. I was overjoyed and overwhelmed all at the same time.
As much as I need from these children, they need the same things right back from me. They need my presence. They need me to listen. They need me to pray. They need me to hug them. They need me to sing with them and for them. They need me. Some days they just need a smile. Other days they need me to comfort them. The point is that I've got to be there for them.
Today the question I pose to you is this, what does God need for you to do with what you have where you are? What is it that you are being asked to do for someone else? I encourage you to take a little time and just look around you, I mean really look. Look beyond what someone says and listen for what they need from you. You might just be surprised at the answer.
Until next time,
Melody
"Mom, I need..." Can't you just hear a child offering up this sentence in regards to the latest video game, electronic device, cell phone, toy, shoes, backpack, and the list could go on for eternity. I NEED a new house, a new car, a new purse, new shoes, a new boat, a new gun, a new _______. We, as Americans, have confused what we need with what we want or feel we deserve. You can't turn on the television without being bombarded with commercials advertising the latest and greatest product that you'll ever need. Black Friday, after holiday sales, holiday sales, promotions, all of them used to convince us that we need to buy this, that, or the other.
Consider this... What do we really, REALLY need? We need food, shelter, water, clothing, and to feel safe and secure. Those are the most basic items that are needed for us to survive. We WANT nice clothes, a nice house, a nice car, gourmet food, and so on.
Hear my heart this morning please. We are blessed to have been born in America. We are offered chances and things people around the world would kill to have. God chose for us to be born Americans. There is purpose there. We have to be willing to embrace that purpose and utilize what we have for the furthering of what God has called us to do. Has God supplied all your needs? Do you have a house? Do you have clothes? Do you have food? Do you have more than you asked for?
This morning, as I am preparing to head to church with some of the most giving and thankful people I know, I am pondering this question. What do I really need? Here is what I have come up with so far. I need the children here in Kenya. I need to be in their presence. I need to hear their stories. I need to feel their arms wrapped around me. I need to hear their voices as they sing. I need all of that and more.
The children here are precious. I know I have said that on more than one occasion. It is the absolute truth. Many of you know that I have been having to stay at home for the last several days because I have been quite sick. It has not been the most fun experience of my life, but it was needed. I needed to rest. I needed to recharge. I needed to regain the perspective I had when I first arrived in Kenya. Friday afternoon, I was finally able to go see my kids at the orphanage. As soon as we pulled up, two girls were ready to run to the car to open my door. I was greeted with hugs and words too precious to repeat. Those words were for me from children who were speaking what God had undoubtedly put in their hearts to tell me. Tears threatened to fall. I was overjoyed and overwhelmed all at the same time.
As much as I need from these children, they need the same things right back from me. They need my presence. They need me to listen. They need me to pray. They need me to hug them. They need me to sing with them and for them. They need me. Some days they just need a smile. Other days they need me to comfort them. The point is that I've got to be there for them.
Today the question I pose to you is this, what does God need for you to do with what you have where you are? What is it that you are being asked to do for someone else? I encourage you to take a little time and just look around you, I mean really look. Look beyond what someone says and listen for what they need from you. You might just be surprised at the answer.
Until next time,
Melody
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
The Place of Highest Honor
Try to get a picture in your mind of what I am about to describe to you. Two or three somewhat rickety wooden tables, lined up in front of three or four wooden benches, covered in pale blue cotton table cloths; Couches and plastic chairs covered in white doilies. Kenyan hospitality at its finest. Seats of highest honor. Guests are treated as royalty in a sense. You are offered the best seats they have to offer, the nicest meal they can prepare for you, anything at all that they think is the best that they can give you. How do you suppose it would impact our ability to minister to people if we treated them like this? What would happen if we offered our very best to others instead of our castoffs or leftovers? I believe we could change the world one encounter at a time.
I propose, though, that there are seats of much higher honor to be had. Take for example last week's closing ceremony with the team from Colorado. There were countless places to sit. On the benches next to Jim. On the window sill by the kids. In the kitchen with Ms. June and others. Where was I sitting? Nowhere near any of them. I found a spot on the floor just in front of some of the smallest children. I was sitting in the middle of a dirt floor with 300 plus children around me. Teachers offered me a chair, a bench, anything but the floor. I was perfectly content to be sitting on the floor surrounded by little ones. I even had one in my lap sleeping peacefully and soundly throughout the entire ceremony. I was most surprised by the fact that some people had looks of annoyance or even disdain on their faces. I wasn't behaving like a normal white person. I should have been in what they deemed to be the place of highest honor.
Being surrounded by children, for me, was a seat of more honor than the finest chair covered in the finest cloth. Children are quite discerning when it comes to people. They know who is being sincere and who is just giving them lip service. For my lap, arms, and legs to be covered in children speaks to the fact that they know that I am here to love them for as long as I am in Kenya. Beyond that, each of them at different times needs something different from you. Some days it is a hug. Other days they need you to listen to them, I mean really listen to them. And on other days they just need to be close to you for as long as it takes for them to feel safe, secure, and loved. Jesus didn't command us to go out and sit in places of honor. Jesus commanded us to go out and share His love with the masses. You can shout and scream all you want, but until you are willing to get your hands in the big middle of something and develop real relationships with people, all your shouting and screaming isn't going to do you a bit of good. Make your interactions with people count. Do something more with an encounter than just let it pass you by.
Today, what do you suppose would happen if you took the time to just notice someone? What do you think would happen if you were to be Jesus with skin on and love on someone who needs it today? I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be here in this time for these days to have these experiences. The children and people of Kenya have changed my life immeasurably and will continue to do so until I leave to come home.
Until next time
~Melody~
I propose, though, that there are seats of much higher honor to be had. Take for example last week's closing ceremony with the team from Colorado. There were countless places to sit. On the benches next to Jim. On the window sill by the kids. In the kitchen with Ms. June and others. Where was I sitting? Nowhere near any of them. I found a spot on the floor just in front of some of the smallest children. I was sitting in the middle of a dirt floor with 300 plus children around me. Teachers offered me a chair, a bench, anything but the floor. I was perfectly content to be sitting on the floor surrounded by little ones. I even had one in my lap sleeping peacefully and soundly throughout the entire ceremony. I was most surprised by the fact that some people had looks of annoyance or even disdain on their faces. I wasn't behaving like a normal white person. I should have been in what they deemed to be the place of highest honor.
Being surrounded by children, for me, was a seat of more honor than the finest chair covered in the finest cloth. Children are quite discerning when it comes to people. They know who is being sincere and who is just giving them lip service. For my lap, arms, and legs to be covered in children speaks to the fact that they know that I am here to love them for as long as I am in Kenya. Beyond that, each of them at different times needs something different from you. Some days it is a hug. Other days they need you to listen to them, I mean really listen to them. And on other days they just need to be close to you for as long as it takes for them to feel safe, secure, and loved. Jesus didn't command us to go out and sit in places of honor. Jesus commanded us to go out and share His love with the masses. You can shout and scream all you want, but until you are willing to get your hands in the big middle of something and develop real relationships with people, all your shouting and screaming isn't going to do you a bit of good. Make your interactions with people count. Do something more with an encounter than just let it pass you by.
Today, what do you suppose would happen if you took the time to just notice someone? What do you think would happen if you were to be Jesus with skin on and love on someone who needs it today? I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be here in this time for these days to have these experiences. The children and people of Kenya have changed my life immeasurably and will continue to do so until I leave to come home.
Until next time
~Melody~
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Based on the fact that I have a background in theater, debate, and public speaking, I find it amazing that at times, I can't even find the words that I need to use to express what I am thinking or feeling. Tonight is just that kind of a night. There is a lot that I want to say to you, but it just isn't coming out the way that I want it to. Feelings are a hard thing to express in words for the most part though. Words are one dimensional and feelings aren't. Feelings are complex and often the words don't do them justice.
Can you remember a time that you were with someone who meant so much to you and then the time you had together suddenly came to an end? Do you remember how you felt? Imagine with me, if you will, being six years old. Remember that time? Full of hope, joy, love, exuberance, excitement, ideas, plans, and so much more?? Now, close your eyes... Okay we have been through this before... Don't really close them because then how would you be able to read what I am writing to you now... Imagine being a little kid who lives in an orphanage and all of a sudden there are people around that are paying attention to you and making you feel special. Now just as suddenly as they arrived, they are leaving. How do you think you would feel? Can you imagine those feelings?
For me the amount of imagination involved is relatively little. I have known the feelings of abandonment well. I have known feelings of rejection. I have known the feelings of loss and sorrow. It is hard for me to watch those feelings register on the faces of children. Tonight I am struggling myself as memories surface of times gone by, people that I wish were still around, voices that I can't quite remember, embraces that weren't nearly long enough, and the list could go on and on. I can all to clearly remember being six years old and wanting nothing more than for my daddy to notice me, to see me for who I was. When he did notice, I can recall feelings of joy, and when he didn't or he stopped, feelings of intense sorrow. My heart is just a bit heavy for the children that have grown so attached to the team that is in town now and leaving tomorrow. I know that they are resilient children and they will recover quickly, but it doesn't change the fact that I saw something register on the faces of the children in my lap tonight that I won't soon forget. It was a look that plainly said, "You have come and been with me, but why must you leave so soon? Did I do something to make you leave? Are you ever coming back? Will you think of me? Will you remember me?" For this girl, that was almost too much to take in.
Please hear my heart here. The team that has been here has been absolutely amazing. You can feel the love that they have for the children radiating from them. What I am coming to understand is that this is the reality for the children. Visitors come and visitors go. It is just a part of their lives. The thing that I think sticks out the most to me in this case is that there is a truth that is just waiting to be imparted to the children. The truth is this, visitors will come and leave; your parents and families won't be around forever. However, there is one "person" who will be with you in all situations. The only one who can be with you like this is God. He loves you. He has chosen you to be His child. That is special. That makes you special. God will be the one that will stick by your side closer than a brother. He is the one you can ALWAYS count on.
The reality of those statements needs to sink in more deeply every day. Identity can't be found in your family, social status, job, salary, marriage, friends, or any other material possession that you wish to put in this statement. It has to be found in Christ and the plans God has for your life. It's that plain and simple. While my reality tonight is that my heart is heavy for those children, the truth of the matter is this, I have to turn them over to God and pray that He will be their comfort, their source of strength, their EVERYTHING. Because in the end, He is the only one who can provide for all of their needs. I just pray that He allows me to be an instrument in that provision, and that while I am here, I can demonstrate that love and comfort to them.
Tomorrow begins another adventure in life in Kenya. I look forward to sharing more of the journey with you.
Until next time,
Melody
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)