Finding Love in .... an Amazing Place

Dr. Charles Stanley is quoted as saying,"Our willingness to wait reveals the value we place on the object we're waiting for."

Being willing to wait isn't something Americans are accustomed to. We don't have to wait to get home to call someone, we have a cell phone. We don't have to know how to look things up in a dictionary or an encyclopedia, we use the internet. We don't have to wait for a meal to be cooked on the stove or in the oven, we have the microwave. We don't have to wait for things anymore. It has just become the normal way of life. Waiting isn't fun. It isn't easy to be still and wait for those things that are the deepest desires of you heart. Trust me I know. I have been there and experienced it. 

Rushing through things is part of my norm I suppose. I am so used to having to rush from thing to thing from being so overly-scheduled. I am used to being busy from the time I get up to the time I lay back down at night. So for me this season of waiting has been particularly difficult. Even more so when it, at times, felt like I was completely alone in this whole waiting game. I know I wasn't really alone, but when you are the only single person in your group of friends, it has a tendency to make you feel that way. I knew that what I was waiting for was out there somewhere, but it seemed like just as I was getting close enough to reach out and grab onto it, it would suddenly become farther and farther away. That is until, I obeyed the call to come to Africa in July. 

Three months ago when I left America, I honestly had no idea how this trip was going to turn out. I got onto a plane and knew that once I landed I was going to stay until the end of August. I knew that I was going to meet a man that other people had told me was perfect for me. What I didn't know is that I was going to lose my heart in the process. I didn't really know that I was going to find once I landed in Kenya, but I knew that somewhere in the middle of all of this hopelessness, there was going to be something amazing waiting for me. Did I know that I would be coming home with an engagement ring and a promise of becoming Mrs. Jim Cooper shortly after I got home? Nope not at all what was on my agenda for this trip. It was on God's agenda. It is all falling into place just as He wants it to. 

The thing that still amazes me is that I can remember being about 12 years old at camp one summer and clearly hearing the voice of God telling me that I was going to be a missionary one day with my husband. I can also remember laughing and saying "No thanks, I like it in America just fine. Pick someone else." I dismissed it. I pushed it to the side and went on ahead with my own thoughts and dreams and plans. Now I am sitting here wondering, what if I had said yes to begin with. What would have happened then? Would Jim and I have met sooner, been together longer? I don't have an answer for those questions.

What I do know at this time is that God is taking things that were broken and messed up and turning them into something beautiful and usable for His purposes. Coming to Africa was the best decision of my life. In the midst of brokenness, hopelessness, and sadness, I have found love. More love than I can comprehend most days. I am learning more about love that I thought possible. 

My encouragement to you from Kenya for today, consider the things that you are waiting for and what value you place on them. If it is something you really, really value, you'll be willing to wait. And trust me on this one, waiting on God to bring you just the right thing at just the right time is ALWAYS worth it. What God brings to you will be by far better than anything you could wish or hope for and will most likely be more than what you could imagine!

~Melody~

Running to Your Arms

Somehow, I think I was given a rare opportunity to see something perhaps how God would view something. I know you must be thinking that I am just a bit crazy, but hear me out and then make your decision about what I am saying. 

Recently one of the girls at the orphanage discovered the song Forever Reign on my iPhone. She listened to it on repeat for as long as she could while I was out there visiting. The lyrics of the chorus began to get stuck in my head, and I could almost hear them in my sleep. 

"And oh I'm running to your arms, I'm running to your arms. 

The riches of your love will always be enough, 

Nothing compares to your embrace, 

Light of the World forever reign."

I love this song and probably love it even more now that I am seeing it through this new view. 

Yesterday afternoon, at the orphanage, one of the girls waved exuberantly from the window of the bus. She had a huge smile on her face, and you could tell she couldn't wait to get off of the bus. She is one of the new girls at the orphanage, and let me tell you she is just precious. I was standing by the bus door with Jim greeting the kids as they got off, and when it was her turn to finally get off the bus she came running out the door and into my arms ready for a tight hug and a quick greeting. She has one of the most beautiful smiles, I mean really, really beautiful. It is the kind of a smile that would melt the iciest of hearts. She repeated the smiling, running, and hugging gesture several times throughout the time we were there. Every time it was with the same exuberance of joy! In the middle of all of this, I hear a voice whispering to my heart, "Melody, this is what it looks like every time you turn to Me. Every time you pray, praise, sing, worship, this is how it is." WHOA! 

Can you just picture this with me? Every time we call on the Lord, it is like we are running into His arms once again. I imagine it to be even more joyful the first time that we truly run into His arms at the time of our salvation, but oh my what a picture this is, being warmly received into the arms of a loving Savior each and every time we call on Him. I am so thankful for the experiences I have had while being here in Kenya since the 30th of June. (Wow I can't believe it has been that long already. It seems like I just got here a day or two ago...) Getting to see this picture of how God sees us when we run to Him was just an amazing experience that I feel certain isn't really being adequately retold with just my words, but it's the best I've got at this point. I hope that perhaps today you will choose to run into His arms and experience the joy and love and peace that only comes from being in His presence. Enjoy your day and make the most of the experiences you have where you are with what you have doing what you can.

Until next time,

Melody