So I have been here for two weeks now, and I feel like it has been a year. God is doing some really awesome things and I am so blessed to be a part of what he is doing here. I am learning a lot, and I feel like I am grasping the Spirit better and better which is fantastic! I hope to continue learning and growing in this practice, so that my life will be filled with obedience to His Spirit. I am sure God will continue to help me see and hopefully he will challenge me even more throughout the rest of my time here, as well as throughout the rest of my life.
Two things that have been very beneficial to me are my time in solitude and in worship. I have been taking time every morning to read and pray and just wait on the Lord. I have been challenged to be purposeful in spending time doing nothing except trying to find God. It is interesting how he meets us and brings things to our minds when we purposefully don't do anything. I just reflect and ask God to give me more of Him and to draw me near to Him. It has been so life giving for me. Worship has been another thing. As I listen to the words and dwell on His faithfulness and goodness, I have found worship music has a whole new meaning. God is humbling me and giving me a desire for him like I have never experienced and I am so blessed to have had these times. The best part is too, that I am experiencing God in all sorts of ways with the community too, so I am being opened and challenged in many ways. I am very thankful.
I have also started working at the Friendship Center where we have summer activties for the kids. I am learning a lot about patience... I have been praying that God would break my heart for the kids and to allow me to understand them more, and just to allow me to love them greatly. It is tough when they are disrespectful and arrogant. I am struggling with loving them a lot, so I pray that you will pray for me in this area too. I need patience and love, and I really want to give my all to them in an authentic way, but they are just very difficult to deal with. I also have been trying to play basketball with some of the neighborhood, and I am finding some surprising things. I thought for sure that all the guys out there would give a hard time for people who are not that good, and that I would stick out so much and it would be difficult in the atmosphere that is there, but God is faithful even in that. They have been kind to me, and even when I miss a few shots they encourage me and I them. It is a really cool thing, because when I think of playing in the "hood," I think of ball hogs and people who are just too competitive for their own good. I am learning from all people in all their walks. It is truly profound how God is taking me on this journey to find His people who he loves, and to try and share him with them any way that I can. What a blessing and a purpose! I need to be very careful not to place people in boxes and judge them. I need to make sure I am seeing God's truth in all humanity. A calling much needed in my life.
Thank you for your time and energy spent praying. Praise be to God for this wonderful community and blessing! May peace and joy follow you throughout your days!
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