2 Corinthians 9:8 – And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
My Grace is sufficient. Sometimes we need to walk through the fire, but the LORD promises we will not be burned. Sometimes we pass through the waters, but He will be there with us. This is a BIG lesson in contentment. When this verse talks about always having all sufficiency in all things it is really referring to always having all contentment in all things.
This was the year of some significantly great events. Our Granddaughter, Hadasssah, was born. Zachery & Olivia’s wedding in Maryland and Bridal shower in Iowa were other special events. My teeth and jaw began giving me problems. Les and I ended up coming home to seek what might be going on with me, leaving Zachery & Olivia in Haiti.
Have you ever been somewhere and wondered if you would be more helpful elsewhere else?
It really was an overwhelming year with emotions up and down. I felt like I would be of more help for our daughter than I was able to be helpful in Haiti. Others seemed more qualified to do what I was doing in Haiti. What I viewed as a higher priority was not necessarily the LORD’s priority.
Zachery & Olivia were to be married, another special event. I found myself challenged in planning for their special event, especially while continuing ministry in Haiti.
Was I willing to be joyful and accepting the role I played in Haiti, no matter what it was? Would I take pleasure in being content where He had me? Would I display delight and pleasure and contentment always in all things. I knew the example I wanted to be to those around me. I remember prostrating myself many times before the LORD submitting my desires to His. After asking for the LORD’s help, He grace truly abounded toward me.
It took me a while to realize that these stresses weighing on me and were being expressed in my sleep at night. Why was my jaw involuntarily moving. How would I be able to teach Bible study with my jaw doing its new thing out of nowhere? To talk wore my jaw out, and I also felt self-contious.
Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
Fire is a wonderful picture of the work of the Holy Spirit. Spiritual fire is to cleanse and purify our emotions, mental state, and even our physical being. It is through the Holy Spirit that gives you inner strength and power in the inner man to go through these times.
God is faithful. He is faithful to be there with us through anything. PTL! We are not alone!
1 Samuel 12:24 – Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.
The Lord Knows. Wow, what a year! The Lord was on my side. It doesn’t matter what people are saying about you, He is for you. Everything has a purpose in life. All our efforts will bear fruit in His time. When at any breaking point in which we cannot see how to move another step, the LORD is there to help, if you call out to him. Again, I didn’t know I could be stretched like that. On the surface, looks can be deceiving, but a peek behind the scenes can show more about a situation.
When no translator is available and you put yourself on the front lines to teach an inductive, serious study to teens in another language, it takes leaning on the Lord to another different level. Whispers and other distractions of coming and going during a class can cause someone like me to wonder what is happening and where the respect is. Questions of why this behavior was happening weighed on me. I was feeling self-contious again. Was I saying something wrong? Was I not being understood? What were they trying to tell me? No matter what others may think of me, I had to trust that the Word of God being presented would not return void and that I was pressing on in the LORD. I knew He was on my side.
Publishing a book in another language you barely know can also be a very mind-numbing and a time-intensive job. A picture speaks a thousand words. I was informed that someone on the current team visiting was an artist. I Praise God for providing Dan LeBlanc, the artist to help illustrate health concepts for any reader to understand. Thank you, Dan LeBlanc. I was also in need of a translator, someone that knew medical terms. Even though Djoune Constant was super busy, she offered to help. Thank you, Djoune, for providing the correct creole in medical and health terminology to help translate for me. Read Hot Off the Presses.
Let us not be weary in well doing good: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. (Galatians 6:9)
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’ (Isaiah 41:10)
As long as I am presenting my body as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is my reasonable service, (Romans 12:1), His design and plan for me will not be thwarted. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
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