Perserverance

We have been reflecting on the last several years of our lives and can see how much God has changed us and is still working in us. So many things come to mind how the Lord is refining us for His Kingdom!

There are times of abundance and seemingly easy times but there are also times of lacking and hardship.

I still can't believe how we came to be here and how everything worked out for it to be so.

I've never witnessed so many personal miracles as I have being here and seeing other miracles for others too!

We also feel as if our lives have become a stage so to speak.

Many people are watching us to see what will happen, many are praying for our success at this mission venture, many just want to know what life is like, many love and care for us not liking the distance, and many are watching to see if God will take care of us, and others unfortunately, are watching to see if we fail.

I count this mission experience as nothing but growing more into Christ and letting Him change in us the things we need to let go of. Being willing to allow God to have control, being faithful to God, seeing all the blessings poured out for us, (not necessarily in wordly blessings) but in spiritual blessings.
Before I always thought I was letting the Lord have control but I started chalking up all the things I did because I wanted to and then would ask for His blessing.

How often did I really stop and prayerfully discern what God wanted me to do. Its easy to say our life is good when we are still doing everything that we want to or that we enjoy.

How about doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable or puts you in a position of being completely at the mercy of God. If not for our Lord we would not be making it here. Oh, sure we had the best laid plans of how things would work out but God has His own timing.

We can't always know or see what God has in store for us but He is in control and He will never leave us or forsake us.

Being willing to do God's work no matter where you are is what is important. Each person is so special to the Lord and we are all called for something different. God will see His ministries through no matter how we fumbly humans try to do things our way.

I love that we are together as a family and growing in this mission experience! No, not everything has gone according to our idea of a plan but I strongly believe they are going according to God's plan for us.

He wants each one of us to be fit for the Kingdom of heaven and only through refining our character will we achieve this. For it is only our character that will go with us, nothing else of this world.

Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: 
 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: 
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Matt. 6:19-21

No matter where this mission experience takes us or for how long we are thankful to the Lord for the many opportunies and blessings of being able to grow in Him!