A time for refreshment.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1 ESV)



One of my favorite weeks of the entire year has come and gone, but not uneventfully. This last week was a time of spiritual refreshment. A time to celebrate, to remember, to share, and to love.

Monday started the week off with a bang! My roommate and I had the opportunity to share the story of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection with our language teacher, Usha. I shared in my last post about the missed opportunity, but God is faithful and provided another one for us. We asked if we could tell her the gospel in Nepali (to the best of our abilities). She listened intently as we talked about the nativity, helping us form sentences and giving us words we didn't know in Nepali. Then she sat in amazement as we talked about Jesus' miracles and the way he lived his life on earth. And she was on the edge of her seat, literally, as we shared about his arrest, imprisonment, judgment, sentence, and death. And relieved when he finally rose from the dead on that third day. It was an incredible time of remembrance for us. There were so many parts of the story we had forgotten, that we don't focus on in this season. And it reminded me of the true sacrifice it was to send Jesus here. And the incredible love story I am privileged and humbled to be a part of.

 

When explaining the Nativity story, we used our Nativity set to illustrate. And since there's no King Herod in a Nativity set, naturally we used a stuffed doll.

 

 

Next thing I knew, Christmas was here! We had a friend stay the night on Christmas Eve, and we woke up the next morning and got dressed in our saris (yay!). Then it was off to Nepali church! I had been working with some of the boys from the campus on a Christmas nativity drama, and Wednesday was the big day. We hurriedly dressed them, and waited outside the church for our cue. They entered, found there places, and began to depict the precious story of our Lord, come to earth. To say it went off without a hitch would be a lie...it was far from perfect. But in my eyes, and I know in the Lord's eyes, it shouldn't have happened any other way. They were so proud! And it was a great time of bonding for me and those boys.

They were a little anxious right before show-time...

 

And the Holy Spirit didn't stop working there...

Friday we held a bible study for the women who live at our campus. Kimberley, one of the missionaries on my team, gave a study on suffering. How God gives us trials for different reasons. What a great reminder. "Count it all JOY my brothers, when you face trials of various kinds" James 1:2. I know that in the trials I have faced so far, joy hasn't been my go to...and I'm sure it won't be my first instinct in the future. But I was reminded of a sovereign, loving God who always has the best planned for me. And my soul was refreshed.

Then came Saturday. Girls club. The HIGHLIGHT of my work here. I absolutely love getting the chance to pour into these girls. To teach them about Jesus, about the Bible, and about themselves. We learned about Ruth this last Saturday. How she trusted her heart to God. How God provided for her, because she was faithful and loyal, not only to Him but to Naomi. And how because her heart was sold out to Jesus, God brought the right man, Boaz, into Ruth's life at just the right time. As our activity, I encouraged the girls to write two letters, one to God and one to their future husbands. The latter resulted in hushed giggles. I told them it's important to communicate with God. Yes, He is omnipresent, and He already knows everything that is happening in your life. BUT He wants to hear it from YOU. That's part of being in a relationship. Communication. And the letter to their future husbands, which seemed like such a foreign concept to them, proved to be their favorite one! They wrote about their hopes and dreams, their lives now. How they are praying for their husbands even now, and their assurance that God has orchestrated their marriages. What a blessing these girls are to me.

Now that I have been gifted with a week of spiritual refreshment, God has given me another gift! An opportunity for physical refreshment. This Friday night I'm leaving to go to the Philippines and Thailand for 10 days. My roommate and I will meet up with her mom and spend time basking in God's creation. I wasn't expecting to have this kind of opportunity in my time spent in Nepal, but God had other plan in mind. I'm looking forward to warm weather, shower heads fixed to the wall, beaches, and STARBUCKS.

And I'm looking forward to the next lesson God has for me. Whatever it may be.

What is the point?

"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Romans 1:16 ESV)


Christmas time is upon us! This is my second favorite holiday ever, second only slightly to Easter.

It's strange celebrating Christmas in Nepal. My roommate and I decorated our flat to the nines...lights, ornaments, trees, stockings, beads. Everything needed to make it feel like I'm celebrating Christmas at home. And then I step outside, and it's just another day. No lights. No Christmas trees in the town square. No bustle of Christmas shoppers buying gifts last minute. No Christmas spirit.

Which makes me ask myself, what's the point? Why do we concern ourselves so much with decorations, presents, and atmosphere when that's not what it's all about? Now, I love Christmas. I would celebrate it all year long if I could (yes, I'm one of those Christmas-music-the-day-after-Halloween-is-ok kind of people). But if we striped away all the frivolities, go back to the core, would we still be as excited about the Christmas season?

This Wednesday during my language lesson I was telling my teacher, Usha, about Christmas. How we decorate, buy presents for each other, eat special foods, and spend time with loved ones. And the whole time, in the back of my mind, I couldn't help but think "none of this matters without Jesus."

Usha told me how her 12-year-old son LOVES Christmas. She's Hindu. So is he. But at school the teachers talk about Christmas as an American holiday. They even share the story of Jesus! She said that her son wants to celebrate Christmas so that he can get presents. But Usha said they won't be celebrating it this year. She "just doesn't understand the story of Jesus." What an opportunity God handed me. On a silver platter.

And what did I do?

I scooted around it. Pretended it wasn't happening. I told myself that I shouldn't offend her by talking about my relationship with Jesus.

So I didn't say anything. I just smiled politely and continued talking about my Christmas traditions.

I haven't stopped kicking myself. I am so ashamed and angry that I didn't talk about the ONE THING that matters most to me. The one thing that could save her life.

If nothing else, a seed of truth could have been planted in her heart. Maybe Jesus wouldn't be so confusing for her.

Since then, every time I spend time with God, I am convicted. Reminded of the incredible opportunity to change a life. How I skirted around it. How I was uncomfortable. Maybe it's my guilty conscious, or maybe it's God reminding me of the point of Christmas.

It's not the lights. It's not the gifts. It's not spending time with family that you haven't seen all year. Those things are nice, I get it. I love those things! But if that was all taken away. If all we were left with was the simple, yet complicated truth of the gospel...would I get as worked up about it? Would I want to celebrate Christmas as much, or as long?

I sure hope the answer would be yes.

This season has been one of realization for me. I have never been so effected by the birth of Jesus Christ as I have been here in Nepal. I have never wanted Christmas to be so much about HIM as I have this last month.

The point of Christmas is to give honor, glory, and praise due to God. To celebrate the beginning of a beautiful love story. The most beautiful of all time. The ultimate sacrifice, that we tend to sweep under the rug, and replace with failing, passing excitement. The love of THINGS, not the love of GOD.

And how that breaks my heart.

My roommate and I have resolved that tomorrow at my language lesson we are going to share the story of Jesus' birth with my teacher. How God loves us more than we could ever hope to fathom. How he gave up his son to a depraved world. To be mocked, scorned, and ultimately killed. All so we could know him. Have a RELATIONSHIP with him. And this is how it began. Jesus. Born in a manger. A humble life, a humble man, an incredible God.

At a time when I should be heart broken because I can't be home celebrating Christmas with my family, I am at peace. God is bringing me back to the REAL reason for the season. He is constantly reminding me of his affection for me, his ultimate provision, and his all encompassing sovereignty.

So today I am thankful for THE Jesus. Thankful for reality checks. For opportunities to talk about my incredible savior. To rest in the peace that God has to offer.

I am thankful that JESUS is the point.

Living simply, or simply living?

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful." (Colossians 3:14-15 ESV)


Today my rommie and I took a micro van to a town about an hour away. Our kaamko Didi (a sweet, elderly Christian lady who comes twice a week to do our laundry and wash our dishes) had invited us over for lunch. I absolutely love our Didi, she always has a smile on her face, and a song in her heart.

I knew that she lived in a small house, and didn't have much money. Her husband is a pastor, and his church can't support them financially. But I was quite surprised when I got there, to see the two of them living in the flat above the church they pastor, in a room that is smaller than my bedroom. It held their kitchen, a cabinet/dresser, an armoire, and two twin beds. She busily cooked us lunch, and she and her daughter served us rice, potatoes, beans, and spinach with paneer (a tofu-like cheese that I have a very hard time ingesting).

I kept thinking, "I wonder how they can live like this?" Truth is, they barely can. The can hardly afford to live there, but they trust in God to provide for them each step of the way. We laughed, chatted, and visited for 2 hours, and then we were on our way. And still, I couldn't shake it for some reason. Why do they seem so happy to live like that? Don't they know what they are missing?

Then this evening my roommate and I met up with three of our friends and we went to have devotions and dinner at the campus where I work. And Peter, one of the house-dads, gave a great lesson on burning your worldly desires. Being thankful for what you have, and placing your dreams at the foot of the cross.

As he continued in the lesson, I noticed something...he would always say "the Jesus." Honestly, I giggled at first. It was a funny English-as-a-second-language thing. But the more he said it, the more it resonated in my heart. THE Jesus. Not A Jesus. Not MY Jesus. But THE JESUS. He is the only one. The only God.

And again, that familiar tune of "He is enough" was sung to my heart.

Didi has that. She has THE Jesus.

I want that. I have MY Jesus. But I want him to be more than that to me. I want him to be THE Jesus.

To me, that means He trumps EVERYTHING in my life. I find COMPLETE satisfaction in Him. Being disappointed about missing this season of The Biggest Loser (which truly is a heart warming show), putting my morning cup of coffee and breakfast before my devotions, and valuing money and recognition about Him have NO PLACE in my life.

That, to me, is the difference between living simply, and simply living. Without THE Jesus, your life just kind of floats. Not a lot of meaning or purpose. Not a lot of anything worth while. Just a lot of things. But living simply, that's where I want to be. I want to be content and satisfied with only THE Jesus.

I want to put my worldly desires away. To come empty handed to Him. THE JESUS. Knowing, trusting, that in Him I will find complete rest.

Perfectly in His image.

"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ESV)

This week I was reminded of an amazing truth. One that I find peace, shelter, and comfort in.

This past weekend I ran the first meeting of a girls club that I have started here. I was expecting 10 or 12 girls (all from our campus) to come after church last Saturday, and probably only because the house mom, Rita, told them they had to. But when I entered the room, 19 smiling faces looked at me. 19! What a blessing.

I timidly began teaching on the story of Rahab, an incredible woman who God used to exact his will in the city of Jericho. We learned about courage, faith, and trust in God. And the more I taught, the more engaged the girls seemed to be. And the closer they leaned in. As the spies came, were hidden, and kept safe by the mother of Boaz. And as God provided for her every step of the way.

Then we discussed the woman behind the story. Rahab. A prostitute. An ordinary, sinful woman who found favor in God's eyes. We talked about honoring our bodies, and giving them honor because God dwells inside of us.

I told these young women how God made them UNIQUE. BEAUTIFUL. And how every time we see the flaws that we think we have, or we are upset with our appearance, we break God's heart. He worked SO HARD to make us JUST the way we are. And we need to celebrate that. We talked about how we don't belong to ourselves. How we are not in charge of our lives, our bodies. Because Jesus BOUGHT US.

Little did I know that at the end of the week, during a bible study with the women at our campus, God was going to reiterate the same, glorious truth to me. We read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 together (quoted above). And I began to get emotional. As I pictured my Jesus, my savior, hung on the cross. Giving EVERYTHING for me. Because he loves me, his daughter, that much. It's something that I don't fully understand. Something that leaves me speechless.

Something that I am RESTING IN this week. I am reveling in this truth.

That God gave up everything for me. I am the daughter of THE King. And he spent time designing my hazel eyes, sculpting my prominent nose, and frizzing my hair to perfection.

At the end of girls club, I gave each girl a piece of paper and a pen. I told them they could do one of two things...either draw a self portrait, looking at themselves through God's eye, or they could write about themselves. Saying what was unique about themselves. I gave them about 10 minutes, and at the end I took a picture of each girl with her paper.

Here are some of my favorites that I wanted to share with you...

Erusha, grade 5, "I like my hair because in front of my hair there is curly but in the back it is straight."

Jenny, a girl from the community, "Oh! My dressing styles are very good. I laugh very well. My face gets red when I laugh much."

Sanjina, age 9, "I like my face because when I went to the outside in the sun my cheeks will be pink."

 

 

 

These girls get it. It's not about being perfect, and being a cookie cutter, like we are expected to be. It's about celebrating YOU. And how you were made different. It's about loving yourself because Christ loves you, and made you perfectly in his image.

I hope that these young ladies encourage you to look at yourself through the lens of Jesus Christ, and what he thinks of you. Not what society says, not what media says, not what your friends and family say. Those things are temporary, they will pass. But Jesus paid the ULTIMATE price for you. And he wants to you be concerned ONLY with him. Seek his face, run after him. Rest in the truth that He BOUGHT you. You are his. What a glorious thing.

Thankfulness vs Despair

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, no angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:37-39 ESV)

I want to be honest with all of you, and I don't want to fudge the truth or to paint things to be different than how they are. So this post is going to be straight from my heart. A real life glimpse into me.

This week was hard. The hardest I've had so far, by a long shot. It would be a grave error to say that it sucked. I learned a lot this week, was reminded of a lot this week, and I wouldn't trade it for anything. But it wasn't easy.

My heart hurts. A lot. I miss home; my house, my family, my boyfriend, my friends, my church, FAMILIARITY. I can't explain it other than it's a physical pain. A knot in my chest. A throat tight from trying not to cry. Throbbing eyes from tears held back, and those that breached.

Mostly I was just mopey, although I did lose my cool a few times. Don't get me wrong, Nepal still holds my heart, very fiercely. But I was slightly less enchanted by it this week. Irritated by the dust that I'm constantly caked in, frustrated by the continual honking of horns. Unreasonably disappointed that I can't find the right balance of shampoo and conditioner to make my hair manageable and not greasy (it's the little things).

But mostly I'm sad.

Sad that I can't hug my parents. Or have lunch with aunt and grandparents on a Saturday. Or plan a visit to Montana to see my family. I can't sing absurd car karaoke with my best friend and not have a care in the world. I can't go for a walk on the Mill Creek trails with my boyfriend. I can't have regular Wednesday lunches with my friends.

And yet, GOD IS STILL GOOD.

I was reminded this week that God doesn't just want me to look for him in everyday things. He wants me to SEEK him, all day, in everything I do. He is enough. I don't need little things like rain or Starbucks (although I would willingly walk in bare feet on hot coals for a mile to get a Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte). Those things are great, and there are many things here that I can see God in, I can see him moving and working. But HE IS ENOUGH.

He is the ultimate everything. Comforter, protector, provider, lover, forgiver. And I am THANKFUL and GRATEFUL that he is holding my hand, and my heart.

Once I let that sink in, I began to notice a change in my heart. I was reminded that I may not be able to do all of those things I'm used to, and all of those things that I want to, but I know that it's for a reason. God is allowing my heart to hurt for a reason. I don't know what it is, and I may never know. But I'm ok with that. Because there is NOTHING that can separate me from his love. He has PROMISED to never leave me. And he works ALL THINGS together for my good.

Praise God for reminders that this won't be forever. That feeling this way won't last for longer than the blink of an eye. And praise God for my roommate! Her listening ear, encouraging spirit, and for making my first Thanksgiving away from home bearable.

So for now, I will CHOOSE thankfulness. I will choose to wait on the Lord. I will choose to seek HIM, not the things that he has to offer me. My life is about so much more than this moment. And I will remain faithful to the call that God has placed on my heart.

Thank you for praying for me this last week, I cannot imagine how hard it would have been without your prayers. They helped me get through a long week, and helped me rely on God even more.

My prayer this week is that God will continue to pull me nearer to himself. To show himself to me a little more each day. That I would continue to fall more and more in love with my Jesus. And I would ask that you pray that along with me. Not only for me, but for yourself! That God would continue to be enough for you each and every day.