Mwen Bezwen Ou

I’ve been reading Jesus Calling this week and My Utmost for His Highest and (surprise ;)) God has known just what I need to be told right now.

“This is a time in your life when you must learn to let go: of loved ones, of possessions, of control. In order to let go of something that is precious to you, you need to rest in My Presence, where you are complete. Take time to bask in the Light of My Love…

You can feel secure, even in the midst of cataclysmic changes, through awareness of My continual Presence. The One who never leaves you is the same One who never changes: I am the same yesterday, today, and forever. As you release more and more things into My care, remember that I never let go of your hand. Herein lies your security, which no one and no circumstance can take from you.”

“Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts. A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me. I hate it when My children grumble, casually despising My sovereignty. Thankfulness is a safeguard against this deadly sin. Furthermore, a grateful attitude becomes a grid through which you perceive life. Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances. Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with joy.”

“Waiting on Me means directing your attention to Me in hopeful anticipation of what I will do. It entails trusting Me with every fiber of your being, instead of trying to figure things out yourself. Waiting on Me is the way I designed you to live; all day, every day. I created you to stay conscious of Me as you go about your day.

I have promised many blessings to those who wait on me: renewed strength, living above one’s circumstances, resurgence of hope, awareness of My continual Presence. Waiting on Me enables you to glorify Me by living in deep dependence on Me; in My Presence is fullness of joy.”

“Be still in My Presence, even though countless tasks clamor for your attention. Nothing is as important as spending time with Me. While you wait in My Presence, I do My best work within you: transforming you by the renewing of your mind. If you skimp on this time with Me, you may plunge headlong into the wrong activities, missing the richness of what I have planned for you.

Do not seek Me primarily for what I can give you. Remember that I, the Giver, am infinitely greater than any gift I might impart to you. Though I delight in blessing My children, I am deeply grieved when My blessings become idols in their hearts. Anything can be an idol if it distracts you from Me as your First Love. When I am the ultimate Desire of your heart, you are safe from the danger of idolatry. As you wait in My Presence, enjoy the greatest gift of all: Christ in you, the hope of glory!”

“Stop trying to work things out before their times have come. Accept the limitations of living one day at a time. When something comes to your attention, ask Me whether or not it is part of today’s agenda. If it isn’t, release it into My care and go on about today’s duties. When you follow this practice, there will be a beautiful simplicity about your life: a time for everything, and everything in its time.

A life lived close to Me is not complicated or cluttered. When your focus is on My Presence, many things that once troubled you lost their power over you. Though the world around you is messy and confusing, remember that I have overcome the world. I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have Peace.”

“Be ye therefore ready also.”

Luke 12:40

“The great need for the Christian worker is to be ready to face Jesus Christ at any and every turn. This is not easy, no matter what our experience is. The battle is not against sin or difficulties or circumstances, but against being so absorbed in work that we are not ready to face Jesus Christ at every turn. That is the one great need, not the facing of our belief, or our creed, or the question whether we are of any use, but to face Him.

Jesus rarely comes where we expect Him; He appears where we least expect Him, and always in the most illogical connections. The only way a worker can keep true to God is by being ready for the Lord’s surprise visits. It is not service that matters, but intense spiritual reality, expecting Jesus Christ at every turn. This will give our life the attitude of child-wonder which He wants it to have. If we are going t be ready for Jesus Christ, we have to stop being religious (that is, using religion as a higher kind of culture) and be spiritually real.

If you are ‘looking off unto Jesus,’ avoiding the call of the religious age you live in, and setting your heart on what He wants, on thinking on His line – you will be called unpractical and dreamy; but when He appears in the burden and the heat of the day, you will be the only one who is ready. Trust no one, not even the finest saint who ever walked this earth, ignore him, if he hinders your sight of Jesus Christ.

I AM

Happened to pick up "Jesus Calling" this afternoon and needed these words...

     I am a God of both intricate detail and overflowing abundance. When you entrust the details of your life to Me, you are surprised by how thoroughly I answer your petitions. I take pleasure in hearing your prayers, so feel free to bring Me all your requests. The more you pray, the more answers you can receive. Best of all, your faith is strengthened as you see how precisely I respond to your specific prayers.
     Because I am infinite in all My ways, you need not fear that I will run out of resources. Abundance is at the very heart of who I AM. Come to Me in joyful expectations of receiving all you need - and sometimes much more! I delight in showering blessings on My beloved children. Come to Me with open hands and heart, ready to receive all I have for you. 


How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.
⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.
⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light do we see light.
Psalm 36:7-9

Today I Am Thankful

(3.16.13)

Today I am thankful.
I'm sitting at the airport in Haiti and right about now Stephanie is sitting on a plane in Miami getting ready to take off. Pretty sure it hasn't really sunk yet that she is going to be here in a couple hours. Don't know that it will until I see her face.
Today I am thankful. Thankful this day is finally here, the day my first family member will set foot in Haiti and experience first hand the people and place God has given me a love for. Thankful God has orchestrated everything to bring us to this moment in time. Today my heart is happy.
Today I am thankful.

Humbled

(3.13.13)

Humbled. Humbled to be here. Humbled to be a part of this ministry. Humbled to be a small part of so many stories. Humbled. Absolutely humbled God would chose to work through me. Humbled He could give me this privilege I don't deserve in the least bit. 

Kay Libete A (The Freedom House)

All her earthly possessions fit in three bags, packed and ready to go.

Today Megan, James (our moto driver) and myself went with Catherine* to her home to get her things so she could move into The Freedom House. Catherine has been stopping by the house, with her 8 month old child, a little more frequently lately. Her father is alcoholic and abusive.

Today as I entered Catherine’s small room (it fit a bed, small table, and a couple small stools leaving barely enough room for the three of us to stand) with walls made of tin and tarps, and as Megan and I took a second glance at her “bed” I held back tears and was ashamed that I had complained about my mattress be uncomfortable and springy, that a spring was actually poking through my mattress, ashamed that last night as I lay on an air mattress I thought, “well this really isn’t as comfortable as I thought it would be and I still can’t sleep.” It hit me why two months ago when another of the girls who will be moving into The Freedom House asked, “why can’t we move in now?” We said, “because it’s not ready.” We considered a house made of bricks and cement not finished because not all the floors were finished, the kitchen sink wasn’t installed, there wasn’t power hooked to the house yet, the kitchen needed shelves, etc. Four sturdy walls with a real roof over their heads, even if there wasn’t a bed, was better than what these girls were used to.

You want to know what Catherine’s bed was? Megan lifted the sheet and under that sheet, with no sort of padding, was an old metal door. An old steel door with a single sheet, being held up by cinder blocks, is what this girl and her baby were sleeping on.

We had a short encounter with Catherine’s father as we were walking from the house, he started to cry and with no emotion, not even a flinch, Catherine told us, “ignore him.”

We sent Catherine off on the moto (to her cooking class) and Megan and I walked back to the Respire House.

Later as I lay in the hammock with Catherine’s child sleeping in my arms I stared at her sweet face and I realized how much The Freedom House means not only to the teenage girls moving in but also to this sweet little 8 month old. Her mother will be able to go to school! What kind of opportunities will that giver her to give her child a better life? This sweet baby will now go to school from the very start! What kind of opportunities will that give her to make a life for herself? I was again moved to tears as I thought of how bright that darling child’s future is because of The Freedom House; because so many have been faithful to follow God’s leading in their lives, to make sacrifices in order to care for these young girls who were so helpless and hopeless but whom I now see smiling, laughing, playing, singing and living life together every day.

I read a verse this morning and as I lay in that hammock looking into the face of that precious child I couldn’t help but think of it, I had one of the girls bring me a Bible and I read these verses over and over…

But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;

    you consider their grief and take it in hand.

The victims commit themselves to you;

    you are the helper of the fatherless.

You, Lord, hear the desire of the afflicted;

    you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

   defending the fatherless and the oppressed,

    so that mere earthly mortals

    will never again strike terror.

Psalm 10:14, 17-18

*name changed for protection

You can support The Freedom House with the purchase of a Free 1 Otterbox case www.respirehaiti.org

Wishing

Hello blog world!

I've put together a couple of Amazon Wish Lists, one with needs for the school and Cafe and a personal wish list. 
I have been working with K-2, trying to implement centers and we could use more materials in order to make this a success! Respire is also about to open a Cafe which will be run by our current head cook, Ta. I'm excited to be helping her as she starts this venture! (How many times have I been told I should open a bakery!?! This might be the closest I ever come :) ) Anyway, we have many needs for this new venture as well. This is the link to the Wish List if you would like to chip in and help make the Cafe a reality http://amzn.com/w/1JDTLNFF4YMB

I've also put together a personal Wish List as I will now be staying longer than originally planned. You can find that list here http://amzn.com/w/K3D7OAG8Y75Z

And last but not least I will be needing to raise financial support for my extended stay here in Haiti. If you would like to join me as a financial supporter please contact me via private message.

Thank you all so much for joining me on this journey and being a part of life here in Gressier.