Pass Me My Specs...

My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please...
What I have said, that will I bring about;
what I have planned, that will I do.
Isaiah 46:10b, 11b

Read that and rejoice! This evening I've been preparing a Sunday school lesson for my precious 2nd & 3rd graders. In a humbling and wonderful way, preparing for Sunday school is always a convicting and growing experience. Tomorrow's lesson is on faith in God's sovereign plan as exemplified in the life of Abraham. I love how teaching something makes you savor it - as a result of tonight's preparation I am enjoying the results of savoring the sweet reminder of God's faithfulness, purposefulness, and sovereignty. The difficult circumstances that sometimes threaten to overwhelm me with their seeming impassibility can be readily entrusted to God's purposes.

Late September I completed my second triathlon. It was cold and difficult, but also wonderful and worshipful. Yes, worshipful. There is something satisfying in working my body that hard. There is a peculiar joy I feel at realizing that every foot forward is a beautiful testimony to God's intricate design. The deep breath of life-giving air is never more obvious than when I'm sucking it after coming out of the water at the swim. There is also a sweet joy experienced throughout the race as you are receiving the encouragement of community. Not only are there hundreds of people cheering, it's also not unusual for someone to offer words of encouragement as they run alongside (or past, as the case may be). When that person is a friend the result is a tangible surge of adrenalin and emotion - spurring one another on exemplified. My mind becomes, in a triathlon, a sermon illustration mill. Truly, I feel like there are an endless number of "oh, goodness, I understand Philippians better right at this moment" moments, and, as a result, I usually end the race feeling encouraged and convicted. Of course, those semi-intelligent moments come fewer and farther between towards the end of the race. The foremost motivating factor in me putting one foot in front of the other during the bits were the rhythmic strains of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" in my head. I love that I'm unable to think of anything else but that over and over and over as I plod along...and often look back and wish that my daily life was that clearly focused: pain, fatigue? Great is Thy Faithfulness!

My one-year anniversary of leaving for India came and went. Its passing has spurred a host of "this day last year I was...(insert random, adventurous, challenging, wonderful time/lesson here)". I needed that milestone reminder. As a result I've been reading my India journal and memorializing what God was doing/has done in my life. How disappointing it is to see how quickly I forget the lessons learned; how wonderful it is to see how God worked. This time last year I went to one of the WINN village centers for a computer graduation program. I was lonely and my journal was filled with frustration and sadness. At the end I wrote: "A dear girl, whose name I never got, but who was my age – 23 or 24 -- and was Christopher’s sister came and sat beside me. Her English was limited, but I felt instantly connected with her – I wanted to love her and pray for her and laugh with her and share with her – but she had to leave quickly. I am praying for an opportunity to meet her again: when she left she said “sister, please see me soon”. Father, could this be my friend? Even if I don’t see her on a daily (or weekly, or monthly) basis, I pray that the connection I made will spur me on to love her through prayer, be compassionate to her through thought, be encouraging to her through words." I did get chances, though very few, to spend time with her. God answered that prayer. It also marked a change in my heart toward loving people even though I felt isolated. It was a hard time, but reading that portion of my journal I remember that God not only answered my prayer, he increased my ability to love people through prayer, deepening my trust of him as I entrusted them (and myself in my need for fellowship) to him.

Also in October I started my new, full time job. The position, which had been something I'd considered before I left for India, opened up again at the exact time I began my job search. The interview process - though difficult - was affirming, and I got to see God hand me a job that was beautifully fitted to both my gifts and my areas of desired growth, that paid me more than I could have made if I'd stayed the whole year previous and gotten incremental raises (someone, a wise person, thought India experience constituted some serious "job experience"), and that provided me with a stable, wholesome working environment alongside dear friends. How graciously - and clearly - God has provided for me.

When I started this post I had tentatively listed the title as "Eclectic". It had been so long since I'd posted that I assumed this could be nothing more than a collection of random tid-bits and updates. It's turned out to be a much needed reminder for myself that I need to press on in faith. Should the above have sounded uber-rosy, I wish I could pass you my (figurative) glasses. They're not rose colored -- people hurt and disappoint; I am weak and prone to wander; and, ashamedly, the praise of my Savior that should so obviously rise from my lips is sometimes held back in frustration and fatigue. And yet, as I read back through this "eclectic" collection of my last two months, how can I do anything but recognize God's perfect plan there...and be reassured to continue to hope, trust, and rejoice?

My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please...
What I have said, that will I bring about;
what I have planned, that will I do.
Isaiah 46:10b, 11b