still...

The Gift http://holenroof.blogspot.com/2011/05/gift.html

I have a feeling this is always going to be a recurring theme. The Gift is not like the trespass...still.

Example:

The Lord has been teaching me to trust the people He places within my life. Let me correct a mistake. (I'm not deleting and re-typing it because it points out the difference if I leave it.) The Lord has been teaching me to trust HIM WITH the people He places in my life.

Our first major team experience here left me with a bitter taste in my mouth. On a team of 9 people, while helping complete a task 7 team members (albiet 2 were temporarily blind,) left another girl and myself behind to carry about 80 lbs of rocks. I couldn't believe that they had left us behind even though it was unintentional. That hurt.

Then just this week we had another task in which we were to carry a heavy load down the mountain. As we began the journey, I found myself in a position carrying our fragile load. I knew if I took one more step I would likely fall and jeopardize our cargo and myself. I voiced my concern and was directed to move on. I took one step and literally "fell" into my own prophecy! I busted it on a huge stone and landed both legs and my left arm and hand and bum into a patch of stinging nettles (about 100 times worse than Texas stingin' nettles!) I tried to get up in a hurry, hoping I hadn't compromised our load. As I stood with my body was tingling all over and stinging where the plant had touched it, I reached for our load to carry my part again and as soon as my hand touched the fleece blanket the pain intensified. (Okay, I'm not a pansy. I can handle a decent amount of pain.) I tried to reposition my hand in such a way as to ease the pain and a teammate (the same one who told me to step even though I said I thought I would slip)

barked at me, "Look we just need to get over ourselves and take care of this. Its more important than any of us."

While I agreed with the importance of our task, I knew that if we lost team members due to injuries we'd be even worse off. Nevertheless, I consented and dealt with the hand, leg and bum after we set our load down.

Later this week, a leader (seemingly) went back on his word.

Because of these situations I found myself totally upset, irritated and doing anything BUT trusting those that God has put around me. In fact, I was ready to check out emotionally and mentally.

But then the Lord showed me that He is in control. HE is the One I need to trust and when I surely trust Him, no matter what others do or don't do on my behalf, I am in His hands. I confessed my sin, anger and frustration. I asked the Lord to forgive me for allowing myself to stay in such a place and committed to trusting Him with every person around me here. Below is part of a prayer I have also

been praying:

"Deliver me, Jesus,

from the fear of being forgotten and from the fear of being wronged."

As I prayed these things, I felt the Love of the Savior rush in and remind me...the gift is not like the trespass. At all.

Last night I was late to dinner because I was vacuuming our floor and conference room. (No I'm no saint. We have chores and I had not done the 3rd floor from the day before and the conference room was my duty that day.) Anyway, I got to dinner and there was plenty of soup and about 8 small pieces of potatoes, and no meat. My heart dropped as I thought, "They've forgotten me again." But

immediately the Lord reminded me "the Gift is not like the trespass" and I was genuinely happy with the food that I WAS able to have.

And then guess what, I noticed a plate was made, I turned around and the leader said, "That plate's for you."

My eyes filled with tears as I thanked the King of kings that the Gift is not like the trespass!

Great things are happening here in Italy. The Lord is just as faithful here as He is in Texas and Tefle! ;)

Jeremiah 31:3

I know I'm on a roll here posting but I don't know when I'll be on again...

This morning I was praying for a young woman whom I have never met but has been on my heart for a little while now and also for a little girl whose daddy left their family.

Afterward I thought, you know if I could give one piece of advice to these girls or any female, it would be to allow God to be the God that He declared Himself to be to His people in Jeremiah 31:3.

He says, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you to Me with loving-kindness."

I still consider myself to be a young woman. I'm single. And it has turned out that my greatest joy and satisfaction is allowing Someone to love me with a love that lasts forever. When one experiences a forever love, a Love that will outlast this world and even time itself, settling for a love that uses, manipulates, destroys, pressures...man, that almost becomes a non-issue! And recognizing that pseudo-love or ulterior motives becomes wayyyyy easier!

The cool part is, it is the Lord who will draw us to Himself by way of His unfailing kindness. This love that lasts is ours because of Him and not because of us. It is because of His efforts and His kindness. He is doing the work and we only have to respond.

Life ain't always easy. I've heard that the young woman I'm praying for has had it rough and I know it would be easy for this little 6 or 7 year old girl to have issues growing up. But Love conquers all. For those who are struggling it is my prayer that the Father would pour out His loving-kindness upon them, drawing them to Himself, so that they may experience a Love that lasts...FOR-EV-ER!

That was free. Just a lesson I learned myself that came to mind this morning and I thought was worth sharing. :)

I'm signing off now and hoping that I will be able to get on here at least one more time before I leave here.

God bless!

Love

Reading in Romans 12 and noting the verb or action phrases:

Love must

be sincere.

Cling to what is good.

Be devoted to one another in brotherly love.

Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal but

keep your spiritual fervor,

serving the Lord.

Be joyful in hope,

patient in affliction,

faithful in prayer.

Share with God's people who are in need.

Practice hospitality.

Bless those who persecute you;

Bless and do not curse.

Rejoice with those who rejoice;

Mourn with those who mourn.

Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but

be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited. Do not repay anyone evil for evil.

Be careful to

do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you,

live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends but

leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. On the contrary: "If your enemy is hungry,

feed him; if he is thirsty,

give him something to drink. In doing this you will heap burning coals on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but

overcome evil with good.

Just thought this was cool and is a good lesson that "love" is soooooooooooooo much more than just a feeling. First of all God is Love and what Love calls us to do we must do if we are His. Here in Romans, Love calls us into action!

Second, I'll think about this next time I say "I love you" to someone. Not that I will remember everything here but I can certainly do a little evaluation...am I truly loving this person?

And to those who I would be hesitant to say that I love...what better opportunity than to bring my relationship or lack thereof to the scripture and see what it is I need to recognize, confess, and correct? Is it pride that hinders me from truly loving this person? What is it that is keeping me from honoring this person above myself? What needs to take place for me to sincerely love this person?

God is Love and when I sincerely love, I share Him. What an incredible truth!

I was listening to a Beth Moore thing on my way here (to Ghana) and she mentioned how every time she was speaking to the Lord and would say "I love you" she was led to say "I love you too" because she was made aware that God is Love, love comes from God and there's never a time when she could say that she loves Him that He didn't first let her know.

Isn't that true????

I look around. God you've provided a roof over my head. I'm still being called 'Obolo' here (which means fat person) so I obviously don't want for any food! :) I have more clothes than I need and I have plenty of pure water...(learned this morning that the coffee pot doesn't heat the tap water long enough to purify it so I have been praising You for a plumbed toilet as well!) Your glorious creation stretches toward the heaven as if to worship You and when the wind blows it bows before You. Your variety is endless. The birds sing, the goats do whatever they do, the spiders are around, the rain comes at Your command, the sun rises and sets according to the schedule You have set, and even man, Your creation who has the freedom to disobey, seeks You because You, Love, have put within each of us a question, a longing, that can only be answered and filled by You. You, Love, are the Creator beckoning the made...in countless ways.

You have drawn me to Yourself. You fill my heart with joy, my life with peace, and my mind with Your precepts. Whom have I in heaven but You? Who can transform me by renewing my mind but Love Himself? There is no one like You, there is no one like You, there is no one like You, oh God! Thank You for Your work in my life. Thank You for teaching me. Thank You for revealing Yourself to me!!

I hear You Father and I love You too!

I thank God the Gift is not like the trespass...

At the end of my prayer time this morning, the scripture popped into my head again "the Gift is not like the trespass." I smiled and finished praying, confident that my worship was received and my every prayer heard and answered because I am a child of the King and this Gift is mine.

The Gift

http://holenroof.blogspot.com/2011/05/gift.html