"The morning comes on swift wings as the night departs and I must bid my sleep farewell. Alas, I shall greet the day. For at its end comes sleep once again." -Amaris I. ©
 

Seasons

"All of my life, in every season

You are still God

I have a reason to sing

I have a reason to worship."

 

 

 

 

  This bridge has been ringing in my ears since Sunday. When I sing this, I feel because it is such an uplifting lighthearted melody, it's easy to just sing along and miss the response of what the lyrics are saying. At least maybe I'm viewing it a little different right now. This leads me to my reason of writing this morning.

 

  As I was looking through my older blog entries over the last couple of years I've noticed many different things, right down to my style of writing and oh my, what appalling grammar... I'm ashamed to even admit that I've made such errors in my writing. [These I have since attempted to correct.

Genie God?

  One... Two... Three little raindrops hit my cheek as I lay on my cot on the roof. I sit up and watch the sky. Suddenly it starts to pour and I get help to stand my cot up, with the mattress tucked in so it wouldn't get wet and stand under a small building on the other side of the roof with just enough room to hug the building with your back and watch the rain fall less than a foot away from you. As my friend/team-mate and I wait out the storm I couldn't help but feel excited. I absolutely love thunderstorms and rain, what an adventure. We figured it would eventually stop and we would go back to sleep. Which it did.
  There's nothing like the smell of the earth after a thunderstorm. It's as if it's been re-birthed and as such, it is fresh and new and for me it's something beautiful and comforting, even when it happens in another country.
  At the same time I couldn't help but think of the tent city right below us. With drenched tarps and tents that provided little shelter for one person let alone a family.

Outline of Haiti Happenings

[Here it is: Some bits of actual writings from my personal prayer journal about my recent mission trip to Haiti. (In some kind of order). Most of it is what I wrote then, I'm sure I'll be adding my own thoughts through it. The post-trip thoughts will be in blue]

Sat.

Jan 26, 2013

Dear God, 

So this is it. The team all made it safely to O'Hare and after having a nice iced mocha from McDonald's, considering we all had to meet at 4am, I'm feeling pretty good.

  I still can't believe this is already happening. It is a blessing to know you have the body of Christ supporting us as a team through prayer. I am looking forward to seeing what God is going to do on this trip for us all. 

  We have such a great team, it's a good combo and I know You have a purpose for each one of us while we're here. I pray that we would all be open to hearing Your voice and not just that, but to act on it as well.

  We met a few people who are part of the Rotary [sp] club who are also going to Haiti on a missions trip, providing glasses for those who need them. They are from Wisconsin. Small world. The gentleman sitting with Mary and I was very pleasant to talk with.

  It's funny, the leader for their group I saw is reading "When Helping Hurts," Crazy. [This is a book that our team was reading prior to our mission trip]. They will be working in Haiti for 16 days. 

2013

  So... It's here. Seems, in a way, that it was quite impatient to get here. I'm not quite sure I feel the same...

  Ringing in the New Year is always a wonderful time of being with friends and family, playing games, eating good food, sharing stories and favorite memories, perhaps singing and dancing to a song or two. Maybe it's watching football or movies together until the time draws nearer and in unison, everyone counts down.

10... 9...

Epic Win

  This may more or less start as an incomplete thought but hopefully it will make sense towards the end.

  Today, after reflecting on some things earlier this week and coming from 3D last night talking with my small group girls, I finally started to understand what the Lord has been showing me. I suppose sometimes I can be a bit slow when it comes to a lesson God has been teaching me. Then again... when I really think about it, aren't we all? God isn't something you can just get because He's so infinite and none of us will truly understand and know Him till Christ comes back, however; that is also part of the adventure. Discovering new things about Him and in my own opinion, it never gets old.

  So, being that Monday I had the unexpected privilege of helping Kyle Adams, the tight-end for the bears at my job, [Click here to read on his experience/work in Haiti last summer]

Plip Plop, Raindrops

  I hear the rain as it hits my windowpane and think, wow... God is amazing. I just simply adore Him and all His goodness. It's quite late and though I should be asleep, I just felt compelled to write.

  The sound of water falling from the sky has to be one of my favorite things to hear and to know that the Lord, the One who created the world, made something like rain that is so soothing to my soul. Such a small thing.
  I think it's safe to say that everyone likes a little rain. To venture and say that everyone likes a lot of it might be a stretch. This makes me ponder my spiritual life and if I'm just plip plopping around in life without any real purpose or intention of watering those around me.

  Yes, rain can be a small thing, but with a little help from a strong wind, it can definitely go places. That's how I want my life to be. Though I may be a small droplet in the world, I know that I have a God who is more than big enough to help me make a huge impact in the lives of those around me, for the better.
  Storms can be scary sometimes, but how else are things going to get stirred up, shaken, wiped clean? When it's all over and the rain starts to slow down to a steady trickle, we can walk out and see a bit of sunshine start to creep in and be completely content with the plip plop of the raindrops, knowing that it gave us something we needed. Water to bring life. Just the same, Christ has done for us. He brought us life, real life giving water and on occasion has to stir things up a bit, but for our own good. To make an impact on us so that we in turn can make an impact on others.

  Night~