Faithful to me...

All the chisels I've dulled carving idols of stone
that have crumbled like sand 'neath the waves
I've recklessly built all my dreams in the sand,
just to watch them all wash away

Through another day, another trial
Another chance to reconcile
To One who sees past all I've seen,
and reaching out my weary hand,
I pray that you'd understand,
You're the only one who's faithful to me.

All the pennies I've wasted in my wishing well
I have thrown like stones to the sea.
I have cast my lots, dropped my guard, searched aimlessly,
for a faith to be faithful to me.

Through another day, another trial,
Another chance to reconcile
To One who sees past all I've seen,
and reaching out my weary hand,
I pray that you'd understand,

You're the only one who's faithful to me.
You're the only one who's faithful to me.

-- Jennifer Knapp

What I know...

I don't understand what YOU are doing.
But I believe YOU are the one doing it
And based on what I know from walking with YOU, I know that YOU have the very best in mind for me.

In French there are two verbs meaning "to know." The first, savoir means to have knowledge based on facts. It's used when you're talking about knowing where a street is located or when you know how to make pancakes. Connaitre means to have knowledge based on experience, living, and familiarity with something.

As we plod through this stage in life, we are seeing our savoir knowledge turn into the knowledge of connaitre. The verses and stories we read and heard are becoming real as we see that HE is who HE says and HIS promises are fulfilled.

Even though I don't understand what YOU are doing, I believe YOU are the one doing it.

And based on what I know from walking with YOU, I know that YOU have the very best in mind for me.

Asking for the impossible...

I was inspired by Keely's blog to ask GOD for the impossible. 1 John 5:14 assures us that, "if we ask anything according to HIS will, HE hears us." If we delight ourselves in the LORD, "HE will give you the desires of your heart," says Psalm 37:4.

My first prayer is that our hearts will be fully tuned in to HIS, and not selfish or distracted.

"...For GOD is greater than our hearts and HE knows everything." -- 1 John 3:20

And I am asking GOD to do the impossible in these situations, according to HIS perfect plan.

- A work permit or other provision for me to work in France.
- French language abilities for Jonathan's classes, exams, written and oral presentation of his medical school thesis.
- To turn my homesickness into a love for being here where HE has me right now.



"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." -- Hebrews 11:1

How do we recognize GOD's voice?

How do we recognize GOD's voice? Good question.

First, I'd like to point out that babies can hear and recognize their mother's voice at 30 weeks in utero. Because they are with mom 24-7, they hear every word and learn to recognize her voice. How much better would we recognize HIS voice if we were tuned in 24-7?

I've been struggling with this one a lot recently. I want to make decisions based on HIS will. I want to be obedient. I want the life HE planned for me. But I'm not tuned in 24-7. So how do I know when it's HIM talking and where HE's leading?

I came across this set of questions that can be used to evaluate what you feel GOD is telling you. Talk about an eye-opener.

- Does it match up to what the Bible says?
If you're not sure, go here and do a topic search to find out.

- Does it go against human logic?
Sometimes...okay, often. Often GOD asks us to do things that seem crazy or illogical to show our reliance on HIM and our faith in HIS provision.

- Does it ask me to make a sacrifice or challenge my faith?

- Does it require courage and submission?

I'm guessing by now, you've got your answer. And sometimes that answer is simply, "Wait." Wait for ME to show you MY way. And then you will taste and see that the LORD is good.

Whatever You decide...

Whatever You decide is okay with me.

I know You could bring this together if You wanted to. And I also know that You know what's best for me.
So I'm letting go.
It's in Your hands. I never should have tried to take it in mine.
I'm learning to trust in You, in all things.

Whatever You decide is okay with me.

I know that sometimes You ask us to walk the difficult paths.
Just walk with me, please.
Whether in the thunder or a whisper, speak to me the way.
Take my hand in Yours, and I will follow.

Whatever You decide is okay with me.

Why not my way?

I was happy for her. I really was. But deeper down, a nagging jealousy started to boil up within me. Why had GOD answered her prayers, but not yet mine? Hadn't we prayed together a few weeks ago? So wouldn't it make sense for HIM to answer us at the same time? But HE hadn't. I still believed HE could, and even that HE would. But the louder voice was asking, "Why not my way?"

I'm guessing I'm not alone to have felt this way. In fact, I know I'm not. I have friends waiting for GOD to answer their prayers for a new job, a husband, a broken heart, a baby, a severed relationship, and some praying simply to know HIM. Sometimes I felt like I was repeating the same prayer over and over again, second verse same the first. Sometimes I felt like I didn't even know what to pray anymore because the situation was so far out of my control. Why did a GOD who loves me not answer when and how I wanted HIM to?

Because HE is GOD, not me. HE knows what is best for me. HE knows what I need. And HE is faithful to keep HIS promises.

Be encouraged as you wait and pray, watching for HIM. HE is GOD.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Jeremiah 29:11-13

"And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:19

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for HE who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:23

The Designer...

It is a testament to GOD's love for me that he created someone to complement me so well, challenge me so specifically, and continually leading me closer to HIM. As much as I love the design, it makes me love the Designer more.

HE's just that good...

Our GOD is good.

Jaw-droppingly good.

Faithful beyond my dreams.

And full of love manifested as surprises to make me smile with HIM.

The wisest words...

The wisest words came from my mom. She said them years before I needed them, but gently tucked them in my mind and heart knowing that the day would come. I doubt she ever thought that they would be so significant in my life, in making a choice that determined my path.

"When you don't know where GOD is leading you, when you can't seem to see HIM, go back to the last thing HE told you."

So at the fork in the road, I turned back to the last thing I knew HE had clearly spoken to my heart. I took that road instead, and it brought me here today.


What was the last thing GOD said to you, and are you following it today?


"Obey GOD in the thing HE shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up. The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. GOD will never reveal more truth about HIMSELF until you have obeyed what you know already."

-- Oswald Chambers

Prayers needed...

A few posts back I wrote about the need to be real with each other. How can we expect others to pray for us if they don't know what's really going on?

Here's a step towards being more real. We've compiled a list of things we'd like for you guys to pray about when GOD brings us to your mind. This is also an invitation for you to write us an e-mail or give us a call and let us know what your struggles are. (Click here to let us know.) We would love to be able to pray for you and see how HE answers. And we've got a few looong plane rides ahead with lots of free time, so get on it! (Click here - we're serious!)

- Pray that we would make the most of our time with family and friends in the U.S. We're expecting this to be our last trip back for a while, so want to be purposeful in building these relationships while we're there. Pray that we would be an encouragement to those around us. Each time we leave, we know it could be the last time we see grandparents and others. Pray that we would take the time and make the effort to let these special people know what they mean to us and how they've helped us to grow over the years.

Ephesians 1:16
I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

- Pray that we would take care of all the details before we go, then be able to rest. The list of things to do before we go is getting longer and longer. Our friend Becky is going to keep an eye on our apartment and mail, which is a true blessing. However, we are expecting a few bills and also the annual housing tax to come due while we're gone. Pray that we would do what we can now, and then be able to let it go and rest while we're "on vacation." I have a tendency (okay, habit) to stay up all night worrying and then am grumpy the next day(s).

Philipians 4:6
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

- Pray for me (Kari) as we help my parents pack up for their move to Budapest. Even though we are so excited about this next step for them, it has been very, very hard for me to accept that I will no longer have a "home" in the U.S. I grew up in Cote d'Ivoire, and obviously can't return "home" there due to the on-going civil war and such, so this house is my safe-place of sorts. Pray that I will make my safe-place in GOD, rather than in a place.

Psalm 71:3
Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress.

- Pray for us to be joyful where we are. It's no secret that our situation inFrance is stressful. Between Jonathan's school in French and my not being able to get a work visa, we've often got our hands full of stresses and worries. But GOD brought us here and has promised to provide for our needs, and HE has. Pray that we will rest in that, and be joyful because of it. While living here has amazing perks (duh, it's France), it's also so easy for us to be jealous of our American friends who have houses, new cars, steady incomes, kids, etc... Pray that GOD would change our hearts and find our joy in HIM, not things.

Psalm 73:26
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

- Pray for our time together. While we want to see as many friends and family members as possible for as long as we can, we also need to make time for each other. One of the benefits of living in France has been building a strong and growing friendship in our marriage. Unless we deliberately make time to pray together and talk about what's going on in each other's heads, we'll be missing out on some of HIS blessings on our relationship.

Jeremiah 29:11-13
For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

- Pray for our return. Six hours after landing, we have our first visa-renewal appointment to stay in France for the next year. From there we go straight into school orientation and classes for Jonathan, another appointment with French authorities, writing deadlines for Kari, bills due, and life in general. We also need wisdom and specific direction regarding Kari's work situation. Her boss is many months behind on payment and we need to know how to deal with this situation in a way that pleases GOD, rather than what comes naturally form our anger and frustration. If you only pray for one thing, please pray for this.

Psalm 143: 8
Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I lift up my soul.

Thank you for praying. Did you send us your requests?

O what peace...

O what peace we often forfeit,

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

-- Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886

Good news!

Good news here.

HE is Jehovah Rapha everywhere and for every person, for bodies and hearts.

Voice...

I heard YOU speak to me through her this morning. It was beautiful. Give me the strength to hold on to it.

Sante Yalla - ANSWERED!

The play on words in Sante Yalla may not be obvious to most as you have to speak both French and Wolof to understand it, but for us it's pretty accurate. In Wolof that phrase means, "Thanks be to GOD." But in French, the word sante means health. And today, we are thanking GOD for health. Health insurance, to be more precise.

Our current insurance expires soon as Jonathan no longer meets the requirements for "student coverage." (Still a student, just too...mature, shall we say.) So we've been dreading shopping for insurance, which would of course be more expensive than the reduced student rates. Between not knowing exactly what we need, where to draw the line for minimum coverage we want, deciphering the pages and pages of tiny print en francais, figuring how to pay for the inevitable price hike, and the upper 90 degree weather and two-bus ride across town, we were not excited about this venture.

But we made the appointment anyway, like the big grown-ups we are.

It went great. The advisor was actually a very knowledgeable intern who took the hour and a half we needed to explain everything, and didn't pressure us at all. We were able to find basic coverage to meet our needs, plus we can change short-term to fuller coverage (can you say that for insurance, or just women's bathing suits?) if we foresee any upcoming medical expenses.

Sante Yalla.

We are paying slightly more than we were before as "student and wife," but still so much less than we would in the US that I won't tell you how much. It may tempt you to fall into the sin of jealousy.

Sante Yalla.

Next hurdle: Renewing our visas so that we can stay in the country for another year.

Here's the thing. Our current visas expire in late September. You can only apply for a renewal appointment two months prior to the expiration date. As of today (two months out), they are booked solid through January 2007. Can you feel the stress in my neck?

UPDATE - This prayer has been answered!

Sante Yalla - HE is faithful, and HE will continue to provide.

Loneliness...

The loneliness washed over me all at once.

As an extrovert, I think it hit me harder than my somewhat introverted husband. But to see that it's something he notices and misses too seemed to validate my loneliness and make me feel like less of a drama queen.

When I was little, my family attended annual meetings during which I got to play with the other American kids. Mom says my brother and I were awful the weeks(s?) following these meetings because we "got spoiled" by having all our little friends around all the time. After returning from a week of activities and fun, playing in the yard with my little brother probably just didn't seem too thrilling.

As much as we are looking forward to our trip back to the US this summer, I am dreading the return when we say goodbyes. I began praying shortly after we bought our tickets that it would be a joyful return to the place GOD has us for now.

France is a lonely place for us. We don't have "peers" that share our situation, past experiences, or future dreams. For Jonathan to be student at 27 makes him older than most of his classmates. For me to be a wife at 25 makes me much (much) younger than the women at our local market. Add to that the facts that we are Americans, Christians, here for more than one school year, and that I work from home...our social circle is pretty small.

What started out as an innocent comment about an hour ago developed into a full-on discussion about our loneliness. As the tears filled my eyes and my voice waivered, I was reminded of Psalm 73:23-26...

Yet I am always with YOU; YOU hold me by my right hand.

YOU guide me with your counsel, and afterward YOU will take me into glory.

Whom have I in heaven but YOU? And earth has nothing I desire besides YOU.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but GOD is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.

Aha moment....

"Obey GOD in the thing HE shows you, and instantly the next thing is opened up.

The tiniest fragment of obedience, and heaven opens and the profoundest truths of God are yours straight away. GOD will never reveal more truth about HIMSELF until you have obeyed what you know already."

-- Oswald Chambers


Ah. Well that could explain a few things.

Pray with us that our hearts would be softened to what GOD is teaching us. Pray that we would be obedient in all things, even the things that seem crazy by human standards. Pray that HIS standard would be our standard. We want to grow in our understanding of and relationship with HIM.

Revival...

"Prayer is the revival, because it is far easier for GOD to convert a heathen than it is to make HIS children pray." -- Dr. John Hannah

I don't know how I feel about that statement. To be honest, it makes me squirm a bit. I remember a man we knew in Senegal who was looking for the answers. He was a practicing Muslim, but still searching. The Qu'ran instructs its followers to read the Old and New Testaments (called the Tawrat, Zabur and the Injil). So he did. And he prayed. He prayed five times each day, as the Qu'ran says, and he also prayed for wisdom to know the Truth.

This man didn't even know to whom he was praying or whose words he was reading. And yet he prayed and read the Bible more than I did. That makes me squirm a lot.

"We don't pray because we're too busy to hear the cries of dying people," says Tommy Nelson, author of The Big Picture, "When we do hear, we tend to turn to GOD, and revival is the result."

I don't know about you, but when I hear "revival" I'm thinking tent meetings and people passing out. Not something I'm too interested in. But to clarify, the revival Nelson is talking about is a reawakening or reviving of our faith.

A reawakening or reviving of my faith. That interests me. I want to pray like our friend did, with passion and a renewed desire to know GOD. I want to open my ears and my heart to hear the cries of those around me. But I know that when I do I will also see how great the needs are, how insufficient I am, and how powerful and loving my GOD is.

But can HE handle 5002?

I believe Jesus fed the 5,000. But can He provide us with rent money? After all, considering inflation since about 30 A.D., our rent is probably more expensive than feeding those 5,000 people an all-you-can-eat bread and fish dinner.

My buzzword for this past year is “being real.” Not too long ago, a very special friend of mine took a big leap into the unknown and confided in me what was really going on in her head and heart. She had strong doubts about the very core that we as Christians believe. She knew that I still believed, but needed to share her heart and be real with me in order for our friendship to be genuine. Even though the words she wrote broke my heart, even though it put a big elephant in the room with us on a few occasions, I appreciated her honesty, her willingness to open up and be real. If people can’t be real with each other, there’s not a true friendship between them.

So now it’s my turn to be real. I doubt. I worry. I wobble. But looking deeper, I do have faith that GOD is more than enough to meet my needs – every need. I don’t want to ever mislead people into thinking that I am some kind of doubt-defying super-Christian. Just the thought of that is making me laugh!

We moved into our apartment about a year ago. One month out of those twelve, we had enough money in our account to pay our expenses through to the next month. The other eleven months, we have prayed and ask GOD to provide for our needs. And HE has. We have never been late on a payment. Not school fees, not rent, not credit card, nada. Sometimes the money came in just in time, but it always came. It came from different sources, but ultimately, it came from GOD. And when it comes in, we give part of it back to HIM.

Jonathan came to Lyon for his school interview in December 2003, back when we were just buddies. He went to a spot that overlooks the city and to talk with GOD. During this time, GOD told him two things. First, that he would be accepted into the school. Second, that HE would provide. At that point, GOD still kept number three, “you will marry Kari,” under wraps.

So here we are. Two years later and two weeks out from rent and school fees being due. And what am I doing? I’m doubting. I’m worrying. I’m wobbling. But beneath it all, there is a peace in knowing that the Creator of this universe loves me and has promised to provide. And I choose to trust in that promise.

Let us hold unswervingly to the faith we profess, for HE who promised is faithful.
Hebrews 10:23

The LORD answered Moses, "Is the LORD's arm too short? You will now see whether or not what I say will come true for you."
Numbers 11:23

Then the word of the LORD came to Jeremiah, "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?
Jeremiah 32:26-27

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.
Hebrews 11:6

Article from Le Soleil

Translation of an article by Victor Diatta which appeared in Le Soleil, the national newspaper of Senegal. According to the World Factbook, Senegal is 94 percent Muslim.


United to spread the Good News, the Christian students of Cheikh Anta Diop University in Dakar organized a day, May 13, named Jesus Christ the Savior to share the Good News of salvation and to make their presence known to other students. Three groups of evangelical Christian students, Campus for Christ, Biblical Group for Dakar universities, and the Ker Jamm (House of Peace) church, are represented on the Cheikh Anta Diop campus. Each group worked separately, but decided to come together to make Jesus Christ known, and also to meet other Christians on the campus. The idea developed and plans were made as of May 6, 2005.

The program for this day included a praise walk, clean-up activities around the campus, organized discussion, skits, and tract distribution. Events began at 1 pm at the campus entrance on the Cheikh Anta Diop Avenue. The walk praising God and Christ went to the main street via building A, Coud, building E, and ended at the basketball court near building J. Here the students changed out of their white t-shirts identifying the three sponsoring groups and their goal and began working on campus clean-up projects. Their actions were a way of saying that they support a clean environment for the well-being of all the students.

A large, convivial meal wrapped up the cleaning activities and introduced a themed discussion, “The wrongs in our society, and their solutions.” The theme was selected by leaders from the three groups. They chose this theme because it is what is actually happening in their world. “Idolatry, abortion, adultery, fornication, violence, are some of the things that are wrong in our society, particularly for students. For all of these wrongs, Jesus Christ is the solution. The students of UCAD need to know this, so we’re here to tell them,” they said.

Mr. Charles Ouabego introduced the theme and reminded the students that since the disobedience of Adam and Eve, sin has been in the world. With sin came the wrongs of our society under the rule of Satan, the deceiver. “Today, the Good News is known to all of us: Christ came to deliver us from slavery to sin, from slavery under Satan and his army,” said Ouabego, “God placed Christ far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.” Ouabego concluded by saying that Christ has all power in the heavens and the earth. He is the solution to all the problems in our world.

Lively discussions followed this introduction. A skit was later performed and tracts distributed at the end of the day.


More information:
How to pray for Senegal?
More on Senegal
Who are the Lebou?
Fabulous Fish Tales

HE will be...

When Moses asked GOD what His name is, the name GOD gives is YAWEH, which means "I will be what I will be," in Hebrew. (Exodus 3:14)

HE will be what HE will be. If I want to know what that really means, I have to look at what GOD has said, and then pay close attention to see how HE fulfills HIS words in my life. I can only truly know GOD by experiencing HIM, by having a relationship with HIM. This can't be done in an afternoon or a weekend, or even in two years in France. This is a life-long journey to discover who HE will be for me.

It's often easier for me to believe that GOD will be the Comforter, Provider, and Father HE promises for others. It's much harder to believe that in my moments of need, HE will be there making my cup overflow.

But that is exactly who my GOD has been for me.

HE has been my Shield in danger and warfare.
HE has been my Friend when I was alone.
HE has been my Peace when my world was turmoil.
HE has been my Truth when I couldn't find my way.
HE ahs been my Joy when my heart was drained.
HE has been my Father and made me HIS child.
HE has been my Comfort when the pain was too much.
HE has been my Provision when the world could not.
HE has been my Hope when I had no reason to look for it.
HE has been my Rock when everything else shook beneath me.
HE has been my Redeemer every day.

And HE will be what HE will be. Taste and see that the LORD is good, says the psalmist in chapter 34, verse 8.

Time to please....

One of the greatest parts of being married for 570 days has been learning what we can do to make the other happy. Obviously when you spend a significant amount of time with someone, you learn about their likes and dislikes, what makes them tick, and what really drives them up the wall. Here are some examples of things we’ve learned:

Jonathan likes an apple variety called Pink Lady.

Kari likes little notes left for her to find.

Jonathan dislikes his socks folded into themselves.

Kari dislikes sweeping.

Jonathan loves hand massages.

Kari loves coffee with lots of milk.

Jonathan despises being late.

Kari despises feeling rushed.

You get the idea. When you love a person, it comes naturally to do things that please them, like buying Pink Ladies and trying to be ready on time. Conversely, you avoid doing things that would irritate them and make them give you “that look.”

I read a verse tonight that really clicked with me. Ephesians 5:10. It says, “and find out what pleases the LORD.” The verses prior to that explain that we once were lost in darkness, but now we know the Light. Jesus Christ said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)

Because we know Christ, we are told to “live as children of the light, and find out what pleases the LORD.”

How do we go about finding out these things? You can’t really know someone without spending time with them. Think about it. If your friend tells you she met a great guy on the internet, wouldn’t your first thought be, “but how can you know him if you’ve never actually spent time with him?” He may be a great guy, but she can’t know that for sure yet. So there’s our first step – spend time with GOD. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to, “pray without ceasing.”

Pray without ceasing. Talk to GOD about the things that please HIM. Ask HIM what you can do to make HIM smile, or even laugh with you. Tell HIM how much HIS creation pleases you – that sunset over the lake in Iowa, Nicole’s smile, the stars in the St Louis sky, Mom’s eyes, intricate languages, Baby Astu’s little toes, coffee and cocoa, Jonathan hands, the sand dunes in Mauritania, Dad’s laugh…

Complete sentence...

I am pleasing to GOD.

This was a hard sentence for me to write as part of my study this morning. Actually, the hard part was the period at the end. My mind kept telling my hand to turn that dot into a comma, and than continue with, "but I need to try harder." Or maybe "I am pleasing to GOD, but I need to pray more, eat less, read my Bible more, gossip less, give more to the church..."

Romans 5:1 says, "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

When I read that verse, I get stuck on the sixth word. I can't ever remember the difference in justified and sanctified. So I looked up justified.

Justified:
To declare free of blame; absolve.
To free (a human) of the guilt and penalty attached to grievous sin. Used of God.

Let's try it again. "Therefore, since we have been [freed from blame and penalty] through faith, we have peace with God..." Faith refers to the decision to accept Christ's gift when He took our sins from us and paid the penalty with His life. This means that even though I sin (often and repeatedly), the penalty has already been paid by Christ. (See Romans 6:23)

"... we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."

I am now free, at peace with God. He loves me as I am right now. Can I improve in some areas? Sure. But His love does not depend on those improvements. By human standards, worth is based on our contributions to society, our accomplishments, how much money we make, etc... But God declared I was valuable when He gave His Son to die for me. That currency doesn't fluxuate.

And I can rejoice in the fact that when I write, "I am pleasing to GOD," it is a complete sentence.

A calf in my mirror...

I've been reading in Exodus lately. I read about GOD leading the Israelites out of Egypt where they were slaves, sending a pillar of smoke and fire to guide them, parting the Red Sea for their escape from Pharoah, providing water and manna in the desert...

Later on Moses gave the people the 10 commandments and in Exodus 24:7 they're all like, "Woohoo! We'll do it." Aaron is named the priest and annointed.

Then Moses leaves to go meet GOD on the mountain. Exodus 32:1 says the people thought he was "delaying" in returning. However long he was gone, that's all the time it took for the people to want something new and tangible...and even Aaron caved in! He collected all their gold and made it into a golden calf for them to worship.

I looked at Jonathan at this point and was like, "Seriously. He was just named priest and he's already turning to worship something else..." and before the sentence was out it was like huge mirror in front of my face.

How many times has GOD been faithful and I still turn to look for something tangible rather than trusting in HIM and waiting for HIS timetable?

Praise You in this storm...

I just heard this song for the first time today. And I've probably heard it 25 times already since it's on repeat. These words are exactly where our heart is right now We can see the storm on all sides. And in the midst, we choose to praise HIM.

Pray for us to have the strength and wisdom to trust and rely on HIM alone.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love HIM, who have been called according to HIS purpose. (Romans 8:28)

From Lifesong cd, by Casting Crowns

I was sure by now
That You would have reached down
And wiped our tears away
Stepped in and saved the day
But once again, I say "Amen"
and it's still raining

As the thunder rolls
I barely hear You whisper through the rain
"I'm with you"
And as Your mercy falls
I raise my hands and praise the God
Who gives and takes away

I'll praise You in this storm
And I will lift my hands
For you are who you are
No matter where I am
Every tear I've cried
You hold in Your hand
You never left my side
And though my heart is torn
I will praise you in this storm

I remember when
I stumbled in the wind
You heard my cry You raised me up again
My strength is almost gone
How can I carry on
If I can't find You

I lift my eyes unto the hills
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord
The Maker of Heaven and Earth

Leg of ram and a prayer...

We got an e-mail yesterday from Pape Dieye, our friend from Senegal. Jonathan lived with Pape and his family for about a year and a half, so they're pretty close. Pape said in his e-mail that they celebrated Korite this week, which is part of the Muslim Ramadan festivties. He also said that they saved a leg of the sacrificed ram for us to eat upon our return.

They sacrifice a perfect ram to cover their sins from the previous year. But we know that the perfect sacrifice that covers all of our sins has already been made.

This Man, from Jeremy Camp's Restored cd

In only moment truth
Was seen revealed this mystery
The crown that showed no dignity he wore
And the king was placed for all the world
To show disgrace but only beauty flowed from his face

Would you take the place of this man?
Would you take the nails from his hands?
Would you take the place of this man?
Would you take the nails from his hands?

He held the weight of impurity the father
Would not see
The reasons had finally come to be to
Show the depth of his grace flowed with
Every sin he erased he knew that this was
Why he came

Would you take the place of this man?
Would you take the nails from his hands?
Would you take the place of this man?
Would you take the nails from his hands?

And we just don't know the blood and
Water flowed and in it all he showed just
How much he cared
And the veil was torn so we could have
This open door and all these things have
Finally been complete

Cry out to Jesus...

Third Day - From the album Wherever You Are

To everyone who's lost someone they love
Long before it was their time
You feel like the days you had were not enough
when you said goodbye

And to all of the people with burdens and pains
Keeping you back from your life
You believe that there's nothing and there is no one
Who can make it right

There is hope for the helpless
Rest for the weary
Love for the broken heart
There is grace and forgiveness
Mercy and healing
He'll meet you wherever you are
Cry out to Jesus, Cry out to Jesus

For the marriage that's struggling just to hang on
They’ve lost all of their faith in love
They've done all they can to make it right again
Still it's not enough

For the ones who can't break the addictions and chains
You try to give up but you come back again
Just remember that you're not alone in your shame
And your suffering

When you're lonely
And it feels like the whole world is falling on you
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus
Cry to Jesus

To the widow who suffers from being alone
Wiping the tears from her eyes
For the children around the world without a home
Say a prayer tonight