Taking time to Reflect...

In my Old Testament class, we are just finished reading and studying Chronicles. Not a book that we often turn to…but one that we can all learn from. The book of Chronicles was written as a reflection of what God had done in the history of His people. It is interesting because a lot of the information in Chronicles is found elsewhere in Kings, but the authors focus is different. The book of Kings focuses on all the kings did wrong and how far they drifted from God. The mood chances in Chronicles though, as the author looks back at the covenant that God has with His children and how faithful God has been throughout their history. I found this really interesting because we don’t often take time to look back and recognize how faithful God has been in our lives and how everything that He has done and is still doing is connected. After reading Chronicles, I started thinking back to God’s work in my life and was amazed at how His hand can be clearly seen in every experience that I have had and every person I have met…but the thing is this should not surprise me…God promises to be faithful and God always keeps His promise. Let this be a challenge to each of us to not only live to God in the present, but also to reflect on the past and the faithfulness of God in each of our lives. 1 Chronicles 16:7-36 records a psalm of thanks from David. A couple of verses that stick out to me:
1 Chronicles 16:8-12 – “give thanks to the Lord, call on His name; make known among the nations what He has done. Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of His wonderful act. Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done.”

I was going through things the other day and I came across my pictures and journal from the first time I was in Kenya when I was in college. I have had so much fun this week looking through the pictures and reading what I wrote back then…I have laughed so many times at the memories. It has also been fun to remember what God was teaching me back then and think about where I am today. I never knew then that I would spend three years in Tanzania, but God did and He used that whole experience to shape me and prepare my heart for His work. I also found a letter that I wrote to myself; we wrote them the last week that we were there and then the school sent them to us a few months later. As I am reflecting back on God’s faithfulness, here are a few parts from the letter that I wrote to myself and all that God has taught me:

Letter written from me, to me on December 15, 2002

Emily
This is a little weird to write because when I open this to read, I will have forgotten about it but I hope that the experiences that I write about will be fresh in my mind. I have just come off a semester in Kenya and so much has changed. I came into this trip not really expecting much other than that I would definitely be changed, and this is definitely what happened. I don’t think that I would have been able to come here and not be changed in some way. So much happened in five months that I don’t really know where to begin reflecting about it. I have been stretched and changed as a person and have been put in situations that have really made me think. I have met people who have challenged me and I have learned so much about who I am.
I think that some of the way that I have changed is in my dependency on God. I hope that even at home I will realize the need to be dependent on God for everything. I think that a lot of times it is really easy for me to be completely reliant on myself and to only call on God when I am in need. This trip has helped me realize that I always am in need and that I need to be dependent on God at all times. So, Emily, how are you doing with this?
Being away has also made me realize that I take so much of my life, experiences and relationships for granted. I am young, yet God has already blessed me beyond what I can imagine. Yet how often do I thank God for all the things that He does for me and has given me. I hope that as I look back and reflect on what I have learned that I will be able to see all the things that I take for granted and will be more grateful.
I know that this trip and my experience have played a huge role in shaping who I am today and hopefully my life. I hope that as I take time to look back that it will fill me with emotion and that I can honestly reflect about my experiences and how I have grown.
I think that my theme verse has been Philippians 4:12 – it talks about being content in all situations. I know that this is something that has been a struggle not only on this trip but also throughout my life. I hope that looking back I can honestly day that I can be content and at peace no matter what situations arise or what I face in my life. God has given me the ability to be content and I know that He is all I really need in life and only through Him will I be able to be content in all situations. God has given me talents and visions for my life and through relying on Him I am able to do all things.
Emily

Take time this week to reflect on God’s faithfulness and what He is teaching you…

Two final quotes:
“How differently would we live if we believed that every event in our lives – from the happy to the tragic to the mundane – was part of a meticulous and purposeful design in which all the elements intertwined with breathtaking precision?” (The Grand Weaver by Ravi Zacharias)

“What is we were so moved by who God is, what He has done and what He will do that praise, adoration, worship, whatever, continuously careened in our hearts and pounded in our souls?” (Praise Habit by David Crowder)

It's the little things...

I have put off writing a blog for so long because I did not know what to say…I am still not sure that I know what to say, but here is my attempt at making sense of what I have been thinking and feeling…

So many people have asked me how I am handling being back in the States and my answer so far has been that I am doing good – that I am flexible and do pretty good wherever I am, that I am not having any culture shock, that I am enjoying being back…all of which are true statements. I have come to realize that it is not the big “culture shock” things that are the hard part, it is all the little things. It is the day to day things that became so natural living in Dar that I come to expect here and the disappointment when they are different. Yet on the other hand there are all the exciting things that living here brings…some days my mind just swirls. Some days are more overwhelming than others. I need to keep reminding myself that it is going to take time…I did live in Tanzania for three years so it is going to take time to adjust to being back here full time. I think that I am kind of living with the thought that I am here short term and will be going back soon, so I have had to struggle to make myself a part of a community here. I just have to remind myself that life is a journey and this is the path that God has for me and though there are ups and downs and twists and turns on the journey, I will continue “run with perseverance the race marked out for us…Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1,2).

So…these are just some of my thoughts right now as I am looking back over the last few years and looking ahead to all that God has in store for me.

The little things that are different…

*I can wash, dry and fold clothes in 2 hours…in Dar this process would have taken at least 2 days if not more.
*I always have power and when it does go off it is a major crisis…it went off once and the house alarm started freaking out…and then my dad said that if it did not come on again soon, that we could turn on the generator…we have a what?? I never knew people in American had generators…we did not even have one in Dar and we would lose power all the time!
*If I need something, I simply get in the car, drive straight there, get it (because stores always have everything in stock) and drive home…simple as that!
*I can have a warm shower (not from a bucket) every morning…more times a day if I choose.
*It is quiet at night…I mean quiet and dark here…no bright moon or security lights, no honking cars, no dogs parking, no guard walking around outside…
*I can drink the water right from the tap! Still takes some getting used to…
*I keep naturally inserting certain Swahili words into my sentences…like we did in Dar…and people always look at me strange…I don’t care though…I will still use them!
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*The list could go on and on…but just a little taste of what I mean by the “little things”…the everyday things that are a part of my life no longer…that’s where I am having the hardest time adjusting.
Thanks for reading…and for your patience…I promise…more to come…soon. I am inspired now and have many “blogs” running through my head!