I don't know if I've ever had as much joy inside me as I'm experiencing in this very moment.
I've seen God answer prayers, bring to fulfillment visions and promises He's given, and releasing revelations on what He's about to do.... and it has driven me to praise! I can't stop singing!
So, what has brought this all about, you ask?
As the Good Shepherd promised, I have been led to an area to begin the task He's set before me. God answered my prayers for a time of rest when I first moved out on my own and I used that time to seek direction and to intercede for the girls He was about to give me...Oh, that their hearts would be drawn to His and that He would place deep trust between us!
I didn't want to rush into anything. God had been speaking to me about the consequences of moving too quickly and taking matters into my own hands. I want an Isaac, not an Ishmael. I want God's perfect will in my life...
And more often than not, this requires waiting.
I've seen God answer prayers, bring to fulfillment visions and promises He's given, and releasing revelations on what He's about to do.... and it has driven me to praise! I can't stop singing!
So, what has brought this all about, you ask?
As the Good Shepherd promised, I have been led to an area to begin the task He's set before me. God answered my prayers for a time of rest when I first moved out on my own and I used that time to seek direction and to intercede for the girls He was about to give me...Oh, that their hearts would be drawn to His and that He would place deep trust between us!
I didn't want to rush into anything. God had been speaking to me about the consequences of moving too quickly and taking matters into my own hands. I want an Isaac, not an Ishmael. I want God's perfect will in my life...
And more often than not, this requires waiting.
At the same time, there came a point when God told me "it's time"... I confess, at that moment I froze. You know, when you're waiting and praying for so long for something and God's only reply is "wait," it can be nerve-racking when He says "go!" I didn't want to miss out on anything He might have, so I asked for courage (and more courage) and set out in obedience.
I had been given the name of one of the women in the village and was told she would be a good source if I was wanting to start something there... and was she ever! Bless her heart, when I shared a bit of the vision God has given me and how I sensed He wanted me to start in her community, she had her children rally all the kids in the area to meet me. I have been so blessed by her gentle and willing spirit to help me carry out this vision.
I by no means wanted to storm into the community as a white person with a grand agenda. So, what do I do now? Good question. I had been asking God the same thing. I've been like the persistent widow on that one...
Silence.
You're kidding me, right? I've sensed for awhile now that God has something bigger in store and I'm not supposed to do things as I had before in a classroom setting. Instead, when I relentlessly knocked on the door of heaven, asking what He wants me to do, He told me, "What did Jesus do?"
Based off of that response, it was settled in my spirit that I would have no agenda at all but to love the girls, speak Truth, and be a living example.
For the past few weeks, I have been spending a couple afternoons a week acquainting myself with the girls and slowly establishing relationships. This past Thursday, I went out to do just that. We assembled some white plastic chairs outside a home in the shade of a tree and just talked. It was so raw, so beautiful, and so real. Laughing with the girls over silly things and learning new games I never knew before.
Then, the inevitable barrage of personal questions came...
I had been given the name of one of the women in the village and was told she would be a good source if I was wanting to start something there... and was she ever! Bless her heart, when I shared a bit of the vision God has given me and how I sensed He wanted me to start in her community, she had her children rally all the kids in the area to meet me. I have been so blessed by her gentle and willing spirit to help me carry out this vision.
I by no means wanted to storm into the community as a white person with a grand agenda. So, what do I do now? Good question. I had been asking God the same thing. I've been like the persistent widow on that one...
"Lord, You've spoken to me through Isaiah 54 that I, who have not been in labor, would be given more children than the married woman, and therefore to enlarge the place of my tent, to let the curtains of my habitations be stretched out, to not hold back, to lengthen my cords and strengthen my stakes... If I'm supposed to do this, reveal to me how you want me to build the foundation of this ministry. Expand the vision and grant me revelation!"
Silence.
You're kidding me, right? I've sensed for awhile now that God has something bigger in store and I'm not supposed to do things as I had before in a classroom setting. Instead, when I relentlessly knocked on the door of heaven, asking what He wants me to do, He told me, "What did Jesus do?"
"Well, Lord, Jesus walked among the people He was serving, He spoke His Father's word, and He raised up disciples who would build the church and carry the hope of the calling we have in Him into the future."
Based off of that response, it was settled in my spirit that I would have no agenda at all but to love the girls, speak Truth, and be a living example.
For the past few weeks, I have been spending a couple afternoons a week acquainting myself with the girls and slowly establishing relationships. This past Thursday, I went out to do just that. We assembled some white plastic chairs outside a home in the shade of a tree and just talked. It was so raw, so beautiful, and so real. Laughing with the girls over silly things and learning new games I never knew before.
Then, the inevitable barrage of personal questions came...
"Where's your boyfriend?"
"I don't have a boyfriend."
"No, really. Where's your boyfriend?"
"Seriously, I don't have a boyfriend. I'm single."
"How old are you?"
"How old do you think I am?"
"Uh, 27... 22...28?"
"Haha, yes, 28.... but we can say 22 if you want."
"How many kids do you have?"
"I don't have any kids."
"Why not?"
"Well, because I don't have a husband. I don't have any ring on my finger, see?"
"That doesn't matter. Why don't you have a boyfriend?"
"Well, I'm waiting on God... I don't want to be with anyone but the man God has chosen for me, so I'm waiting. I pray for him and I know God has him set aside for me somewhere, but my body and my heart I'm saving for marriage... because I want what God wants..."
There were a few moments of silence before the girl sitting next to me sweetly replied,
"Like a princess waiting for her prince."
EXACTLY!
The Holy Spirit was there with us on that little patio under the tree... prompting us all into that divine moment. Don't you love how He moves?!
What a beautiful response... Like a princess waiting for her prince!
"Exactly! We're all princesses, right? We're all daughters of God and He's the King of kings, so that makes us princesses. Don't you want to wait for the prince God has chosen for you?"
The sweet smiles on the girls' faces touched a place so deep in my heart. God was revealing to me what to do next. After countless prayers of seeking direction in how He wants me to proceed in this ministry, "out of the mouths of babes" He answers me.
His daughters are princesses and they need to be taught how a princess carries herself, how her Father loves her, and who He created her to be.
Essentially, I'm these girls' Lady-in-waiting. While I, myself, am a lady in waiting, God has placed me in the position of a lady-in-waiting... discipling these princesses in the ways of The Kingdom of God.
When these girls truly know and understand who they are in God's eyes, I believe whole generations will be transformed and set apart for His glory.
The ideas are swirling, my heart is pounding, and I can't wait to share with you what will happen next!
Please join me in praying for these sweet girls to know who they are in Christ and how very precious they are to our Father!
The ideas are swirling, my heart is pounding, and I can't wait to share with you what will happen next!
Please join me in praying for these sweet girls to know who they are in Christ and how very precious they are to our Father!
Couple of things since Blogger ate my first attempt at commenting:
ReplyDelete1. It'll be interesting to see how God uses this time in your life in the future. Yes, I get that the missionary life isn't glamorous, but the presence of increased irritations and burdens makes me wonder if He is not preparing you for another (geographical) location. I see that you love God and want to share that with others, and that's great. Just wondering hoping t hat the next transition will be a lot lighter for you.
2. It seems as if you've grown quite intolerant of being sought after as a sex object for the local's consumption (to put it lightly). And good for you.
3. Use caution when entering conversations with men about who and if you have a BF, where he is and so on. There are people far more cunning and dastardly with ill intentions who want to know your schedule and how your security is set up. As a woman of god, I wouldnt even enter those conversations with men who are not husband material. Its none of their business -- really, and not to be used as a ministry tool.
Be well.