New Motivation

There are times when I struggle to do the things I know I should. There are some who love to exercise. I've been trying to find things I love to become more healthy. In the past I have found the simplest excuses, avoiding what I know that I should do.

Until today...

We live in the epicenter of bike riders. On a daily basis I see teams of riders, pairs of riders, old and young. We live in the center of their ride. In the morning, on the way to school I see riders. Doing errands during the day I see riders. After school and into the early evening, everywhere I go I see those who ride. It has become a common sight for us to see many who have the passion for riding. This morning was no different. Until I saw an unusual sight, one I have NEVER seen before.

Driving toward home I saw a pair of riders, two older gentlemen. As I approached them though, I noticed that the rider in front was leaning heavily on his handlebars to the right. I thought that was slightly odd until I came up upon him. I noticed that he was pedaling twice as fast as the gentleman behind him. He was pedaling that fast because he only had his left leg. How can he do that, crossed my mind, HE IS ONLY RIDING WITH ONE LEG!

I haven't been able to get him out of my mind. I came to the computer without hesitation for I don't want to leave this post unforgotten. This man has CHOSEN to overcome his obstacles and has decided to make no excuses even though he has one. He is choosing to choose life and health. Although I don't know what led him to this place, I see that he is living his life to its fullest and is choosing to work out. Even better, he was doing it with a friend who had his back. He was riding behind him, riding with him on his journey, being a companion and there for him should anything happen.

It truly made me think how blessed I am with health and two legs. There are no excuses good enough. The only thing that separates me from being the best I can be is me! One picture, changes everything! I don't think I will ever forget that word picture. That is how God speaks to me. Through pictures, He teaches me concepts I can understand and won't forget. While that man will never know how he inspired me today, God used Him greatly in my life to have the motivation to move beyond feelings and do what needs to be done!

Two are Better Than One

He comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. II Corinthians 2:4

Each day I see posts of things that people are going through on a daily basis. I have three friends who are battling cancer. One friend is pregnant for her very first time. A teenager is struggling with mean friends. A friend goes through the aftermath of divorce, trying to live life as a single mom. Scores of other people are struggling in their marriage. A few struggle with infertility and so desire to be parents. Some couples are dealing with caring for aging parents.

What if all of these people had to go through life alone? How hard is it to walk through life without someone to share lifes ups and downs with? Isn't it better to share our joys and struggles with a spouse, a friend or family member. God says that we go through struggles in life so that we can give comfort to those who walk behind us. We don't have to live life alone, He created us to be in community with others. While God is the true source for comfort, it is also a blessing to hear the words from another human being " I understand, while my journey is not exactly like yours I understand some of your feelings." There is great healing in being affirmed by someone else.

The next time you think you are alone, remember that God is always there, He has promised to never leave or forsake us. Furthermore, He has placed many people around us to share life with us. It is true,
two are better than one!

Meaningless

I usually post on an upbeat note. However, this past week I haven't felt so upbeat. It's not a normal place for me to be really. Most of those who know me well, know that this is out of the ordinary. I've pondered a lot this week and realized some things.

Traveling to the Dominican, seeing some big changes in others and then coming back to the ordinary, the mundane, feeling torn between being overly blessed and back into the reality of every day life, I see things differently. I saw life there in its simplicity, I saw life without things. I experienced community and traded it for technology and the life of solitude, life behind bright screens. It truly isn't the same as being surrounded by others.

I also know that after "mountain top experiences" we are often hit with trials and tribulations. I think the enemy wants to see if the changes that we experienced are for real or if we will just crumble and become like we were before. He often replaces joy with depression, health with sickness, community with separation.

Walking life with Christ is peaks and valleys. This week when I looked around, I remembered Ecclesiastes. Solomon talked about having grand houses, material wealth, power and prestige. And then one day he looked around and saw that it all amounted to nothing, it was worthless. I've tried all week to pull myself out of the funk, all to no avail. Maybe He wants me to stay here for a little while and just sit still.

I HATE sitting still, I'm not very good at it. In the past, I have not shared or been transparent, when I visit these valleys. It is far better to give everyone the appearance that every one's life is perfect, without dark days or days of doubt. But there is not a soul that doesn't go here, valleys are for every human. Some of us stay for a day or two, others stay for months, yet others battle with the valleys for a lifetime. It is real and I think Satan loves for us to visit this place alone.

I sensed tonight that God wanted me to share this valley. Someone along the way will read this and know that they are not alone. It is a human condition to feel blue. There are so many life experiences that cause one to feel down or depressed. Sometimes we can't even acknowledge what brings us to this place.

I used to question where God was in the valley, why I couldn't feel His presence. Why He wouldn't reveal Himself to me when I truly needed to feel Him near. I truly battled with that for years until last year I finally figured out that I never see Him in the darkness. He wants me to trust that He is there even though I can't see or feel Him. He has NEVER revealed Himself until after I come through the tunnel, however long I might be in there. On the other side I always see Him, like in a rainbow which He has shown me several times. I don't know how long I will stay in the valley, I guess that is only for Him to decide. I know who is responsible for casting the trials upon me and I know that God has allowed them to change something in me. Although I can't see the big picture, I know that He still loves me and will reveal Himself to me on the other side of the fog. Until then, I trust that He knows what is best for me and I will try to do my best to be still and wait...

P.S. This was my nightly reading...
Since you are part of My royal family..you must share my suffering if you are to share My glory. You don't need to search for ways to suffer. Living in this broken world provides ample opportunity to experience pain of many kinds. When adversity comes your way, search for Me in the midst of your struggles. Ask Me to help you suffer well, in a manner worthy of royalty. Everything you endure can help you become more like Me. Remember the ultimate goal: You will see My face in righteousness and be satisfied.

Finishing What I Started

Reflections from the Dominican - Final Observations

He who began a good work in you will complete it! Phil. 1:6

I began journaling about our trip, the Monday when we arrived, July 23. I have been writing ever since. I filled an entire book, complete with pictures to go with my words. Someone had given me the journal, a while back. On the outside cover it fittingly says "Faith". I started writing some observations about scripture a while back, but only filled a few pages. I grabbed it on my way out before we left for our trip. It has taken me more than two weeks to process through our journey there. Last night, I finally finished it. Some may ask the question why I was so intentional and deliberate in recording my thoughts and observations.

I think part of why it is so important is that through the years we forget. I don't want to ever forget the people that went with us or the people that we lived with and served alongside of like Carlos, our Food for the Hungry liason and our interpreters who we worked with, ate with, played games with.

It is strange to think that 28 people can leave for a trip and you barely know the person's name. But in 7 days, it feels like they are family. I almost wish that we would have had some more days because I felt like we were only scratching the surface of "knowing" those that we grew to love and appreciate. Everyone had unique skills and talents and yet, everyone was needed to do a different job. When we learn to appreciate each person for their uniqueness, a unity takes place because everyone is striving to accomplish the same purpose.

While the trip had it's personal peaks and valleys, all in all, I felt God's presence with us and could sense that we had fulfilled His purpose for us being there. While I'm not sure how big of a difference I personally made, I truly felt that I received more than I had given. I also watched everyone in my family being stretched out of their comfort zones and they were all very successful in the tasks that they were given. I guess you could say that we are very proud parents and I can honestly say how blessed I felt that I was "serving alongside" of my husband. There is something to be said about strengthening bonds when you do things as a team. Although there were not many quiet or private moments to be with each other as a family, it was an awesome experience to be able to take a trip like that as a family unit. I saw God work in each of our lives, one seed at a time. While we don't know what kind of return on our investment that we will see in the future, personally, as a family, or in the community that we dwell in Scottsdale or in the Dominican Community, it is only God's to decide. He called us, we showed up and we did what He asked.

I think it was fitting to record our journey in "Faith". Because in looking back, it sums up that chapter of my life and I can live in the present and plan for the future. Going to the Dominican built my faith, by seeing new seeds planted, watching others grow and waiting for others to plant seeds for the next generation behind them. Until next year, continuing our mission in Sierra Prieta. I can't wait for the continued saga to return! God truly does more than we could ever imagine or ask for!

Transformation

Reflections from the Dominican Republic - Part 5

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. II Corinthians 5:17
It was our theme for the week in the Dominican working with the kids. Our stories talked about people who had lived a questionable life before they met Jesus and once they understood his love, everything about them changed.

It was my prayer for everyone in the community whose lives we touched, and each one of our team that when we came home, our life would be transformed! When I talk about transformation, I don't say it in a sense, that we would come away wanting to do more community service. There are so many organizations, even companies, schools and websites asking for people to "do good". What I am talking about is not "doing more." When I ponder transformation, I think of one family in our village. 

Last year, this family lived in what seemed an impossible situation, unloving for everyone who lived in this house. To them, it seemed that there was no hope. If you looked from the outside in, they lived in darkness. Food for the Hungry, family and friends surrounded them and the family was redeemed and rescued from a family member. After this, Food for the Hungry built this family a new home.

I had the honor of visiting this family with a very dear friend. I didn't see this family last summer, but my friend has a standing relationship with the daughters. The house was beautiful, bright and airy. It was spotless with the most beautiful flower garden in front. Seven varieties of butterflies were flying from one plant to the next. Her yard was also filled with beautiful fruit and plants, which is uncommon in this village. What I witnessed was the fruit of a complete transformation. This family was a perfect picture of what happens when one comes to Christ. They are redeemed from their darkness and they were filled with peace and joy. I felt God's presence in this house and saw the light in each member of the family!

God began a great work in our team. Some saw God and His love through mankind like they have never seen before. Sometimes God has to strip everything away, bringing us back to the basics, for us to hear His voice and see Him. Only God can draw us to Himself. We cannot bring change in the life of another human being. All He asks of us is to show up when He calls us, have a heart full of love and available hands to do whatever He asks to be Jesus in the flesh. While we felt called to go, God taught us more through the beautiful people of Sierra Prieta than we gave to them. Indeed, our lives will never be the same.

What is Poverty?

Reflections of the Dominican Republic - Part 4

"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children." Nelson, Mandela

Psalm 140:12 “I know that the LORD secures justice for the poor and upholds the cause of the needy.”

There are over 300 verses in Scripture about what God thinks about the poor and needy. 300 is a huge number! It only says to me how great is His compassion for those who are in need. If it is that important to Him, it must be that important to us.

The question that I wrestled with this past week while I've been home is, what is being poor? One definition that I found was as follows: the state or condition of having little or no money, goods, or means of support; condition of being poor.

We often think of poverty in the sense of material things, the state of one's home, their clothing, transportation, education level. We link poverty to "having" little and then we compare it to our living conditions. When we visit a place like Sierra Prietta, it is easy to see poverty. With no running water, limited electricity, no flushable toilets, no air conditioning or showers, we see what little they have.

Poverty goes beyond material wealth. The last part of the definition said condition of being poor. Could it be that each person is needy in some manner? I've heard it said that being poor is a mindset. The people of Sierra Prietta were by no means "poor in spirit". It was quite the opposite. They stood and walked with heads held high, shoulders back, walking with dignity and grace. They may have been without a lot of things that we can say that we have, however they still had a roof over their heads, food on the table, although it by no means measured to what we have. In fact, most of them eat one meal a day and their children are still hungry. There are many places in the world that don't have even that. Unfortunately, we even have families without meals in the United States. Hunger in any country should not exist. I've heard it said it is because of the greed of a few.

Health care is another noticable indicator of poverty. I noticed in one family that there were two babies, both under the age of a year, cousins, I think the mothers were. I began to think that there are girls getting pregnant there under the age of 20, just like in the US. While some are not married and there are needs associated with that, I started thinking about when those babies are born. The nearest medical care is more than 50 minutes away. Medical care in Sierra Prieta is almost non-existent. That means that the older women must help these young women in labor. It is a sheer miracle that without clean water, sterilized equipment or a clean bed or sterilized clothes to put the newborn in, it is amazing that both mother and child survive in that environment.

But that got me thinking, here in the US. we go to the hospital for the most part with our husbands or a chosen few, having the child in the presence of strangers; doctors and nurses. Throughout the experience, we are mostly alone. There, in birth and death, one is always surrounded by community. While we have many material things, we often lack relationships, with our family, and with our friends. They are poor in stuff, rich in relationship.

After the fall of man, no matter where you live, we all are need and lack something. So the question I have been asking myself is not, how can we "fix" all of what they lack, but where do I have poverty in my own soul? For many outside of relationship with others, they lack relationship with our heavenly Father. In the New Testament, a rich man asked Jesus how could he get into heaven. Jesus' response was to leave everything behind. Are we so focused on our things, that our things begin to own us? Things occupy our time, and our energy. My mind goes back to the family that Paul and his friends were building a house for. His most prized possession in his house were the pictures of his family, proudly on display. The ironic thing, was that he wasn't even in any of them.

What is our focus? What do we lack in our own life?

God Uses Everyone!

Reflections from the Dominican Republic - Part 3

Out of 28 people, we had people of all ages part of our team. While Paul and I were probably some of the oldest, Dylan, our son was the youngest, two others were just a year older than Dylan. Almost half of the group were teenagers, my favorite age to be a part of. They are my passion in this season of life since I have one too, Abby, who also was part of the trip. The kids were an important part of our team. They brought energy, and life to the kids of the community. They served as group leaders in VBS and were playmates to the kids when they came to the school to visit with us in our times when we weren't working in the community. They also drew in the teenagers of the community to play basketball and dominoes.

Everyone had gifts and talents to contribute. Some of our people were skilled in building and construction. Others knew much about agriculture and were instrumental in sowing plants in the community to teach them how to grow and provide future sources of food for their family. Others worked with the children in VBS in music, crafts or playing games. Each person, using their own unique gifts and talents would be used by God in this community while we were there.

Before we left for the trip, I must admit, I had my reservations about Dylan's age, being the youngest on the team. Dylan is filled with life and energy, but at times doesn't quite know how to contain it. Given people were put together in tight spaces like the airplane, bus rides, many people living in one room, added to it heat, lack of food that they were accustomed to, and tiredness. I was concerned about  the expectations of others.

I was very proud of the young kids on our team. There were so many times they were put in adult environments with adult expectations; a 2 hour church service, multiple meetings that lasted more than an hour. All of the kids showed a great deal of self control and were quite important in gaining the love and trust of the youngest in the community.

Dylan did a fantastic job connecting with four young boys in the community who at times, matched his eagerness for life and also shared his energy. They became his gang from the very first day. At times other kids would leave them out of games, but Dylan always included everyone and they began to look for him and follow us wherever we went.

Another time, it had rained a lot in one afternoon and it created a huge puddle outside of our front gate. Dylan was talking about the puddle with some of our men and when we came back from a morning of activity, Dylan started digging trenches on either side of the puddle to let the water flow downhill with one of our women. Soon, we engaged some young teenage boys to help with the process. The people of the village would walk and drive through it as if it didn't even exist, not knowing that eventually the water wasn't good for their only transportation, their motorcycles.  We are hoping that this will open their eyes that they can do things like dig trenches for themselves, to take ownership and come up with their own solutions. Dylan was an important part in getting kids involved who lack purpose or things to do. It was awesome to watch that God has jobs for even the youngest and He wants to use anyone that has a willing heart and open hands to serve.

Matter of Perspective

Reflections from the Dominican Republic - Part 2

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Philippians 4:8

Before we left, as a family we decided that no matter what circumstances came our way, we would choose to make the best of it and not complain. That meant if things changed at the airport, we were hungry, hot or tired we would say nothing. I often reminded myself before we left, that our living environment was only temporary, 5 days to be exact. When we came home, we would return to things as normal. However, we would leave behind a village of people who would continue to live just like before we came.

As we drove into the community, it was just as I had expected. The landscape was green and lush, with large pastures of untouched land. If it was the US, we would plant corn or beans, or fill the land with livestock such as cows or horses. The houses were of made of cinderblock, tin, or wood. As we drove in, there were waves and smiles from children and adults alike. It made me think how at home when someone passes by, we look straight ahead or down, not even acknowledging that there is another human in our midst. In addition, most of us were foreigners, strangers that they had never met.

We were filled with anticipation and excitement for this new adventure we were about to enter. Until, the bags were unloaded and we began to methodically set up our new homes. Sheets were on the beds, fans were filled with batteries, mosquito nets were tightly embracing our space to shield us from unwanted visitors. As we were moving around, we felt the heat from our tin roof, and our shirts became drenched from perspiration. Within a half hour, I found myself without little relief and nausea came over me very quickly. I kept telling myself, it's Ok, I will not be sick. It lasted for several hours and I was so grateful when it passed.

Each day that passed, I found myself thankful for the fan that swept a slight breeze over me and the power that we had for few hours of the day in the afternoon to get out of the heat for just a few moments. I was thankful for the cool, fresh water that they put ice in, filling my water bottle. The people of our village, don't have clean drinking water, electricity, showers, toilets or running water. They carry water on their heads for cooking and sponge off and wash their clothes in a bucket by hand. Most families eat only one meal a day. We quickly saw in less than 6 hours we live in a country of freedom and material abundance. Each night ended with thoughts of thankfulness and how blessed I truly am!

Worship-In all Languages

Reflections from the Dominican Republic- Part 1

Psalm 95:1-3 (ESV)
Oh come, let us sing to the Lord, let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving, let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! For the Lord is a great God and a great King above all gods.


Our first stop, unplanned, was a detour because we were "killing time" to allow extra time for our arrival in Sierra Prieta. We loaded up in our buses and headed to a local church in Santo Domingo. Actually, it was a church of 2000 which I found absolutely amazing.

We stood out not only because we were a large group, waiting on the stairs, blocking traffic, but because there were 28 of us, all wearing t-shirts that said Dios de Amor, God is love. We sat down and I was taken back that their band sounded like ours at our church. The lead female singer was awesome. It captured my attention right away. I love singing no matter where I am, but what took my breath away was the entire congregation was more than a whisper like our churches. People in the US sing like they just rolled out of bed, still waking up from a deep sleep. It was like the entire congregation was alive, engaged, thinking about the words that were coming from their lips. It was like the presence of God was hovering over us, well pleased that these people, foreigners singing in a different language knew the meaning of a thankful heart for God's faithfulness and unconditional love.

It made me think about heaven. People from many different nations, speaking different languages will one day sing together, and their will be no language barriers. We will all be worshipping together praising the same King.

What an awesome way to start our week, being united together for the same cause, because many of us love Jesus. I knew it was going to be a week we would never forget!