The Power to Choose.

I’ve wanted to come to you all for a few weeks now, as it’s felt like a while since I’ve sent out an update, but have found it hard because, honestly, I’m in a valley. Those days of discouragement come for all believers, and it’s in those days that Satan likes to feed us lies, but part of me feels like I should hide it because I’m on the mission field. I felt called here. I’m surrounded by precious children practically daily. I’m in a place so many people come in and out of and love with so much of their heart. A place that I’ve come in and out of and love with so much of my heart. I should be happy and loving life every day.

Reality is, though, it’s still life here. A hard one, at times, where I’m just so hot, or frustrated because 14 months later and I still don’t understand something said to me, or I need to run just a couple of errands but I’m either walking or riding my bike so it’s a half day thing instead of a quick errand, or the guys on the corner cat-called and whistled for half a block as I walked by… And as called as I may have been the thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy… And those precious children I’m surrounded by…well, they still live in this world and have their valley days where they only want to irritate those around them…

And so I’ve struggled recently.

I’ve struggled with Satan turning my mind into a battlefield and telling me things like…

   I’m an inadequate member of the team.

   I’m not able to use my skills here/I’m not skilled for the kind of work done here.

   I’m by myself. (If you know me at all, you know even reading I’d rather do with another person!)

   I have nothing to offer.

And so on…

But this where our God is BIGGER and BETTER. We have the power and authority in Christ, because of His death on the cross, to choose truth. To choose Him.

So I choose joy.

I choose patience.

I choose love.

I choose to believe how I’m seen by The Lord, as a daughter of the Most High God.

I choose confidence.

I choose feeling adequate.

I choose to believe that I’m blessed with being surrounded by so many cherished friends. 

And I choose to forgive those kids that drive me crazy and hug and love on them until they knock it off. : )

Because that’s what God does for us. He loves and hugs on us until we turn back to Him and realize He’s been there the whole time trying to whisper truths into our ears, we’ve just been choosing to listen to the thief. 

This wasn’t so much a ministry update, so I’m sorry if that disappointed anyone, but it was on my heart to share other sides of life down here. Truth is, there are valley days…weeks…months…but our God is bigger and better and I choose Him.

Until next time…

Much love!