the grand canyon.

spring rain.

.........................................

Outside my window, rain is softly falling on the sidewalk.  

Tis a Scottish evening if there ever was one - 

calling for panpipes, a cup of tea and a good book to read.  

And time to meditate, before the start of a new week

upon my God, who brings life 

and is life and light and joy and peace.  

In His presence there is always fullness of joy.  

it is a mercy

"It is a mercy that our lives are not left for us to plan, but that our Father chooses for us; else might we sometimes turn away from our best blessings, and put from us the choicest and loveliest gifts of His providence”  

susannah spurgeon

a beautiful quote found in this beautiful online magazine

as He clothes the flowers

consider the lilies of the field,

how they grow;

they neither toil nor spin.

yet I tell you, even Solomon

in all his glory

was not arrayed like one of these.

 But if God so clothes the grass of the field,

which today is alive and tomorrow thrown in the oven,

will He not much more clothe you?  

matthew 6:28-30

a wee window

The thing about modern travel is, as has been mentioned before, that it seems rather unnaturally fast.  You step onto an airplane and are transported thousands of miles in hours and thrust into another life just like that.  So forgive the silence on this wee corner of the internet which is meant to keep people up-to-date on things that are happening, as I walked again through a time of transition.

"to every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven. . ."  

Ecclesiastes 3:1

The Lord is so faithful to keep His people dependent, isn't He?  I love how looking back over the last number of years one can see His hand continually leading and guiding.

A wee window into the past month. . .
Learning the names of a whole new group of students, arriving right when they started taking off their name tags.  And hearing their testimonies, and seeing the Lord work in their lives.  Oh, what a blessing to see the power of the Lord evidenced in the yielded lives of His people.

Adjusting again to the rhythm of life down here. . .the new 'normal'.  For example, you know that you are going on an intense shopping trip when it takes three girls and four carts (I'm still not entirely sure how we managed to get it all out to the vehicle!) and when the store employees learn your names by the time you leave.

spring in the mountains

Realizing again that it is not about doing great things for the Lord, but to walk in daily and constant obedience.  That being available for His purposes is far greater than being tied to any to-do list.  That what He has called me to in this season may not seem like some great missionary endeavor but He continues to teach me to faithfully pour out to all around me.

Having a long time dream of mine be realized as a group of us are learning sign language together (in order to better communicate with one of the girls here on campus)  It now can take us interns up to three times as long to 'talk' with each other, but doing it together helps so much with retention (plus it provides much laughter to the onlooking students)

Now it is hard to believe that we are again preparing for a graduation. . .I wish it wasn't quite so cliche to say that time is flying by.  Oh, that we would be a people who redeem the time; whose desire for each day would be to see His kingdom come in our lives and in those around us.

"The world has yet to see what God can do with and for and through and in and by the woman who is fully and wholly consecrated to Him. I will try my utmost to be that woman." 

- adapted from a quote often attributed to D.L. Moody - 

spring

Whether the weather has been cloudy and snowing, or (as it has more recently) been warm with sunny clear skies, thoughts of spring have been filling my head.  


And it is not just for the nice weather, the promise of summer around the corner.  There has been something tantalizing about the thought of a new and fresh start.  About the brown grass turning green and flowers blooming.


It has reminded me of such a precious truth.  That the Lord didn't just take our old, sinful selves and stick a couple of band-aids on the especially offense parts, or simply cover over the grime with a coat of paint.  No, those who are in Christ is a new creation.  Before, we were dead in our trespasses and sins.  Yet now in Him, there is life and light.  And what joy for those whose hope is in the Lord! 

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:  old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to 

Himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;"  

2 Corinthians 5:17-18 

great to His love

"We are finding that our big problems 

are little to His power and that our 

little things are great to His love."

jacob stam