Victory

A new blog for the New Year.  And I’m trying to get this one off before I get distracted again, or before the internet goes out. 

First I want to apologize.  Apologize to you for it being so long since my last blog, and apologizing to the Lord for taking Him for granted. 

Recently a couple of issues have come to my attention, not huge issues, but issues nonetheless.  I know that they are bound to come up when you’re living in a different country, working with 12 students, 3 staff, missionaries, leadership staff, people back in America and those who speak a different language…BUT I haven’t had to deal with them for awhile. 

SIDEBAR & FOLLOW UP FROM MY LAST BLOG :: I’ve been working on my flexibility and a lot on my communication skills as a leader to my students, staff and friends, and it is really working!!!  I think it’s a HUGE reason why we haven’t had a lot of issues lately.  Who knew that reading a leadership book would actually help me learn something!

Any whoo…things are running smoothly.  And really, it seems that I only write a blog when something HUGE happens in my life, when the Lord does something extraordinary, or when I have a really funny story to tell.  I struggle sometimes with comparing my life and ministry to the other missionaries around me, they always have funny stories to share almost every week about how God did the amazing and impossible (which please DO NOT get me wrong, I love to hear about too and it should be shared!).  And if you want to read some of those stories you can check out my friend Sarah’s blog, or Adrienne’s blog, or Lily House Facebook page….seriously jaw dropping-it could-only-be-God-moments.  So when comparing my life to others, I feel I have nothing to say…hence the long delay in writing another post, and again I’m SORRY!   

This morning I was reading my daily devotional and came across this:

“We will shout for joy over your victory; we will rejoice in the name of our God!” – Psalm 20:5

It hit me…I expect things to go well and don’t always (or ever) shout for joy over His victory.  These little issues have made me aware of God’s victory.  Not necessarily over this situation (although I’m sure things will work out and He will have victory), but in everything that is good in my life.  (I’m actually a little embarrassed that I’m just realizing this now, but better late than never, right?  So when stepping back I’m figuring out why today, why now and why not ever before?)

I expect things to go well.  I expect the students to have convictions, behave, obey, respect and work for the Lord.  I expect things to run smoothly, people to be where they need to be on time, people to be nice and encouraging, and for everything to work all the time i.e. internet and electricity.  And when things don’t go well, don’t life up to my expectations I get angry and frustrated.

If I really think about it and look at it from God’s perspective, what I should expect is attitude, push back, disobedience, and for things to go wrong around every corner because our world is broken and ruled by Satan.  ANY of the good things that happen should be celebrated, God should be celebrated and given the glory. 

I shouldn’t expect the good and get frustrated with the bad, I should expect the bad and shout for joy in the good, because in the good is where God’s VICTORY is.

And here’s where I apologize to the Lord for taking advantage of his goodness and for not shouting for joy amongst the every day victories.

So here’s me shouting for joy over a few of His victories: (pardon the all caps below, but that’s how we shout on the internet, right!?!)

-      -OBEDIENT STUDENTS

-       STUDENTS THAT SEEK YOU

-       GOOD HEALTH

-       TRANSPORTATION RUNNING SMOOTHLY

-       PUTTING PEOPLE IN MY LIFE THAT RUN HARD AFTER GOD

-       CONSISTENT ELECTRICITY

-       INTERNET WORKING

-       COMMUNITY

-       THE ABILITY TO LEARN AND GROW

-       THE DESIRE IN MY HEART TO READ AND LEARN

-       THE MONEY TO COME IN EVERY MONTH

-       FAMILY AND FRIENDS WHO LOVE AND SUPPORT ME

I've learned that God is working in my life and your life too.  It may not look wild and crazy.  We may not have stories that will keep people picking their jaw up off the floor, and to most our lives may just look pretty ordinary....but that doesn't mean that God's not working or victorious.  He's there, if there's good, any good at all...He's there, and we should rejoice in the name of our God!!