Is Able

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us." (Ephesians 3:20)

This verse became my theme verse four years ago as I was raising support to move back to China. This verse gave me hope when I didn't believe there was any way that the money would come in. This verse gave me strength when I was so very weak. This verse became so much more than just a verse that related to my finances, it was a verse that kept me going in the two years I lived overseas. During those hard and lonely days, it breathed life into my spirit. This verse is what inspired the name of of my blog, but it became so much more to me, than that.

One thing I love about studying scripture is how you may read a verse one day and then months or even years later, you read it in a whole new way (a lot of that depends on your current life circumstances). Perhaps words stand out that maybe didn't before. For the longest time for me, it was the two words "immeasurably more." I knew that God would provide what I needed financially, physically, and emotionally. And He came through time and time again. But the other day, as I was contemplating dusting off the old blog and writing a post, I stared a my computer screen and kept reading this verse again and again. But this time, two other words jumped off the screen at me: "is able." He is able to not only do immeasurably more but He can do the impossible no matter what that might mean in your life.

As I focused on those words, I asked myself: "Do I really believe this?" When I look back on my life, it should be a no brainer "yes." He is able to move mountains and He has, my life is living proof. If that's the case, then why oh why, do I still tend to doubt Him in other areas of my life? Why don't I pray boldly if I know that He can do it because He is able?

My Church did a sermon series on prayer a few months back and it was amazing. Pray big and pray specific were themes that kept coming back over and over again. This is something I have continually been working on: praying specific and praying big, bold prayers.

 

We can do that because Is Able. He hears. He answers. I don't have to fear, because He can and He will. It just may not be exactly how I may want it or when I want it. I think sometimes He is waiting for me to come to Him boldly before He is going to answer.

"Jesus replied, 'Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” (Matthew 21:21-22)

{Wordless Wednesday} The Beauty of His Creation

A New Comfortable

We all like to be comfortable. We want to be in a place of life where we know what is coming and what to expect. At least I do. So when I moved to China over two years ago, I was definitely getting way out of my comfort zone. I was moving to a foreign country, where I knew no one, a new city, new children, new work, new.... everything. And it was terrifying. But.... God was there and He got me through. We took one day at a time as I adjusted and adapted to my new life here in China.

Now as I prepare to return to the US, I'm going through the process of leaving my new comfort zone. That's right, after living here over two years, China has become comfortable. Not that it doesn't have it's challenges and struggles but that's everywhere, right?

As I get ready to leave next month, it's scary. I'm stepping out in faith which this time, is leaving China. I don't know where I'll be moving too and what job I will have, just to name a few of my unknowns. Yes, it's scary but I also have a family who love me and will help me through this new transition and a God who goes before me.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight."

Proverbs 3:5-6

Whispered Reminder

Today I have just felt anxious. I know, rather ironic since my last few posts have talked about "peace." But isn't that how life goes? One day we are fulled with peace, the next day anxiety. It's an up and down roller coaster ride.

My weekend was nice. Relaxing, stress-free, and just peaceful. Today? Well it's Monday and I'm reminded of all I have to do. Pictures that need to be taken, blog posts (for the Foster Home) that need to be written, measurements that need to be recorded and entered into the computer, preschool lessons that need to be planned and prepared, and the list goes on and on. To top that off, I'm watching air prices for a trip I'm planning this fall. Why oh why didn't I just buy them last week? Yeah.... famous last words right? Then there's my big ticket to purchase for  my flight home for Christmas. Have I mentioned how much I dislike buying plane tickets? Well I do.... like a lot. *Sigh* Then of course I have friends and family on my heart, prayer requests, pain, suffering, hurt. Yeah, a lot to take in for a Monday morning right? And I've only had one cup of coffee.... maybe that's it.

As my mind goes on and on this morning, I felt that still small voice deep in my soul whisper, "Do not be anxious about anything." Right, one of my favorite verses. And what is the ending of that verse? "But in EVERYTHING, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God. And the peace of Christ which passes ALL understanding will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

Thank you Lord for that reminder. Everything is in Your hands and in Your timing.

Protector & Strength

Last night I had quite the adventure. My night started out like a normal night here. I got out of work at the foster home around 5 and decided to head straight to the store to do some grocery shopping, pick up some dinner on the way home, and then have a relaxing night in. I debated walking to the store (it's about a mile away) but decided I wasn't feeling up for the walk since a light rain was falling. The bus stop right outside my gate has two buses. Or so I thought. One looks like a tour bus and the other (bus #3) like a typical city bus. Both of them would take me to the store so I was planning to hop on whichever one came first. After waiting for about 10 minutes, the bus that "looked" exactly like bus #3 came up and so I waved it down and climbed on. As we started going, I realized that we turned which is NOT the way this bus normally goes. As I look towards the front of the bus, I see that I am not on bus #3 after all... I'm on bus #73. Apparently since being gone, a new bus line started in my part of town. After over a year of the buses never changing, who would have thought? We kept going and going and going. In fact, we were not headed towards the store (I thought perhaps it would loop around) at all but into an area that I have never seen before. We went through village after village and eventually stopped in a shopping district that I have never been too. At this point I was getting a bit nervous since I was not recognizing anything, but knew enough of the city that where there is a bus stop going one direction, there usually is a stop going the opposite direction. So I got off searching for the stop on the "other side" of the road and would simply wait for the return bus #73. Of course I was on a one way street so I had to walk a block to find the opposite street. I soon found the bus stop but bus #73 was not listed. I thought maybe it was a new line and therefore wasn't on the sign yet (a common occurrence in China). I waited and waited and then decided that maybe I was not at the correct stop after all. I decided to walk down the street a little to see if there was another. Keep in mind, I still knew where my initial stop was and could get back to it if I wanted (thankfully I do have a good sense of direction!). I ran into some Americans on my way to the second bus stop and asked them if they knew where the bus stop for #73 was to get back to Kaiyin (the area I live in). They said that they were not familiar with this area but after asking their Chinese friend, he said that the stop was just ahead. I thanked them and went on my way. Found the stop and waited. And waited. And Waited. Once again bus #73 was not listed on this sign but since the Chinese man said it was here, I believed him that it was indeed here.  Bad decision. I'm not quite sure how long I waited but it felt like hours. It was drizzling and starting to get dark. Wherever I go in China I am stared at. Normally it doesn't bother me too much but being in an unfamiliar area and uneasy as it was, it made me even more nervous. Yes, I sent them a few glares to STOP LOOKING (not that it helped of cours. Bus after bus stopped but none of them were #73. I was beginning to wonder if there WAS a bus #73 that stopped here. As darkness was approaching quickly and I had absolutely no idea where I was, I decided that if the next bus was not the right one, I would bite the bullet and just take a taxi home (a taxi is about 35 RMB compared to the bus of 2 RMB). Another bus came and went and I hailed a taxi.  THANKFULLY I know how to tell the taxi driver where I live and about $5 later, I was home. Of course I was back to my original destination and still had not been to the store and was also starved. I quickly grabbed some noodles from my favorite noodle restaurant and then finally took the CORRECT bus to the store. A total of 3 hours later, I made it home. 

The whole time I was "lost," I was praying. Praying for guidance and direction (literally!). I was a female, by myself, in an area I didn't know. Plus it was getting dark. I have never been nervous in China, but this situation made me very nervous. I just kept looking to Him to remain calm and knew that He would get me home. Thankfully I did take the taxi home because I learned today that bus #73 would have never come to that stop as it makes a "loop." Therefore if I had stayed on the bus originally, I would have eventually made it home. 

What lesson did I learn? To pay attention to the bus number and not just assume that you are on the right bus. And that He was my Protector and my Strength. 

All the time.

He Can Move the Mountains

So often it is hard to understand what God is doing and how He is working.

But part of faith is trusting that He is, even when we don't see it.

Quite often God is working behind the scenes and we don't even see how until later.

 I know I have mentioned this before, but it's easy to trust God with my life, but when I'm asked to trust Him with the love of someone else?

That is so much harder.

Especially when it is someone who I love so very, very much and would do anything for.

"Letting go and letting God" has got to be one of the hardest things to do.

And daily falling on my knees before the Creator of the universe and say "I trust You with his life."

 Saturday night I went to bed with a heavy heart. 

I knew that I needed to be praying hard for this individual.

That God is absolutely not done with him but also that the devil is not going to give up so easily.

Yesterday morning, we sang "Mighty to Save" in Church.

Now this is a song I have sung for years and love.

But yesterday morning, it meant to much more and hit me that much harder.

"Savior, He can move the mountains, my God is mighty to save, mighty to save."

Those are the words that rocked me to my core.

And caused the tears to begin flowing.

Because you know what?

God CAN move the mountains.

But maybe His mountains are not the mountains I am picturing. 

Maybe His plan is so much better and greater than I can ever think or imagine.

Maybe, just maybe, He isn't going to move in the way I think He should.

But in a way even better.

 We will learn some very life affecting information today.

But even if the news is bad and not what we were hoping or praying for,

I know God is STILL in control.

And He still WILL move mountains.

Even if it's not the mountains we are expecting.

Whatever the outcome, He will lead and guide.

In Him I put my trust and in Him I will continue to praise over what He has, is, and WILL do.