Humility - is the quality of being modest, and respectful. (Wikipedia)
synonyms - lowliness, meekness, submissive
I always just thought that humility or being humble meant simply not bragging. Not something I normally do. I pretty much have this under control.
But as I have been praying lately and honestly asking God to "show any wicked way in me" or "rid myself of me" God has begun showing me otherwise.
I began the school year with our girls using their devotional bible and the theme for the month of September, Humility. Ha, ha, coincidence. Only I really don't believe in coincidences. I still chose not to pay too close attention.
But after hearing a message from a guest speaker at our church a few weeks ago on Colossians 3:12-15...
12 Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. 13 Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.
I began seeking out what this might mean in my own life. I began seeking passages in scripture that talk about each one of these; mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
I began with mercy and found some great passages on mercy and even there the word humble was used. Then I moved on the next day to looking up passages on humility. Seeking out what it really means and what God has to say about it. Again, I felt as though I had this one in the bag. But why then, did it keep coming up.
As I'm researching humility using my study bible many, many passages kept coming up. But a few really hit home. ..
Philippians 2:8 He humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal's death on a cross.
The comments following "Do your attitudes reflect the humility and self-sacrifice of Jesus?"
Not new words to me... but new meaning because I was open to hearing new meaning. Hmmm...just because my actions say I am sacrificing doesn't mean my attitude says that.
Another one...
Philippians 2:3 Don't be selfish, don't try to impress others. Be humble thinking of others as better than yourselves
1 Peter 3:8 Finally, all of you should be of one mind. sympathetic with each other. Love each other as brothers and sisters. Be tenderhearted and keep a humble attitude.
"Humility leads to wisdom, takes advice, leads to honor, ends in honor, brings honor." (NLT study bible)
The Sunday following the sermon on Colossians, our regular pastor, Pastor John spoke on humility(because I still hadn't gotten it yet). Here's what he had to say about humility:
* true intimacy with God always brings humility
*Humility comes when you see that God is God and you are not. He still loves you and uses you with no condemnation or belittlement.
*It's realizing we are not worthy, how great he is...how great we are not
*the closer you get to God the more humility should be seen in our lives
John 3:30 He must become greater and greater and I must become less and less.
God has really been speaking to me recently about ME. About me being in Haiti not only for the haitians, but for the growth and transformation that he is doing and will do in me. I continue to find myself humbled by the ways he is using me here, but I need to be transformed enough that in my own home, in the United States or wherever else I am, I still have a humble attitude. I need to remember every day, no matter where I am or what problem I want to fix, or how I want to help someone, that God is God and I am not.
I can't wait to get to the patience section of the verse in Colossians, I am pretty sure I'm good in that area!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
New little blessings
For most of our involvement with Good Samaritan Ministries, the same children have been at the orphanage. While we opened the boys home August 2010, the boys that came to live there had already been involved with the orphange at it's old location. The boys were living in poverty and they and their families were part of Max and Margarette Cazeau's ministry of reaching out to the community.
That changed this summer! We are thankful that we along with you all will play a part in making a difference in these children's lives.
I thought you might like to meet some of our newest little blessings!
Marlineda age 10
Lens age 9
Chelda age 8 (bottom), Ketia age 10 (on Chelda's left)
Loubens (back) Loubenson (front) age 3 1/2
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Suzette
After our last visit to Suzette, I wasn't sure what condition we would find her in when we went back. As we approached the little path that leads to her place, she began waving her arms with excitement from the blanket she rested on under the neighbor's tree. She had been sitting outside getting some fresh air. It was good to see her feeling a bit better, even well enough to get washed up and changed into a dress when I mentioned I wanted to take her picture because so many people praying for her don't have a picture to go with their prayers. I'm so thankful she has been given some relief from the pain she has been enduring just to enjoy something as simple as sitting outside. Thank you for your many prayers for this wonderful friend. Please continue to pray for Suzette's pain, for healing from her cancer and now for a hernia. 
Monday, September 26, 2011
Where has the time gone?
Jeff has been home for almost a week now and I am just finding the time to follow up on his trip. I am still trying to figure out how to finish school with our girls in a timely fashion so I can spend more time on ministry stuff, but for now feeling overwhelmed with getting started and establishing a routine keeps me from what I like to do...write. I'm looking for any little time to write the newsletters and do some updates on our website and more, but for now it's slow go and it's ok. I couldn't say that earlier today, but I can say it now because I had a sweet reminder today that, daily, I take up my cross. Not when it's convenient, when I have time, when I feel like it...but daily.
Thank you for prayers over Jeff's trip to Canada! He had an amazing time meeting with some great people, raising funds for Canaan, and vision planning for the future of AWAKENHAITI in Canada. God was definitely moving there and people gave very sacrificially to help the feeding program get started at the school in Canaan and to support the work their team in November will be doing on the church/school building! We are so very excited to see this school year begin with feeding the kids! We'd appreciate continued prayer as we continue to work on vision planning with this awesome group of friends!
more to share tomorrow about this past week...after school of course!
Thank you for prayers over Jeff's trip to Canada! He had an amazing time meeting with some great people, raising funds for Canaan, and vision planning for the future of AWAKENHAITI in Canada. God was definitely moving there and people gave very sacrificially to help the feeding program get started at the school in Canaan and to support the work their team in November will be doing on the church/school building! We are so very excited to see this school year begin with feeding the kids! We'd appreciate continued prayer as we continue to work on vision planning with this awesome group of friends!
more to share tomorrow about this past week...after school of course!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
AWAKENHAITI in Canada
In November 2010, we met our crazy Canadian friend, Bob. He came to Haiti just after we moved here which was kind of ironic because he felt as though God was calling him here just after the earthquake. Thinking he would be here a few times shortly after the earthquake, for one reason or another it didn't work out for him. Finally, he decided he would go ahead and buy a ticket for October 31st to come not knowing why he was coming or what for. He linked with another organization, they were to pick him up at the airport and he was to serve with them for part of the week and then come to us for a few short days. We got connected to Bob through a mutual friend (another Canadian). At the last minute the night before Bob took his first flight to Haiti, we skyped with him and gave him our phone number.
The next day, Sunday afternoon, we received a call from Bob saying he was at the airport, had been there for 2 hours, his ride never came to get him. So after rescuing him, he spent the week with AWAKENHAITI.
This week brought lots of laughs from the airport scenerio to he and Jeff boarding up the house for a hurricane that didn't come while all the neighbors looked at them like they were Noah.
This also happened to be the week we took our first trip to Canaan. Just as we fell in love with the place right off the bat, so did Bob.
Bob went back to Canada and gathered a group (including his ever so sweet wife, Donna), they raised money and came in April and did some great projects with AWAKENHAITI. They worked on Jacques home, they did some medical stuff both in Canaan and at Freedom House Orphanage, and they built an office/storage building in Canaan.
Upon their return, the team began sharing with their friends, family, and churches.
Jeff is there this weekend with Bob and Donna raising funds for their next trip, speaking to a church, those interested in coming to Haiti and some others.
We don't know what this relationship will end up looking like, but we are so very excited that God has chosen these wonderful people to be part of AWAKENHAITI.
Some might considerl the events of last year with the timing of Bob's trip, him being left, and us taking our first trip to Canaan while he was here, a coincidence. I call it God. I call it His timing. I call it His plan. And we are so thankful for it .
We'd love it if you would join us in praying for the remainder of this weekend as Jeff continues to share our ministry and as we move into working with this area of North America!
We love you Bob and Donna!
thank you for all you are doing to be part of this ministry!
The next day, Sunday afternoon, we received a call from Bob saying he was at the airport, had been there for 2 hours, his ride never came to get him. So after rescuing him, he spent the week with AWAKENHAITI.
This week brought lots of laughs from the airport scenerio to he and Jeff boarding up the house for a hurricane that didn't come while all the neighbors looked at them like they were Noah.
This also happened to be the week we took our first trip to Canaan. Just as we fell in love with the place right off the bat, so did Bob.
Bob went back to Canada and gathered a group (including his ever so sweet wife, Donna), they raised money and came in April and did some great projects with AWAKENHAITI. They worked on Jacques home, they did some medical stuff both in Canaan and at Freedom House Orphanage, and they built an office/storage building in Canaan.
Upon their return, the team began sharing with their friends, family, and churches.
Jeff is there this weekend with Bob and Donna raising funds for their next trip, speaking to a church, those interested in coming to Haiti and some others.
We don't know what this relationship will end up looking like, but we are so very excited that God has chosen these wonderful people to be part of AWAKENHAITI.
Some might considerl the events of last year with the timing of Bob's trip, him being left, and us taking our first trip to Canaan while he was here, a coincidence. I call it God. I call it His timing. I call it His plan. And we are so thankful for it .
We'd love it if you would join us in praying for the remainder of this weekend as Jeff continues to share our ministry and as we move into working with this area of North America!
We love you Bob and Donna!
thank you for all you are doing to be part of this ministry!
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Suzette
Many of you have been asking for an update on Suzette. We were unable to get any information until today. But before I share what we experienced today, I want to share a bit with those who have not met Suzette in person. I have shared a bit about Suzette in the past(June 6), but looking back now on the last 9 months, I feel compelled to share more.
The day I met Suzette, she sat on her thin mattress on the floor of her shelter wincing with pain she was suffering from Uterine cancer as we made our way through introductions, sharing family information, and praying together. Each time back from then until June was similar only sometimes, less pain. June was a turning point for Suzette. She agreed to take some pain medicine, try to walk in her home a little, and try to get outside after our friend Dr. Dave spent time with her and encouraged her to do those things.
Over the summer, I think I began to forget what I had seen Suzette suffering through. With each visit, we found her sitting outside enjoying the fresh air. We found her full of joy and happiness despite the illness inside her. The joy in Suzette, the faith she continues to have, has been a huge testimony to so many that came to encourage her, that came to pray for her. People came expecting to give, but left having seen that joy in God alone is possible. Joy in having nothing but faith in a living God truly is all one needs, being lived out right before us.
Even though we continued to take pain medication to her, in my mind, her smile told me she was doing better. We had been praying with her and for her healing since January. Believing God can heal and after asking him to heal, I began to see healing even if it was temporary.
Suzette has been such a testimony to her family and those around her for so long, but even if she was only put on this earth for the few short months this summer just to minister to the people coming here to serve the way she did just by living out her faith, that would have been enough. She simply lived out her faith the way God asked her to.
She played her part in God's story......and she's not done yet!
In August, the week we had a team here building the church & school, we visited Suzette. She was so excited because she had been able to walk the whole way from her house to the church to take part in one of the week long evening services to pray for the church, the team and for the hurricane to move away. She had prayed for this and was so excited to be part of the church again. It had been a long time since she had been able to walk that far, let alone walk without bleeding.
Friday night, after the celebration service at the new church, somone came barreling at me
in the dark parking lot...SUZETTE!!! I was amazed to see her walking, no, running at me, laughing and celebrating. It was like catching a glimpse of what her life will be like in Heaven when she is cancer free, pain free. Celebrating like a child!
Last Friday, Suzette was taken to the hospital with severe pain and bleeding black blood. It didn't sound good. We couldn't get answers through out the week, finally yesterday, we got a call from Pastor Nathan saying can we please bring more pain medication to Suzette.
TODAY, more than ever, I couldn't wait to get to Suzette's house. To see that smile. To feel the joy she exudes. To spend time just talking with her and praying for her. Hearing her tell about her latest dream and what God spoke to her. For this particular visit, I had my two brother-in-laws, Doug and Steve, with me.
I wasn't prepared for what I found. Suzette laying on her 1 inch thick mattress, in so much agony she couldn't get out a complete sentence. She was obviously happy to see us, but the pain was too much to muster much of a smile. She tried to share her latest dream with us as she always does, but couldn't put all the thoughts together into words we could understand. She winced, and tried to keep from screaming in pain and agony as we just sat and watched. I tried to ask questions about her trip to the hospital, what the doctor said, how much medicine had she taken...but sitting beside the bed, I selfishly couldn't get my thoughts pulled together. How was I going to leave her house with her the way she was. What is there that I can even say to her in that moment that she doesn't already know or that would change anything for her.
But, God is God and he reminded me that it was Him who would do all that needed to be done, it wasn't on my shoulders to make her feel better or to take away her pain. So, we offered prayer. Because as God has taught me so many times before in Canaan, prayer is all I need to DO sometimes. This was one of those times.
We knelt with Suzette and began praying for healing, but more specifically for relief from pain. Inviting God's spirit to just fall all around Suzette. When we got up from praying and went back to the chairs we had been sitting in, we looked over to find Suzette sitting up in her bed carrying on normal conversation as she did on the previous summer visits. Joy, Hope, and Faith in the living God regardless of her circumstances.
God allowed us to be part of Him doing a work in Suzette today. God allowed us to pray for His spirit to fall on her and lift her suffering. He didn't need us to. He allowed us to. Then He allowed us to see Him work.
A man named Zak that had cancer once said, "if God chooses to heal my cancer, God is God and God is Good. If God chooses not to heal my cancer, God is still God and God is still good. To God be the glory."
I don't know if God will heal Suzette on this side of heaven. I know He can. I ask that He does. Either way, I believe and I know Suzette believes...
GOD IS STILL GOD AND GOD IS STILL GOOD
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
The day I met Suzette, she sat on her thin mattress on the floor of her shelter wincing with pain she was suffering from Uterine cancer as we made our way through introductions, sharing family information, and praying together. Each time back from then until June was similar only sometimes, less pain. June was a turning point for Suzette. She agreed to take some pain medicine, try to walk in her home a little, and try to get outside after our friend Dr. Dave spent time with her and encouraged her to do those things.
Over the summer, I think I began to forget what I had seen Suzette suffering through. With each visit, we found her sitting outside enjoying the fresh air. We found her full of joy and happiness despite the illness inside her. The joy in Suzette, the faith she continues to have, has been a huge testimony to so many that came to encourage her, that came to pray for her. People came expecting to give, but left having seen that joy in God alone is possible. Joy in having nothing but faith in a living God truly is all one needs, being lived out right before us.
Even though we continued to take pain medication to her, in my mind, her smile told me she was doing better. We had been praying with her and for her healing since January. Believing God can heal and after asking him to heal, I began to see healing even if it was temporary.
Suzette has been such a testimony to her family and those around her for so long, but even if she was only put on this earth for the few short months this summer just to minister to the people coming here to serve the way she did just by living out her faith, that would have been enough. She simply lived out her faith the way God asked her to.
She played her part in God's story......and she's not done yet!
In August, the week we had a team here building the church & school, we visited Suzette. She was so excited because she had been able to walk the whole way from her house to the church to take part in one of the week long evening services to pray for the church, the team and for the hurricane to move away. She had prayed for this and was so excited to be part of the church again. It had been a long time since she had been able to walk that far, let alone walk without bleeding.
Friday night, after the celebration service at the new church, somone came barreling at me
in the dark parking lot...SUZETTE!!! I was amazed to see her walking, no, running at me, laughing and celebrating. It was like catching a glimpse of what her life will be like in Heaven when she is cancer free, pain free. Celebrating like a child!
Last Friday, Suzette was taken to the hospital with severe pain and bleeding black blood. It didn't sound good. We couldn't get answers through out the week, finally yesterday, we got a call from Pastor Nathan saying can we please bring more pain medication to Suzette.
TODAY, more than ever, I couldn't wait to get to Suzette's house. To see that smile. To feel the joy she exudes. To spend time just talking with her and praying for her. Hearing her tell about her latest dream and what God spoke to her. For this particular visit, I had my two brother-in-laws, Doug and Steve, with me.
I wasn't prepared for what I found. Suzette laying on her 1 inch thick mattress, in so much agony she couldn't get out a complete sentence. She was obviously happy to see us, but the pain was too much to muster much of a smile. She tried to share her latest dream with us as she always does, but couldn't put all the thoughts together into words we could understand. She winced, and tried to keep from screaming in pain and agony as we just sat and watched. I tried to ask questions about her trip to the hospital, what the doctor said, how much medicine had she taken...but sitting beside the bed, I selfishly couldn't get my thoughts pulled together. How was I going to leave her house with her the way she was. What is there that I can even say to her in that moment that she doesn't already know or that would change anything for her.
But, God is God and he reminded me that it was Him who would do all that needed to be done, it wasn't on my shoulders to make her feel better or to take away her pain. So, we offered prayer. Because as God has taught me so many times before in Canaan, prayer is all I need to DO sometimes. This was one of those times.
We knelt with Suzette and began praying for healing, but more specifically for relief from pain. Inviting God's spirit to just fall all around Suzette. When we got up from praying and went back to the chairs we had been sitting in, we looked over to find Suzette sitting up in her bed carrying on normal conversation as she did on the previous summer visits. Joy, Hope, and Faith in the living God regardless of her circumstances.
God allowed us to be part of Him doing a work in Suzette today. God allowed us to pray for His spirit to fall on her and lift her suffering. He didn't need us to. He allowed us to. Then He allowed us to see Him work.
A man named Zak that had cancer once said, "if God chooses to heal my cancer, God is God and God is Good. If God chooses not to heal my cancer, God is still God and God is still good. To God be the glory."
I don't know if God will heal Suzette on this side of heaven. I know He can. I ask that He does. Either way, I believe and I know Suzette believes...
GOD IS STILL GOD AND GOD IS STILL GOOD
TO GOD BE THE GLORY!
Friday, September 2, 2011
Not my plan
Sometimes people say they open their Bible and wham, there is the scripture they were looking for! Not me. I usually have to search and search and use my concordance. Last night though, as I was reading my Bible, this verse jumped out at me...
"We can make our own plans, but the Lord knows the right answer." Proverbs 16:1 NLT
While moving to Haiti in the first place was never my plan, I knew it was God's and was ready to move forward with it...with some conditions...
1. I would not homeschool
2. If I were to home school , we wouldn't move til after Brooke was finished with first grade, I didn't want the responsibility of teaching her to read...too much to ask
3. If I were to home school, it would be for one year til we knew what was what and found what school would be best
I guess God doesn't like conditions...
after praying the last few months of homeschooling in my one year, with Brooke in FIRST GRADE, learning how to read, for God to reveal to me where they would be best in school for 2011/2012, I find that all doors have closed except, you guessed it, homeschooling for a second year. I think, no I know God laughed at my conditions and now I'm eating my words.
But, thank goodness God knows what is right and closed all other doors. I do believe now this is the best thing for our family and for the ministry. Cost for private school...unimagineable + Travel to private school...we could spend 3-4 hours/day in the car + homework & studying in the evening = not realistic, not an option, CRAZY!!!
Breaking the news to our girls was less than ideal, they were dead set on going to a "REAL" school with a "REAL" teacher with a "REAL" desk, library, and cafeteria. I believe God did a work in them as well. Yesterday we set up our school room, after setting up their own desk space they asked for an assignment and can't wait to start on Tuesday!
Colton has been on board with the idea all along. He loves getting the work done and being done. He loves working with Jeff and projects the teams are doing. For him the dreaded was all of what the girls wanted.
I don't expect me or them to have patience every day. I don't expect me or them to want to follow such a strict routine after last year being so crazy. I don't expect them to become geniuses with their mom being their teacher. But I can rest in God's answer. I can rest in the fact that this option will allow our children to walk this ministry with us, not behind us. I can rest in the fact that because our kids will walk this ministry with us, they will know far more and understand far more about the world in which they live and about loving others.
Thank goodness God knows the right answer.
"We can make our own plans, but the Lord knows the right answer." Proverbs 16:1 NLT
While moving to Haiti in the first place was never my plan, I knew it was God's and was ready to move forward with it...with some conditions...
1. I would not homeschool
2. If I were to home school , we wouldn't move til after Brooke was finished with first grade, I didn't want the responsibility of teaching her to read...too much to ask
3. If I were to home school, it would be for one year til we knew what was what and found what school would be best
I guess God doesn't like conditions...
after praying the last few months of homeschooling in my one year, with Brooke in FIRST GRADE, learning how to read, for God to reveal to me where they would be best in school for 2011/2012, I find that all doors have closed except, you guessed it, homeschooling for a second year. I think, no I know God laughed at my conditions and now I'm eating my words.
But, thank goodness God knows what is right and closed all other doors. I do believe now this is the best thing for our family and for the ministry. Cost for private school...unimagineable + Travel to private school...we could spend 3-4 hours/day in the car + homework & studying in the evening = not realistic, not an option, CRAZY!!!
Breaking the news to our girls was less than ideal, they were dead set on going to a "REAL" school with a "REAL" teacher with a "REAL" desk, library, and cafeteria. I believe God did a work in them as well. Yesterday we set up our school room, after setting up their own desk space they asked for an assignment and can't wait to start on Tuesday!
Colton has been on board with the idea all along. He loves getting the work done and being done. He loves working with Jeff and projects the teams are doing. For him the dreaded was all of what the girls wanted.
I don't expect me or them to have patience every day. I don't expect me or them to want to follow such a strict routine after last year being so crazy. I don't expect them to become geniuses with their mom being their teacher. But I can rest in God's answer. I can rest in the fact that this option will allow our children to walk this ministry with us, not behind us. I can rest in the fact that because our kids will walk this ministry with us, they will know far more and understand far more about the world in which they live and about loving others.
Thank goodness God knows the right answer.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)