All Is Well

He lowers us to raise us
So we can sing His praises
Whatever is His way all is well

He makes us rich and poor
That we might trust Him more
Whatever is His way all is well

Pre-chorus:
All my changes come from Him He who never changes
I'm held firm in the grasp of the Rock of all the ages

Chorus:
All is well with my soul
He is God in control
I know not all His plans
But I know I'm in His hands

He clothes us now then strips us
Yet with His Word equips us
Whatever is His way all is well

And though our seasons change
We still exalt His name
Whatever is His way all is well


Here's a recording of it, too, if you want to listen to it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EPQjXIMxv0


Song by Robin Mark

Cultivate Gratitude

One saddening fact that I heard during my training in North Carolina was that American missionaries (or Americans, in general) tend to be some of the most ungrateful people that nationals know.  This is unfathomable and disheartening to those from other countries, as they can easily see how MUCH Americans have for which to be grateful, especially as compared with people from almost anywhere else in the world.  We were challenged, therefore, to focus on cultivating hearts of gratitude, over the course of our time in missions training.  It was a true challenge, at times, but one that I want to continue to take up!  So, here are a few things that I'm grateful for today!

-- Amazing access to medical help, and the ability to afford it.  I am so thankful for the way that God has provided for me to have all of the medical attention that I have needed, and that, as I look over my past, I can see how He has ultimately been the one to heal my body.

-- I am so thankful for my loving family, who all live very close to me in Pittsburgh (at least, at this moment).  ;-)  It is a blessing to be able to see each of them multiple times a week, even though three of my siblings are now moved out of the house.

-- I am so so grateful for First Evangelical Free Church, and the dear relationships that I have had there, since I was two years old.  I am thankful that it is a place where the Gospel is clearly preached from the pulpit, as well as life-on-life.  My heart is full as I think of the dear saints who have weathered many storms there and chosen a path of humility, sacrifice, grace, forgiveness, patience, and love.  I am thankful for the precious friends who are no longer there, but have gone on to faithfully serve the Lord and His church elsewhere.

-- I could probably go on all day, talking about Mexico, Cedarville, the seminary, CIT (training), and all of the dear people that I have met at those places and the wonderful, godly men and women who have poured into my life so much more than I could ever in my wildest, most selfish dreams have hoped to deserve.  I am thankful for God's grace, and lavishing me with so many good gifts that I could never deserve.  I am thankful for Christ, because even if I had never been given any of these sweet gifts, so prized by the world ... because I have Christ, I have all.




Note:  I hope to do another gratitude post again before too long, but I needed to cut this one short for now, because I could literally be writing for days.  The cool thing is, that, although complaining and self-pity lead to more complaining and self-pity... the same is true for gratitude!  Once I begin to focus on all the good things that God has given me, it's hard to stop!  (And, unlike complaining, there's no reason TO stop!  Haha!)

The Mind of a (Cross-Cultural) Servant

I spent the whole month of February in North Carolina at a pre-field missions training, whose goal was to "equip the heart and mind of a servant".  Although the trainings lasted 6-8 hours per day (not counting homework), I will try to briefly highlight some of the most important ideas I am taking away.  We were encouraged to keep "snapshot" cards to encapsulate nuggets that we took away from different elements of the training.  Here are some of mine:

-- "Transition deficit" is when we feel that we are losing more (from the country/situation that we are leaving) than we have yet gained (in the new country/situation to which we have moved).  Transition shock is different than simply culture shock.

-- I thank the LORD that He is using the difficulty and uncertainty of transitions to develop His character in me ... and that my lessons/growth can also lead to blessing and encouragement for others. 

-- A greater self-awareness and awareness of others should lead to more humility, grace, patience, unity, and love.

--"The cross is the lightening rod of grace that short-circuits God's wrath to Christ so that only the light of His love remains for believers." -- A. W. Tozer

-- We may impress people with our strengths, but we connect with people through our weaknesses.

-- "The best thing that you can do for your first year overseas is survive.  Eventually, if you stay there long enough, by God's grace, you'll thrive." -- Andy LaBreche, one of the facilitators for the training

-- If you don't go humbly, don't go!

--  Spiritual warfare is an opportunity for God's power to be displayed.

-- In regard to spiritual warfare: We do not need to be afraid; we need to be alert. 

-- We often used the phrase of different cultural elements that they were "not right or wrong, just different."  One of my friends and fellow trainees added yet another consideration:  To say "It's not right or wrong, it's just different" implies that we are still the standard by which the customs of the rest of the world must be judged.  Instead, we should seek to see our OWN culture as neither right nor wrong, just different.

This is just a tiny sampling of the many things that we discussed at the training, but I hope to continue to share more as I review that time.  Stay tuned!

Yet Constantly I Am with You

Over the past month and a half, I have learned and grown a lot through intensive pre-field trainings and retreats.  God has been sharpening my ministry skills, as well as purifying my heart.  Through it all, I have seen how much I need the presence of the Lord in my life in order to produce any fruit spiritually.  He has also been my deep source of comfort throughout a staggering number of meetings and goodbyes; much travel; and just feeling overwhelmed by the pace of it all.  He is the One who never changes, and my heart rests securely in Him.  

This psalm (73C) has been in my heart and on my lips a lot over the past many days.  I hope that it is an encouragement to you as well!

Yet constantly I am with You; 
You've taken hold of my right hand.
Your counsel shows me what to do,
And guides me in the things I plan; 
And afterward, so shall it be,
You will with honor welcome me.

Are You not all I have in heav'n? 
None else on earth do I desire.
Though human strength come to an end --
My flesh may fail, my heart expire --
My heart's strength God Himself will be,
My portion through eternity.

Those far from You will surely die, 
Who dealt with You unfaithfully.
But as for me, I will draw nigh.
How good that God is near to me!
I refuge take in God the LORD,
That all your works I may record.