village church

the church walls 

are simple bricks

window openings 

shaped but no glass

pews made from dried clay mud

being removed

as concrete begins to cover

the dirt floor

we carried our own chairs

from the base

only a ten minute walk

to the small village

we were greeted warmly

welcomed, honored

and blessed to worship

with such faithful ones

this Sunday 

our last in Zambia

we shall return

to fellowship with them

once again

When they said, “Let’s go to the house of God,”

    my heart leaped for joy.

Psalm 121:1 Message

 

prodigal daughter

This is supposed to be quiet time, yet even with music pouring in through earphones there is the distraction of other noise.  It is a picture of the distraction I have felt in our relationship Lord, during a time when I should be closer to you than ever.  Help me to carve out time, to hold it sacred and not allow anything to take me from Your presence.

I am so sorry for losing my way.  I am left feeling like there is no solid ground – for it seems I have chosen not to stand on You and in You.  I have forfeited all the promises that come to those who dwell in your secret place. The vine has not moved but my branch has wandered.

I have been grumbling and complaining, focusing on what is negative instead of looking for Your hand.  I have been looking to the future and missing the moment at hand.

Commit your way to the Lord;

    trust in him and he will do this:

 He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn,

    your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord

    and wait patiently for him

Psalm 37:5-7a NIV

The Lord makes firm the steps

    of the one who delights in him;

 though he may stumble, he will not fall,

    for the Lord upholds him with his hand.

Psalm 37:23-24 NIV

I know You are holding me Lord, it leaves me humbled and astounded.  Why would you have such patience with a wandering heart like mine? I am in Your hands, moment by moment brought back to the need to surrender, but there is still such struggle left in my flesh, trying to hold on to what I perceive as my rights, even as I know I have no rights.  It is all You and how can I rise up against You?  Forgive me, again and again and again Lord.

I am crawling back, Your prodigal daughter, longing for reconnection to the Vine, to drink deep, to be filled afresh with all that You Are as I pull the plug to drain away all that I am.  May I let go, allow my life to be poured out like a drink offering on no other altar but Yours.

You treat yourself harshly, little one.

Do not allow the voice of condemnation to crush you, 

for My love is sure, 

My voice soft as I sing over you to draw you home.  

I know you hear Me so I need not shout.

You are closer than you imagine 

and I hear your heart for it stills beats with Mine.  

Your peace is here.  

Your joy is here. 

 I Am here. 

 And here you are again.

 

opportunity knocked

no classes today

I was feeling useless

wasting time with nothing to do

though many were relishing free time

opportunity knocked

certainly not by circumstance

but design as we joined several others

riding via public transport

to the large city hospital

the wards were large

nothing close to privacy exists

I was almost embarrassed

to think of the richness

of our facilities at home

I gazed into eyes shining with pain

or fear, hollow above sunken cheeks

limbs stick like, lacking substance

we ministered side by side 

with the chaplains

encouraging new believers

praying for the sick

I helped one young man

who was sitting at his mother’s bedside

pray a prayer of surrender

to the Lord, releasing his old life

for new, reborn

angels were rejoicing today

we stopped for an ice cream cone

after the return trip home

the taste refreshing

but not nearly as sweet

as heaven’s salvation song

happy to be backed at Kelli's where the rhythms are all His

 

hopping free

there was

a sparrow hopping free

without doubt

or fear

taking in the morning light

and how much more

will He care 

for me?

in my weakness

who have I but my Lord?

as I lean broken

and weary

into arms willing

to carry me in love

I need not be able

no, I must be

nothing, that He

might be all

if there be any glory

in this dying

may it all be unto Him

here am I, Lord

use me as You will

the shattered pieces are Yours

as I am willing

to be willing

to be rebuilt

by Your hands

back resting with Snady

 

mambo sawa

These are the last weeks of discipleship training in Zambia.

Flight is being booked to Malawi for the first week of November.

Our hearts are longing to be where we feel God can best use us

We sing a song here - Mambo Sawa

"when the Lord is on the throne, things are getting better"

that is my prayer for you, for me, for all of us

 

a quick hello

A quick hello while ailing laptop is briefly functioning

Less than four weeks of classes left here in Zambia

then we are finally off to Malawi

We appreciate your prayers and encouragement

we are far from home but in His hands