His Steadfast Love

March 17, 2016

His Steadfast Love

"The Lord pours in, whilst we seek to pour out." - George Muller

I struggled with what to call this blog post, and I am so sorry if this is a scattered entry. The Lord has been teaching me more than I could have imagined, in the last month. So how do I put it all under one label? But, I think if I could label this period of my life as one thing, right now, it would be "His Steadfast Love".

I am so incredibly grateful for and blown away by the opportunity and gift of being able to serve in Huehuetenango. This orphanage and these dear children have stolen my heart (just as my husband predicted)! Each one of them has entangled themselves within my heart, and a special place is reserved for each of them, in the deepest part of my soul.

Where do I begin? Every day I wake up, completely reliant on God for the strength, energy, and joy that can only come from Him. Walking out of my front door at 7:45 and immediately being greeted and bombarded by overly excited Kinders and 1st graders, so full of energy at such an early hour. (Actually my days have been beginning at 5:30 AM, Brady and I have been setting our internal clocks to the Huehue swing of things. That's when everyone wakes up here, so we have jumped on the band wagon. It's been quite rewarding actually, and I would encourage all of you to wake up that early, because such sweet precious time is spent with the Lord, when the dawn is just breaking.) Then it is off to school, for the morning.

I'll be honest, some days are easier than others. One day I cried three times, because the little girls weren't respecting and listening to me. Every day I go to school and a new "situation" arises with the kids. Depending on who is in a good mood, "Teacher Katie" (all the kids refer to us as "Teacher [insert name]") and I can have a semi-good day in the classroom or one of the kids can throw off the whole day. This job requires so much patience and discernment in how to handle each child as the individual soul that they are. At first, I was so frustrated with myself and convinced I wasn't cut out for the job of Katie's helper, but I am learning to lean on God for the strength needed.

My 1st grade class, so crazy :)

My busy little students, during art.

One morning, my 1st graders lined up on the slide for a picture :)

Every morning, the kids want to walk on the tires.

All the kiddos singing Happy Birthday to Katie's nephew.

Classroom shenanigans

Many situations here have been teaching me about "Flexibility". I am realizing that to be FLEXIBLE is the way Jesus lived, and how He desires us to live the same way. Our circumstances change so fast. To be flexible is to hold your present circumstances with loose hands, and to be willing to give anything up at a second's notice. And to serve with flexibility requires you to share your time, your space, and your possessions.

Every day is so worth it though! To be able to go to class every day, and have the freedom to sing about Jesus and to teach about The Good Shepherd. I love seeing the kids eagerly responding to the truth about how God will come searching for them if they are lost. This last week has been especially sweet, leading up to Easter. We went through the whole story with the children, beginning with Jesus, our humble King, riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Then washing His disciple's feet, and sharing communion with them. It was priceless to see the kid's faces light up when they got their own feet washed! And for them to possibly comprehend that Jesus died on the cross for their sins, but then rose again, how exciting! I pray that each one of these children will come to know Jesus personally!

It is when we are weak, that the Lord says, He will be strong and show His perfect power. Before coming to the orphanage, I remember feeling so insufficient for this job. But God showed me the verse about the treasure in jars of clay. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us" (2 Cor. 4:7). This verse encourages me all the more, every day, to know that He continually chooses to use us! There is a song writer (Tim Timmons), who, I feel, puts my very thoughts into song. It is fabulous and incredible how God uses His songs to speak to me. Here is one of his songs:

Pieces shatter

Questions unanswered

I'm broken and weathered

You hold me together

Even in the battle, You are good, You are good

Even in the struggles I have never understood

Be it joy or pain, still my life will say

You are God and You are good

You say You won't leave

You say You love me

So I'll trust You with this day

And I'll trust You to lead the way

I'll praise You, not that I have to

Not that I ought to, but that I may

Give it a listen! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmMYfHb_hHo&index=8&list=PLlIJzXkDX2eygj0isr8UqcBeUNQ5zcLbL

So, about God's steadfast love. I believe I am only beginning to get but a glimpse of it. But it is so beautiful! When condemnation and lies are swirling around me, God's steadfast love surrounds me, like a strong shield and fortress. And though I can't visibly see it, I know it's there!

Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

Your faithfulness to the clouds.

Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

Your judgments are like the great deep;

Man and beast You save, O Lord.

How precious is Your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

They feast on the abundance of Your house,

And You give them drink from the river of Your delights.

For with You is the fountain of life;

In Your light do we see light.

Oh, continue Your steadfast love to those who know You,