My God is SO faithful...

Wow it has been a LONG time since I updated this blog. I didn't really realize how long it has been. It seems each day that I think of a million things that I want to write about and then by the end of the day I can't seem to find the energy to put my thoughts into words...oh well...hopefully I will be able to find some time and energy to write about the things that God is really teaching me and all that is going on in my heart and head. For now though I want to share with you a story about how God showed His faithfulness to me SO clearly this past week that it totally blew me away:

Many of you know that Ryan, Keane, Gracie and I spent the past 10 days in India. We traveled to three cities (none of which are anywhere near each other) to visit friends and co-workers and get to "see" some of India. Overall the trip went really well and as smoothly as it could while traveling with two 22 month old toddlers (who did AMAZINGLY well considering all that we did and all the places we went!).

Anyway, even though most things went smoothly there were times that I was EXHAUSTED and worn out from the traveling and I have to admit that it often showed in my attitude. This one particular day we had just spent 5 days with our amazing friends in a city in the 'middle of India' and were traveling back to Delhi to stay the night before we left for a 12 hour car ride the next day to Northern India where we would go to Dharamsala. The only flight we could get was at night so we didn't leave our friends until 8:10 pm. That afternoon I had tried a couple of ATM's so that I could get out money for the rest of our trip and neither of them worked (I figured it was just because my bank was blocking my card from being used in India). Ryan and I decided that we would just exchange some of the US dollars we had brought with us into Indian rupees at the airport in Delhi...surely the capital will have places at the airport to exchange money.

When we finally arrived in Delhi at 9:45 pm all of us were wiped out....all we wanted to do was get in a taxi and get to the hotel. Well as soon as we got our luggage we asked about money exchange places and all of the workers directed us outside (which isn't great because once you leave you can't enter back into the airport) saying that there were none inside that were open. Once we arrive at the one money exchange counter they have outside they tell us that they are OUT OF MONEY and they can't help us. At this point we have $600 US dollars on us and 300 Indian rupees (less than $10) and we can't pay for a taxi in dollars and 300 rupees isn't enough. We then decided to try our ATM again and yet again it didn't work. We kept asking and asking for help from all different workers in different shops and all they could tell us was that we could walk about 10 minutes and try another ATM. I was willing to exchange dollars with them for rupees and NO ONE wanted to help us....it wasn't that they were rude, it was just that they weren't helpful at all!

At this point we are TIRED and my attitude is less than admirable and I am upset at Ryan (why? I don't know...I guess he was the one I could take my frustrations out on...I hate that I do that...) and I am about to cry. I realized that I had NO FAITH that God was going to help us and that somehow this would all get worked out. In my heart I had a knowledge that God was with me and that He would provide but unfortunately my actions and attitude didn't show that at all. After pacing around the outside of the airport and talking about all kinds of options we decide to go and ask the money exchange guy one more time if he can help us....of course he says "no". Just as we turn around we see some Tibetan looking people walking up to us. In perfect English they say, "Do you need help?" I wanted to scream..."YES! Please help us!" but instead I just said "yes" and smiled as I held back tears. They asked us how they could help us and said how thankful they were that we would allow them to help us. They said that often when they reach out to help people the people don't trust them and all they want to do is help. They said that they had been watching us walk from place to place with all of our bags and the kids and figured we must need help...it just took them that long to get up the courage to approach us!

We told them the situation and simply asked if they would exchange money with us. Just then they all started speaking to each other (there were 3 of them...2 guys and a girl) in Nepali...it brought a HUGE smile to my face. Here I was in dire need of help and God not only brings someone to reach out and help us but He brings Tibetan Buddhist Nepali speakers (who we work with here in Nepal and come to find out they are all from Sikkim a state in India that is mainly Tibetan Buddhist and their common language that they speak with each other is Nepali). I wanted to reach out and hug them. I felt like I was "home". They said that we didn't need to give them money and that they would help us get a taxi and would stay with us until we get in one...I started to cry. One of the guys looked at me and said, "why are you crying?" and I said, "Because I was just so nervous and I am just so thankful." These guys spent the next 30 minutes running back and forth for us trying to get us a taxi to our guest house (thankfully they also spoke fluent Hindi (the majority language of India) too...amazing!). The wait to get a taxi was about 30 minutes and they even offered for us to go with them in their taxi (which was very funny because it was a normal size taxi and they had 4 people and we had 4 people and they had 2 bags and we had 4 bags and there was NO way that we were all fitting in that one taxi...but it was sweet of them). During the wait they talked with us (and shared some about where their families live and that they are all in college there in Delhi) and tried all they could to get us in a taxi sooner. While the guys were running around the girl stayed with me and Ryan and played with Keane and Gracie...she was beyond sweet to them.

The guys ran back and said they had a taxi for us. We told them how we thought that they were a gift from God and that God had used them to provide for us. We asked them over and over again to take the 300 rupees that we had or to even take the $20 bill (the smallest bill we had on us) in order to pay them back for paying for the taxi (which cost about 400 rupees). They refused over and over again and said that they didn't want anything they ONLY wanted to help us. It brings tears to my eyes just thinking about it. We gave them our cards with our email addresses and asked them over and over again to email us. I REALLY hope they do. As many of you know things like this DO NOT happen (OK..rarely) in South Asia and they happen rarely anywhere in the world (a complete stranger trying to reach out to you and paying for you and denying money when you offer to pay them back!). They were amazing and they are clear and vivid pictures to help me remember that I am never alone and that God is ALWAYS with me. God needs to receive all of the glory!

As I got in the taxi with my family and drove away waving good-bye to my new friends I again began to cry. I couldn't help but be broken before God and apologize to Him for my unfaithfulness...for the fact that I chose to worry about the situation instead of putting my hope, faith and trust in Him that He would work in a mighty way to help us in our time of need. As I held Keane I just wept and felt the love of God SO strongly...it was almost as if I could feel Him wrap His arms around us. It was such an awesome feeling to clearly see God's provision and work in our lives. We are NOT alone. God is with us. He is walking with us and He knows what we need even before we ask. He was faithful when I was unfaithful. I could just picture Him watching me get so upset and scared and Him just trying to say to me,

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. And the peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

and

"God will meet all of your needs according His glorious riches in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:19

and

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10.

Right as Keane was starting to fall asleep I kissed him and whispered in his ear, "sweet boy go to sleep tonight knowing clearly that God loves us and is holding us in His hand." This is something I know in my mind to be true but at that point (and in many other points throughout my life) I felt it deep, deep in my heart and it was the best feeling in the world.

Thank you God for the ways that you show yourself SO faithful to us. It is our hearts desire to REMEMBER your abundant faithfulness and cling to it during the very hard times when we can't see it as clearly. I love you!

When I finally stop and listen...

Balancing life wearing so many different hats (wife, mom, disciple of Christ, language learner, cook, English teacher, emailer, etc, etc) is often overwhelming. Trying to make sure that I am being intentional with my time and giving 110% to whatever I am doing at the moment is often hard. During the "down-time" of the day, I find that it is hard for me to relax and just be content to sit and enjoy the quietness or the stillness. However, yesterday I had such a unique and special time with the Lord in my community where I actually stopped long enough to really hear from Him...

I teach English on Tuesday and Friday mornings to a few Tibetan woman. Yesterday, I went to my class at our usual time, and the restaurant where I teach these women was closed. So I had to cancel class for the day. I called Ryan (who was home with the kids) and told him the situation and told him that I was going to take some time and just sit at the stupa (the Tibetan Buddhist temple by my home) and pray and listen and talk to some people there. He of course was fine with that and so supportive as usual. I spend a lot of time at the stupa, but most of the time I have a specific purpose or reason to be there. Yesterday, I decided to just sit on the steps of a big Buddhist monastery for a while. At the stupa (it is circular) people walk around and around it and believe that each time they circle the temple they are earning good karma (or merit) for the next life. Because I had time to just sit, pray, watch and listen for the first time in a while, all of it was overwhelming. I began to tear up,and my heart was just so broken as I sat and watched these people that I love, that God loves even more, putting all of their faith and hope into idols made by human hands carved from stone, gold, wood and clay. I saw little old women, so old it was hard for them to walk,bowing down to these idols. I saw teenagers come and get 'blessings' from the Buddhist and Hindu spiritual leaders. I saw people pay respect to and honor a bell made of silver. I saw people give money to monks and nuns so that the monks and nuns would pray for them. I heard horns blaring from monasteries in worship to false gods. I heard monks chanting mantras (many of which they don't even understand). I saw children begging, and I could just go on and on.

Throughout my time, as I watched and prayed, God was revealing things to me and bringing many Scriptures to mind. I just had to pull out a pen and a paper and start writing. Here is a little of what I wrote yesterday:

God, it all seems so hopeless. It seems like it is a never ending cycle. People turn to idols, and then they turn their backs on you. People don't seek truth (Romans 3:11, Jeremiah 29:12-13). They do what makes them feel happy, what they think is right (Proverbs 16). I know that it is not all hopeless. I know that you can bring salvation to these people. That you can tear down their walls, their barriers, their blindness, the things that keep them from knowing you. I know you can do it, and I ask that you PLEASE do it! I can see now (or at least understand a little bit more) why you sent the flood and why you had to destroy your creation at that time. Thank you for speaking to Noah and his family and for saving them from the flood. Thank you that you have provided a way for us to be saved from sin and your wrath (Romans 3:23, Romans 10:9, 1 John 1:9). I know that one day you are going to come again and judge the world. I know that those that don't know you will be eternally separated from you (John 14:6). I know that that breaks your heart so much more than it breaks mine. You love these people more than I ever could. So much so, that you sent your One and Only Son to die for them and for me (John 3:16). You are SO patient and long suffering. Your Word tells us that one day you will return, and I believe that with my whole heart (Matthew 24:36-44). I know you are waiting to return because those that you desire to hear about you haven't yet (Revelation 7:9), because you desire the ones who are here on the earth NOW to know you. It is your desire that no one perish but that ALL PEOPLE come to repentance and come to KNOW you (2 Peter 3:9). I know it must break your heart and make you so sad that so many people around the world, including most of the Tibetan Buddhist people I am looking at now, don't know you. I know you love them. Thank you for loving them. I know that these people aren't going to come to you unless they hear about you and unless we tell them (Romans 10:14, Matthew 28:18-20). I want to tell them about you. I want them to know you, to understand all they can about you, to love you. I want their lives to be transformed and for your name to be famous throughout the Himalayan mountains of Nepal.

God, help me to love the people here (and around the world) as you do. Help me in my language abilities. Open my eyes, my mind, my ears to the ways and places you are working here. I love you and am SO thankful for my salvation. I want to spend my life serving you!

I just wanted to encourage you (and me) today, to share our love for the Lord and His love for all people with those around us today wherever we are. We don't know what tomorrow holds, but we do know that God desires that ALL people would know Him. We have an important role in that, and we are to be the mouthpiece to share the Truth about God and who He is and the relationship He desires with all people. What an awesome privilege that is!

Praying for our children: Day 14 - Day 31

Well, I am so sorry that I was not able to update these everyday. I really had all good intentions and then time just got away from me. I pray that you and I will be able to use this list (and the ones from my previous posts) to spend this next month consecutively praying for our children in these specific areas. I have prayed for Keane and Gracie in these areas most days this month and it has been so neat to see how my God brings so many other things to mind to pray for them about through these initial prayers each day. My friend Shannon also commented and gave me a link for where to find the original list of prayers so you can print the entire sheet out if you want. Click here to find the list. I hope you all are doing well. Here is day 14- day 31....

Day 14 Kindness "Lord, may my children 'always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else'"

1 Thessalonians 5:15

Day 15 Generosity "Grant that my children may 'be generous and willing to share [and so] lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age'"

1 Timothy 6:18-19

Day 16 Peace, peaceability "Father, let my children 'make every effort to do what leads to peace'"

Romans 14:19

Day 17 Joy " May my children be filled 'with the joy given by the Holy Spirit'"

1 Thessalonians 1:6

Day 18 Perseverance " Lord, teach my children perseverance in all they do, and help them especially to 'run with perseverance the race marked out for [them]'"

Hebrews 12:1

Day 19 Humility " God, please cultivate in my children the ability to 'show true humility toward all'"

Titus 3:2

Day 20 Compassion " Lord, please clothe my children with the virtue of compassion"

Colossians 3:12

Day 21 Responsibility " Grant that my children may learn responsibility, 'for each one should carry his own load'"

Galatians 6:5

Day 22 Contentment " Father, teach my children 'the secret of being content in any and every situation. . . . through him who gives [them] strength'"

Philippians 4:12-13

Day 23 Faith " I pray that faith will find root and grow in my children's hearts, that by faith they may gain what has been promised to them"

Luke 17:5-6, Hebrews 11:1-40

Day 24 A servant heart " God, please help my children develop servant hearts, that they may serve wholeheartedly, 'as to the Lord, and not to men'"

Ephesians 6:7, KJV

Day 25 Hope " May the God of hope grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness by the power of the Holy Spirit"

Romans 15:13

Day 26 The willingness and ability to work hard " Teach my children, Lord, to value work and to work hard at everything they do, 'as working for the Lord, not for men'"

Colossians 3:23

Day 27 A passion for God " Lord, please instill in my children a soul that "followeth hard after thee," a heart that clings passionately to you

Psalm 63:8, KJV

Day 28 Self-discipline " Father, I pray that my children may develop self-discipline, that they may acquire 'a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair'"

Proverbs 1:3

Day 29 Prayerfulness " Grant, Lord, that my children's lives may be marked by prayerfulness, that they may learn to 'pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests"

Ephesians 6:18

Day 30 Gratitude " Help my children to live lives that are always 'overflowing with thankfulness,' 'always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ'"

Colossians 2:7, Ephesians 5:20

Day 31 A heart for missions " Lord, please help my children to develop a heart for missions, a desire to see your glory declared among the nations, your marvelous deeds among all peoples"

Psalm 96:3

Praying for our children...days 8-13

Oh the excuses I can give as to why I am posting this so late...but I will refrain and simply say...sorry. I hope that you can "catch up" while I do here!

Day 8: Mercy "May my children always 'be merciful, as [their] Father in heaven is merciful'".

Luke 6:36

Day 9: Respect (for self, others, authority) "Father, grant that my children may 'show proper respect to everyone, 'as your Word commands"

1 Peter 2:17a

Day 10: Strong, Biblical self-esteem "Help my children develop a strong self-esteem that is rooted in the realization that they are 'God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus"

Ephesians 2:10

Day 11: Faithfulness "Let love and faithfulness never leave [my children],' but bind these twin virtues around their necks and write them on the tablet of their hearts"

Proverbs 3:3

Day 12: Courage "May my children always 'Be strong and courageous' in their character and in their actions"

Deuteronomy 31:6

Day 13: Purity "Create in [my children] a pure heart, O God,' and let their purity of heart be shown in their actions"

Psalm 51:10

Praying for our children...day 5, 6, 7

Am I really that behind in posting these days? Time just seems to be flying by! For those of you who are trying to use these prayers daily...I am so sorry that I have not been able to do it each day...I will try to be more diligent about posting them here.

Day 5 Self-control "Father, help my children not to be like many others around them, but let them be 'alert and self controlled' in all they do."

1 Thessalonians 5:6

"So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and sober."

Day 6 a love for God's Word "May my children grow to find your Word 'more precious than gold, than much pure gold; [and] sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb."

Psalm 19:10

"More to be desired are than than gold,

even much fine gold;

sweeter also than honey

and drippings from the honeycomb."

Day 7 justice "God, help my children to love justice as you do and to 'act justly' in all they do."

Psalm 11:7

"For the Lord is righteous,

He loves righteous deeds;

the upright shall behold His face."

Micah 6:8

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of

you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,

and to walk humbly with your God?"

Praying for our chidren...day 3 and day 4

Yesterday was a great but busy day so by the time I got home, played with Keane and Gracie and got dinner made and cleaned up, baths finished, I was exhausted and just wanted to watch TV so I didn't get day 3 posted yesterday. Forgive me for the delay but here are day 3 and day 4 of ways to pray for our children. I don't know about you but it has been such a special time for me to set aside just a few minutes each day to pray for these specific things. Praying these specific things makes me think about each one and how I desire so strongly for Keane and Gracie to have these traits and things in their lives. I am so thankful that God hears our prayers and desires to answer them!

Day 3: Love "Grant, Lord, that my children (Keane and Gracie) may learn to 'live a life of love,' through the spirit who dwells in them."

Ephesians 5:2

"And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God."

Galatians 5:22

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."

Day 4: Honesty and Integrity "May integrity and honesty be their virtue and their protection."

Psalm 25:21

"May integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for you."

Praying for our children...day 2

This morning at breakfast, I held both Keane and Gracie's hands and looked them in the eyes (they were looking around a bit of course) and I told that them that I was praying everyday for them. I told them that I wanted to pray for them right now and that is what I did...as they mumbled away and looked all around I held their hands and lifted today's prayer up to God. It was such a special time.

Day 2: Growth in grace

"I pray that they (Keane and Gracie) may grow in the grace

and

knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18

Praying for our children...

Since the moment I found out I was pregnant with Keane and Gracie I have been praying for them. I have been praying most importantly that they would truly know God and His salvation and live a life that glorifies and honors Him whatever it may cost them. I have prayed that I, as their mom, would always encourage them in that. I of course pray for their health, for their safety, for many, many different things as well. Lately, I have felt a need to really have a way to be in constant prayer over them for specific things. I recently came across a document that I think I was given at a women's retreat here in Kathmandu last year. It is called, "31 Ways to Pray for your Children" by Bob Hostetier. I am not sure who Bob is but on this piece of paper is a list of prayers, one prayer for each of the days of the month along with scripture to pray over our children.

He says, "Each day of the month, in addition to my prayers for their saftey and concerns for that day, I also pray for a specific character trait, virtue or fruit of the Spirit to be planted and nurtured in my children, through my efforts (and my wife's), through the influence of others, and through my children's own actions and decisions."

I began praying on day 1 today. I will try to add a new days prayer each day on my blog so that together we can be in dedicated prayer for our children. I want to see God working in their lives. What a blessing it is and has been when I see Him visibly at work. It is amazing how fast Keane and Gracie are growing. I want to make sure that I am intentional each and every day to lift them up in prayer before my God. I am excited to see all of the many ways that God will answer our prayers.

Day 1: Salvation: "Lord, let salvation spring up within my children, that they may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory."

Isaiah 45:8

"Shower, O heavens, from above,
and let the clouds rain down

righteousness;

let the earth open, that salvation and

righteousness may bear fruit;

let the earth cause them both to sprout;

I the Lord have created it."

John 1:12

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.