shoes

These shoes...

Just sneaks to some...

Tools of power and comfort for me.

They have walked many miles...

Covered lots of area...

Blessed lots of ground...

Carried lots of presence.

In Africa...

I enjoyed a final dance in my favorite kicks.

Enjoying lots of  "finals" today.

Asking Papa to hold me extra close...

To bless... 

Minister to our hearts.

Thanking Him...

For all the ways He has used my hands to partner in His good works.

Desiring Him more than ever...

To anoint my feet as I begin...

To walk by Faith towards...

The path that lies ahead.

For my spirit has been baptized anew...

By my time in Africa...

By my time on Ridgegate.

I celebrate the waters He has chosen to wash with...

Alive in the orange of His power

The light of His grace...

It has set me free...

To walk new roads...

Giving me courage to journey and explore new lands...

Allowing me to leave treasures behind...

Sharing His power with others.

Saying "goodbye..."

Means leaving a piece of yourself behind.

It's hard on the heart...

And on the feet.

I'm learning to love new adventures...

Trusting at some point...

They will also be well worn.

Resting in His light that is leading...

The Hopefuls...

Onward.

Loading up today...

Packing it all in.

Blessed by those who now walk in my story-shoes.

I can honestly say...

With tears...

I love my life...

I love my God...

I love my story...

He keeps on doing great things...

And I GET to spend my life singing about it...

I never grow weary of professing my love for Him.

I love Him SO much.

My life...

Lived and walked out...

For His glory alone...

May this be true...

For...

He is on the mantle of my heart.

Curious... what new shoes he has waiting for me in the Gem City???

Perhaps some red sparkles!

We shall see!

Coveting your prayers over this time of transition...

Especially for our tender smalls.

Thanks and love.

trust

My two worlds have officially collided.

Feeling a bit lost today.

Having left The Houses of Hope in Africa...

Now spending my final day...

In the House of Hope on Ridgegate.

I find myself asking...

"Where am I?"

"What is going on?"

So many emotions swirling about.

Being a mama...

One called to care for the smalls...

I see...

My need.

It takes an army load of hands...

Prayers from loving hearts...

The whole body working together...

To sew in faithfulness.

Planting His seeds of Hope...

Nourishing His growing.

This is what I want.

It's what I desire...

Faith-fullness.

Yet...

Today...

The eye-waters rush hard.

It feels like the walls are tumbling down around me.

.

While struggling with anxiousness.

My mind travels back to the land

Where brave mamas abound.

Truth is...

I just need to REMEMBER to REMEMBER.

He does not offer the bread of anxious toil.

He is the bread of rest..

The Bread of Life.

When I am tempted to be afraid...

I can trust in Him.

I can enjoy the small smiling faces that surround my camp...

Choosing to be present.

Even in my absent-mindedness.

In my lack...

He is more than enough.

I have learned much about trust in This House of Hope...

In the tilling... plantings... and blooms...

In our Lincoln, Tucker, Charli garden...

In the trees...

In loss...

In victory...

In job firings and hirings...

In the bird's songs...

In the "hello's and goodbyes..."

Among family...

Surrounded by dear friends...

Living life with growing smalls...

Being loved well by my Good Pastor.

So...

My takeaway for today...

Other than... He is good ALL the time...

Is...

Even in longings fufilled...

There is pruning to be done.

Watering with tears of joy and sorrow today.

For in my story...

One is rarely had without the other.

Putting my trust deep in Him.

For He is where my soul finds delight and rest.

instruments

In the air... 

The dirt...

The synthesizers and keyboards...

And especially the hearts of the people.

Worship is Alive on this continent.

While in Africa...

My heart was taken to deeper levels.

Filling me with ache and desire...

To bring my song before The King.

Yielding...

Even in regards to sacrifice and offerings.

Waiting for His timing...

A lesson I continue to be taught.

Experiencing first hand...

Sometimes the most unlikely tools...

Are the ones He uses...

To grind off the rough edges...

In order for His perfect fit to be made.

Oh...

I'm still in need of much sanding...

Much washing...

Amazingly He chooses...

To tabernacle in this raggedy ole' tent of mine.

Opening doors more fully...

To what's really inside.

He is all I want.

He is all I need.

He is all I crave...

And I desire to live this life as His instrument.

Wholly devoted.

Laying my All down...

Watching and waiting in childlike faith. 

For more of Him.

outreach...

Outreach...
A new word in my spiritual vocab.
Sure...
I have done outreach in the past...
But NEVER Africa-style.
Thrown in...
Full speed ahead...
Towards what we came to do...
Be a miracle-worker...
Use our hands...

To share in His work...

Stir the "spiritual" pot...

Praise... bless... lead... and HEAL.

To be like brother-Peter...

Feeding His sheep.

Oh...

The beauty of being His bride...

Actively waiting for His return.

Invited into action...

Called to co-labor...

With The One that clothes us with His likeness.

Teaching how to stay wrapped in the beauty...

Of His covering.

In regards to outreach...

I'm still just a baby...
Seeking my Papa.

With more schooling to be had...
My attention stays focused...
A heart of worship...
My only option.
Following the beat of His heart.

All the while...

Getting to partake in some of the richest community I have ever seen.

All God's children...

Connected...

Back to back...

Side by side...

Life on life.

Outreach at its finest.

Thankful for He continues to expand understanding.

Greeting old words... 

With bigger meanings.

Joyfully being led towards more.