One Little, Blue Lizard

Tonight marked my final service as stand-in "worship leader" at our church here in Granada. Wow...how time flies. 

I'm so thankful for the Lord's blessing me with this opportunity to trust Him, learn more Spanish, and serve with so many gifted and encouraging friends. This experience has put a seed in my heart to bring some Spanish worship to our HLG chapel services. Vamos a ver.

So tonight, as I'm leading worship, I look to the back and see three faces that have become a daily sight in my life here in Granada, actually the family (minus Kassie and Jairus) who encouraged this whole thing: Brian, Malaki, and Cora. 

Earlier this week I had gifted the three kids some small, toy lizards from the beach. Tonight during worship, one surfaced. 

Malaki stood on a chair in the back row, waving his blue lizard back and forth over the heads of others in the congregation. What joy it brought to my heart to see him treasuring this gift and being so excited to make it obvious to me.

Then I began to wonder...how do I respond when my Heavenly Father gives me gifts? Do I give Him the credit? Do I bring a smile to His face with my excitement (even internally)? Do I even notice where His fingerprints are at work?

This little, joyful five-year-old gave me a visible picture of one facet of having childlike faith: uncontainable joy. 

I want to have a child-like spirit that jumps up and down at what her Father is doing, to be more dependent, to live unjaded in this world because I know my Heavenly Father has the whole world in His hands. 

This isn't easy. My natural inclinations are to hold back, trust slowly, be independent, lower expectations, over focus on the bad things. 

I want the faith to step out and ask the impossible. I want to know more of what's on my Father's heart. I desire to pray those things. I want to be filled with joy at the knowledge that there is a loving God that loved me enough to die for me. He has adopted me into His family, made me an heir with His perfect Son, and now I share in His inheritance. 

I can come boldly to the throne of grace.

"God, pull my heart to Yours. Help me to trust You, clinging in the good and bad, knowing that You are working out everything for good. Make me dependent on You; give me Your joy. Give me a childlike heart as my eyes look to You. It's because of Jesus that I'm able to be with You." 

Leaving it in the Pictures' Hands

I don't feel like I'm at a place where I can write much right now, but I thought a few pictures would be fun.

Bridal shower, anyone?  

Ready for a picnic.

Just a little cultural experience: horses, flamenco dresses, you know...

Soakin' up the sun!

I'm so thankful for the friends, roommates, and other amazing people God has placed in my path, heart, and life here in Spain.  He has blessed me way more than I ever could have imagined, and I couldn't ask for anything better.

I'm really gonna miss y'all.

Tribute to the HLGU Class of 2013

In just a couple of hours, many of the students with whom I entered HLG will have graduated.  

How fast time flies.

As difficult as it was to "let go" of what would have been my last year of school, now I have a little more clarity.  I wouldn't take back the times of laughter, difficulty, fun, growth, friendship, and memories my first three years entailed with my friends and those who are "soon-to-be" alumni.  I also wouldn't take back this year here is Spain.  I am confident those crossing the stage today are where they should be, as am I.

To those of you who are "heading off to the real world" now, congratulations!!  I am certain that the Lord has touched your lives while attending HLG, whether you were looking for it or not.  No matter where you are in that journey right now, I know He will continue the work that He has begun.  

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Even though most of the time we don't know what God is doing until farther down the road, He is at work.  I look forward to seeing and hearing His continued purpose and glory being worked out in many of your lives. 

Missing being with you all today - and thanking the Lord for you.  

May Jesus be the center of who we are and all we do.

Besos from Spain!!