Watching and Waiting

This Advent season has been one of the most personally honest ones that I have experienced.  Honest in that I haven't just thought, "Oh yeah, it's Advent. Watching and waiting for Christ's return. Yep, that'll be awesome....after I finish school...after I get married...after I have babies...after I experience life and all the things I want...after He calls me Home to heaven - yeah, then it'll be great."

Looking back over the past year, there have been so many times when my heart ached and clung to that promise.  My Savior is coming back!  He is going to redeem the world and rule and reign with justice!  There will be no more sin, no more pain, no more junk!  My eyes have been blown open to the realities of this world more in this past year than ever in my lifetime. 

I have seen poverty. 

I have seen desperation. 

I have seen I have seen people hurting.  Daily.  Every SECOND of the day. 

I've seen hopelessness. 

I've been working in foster care...if that doesn't scream to your soul the world's need for the Savior, I don't know what will.  I have children as clients who are quite aware of the extent of the evil in man.  Even this week in my hometown, something horrific happened that left two children without a father or a mother and countless people grieving.

I have seen fear.

And for those who don't know Christ as their Redeemer, there is plenty reason to fear.  This world is but a tiny muted taste of what eternity in hell without Christ will be like.  How could anyone want that?  Especially when Christ offers so much more!

Although my heart breaks and at times I am weary, I have no fear.  If you belong to Christ, fear is not for you! 

Isaiah 43:1 "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine."

Psalm 118:5-6  "Out of my distress I called on the Lord; the Lord answered me and set me free. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

I am more certain than ever that this world is not my home.  My home and my comfort is in Christ.  I watch and watch eagerly for His return. Advent. He is coming! =)

The Message version of Romans 8:18-28 provides an interesting perspective:

¹⁸That's why I don't think there's any comparison between the present hard times and the coming good times. ¹⁹The created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. ²⁰Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in ²¹until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens.

²²All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it's not only around us; it's within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We're also feeling the birth pangs. ²³These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. ²⁴That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don't see what is enlarging us. ²⁵But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy.

²⁶Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God's Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don't know how or what to pray, it doesn't matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. ²⁷He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. ²⁸That's why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good.

Watching and waiting, my friends.  And in my waiting, may God be glorified.

-t

Where You Lead Us....We Will Follow

I just got home from a blessing in my week.  My sweet new friend C got a couple of free tickets to a Brandon Heath/Jars of Clay concert and invited me along!  We had so much fun....let me tell you, we felt old (BUT LOVED IT) when Jars busted out some of their old school hits.

At one point in the evening, I just had to stop and take it all in.  I was in a building full of people singing in one voice,

"Where You lead us
                             We will follow....

Where You lead us
                             We will follow..."

In the crazy hectic-ness of grad school, adjusting to a new city, trying to make sure I get sleep in there somewhere, and all the other things that have been occupying my thoughts and my time lately, it is easy for me to lose sight of why I am here and what my purpose is. 

I am here because Christ led me here.

It is a joy to see where He has led me...from Roscoe and Snyder...to Los Angeles...to Atlanta...to Mexico...to College Station...to Kenya....to Austin...

....from Home....to college...to "teaching"...to missions...to grad school...

....from sinful...lost...wretched...and hard-hearted...
                    ...to forgiven...redeemed...seen righteous before God...and led...

Where will I go from here?  Where He leads me, I will follow.

Back to Kenya...to other nations...to another state...or back to my hometown...

I can't answer where I will be led next, but I am trusting the One I am following is faithful.


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One thing I do know I am currently being led to....the cries of the orphan.

This Sunday is Orphan Sunday.  Will you pray?  Will you ask...Lord, am I too being asked to become a voice for these children?  To help change their status of physical and spiritual fatherlessness?  Or simply tell God that where He leads you, you'll follow.

It's Your Mission

Today, I received an email from Jane Ann - the volunteer director for Buckner saying that they are beginning to advertise the summer internships for 2011. She attached an application and said they are encouraging their past interns to apply again.

My heart wants to return to Kenya. So much.

Please join with me in praying about this. Also, if you are reading this and are 18 (and have completed one year of college or work experience after high school) or older - pray about applying! Maybe God wants YOU to step outside of your comfort zone and spend your summer serving His children.

If you haven't already, you can read about my experience this past summer as an intern for Buckner in Kenya here.

To make it even easier on you....here is the flier! You can find the application on their website here.    ;-)

And yes...I realize the flier kind of takes over the sidebar, but it was the only way it was readable - if you'd like me to email it to you instead, I'd be happy to!

To the ends of the Earth,

T