God's Timing

These pictures are from a little outing in the country with a family from my church. Simply wonderful :)

"After the Lord your God has driven them out before you, do not say to yourself, "The Lord has brought me here to take possession of this land because of my righteousness." No, it is on account of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord is going to drive them out before you...understand, then, that it is not because of your righteousness that the Lord your God is giving you this good land to possess, for you are a stiff-necked people."

Deuteronomy 9:4-6

I am reminded this week that I can not earn God's love...I can not earn his blessings. They are given freely to me but not because of anything good I have done. I freely accepted the gift of Jesus' life given for me. I surrendered my life to Christ. I am made clean. I am set free. I am washed in love.

Sometimes I have to repeat these truths to myself. I have to remind myself of what it is that Jesus did for me - not that I will ever truly understand the depths of his love. But I have moments of apathy. Moments where I forget what I am doing...what I was sent here to do. And in those moments I remember whose I am. Who gave his life for me. Who shed his perfect blood to cleanse me and give me life. My hope is put in Christ.

Some days I feel lost...But in Jesus I know I am found. Some days I feel tired...But I know where I can find a well of living water. Some days I feel discouraged...But I know that I have the Holy Spirit.

God is more than just a word to me. He is life. He is my caring and loving Daddy who cares for every wound and every heartache. He knows every thought that passes through my stubborn mind. He knows every desire that resounds in my heart. He knows me. "O Lord, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord." (Psalm 139)

I wanted to update you all today about the progress of my work here in Leon...But when I started writing, all I wanted to do was talk about Jesus. While that is my heart in this moment, I must admit that that isn't the case everyday. I so desperately want that to be my heart everyday. I want Jesus to constantly be on my lips. I want my actions to convey his love and gentleness and mercy. And I want my words to cause change in the hearts of the people here in Mexico. That they would want to follow Christ. I know that I can't convince them to follow Jesus. That is the work of the Holy Spirit and I won't pretend to have that ability. But through prayer we CAN cause change. We can intercede for these people who have probably never been prayed for individually.

Please pray with me for the people in this city: Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico. Please pray with me that my heart would be full of love for these people and that Jesus would constantly be on my lips. Please pray for M where we are continuing to work. Please pray for the university work that we finally started last week and will be continuing to do every Tuesday.

I am so grateful for all of you who have been praying and who I know will continue praying. God bless you.

A glimpse into Independence day here in Mexico :) It was a blast!