Sustaining Grace

What is sustain grace?
Not grace to bar what is not bliss
Nor flight from all distress, but this:
The grace that orders our trouble and pain
And then in the darkness is there to sustain.
-John Piper

God has been doing some great things this week. I almost missed it getting so caught up in the craziness that is my life, but God is good and was working through difficult circumstances. I read in my devotions in Acts, verses 8-11 say, “Now at Lystra there was a man sitting who could not use his feet. He was crippled from birth and had never walked. He listened to Paul speaking. And Paul, looking intently at him and seeing that he had faith to be made well, said in a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he sprang up and began walking.” This man, though crippled from birth, had enough faith to stand up. But it wasn’t just his faith that healed him, but God using that faith to do something for his glory. So many are content to sit on the side of the road in the dirt. But if we’d just have that faith to stand when he calls us, what could God do through us? I’m sure most of us struggling as much as this man had in his life- never being able to walk and so being forced to rely on family and friends for everything, and yet when Paul said rise, he sprang up! Honestly, this week I didn’t want to stand up. I was content to sit in the dirt and worry and be anxious. But thankfully God is rich in mercy and grace and wouldn’t let me. But I’ll get to that in a second.

If you keep going on in Acts 14, Paul gets dragged out of the city and stoned. Verse 20 says, “But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city…” I have such small faith. Even death cannot thwart His purposes! God’s will will be done. What more can I do then plead that my will be lost in His. My trust is in Him through this all.

So despite this crazy week, I went to club (as often as my body allowed. I, as well as Justine, have bad colds) and I was really blessed that I did. Every moment with these kids is precious.

Natalie, Justine, the McClains and I got to the church Tuesday and started our normal routine of setting up for Las Manos Del Alfarero. Then the rain started to pour. I don't think I've ever seen it rain so hard. As the kids started to show up, we all stood in the front area watching the rain with a few kids (and Justine ;]) ventured out. Soon the street was flooded and a steady, strong stream of water came down from the drain pipe. Before I knew it, almost all the kids were playing in the water and pushing each other into the stream of water coming from the roof (still including Justine ha ha). I'm not sure who planted the idea first (my guess from later actions it was Yoel, Tamara and Gabriella) but soon the kids came after me. I had no defense against the pack of children dragging me into the water. It became a huge water fight and pretty much everyone got drenched- Natalie, Matt, Brooke and even Don Victor!

Joel

Attacking Don Victor

They're stronger than they look...really

Everyone was DRENCHED

That same night was the first time that Gabriella actually was comfortable enough to joke around with me. And tonight as well I got to kid around with her. She's opening up :) Praise Jesus!  One girl, Rosiris, tonight really surprised me. We only see this group of kids every other week so I haven't gotten to interact with her much, especially since I've been sick a lot. But she wanted me to play with her and refused to let me leave. Then she insisted that I HAD to sit with her for dinner and play with only her again afterwards. THEN (yes, there’s more :]) on Thursday one of the PFK girls, Natalia, who is usually extremely shy and introverted, opened up and kept trying to tickle me and grab me (which she probably learned from the boys.) This even surprised Matt and Brooke. It was such a joy to see her smile and laugh and play around instead of sitting quietly and watching from the sidelines.

I am so thankful to God for putting me here with the kids. It’s been on my heart since I’ve gotten here to be completely focused here during my time in Costa Rica, and not get distracted. So the Enemy is throwing out things left and right. Please pray for endurance for all 3 of us as well as all the sickness to go away.

God is good, all the time.

Desert Song

This is my prayer in the desert
And all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved
Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

And I will bring praise
I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

All of my life
In every season
You are still God
I have a reason to sing
I have a reason to worship

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've recieved I will sow

You make beautiful things out of the dust

I found this song this morning and fell in love with it.  It's a really simple song. I guess listen to it first, then I'll continue...

Real simple right? But there is so much hope and beauty in that!  I love it, especially being part of Potter's Field Ministries and having seen Pastor Mike's presentation.  The picture of taking up plain, hard, ugly clay and being molded and constructed into something beautiful.  I remember this one time when we were evangelizing (it was actually in Tamarindo) and I was sharing this gospel with this lady.  As I started talking about man's fallen nature, she got defensive and kept telling me over and over how I was an angel, that I was perfect and couldn't be this wretched sinful creature deserving the wrath of God.  As she tried to convince me that I truly was a good person, I felt tears well in my eyes, my heart sink and my stomach drop.  That's because just the opposite is true.  From birth I was fully deserving eternity in hell.  I was one who stood on the side of the road cursing at Christ as he walked holding the cross.  I'm guilty of nailing his hands and piercing his side.  There's a Paul Washer sermon that I've listened to over and over.  In it he says that the greatest act of faith is not raising someone from the dead, but for a man to look into the mirror of God's Word and see his sin, and yet believe that God loves us how He says He does.  Because I'm not a victim in chains.  I'm not a little lost sheep.  I am a vile, wretched, God hating criminal and he, JESUS, bought me not with gold or silver, but with his precious blood!

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Willingly, he has drawn this wretched person into his embracing arms and has removed my heart of stone.  I am but dust, yet God is making something beautiful.  And this is not because I did anything great or deserving of it. He has done it for His glory!
"Hope is springing up from this old ground.  Out of chaos, life is being found in You." Praise God that he would choose to have any good come from me through Christ!  And though I so often am found looking back at what I was, I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in me will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.


You make me new, You are making me new

Is not our God amazing?  Praise Jesus! 
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

6/10

Natalie is now with us and is doing great :) I love her boldness in trying to reach out to the people here.  She has only been studying Spanish for a month or so I believe, but that hasn't slowed her down one bit!  If you've read anything from the first time I came to Costa, I got discouraged as I couldn't understand the kids or I would make a mistake etc.

But this is Natalie we're talking about. This girl does not slow down!

We were sitting in the church with the kids before eating.  Don Victor asked the kids something and one of the boys across from Natalie said, "yo yo yo yo!" meaning "I".  Natalie looks over at him and says all cool like, "Yo!" as in "what's up."  I haven't laughed so hard in a long time! She is so sweet! When I explained that was not what Julian was saying she just laughed and kept trying to talk to the kids. I'm pretty sure she went up to each kid and asked them what their name was and introduced herself. Soemtimes she got a little mixed up and kept saying to the kids, "Mi nombre es" instead of "Como se llama?" and they would look at me confused.  Now, I'm not making fun of  Natalie in ANY way! I love her heart and her boldness! Plus, I called Don Juan cute when I meant to tell him he was kind, and have mixed up sooo many words!

Justine has been doing really great as well.  She has a way of connecting with the kids without speaking in Spanish.  Plus, she's killed more cockroaches in 3 weeks then I have in all my time put together!

Lastly, I just wanted to ask for prayer.  I've been sick the past few days and I am soooo ready for it to be over! It's so frustrating missing time with the kids when there's only a few weeks left!!  The other night I had to leave and started walking home and a few of the kids called out my name. I almost started crying!  I ended up going back because I really wanted to be with the kids. I snuck in and the kids had split into groups. I usually go with Matt and the older kids so I grabbed a chair and joined them. Yoel, who is a boy I've been praying for and acts up a lot (like he's trying to be older then he is), grabbed his chair and scooted next to me and said said "Meekala!" and gave me a big smile :)

I think being sick all the time has been from the enemy. It's so ridiculous!  Tuesday, Matt split up the kids for English class and took half and I was with the other half while Justine and Natalie were in the kitchen.  I've never worked with the kids by myself, but it was a lot of fun and I think it went really well. Sofia told me that my Spanish is getting really good ha ha.  Neysi, who is Gabriella's little sister and is like her in her quietness and unwillingness to participate, surprised me.  When Matt rejoineed the two groups together to sing a song, the majority sat down and didn't want to do it.  I looked over and Neysi and lightly with a smile and almost jokingly told her to come stand next to me.  And, without protest, she got up and stood next to me and did the song!  I was so shocked! God is doing some awesome things!

Life In Costa Rica

Bible Club!

The Vargas family! Victor and Sylvia and their kids Daniel, Dennis and Sofia

Justine helping out making meals for the kids

  

Weird giant spider/scorpian looking that the Don Victor found

Natalie sitting in on her first day at Las Manos del Alfarero

We sang Por Siempre (Forever) and Loco Por Mi Rey (Undignified)

This is from a storm we had about a week ago and the streets were flooding!

Rodrigo the giant flying cockroach

6/5-6/6

6/5


I got to play and do worship with Alex and Daniel for church. It’s always a huge blessing, but very stretching as well. For those who didn’t know me before the first time I went to Costa Rica, Alex almost never has chords or even lyrics. And now he works until 5 on Sundays which is when church starts (and by starts I mean people are just starting to show up :]) so we just kind of jumped right in. But it just makes me rely on the Holy Spirit even more. It’s getting a little easier. If Alex plays in the key of G, I’m use to it enough that I don’t have to watch to see the chord progression, I can just follow. He told me that next Sunday he’s leading at Beach Community Church (the English speaking church) and if Josh (the worship leader there) doesn’t end up doing worship (sorry for lots of parenthesis, I am NOT a very good writer ha ha. Anyways, he’s the worship leader there) Alex wants me to play. I’m starting to get that he doesn’t realize that I have absolutely no idea what I’m doing!

 This picture is a little older, but that's Alex and Daniel

6/6
I was reading in my devotions in Acts this morning and found something really cool : ) It’s right after Peter heals a lame man. Acts 4 says, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition. But when they had commanded them to leave the council, they conferred with one another, saying, “What she we do with these men? For that a notable sign has been performed through them is evident to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and we cannot deny it.”
God had preformed a miracle using Peter and John and the Council couldn’t deny it. They had seen the man standing before them! Now, it would be awesome to be used by God in a way just like that, yet each Christian can still have such an impact. Which is more miraculous, a lame man healed, or a sinful creature deserving the full wrath of God (that’s me) being declared forgiven? We are dead men walking! What is more amazing than that? The blind having sight, the crippled rising to their feet, the lepers healing have nothing on this! How great is it having been the “prodigal son” but having had my life so radically changed that when people see what Christ has done they can also say “we cannot deny it.” Soli deo Gloria!

addition

Hey also I guess in addition, please pray for Justine, she's slept most of the day.  She's just been really tired lately. I mean, I don't know why, I even let her sleep in her own bed last night ;] (If that doesn't make any sense, you'll have to read Justine's blog ha ha.)  Anyways, it's really hot and it's easy to be tired a lot. Thanks!