God Celebrates YOU

Zephaniah 3:17 is one of my favorite passages. It's also a song that I sing to people as a blessing and to my little brother, Maclane, as I rocked him to sleep so many months ago. "The Lord your God is with you. He is mighty to save. He will take great joy in you. He will quiet you with His love. He will rejoice over you with singing." The NIV version says "He will take great delight in you." God delights in me, in you, in us.

Have you ever stopped to think about this truth? The God of the universe delights in you! I have been reading Crazy Love by Francis Chan for the second time. He reminds us throughout the book that God loves us and desires to be in relationship with us. Now I think during this year in the Czech Republic I've missed/will have missed approximately 9 weddings. My friends are getting engaged left and right! When I talk with them the story is always similar, "I can't believe he chose me!" is the feeling most women have. I realized that this is the same feeling that I should have about my Heavenly Father. "I can't believe he chose me! I can't believe He wants to be in a relationship with me!" So ladies and gents, if you have ever been in love or are in love right now, take that emotional feeling and magnify it by 10 and that is the overwhelming joy we should feel by being chosen by God.

Marilyn Meberg says, "Knowing He delights in us allows us to feel secure about who we are and Whose we are." As I wrestle with homesickness, almost constant gray and rainy weather, and balancing the many demands of life, I am re-discovering what it means to be a delight to God. It's an active, constant delight. Just like his unconditional love is constant and active. Everything else around me may be in complete chaos but He delights in me. I'm His and He is in control.

Crunchy Leaves & Deer

A little less than two weeks ago, Stacy and I were graced by the presence of our dear friends Dave, Marsha, and Zane in Prague. We went exploring around the city and they joined me at CISP to help with grading some paperwork for a dear friend of mine. Embarrassing stories were shared, deep and meaningful conversations commenced, and laughter abounded. I'm so thankful for the visit and the opportunity to let others into my life here in Prague.

I have been fairly successful in working from a place of rest. Some weeks seem busier than others but I can always turn back to the Father and say "uh..help please?".

Last Wednesday, September 28th, those of us in the CZ celebrated St. Wencelas Day. Most businesses and all schools were closed. Stacy and I took our time exploring the city since may people vacated it's premises. The leaves are beginning to turn colors and fall here bringing much joy to my life as I love to go out of my way to step on a crunchy leave. This also brings much laughter among my friend who are with me to be conversing as we walk to see me side step to catch a leaf.

The karate club in the school has not worked out. Currently, I'm teaching two missionary boys karate and keeping it open for others to join. We discussed the importance of focusing and balancing. I have very intelligent students who answered my question on what else do we focus on with God, parents, and teachers. I'm looking forward to more classes with them.

We are experiencing a lovely Indian summer right now (which unfortunately will end soon) and I could not resist a prayerwalk through the greenway near my flat. It was a time of asking God all my questions concerning the present, the next 6 months, and beyond. On the way back to my flat I decided to be quiet and let God do some talking. I was startled by a noise to my left. Turning, I saw a deer eight feet away from me. We locked eyes for a while and then she decided I wasn't life threatening. Wow! How often does one see a deer that close up and so close to the city limits? I love God's gifts of creation when in quiet introspection.