Friday, March 21, 2008

I Just Can't Get You Out of My Head

Yesterday, we attended the So. Cal Connection: a group of JH workers from Southern California who get together to brainstorm and idea-share. At the start, Erika shared her heart for a few minutes...and it was as if God was speaking right to me.

My whole life I've been a planner: internship, college, job, London...always a few steps ahead, with clear, detailed plans made...Now, with Kenya, there are a lot of question marks in my life. After Kenya...job? housing? schooling? No plans...just blanks waiting to be filled in. I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I've always been a planner...so what do I do when I have nothing to plan? Go crazy? Probably.

Then yesterday, Erika read this verse:
"Cease striving and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

I know, right? Couldn't have been more perfect...
Until she read this...

"There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

I know that God is faithful. I know that He is calling me to go to Kenya. I know I felt that call time and time again. And, yesterday, it became clear that He will continue to confirm His presence and faithfulness through this journey...so I will continue to trust and follow Him.

A few other things people said in passing yesterday that I thought were slightly profound...they also got me thinking about who I am...
  • "We can't expect Jr. Highers to get everything while they're in Jr. High. Sometimes it takes me more than two years to get something."
  • "I was doing something God cared about."
  • "Sometimes the students who are the most Christian are the least vocal."

2 comments:

Julie Hibbard said...

Wow. These are perfectly timed verses for ME too...
thanks.
Love you

Embracing my perfectly imperfect life said...

Allison,
What an amazing place for you to be right now. You said YES to God with Kenya and now HE is in total control of the REST "then what". It is a scary place to find ones self. Not having a plan for tomorow or now what is up around the corner. I can tell you from my own experience that is it is the scariest place i have been. I was 40 in Kazakhstan on a last minute mission trip and heard God say "What will you DO about the children"? Now we have Gabby and I can not imagine life without her and wow how HE has blessed us. Relax and enjoy whatever rollercoaster you end up on. God IS in control. HE will take care of all the details in His time. (which often is enough to drive you mad)Praying for you often,
Nancy