Home Sweet Home

Day 10. I'm sitting on a plane right now on my way to Atlanta where I will then board another plane to be greeted by my parents and my baby...ok my dog.

As I sit here and look out the window, all I can see aside from the wing of the plane are fluffy, white clouds. Miles and miles of them. In my ear Hillsong Young & Free is singing about getting lost in Gods eyes and finding clarity to life ("In Your Eyes"). Brings me back to creation. God made the heavens and the earth and everything in and around it. He looked it over and was pleased with it. He created these clouds and decided they were to be white. He picked the color blue for the sky. He chose everything on purpose; it's not like they only had blue skies left at Lowe's when He was creating the world...

Same thing on earth. He created everything with intention. Everything has a purpose. I'm amazed with nature because of the amount of detail that is too often overlooked. We see flowers as we pass by but how often do we really look up at how meticulously every part is placed. We were picking up shells at the beach Saturday gand I was amazed when I looked at them close up. Ahh the little things in life that amuse me so much.

This week has been tough physically and emotionally at times, but I'm assuming the more difficult times will come this week when I have to adjust back to life in Flat Rock. Although 10 days in Honduras is a very small amount of time in comparison to the 26 years I have not been in Honduras, you do start to become somewhat accustomed to life there.

I know some people struggle with guilt when they get home because we are beyond spoiled in America with our possessions and accommodations. But one of my favorite sayings is "some people are so poor, all they have is money." Not to say that the people of Choluteca wouldn't want air conditioning, purified water, a washing machine or the ability to walk into Kroger and have a nearly endless supply of food options to chose from; I'm simply saying that even without all of that they laugh, smile and enjoy fellowship with one another. They are not too worried about "saving the earth" as we are at home (the abundance of trash everywhere made this apparent); but they care about people. Puts things into perspective if you ask me. We worry so much about pesticides and things being BPA free that we can ignore something much more important - other people.

Another saying I love is "Be kind for everyone you meet is fighting a battle." It's so true. Jesus was a prime example of this. We tend to think that we deserve respect from everyone and if we do not get it, then we don't feel it necessary or even fair to give it. This isn't biblical at all! For example, pretty sure Barabas didn't show Jesus respect, yet he was set free and Jesus didn't say a word about it as He carried his cross to Calvary where He would be brutally murdered.

People will disappoint you. People will annoy you. People will disrespect you. Our job as Christians is not to judge how other people treat us or where their heart is. Our job is to show people the love of Christ. Romans 12:9-14, 21 states: "Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Share with the Lords people who are in need. Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse...Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."

I think we grow accustomed to being Christians in a way just as I was growing accustomed to life in Honduras. At first every little thing is so exciting and you can't help but be on fire for Christ. As you go on in your Christian walk, you get numb to some of the simple wonders that once excited you. We should be honored to be Christians. Like Paul said (while in prison by the way) in Philippians 1:21: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

The song "Beautiful Things" by Gungor talks about how God makes beautiful things out of dust. I think sometimes we tend to see our own struggles and the moral decline of our country and we become discouraged - myself included. This is dangerous. I'm sure you've heard this expression before, but this is like putting God in a box. We believe God is able and gracious enough to keep us safe during travels and other requests such as blessing our food to nourish our bodies before meals, but we are not so quick to trust when it comes to issues like witnessing to others or trusting Him with our finances or relationships. If we choose to keep God in a box, we will never experience all He has to offer. It's not that we have power over God to keep Him in that box we created, it's just that He is a good father and He knows that we are very stubborn and sometimes we have to experience difficult things and learn the hard way.

Use this as an opportunity to reevaluate your relationship with God. Most Christians would agree God is powerful. He is the beginning and the end. All things are from him and go through him before ever reaching us. He is also full of agape love and grace. But in the depths of your heart do you trust him? What situations in your life are you struggling to deal with on your own? Have you given it to God? If not, why? Maybe you don't think your request is important compared to other issues in the world. Maybe you have offered it to God but didn't like the answer you got so you are doing it your way instead. Maybe you have been so busy worrying about your struggle that you haven't even thought to offer it to Him.

We often get consumed with wanting to hear from God. We want solutions to problems and affirmation for choices we have made, and we forget that any relationship is a 2 way street. God wants to hear from us just as much as we long to hear Him. He wants a relationship with us. He wants you to cry on his shoulder when you are hurt; He offers us peace. He wants to hear when you are upset or angry; He offers us understanding. He wants to hear when you are worried or confused; He offers us wisdom. He wants to hear when you are happy; He offers us blessings. He wants to hear when you are discouraged; He offers us hope. He wants to hear your apologies and failures; He offers grace and forgiveness.

God never promised Christian life on earth would be easy. In fact, he warned of the exact opposite. But I'm learning that an easy life is worse in my opinion than a difficult one. Complacency is one of the enemy's favorite ways to deceive us. I don't want to become too comfortable in my life. If you never step outside of your comfort zone, you will miss plenty of opportunities not only for yourself but to encourage, serve and save others as well. Jude 21-23 "...keep yourselves in Gods love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life. Be merciful to those who doubt; save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear..."

Blessings,
Emily