Today I saw a rainbow

The very first verse I taught myself to memorize was Genesis 9:16 "Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth."

I had handwritten it onto a sheet of paper and found a heart sticker with a rainbow on it. The paper was taped to my desk next to my bed so I would see it when I woke up every morning. The promise of God after the flood has always stood out to me and I love how forever we have a symbol of His spoken Word. So...when I started seeing rainbows around I got really excited. The one above came in the middle of standing at the base of a waterfall. While at Yosemite my dad and I took a detour from picking up my brother from hiking. My normal tendency is to be anxious when we are suppose to be doing something, but lately I have started going with the moments. This one gave me a special blessing. Below is the picture of the river coming off the waterfall. The only reason I am not completely drenched is because someone offered me a plastic covering. What a thrill to hear the roar, have water rushing around your ankles and look up to see a rainbow!

Rainbow #2 came during the hike my brother and I completed up from a different waterfall. Some people might say, "But Lisa, rainbows are made from water and sunlight, so of course you are going to see one." But I would say, "yes, but how many other people are pointing out the rainbow when there is a giant waterfall to look at?" Notice the small glimpse of a rainbow in the bottom right hand corner.

Unfortunately for rainbow #3 I don't have a picture and it did come much later than these two (I saw these in the same day). This one was weeks later and I was driving with my mom to my sister's house, actually she was driving and it was probably a good thing, because I started shouting with joy and pointing. "Look it's a rainbow! Look do you see it! Mom do you see the rainbow!" Now I know I sounded like a three year old and you might be annoyed at my response. I think she was probably trying to figure out what the big deal was with the rainbow, so let me explain this joy of seeing three rainbows. The past several years I have sought God out to teach me how to love Him, people and find joy in life. All of my attempts to accomplish these have failed, it is just recently in surrendering to Him that I am starting to see how it all works together...Him loving me first, me loving Him back, Him showing me people to love and the joys of life. So the exciting thing those few weeks was to see God's promise to me appear over and over. He does not forget us, He loves us deeply and if we aren't looking or taking our own plans, we might just miss the simple things of life that can bring us joy. Rainbows might not be your thing, but as you dwell on how God loves you, you might just ask Him to show off for you too.

Other places in Paris and Toulouse France

After my brother left Paris, I was able to sit Sunday in the Jardin des Tuileries in a lawn chair waiting for Eva. This was the view I had for the day...amazing memory of solitude, only God could plan something like this.

Eva and I then took a tour boat on the Seine River.

I then with no phone or form of communication pulled out my notebook paper drawn map from friends, bought a RER train ticket for the latest hour so I didn't have to pay for another hotel that night, woke up in Toulouse France, found my way to the smaller train to take me to Saint-Gaudens and thankfully ran into people who spoke English who let me borrow their phone to call the friends to tell them I had arrived at the train station. Here's the street where they live.

And amazing French cheese.

With a trip through the Pyrénées

This trip was just the beginning of my new spontaneous self, and what an adventure it turned out to be.

He loves me, He loves me NOT...He LOVES me!

As a young girl sitting with friends we would pick at the flowers in the grass and sing the famous, "he loves me, he loves me not" song trying to decide if the guy we were in "LOVE" with, loved us back. All girls know that it was a sad moment if the last petal ended on a he loves me not (soon to be followed with the picking of another flower to try again :)



Unlike the silly childhood past, I have seen the recent love from the all mighty God who chooses to love me. In spite of the fact that I continue to be hateful and mean, even rebellious at times, he desired to show and tell me how much I am loved by Him. The process all started a year ago, but I had to laugh this week as he continued to send me flowers. How does a God who is "invisible" send you flowers to show how much He loves you?



The whole thing started with me being able to do what I love, teach! Although I have had struggles this year, and learned many lessons, I do love teaching. So, when caught up in the moment, I enjoy the passion of incorporating new things into a lesson. Last year I began sharing with my students my journey to Kenya. It has carried a little over into conversation with those same students this year. Another fun project has been my discovery of videoconferencing and we were recently able to "travel" to the Grand Canyon while still in the classroom. You may be asking how does this all fit with flowers and love, well.... a few weeks ago I was surprised by the PTA president as she nominated me for the School Bell Award this is awarded in Spring BranchISD. She invited me to the PTA dinner, telling me it was going to be about technology. It really turned out to be an award ceremony. Surprised and honored, this is where I got my first flower "from God", a yellow rose.



Later that week they announced at our school PTA meeting about my nomination and presented me with more flowers-tulips. With my yellow rose greeting me in the morning by my bedside stand and the tulips on my dresser, I could feel my heart swell with love in return for a Lord who would let me struggle and then show me how much He loves me in that way.



The final set of flowers came in the form of beautiful orchids. These flowers came because the other teachers at my campus voted for me to be the teacher of the year at my school. At the time I didn't realize it, but looking back as I watched them bloom from their buds, I was reminded daily of the process the Lord takes with us and how He desires to make us Him own.

Romans 5:6-8 (New International Version)
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

2009-My journal thoughts from the year (no wonder it was hard, God had a lot He was working on)

1/2/09 "Wisdom begins with basing one's life on reality. When we really understand who God is, the natural response is to offer Him whatever we can get our hands on and all we have is ourselves. If we have not yet gotten to that point of laying ourselves on the altar before Him without reservation, we have not yet encountered the living God. His glory prompts sacrifice. Worship is a lifestyle, a sacrificial way of living that acknowledges every moment of every day that there is One far more worthy of our allegiance than ourselves. " Chris Tiegreen





You are far more worthy to govern my life, help me to give up my right, you will never do me harm. Help me to say I exist for your purpose and for you alone.






Disney-where dreams come true year of a million dreams





1/8/09 Though we want God's guidance and ask for it, we often do not wait for it. We make decisions based on what our internal logic tells us. Is that logic guided by the Spirit? Or do we sense our own emotional needs, self-esteem cravings?


How I feel like waiting is standing still with no action as the world passes you by. But actually waiting takes more action to accomplish. Does it also require more faith?


"See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop and how patient he is for the autumn and spring rains." James 5:7 "God can not be mocked. a man reaps what he sows."




1/19/09 "The center of God's will is our only safety." Betsie ten Boom


1/23/09 wrinkled pages of my Bible left me understanding obedience of hearing His voice and grace Ps. 107, 89





1/28/09 I was tired of trying to do things and events. My focus needed to go back to "my first love (God)" as they say, but I realized that God has never been my first love. I have loved myself more than Him. I must love the Lord rightly first. My prayer for loving people comes from this, to also love people, I must love God.






3/9/09 you are beautiful, I love you. Ps 145:16









I am so proud of my two cousins who graduated. One is a famous artist, the other an amazing lawyer.




5/14/09 "if you want to know God's will you must respond to His invitation to love Him wholeheartedly. God works through those He loves to carry out His kingdom purposes in the world. " Experiencing God-Henry Blackaby









Completed an Olympic distance triathlon with my dad




6/4/09 "Obedience is the outward expression of your love of God. The reward for obedience and love is that He will show Himself to you. If you have an obedience problem, you have a heart problem.








Uniform shopping with my sponsor child in Kenya.

8/5/09 culturally we are afraid to let anyone close to us, because we might have to be real-greet people, spend time with them ( the task can wait, people can't)

8/10/09 I can never be content with not being apart of what God is doing. I have seen the hand of God, like Elijah said, realized my sinful nature and will never again be satisfied with doing my own thing for long. It began many months ago as God started to woe me as Lord and reveal to me my love for myself instead of Him. I want to go where He is no matter where that is, not just do good things here in Houston, but those that vest in relationships. We live so earthly and forget that only things for eternity matter. ... I pray give me more of you and that excites me. Will it stretch me out of my comfort? Yes because otherwise I depend on myself.

9/10/09 ways we misuse our tongue: Proverbs 6:17 lying tongue; Proverbs 10:19 when words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.; Proverbs 12:22;Proverbs 17:9; Proverbs 17:27; Proverbs 18:13;Proverbs 20:19; Proverbs 26:20; Proverbs 26:28; Proverbs 27:2; Proverbs 29:20; Romans 10:14-15 Beautiful are the feet that bring good news.

9/16/09 "Pride is thinking more of yourself than you should. A person who has pride will never see a need for grace, that is why He only gives grace to the humble."

9/20/09 Submit yourself to God can only be done if you do not want to be in control, but humbly step down from "our throne" to let God be on THE throne. Falling into a "trap" of what others think of my actions, guilt and boasting.

10/9/09 the alarm goes off over and over again each time God saying rest, me knowing the night before I made a choice for others things instead of bed. In His grace He says rest until it finally feels like rebellion. My heart does not cry out love and desire, but routine. So I want to avoid, but that is just a play. Am I even asking to see His face?

10/10/09 Jesus said "come follow me" Matt 4:19

A broken relationship with Jesus is the primary reason for prayerlessness or ineffective prayer.

10/19/09 I went to Kenya because God told me to serve, that was the time He gave me to serve. Dealing with thought processes, confusion, calling, focus in the wrong direction and fear of mountain top experiences.

HIDING

10/31/09 As I have been reading 2 Samuel the kings go in and slay everyone after they succeed the throne. I do not want to be anywhere near the throne except for at the feet of Jesus who sits on it. I am too consumed with trying to make my own plans for the future, when James 4 says I am not even promised tomorrow and then it is the Lord who purposes our step, not the plan of man, the Lord's will prevail.

The Grand Canyon-connecting learning in BIG ways

11/27/09 Remind me what hearing your voice sounds like and not to feel guilty if it's not a "grand" thing, but content in walking out obedience because you have called me.

1 Samuel 7:7 When the Philistines heard that Israel had assembled at Mizpah, the rulers of the Philistines came p to attack them. And when the Israelites heard of it, they were afraid because of the Philistines. verse 10 ...the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the Lord thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before Israel.

Romans 8:31-32 If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, How shall He not with Him also freely give us all things.

The Lord brought about victory, but not before they repented from pagan practices.

"Samuel's lack of trust and patience led Him to appoint his sons. His pride might also have wanted to keep the lineage. Envy leads a person to intimate others. "

Snow in Houston and the joy of sharing it with 9 and 10 year olds.

12/3/09 Another life principle I have been able to practice again-Will you give up something good because it is not in God's will?

12/27/09 In who do I trust?

Where He leads I will go

The bitter sweetness of returning before the babies would come, but knowledge of knowing God has called me to teach another year, keeps me excited to see where He will lead. Checking my email the week after my return found me in two God confirmed places that I was home and where He wanted me.



Opportunity #1:

Handing out school supplies to the children at Los Arcos apartments.

The apartments are located in southwest Houston and are home to Bhutanese refugees. This summer while I was away, the Sunday School class I attend in Houston participated in a ministry called the Houston Project and this was the apartment complex where they helped. SO... the email I received was asking for volunteers to hand out school supplies to the children in the apartment complex. Perfect connection, planned by God, for the children I so badly missed in Kenya at kid's club every Sunday. We were able to go into homes, talk with the families, and pass along a small gift. My favorite home was where the parents were gone, but the kids came in from outside to greet and accept our gift. Only in cultures other than America does that happen, and it made me see I can have that experience right here in Houston.

Opportunity #2 Collecting for the Bicycle World and Fitness "Diaper Drive"

The second I was so excited about and had me thinking, I know God has brought me home to show me His work here in Houston, was the diaper drive. I thought, "What better project to help be apart of than collecting things for babies who I had spent all summer preparing for in Kenya." I emailed back to see how I could help and found out that all I needed to do was show up at the bike store and sort through the things donated.

I was beginning to see the connection of what I had been doing all summer unfold before my eye, right here in Houston! The scary thing was I could have missed it! I could have been sitting at home mopey about how I wished I were in Africa holding babies, but instead I was looking for where God was and asking Him to give me the desire to be apart of it.

Distracted by many things in the last few days I am sure I have missed so many opportunities to see God at work and missed even more because I haven't asked for my heart to be drawn close to the things He wants me to be apart of, but it leaves me one final thought that will hopefully draw us all back every time...do I believe the song when I sing, "wherever He leads I'll go"?

Reentering the world as I knew it

Slowly slipping back into culture, or "reentering" the world as I knew it has been difficult. I look around at the things I knew and can't understand why they don't seem to matter to me any more. I feel changed and different, although my quick "fleshly/worldly" reaction to things don't always show it. :(



While laying on the swing outside and then later vacuuming the dust off my couch, I realized what the difference was...



In the seven weeks I had been gone, I had seen God in a bigger way than I had before. I had seen the way He provided as I stepped off the plane with 8 bags and only two hands to carry, I had seen the way He changed the hearts of government officials to give us a call, I had seen His love for me in ways that came in simple gifts like famous runners and I had seen the peace He could provide in a situation that didn't seem like it should have peace.



I had also come face to face with the basic need for survival through, food, clean water, and shelter. The biggest change, I was reminded that even with the basic of things, we are still left with the simple fact that at the end of our life we will still be held accountable for our eternity.

The Bible says we can know for certain where we will go after we die, eternal separation from God (hell) or eternally with God (heaven). I have seen that it is impossible for us to hold to the fact that because we are a good person and did good things, God will let us into heaven. We can only rely on Jesus' sacrifice and willingness to die in our place to pay the punishment for our daily sinning. So this change I feel has a lot to do with culture, but more about what God is showing me in life, or how I will explain to others their opportunities for eternity. What a gift I have discovered and in the past have been too selfish to share.

Welcome Home

The familiar turn of the key in the lock and creaking up the stairs meant my mom was coming to find me, a sound I had not heard in 7 weeks. "She may not be a Kenyan baby, but I have a baby for you to hold," she said as she came around the corner. With a smile on her face Aubrey, the little girl my mom watches one day a week, let me take her in my arms and give kisses all over her face as she squealed with joy. It was fun to hold a baby and a great reminder that I am on this side of the world because God has called me here for this time.

Culture shock is something I always deal with on this side of the trip, returning to the States. Many people say be ready to see things you have never seen before when going to another country, it will put you in culture shock, but the opposite is always true for me. Returning to a place that you don't have to worry if the power is going to go out in the morning before you take a hot shower, or knowing that whatever food item you are thinking of at the moment will more than likely be in the pantry, (such as having a box of Bisquick pancakes, boy are they yummy). These are the things that don't seem like they should be real when only 24 hours before I was sitting with friends who each have their own story about why the job they have will not only buy them food, but help support their family as well.

Staring through the blinds, I see houses nicely lined down the street adorned with green grass in the front yard, and am again confronted with the fact that I am in a different place. I am reminded that to spend 7 weeks of your life in a different country you can't help but be changed. So although I have felt the change happening over the last several weeks, I have been unable to pinpoint what is different with my life. A slow processing of what I have seen and how I have been tested will eventually cause me to see with new eyes the life I reenter. Where and how will I put into practice the things I have learned?

As the cop cars sat in our cul-de-sac yesterday, it seemed only natural to question why they were there, however this new person I have become also saw the need to greet them and have a 20 minute long converstation. The part of the Kenyan culture I was at first so annoyed with, I was now surprised to find myself in America living out a skill I had come to value. A small example in the large scheme of things, but exciting to see how when we are listen, God can grow us in small ways and call us to follow in our everyday life.

5 days left...and coming full circle

The start of my trip to Kenya had me questioning whether I believed what I said I believed about God. Did I really trust Him?

The last few days have had me looking deep into that question as I entered my last week here. Stepping back from myself and realizing that I am not here to serve myself or even others here who have become dear friends, but the God who created and called me. The one who I have learned to call Lord in all situations. So as I watch paperwork try to be submitted, others go on safari to see God's wonderful creation, I am content to sit and have conversations with men who love the Lord and those who are seeking to find answers to questions they don't even know they have. These are the moments God has called me to and I would rather be no where else than where He calls. The last two days as I watch God surprise me with the small gifts of a schedule, answered prayers that only I know about, and peace that can't be explained to return to teach, I see the greatness of who He is amaze me. Who else knows when there will be no traffic? Who else knows how to send water to the thirsty? Who else knows the names of babies that need a home?

We serve an amazing God if we will but stop and listen to where He is calling us. As I go from Africa to America, I will never forget that with each new day He continues to tell us to GO with Him. We have to remember to be silent enough to listen to where that path will lead us, and courageous enough to take the steps that put that into action.

Prayers:
*meeting with neighbors for a fellowship meeting-thursday morning
*meeting with a small community school-thursday afternoon
*spending the night with missionary friends-thursday night
*passing out water from a water truck-friday morning
*completing and submitting paperwork to the new district officer-friday afternoon (praying for a letter of recommendation to accept the children we have identified that same day)
*trying to get paperwork together for His Cherished Ones to take to America-saturday

Praying for babies before I leave Monday, but at peace if they don't come before then, because God is faithful!

What I say I believe and what I really believe

I’m here and what a fun journey!

Most of you don’t know the Sunday before I was to leave, I received a phone call from Trena’s friend letting me know that there had been a mix up in our dates and Trena would be away on safari with her friend when I arrived in Kenya. After the shock of what I had thought might happen (no one to pick me up) Trena did an amazing job arranging for her neighbor to pick me up and for me to spend the night at her place. The whole experience gave me the opportunity to realize that what I “say” I believe in God, doesn’t always match what I “do” believe in who God is for me.
After a great dinner the night before, prepared by my aunt and a wonderful surprise by my sister-in-law (giraffe cookies, I wish I had a picture to share, but now their legs are all broken, well more than their legs) The day started with the crucial help from my dad. We went from errand to errand, without him we would not have gotten much done. Thanks dad! J
The fun started when we got to the airport and started weighing the 7 bags that were packed full of school supplies, children’s clothes and shoes. On the scale one bag would go, and out would come a pair of shoes, or notebooks until the check in lady would say it weighed 50 pounds. After 6 bags of doing this, the last bag is what got the BIG red flag. It weighed way over 50 pounds and would need to reach a certain amount so I could pay the $45 extra dollars so it could go. The problem was I could just not get it down to weight. The climax reached it’s height when she looked over at my carry on suitcase that I had all of my personal clothing in and said that it was not going to be allowed as a carry-on because it was too big. She said “you know you will have to pay $162 for the extra bag fee.” With tears in my eyes, I said I know that I will and frustrated, swept my hair up with a sad huff. Seeing my despair she said, “hold on, let me go talk to my supervisor.” So I guess long story short (well I guess not really short) God decided to bless me through others many prayers, by bumping me up to World Traveler Plus, giving me the ability to have another suitcase. So onto the plane I went!
My connection through London was smooth and off the plane in Kenya I was able to meet my connecting person and onto Trena’s house. I know that God had planned for me to have the day to myself while they were still on safari, as I was able to sleep off and on throughout the day. Now I feel rested and ready to go.
Today we traveled to the government offices to find out the steps for registering the baby house and then also visited the house.

Lesson learned: Don’t worry in the moment for you will miss the presence of God if you try to solve it on your own power. What are you saying that you believe about God, that you might not have experienced yet to really believe about Him? Having walked into the uncertain through this experience, I encourage you to be obedient, let God take you out of your comfort zone to see His greatness.

June 1...

I try not to BE overwhelmed when I think:

• only two more weekends left before I leave
• I won't be sleeping in my own bed for 6 weeks
  am I really getting on a plane alone, flying across the ocean to another continent, then getting my own VISA, and finding my friend in a foreign country to pick me up
• being homesick for my family
• will I be able to stay healthy and eat enough
• what exactly am I going to be doing while I am over there
• will I be accepted

But then I AM overwhelmed:

• By a God who wants to tell His story of how much he loves us
• the generosity of those willing to "go" with me
• how He can speak a gentle assurance through walking at the lake, with the sun on your back, as a heron swoops down to skim across the water and YOU JUST KNOW He is there
• how He wants us to be apart of what He is doing through our willingness to be moldable and available to His plan
• how details are His speciality and everything just falls into place
• That in the end the things that overwhelm me are not the things that overwhelm Him!

I am reminded as I type that when I focus on the earthly things I overwhelm myself, but when I look at what God is doing through my steps of faith, I am able to see far past myself and see the faith of those around me.
Those who ask me questions that cause me to doubt my safety and decision to go all summer are far less than those who have stepped in faith with me to believe that I am called to go and help.
They are the ones who are courageous!
They are the ones who have listened to the call to support me and in turn have strengthen my faith to keep stepping in the right direction.
As I have reflected this weekend about all I have seen God do this last two weeks, I am overwhelmed with thankfulness and that has left a joy and strength in my heart to overcome my fears and instead be overwhelmed in His presence.
A huge thank you to all of you who have decided to "go" with me (that includes the excitement from my students who ask questions at school) Your joy, dedication, generosity, and support has given me courage. Thank you!