January Newsletter

Super Mom or a Part of the Bionic Woman?

I've been told I'm a high capacity person.  I'm capable of taking on a lot of things at the same time and doing a pretty good job of managing them all.  While sometimes, I find pride in that, this year God has something else in mind for me to learn about.

Since the first week of January, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31, has come up at least three times in three different venues of my life.  This is the section of the Bible where Paul is explaining to the people of Corinth how God made each of us different and special, like the parts of a body.  He created some people to be like the eyes, others to be like ears, and still others to be like hands or feet.  This is important, because we've all been created to do one thing really well, and no matter how hard I might try to be something else, it's not necessarily what I'm meant to be.  Figuratively speaking, If I'm made to be an eye, there's no way I'm ever going to be able to taste something.  Above all of that, in verse 18 it says, "God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be."  That means that if I spend my whole life thinking I'm a tongue trying to taste something, I'm going to miss my God-given appointment to see all of the beautiful things He's created for me to see as an eye.

Now, I don't believe that God has created me to be an eye.  I think of myself more like a vain or an artery.  I believe it's my job to keep everyone connected.  Unfortunately, I've spent a lot of time being impatient and trying to do everyone else's job just to get things done quicker, in my time, not His.  This year, I plan to rest in God's placement of me in the body.  I'm going to focus on doing my job really well.  I believe a big part of that, is helping everyone else find where they fit as well, and then delegating out the responsibilities that go with their divine appointment.  Not only that, but it's my desire to draw more people into the body of Christ and to help them find their place.

I choose to be part of something bigger than myself rather than don a cape and take on the world alone.

Updates
Please keep these things in mind as you pray for my work in Haiti.

• My last travel to Haiti in January was filled with a wonderful time of reflecting on 2015 and looking ahead to new goals in 2016.  You can read more about all of that on the GlobalFingerprints Blog.  
• My next trip is tentatively planned for May.  I'm hoping to travel with a few students from Edina High School.  There is a small group that is working on a May Term Project plan to collect instruments, help me deliver them, and teach some lessons.  
• Through some generous contributions, my family will be able to participate in the Latin America/Caribbean Division Conference in August.  We will be traveling to Panama City, Panama for a week of meetings, training and a little fun in the sun.  
• My family continues to be healthy.