Costa Rica Independence Day

Tonight we went into town for the evening festivities. We decided that we would first eat dinner at one of our favorite places real close to the City Park. There was a woman sitting there and she was selling these lanterns that were red and some were blue. I liked them so I bought one for 200 colones. As it turned out, as people began to show up, all the children and even some of the adults all were holding lanterns. In fact, they were all highly decorated and very creative. Their was a loud voice of a woman speaking that was leading on the mike. Then all the people sang the national anthem for Costa Rica. Everyone was standing. We quickly finished our dinner and headed over to where all the people were at.
I was standing there and I looked around at all the families and how many small children were there. Father's and mothers interlocking hands, putting children on their shoulders, & holding them in their arms so they could see all that was happening. I think I have fallen in love with this community.
Looking forward to seeing the parade in the morning!

Going to School

This morning The Brook Team enrolled in language classes. The place is just a few minutes down the street. We drove up to a green gate and entered into the most beautiful place. You would have never thought what lie just beyond the gates. The only way to know is to go inside. I can describe it to you, but until you enter in yourself, you really can't experience it like we all did. Oh yea sure, I know you will feel the passion in my words and I hope to cast a vision that will work in your heart so you can feel the passion too of what this is all about. The Pastor of Willow Creek Community Church said it when he said "The church is the hope of the world." Anyways, I'm getting a little off subject you say....what is this all leading too? It's about the church. It's about those he came to save. Going to language school to learn how to speak spanish will open doors we didn't know we could open. Getting to know the language is a step inside from just staying on the surface. God never intended for us to skim the surface...but to go deep...deep enough to where he does all the leading and mostly to love one another deeply from the heart. I am so excited and so very challenged and expectant of what God has in store. Lead on Lord! Thank you for our new teacher Isabel. Bless her and my your face shine upon her and her family.

All Is Well with My Soul

Today is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. That's it. That's what I needed today. It's my first thoughts as I start again to write in this blog. We just got internet a few days ago here in Atenas, Costa Rica and this is my first time in a long while to write in my blog.
We are going on our 3rd week here. We've come along pretty good & we are cultivating a new way of living. We are liking our new life and enjoying the benefits of living simple lives. We decided to not get a TV. We didn't watch it much back in the states anyhow. We did get a membership in town at the local video store to watch an occasional movie from our laptop as a treat. We still have an empty house and we will get all the essential needs in due time.
We really enjoyed the Pastor's message at our new church yesterday. It was translated in English. He talked about the faithfullness of the Thessalonians. The gospel came to them not simply with words, but with deep conviction in the power of the Holy Spirit. Even though they were suffering severe persecution they had JOY given to them by the holy spirit. They became a model for Jesus Christ and their faith became known everywhere by the Joy the holy spirit had given them.
When we share the gospel with someone it must not be done in our power or some clever words that sound good. It must come from the spirit of God within us. Because of their strong conviction that God was at work within them it produced faith. Because of their love for God, they labored for it, & because of their hope in God, it boosted their endurance. Faith, Hope, & Love equals serving God!
That's all I need today

Tear Stains

The other night our group got together and one of the things that was said has really stuck with me for the last week. It was what Pete Briscoe had said in his sermon. He prayed that what broke God's heart, would break his too.
Today I had a strange thought. What if tears were ink instead of water? What if we couldn't wipe our tears away and they left behind a mark on our face? Then I pictured all the inky faces I would see on EVERY person I saw! Including mine!
What would happen if tears were out in the open? Would we realize how common tears are? Or would we just grow used to them, not even noticing anymore?
I don't need to see people's tears to know that they have cried. I want what would break God's heart to break mine too. I pray that I become more sensitive to the invisible tears around me.
God asks us to weep with those who weep and laugh with those laugh...rejoice with them. Jesus always shared concern, sympathy, empathy with those who wept. And he also shared joy, hope, and laughter.
Let's each pray to see beyond the surface and to minister to those whose tears are invisible and to increase the joy of those around us by being joyful with them.

The TWO sides of being ALONE

To express the pain of being alone is "loneliness." To express the glory of being alone is "solitude."
Loneliness is pretty common these days and is increasing more and more. As common as single parenting is, many kids are lonely because their parents are busy working. Many elderly people are shut in their homes and are alone and lonely while the world outside keeps moving. There are many causes & reasons people isolate themselves and the result of that is loneliness. We were created to be relational and loneliness is not okay within us.
Solitude on the other hand, is when you finally get home from a busy day and turn down the noise and curl up with a good book. The joy of being alone is time for yourself to unwind & relax. A young mother looks forward to having some alone time after the kids go to school or when they go to bed in the evening.
Jesus often went off alone to pray and to meditate. He did this not just to get away from people. He did this so that He could be with God. He sought out his heavenly Father, he listened to him, he communed with him. We would do well by following his example. He beckons us to do the same. Not just for seeking times of solitude, but also when loneliness tries to invade us.
Jesus himself is never alone. He is not all by himself. He never feels loneliness, because God has always been a fellowship. He has always been Trinity- the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Jesus promises us that He will never leave us nor forsake us. With Him we are never alone.