to pull me close, steal my heart away.
So here I am broken and listening.
Held captive here and I just wanna stay.
You're a jealous God, You're a jealous God.
You are a jealous God, for me.
And nothing else has ever felt this real to me.
You're a jealous God.
Through this life, everyday, You've chased me.
Like a treasure underneath the sea.
When hope was gone, Jesus you came running,
to the ends of the earth for me.
You're beautiful, and furious,
I tremble at the thought of this.
That You would go to Calvary,
how deep Your love must be for me.
(Know Hope Collective- Jealous God)
This has been my new favorite song... and I feel like basically the anthem of my life these past few months! The Lord brought this song into my life just a few weeks ago, and I have listened to it almost daily since then:) Each time I do, I am taken back by the countless ways I am unable to describe how the Lord has basically stopped at absolutely NOTHING to pull me close to Himself- to steal my heart away from SO many things that have simply left me feeling empty inside! This song has given me probably as clear a picture as I have yet had of the Lord’s unconditional Love for His children. I have been taken back numerous times in the past month or two to the fact that there is absolutely NOTHING but Good in the Lord- Period! No matter how difficult life or current circumstances may be... no matter how quickly life seems to be crashing in on us, I have been reminded by the Lord that His character of unconditional love and goodness HAS never and WILL never change! I share this song not only to speak of the Lord’s faithfulness in my life, but to give hope and encouragement to you who are reading this that this God’s jealous love and desire to go to the ends of the earth is not just for everyone else But you... NO this promise is for YOU!
I was reading a book recently that basically reiterated this fact about the Lord and changed the ways that I view Him. In this book, God is having a conversation with man about how completely different He is than man: “ I am Holy and wholly other than you. The problem is that many folks try to grasp some sense of who I am by taking the best version of themselves, projecting that to the nth degree, factoring in all the goodness they can perceive, which often isn’t much, and then call that God. And, while it may seem like a noble effort, that truth is that it falls pitifully short of who I really am. I am not merely the best version of you that you can think of. I am far more than that, above and beyond all that you can ask or think!”
I think this hit me so squarely because I have forever had a difficult time understanding the Lord’s perfection- because all I can visibly see is human attempts at goodness that at some point will let down or disappoint; therefore, it has been difficult for me in the past to fully believe that in Him is nothing but good! This fact in itself is freeing when we realize that no attempt at perfection or goodness will ever bring us to better standing before the Lord; He loves us wholly in spite of His knowledge that we will fall short of His perfection- and He promises to be to us the stability and never-ending acceptance that we can find no other place! (But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8)
So, with that being said.... We as a team are now entering our last 2 weeks here in San Miguel! It is mainly hard for me to believe that the time has gone by as quickly as it has; but when I stop and see the ways the Lord has been working in the believers at Antioch Community Outreach and in us as a team, it is amazing to see how the specific ways the Lord has so perfectly taken care of each of these past 8 months! I feel like we have been a part of a lot of personal growth and discovery of the Lord, as well as the Lord’s gracious provisions as a church. Just last week Antioch finally became a legal church in the country of Mexico, a process that is not at all uncommon to take several years to accomplish the title. (In this case, it only took a matter of months!) This is a Huge miracle of the Lord, because although it may seem unlikely that someone may have come into the church questioning its legality, if that would’ve happened, Scott and Tammy (who pastor the church) could have very quickly been deported out of Mexico and Antioch shut down. There have definitely been obvious evidence that the Lord is building and protecting this church!
As the first few months here in San Miguel seemed to be filled with more service projects and things to get to know people in the community, the months after returning in January have been spent building on some of those relationships, as well as building on the relationships with those attending Antioch! Along with that, we as a team (Adina, Mark, Natalie, and I) have continued to lead the church in worship on Sundays, and Tammy, Adina, and I have rotated turns with children’s church! Natalie and I (with the help of some friends back at home) have been working on making jewelry and a variety of hair accessories these past few months to sell at a market that will be happening this week! This is the first time her and I have been able to sell any of this, so we are excited and anticipating just a fun time of meeting new people, as well as making a bit of income from the sale!
Thank you all so much for your support in praying for me and the team here in San Miguel! As we all 4 are entering into the last 2 busy weeks here in San Miguel, Please pray that our hearts will continue to be focused upon the Lord, and that we would have the energy and drive to finish our time here well, with purpose and intentionality- especially with the relationships that have been built here!
Peace
The most recent ladies brunch with some of the ladies from Antioch Community Outreach
Hanging out with and getting help with jewelry making from our friend Alexis!
Lunch with Toni, a friend of Adina and I (We have been able to have regular lunch dates with Toni since we got here last fall!)
Breakfast with a few ladies from church
