Working All Things Together For Our Good

I like to keep my blog positive and upbeat. I like it this way because that is the way I want to live my life…living life from the place of knowing that “God works all things together for our good.”
But you know in the day to day there are things that happen and they can really put us to the test and challenge us to really stay true to that way of living and trusting in God’s word. I think that in our most challenging times comes the greatest victory as we look beyond what we see and feel and pray like Psalm 119:18 “Open my eyes, that I may behold wonderful things in your law.”
This week I was putting that into practice in my life. It has been a challenging week. So I sat down with my Bible and set my heart to seek after God. You know seeking God always brings me back to where I am…living in Tanzania with these children.

I decided to spend some time focusing extra hard on the children and just allowing myself to soak up those “little” things that always bring a smile to my face. So I want to share a few smiling moments:
1. Three times in two days at the most random moments Justina hugged me and told me she loves me. You have to know Justina to really appreciate this…she is one of the most unique children I know.
2. Justice walked into my office doorway and stood there for about 10 seconds without doing or saying anything. He just stood there with the sweetest smile and I said to him, “Jubee you are too sweet for words.” Then he ran and jumped into my arms and hugged me for two minutes without saying a word.
3. Glory came up to me and kissed me on the cheek. I looked at her and asked her if she needed anything and she said, “Just to say hi to you and give you a kiss.”
4. Innocent was hacking away at a tree with a machete and I called to him and told him to save the trees because we like them and he looked at me and laughed so hard and didn’t stop laughing for more than a minute as he walked to put the machete away and then ran up to me and gave me a hug and said “Thank you Mama.”
5. I have been teaching Moses for the past two weeks that saying “Hey” to people isn’t polite and if he wants to get someone’s attention he should say “Excuse me” to them. The other day he was standing outside on the grass with about seven other kids and as I walked outside and stood there watching all of them I could hear him saying, “Don’t say ‘hey” but say “excuse me’ because it is nicer when you say that.” All the kids nodded their heads and turned to each other and practiced saying “Excuse me.” It was so cute!
6. I was in the office upstairs where the bookkeeping is done and I had the door closed as I was working. All the school aged children came upstairs for their evening devotions and started singing and worshipping the Lord. I stopped as I listened to them. No adults leading them. They were doing it all themselves and it was beautiful.

God loves to encourage us. He does it in so many ways. Someone told me once to keep a look-out for all the ways that God brings blessings our way. He is always looking to bless His people. So instead of focusing on the challenge I was facing I made the decision to focus on all the blessings around me, and you know what? I got my socks blessed off! That is just the way the Lord is!
So many times the Lord uses the children to show me His goodness…He is sooooooooo good!!!