Sittin in the dark

Some of the most precious times of meditation and study have been IN THE DARK!

In fact, as I type this I am squinting to see the keys on the laptop and praying that the battery doesn’t run out before I finish my blog! See… sweet times. Lol.

But seriously.

The quiet.

The stars.

A time to pause from the hustle and bustle of life.

I’m currently out on the porch and PEOPLE!!! It has just started to rain. AHHH! 

The. Perfect. Night.

Just the other evening, I had been sitting out on porch reading a book when the lights went out. It was PITCH BLACK! Immediately the entire street was in darkness. Not one house in our area has a generator, so you can imagine how bright the stars seem to shine!

I ran in to grab Luci (“This is the reality…” The famous solar powered lanterns that we have the opportunity of selling and providing for homes in need) and took my seat again and continued to read.

A few moments later I realized that the home directly in front of us with a young mother and several small children had continued in darkness! No candle in the window, no oil lantern… complete darkness.

Knowing the struggle of chasing ONE child around in pure daylight, my heart stirred and it wasn’t long before I was toddling down the stairs with a Luci in hand.

I opened our gate, strolled across the street… and I’m telling you… I almost tripped over the mother it was THAT dark!!! There she was sitting on the side walk nursing the youngest while the others sat close by.

I did a quick Luci demonstration and ran back up to the house. My heart was filled with joy watching the Luci light bounce around the house knowing her 2-year-old boy had gotten a hold of it, LOL!!! They were safe. There was light.

It’s funny how God reminds of these sweet times when He’s trying to teach us something.

This past week I have learned a variety of things in the midst of doing life. We met up with the Thain family, caught up with the Faith Christian team, played baseball, had meetings, taught, discipled, parented 😊 (not in that order, obviously) haha. It’s been busy! But while teaching at Lily House on Friday my heart was stirred again.

We have been sllllllllllllowly studying through the book of Esther, as I have been in San Jose as well. It is such a good study and I am learning so much! But this week we spoke of something I have had to put in to practice all week! Patience!

Patience is something I have always struggled with, but as I study the book of Esther it is a characteristic that I want so badly in my own life. Esther was young when she was taken to the palace. Then she and the others underwent a 12-month beauty regime before waiting for their night with the King. Each girl, following her rendezvous, would return to a house for the concubines and only returned to the King IF THE KING CALLED HER BY NAME! (My, oh my. So many messages to be preached at this point!!! But let’s stay on track…)

May I remind you. Esther did not have the book of Esther!!! She didn’t know what was to come. Days, weeks and months had passed since Esther had entered the Kingdom and she simply had to WAIT. She didn’t know that she was going to be Queen! She didn’t know what was to be for the rest of her life. She simply had to wait.

In the dark…

PITCH BLACK!

She had two choices. Be frustrated, write a status on Facebook to let the world know she was mad, and then sit and pout! Or allow God to do something amazing in her season of waiting.

I’m thankful she chose the latter. And I’m sure her people were thankful as well, since waiting on God’s perfect timing literally saved their lives!!!

If you have been called to wait…

For a spouse.

For a job.

For a child.

For the finances.

For an answer!

Don’t let your wait be in vain. Ask God what He can teach you in your season of waiting ❤

I was called to wait in several circumstances this week, and though I’d love to say I passed each test with flying colours, I can say I have learned a lot this week…

Waiting to serve.

Waiting to speak.

Waiting to meet.

Waiting to teach.

But as I sit here, my eyes now adjusted to typing by computer light, listening only to rain pouring down – I have come to find the beauty in the darkness. I pray I might find the same in my season of waiting too.
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(Enjoy some photos of youth group that was led by the GAP students this past Friday!)