A lesson from Advent

Since I am behind on my posting, I can now post our finished Jesse tree Advent pictures while also recounting one day in particular.

Our finished product. Maybe not the prettiest looking thing but I enjoyed seeing the boys' pictures each day. There are mostly two of each story as both Dawson and Kenan drew something each day.

Up close of the first few days. 1-Creation 2-Adam and Eve 3-Noah 4-Tower of Babel 5-Promise to Abraham 6-Sodom and Gomorrah (will not include this next year) 7-Abraham and Isaac

8-Jacob's ladder 9-Joseph 10- Moses and the burning bush 11-Passover 12-Ten Commandments 13- David 14- Elijah and prophets of Baal 15-Isaiah 16- Wise and Just King 17-Exile 18-Jonah 19- Waiting on the Lord 20-Son of Righteousness 21-Baptism 22-Mary and the angel 23- Joseph

24- Journey to Bethlehem 25- Birth of Jesus!

so my lesson came from the day on David. That week I had been told through a long conversation with Malian nurses as I was sitting in the Labor and Delivery room with my friend, Sabi, who was about to give birth to my "netoma" (the baby's name is Sheri), that Brett could REALLY speak Bambara and they asked if I had studied Bambara. Ouch. Now I get this often because the truth is Brett has the gift of languages. I don't. This is something I have had to come to terms with. God made my mouth. He knew I'd be overseas. If he had wanted me to speak well, He could have given me that gift but He didn't. So I trust in His wisdom and (most of the time) rest in the truth that His glory is made perfect in weakness. For some reason, however, this conversation really bothered me. Maybe it was because I was having a moment with my friend and they were ruining it by telling me how poorly I spoke. Or maybe it was because instead of being just a passing statement they made it a conversation with examples and questions as to why I couldn't speak like Brett. Or that I was going to Sikasso that week for an HIV conference which always make me feel insecure and over my head. Or maybe it was also that I knew the next week I was having to give the morning devotion at the hospital which I would be doing in Bambara. Regardless the reason, the statements got me down. As I drove to Sikasso later that week I was praying through all this and discussing my discouragement. I stopped at the toll to pay and waited for the guy who was talking to the truck in front of me. I realized I knew him as he was the husband of one of the ladies I follow. He came to greet me and told me that he would be bringing his newborn for his vaccinations the next day and wanted to make sure I'd be there. I didn't pay the toll any of the four times I passed through that week because the guys knew I was friends with the boss there. I'm not saying I advocate not paying but this whole situation encouraged me. So I may not be able to speak like Brett or others here. I may be most of the time over my head in HIV treatment and cancer treatment. I can still love on people and show them that I value them and care for them. That can speak more than any words could. So 30 minutes outside of Koutiala I was encouraged by simply knowing the guy at the toll. It truly changed my whole attitude.

How does this relate Advent you may ask? Well, that night was the story of David. He was chosen not because he was the first son or second or third but because he was the last. 1 Samuel 16:17 "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance but the Lord looks at the heart." As I recapped the story with Dawson I asked him why God had chosen David to be king. "Because he fought Goliath," he said. I told him no, that the Lord had chosen David before he had done anything, whether good or bad. He chose him because of the heart He knew he had, not because he would be able to defeat Goliath. God didn't send me to Africa because I could speak well and I understood medicine well. Nope, not at all. He sent me simply because I was willing and because I was a weak vessel through which His glory could shine.

From "Jesus Calling" December 17th-

Come to me with your gaping emptiness, knowing that in Me you are complete. As you rest quietly in My Presence, My Light withing you grows brighter and brighter. Facing the emptiness inside you is simply the prelude to being filled withe My fullness. Therefore, rejoice on those days when you drag yourself out of bed, feeling sluggish and inadequate. Tell yourself that this is a perfect day to depend on Me in childlike trust. If you persevere in this dependence as you go through the day, you will discover at bedtime that Joy and Peace have become your companions. You may not realize at what point they joined you on your journey, but you will feel the beneficial effects of their presence. The perfect end to such a day is a doxology of gratitude. I am He from whom all blessings flow!