The Greatest Kind of Happpiness

Everyone seeks happiness. Through some means, everyone wants to become, be and continue to be happy. Some seek fame and fortune, some faith or family and some incredibly selfish, sometimes horrific, attempts. Where does that desire come from? What makes us want to be happy? This may seem like an absurd question. After all the pursuit of happiness seems to be at the root of all our desires, it is as common to us as breathing. But why do we want it? What drives us to pursue happiness?

I think what we really want is peace. Peace with ourselves, peace with others and, though some would not admit it, peace with God. That is what we mean by happiness. We want a calm assurance that things are good, more than good, that things are great. So, where do we go for that calm assurance. Again, some will seek selfish means, some ideals and some will try to reach outside themselves.

I have come to know this happiness through my relationship with the Lord. Through a continual strive for obedience to Him and always finding Him faithful. This doesn't mean life has always been easy or full of events that lack all discouragement or hurt. This means that through it all, through everything life has, my God is in control and His love, His strength assure me.

More than that I have learned to find joy in seeing the Lord love on others around me. This week, Heather's friend had her first child. Heather got to be there. She got to help out and serve the ones she loves. And she got to meet this new life, this little girl that God created and purposed in this world. She got to see a dear friend become a mother. This is the greatest kind of happiness - to see someone you love enjoying the blessings of the Father, to see them happy and to be happy for them. My heart is full of thankfulness and happiness for Heather.

~"A happiness that is sought for ourselves alone can never be found: for a happiness that is diminished by being shared is not big enough to make us happy. There is a false and momentary happiness in self-satisfaction, but it always leads to sorrow because it narrows and deadens our spirit. True happiness is found in unselfish love, a love which increases in proportion as it is shared." - Thomas Merton~

That Spot

My move from Fort Worth brought upon Sarah and I the first time we would not be living together since the time that the Lord allowed our paths to merge. Location is the essence of every relationship. However, the Lord is teaching me that physical location is not the only aspect on which we can rely to bind our relationships. The last weeks have been rocky. There have already been those dreaded difficult situations in which I desperately wanted to be able to sit with Sarah, and she with me, just to talk, or cry, or be. I certainly don't think that those times are over, but I do know that the Lord has and will faithfully bring us through them. It is the most difficult times that we look back upon and cherish as growing times. It was so easy to forget to treasure each moment together, before they became so few and far between. The Lord has given me this amazing friendship; one that, I pray, will stand the test of time; one that I will always be willing to struggle for. It is my desperate cry tonight that the Lord be glorified in every aspect of who we are. I praise him for the ones that he has for us to become.

Tired...

Tomorrow is our final day in London. It has been a long week. It often seems as if the Lord decides to discipline me each time He takes me overseas. Or, maybe He takes me overseas each time I reach the point of needing such discipline. Either way, it has been a difficult week, to say the least. He has allowed me to fall, literally. (Yes, I fell down the stairs at the East London Mosque. It seems as though I survived with only a sprained / bruised right ankle and another reminder of who is in control; and it’s not me!)

It has been an absolute joy to have the opportunity to encourage others in their work. I have loved every moment I have gotten to spend with women from my old home. The twinkle in their eyes when I attempt to speak their heart language makes it all worthwhile. However, I desire each day to get to share with those the Lord places on my path. I get so discouraged when it seems that my conversations are always interrupted by something. It is my prayer that they will often remember our short conversations in their heart language and that the difference between me and the others with whom they come in contact with, is Jesus. What a difference He makes. I pray that difference is evident each day, in every circumstance.

One Foot Then the Other....

I sit in the Riley Center working on an endless mound of assignments and reading. Two men walk the building sharing with one another their life's checklists, their call's demands. One says to the other, in his small town southern way, "It will all get done, one step at a time, it will all get done." The other, with an English accent, says "You are such an encouragement."

Indeed, they were.

Should be studying

I love school. I know, I know -- dork. But it's true. I enjoy learning. Seminary has provided so many opportunities for great discussion, lecture and thought. Scripture is amazingly rich. Our Christian stance, our faith, is a vast depth that requires great contemplation, equal trust in our Authority and responsibilty to show the world what wisdom truly is.

This semester I am taking Philosophy of Religion. So far I love this class. While I cannot quite give a synopsis of the content thus far (my brain is pending complete comprehension), I do know that God is teaching me. He is teaching me to love Him with my mind.

We are commanded to love God with our mind. Far to often, we over look the mind and instead focus on loving God with our heart, our soul, our strength. What does it mean to love God with your mind? There is the obvious choice of a pure mind. Putting away lust, malice, gossip, judgement and the like is always a way to present our mind to the Lord in an act of worship. But, what if we dare to love God with more than avoiding sin? What if we dare to love God with something that might cost a little bit more? What if we actually believed Scripture's claims so strongly that we actually found ourselves thinking about them?

I mean, who is God. This God, who created a brilliant universe. Who felt so inclined to glorify Himself by creating a human race - by creating man and breathing life into Him. This God, who is not removed from His workmanship; rather, intimately concerned. You may be thinking "we can never know." This is true, we can never know completely. But we can seek after this God, the One and Only True God, with our minds as passionately as we aspire to seek Him with our hearts.

Adventures, indeed!

The adventures, indeed, have begun. We finally reached our destination and it was time to sleep after a couple of days of going without. Who can have a positive outlook on things without sleep? Not I! I have now had a short night’s sleep and we are off to have our first day in London. I just know God has amazing plans in store!

It is a bit chilly here. It is so great not to sweat by merely walking out of the door! We got to leave that Alabama heat and humidity behind. It is my prayer that we will be found faithful today in each task He lays before us. It also a great desire for us to be an encouragement to those who are here for the long haul.

I’m not sure how my first nights without my daily conversation with Sarah will be. That daily assurance that she was well and managing, has been a comfort to me. Without it, I have to trust that God is caring and providing all that she needs.

It is the start to a brand new day and I am having incredible difficulty arousing the troops. After the hour of pushing and nudging and calling out their names, the women have arisen. We have 15 minutes until breakfast. We’ll never be on time. I’m not sure time is of the essence right now. May God grant me patience. We are down to just over 10 minutes to go! Oh, let the good times roll!

And now, just for an update, 5 minutes to go and no one is dressed. They are not sure what to wear. I just have to laugh. I told them I was going to get a pot and a spoon for tomorrow morning’s wake up call!

Cooler Days

It feels like Fall today. Cooler temperatures remind me of my time in Nashville. Nashville has a great Fall season.

I think Fall is my favorite season. It is such a time for reflection. The leaves are turning, days are getting shorter, holidays are approaching. All these elements of a Fall day welcome gratitude.

It's only September, and I hear that tomorrow will be another Texas summer day. So, for now, for today, I will think of a time to come and hope to relish the time that is.

Adventures

The Lord takes us on adventures. For me, these adventures have included quite an array of things. It is His hand that brought Sarah and I together. I stand in awe of how perfect God's plan proves to be, over and over again. There is no one I would rather embark on the adventures that lay ahead with. May the words you find here be an encouragement to your spirit.

A new adventure begins today! I leave in a matter of minutes to begin a journey that is to take me to East London to serve amongst the South Asian population there. I will be accompanied by four Senior Adults. This is bound to be a trip to remember! As the baby of the group, I also serve as the team leader. We'll have to wait to see how that turns out! The Lord has used the past weeks of transition to bring me to a place of total surrender to Him. (I'm not sure I am there quite yet.) All He requires, or even wants, is our humble obedience. Why is that so hard? I pray that as I embark on this journey that He will guide each step I take, and each word I speak. I am anticipating an amazing week of walking in His presence and getting to share that with others who have yet to experience his grace.

Welcome!

Thanks for stopping by. The Lord has done so much for us, and through us, in this friendship. Heather and I truly feel as though He as knit us together in a way only a wonderful Father can.  We have learned so much this past year(we should have started blogging earlier) and know He will continue to teach and mold us. We hope you find encouragement here. We hope you can join in praise with us, praise for a Father who delights in relationship.