Leaping Update

Our leaping looks so individual this time. The things I am feeling and experiencing are very different from what Heath is experiencing. In other leap years, we were wrestling through similar emotions and issues with the Lord. Updating is hard because of this disparity. And as I shared on a recent post, I am apprehensive to share stories that aren't my own, even if it is my husband's! Here's a go at my own perspective of the last few weeks.

I have a deep sense of peace through most of my days. It seems to me the lessons the Lord is driving deeper into my spirit and soul are:
1. BELIEVING HIM. He has spoken very clearly about things I can believe Him for in Scripture, through prophetic words, and to my spirit. He simply wants me to believe him and act on that belief.

2. PERSEVERING. As I have posted several times, perseverance seems to be key. I believe Jesus really cares that we are capable of persevering and not backing down when it looks like all might be lost or we will crash in a moment. It goes back to believing. If I believe Him, I can persevere. If I doubt who my Jesus is for me and what He has said to me, then I will not have the strength within myself to persevere in the face of near disaster. I will hold on to the fact that this perseverance is producing godliness that pleases Jesus.

3. PEACE THAT SURPASSES UNDERSTANDING. As in Phil 4:6-7, I am being trained once again to "not worry about ANYTHING. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

4. LIVING SIMPLY. I don't think our family could ever be accused of living extravagantly here in the US. But in comparison with those we love and ministered to in Africa, we have lived in great abundance this past year and a half. Once again, we are being reminded of the great amount of excess we have. Every time we are in this place, I am astounded by how much we can get by without. I want to be able to say with Paul all the days of my life, "Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little. For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need." (Phil 4:11-13)

5. JOY IN THE SMALL THINGS: I feel like this time of waiting on God is helping me appreciate little things like the oranges off our one orange tree, the beauty of the farm land around us, homemade chocolate chip cookies, the humor in my kids, and people the Lord prompts to encourage me.

It's a journey. Sometimes I am experiencing all of the above in all its difficult simplicity. Other times, I'm drowning in the difficulty of these simple things wishing for things more tangible . . . like money in the bank and signed contracts rather than good connections and prophetic promises!

There's the go at my summary. It looks so nice and neat in paragraph form. Maybe that's why I write. . . to make messy things feel nice and neat! Goodnight,