Oh My!

Oh my...YUM! Ok so I know that this may not look appealing to MOST of my readers. But I am telling you now...my mouth is watering. I could eat the WHOLE plate, I think!
When I first went to Ethiopia I wasn't to sure about injera, Doro Wat and beef tibs ect...but let me tell you...somehow someway my taste buds drastically changed...I just had to share this picture with you...my mouth is seriously watering!

So many pictures....

 ....So many memories! In case you didn't know I got to take a trip of a lifetime last fall. I would encourage everyone to visit a third world country...it changes you..so..much. And oh the memories...the adventures...the friendships...the love. I simply cannot wait until its my turn again to get on that plane back to the place I love so much! Hopefully God will open doors and I can take my whole family with me. *and on a side note...just in case you have a thought that my husband doesn't love this place as much as I do...guess again...your wrong...Its both of our dream...I just happened to be the blogger* OK...that above picture?????? Everyone of those sweet Ethiopian people are apart of the church we volunteered at.And they are ALL beyond precious...they prayed over Rachel and I for an hour! I have NEVER in my life felt so close to God! I had goosebumps and tears and I had no idea what they were saying..all I could feel was there arms around me and the presence of God.

 sweet little boy who I put down for the picture...guess he didn't want down...it was no problem to pick him back up

 This sign... haha "When you drink a cup of coffee ideas come marching in like an army" ...drinking coffee at the Post Office and saw this sign...we all had a good laugh...if you've drank Ethiopian coffee you probably know the meaning behind those words lol

 LOOK at that! That is a stinkin' long way from home! 15 hours baby! Oh and that's just one flight.

 Someday...someday...I will get these girls to a Dr. I could have held them all day long...in fact...I did.

 Look how sweet they are with big sister Hana...getting ready for a good meal!

 ...we walked miles each day! The roads in Korah are not suitable for cars..so every one walks...I thought I would die from heat exhaustion a few times...my mouth and nose would be so dry all the time...it was dusty and hot...but beautiful...don't judge me unless you've been there...It will take you 5 min to fall in love. I promise.

...these boys...orphans all of these children...wanting to know about America...wanting to know about my family...wanting to call me Mom...wanting my hugs...and wanting love...So glad for the moments I sat down and just poured myself out to the hurting...its such a good feeling to connect...even if its just for a few moments...I had all the love in the world....in fact I still do!

You are here: Home / Daily Inspirations / Loneliness

Loneliness

March 19, 2012 by Janice · 29 Comments

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Did you know that being lonely is not a sin? You will go through seasons of loneliness. Everyone does. When you start isolating yourself then it becomes an issue.
Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.-Proverbs 18:1
If you find yourself in this season for whatever reason, seek God and encourage yourself in the Lord. David did this! How? I’ll tell you how in a minute.. First, I want to share this excerpt with you,

God brings moments into our lives when we have to stand alone in difficulty and testing. God will even blind the eyes and deafen the ears of our closest friends in moments so we can learn to minister to ourselves. -Bil Johnson

There have been many times I’ve relied on my husband, friends, family for my emotional needs and if they weren’t around I would be hurt. Learning to minister and encourage myself was a challenge. it’s just you and God! It wasn’t until I realized that I had nothing, no one else but God that I could count on. You don’t realize God is all you need until you see that He is all you have.

Strengthening yourself in the Lord.
1. I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. – I meditate on the WORD of God day and night. I speak them aloud so it gets into my SOUL. Here are a few that I use.
The Lord’s eye is upon me because I fear Him, I wait for Him and hope in His mercy and loving kindness. Psalm 33:18
Hope deferred makes my heart sick, but when my desire is fulfilled, it is the tree of life. Proverbs 13:12
I am sticking with God. I say it over and over again- He’s all I got left. He proves to be good to me and to all who passionately wait and diligently seek Him. – Lamentations 3:24
Everything that was written in the past was written to teach me so that through endurance and the encouragement of Scriptures I might have hope. Romans 15:4

 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper. Psalm 1:2
2. So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of GOD – I always have CDs/DVDs nearby. In the car and at home. It is on constantly running in the background. While busy tending to other things, my mind is constantly getting fed as well as my inner man without being aware of it!
3. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. – Hebrews 10:25 – Meet with friends, family, mentors, pastors for coffee. Talk, hang out, tell them what you’re going through and would like prayers, this way they know how to pray for you. Don’t isolate.
4. Prayer – Connect to God through prayer. As I reached out to Him, He supplied to me joy overflowing. He nurtured me and loved me all the way through that lonely season. Staying connected with God is vital. You can’t afford to be without Him. It’s too big of a risk.
Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. – 1Peter 5:8
I pray that in this season you will reach out to God allow His love to permeate you. He will do a mighty work in you. Enjoy it for it is a season. It may be a long season or a short one, depending on our attitudes. Know that you are never alone. I’ve been on this journey before and spoken to many friends who knew what I was feeling. In some weird odd way it gave me a sense of comfort and some reassurance. The enemy wants to make us feel alone, insecure, and ashamed, don’t give in!



*This post came from Godsgratefulness.com I don't know how to link up..this was so encouraging to me. Wonderful words of encouragement...I will never be to the place where I am just ok with my friendship with Jesus...HOW HE HAS BLESSED me with His friendship...in my lonely times...He is always there...Gods blessings to you all*

Faithful Jesus

INTRODUCING.........Nahome Tesfaye Alemayehu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



My dear brother and sister Tesfaye and Helen had a little baby boy last Saturday! I have been waiting and waiting for his arrival! Tesfaye waited to tell me they were expecting a baby until we were reunited last October. I was so surprised!! I know this sweet little baby will be well taken care of! Wishing I could be there to help Helen and to hold this sweet little guy...but I know that Lord willing I will get plenty of time to hold him and get to know him! For now....my heart is glad that baby Nahome and Mommy are well and healthy. Praising our faithful Father for a beautiful little boy. thankyou Jesus

Forever Changed

I saw what I saw and I can't forget it....I heard what I heard and I can't go back....I know what I know and I can't deny it.....something along the road cut me to the soul....

 Your pain has changed me....your dreams inspire...your face a memory...your hope a fire....Your courage asks me what am I afraid of? and what I know of love....

 We've done what we've done and we can't erase it....we are what we are and its more then enough...

 we have what we have...but its no substitution....something along the road...cut me to the soul....

 I say what I say with no hesitation....I have what I have but I'm giving it up...I do what I do with deep conviction....

your courage asks me what I’m afraid of...your courage asks me what I’m afraid of.....
  and what I know of love.....and what I know of God. (I saw what I saw by:Sara Groves)

  Memories burning in my heart...I know what I saw and I know what I heard...Deep in the heart of Ethiopia...in city twice the size of Texas....in a trash dump, called Korah, that is home to 100,000 BEAUTIFUL people....I found Jesus. {I am forever changed}...I'll never forget

Love Others~Don't Waste Your Life

 I love the wise words from Francis Chan...I couldn't agree more. Once upon a time...when my heart was caring what other people thought of me and my life...I let the words..."They can't find themselves" or "They are going along with another fad now" affect me. Then I learned that peoples words will often times be harsh when they can't see the whole picture. You see...I believe that loving others...no matter the struggle or the pain is...worth it! LOVE always wins in the end. Faith Hope Love...the greatest is Love.

 I Love my husband and I love our friendship and our bond and our special times we have together. I love that we agree on most things and that we have the same vision for our life. I love that God is the center of our marriage. I just really really love my husband and I am so thankful him!

 Oh my precious treasures! I love ALL of them! I love them all differently and equally. Without them my life would be so pointless! They bring SO many smiles to my face! I could talk for hours about each of them! I love being a Mother to them! I don't feel old enough or mature enough to be their Mom...and I mess up ALOT! There are days I don't feel the love so much...BUT so glad for their forgiveness! So glad God is trusting me with them!

 I love this little girl! I LOVE this experience of how she grew in my heart! I will be the first to tell you that adoption is one of the hardest things I have ever did...but I will also tell you that it totally changed my life....for the better...I will never be the same! I will advocate for the orphans! If you are not caring for the Fatherless then you should be! James 1:27 commands it!

 I love this young man. Who would have thought God would give us a 16 year old boy to love for a short while. This experience ended in tears and sadness BUT I wouldn't trade it! I am thankful for the love we got to give and receive and the lessons we learned! I mean this young man taught me SO much! Totally worth the love! {I love you Gustavo and miss you! Thank you for all the memories!}

 Oh my goodness...my heart...tears...See that man in the middle??? *tears tears!* This is one of the hardest loves...I miss my Ethiopian friends...SO THANKFUL for the love across the miles! I love his SWEET wife Helen and their new baby! I cannot tell you how much I love him! Can you understand the distance between our families!?! Yet our bond and our love is so strong...my sweet children pray every day for him and our Korah Church family...our love for them is very strong!

and YAY for friends! What a special love! Friends and love come in all ways...who cares of age or gender or color of skin or personalities! {Rachel! So glad for our friendship! I love you and miss you!}
"Opposition is expected when we choose to love others for the purpose of God" Our Pastor talked about this last Sunday..."Are you willing for God to disrupt your life? Are we going to waste our life? Love will change your life! Are you willing?? Are you ready for crazy love??? I mean cause I can write a couple blog posts on a Someone who loved ME...ME!!!!! so much that He DIED for ME! Are you kidding??? I mean that is CRAZY! I mean don't you think Jesus wants us to be crazy like He was and return the love the best we can???................I know He does!
Are we willing for God to disrupt our life? Will we follow His calling? Will we love others like He did and does? Love will change your life*

What Do You See?

What do you see when you see this picture? Honestly in your heart what do you see? Maybe you see three dirty little girls....maybe you notice the dirty trash filled surroundings...and probably you will see this picture and think..."how sad" and then continue to go about your day with this picture of my sweet friends long out of your mind...
Can I tell you what I see? This was the second time I had seen these little ones. My first trip to Ethiopia to Korah I was honored to meet them. Their memory burned in my mind long after I met them and I just couldn't forget. I sent a few packages across the ocean to them just so they knew that I hadn't forgot them. Their was some anticipation in my heart as I walked up the trash filled trail, to their little home, tucked behind a small corn field. And then this moment...I cannot hardly explain this moment...it felt like time stopped just for a few seconds...the sun was hot...the buzzards and other birds were circling above the trash in the blue sky...the smell of trash and "poverty" burned at my nose...tears stung at my eyes and a lump formed once again in my throat...and a thought crossed my mind..."Dear God, why?"
And then they were jumping into my arms and I didn't care one bit that they were dirty and sick...I just knew, in that moment, that God was asking ME and HIS PEOPLE the same question...WHY? Why have you let this happen? Remember? YOU are MY HANDS and MY FEET! This is your DUTY to take care of the Fatherless and the poor.
And sometimes I wonder what good it does to travel to a place like this just to visit and then leave again at the end of the week. How can you make a difference in that amount of time? The answer? You can't really...the journey you make across the ocean is more for YOU...God is reminding you of how much he has blessed you and He is reminding you that sometimes you have to see the poverty with your own eyes before you can begin to make a difference. It doesn't do anyone any good to go visit and come home to our blessed nation and then forget. And I struggle with forgetting...not really, but I get caught up in my day to day life and I tend to forget...but that is why I love this picture...I'm remembering again this day when I saw my little friends again...and the JOY I felt in my heart to have the chance to love some of God's most precious treasures.