Yesterday, our car broke down as the kids were coming home from school. The girls couldn’t get ahold of Benji or me so they called one of our best friends and he sent the mechanic (also a family friend) on his way. By the time we returned their calls, the mechanic had already given our girls his van to drive home while he fixed ours.
Benji was at a lunch meeting today when Noah’s fever got too high and I called him to come home quickly so we’d have the car here in case we needed to go to the clinic (we didn’t, and he’s ok). When I came out of Noah’s room I saw another good friend, the one Benji was meeting with, sitting on our couch. He had followed Benji home just in case we needed help.
I just got sent this photo of delicious pancakes that another friend made for our 4 daughters who are in college and far from home.
On a regular Thursday in the midst of a long, tiring week, I am weeping for joy at the goodness God has given us in community, brothers and sisters in Christ both near and far who are doing the little things that are really the big things. Even as I type, I can think of ten more examples I could share.
Never underestimate the little things. Your most significant ministry on this earth will be to love the people God has given you in the place where He has put you. Phone calls, presence, and the occasional chocolate chip pancakes. He is so good to give us each other.
My book, Daring to Hope, releases today in paperback. 🙌🏽☺️ It was an offering of love to the Father, words I wrestled with and poured over, and if you haven't read it, I would love for you to pick up a copy or share it with a friend. You can read about it here: https://amazima.org/daringtohope
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I grew to love this book as I wrote it because it healed a piece of my heart... it reminded me of the message that God is near and He is good, even when you are searching for Him in the darkness. ✨
I think sometimes we are tricked into believing that ease and success, gifts and miracles, smiling faces and our plans fulfilled, mean the Lord's blessing and favor. What we often do not understand is that the blessings also abound in the darkest night and the deepest valley, if we have eyes to see them. ✨
And so, as I was in my own season of hard, I determined to choose life, and to choose hope, and I wrote down what God was doing on my heart. I leaned into the Father. I asked hard questions of God. I dared to hope in Him, even when it did not come easily. The world would teach us that once we are broken, we cannot be used, cannot be strong, cannot be happy. But this is not true. God uses all things, even pain, for His glory. ✨
I want you to know, He is using your hard, even now. Nothing is waste. I know it to be true. ✨
In these pages I share how I loved and lost friends, people who were sick, who I prayed and believed God would heal. I share about disappointment, persevering in waiting, daring to hope and believe that God is up to something even when we cannot see. I write from that hard place of wanting to be faithful, of struggling to believe what I know to be true, of the scars of our hurts, and the way they remind us of how far we've come, how we've endured, and lived, and been changed. And I write about a God who relentlessly pursues us, and draws near to us, even as we thrash against Him, and how He calls us by name, holding us in His big, safe arms. ✨
No, God is not done yet. Today hope is something we fight for. ✨
Let us see you here, Lord. ✨
#DaringToHopeBook
@amazima
I’m so excited to share this opportunity with you guys! The Amazima School has been a dream of my heart for so long, and one of the most important things happening here is long-term, nurturing relationships on campus.
We have openings for some new Family Mentors in Uganda -- couples who model biblical marriage, what it looks like to be a family, people passionate about teenagers and walking them closer to the Lord. We want to invite you to join us in this vision!
Click the link in my profile to learn more: https://amazima.org/what-we-do/theamazimaschool/#prospective-staff
@amazima
Edit: we have had a couple inquiries as to whether Ugandan couples can apply for this position and the answer is absolutely YES!!! Our goal is to have a campus filled with Godly Ugandan staff! Please, please apply!!!
