Advent - A Season of Hope
The theme this year is “God With Us”
God With Me
You can’t Imagine what it was like
Looking for love in all the wrong places
Finding fakes and imitations instead
Or.....maybe you DO know
Maybe we’re the same
Even though you may not want to admit it
Maybe you’ve been alone in your skin
While surrounded by people
Looking around you wondering how you got here
Knowing that the answer isn’t as simple as people outside may think
Can you feel me? Can you REALLY see me?
Standing in the center screaming “CAN YOU HEAR ME GOD”
and not sure if He’s even there
Smiling on the outside
Walking out the door in the morning....Oops.....can’t forget your mask
Confidence in place Assurance, check
But secretly wishing that someone could just hold your hand
Until IT happened!!
Maybe you don’t get IT and maybe it is just me
Has IT happened to you too??? Have you met him?
The lover of my soul
The source of my joy.........The reason why it’s no longer a mask
WOW! Is all I can say sometimes
Feelin the truth in scripture and song
........I finally found HIM
Through all my madness and through all my mess
He’s REAL!
And He loves on me in such a way that I brag here and there
That I am His favorite daughter
Argue with me if you will, but my Daddy makes me feel special
My Heavenly Father makes me feel like
Well.......like He’s with me t all times
Even when I don’t want Him to be He’s there
Even when I have done the unimaginable He’s there
Even when I am feeling distanced He’s there
When I’ve failed at something He’s there
Or when I’ve fallen short He’s there
Even when I felt discouraged He’s there
And when I’ve felt unlovable He’s there
When I’ve cried and cursed He’s there
Even when I’ve felt like an alien in the midst of religious “folk”
He’s there
Even when.... No...ESPECIALLY when..... (my input)
I sat for the first time at an introductory nurses meeting on Mercy Ships
Sad about death and loss
I was surrounded by overwhelming LOVE
I knew that God directed me to right where I needed to be
In that moment, the peace that surpasses understanding overtook my soul
I mean, I knew Him before
But in that moment, I realized that He loved me beyond measure
He loves me like no other
And He makes me to know that I am not alone
Though the path may be crooked
He’s promised to make it straight
Though the darkness may seem heavy
He’s promised to make it light
And what is known to be true is..........
He lives up to his names
He is Jehovah Jireh, My Provider
El Shaddai, God Almighty
Jehovah Shalom, My Peace
El Olam, The Everlasting God
He’s Jehovah Shammah, The Lord is there
Emmanuel......
God with you
God with me
God with us!!
...........Full of LOVE, JOY, PEACE & HOPE
Each Share a story of HOPE & HEALING!!!!
African Woman Display Strength, Courage, Patience and Wisdom!!
Come, Jesus Christ, or Savior
teach us your way,
lead us to freedom,
grow in our lives,
open our minds,
shine in our actions,
rule in our hearts,
be with us, here, now, always.....
Emmanuel....God with us!
This is Andrea.......She wrote the BEAUTIFUL Poem!!!
So Precious!!!!
I can add to my resume........Proficient in Pediatric Blood Draws!!
I am still in "AWE" that I am here on the AFRICAN MERCY!!!
Amazing transformations are happening!!.......Patients, Crew, Day Workers, Visitors and even the Reporters are BLESSED!!.......One will not leave without be "Changed"
Sinterklass Celebration.....and a Visit from Black Peter!
http://www.sinterklaasrhinebeck.com/what-is-sinterklaas.php
Friends!!!......
Canada....New Zealand....Australia and U.S.
My LOVELY Roommate Solveig :) from Norway
Mercy Ships Ballet........VERY IMPRESSIVE!
My Roommate Becky.....She is in charge of the door decorating!
My roommate Betsy.....Full of Passion for God!
St. Lucia Celebration
http://www.whychristmas.com/cultures/sweden.shtml
Cookie Baking!!!.......More than 100 dozen cookies were baked!
We spent the day after Thanksgiving Decorating the Ship!
You have searched me, LORD, and you know me.
You know me when I sit and I rise:
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me",
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
Psalm 139
Blessings and Prayers for a Christ-Filled Christmas for ALL!!
xoxoxooxo
