Be STILL and know that He is God.
Be still and KNOW that He is God.
Be still and know that HE is God.
Be still and know that He IS God.
Be still and know that He is GOD.
I am not sure which word you put the emphasis on in that scripture,
but this week I have used them all to remind myself of the certainty of the
promise given in those words.
This week my cousin Kim found out that the love of her life,
Paul (father of her three teenagers) had a stage 4 malignant brain tumor that is
inoperable. Only fifty days ago he
was “perfectly healthy” and then things changed. On Thursday, July 26th he went home to be with Jesus. I have no words to describe this.
Be still and know that He is God.
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| Yes, Stanly gave me permission to use this photo. |
This week Stanly Mduma (one of our farm Supervisors) careened
off a cliff when he lost control of the ATV he was driving. He is father to a new set of twins
(Janet and Jackson), a second set of twins and two other children. Those six were almost orphaned this
week.
Be still and know that He is God.
This week I was asked if I ever have fun anymore. Chloe remembered us having fun when we
lived in Canada back in 2006. Have
we become much too serious or has life just changed that much?
Be still and know that He is God.
This week I was asked if I am happy here in Swaziland. What is happiness? Am I supposed to be happy? I am seeking to have the “joy of the
Lord”, but I am not sure that “happiness” (as we define it back at home) is
something that we will see a lot of here.
Maybe it is semantics, but maybe it is more than that. Something to ponder in the weeks ahead.
Be still and know that He is God.
This week I learned that more than 50% of all HIV positive
adults who are seen at the Pediatric AIDS clinic (because their children are
HIV positive and are on treatment), themselves refuse treatment. Why? Because they say they “feel fine”. So they go on to increase the chance of infecting others,
shorten their own lifespan and almost insure that their children will become
orphans in the not to distant future.
Be still and know that He is God.
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| Happy 1st Birthday Miriam |
This week baby Miriam turned one-year-old and would likely
have been just another infant mortality statistic if it weren’t for the
discernment of a Social Welfare Officer and the hearts of the women who live
and work at the El Roi Baby Home.
Be still and know that He is God.
This week our electric fencing is finally electrified around
our house so we will be safe at night, but the water filtration system is still
not filtering so we will continue to boil water.
Be still and know that He is God.
This week Jesus was on the throne, all week, and He didn’t
miss anything. He wasn’t surprised by anything nor was he shaken by anything -
not Paul’s tumor or Stanly’s accident or the color of the icing on Miriam’s
birthday cake. His plans are not
our plans and His timing is not our timing, and sometimes it just plain SUCKS
(sorry Mom for the bad language), but I trust Him with my life and the lives of
those around me. I am not saying
it is easy or without pain, but it is the truth that I cling to in the darkest
days.
 |
| Anna and David share Petelyn's boa on Miriam's birthday. |
Psalm 46:10 says, “Be still and know that I am God”. This week I am thankful for these
powerful words. May they bring you
peace.
Live from Swaziland ... this isn't getting any easier with time.
Janine
Live from Swaziland ... this isn't getting any easier with time.
Janine
Thank you Janine for your testimony and sacrifice, and for pointing us to God's Word (the sword of the Spirit). May this verse bring you some comfort in your time of difficulty and sorrow.
ReplyDelete2 Cor. 1:3-11
I am praying for you all each day. You may not find "fun", but I am praying for peace and joy. "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest". I am praying for rest and peace and joy. I am in awe of your family and your determination for the Lord! You are an inspiration to me on a daily basis!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing from the heart. Don't ever let anyone silence you or your family. Joy and fun will come. It may look very different than it did in Canada or Georgia, But it will come. God promises MY JOY COMES IN THE MORNING. He just didn't say which morning. Know that in the missionary, third world countries, many are feeling these same conflicts. Yet they continue to serve God and be faithful. The grief you are going through right now is much like the grief a spouse goes through the first year they have losted their loved one. The second year does look better. Not that there won't always be down times and loneliness.
ReplyDeleteDear Janine
ReplyDeletePraying for His comfort to surround your heavy and grieving hearts. To be so very far from those you love is more than difficult.
To find joy iin the midst of pain is something all of us struggle with. Much easier said than actually done.
I have Psalm 46:10 highlighted in my bible. The word still means; to hang limp, be feeble and show slack. The word know means; to know intimately, recognize and understand. How I interpret this is, we need to be soft, humble and pliable; recognizing Him in an intimate way.
Praying for your family!
Thank you for another Saturday morning blog...I look forward to reading it every week! Prayers are with you and your family!
ReplyDeleteThe babies with the pink boa intertwined gives a great picture of the joy we have through our Father in heaven and how he blesses us with it.
ReplyDelete