Joy...

Each morning I wake up, put the kettle on and make my morning coffee. My coffee pot is blue with a bird on top; musical notes are near its mouth like it’s the happiest singing bird of them all. However it just reminds me of each morning my mum would come wake us kids up by singing ‘morning has broken,’ purposefully out of tune and very loudly until we got out of bed. Makes me shudder at the thought. I am not a morning person, which makes my coffee all the more important. I like my slow steady mornings to wake up and for the peace to last as long as possible.

Peace and quiet isn’t something we get here. Although I’m not complaining. Last time I was back in England it was so quiet my ears hurt and I couldn’t sleep without my white noise, aka the base line that comes from the club music blaring from the brothel and bars outside. It’s odd what becomes the new normal.

Once coffee and bread roll are consumed time is ticking for me to get ready and out the door, normally having no idea of what the day will look like. It’s a ten-minuet walk to the other base where the children live and most programs run. The mission’s school is about to start so there are lots of extra faces and a sense of busyness in the air trying to get things ready. I go to the baby house, which has been named Casa Shalom. I store my bag there and do most admin, organising from there. I love this house, mostly because it is a home. I say hello to my babies that are happily playing by this point. Breakfast consumed and showers taken. I am once again reminded of God’s goodness and kindness as I look into the faces of little ones that might not be here if it wasn’t for God. I talk to the educators who work four days on, four days off. Ladies who give up so much to work in our children’s home. Ladies, who have so much going on at home that they hardly talk about, yet live daily in His joy. Laughing and chatting away, not letting anything get them down. Wonderful examples.

In Psalm 91 it begins with praising Him for His goodness, saying ‘I will sing for Joy at what your hands have done’. I watch these ladies who work with the children and the ones who work on the street. I watch as they learn more about God and grasp the revelation of His love and amazingly I watch how the first big change in them is His joy. They don’t rely on their own feelings or how their day has gone. But they rely on God and the revelation that He is bigger than all things and loves them more than anyone ever could. What a challenge when you get grumpy in the mornings if you don’t get your peace and quiet. Sitting in the dirt with the poor simply is the best way to learn. It is such an honor to be here, serving under a beautiful ministry.

So how do we keep the joy and keep our eyes fixed on Him. Well I have discovered that the best way is to remember it is not about me. It is not about how my day has gone or how I am feeling. It is all about Him and keeping my eyes fixed on the One who is all together lovely. Keeping my identity in Him and resting in His love. Trusting Him with all things.

Yesterday I was doing bible study with two of my girls. A beautiful hearted missionary who is in the Rahab team was doing it and at the end she asked if they had any questions. One spoke up and said she was delighted to have read 1 John 3V1 ‘See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ She then goes on to talk about her brother’s funeral that had happened on the weekend. He had been in a car accident and she had lots to sort out with the family. Part of that was meeting the people that hit her brother with their car and caused his death. She was saying most of her family were crying and were angry with them. She however spoke out and told them not to be angry with them, that God has a plan for everyone and it was time for her brother to go to heaven. She forgave these people and talked about Gods destiny for each person. So she was happy to learn that it talks about us being His children in the bible because she had basically preached that to her family; and these strangers who had caused her brothers death.

Not much could be said after that apart from ‘wow’. I have a brother and I love him dearly, so if someone caused his death I don’t think forgiveness would be on my mind. I am just being honest here, it takes Jesus. However once again it’s not about me, it’s about Him and His love. Living in His joy is such a pure and wise thing. Yes we need help to do this, we are human! However He is so worth it!