Kingdom Minded

Once upon a time I was 13 & on my way to Peru on my first missions trip! My dad’s friend gave me a book about a kid a few years older than me who served in Peru. Even with the title “I Would Die For You” I read it. The kid died from some weird disease he caught there-very rare. Scary considering I was headed to Peru!! Anyway…it’s been a few weeks since I got back from Kenya & I’m still sick & sometimes the fear of that story penetrates my mind. Prayers would be appreciated. :)

Today my sister & I went to our friends’ house. They have four girls between 4th grade & 4 months.

Anyway, we’re playing with them & Julianne & Paige (the middle two) decide they want to play dress-up. This meant running in their room, pulling out a dress, handing it to me to put on them, twirling around in it, then running back to their room to do it all again!

As I watched the girls proudly show off their gowns, my mind flashed back to Mulango. Except there, the girls wore dresses like these all the time. Only they were torn & tattered beyond recognition in places.

But, all the girls were just as proud. As desperate in asking me to fit their dresses over their heads. As excited to spin around & show off. As joyful.

I sat there missing Naomi & Mercy, but I could push that back as Paige & Julianne hopped in my lap or insisted I pick them both up (at the same time).

When I was in Mulango, I missed these girls, too. I wish I could have them all at once! But-there’s something I love about caring for & loving all these girls.

I just adore getting to love on God’s precious children. :)

I have a life plan. It’s grand. Got at least 5 years there. It’s fun to dream about the future. Doing the World Race or interning somewhere. But, I’m learning that God’s plans are better. Wisconsin wasn’t in my plan. Neither was Kenya. But God blessed me so mightily through Kenya & I have no doubt He’ll do it again in Wisconsin. And sometimes it’s more fun that way. Letting God write the story opens the doors for even better adventures then I could ever plan. I love that. :)

“O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” -Psalm 63:1

This verse resonated with me today a little more than usual. And it did before, it’s highlighted in my Bible! :)

So I’ve never been in a dry and weary land where there is no water…but I’ve been close. While I was in this dry and dusty land where there is…little water I saw how devoted these people have to be to get water. Hours spent walking to and from the “river” to get dirty water.

There are people with donkeys and all they do is go get water. Everyday. The kids spend their free time getting water. Their lives revolve around getting water. Some people do NOTHING else besides getting water.

And that is how our souls should thirst for God. How our bodies should long for Him. Our days should be driven by our immense need to seek Him and just have a taste of His presence. We should be spending every free moment trying to quench our thirst for Jesus.

That’s what this psalm means I do believe. :)