Monday, July 23, 2012

I am a list maker. I learned that from my mama.

To me, bring able to cross things off my ‘to do’ list, to grab my pen and scratch through a job as ‘finished’ signifies accomplishment.

Yet, ever since moving to Guatemala I have noticed that the Lord has been teaching me a different way. Since living here I rarely have the opportunity to cross things off. Actually, rarely do I even have time to make a list. And while I fully admit that can sometimes be overwhelming, what I have learned is that I need to allow the Lord the freedom to direct how I spend my days.

The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way? Proverbs 20:24

And so each morning, without fail, I get on my knees and ask God to show me what He has for me to that day... and that list in my head changes drastically.

A few days back God brought this precious family into our lives and they helped me see my to do list in a new light.


Aura Marina and her seven children live in a little village called Chi Tuk not far from Village of Hope. The main thing on Aura Marina's 'to do' list every day- is to simply survive.

As we visited with Aura Marina and her children, asked about their needs, prayed for them and got to know them better -for whatever reason the Lord brought my ‘list’ to mind. He reminded me that the bathrooms I complained about cleaning were a blessing…

                                                                   (family bathroom)

That the dinner ideas I had so often whined about trying to come up with were a blessing…

                                           (Aura Marina and her only means of cooking for her 7 kids)
And that the leaky roof we had been experiencing really wasn’t that big of a deal after all…

                                  (one bedroom, dirty floor home Aura Marina and her 7 kids live in)
And what I couldn’t help but to wonder was how many times in the past I had allowed Satan to distract me, to fill my head and my heart with my own shallow complaints, my own selfish wants, and my own agenda- that in the long run really don’t even matter. How much time had I wasted focusing on my own little world… when the world around me was crying out for Him?

So today I challenge you to ask God to arrange your 'to do' list for the day. I challenge you to not get so caught up in your own kingdom- that you forget about His.

If you would like to partner with us here at Village of Hope in helping families like Aura Marinas you can visit us at: Lifesong for Orphans- Guatemala.


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8 comments:

The Sequin Singer said...

Aura and her sweet family will be in my prayers!

Unknown said...

Wow, excellent reminder of our blessings that we too easily take for granted. May the Lord bless you and bless Aura as well.

Sharon said...

This reminder was perfect for me this morning.

Angie said...

How fitting that you should post this challenge today. Since our move, I have been challenged with this by a new friend...plan your day, but let the Lord plan your steps. Today was one of those days. I knew what I wanted to accomplish, but the Lord had other plans. It's stretching the planner in mew big-time...but there's also a peace when we allow the Lord to take the lead.

Michelle C said...

Aura was on my mind all weekend. My husband and I were redoing our closet this weekend and I said to him over and over how Aura's house wasn't much bigger than our closet. Here we were trying to organize our "stuff" in a room when Aura has to LIVE with 8 other people in a single room. I continue to pray that God will not let me forget everything I saw in Guatemala and show me how He wants me to USE what I learned. I love that he is using these types of moments to remind me.

Jody said...

Thank you for the reminder Amy!

Sara K. Parker said...

Thanks for the reminder. This is something I realize time and again...and then fall right back into my list-making mode... :)

Rachel Hopkins said...

I often think what I have is not good enough until I see this...then I realise what I have is WAY more than enough <3 wow! what a great reminder! I will be praying for this family!!!