Dios ha sido bueno

"I will give you thanks in the great congregation: I will praise you among much people"

- Psalm 35:18

The above Psalm grabbed my attention this morning and reminded me to stop in the middle of a busy season and publicly give thanks to God.  The Scripture mentions giving thanks in "great congregation" and "among much people", so even though I am sitting alone in my office at the computer, the beauty of a blog and the internet is that this has the potential to reach a "great congregation" and "much people".  

We were sitting in church two Sundays ago and an overwhelming sense of gratitude consumed me and tears streamed down my face as we worshiped together as a Body of Believers.  I LOVE the music at our church and always enjoy worshiping through song as our talented and passionate worship leaders lead us.  This particular morning my heart was moved to open my eyes and scan the room as we sang "Dios ha sido bueno" (God has been good).  As I slowly looked around the room, I was able to see example after example of just how good God has been.  Bear with me as I do my best to describe what I saw so that proper thanks is given to God for His incredible love for His children. 

The first place I was drawn to was the worship band.  Kendrix, an incredibly talented 22 year old musician in his 3rd year studying at the Seminary of Americas.  His mom wasn't even supposed to have kids after being treated for a cancer that doctors said would lead to her death months later.   She lived and still lives...she had Kendrix (and 2 other boys) that are now impacting thousands of lives for the Gospel.  

Next was Moises, on the electric guitar, has been healed and restored after a dark life filled with addiction.  He gave up music years ago because it only lead him to environments that caused him to use.  God redeemed him and reminded him that his musical talents were a gift from Him and could be used for His glory.  He's been leading worship now for a couple of years along with a Celebrate Recovery group for other addicts in our community.

Then, Carlos, a once super hyper kid that grew up in our baseball program (he was like a mosquito that buzzed around your ear that you couldn't get rid of).  He didn't even know he had the gift of music until a man from Columbia spent time with him and discovered his crazy talent with instruments and booming singing voice.  He is now a worship leader and a mature mentor that serves as a baseball coach for almost 200 kids.

My attention moved off of the stage and directly across the room to Eddy.  Oh Eddy.  God really poured joy into my heart when I watched Eddy that morning.  Eddy was a professional basketball player for 17 years that had to retire because of an un-diagnosed illness that caused him to lose over 40 lbs.  He accepted Christ and was baptized last year.  Shortly after, his health was fading fast and  he was rushed to a hospital where weeks later they finally discovered that he had Crohn's Disease.

After major surgery and a long recovery, there he was that morning, with his hands raised high and his eyes closed worshiping Jesus.  Thank you, God!

Next to Eddy was Rey.  Rey was a "tigere" (thug) from the "barrio" (hood) that lived a fast life.  He participated in our basketball camps for years and just a couple of years ago gave his life to Christ and was baptized.  We hired him as a basketball coach and mentor to youth that lack love and guidance in their lives.  Like many places in the world, we live in a community that needs more father-figures.  That morning, Rey had a HUGE smile on his face as he danced and sang with his almost 2 year old daughter, Cadens.  A dad and his daughter in church together...a rarity here.

I then landed on Luma.  Luma is Carlos' (the mosquito turned wonderful singer/leader mentioned above) mom.  Her daughter, Albania and son, Carlos, have been active in the church for a while.  They always asked for prayers for their mom and dad.  Last year at the women's conference, Luma was baptized and has been a bright light in her community ever since.  Sitting next to her was her husband.  This family moved to Santiago not knowing Jesus.  They have not only been redeemed, but have become passionate about the renewal of their community and beyond.

Kyle and Dariana were sitting in the same line of vision as Luma.  Dariana was a trailblazer.  A Dominican girl that LOVES basketball.  She grew up in our camps and later went to the USA to play college basketball.  She graduated and came back to her home country to serve in ministry with GO Sports.  She has launched a girl's basketball program.  She has also fallen in love with Kyle, a fellow missionary with GO, who I prayed for for 9 years.  He came to us almost 3 years ago and his love and passion for ministry is overwhelming.  They are engaged to be married on April 24th and they already function as a dynamic duo in ministry.  

Towards the middle of the room sat Gustavo.  I met Gustavo 9 years ago when we moved to Santiago.  He always seemed to have a desire for more in life but couldn't quite figure out what that meant.  He told me the week before that he has lost his family.  His wife and kids live somewhere else with another man and he is broken.  He also told me that he now understands that what he was looking for cannot be found in possessions or worldly things.  He messaged me last night and said that he is ready to make a huge decision and be baptized.  In the midst of his biggest storm, he recognizes that strength comes from the Lord.

Next, I looked to my right and then down.  Audrey was holding June next to me and Ruby was in my arms.  I was reminded of the heart ache of infertility.  The dying to our expectations.  It was quickly replaced with a warm, grateful heart.  What an incredible family God has provided for us through adoption.  He took "something" and "someones" that were broken and created something magnificent.  Our daughters are living proof of His goodness.

My Dad always comes to my mind when my life slows down for a minute.  I replayed the last year of our lives quickly through my head as I sang.  It was downright hard!  But again, being in a spirit of worship and thanksgiving, God reminded me of all the beauty through the hardship.  The joy He provided in the midst of sorrow.  God sent His Son to die on the cross so that death's sting would not consume us.  My Dad is in the presence of our Creator with zero pain and suffering...what a gift He has given us all!

The last stop was at Tata and Gabriel.  Whatever is more powerful than the feeling of "gratitude" is what I felt when I looked at this incredible couple.  Over 30 years ago they moved their family to a community in Santiago that didn't have a school or a church.  They were on a mission to bring Jesus to an area that didn't know Him.  They sacrificed for the sake of the Gospel and God has blessed them tremendously ever since.  Because of their sacrifice, all of the people mentioned above have a place to worship.  Because of their sacrifice, the community of Hoya del Caimito is being renewed.  Because of their sacrifice, GO Ministries was started and God has used this ministry to change lives forever.  

I was reminded that morning of His goodness.  Thank you, God, for being so bueno!  

Grace-fully

It's amazing how our senses can trigger our minds to drum up thoughts that we've never even imagined.  Or maybe those thoughts have been there all along, right below the surface just waiting to come out and provide a perspective that has been needed for quite some time.  A couple of Saturdays ago we were playing around the house as a family and Audrey and I realized that we have reached a new season of life in which our two daughters, Ruby and June, can actually enjoy playing with one another.  We giggled as they rolled around on the floor together and "wrestled" in a way that only leads to laughter and not someone crying on the way to the hospital.  Then they both made their way to the door and just stood there looking out as if their little minds entered into a place of deep thought.  Audrey and I thought it would make for a cute photo so we snapped a quick picture and as we admired the photography, it happened.  My senses kicked in and triggered my mind to go to places that I wasn't sure that I was ready for. 

The fear of raising daughters came first.  There they were, two little innocent sweethearts (most of the time), playing within the confines of their own home.  Cute, cozy, playful, safe, confident, sweet and on and on and on of all things wonderful.  Then the very next moment their lives are flashing before my eyes as they grab ahold of the bars and turn towards the outside world (poor things have  bars and an iron gate to get through before they can get anywhere).  School, friends, hobbies, boyfriends, fiances, husbands, kids..........!!!!!!  But as I focused to try and get rid of the pit in my stomach, a perspective came and hit me upside the head.  It's not the world that put the fear of raising daughters in my heart that morning, it was the responsibility of sending them out well.  How do I keep my weakness and flaws from negatively influencing our daughters?  How do we channel all that they have been gifted with so that they may be used to leave a positive, lasting impact on those around them?

I am reading a book by Judah Smith, called Jesus Is ____, and there is a heavy focus on grace.  My heart has been satisfied so many different times as I read this book and I'm beginning to understand why.  See, I have received this Grace (a.k.a. Jesus) in my life and although it can be a difficult gift to accept, knowing that I haven't done anything to earn it, it is also the sweetest, most satisfying gift one can every receive.  As a follower of Jesus Christ, it is now my desire to extend that same form of grace to those around me because I can only begin to imagine how much Jesus loves them too. 

So after the fear of raising daughters subsided, joy and excitement took it's place.  I then realized that Audrey and I have the opportunity to raise daughters that will be the extenders of Grace to all they come in contact with.  We have a chance to teach them to love others well when the world may not.  We have been tasked to share with them the truth about who Jesus is and that He gave His life for us so that we may know how much He adores us.  Then we get to share with them that in response to this magnificent love, we get to let the world know that this love is available for them too.  We want to send them out grace-fully.  All of the sudden I saw the above picture as a sweet opportunity rather than a daunting task. 

Perspective didn't end there.  The following week, we had registration for our GO Sports Academies for the first semester of 2015.  We asked kids to come to the church to sign up and give our GO Sports Staff the chance to look them in their eyes and commit to be mentors and role models in their daily lives.  After 255 boys between the ages of 8-18 signed up to be a part of our academy, perspective struck again...we have the same opportunity to raise these boys up to be extenders of that same grace and truth!  255 BOYS!!!  All of the sudden raising two little girls seemed like a piece of cake.

Please pray for us as we have an incredible opportunity right under our nose.  Our GO Sports coaches need your prayers and so do the little hearts and minds of the kids we will be working with this year.  May we all experience the grace of Jesus Christ and then know what to do with this overwhelming gift.