How are you?

What a concept eh?  How many times have you heard some form of “how are you?”  It’s usually how we greet one another… for me it can carry the stigma of ‘do they really want to know or are they just being polite?’ Do I give the easy concise response or attempt to share…

“I’m bad… but good… but not great… but actually I’m generally happy… actually ask me again in 15 minutes and lets see where I’m at then!”  Some days it can feel like a teeter totter, ups and downs and occasionally you find the ‘sweet spot’ of being perfectly balanced in the middle.

Ah the joy of having feelings! Am I right?

When I sat down to figure out what to share in this update three words came to mind: 

- Faithfulness

- Social

- Opportunities

“...then Jacob awoke from his sleep & said, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I wasn’t even aware of it.” - Genesis 28:16

This passage has been on my heart for a few weeks now and the other day I went in and read the whole chapter and was like “oh wait, that’s not originally the vibe I presumed’  I thought it was going to be something romanticized about how much God loves us and how He’s always around *cue cheesy Christian music, add a glossy soft light shining down from heaven.  Then, today I was processing it again and realized that this chapter relates to the words that came to mind when I pondered on what to write for this month’s update!

Faithfulness – For those of you not familiar with bible stuff, Jacob is kind of a deviant – actually lets just call it what it is he’s a sneaky sneak who is, on the whole, not a super great guy – he stole from his brother, tricked his dad, has mommy issues and honestly probably didn’t even have a great beard (his brother Esau was the hairy one, Jacob was like your dainty, soft hands, not the one you want helping you carry the couch – to go in for a second Friends reference he was the Chandler when they had to carry Ross’ new couch).  AND YET, even though Jacob deserves literally nothing God still is going to give Jacob the land he was promised, he’s still going to be with him… he’s STILL going to use Jacob’s family line to bless the entire world! What?!? God are you serious?? This guy?? And yet God says “all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.  What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go…I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.” (v14-15).  Jacob deserves nothing, he’s broken quite a few commandments, who knows if he’s even repented yet and still God isn’t throwing him back…He remains faithful, even when Jacob isn’t.

Social – What a weird word to have come at you right? Wrong!  One of the things that I have found to be both refreshing and stressful is the amount of alone time with Kayla this pandemic has cultivated.  She’s great don’t get me wrong, but also… she’s not that great haha! I am quite a social lady and the lack of physical visiting has definitely brought on a variety of emotions.  Yet, in all of it i have God reminding me that He’s around and that He will not leave, no matter how many times I fail on the simplest of things. “I am with you” (v15).  Even though I don’t get to be as social as I would like, I am not alone.

Opportunities – There are so many great opportunities that have been coming out of this season, I have been able to continue to learn how to rest, reconnect with people (local and abroad).  I have been able to work through times of anxiety, panic and stress, learning to literally ask myself “okay, where is God in this?” confront my fears and practice giving them to God then trusting He will take care of it - easier said than done, but poco a poco :)  Aside from my personal spiritual journey I have been invited into the journies of many others,  with the restrictions and lock downs, not being able to go out I have gotten to know my neighbours on a deeper level,  I am taking advantage of a ton of online courses and resources and putting a lot of the new knowledge straight to use!

 

So I'm reading through these passages, making connections, judging Jacob…because obviously I would never behave so heinously, until it dawns on me… “hmm…I think…I am…Jacob…... Kaycob!"  What a disappointing and sobering punch to the gut; I've lied, I've sneaked, I can’t grow a sweet beard…

How embarrassing!   

So, what’s the take away, what can you add to your bank of knowledge and reflect on when times are tougher?  Well, we are deeply loved by God, we don’t deserve it!  Yet, He loves and wants us, He is faithful.  He wants to spend time and be social with us and He is constantly giving us opportunities to participate in what He’s doing.  If you beleive and trust those things, what would it look like in your day to day?

 

Praise:

• opportunities for training and study.
• I’m very grateful for good friends and easy conversation

Prayer:

• One  of the pastors that I work with (Pastor M) just let me know that his whole family has been experiencing Covid symptoms, thankfully the family seems to be doing well and now he is the only one with heavier symptoms – pray for healing for him and his family, and continued support.  He runs a church in a low income area and since the pandemic started has been organizes and giving out food to families in need.
• Thank you for your prayers, I pray that this week your hearts with find rest and you will be able to find joy in your day to day.