O My Soul

Bless the Lord, O my soul
Worship His holy name,
Sing like never before, O my soul!
Worship His holy name.

The two huckleberry-eyed kids were in the backseat again, and it felt right.
My heart was full: they're back.

But the oldest sat frustrated and depressed next to his sister.
The music kept playing. The chorus started.

Bless the Lord, O my soul
Worship His holy name

He looked at the ground, still upset, and his low voice sang.

Sing like never before, O my soul!
Worship His holy name 
 
His little sister looked at him and at me, watching our mouths, her words delayed and mimicking the ones we sang. He looked at me in the mirror, no smile, his voice still singing. The Lord understands far more, far greater.

The Lord hears his children glorifying Himself, even when we can't smile - and the kids know it.

Bless the Lord, O my soul.

Heavenly Fellowship

Summer 2016 is officially over on the Rez. 

After my second full summer in Yakima, I have begun to realize how often I say “I miss you!” to so many people. I miss friends and family in Seattle, I miss the wonderful group that we went through Missionary Training with in Colorado, I miss teams and interns that I have met each summer and bonded with, and I miss kids from the Rez that I haven’t seen for a while or that have moved away.

Specifically, saying “see ya” to the intern team of Summer 2016 was very difficult. I’ve bonded with the 20 interns that were here from the end of May until this morning, and it hurts to think that we may not all see each other in the same room again.

Before moving to the Rez, I never really experienced that longing of missing someone. All of my friends and family were within a small radius in Seattle. It’s been really hard to stretch my heart to so many people and places these past two years.

However, the Lord has been reminding me that our time on Earth is only a glimpse of our eternal lives. As believers in Jesus Christ, we have the comfort of knowing that we will all be together one day in the most glorious kingdom above. 

It hurts to say “See ya later!” and “I miss you!” but we’ll only be saying that for a time.

John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?

Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.

Acts 4:12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.