Let Your Light Shine...

It was a glorious thing last week, watching the light posts FINALLY being installed on the orphanage property after waiting for such a long time.  I’m not going to lie, the waiting process was killing me and I was about to lose heart...this is NEVER going to happen!  Well, thankfully, the Lord, who is always patient, helped lift me out of that rut, and reminded me of His goodness and faithfulness these past 9 months. “I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13).

The Mennonites have almost finished their part of the electrical work, and now we are waiting for CFE to come and hook things up to the main power line.  Could it be a longer wait?  Possibly, but that’s okay...because I have seen the “...goodness of the Lord, in the land of the living.” 

Last week was also special because my dad and a small team were down here from WA for my cousin's wedding.  It was so great to hangout with him, catch up and have some father/son time.  I think Ayantu was the most excited to have her "Pa" here for a week.  They spent the week full of telling funny stories, watching Jesus movies, playing at the park, trips to the store, LOTS of candy..AND...especially hugs and kisses.

This week, I have experienced yet again, something new, in Mexico...graduations.  Now, having been a youth pastor for 9 years, I don't know how many graduations I've attended.  Normally, they are long, drawn out and can tend to be boring.  Nevertheless, it is exciting to see students finish a milestone in their life...as well as listen to that one random person who always brings a giant fog horn, and lets it ring at the most awkward times!

This week, I will have experienced not one, but two graduations.  In fact, I was even able to be a part of one of them.  Let me explain...

On Thursday morning, I was reading the Word and came across this verse, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:16).

I began praying that verse...asking that my works and everything I do, might shine in such a way that it draws people to glorify the Lord.  Right then there was a knock at the door.  It was my uncle and Panchito, who is the director of the Jr. High school.  He was hoping to borrow some guitars for the graduation.  We walked over to the church to get them and I asked if he needed anything else.  He then shared that they were having a lot of problems with their sound system and didn't know what to do.  This was definitely an area I knew about and I wandered if I should ask to help.  The Lord quickly reminded me, I had just read and prayed to be used in such a way.

I ended up at the gym, working with teachers, administrators and students, to get things resolved.  I was able to bring some extra chords and equipment to the school, yesterday, to make sure the musicians, speakers, and especially, audience, could hear things clearly.  And then I found myself, sitting in the front of the gym, helping run sound for the graduation.  I know it might now seem like a big deal...or one might ask, how could running sound at a graduation, be a light and witness.  I don't fully know...BUT...we are commanded in scripture...

"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him" (Colossians 3:17).

I pray that for myself, and each of you, whether we are running sound at a graduation, taking care of our kids, teaching a bible study, leading a small group or going on a missions trip...that whatever we do, we would do with a joyful heart that wants nothing more to honor our Lord!