Skip to main content

Saying Good-byes...

Last night with our 11 summer interns
...saying good-bye can be a mixture of emotions that can make life messy.  But saying good-byes I have learned since childhood is very important in order to bring closure.  Not saying a good-bye can make saying hello even harder.

It is hard to believe that another group of summer interns have come and gone in my three summers of living here in the Dominican Republic.  These 11 young people have had such a passion for serving and obeying our Lord that they came to the Dominican Republic to do just that...obey and serve.  I have enjoyed getting to know them and to hear their hearts and how God has been using them, changing them, transforming their own lives, and being a light to the kids and our staff and our missionaries.

God had me share a passage of Scripture that I have meditated on since I was at Cherry Run Camp last summer through a message by Pastor Stan Key.  God is good through Exodus 15:22-27.  God leading the Hebrew people to the Desert of Shur and bringing them to the waters of Marah.  The intentionality of God leading his people through a desert without water for three days, yet when they arrive to the waters of Marah, the Hebrew people are mumbling and grumbling because they are thirsty, probably hungry, and the water of Marah is bitter.  How God intentionally leads us through deserts to test us, are we willing to be faithful, trusting in God and obedient to him???  Sometimes it is God taking us away from all the distractions of this world and life to be with God, in his presence, to hear his voice.  When I grumble and mumble not only do I have a physical need of quenching my thirst and hunger but also a spiritual need to quench my thirst and hunger for God's Word and being in His presence.  Moses cried out to God for help and God answered by showing Moses a piece of wood to throw into the water.  The wood turned the bitter water sweet.  When we taste of only the world it tastes bitter or leaves a bitter taste in our mouths.  But when we taste the Lord, He is good.  He is sweet.  Since we have tasted of the Lord and know that He is good are we craving Him - pure spiritual milk (2 Peter 2:1-3)?  If you have ever craved from something and when you ate it.  Did it bring you pleasure, joy?  Or unfulfillment and dissatisfaction?  At the end of the Exodus passage, Moses leads the Hebrew people to Elim, and oasis with 12 springs of water and seven palm trees.  A place of beauty, refreshment, and blessing.

God wants us to taste Him and know that He is good (Ps. 34:8).  God wants us to crave pure spiritual milk (2 Pet. 2:1-3).  What desert is God leading you into in order to test you?  Are you grumbling and mumbling and complaining?  Or are you being refreshed and restored?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

October Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER The Saga Continues… The trip to Malaysia consisted of a two-day spiritual retreat with the theme of ‘Come Away With Me’ and a six-day conference with about 230 missionaries who serve in some aspect of translating the Scriptures. One of the many people who I met was a missionary who served in Cameroon for many years and now is in a new role. As he was sharing, most his words were very negative and depressive. I encouraged him to sign up for a time of prayer and care. At the end of the retreat, this missionary shared with me that he did have a session and I could see that his whole countenance changed, and he was hopeful. His new word he used to describe where he was now is ‘delightful.’ Our time there was creating a safe space for these missionaries to have a place to share what they are struggling with and to connect with Jesus. One missionary is at a crossroads in her life. Another finds himself in the midst of betrayal. A missionary is in a new role as a caregi...
Post a Comment
Read more

August Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER Camp News! Cherry Run Camp is my green pasture and quiet waters where the Lord continuously restores my soul.  This camp was even more special as I was invited to be the missionary in residence for the nine days of camp. Sharing with all age groups about missions and how as believers and followers of Christ we are all called to go and make disciples by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ. It was a week that was fulfilling to be with my family and the family of God as we fellowshipped one with another. As missionaries, we first need to make connections and build relationships with people before sharing the Good News. The youth were given the mission to level up: 1) make connection by introducing themselves to people and making them feel welcomed; 2) ask the person what they need prayer for; 3) the youth to pray with the person on the spot; 4) the youth to share their testimony; and 5) the person is asked to share their testimony.  The yo...
Post a Comment
Read more

September Newsletter

  SHANNON’S CORNER I will be joining my team with Refresh & Resound International as we will be in Penang, Malaysia.  Some of the team will be doing worship and the rest of us will be providing care and prayer for the spiritual leaders’ retreat and conference for around 220 global workers who work in translating the Scriptures in SE Asia.  Please be in prayer for my team as well as for everyone at these events.  I will share with you more next month so stay tuned. I have so enjoyed the slower pace this month and the opportunity to finish all of my nursing continuing education classes as well as some life coaching continuing education.  The slower pace has also given me time to be able to pause and reflect on this past summer and check-in with myself.  There have been some things that surfaced to the top of some transition losses that I needed to acknowledge, process, and grieve them.  God gently reminding me that I am still in the season of re-entr...
Post a Comment
Read more