His Quiet Glory Revealed

She listens to her Karamojong audio New Testament every second of the day. She has it sitting next to her as she washes clothes. She carries it as she walks within Masese. Her neighbors know it will only be off when the power dies and she has to let it sit in the sun for a few hours to recharge. Every time I come it is either sitting in her lap or on the ground near her.

When I asked her why she listens to it all the time she said, "Because I want to talk about God." Her every waking moment is filled with Scripture. Her sweet one-year old daughter hears the Word even before she can speak. Her neighbors have no choice but to listen. The word of God is living and active!

Agan as she listens to Matthew in Karamojong

In the midst of the hard times, it's easy to lose sight of the small blessings that God has given us. I'm passing through a difficult season right now, but God is so good to remind me of where He's been faithful and how He's working in small ways at the moment.

There are days when I'm frustrated with the sin and darkness that surrounds and want so badly for God to display His glory and to be known. I pray for a revival within our community and am heartbroken when I see more darkness.

Even Ugandans like to go sledding!

Isn't that what the Jews were waiting for too though? They wanted a King who would display His glory and power throughout the land in a very visible way. But they got a Servant who chose to display His glory quietly in meekness. I want God to shake this community and make the darkness flee, but instead He's choosing to reveal Himself one by one, slowly and personally to those who would seek Him.

To be honest, the human nature in me gets rather frustrated with His method at times! I want something big, when He wants something quiet and pure. I want transformation of the community, when He's focused on transformation of the heart.  His glory is often revealed slowly and quietly.

"And He said, "Go out and stand on the mount before the LORD." And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind tore the mountains and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire the sound of a low whisper." (1 Kings 19:11-12)

There are those who seek Him; those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. I'm not leading crusades with large groups of people, but I'm seeing more of His heart as I sit and pray with a friend who is struggling to understand the hardships of the day. I'm seeing His Kingdom as we sit and pray for those who have betrayed us in Karamojong, English and Swahili. What a picture of heaven!

Michael and Ivan making clay people to play with

"Are you ready, girl? This is when love gets painful." These were the words of a seasoned missionary here who has been encouraging me as I walk through a difficult situation in Masese. It's hard to love those who blatantly sin with no sign of conviction or repentance. There have been people who have deceived me, character that has proved ungodly, and trust that has been broken within close relationships. We deal with the messy, everyday situations where lives of children are at stake, justice is denied, and eternal souls are overlooked. There are days when I'm spent and things seem too difficult for me to handle one more phone call with impending bad news on the other end. But it's in these moments when God reminds me that I don't work out of my own strength. It's now when God shows me that He alone is my strength to love, to serve, to give. 

“The most important aspect of love is not in giving or the receiving: it's in the being. When I need love from others, or need to give love to others, I'm caught in an unstable situation. Being in love, rather than giving or taking love, is the only thing that provides stability. Being in love means seeing the Beloved all around me.” -- Ram Dass. This quote has been on my mind lately as I feel as though I can't or don't want to love. However, it's the love of God and the love for God that moves us to let Him work in and through us. It's a choice to allow God to show His patience, kindness, truthfulness, hopefulness, and endurance (1 Corinthians 13:4-7). My love will fail if it's based on conditions and stipulations, but His love never ends.

Would you please pray?

• That God's glory, however He chooses to reveal it, would be seen quietly in Masese
• That I would be able to stand on His strength alone 
• That hearts would be softened, conviction felt, and repentance ahead for dear friends 
• That God would teach me how to love as He love 
• That I would be reminded of His blessings and faithfulness throughout the day