Somewhere out there...

Do you remember that song from the movie "An American Tail"? I started hearing it in my head last night--"Somewhere out there beneath the pale moonlight, someone's thinking of me and loving me tonight..." (Here's a link to a YouTube clip of it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkI-B2JWSZI&feature=related ) Well, it just got me. You see Rebecca is now out in Missouri at a Kanakuk camp adventure--and I could just imagine her and Alexandra singing that to each other--or me singing it to the two of them. All of us singing to our missionaries in Nicaragua...our Abba singing over us. "...He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

It reminded me that when we are in Christ we are never really separated from one another or more importantly from Him. Take a Sabbath rest today, dear friends--rejoice, worship, praise Him, rest in Him, trust in Him...

I can only imagine...

I read their blog this morning--I couldn't wait to read about their first full day on the ground. I laugh, I catch my breath as I picture all these kids--big boys, little gals all sweating and serving and then I hear MercyMe on KLove. "I can only imagine...What it will be like..." You know the song--and again I catch my breath and I think of when His followers asked Jesus if He would teach them to pray and His answer is what we call The Lord's Prayer. "Your Kingdom come...on earth as it is in Heaven..." They, our children, His children, are bringing His Kingdom to life--on earth--Nicaragua--as it is in Heaven! And then I read somewhere as a part of a devotional these verses from Isaiah...

¹⁰ and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.
¹¹ The Lord will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.(Isaiah 58:10-11 TNIV)

And I catch my breath yet again...

She is about her Father's business...

Well, the 80 students and their 20 leaders are in various travel states as I write. The 1st group is already on the ground in Nicaragua, 2nd group on the way to Miami, and the 3rd group, Alexandra's group is enroute to San Salvador where they will have a short layover and then head to Managua.

As I was spending time with the Lord this morning, I felt Him saying to me, "I love these children, Claire--far, far more than you can even imagine. I will love them well as they serve me and are served by my precious Nicaraguan children. Their sacrifices of time will bring Me glory. You must rest and trust in me now and always. Know that I am sovereign--I have glorious plans for these missionaries--rejoice for them--with them. Regardless of the circumstances--seek to glorify Me, praise and worship Me--TRUST Me!"

And then a bit later, the phrase "She is about her Father's business" came to me--I was reminded of when Jesus was 12 and was taken to the Temple by his parents. Returning home they realize he (Jesus) is not with them--"I thought he was with you"  "Oh, well, I thought he was with YOU!" Can't you just hear Joseph and Mary? When they find him, Jesus is sitting among the teachers--listening, asking questions. His response to his worried parents (can you only imagine their fear? Maybe you've been there, maybe you're feeling a little worried right now for our missionaries)--he says to them, "Did you not see and know that it is necessary [as a duty] for Me to be in My Father's house and [occupied] about My Father's business?" Luke 2:49 (amplified version)

I can't stop saying it, thinking it "Alexandra is about her Father's business"! They all are--our children are on a great adventure and they are about our Heavenly Father's business! And just what, exactly, is that business? Loving others, feeding His sheep, "whatever you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. " Matthew 25:40 It is exactly what they will be doing for the next 10 days in Nicaragua--how can we not rejoice for them, with them?! How can we join them--what are we doing to be about our Father's business today?

She is so excited...

Almost a year has passed since I last wrote in this blog. But with each passing day, as time has flown by, Alexandra has gotten more and more excited about returning to Nicaragua. And now we are down to the last few days before they leave. They had their final meeting tonight--the 80 students and 20 leaders brought in all their donated clothing to pack up to bring. They prayed, they reminded, they reflected.

I pray for their last couple of days of school, for many's graduation ceremony on Saturday, for comfort as they grieve the drowning death of a classmate on Memorial Day. Much has happened in this year since they left Nicaragua behind; I pray that the joy and contentment they saw in the people there will capture their hearts again, draw them closer to their God. And as we wait for them to leave, wait for them to return--may our hearts be open to God's lessons for us...