Pulled From Psalm 34….

O taste and see that the Lord is good…..
I sought the Lord and He answered me;
He delivered me from all my fears….
The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
and His ears are attentive to their cry…
The Lord hears them.
He delivers them from all their troubles.

I’m not a very good cook. It’s not my gift….but there are times I try. For Thanksgiving in Haiti I wanted to make my mom’s special macaroni casserole and my sister’s famous apple tarts! Some of the ingredients themselves aren’t very tasty. I realized quickly that heavy cream and milk aren’t the same thing…..yikes. Don’t pour it on your cereal! And the tart mixture without the apple…..yeah – it will make your eyes water.

But when it’s mixed together – in just the right amounts – cooked at the right temperature – at the length of time required – it can be a TASTE EXPLOSION! A party in your mouth….if you will.

Isn’t that the way it is…..the experiences….the journey of our lives? Some of the things that have happened this year are really hard to swallow. It’s so bitter. There are times where my eyes can’t help but water…..

And then……what normally happens?

In times of famine – we forget all about the feasts we attended.

In times of deep sorrow….can’t breathe kind of sorrow….can’t remember who you are kind of sorrow – we forget about the many joys of this life that we have.

When we are sick we forget about all the days of great health.

When we drown in finances – we forget about the times of prosperity.

But what God is showing me – as painful as it may be ….it’s the blending of the bitter and the sweet that makes the taste so good.

People come to Haiti all the time – seeing what they don’t have here makes them appreciate what they do have back home.

How can you appreciate ice until you’re in 100 degree weather and all you have is warm water?

How can you appreciate that comfortable bed until you sleep on our cots?

How can you appreciate a great night of sleep unless you’re woken at 4am with donkeys, chickens, and dogs chatting away?

How can you appreciate rest – without having known weariness?

How can we appreciate the light if we’ve never walked alone in the dark?

It’s the merging of the two – that makes it possible to be sympathetic & helpful to others…..we’ve been there…..we’ve experienced that….we can relate. We really do understand. We can reach out and console.

This year has been full of tears but man when we first moved to the Mole – it was so full of hope & dreams & the purest of joys knowing we were right where God wanted us.

We can still find comfort knowing God didn’t move us for nothing. He didn’t call us here to fail…..BUT – He may have called for us to experience some humility, sorrow, frustration, weariness, & darkness. If only to show that He can restore it & use it to advance His kingdom.

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When teams aren’t here we are having dinner together as a family in our house instead of in the cafeteria. We have this “Dinner Talk Box” where each one of us picks a question from the box and has to answer it. With this many at the table…it makes for lots of questions & talk time! 🙂

My daughter Malaya 10 years old – pulled this question this week….

• Think of a time life didn’t work out how you expected. How did you respond? 

Malaya: When the boat sank and everyone on campus was crying. We thought we were going to unload it this week but instead we don’t have anything.

Me: So how did you respond?

Malaya: Well first I cried. Then I was really sad. But then I decided I wanted to help and started writing thank you notes to everyone who is helping us.

Mikela (12 years old): Yeah we responded with tears but the world responded with love.

Without the sorrow – without the tears – we wouldn’t know just how much all of you love us. We wouldn’t know how many people out there are thinking about us – praying for us – embracing us – holding us – sacrificing for us – humbling & honoring us.

Without the bitter……we wouldn’t see this sweetness that has surrounded our family.

It’s the blending……He’s stirring….He’s mixing…..He’s pouring in just the right amounts – and He’s winded the timer to know how long it has to last. AND I know when He’s done – the taste will be unbelievable!

STORYTELLER……

On a Sunday evening I’m
looking back over all the years
and where I’ve been
Looking at old photographs
I’m remember
you were right there,
and you have been ever since
With every page that turns
I see your faithfulness

Oh the mountain where I climbed
The valley where I fell
You were there all along
That’s the story I’ll tell
You brought the pieces together
Made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well
That’s the story I’ll tell

There were some nights that felt like
They would last forever
But you kept me breathing
You were with me right then

And all that you have done for me
I could never hold it in
So here’s to me telling this story
Over and over again

Oh the mountain where I climbed
The valley where I fell
You were there all along
That’s the story I’ll tell
You brought the pieces together
Made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That’s the story I’ll tell

You hold the broken
You hear my every cry, every cry
My eyes are open
I know that it is well, it is well

Oh the mountain where I climbed
The valley where I fell
You were there all along
That’s the story I’ll tell
You brought the pieces together
Made me this storyteller

Now I know it is well, it is well

That’s the story I’ll tell
For years and years and years I’ll tell
That’s the story I’ll tell