New Dresses!

Shout out to the churches and the women's groups in Nashville, TN that helped make and collect these dresses for the girls in the village of Busia!

Be Strong and Courageous

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous.  Don not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” –Joshua 1:9

God said it to Moses, Moses said it to Joshua, and Joshua proclaimed it to the people just before they crossed the Jordan river into the Promised Land. These words are said all through the bible.  God breathed these words before great battles and He proclaimed them before great trial.  King David even encourages his son with these words-

“Be strong and courageous, and do the work.  Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD God, my God, is with you.  He will not fail you or forsake you until all the work for the service of the temple of the LORD is finished.”

Often times we think the whole “strong and courageous” business is just for the times of great battle, triumph, or trial.  I’m starting to think a little differently now though, as we live and work and wait in this country of Uganda. Sure, there have been many times of battles and trials when we had to be STRONG  and COURAGEOUS, trusting in the LORD to fight for us- and win.  But what about those days when there are no great wars to be waged- just a basket full of laundry, a few Band-Aids on minor scrapes, and a grocery list?  What about those moments of the ordinary and mundane?  

These men and women of the bible had a lot of waiting and working to do.  In between the parted Red Sea, the Promised Land, and the finished temple there was a lot of waiting, strength, and courage.  God never stopped reminding them to be strong and courageous.  God always knows what we need and when we need it.  He knows that we need to be strong and courageous in the heat of the battle just as much as the other days.  If we flake out on the days of cooking, traffic jams, Band-Aids, emails, and laundry can we ever make it to the other days?  

I’m reminded today to be strong and courageous, not to be afraid or discouraged, but to believe without a doubt that God is powerful and strong in every moment of every season; in the waiting and working the promises are still there.  Be strong and courageous.

“Who despises the day of small things?” –Zechariah 4:10