Know your hand

I wish I remembered the name of the guy who made this print. I bought it the other week at Tellus 360, a very cool little (actually pretty big, it just keeps going and going) shop on King st owned by an Irish guy. It has all kinds of fun stuff, big and little, and there's a gallery in the back. They were hosting a show where Leticia Kreider and Joy Ike were playing (both awesome artists you should probably check out) and Joe and I got there early so we were looking around and I saw this hand on the wall. Okay I always want to buy something when I see the art hanging up in galleries and stuff but its like, yea not going to happen, very expensive. But this was only 15 dollars! I can do that! I got a little excited because it at first reminded me of the hand I described in my last post, the one we made at Passion to represent asking God for freedom for slaves. So I went and asked the lady and she said that the artist was actually here so I could pay him and everything. So I went down to the counter and told him I wanted to buy his hand and he was al friendly and we talked a little bit, I explained why I liked it and thanked him for making it affordable. Then he told me what he had in mind when he made it (awesome!)... 
He said something like, "Its called know your hand because I was thinking, sometimes  we get so wrapped up in life and where were going and what we want to do and we don't take time to look at what is in front of us all the time. Like if you saw two hands in front of each other would you really know which one is yours? but its been there all your life! I just think sometimes we need to stop and see what we have and can use right now, today, with what's in front of us." 
I could have cried haha. I guess its so simple and stuff but just like SO what I needed to hear, and have been hearing but forgetting as soon as I hear it you, know what I mean? Like yea, I know, be here, be now, use what you have, stop trying to get somewhere else. I hear it and then instantly forget it and remain in my discontentment and desire to be where I was or will be one day. But this was such a gift, It was like God saying, in a language I can SO understand, hey Rach, really I mean it, be here, 
look at what you have and use it, for real...


There are some people who I really respect and look up to because of the life they are living for the Lord. I keep them in my personal faith hall of fame and remember them as the ones who love God and are loving others in a huge practical way, and they are giving their lives to do it. I long to be there, in some place of impact, fully alive in serving in the place and way God created me to do. But lately I've been seeing that in all these people, its not the great thing that they are doing (like moving to China to work with unreached muslim people, or moving to uganda to care for orphans, or adopting a kid, or just entering the freedom for slaves movement, or teaching a ton of people...etc) that makes them so great, its just that they are living every bit of their lives here and now for the glory of God and that has led them into these great places. Recently I was talking to one of these heroes of mine about doing less "significant" things or just less things in general but doing what you do with your whole heart. God revealed this to me in that conversation...
Its really hard to do fewer or "smaller" things; I think because when there's a lot to work on it gives a false feeling of accomplishment or progress or something. Kind of like doing push ups really fast so you get a lot in but your muscles don't have to work as hard. So then when we cut back and all of a sudden have a lot of time for a few things, we are responsible to use it to do those things thoroughly and really commit them to him. Which takes a lot of self discipline and his grace and strength. But I see that God knows best, and he knows that even though its harder, if we invest all that freed up time and energy into really seeking him and pleasing him in those small things we will get to experience his joy in it and get to relate with him in it. Which will renew and refresh us for the "greater" and more works ahead. I like the sound of this now  I was just reading somewhere "spiritual power is the outflow of communion with God." and where better to find out which are the specific things he thinks are significant than in communion with him, which takes time. Like 3-4 hours of the day not being allowed to do anything but pray, those were hard days! it was not particularly comfortable or fun during those two weeks for me haha but I'm soo thankful for it! and I'm still reaping the benefits of that time and i wasn't even the one we were praying for! I sometimes so badly just want to go back to having a full day of laid out productivity for me like at the base or I want so badly to just skip to the future and be in the fullness of where I will be someday fulfilling a purpose. but to stop and really live these days out fully for him and with him, I think that is the narrow way that few find. 



Along those lines...

So WOW Ive been reading this book! I absolutely love it!! Its about this girl who just goes to Uganda and stays there and adopts kids and just does everything she can to help everyone she meets, one child at a time. And she's only 19! I mean Im reading it and thinking, I was in Uganda the same exact time she was when she first went. Normally it feels like these people who do these amazing things are so far from my life and I think we try to remind ourselves they are just humans too, but normally end up feeling pretty different and like what they do is a little unattainable. But this girl seems so close to me! And so similar to people in my life. Like it may as well be Ashley who went over and taught for a semester in Uganda, and had a boda driver and talked about her trip to school everyday and stuff.

So here is just another girl who didn't graduate high school that long ago, who didn't go to training or go to college or have any idea what she was getting herself into, she just was moved by God's heart towards the people she met and fell in love with them.

But yea, its not even this big crazy move to Uganda and adopt children thing that gets me..its her heart. It is just so surrendered to God. Everyday she just chooses to get up and die to the comforts she could have, the "secure" american future she left behind, the boyfriend she left behind, the clean water and lifestyle and food she could have...and God gives her life, life, His life! She experiences so much joy with these kids, she is filled with Gods heart and that is so much greater than anything she left behind. 

Im tempted to feel that same way while reading, "Man I am doing nothing I need to get up and go somewhere, change the world, etc etc"  but instead God keeps showing me, its not just what she is doing that I love and am so pleased with and honor. Its her heart, its that simple "to live is Christ and to die is gain" attitude you feel when you read about her. And as you walk in that right here, right now, with what you have in front of you, I will lead you into my life and the works I have prepared in advance for you to do. 
And so, like God gave me to share with our small group on Sunday, and like Matt shared again with me the other night (it seems I need to hear things multiple times these days) and like I know God is speaking to me. I leave you with:

"And WHATEVER you do in word or in deed, do ALL in the name of Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him...And WHATEVER you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." Colossians 3