Welcome to "Through a Glass Darkly" - my blog about my service trip to Malawi, Africa.

I left Canada on December 30th for Blantyre, Malawi, AFRICA. I worked with Friends of Malawi Fellowship (FOMF), the organization headed by my aunt Phyllis Labrentz. I taught English language and literature, helping secondary high school students learn to read and write English well enough to pass the government exams.
During that time I was also kept busy teaching guitar, singing, and assisting my aunt.
I left Malawi on July 19th and returned to Canada on July 20th.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

NEW JOURNAL

I began a new journal yesterday. I decided to start it with a review of the one I had just finished filling with the last 6 months of my life. Here are the highlights.

 KEY VERSE
For my light, momentary affliction
(this slight distress of the passing hour)
is ever more and more abundantly preparing
and producing and achieving for me
an everlasting weight of glory (beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all expectations,
comparisons, and calculations,
a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness
never to cease!)--
Since I consider and look not
to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen;
for the things that are visible are temporal
(brief and fleeting), but the things that are invisible
are dealthless and everlasting.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Sept/11-Mar/12 Review

A. Events
  1. Major life changes: job, mission
  2. Miracle of the resurrected printer: I killed it--but it WORKS!
  3. Grandbaby #4 is on the way <3
  4. I named my first little godson: Joseph Kandengenda <3
 
B. Life Learnings
  1.  I am more positive than I used to be--far more. The  abundance of Scripture in my journalling is a key. 
  2. God will not allow others to give me the comfort that I should be asking from HIM.
  3. I need to enjoy the journey. Live in the now, not the later. I need to be happy, smile, and not waste today. I need to be satisfied TODAY.
  4. If the "spy ratio"  (Israelites' report after investigating the promised land) holds true for modern-day followers of God, then it's 10 to 2 for unbelief. THAT'S why so much evil goes unchecked, and not enough good is done. Oh, for Christians to turn the belief ratio from 20% to 80% and WALK in their faith! This world would be a different place. Malawi would be a different country.
  5. FATIGUE IS MY ENEMY.
  6. I need to learn to REFUSE to let Satan's attacks upset
    7. me. I have to remember to immediately ask God for help: after all, this too shall pass.
  7. Commitment over comfort. I made a promise (so deal
    8. with it, as they say).
  8. I am learning how to get through trials with a good
    9. attitude (constancy of emotion). It is a work in progress.
  9. I will get better at praying pre-emptively re: my weak
    10. spots. I am not unaware of the enemy's attacks--he knows my weaknesses at least as well as I.
  10. I will sow mercy generously, so I can reap a harvest of
    11. mercy (in the future) when I really need it.
  11. I am determined to learn a better response to rejection:  SHAKE IT OFF & MOVE ON.
  12. I am bearing my cross (the one we are all called to bear) of an unselfish life.

Who knew there would be such a steep learning curve?
 
 
 
What has God being doing in your life in the last 6 months?
Let's share the journey.
 

1 comment:

  1. Richie17 March 2012 at 14:24

    love this Inez.. awesome!!

    I found out the other day why I am studying love- for a year!

    I have been crying out to God- in earnest for a bout a year-- and I was getting discouraged. I just wanted his day to day presence to be greater in my life.. to experience the 'full measure' of God.

    I did the fasting and prayer, the consistent intensive prayer and bible study-- and yes- there were incredible breakthroughs for others in my life-- cool to see God move in my friends and family... I just wanted more personally.

    So the reason I got was.. that I would be rooted and established in love--- so that-- I might exsperience the full measure of God! Isn't that awesome!


    Ephesians 3:16-21

    Amplified Bible (AMP)

    16May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
    17May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,

    18That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];

    19[That you may really come] to know [practically, [a]through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses [b]mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] [c]unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and [d]become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!

    20Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

    21To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it).

    So now the tough stuff.. To be obedient and pray it into existance! I know that Jesus was moved with COMPASSION AND healed them ALL.. it was his love.. I think I have a lot to learn.. but oh how I want my later years to be every increasing fruitful-- 100 fold.. fruit that remains!

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