grateful for His Love

Ellie Holcomb recently released an amazing EP of her solo music. Her music is beautiful in the way it declares truth and hope about our Lord. Her voice has kept me company in some tough times here and reminded me of the faithfulness of God. Download her EP (I highly recommend it!!) Below is the lyrics to one of her songs that reminds me we have so much to be thankful for-We have a God that LOVES us!

Grateful For Your Love

Love is an ocean

Hope is a promise

Light is overtaking

Grace is overwhelming

CHORUS

You chased us into the dark and Lord we’re grateful, Oh we’re grateful

You captured our hearts with Your love Oh Lord You’re faithful, You are faithful

And nothing that we’ve ever done was too much for You to handle on the cross

We’re grateful for Your love

Weight is lifted

Mercy tore the curtain

Sin is no master

Freedom calls our name

CHORUS

Life is granted

Chains are broken

Colossians 2:6-7 Therefore as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith, just as you were instructed, and overflowing with gratitude.

I am learning so much through experience and through scripture about the hope and comfort of Jesus Christ when faced with tough times. In the past several weeks my teammates have each gotten a random illness or medical issue and I have fortunately not (yet!). The physical discomfort and pain has created bigger challenges in their day-to-day living and for doing ministry fully. I realized that my ailment has not been physical, but I have been faced with homesickness more so than any of my teammates. It is such a challenge for me to be thankful in these times of missing home. Sometimes I wish I could close my eyes and time warp back to Houston. God is teaching me to open my eyes and see Him for who He fully is and to be thankful for where I am.

I should be thankful because His Love is grand for me, no matter where or with who I reside. I want to master the art of gratitude. For I know that if gratitude is the permanent condition of my heart, I will be able to praise God for any challenge, tragedy or discomfort that comes my way in life.

Some updates from the week....

Early Saturday morning I went to the weekly "ferria", or fresh market in my neighborhood. It was so fun to be part of the local culture here and purchase fresh fruits and veggies from the local farmers!

Also, there was a carnival  Saturday at the high school, CDS, we do YL and WL with. Below are a couple pics from the soccer game they had during the carnival: high school guys V-squad vs men faculty...students won!

This weekend I also saw my first Costa Rican film at the movies...in Spanish! And ate my favorite treat (fro-yo!) at the mall. So thankful for the delicacy of fro-yo here! Next week is my last week of Spanish class and I will give my first YL talk here. I'm thankful for your prayers in all this!

~N