Psalm 40

I waited patiently for the LORD;

   he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction,
   out of the miry bog,
and set my feet upon a rock,
   making my steps secure.
 He put a new song in my mouth,
   a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear,
   and put their trust in the LORD.

Blessed is the man who makes
   the LORD his trust,
who does not turn to the proud,
   to those who go astray after a lie!
You have multiplied, O LORD my God,
   your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;
   none can compare with you!
I will proclaim and tell of them,
   yet they are more than can be told.

In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,
   but you have given me an open ear.
Burnt offering and sin offering
   you have not required.
Then I said, "Behold, I have come;
   in the scroll of the book it is written of me:

I delight to do your will, O my God;
   your law is within my heart."

I have told the glad news of deliverance
   in the great congregation;
behold, I have not restrained my lips,
   as you know, O LORD.
I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;
   I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;
I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness
   from the great congregation.

 As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain
   your mercy from me;
your steadfast love and your faithfulness will
   ever preserve me!
For evils have encompassed me
   beyond number;
my iniquities have overtaken me,
   and I cannot see;
they are more than the hairs of my head;
   my heart fails me.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me!
   O LORD, make haste to help me!
Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether
   who seek to snatch away my life;
let those be turned back and brought to dishonor
   who delight in my hurt!
Let those be appalled because of their shame
   who say to me, "Aha, Aha!"

But may all who seek you
   rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who love your salvation
   say continually, "Great is the LORD!"
As for me, I am poor and needy,
   but the Lord takes thought for me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
   do not delay, O my God!

-Psalm 40, emphasis mine

Run for Africa

I am pleased to announce that I will be participating in a Run for Africa 5K in July! I am stoked! I love to run, but it's so much more fun when the proceeds go toward something a little more valuable than the local rotary club. ;)

I've always wanted to visit Africa, and I have a connection with Africa through my Compassion daughter, Ester, who lives in Rwanda. We keep in touch via snail mail, and I love receiving her letters! (Check out the link above. Compassion International is an awesome organization!)

My friends, Allie and Jeremy, have a strong connection with the country of Rwanda. They are in the process of adopting a little girl from Rwanda. I am so excited for them and can't wait to meet their daughter. I know they're waiting even more expectantly, and this process seems to be taking forever! Yes, God's timing is perfect, but I know they long to see the face of their daughter and hold her in their arms.

I have decided to run this race in honor of their daughter and my "daughter," both of whom still live on Rwandan soil and breathe Rwandan air.

My goal for the July 5K is 23 minutes.

Somehow, in my mind, running this race faster means Allie and Jeremy's daughter will arrive sooner. Now I know that's not necessarily the case but, nonetheless, it is my prayer that she will be home soon.

I'll be proudly wearing my Rwanda Hope Bracelet the day of the race.

If you'll be around, feel free to come cheer me on. (Just ask me for details!) Wherever you are today or will be race day, please pray for Allie, Jeremy, and their daughter. Please pray for Ester and the many children in Africa who may be orphaned or in desperate situations. May God's Light give them Hope, and may our kindness be a reflection of His Grace.

Two.

Today is an important day.

It marks two years of
learning
growing
pursuing God in new ways
seeking to understand Love the way God describes it
talking
listening
understanding viewpoints
expressing opinions
grappling with Grace
relying on God's direction
trusting God's sovereignty
discovering new things about people and the world
appreciating differences
revealing my true self
gaining a true and loyal friend
being blown away daily by His Grace that he extends.

So many memories and conversations are wrapped up in this day.
I am blessed.

Tyler, thank you for sharing all of this with me.