Be Anxious for Nothing.

Mat. 6:34 "Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (ESV)


I wouldn't say I am anxious as much as I am contemplative.  I do not know what my future looks like and at time that can be disconcerting.  Now that I am back in Brazil I have to face the question of what I will do after this year.  I am committed to serving God here in Brazil until December. But what happens after that?  I know that my God will supply my every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus (Phil 4:19 emp. mine), and I know  that I need to "not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let [my] requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard [my heart] and [my mind] in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7 ESV)

I am glad that in times of distress God brings verses to mind and guides us with His wisdom, I am praying to know God's will for today and to fulfill His purpose for me daily, and to trust Him with the future.  Would you please pray with me that God's wisdom would guide me as I make decisions daily and for the future?  

The question of what my next year will look like is a big one, but the daily questions of how best to spend my time and how to fulfill the tasks he has given me is daunting to me as well.  I find myself pre-occupied with thoughts of what ifs, and how comes, and need to school my thoughts back to Him.  Do you find yourself doing the same thing?  Let's lift us each other in prayer as Christian brothers and sisters so that we can all have victory over the mind and be drawn closer to Christ.

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable,whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. (Phil 4:8 ESV)

Thanks for reading, I think I am quite contemplative today and maybe my next post will be something much lighter.  Please let me know how I can pray for you.

God bless you!  ~Joy

My Newsletters

Hello everyone!  I have not posted anything on this blog in entirely too long. I will have to begin remedying that.  First I have 2 newsletter for you.  I apparently did not post my December newsletter so here it is December Newsletter.

And my newest newsletter for January and February here - Jan/Feb Newsletter

As always please comment on them and let me know what you think.

God bless!
Joy

November Newsletter

Here is my November Newsletter.  God has been good and I have much to praise Him for.  Please read my newsletter and feel free to leave comments!

Patience!

I talked a while ago about learning lessons, and God is continually trying to teach me many things.  One thing I am trying to learn is to have patience.  I knew in coming to Brazil that it would take me a while to adjust to my surroundings and to find where I fit and how I would work best here.  I guess I was thinking that 4 months would do it because I felt very frustrated this week when I looked around and did not see the progress that I wanted.  I am not sure that I gave myself a  timeline before but I must have done so in my sub-conscience because I feel frustrated at my current situation.  I have somewhat gotten over my frustration by looking to Christ and remembering that His timeline is not my timeline and that I am much better off on His timing than my own. So I am again learning to trust and to rely on Him for the strength to get through the frustrating moments, and praise Him with joy when I see that I am fitting in and connecting here in many ways.

One area that I am experiencing both frustration and joy is the music group at church. Although I am accepted and encouraged to sing with them, I am frustrated when I am not included in meetings and can't express my opinions or teach due to my lack of vocabulary to explain myself well.  But, even at the end of a frustrating moment God sends people my way to encourage me and He did that for me last night when a friend at church wanted to tell me how much he enjoys my singing.  So I was humbled and rebuked in such a nice way for my unbelief.  It is in those low moments that I question God as to why he has me here, and in the high moment I thank Him that He chose me to go Brasil because in His perfect plan He knows that I need to be here to learn the lessons He has for me!

Please pray for me!  I know many of you are and I have no doubt that God uses those prayers to give me strength and help me in this learning process.  Please let me know what I can be praying for you about, so that God can use me to bless you.

October Newsletter

Here is a link to my newest newsletter -  October Newsletter.

Caju fruit

The caju fruit is literally falling of the trees here.  I had never seen or had the fruit from the cashew tree before I came to Brazil.  The fruit is a little tart but when you juice it and add a little sugar it makes a great juice.  We have many of the caju trees on campus here and we have been enjoying eating them and making juice with them. Since I had never hear or seen a cashew fruit before I wanted to share a picture here with you.  I wish I could send you all some to try but you will just have to come visit sometime to try it! 

Back into things

I made it back to Brazil with a very smooth trip all in all. Once my passport with missionary visa got to me about 2 hours before I had to leave my house, I left for my flights to Brazil.  I made all connections with plenty of time and made the entire trip in just over 1 day.  A new record for me in speediness!

So I am back in Brazil and back to helping with 2 choirs here, talking to people on campus and taking my portuguese class.  I still have so far to go in understanding and communicating well in Portuguese and so that has to be my top priority.  It seems so easy to let other things get in the way though.

The seminary that I live on and work with is going away for a retreat this weekend.  It is at a camp about 2 hours away.  It is the same place I went to camp before so I get to sleep in a hammock again.  I will be gone for about 4 days.  I may have some stories to tell when I get back.

For now I will just say Bom Dia and Tchao!  (Good Day and Goodbye!)