Dear readers,
This week's post is going to be a bit different today. (Don't forget, new posts launch every Thursday!) Email subscribers have already received news on new things happening around here, but I wanted to update all of you lovely readers here on the blog! You see, ever since I began hannah-watt.weebly.com, God had laid on my heart a dream unexpected of buying a domain and professionalizing the little corner of the interwebs that God has brought upon me so His Word could reach more people. And, i'm over the moon ecstatic that this very thing is in the works! Please join me in praising Jesus for His amazing timing in this, and praying that through this journey, all the focus will remain on Him and not this physical blog or myself. Also, please be patient as we figure this lil' guy out and pray as we strive to bring the hope and light of the Gospel to a broken world. I can't thank you guys enough for your prayers, love and support! Love, Hannah :) Walking through a refugee camp. Stepping through a pile of trash next to impoverished children looking for food. Riding through a polluted town in a tuk-tuk and waving at the broken, lost people you pass by. Holding hands with children who have seen more brokenness in their short lives than you ever will, or building a church in a third-world country with giant hunks of sun-baked mud. What else do you think of when you hear the word “missions”? While embarking on a mission trip overseas, God allows you to take the adventure of a lifetime to reach the unreached. He gives you the courage and strength and skills only He can provide to equip you with the tools you need to bring the light of the Gospel to those who thirst. Despite missions being focused on sharing the Gospel with others, your walk with Him also becomes stronger. The joys and difficulties missions brings strengthens your relationship with your Saviour, and draw you closer to Him as you learn to cling to Him through this life. 1. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO USE OUR SPIRITUAL GIFTSGod has given each and every one of us spiritual gifts so that we would magnify Him. On the mission field, and even in your everyday life, you have a special opportunity to bring Him glory. God has purposefully and thoughtfully created you with these gifts to be used in a time like this - in missions, and wherever He leads you. 2. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO GROW CLOSER TO GOD Missions, like every other part of life, doesn’t come without trials. No doubt about it. It’s the reality of our broken, sinful, messy world. But despite the peril of a whirlwind that threatens to swallow you up, God is always there. It’s in hurricanes that we trust in the Creator of the atmosphere. In the sorrow we hold onto the One who will wipe away every tear. In the conflict we have hope in He who will set all things right. But it’s also in the joy that we rejoice in the One who put beauty in these ashes. When difficulty whirls in, we have more trust in our God. We come to lean on Him, not our desires, what we think is best, what we want in life. We stop thinking about what we think is the best happy ending, but instead have faith in Him, because He has the ultimate plan for our lives. 3. MISSIONS ALLOWS US TO GAIN A HEART FOR THE NATIONS Global missions is the hope that we might touch every nation of the world, every unreached person with the life-changing, hope-giving, joy-filling message of the Gospel. We marvel at the wondrous world God created and grieve the brokenness that covers it, but we hope for spiritual multiplication to take place across the nations. Because of how Jesus changes every aspect of our lives and shatters the darkness into a brilliant multitude of colours, we hope to take it to the ends of the Earth, rejoicing. Today, let’s gain a heart for the world. Let’s let hope split the sky as we reach the ends of the Earth with the glorious message of the Gospel. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. "A midnight feast!" Her eyes light up in delight and joy as her beautiful imagination runs wild. I think my heart just might explode. Her tiny arms wrap around my legs as her big, beautiful eyes meet mine. I think my heart might explode. They gaze above at the clouds stretching overhead. "Look, over there!" I think my heart might explode. Her wee hands clutch mine, as her tiny legs take their first steps. I think my heart might explode. Little ones are constantly teaching me such beautiful lessons. Lessons on why empathy matters; why loving others matters; to keep smiling even when storms arise; why hugs and love are better than bandaids; why living instead of just breathing is better, the list could go on. But there is one thing i've learned from spending time with these lovely people. And that one thing, is this. Find beauty in the small, simple things of life. Yes, find beauty in little things. Find beauty in midnight feasts, tiny hugs, small smiles and jubilant laughter. Find beauty in first baby steps, in imagination, in starry, doe-eyed little ones. Find beauty in the little things. BEAUTY IN SIMPLICITYEven as He created rolling waves, and great canyons and forests dispersed around the world, He also created the small, intricate details of this universe. He created the heart that beats beneath each and every one's chest. He created flying squirrels and million and millions of ants. He created each and every snowflake that falls toward the Earth, every millimetre of every twig. He created warm scarves we love that double as blankets, and the twinkle in the Christmas lights. Everything. I'm learning from the beautiful little ones that have been brought into my life, that we should enjoy these little blessings God has so graciously given us; like the lovely music that fills my eardrums, the sunshine that streams through my window, sweaters that keep me warm during cold Canadian winters. These little hidden blessings God has graciously given me, i'm learning to see them; to enjoy them. The lovely little things that we can find gratitude for, i'm learning that there is beauty in them. The little things that make my lips smile and my heart explode; it's in those things. The little things. Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
HER NAME MEANS JOY.Since we were wee ones until today, i've called her friend. Since she was born into this beautiful but broken world, i've called her friend. Since we first wrapped each other in a hug, i've called her friend. Since we were first adorned in matching outfits, i've called her friend. Since we began scrawling letters to each other, i've called her friend. Since God brought this lovely girl into my life, i've called her friend. Since I could remember, i've called her friend. I've called her my sister; my sister-in-Christ. When I think of you, I see your lovely smile spreading across your face. I see a light illuminated in your eyes and joy flourishing. I remember and treasure each moment we've shared together; from those on the streets of Europe, to that of North America and everyday life. Though our times together can be short; I praise Him for keeping our friendship alive, our sisterhood breathing, and our sharing of our lives living. God has blessed me ever so much. He has surrounded me with beautifully lovely people to live life with; to laugh with, to cry with, to sing with, to feel passionate with, to glorify God alongside. I praise Him for all He is doing in each and every one of your lives and thank Him ever so much for bringing you into my life. Photo Credit: by Erico Marcelino on UnsplashKatie Davis Majors, wrote in her book, Daring to Hope, When we cannot find joy in our circumstances, we can find joy in a God who is unchanged and unchanging. We all have those storms in life. Those circumstances we feel stuck in, those parts of life that feel so broken and messy; but we're glued right into them. But we can choose joy. Our circumstances will change, the boat will rock back and forth, but He stays steady. Don't let your circumstances define you, let Him. Walk through this broken, forever changing life in the arms of He who is constant through the storm. Friend, through the crashing waves, He goes with you. Photo Credit: by Martine Jacobsen on Unsplash |
JOIN US!Feel free to join us sometime at our new site (as of Spring 2018) @ lightletters.org!
MEET HANNAHWelcome to this wee corner of the internet! I'm Hannah; snail mail aficionado, paper enthusiast and child of God. Join me on this adventure! ARCHIVES
April 2018
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