Unexpected Blessings

This morning while preparing for the day, the Lord revealed to me an important truth that He wanted me to learn. A couple of years ago, God really worked on my heart about my long term plans. I was a really good planner… and my plans sounded godly… so they must be godly, right? Wrong! During that year, I learned that God doesn’t want my plans; He wants me to surrender to His plans.  Since then, I  am learning to walk day by day with the Lord and not focus on all of my plans. However, I am still a very good daily planner (I’m a teacher, so I have to be a good planner).  While brushing my teeth this morning, I mentally went through my schedule for the day. 

·      Prepare for Discipleship

·      Backyard Bible Club

·      Discipleship

·      Prepare for Backyard Bible Club

·      Go to sleep early (these up to 3 am nights are wearing me out)

As I went through my schedule, the Lord in His still small voice said,

“Kelly, I want your day.  Give me hour-by -hour and even minute–by- minute. When you are so caught up in your schedule, you might miss the blessings I have for you.”

Now I don’t think that schedules are bad, but the Lord has really shown me that the greatest blessings throughout the day are usually impromptu.

Here’s an account of impromptu or change of schedule events that led to a blessing. 

·      New kids from Satellite wanted to go to Backyard Bible Club. When I went to pick them up, the youngest (who I had never seen before) ran out and gave me a great big hug and proclaimed,

“ Auntie, this is the first time I’ve been to Bible study.”

When he got in the car, he didn’t even know how to buckle his seatbelt. His brother, sister, and him can’t wait to go back tomorrow.

·      Maile and all of her sisters stayed in Waianae for Bible study. Darla didn’t have enough seats, so I drove Maile and Kimwill home. Drake and Shawn rode with me to take them home. On the way to Maile’s new house, we notice that H1 is a parking lot on the other side of the road. Great, I’m thinking, so much for going to bed early. Upon arriving at their house, Maile’s mom invites us in to visit. After talking with her for a little while, all the sudden food is placed on the table and they are serving us dinner. I had my first Chuukese meal tonight! Thankfully, it was not fish with the scales, eyes, and tail still visible. It was chicken, spam, rice, and breadfruit.  What was so interesting about the Chuukese meal was how we ate it. A large plate of rice was placed in the center of the table and two bowls of chicken and broth were placed in between the 4 people eating.  All the sudden everyone starts picking up rice with their fingers and dipping it in the broth or eating it with chicken that they also pull apart with their fingers. I decided to dive in, so I ate an entire meal with my fingers.  The spam (uncooked) and the breadfruit came out later. Breadfruit has an interesting texture and flavor… I don’t know how to compare it.

·      Finally, on the car ride back to Waianae, Shawn starts talking to me about Pearl Harbor and asking all kinds of questions. Then he starts telling me about what he learned in his Social Studies class this year. It is rare to hear a Chuukese teenage boy engage in a conversation about what they enjoy learning in school. This is also the same boy that caused havoc all last summer. The Lord is really working in His life. He is respectful and starting to read His Bible. I am excited to see Him continue to grow in His relationship with the Lord, and I hope he also continues to like learning.

It is now 11:3o PM, and I am barely awake, but I am thankful that the Lord determines my steps.

In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps.  Proverbs 16:9

Maile sweeping after we talked about serving.

Dori dust mopping after we talked about serving.

JD, Maile, and Lesleen lacing up their ice-skates.

Lesleen and Maile posing on ice.

Maile and JD

Making funny faces

I bought matching shirts for us on a whim. They really liked them, and I was thankful that I could always easily spot them on the ice.

Making an AMAZING bracelet. 

Playing a game

Do you remember Kimwill from last year? He came back to visit!  Look how he has grown!

The group! It was nearly impossible to get a good picture with all of them. 

This is J-BOY.  He was the little boy that I was telling you had never been to Bible Study before.  He is PRECIOUS!!

Much love to all!