I Have A "Good" Father

I wish the English language had a more appropriate word for the truth of the incredible goodness of my God...because 'good' just doesn't really cut it.
I have an amazing, incredible, stupendous, (someone find me a thesaurus please) God!!!   Not only is he aware of me, but he protects, provides, and speaks to me.  He isn't distant or cold, he is near and he loves me!  


Maybe I should fill you in on where the praise is coming from so you can join me :)


In the beginning of January, a bunch of my stuff was stolen from my apartment (see the post before this one), which set off a chain of experiences that God used to teach me about himself and myself.  With no laptop, and therefore no music, no internet, no time-fillers like solitaire or Facebook, no movies, no media in general...my life became very quiet!  One night I sat in the apartment staring at the wall for a minute, feeling sorry for myself and wishing I had something to distract me from my homework, when I realized the most gorgeous sunset was happening on the other side of the wall!  I sat out on the balcony for hours watching the sunset, resting with God and enjoying the background noises of Nairobi.  And I missed the first part of it wishing I could watch a movie-how boring.  


So I resolved to make the most of my season of quiet and learn to enjoy silence with God instead of always looking to fill it with something.  Some days were easier than others, and I discovered that although I am most definitely an introvert-I feel most refreshed after I've been alone to think and process-even I get tired of being alone eventually.  Living alone for the first time got a little more intense without a computer to email or Facebook people or a movie to pop in and wile away the hours.  But like I said, God is a good shepherd and he led me through this season for a reason, and it was for my benefit not harm.  


The same night my things were stolen, I joked with my mom that it was her fault everything was stolen because she had been praying God would replace my rather beat up laptop and iPod, both of which were stolen (ha suckers you stole my old junk!).  I was confident that God would give me what I needed but my expectations were pretty low.  It was all just stuff anyway, although to me it amounted to all of my most expensive worldly possessions besides my car!  I figured God decided to de-clutter my life and he might leave it that way.  But yet again, God is a good Father who gives good gifts to his children, and after a season of living without media, God started replacing things.


A short term team came from Minnesota and served as curriers for supporters and friends from the US who so overwhelmed me with generosity!  In a matter of weeks I received a replacement of the cash that was stolen, a camera, two iPods, and two laptops!!!  I am now the proud owner of a Macbook Pro (a huge upgrade from my old laptop) and happily shared the love of the second laptop with a friend in need. I am so blown away by the love I've experienced from the body of Christ through this.  THANK YOU so much to all the people who gave up their own possessions, money, and luggage space to bless me like this!


What a roller coaster ride this has been.  I appreciate my belongings more now, but I feel like they have even less of a hold on me than they did before.  All of it is just waiting to rot in the ground one day, none of it is eternal, but it's all a blessing from God for today.  So I'll use it, enjoy it, and thank God for giving it to me for now!  


Thank you God for knowing the desires of my heart before I even understand them myself, and for giving me truly good gifts-not just laptops, but sunsets too.  :)