How are you doing at being joyfully flexible?

This being a recent share that we’ve now added to an orientation that we give to our visiting teams serving along with us at SCORE. The similar statement came from a recent visiting church with us, who’s shirts said, “joyfully flexible” and we loved it! Because it’s convicting, beautiful and true all at the same time right? It speaks volumes when you think about how we are to live out our lives, especially as believers.

It reminds me of the time that I was in a restaurant here when we still lived in Santiago. I stood in line and since the Dominican man in front of me knew that I spoke English, he began to talk with me about living in the DR and if I liked living here. Of course sharing with him our love for the country, I also found out from him that he no longer lived in the DR. Asking him why not, his response- “oh no, I just can’t do it here anymore. It’s just too slow here and I’m already so use to the fast pace of America and can’t handle the slow pace in the DR.”

Even with my friend from the states that recently visited with us, she shared some of her favorite Christian music from the states and I shared with her that I haven’t heard most of the songs that she shared but only a few. However when I did share with her a newer popular song that we (the church) was starting to sing here, she helped to catch me up by saying, “Karen, that song was popular like 4 years ago!?” Being a fellow international missionary herself, we laughed at the realities that yes, the majority of the rest of the world, there can certainly be a bit of a delay.

So why is it important to be flexible again though? Why is this our number one and really only “rule” that we have for our teams from the states that travel down to serve with us and now the added verbiage of being “joyfully flexible”? Because the truth is, as much as we can plan, prepare and even pray for things, we should at least remain joyful, grateful, confident in His plans, His desires, His purpose. In what? Well, in the reality that all that really matters is where we are in our relationship with Jesus and if we’re already with Him, how to help share the truth of His love with others, the gospel truth.

I’ll try to wrap this blog up quick just to share that even for our family recently, there has been so much happening with more transitions, moving AGAIN, being in a new setting in the DR from where we were before, and on and on. The planning, the preparations, the projects, the continuing “work” in ministry. Again, as we try to encourage in our orientations for teams, – those things should never come before the relationships. If we can remember, let’s be joyfully flexible in what God can deliver along the way, changes if need be to our here and now realities and invite those, lost or saved, to come serve along with us as we grow and learn together with Him!

So in any given moment, when there are maybe interruptions/slow downs to things going on in our life and then, (which we all can fall for it) a mentality to think that being busy is better, let’s be mindful to what He’s allowing to be placed in front of us, a more often than not, slower pace – spending time with our Father, each other, our families, our friends and neighbors. Take the pause. Take a moment and spend time with them.

Loving one another and leading them to Christ!

"But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole [a]palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again."

Paul - Philippians 1:12-26

We are joyful with so many of YOU that pray and serve along with us!

We thank God and we thank you for your love and continued support!