Focused On the Goal

Don’t you love it when something good comes from whatever it is you do?  We are extremely blessed to see the good that comes from what we do here at Signs of Love time and time again.  It helps to fuel us along, and keeps us focused on the goal (Philippians3.14).

We continue to toil, and keep sight of the goal for those like Enrique.  Enrique surprised me beyond belief a while ago. Enrique has been involved in our ministry for over 15 years (he's the one highlighted in the book Enrique Speaks With His Hands), and although we have witnessed God working miracles in his life, Enrique has extreme challenges in learning. We’ve been teaching the Deaf basic doctrinal Truth - 12 pillars of Christian faith that we call “The 12 Truths.”  In essence, it’s the Apostle’s Creed. I was visiting with Enrique and he says to me, “Let me show you what I’ve learned.” And he continues to rattle off the 12 Truths…perfectly.  I had some doubts though if it was just something he had miraculously memorized or if he really understood what these 12 Truths meant.  I questioned him specifically about some of the harder concepts, and his answers were raw, pure, and spot on!  He got it!!!! My eyes filled with tears as I processed this continual miracle before my eyes called Enrique.  God IS faithful.

Our Reach

It’s exciting that Signs of Love reaches the Deaf AND hearing. We received these words of encouragement recently from a beloved who served with us way back in our early days.  This is what she wrote: My experience with Signs of Love was a life changing experience and for this I am forever grateful to God for putting Signs of Love in my heart.  Thank you for your stewardship and commitment by being part of God’s primary mission, which is the essence of Signs of Love --- love and service. 

What an honor it is to love and serve all those He puts before us!  How wonderful it is to be reminded that our reach goes farther than what we understand.    

The Most Important People

I love that Signs of Love gets to love those that others aren’t interested in.  I love that we get to make others known, and introduce them to The One that will forever change their lives!  I love that no act of kindness is too small.  I love that all we do in the name of Love lasts!  In one of our recent village programs, the uncle of one of our newest participants said, “You all drive more than 3 hours to get here, fill your van with the people no one around here wants anything to do with, and then make them feel like the most important people, wow!”  He summed up pretty well what we’re all about. In God’s eyes, we all are the most important people. His love for us is extraordinary, and we’re grateful that we get to bring that extraordinary love to this alienated group! 

The road we choose to forge may be dark and full of pain, but we leave it shining with Light covered in Love.  We will not be overcome! 

Richness

Richness. Even though we're in a land consumed by poverty, richness surfaces in places when we look for it, and when it doesn't, we create it.  It's not until one is amongst poverty, in the midst of it, that we can understand a glimpse of just how destructive it is. Poorness robs people of so much more than opportunity.  It robs them of pleasure, of comfort, of time, of fun, of education, of freedom.  It robs constantly and only in fleeting moments does it let up. This breaks our hearts.  We have to believe that being Light in this surrounding darkness is doing something - something to alleviate the heaviness of these hearts - something to bring a piece of the Kingdom here amongst them - something to bring Hope and Love that pierces this unseen barrier they're trapped in - something to create richness.

Recently I was teaching in one of our poorer villages about the 2 kingdoms: God's and the opposing one. I asked this group of children and adults, hearing and deaf, several questions leading up to the establishment of these 2 kingdoms.  One of the children knew that Genesis is the first book in the Bible. I asked, "Who taught you that?" to which she looked at me as if I was asking her an absurd question. One of the adults answered, "Signs of Love because you always teach us the bible."  That moment right there sums up richness.

At Signs of Love, we get to look for richness, and when it cannot be found, we create it. Richness is a sign that the barrier is being pierced, and Hope has arrived.  We are blessed, and oh so rich!

We All Have Them

We all have them; those ones that weigh on our hearts a bit heavier than others. Those ones who we're consumed thinking about, and wanting them to understand how ridiculously loved they are by God. Pictured are 2 that are in my life. Their lives are riddled with difficulties and pain we cannot even begin to wrap our minds around. Our common denominator?  God loves us the same. He wants us to be Light in the darkness, He wants us to trample the enemy and reclaim territory that is rightfully His. He wants us to stand up for Truth and righteousness, and He wants us to love others right where they are. I get to do that in their lives. I get to see His power at work, and His love transform. My hands and feet somehow become His touch and territory. At Signs of Love, we are addicted to being His warriors of The Light.

Life-giving Choices

Choices.  We all have them.  We are grateful that we get to bring life-giving choices daily to those we serve. It means everything to the lives we reach.   Many of these lives don’t even realize they have choices.  It doesn’t matter how poor or rich we are – we all have choices. 

Everyday we choose fear or faith, despair or hope, unfairness or justice, blame or grace, and selfishness or service.  The people that surround us in Honduras teach us so much about these choices.  In a country riddled with fear, we go where others won't…because of faith.  In a country submerged in dark despair, we shine…because of hope. In a country where unfairness is blatant and widespread, we stand up for what’s right…because of justice.  In a country where blame destroys, we point to Him…because of grace.  In a country where selfishness thrives, we are shown and show generosity…because of service.  Actions speak louder than words in all circumstances, and how blessed we are to be people known for our actions. 

What a privilege it is to teach our beloveds about choices.  What a difference God is making in these lives because of this. 

Intentional Sitting

Sometimes I wonder how I got here. There's those moments of elation when I'm certain all the pain is worth every ounce of victory, and then there's all the other time. During the 'all the other time' I'm blessed to learn from some of God's favorites. I'm convinced they're His favorites. When I get to sit by them, preferably at their feet, I feel like the most blessed human in the world. Even though it mustn't come close, I liken it to how it must have felt to sit at Jesus' feet and learn from HIm. You see, these beloveds I'm surrounded by are INCREDIBLE. Though life's worst hardships are commonplace in their lives, and though their options are lacking, thanksgiving and praise pours out of their hearts to The King. I've always said I want to surround myself with people who I want to be like.  Well, I think I've done a good job at that, and I wish I could take credit...The King has seen fit to bless me so, and I'm so very grateful.  I'd love to hear who those people are in your lives that make you feel like you're sitting at His Feet.