MuSiNgS... Old Habits Die Hard

For a year and a half before coming to Kona, I knew that God was calling me to this beautiful place. Reading articles that mentioned Kona or University of the Nations in the YWAMer magazine, or on websites, or even advertisements about this place would cause tears to well up in my eyes.

In fact, in April 2005 when the Operation:John team decided that Kona should be our operations location, I knew it to be true already – to me, there wasn’t even a question!

Then, for the past year and a half or more, I have been telling people that I would likely be moving to Kona, then that I was planning to move to Kona, then that I was for sure moving to Kona. And then I finally did it! It actually happened – God came through! When I first arrived to Kona earlier this month, I was flying high. I was so eager to get to Kona and to move on to my next mission that, in the worst weather of the winter, I braved the back roads (Highways were closed) because I wouldn’t turn back!

Now that I’ve been U of N Kona staff for three weeks, I find myself feeling the same old frustrations I used to feel in Monterrey, even though the people and environment here are totally different! I have never questioned whether or not I should be here… my long-ago tears sealed Kona in my heart. I know I have come home. And yet… I’m fighting the flesh still and again.

How could that be?

Without giving you the trite response one would usually give in this situation, that we are all human beings that fall short of the glory of God and struggle with our sin natures, here’s my personal reality check:

Life is a constant learning process (PBPWMGNFWMY*).
I retain the same personality God originally gave me (some things will always annoy me).
My soul’s enemy will try to convince me that everyone else is to blame for my unhappiness.
My response to irritating or adverse circumstances is my responsibility alone.
Relationships don’t grow or improve through accusations and huffy remarks.
Humility does cause growth and improvement in relationships (not an easy solution).
…(you get the picture)


So, to keep me humble, to maintain healthy relationships, and to win this particular battle against my enemy, I have some apologies to ask.


*Please Be Patient With Me God’s Not Finished With Me Yet