Toucan

Good morning, afternoon, or evening (whichever time you are reading this)! It is 7 a.m. in San Jose, Costa Rica, and I have been up for over an hour. I know this is not "early" for a lot of you, but I would much rather sleep in until the last possible minute. Here, it is almost impossible to sleep past 6 a.m. because of the variety of birds, and the early rise of the sun. We have several birds that decide to wake us up around 4 a.m. The national bird is called: Yiguirro. The "y" is pronounced like a "j," and you can take a guess (like me) how to pronounce the rest. All I know is that it is one loud bird, and it likes to hear itself talk.

The picture on this blog was taken at a place called "Cataratas La Paz" or The Peace Waterfalls. It is a beautiful place with lots of wildlife and waterfalls. This toucan is found in the rain forests of Central and South America. Take a look at the bright vibrant colors on this bird. Isn't it amazing?

We have seen so many different and beautiful species of birds here in Costa Rica. I can only imagine what we will see in Paraguay. As I reflect on the variety of birds here, I cannot help but think about how amazing God is. This past week has been difficult, yet rewarding. New themes, new vocabulary, new verb tenses, and many other things have added to the stress of trying to communicate in Spanish. Yet, among all this, God still meets us here. In Spanish chapel this past Wednesday, the director of the Costa Rican Assemblies of God Bible School preached from Philippians 4:6,7. Let me quote it here from the NIV, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

This past week, I was really beginning to "worry" or become anxious about whether or not I am going to be able to communicate in Spanish. My personal struggle is the VERBS. Will I ever be able to master the different verb tenses and uses? For example, there are 5 different verbs just for "to be." How am I going to be able to speak?

The director talked about worry or anxiety, and how it does not do anything good for a person, spiritually or physically. He talked about praying and giving thanks for stress in your life. By praying and thanking God for the worries in your life, you are allowing God to work in your life. When we immediately give everything, everyday, to God, then the peace of God takes over and controls our every thought, our every purpose, our entire being, and our entire walk with Him. The "peace of God, which transcends all understanding," what a statement.

How do we get this peace? By prayer and petition with thanksgiving, presenting our requests to God: WE ASK FOR IT!

Will there never be fear or anxiety in our lives again? Yes, but when we start to feel anxious or worried about something, we just have to give it to God. Pray, and ask the Author of Peace to fill your life with peace. He is faithful and just to give you His eternal peace.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you today, and may He bring peace into your life,

Charley