I have a new website with a blog! Please go here for the latest information!
Website: www.outoftheboxtoafrica.com
NEW Blog (on site): www.outoftheboxtoafrica.com/blog
Please come and visit and keep tabs on the work God is doing in Africa and how He is using me (and you) in the process!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday, April 16, 2011
What's Waiting in Africa?
Children! Thousands of children are experiencing the love and hope of Jesus through the work of Children's Cup who offer hot meals, medical care, find homes, give hugs and introduce JESUS!!! But, there are thousands more who have and are facing difficult times of abuse, loss, illness, loneliness, hunger... When you partner with me, you are sending me straight into the field to wrap my arms around those children to give those hugs and share the greatest friend they'll ever have, Jesus!! But it goes a step further, my role with Cup will be to build up their education and give them that extra boost of confidence in themselves to go out and live the dreams the God has given them! How cool? Thinking of all the children in Swaziland, I'm reminded of the story about starfish. Thousands of them on the shore... one boy throwing them back one by one... knowing he can't save them all, he says "It mattered to this one..."
Meet Thandiwe below... it mattered to her... how many more can we touch TOGETHER!
Meet Thandiwe below... it mattered to her... how many more can we touch TOGETHER!
Thandiwe’s Story
When Children’s Cup first met her, she was fourteen years old.
She stays with an elderly grandmother that is taking care of her and two of her other siblings. Her father died very close to her birth and her mother abandoned her and is now dead.
Thandiwe had tears in her eyes as she talked to us about how painful it still is to know that her mother did not want her. Because the grandmother is very old she spends most of her time taking care of her younger brother and sister and trying to help her grandmother. At 14 years old, she had never been to any type of school until by God’s grace we were able to help her.
She broke down and started crying as she expressed her thankfulness at having the opportunity to attend a first grade class at one of Children’s Cup’s CarePoints. And now, Thandiwe wants to become a teacher because of the loving example that her teacher at the CarePoint has been to her and the love that she has shown her.
I can't do it alone. Contact me to become a partner, bethanneyoung@gmail.comWednesday, March 16, 2011
Harder Than You Think
Some might think that when God finally lets you in on His big plans for your promise land, that everything is "uphill" from there. That is SOOO the opposite... Since the call, Satan has been messing me with, the path gets lonlier and more confusing, and the unknowns don't really go away- you just trade one for another. Do I see value? You betcha! Always? Some days it is harder to tell than others. You keep making sacrifice after sacrifice in the midst of that confusion and all you have to hold onto is one BIG promise He made to you- just you- and so there is "just you" to hold on to it. So that's where I'm at... holding on to pure faith that God has called me to Africa, even though everything else is kinda foggy and the road is pretty bumpy with no landmarks and the sacrifices have pushed me way out of my comfort zone. This song, Pioneer, resung by Rick Pino, sums it up...
Pioneer, Pioneer
Keep pressing onwards beyond your fears
And only your Father goes before you to your own frontier
Youʼre a Pioneer
Uncharted wilderness stretches before you
And you thrive on going where no one has gone
Still it gets lonely when darkness rears
So sing by the fire until the dawn
You travel light and you travel alone
And when you arrive nobody knows
But your Father in heaven, He is glad you can go
Cause those who come after you will need the road
And what you have done, others will do
Bigger and better and faster than you
But you canʼt look back, you gotta keep on pressing through
Thereʼs a wilderness pathway and itʼs calling you
Calling you, calling you
Keep pressing onwards beyond your fears
And only your Father goes before you to your own frontier
Youʼre a Pioneer
Pioneer, Pioneer
Keep pressing onwards beyond your fears
And only your Father goes before you to your own frontier
Youʼre a Pioneer
Uncharted wilderness stretches before you
And you thrive on going where no one has gone
Still it gets lonely when darkness rears
So sing by the fire until the dawn
You travel light and you travel alone
And when you arrive nobody knows
But your Father in heaven, He is glad you can go
Cause those who come after you will need the road
And what you have done, others will do
Bigger and better and faster than you
But you canʼt look back, you gotta keep on pressing through
Thereʼs a wilderness pathway and itʼs calling you
Calling you, calling you
Keep pressing onwards beyond your fears
And only your Father goes before you to your own frontier
Youʼre a Pioneer
Saturday, March 12, 2011
Break My Heart for What Breaks Yours
James 1:27
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Entry from September 9/20/07
Today was the toughest day yet. Today we went to visit and pray with the sick children at the government hospital.
We first went to the babies room. Fortunately all their mothers were there caring for them, but many had been there for months. Many of them have pneumonia and both mothers and children were fatigued by the long hospital visit. I felt God pulling on my to pray with them and talk with them. This was really pushing me out of my shell. I tried not to at first, but couldn't ignore the responsibility. I prayed for four babies and their moms by myself. I'm glad I could do this small thing for them.
Then this hospital visit got exponentially harder as we went down to the very last room- the abandoned baby room. One baby was only seven days old and was found in a dumpster! Another had been there fore a month or so. (She was so chubby and cute! :) )
There were two boys in cribs who seemed somewhat mentally disabled. This one boy was so happy for attention. He kept giving me thumbs up, high-fives, and he always smiled. His smile was so beautiful, regardless of the fact that almost all his teeth were rotten. He also had very crooked pinkies. I kept giving him stickers and he kept on smiling.
There were also three other boys in the room. (I wish I could describe for you this place. It is certainly not the children's wing in a U.S. hospital. Picture a movie with a scene from a mid-centruy mental institute, from the bland, dreary atmosphere, blank walls, white metal bed posts, and scratchy gray blankets complete with holes.) The one in the middle bed was slightly shy but responded to the stickers. I gave him high-fives and tickled him. He laughed and it was fun. Mary translated for me and we found out from him that his stomach hurt. He said he lived with his dad, but his dad wasn't there. He thought his father would come tomorrow, but at the discussion of this the boy started to cry. Mary told him that Jesus would be with him. He started to cry more... MY HEART BROKE COMPLETELY NOW... I wanted to cry so bad with him. To pick him up from his scratchy-gray-institute-blankets and hold him... but God actually helped me hold it together. I was so thankful that I was was able to get him to smile again by being silly. I gave him and his neighbor sheets of stickers and we left. The hardest part was leaving. Leaving and knowing that they'd been left before, knowing that there really wasn't much we could do for them at the moment. I was an emotional wreck and as we got back to the hotel room, I laid on my bed and had a very emotional cry.
I wonder what God sees when He knows these children are hurting- they are His children and this world is not fair to them. I do know that He is intimately aware of everything on their hearts.
Psalm 56:8
8 You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
As painful as it was for me to see these children and so many others we met in Africa, I know it is painful for God. We often ask God to give us His heart, to break our hearts for what breaks His... this is what this hospital visit did for me. His love extends to much greater lengths than ours ever could. I don't want any child to ever go through life not feeling loved, that's my personal agenda. I have a very strong feeling that this is God's heart too...
Will you help me get to Africa so I can be His arms to all the orphaned children He puts in my path? Please, please consider partnering with me monthly so I can be there by August! bethanneyoung@gmail.com
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
Entry from September 9/20/07
Today was the toughest day yet. Today we went to visit and pray with the sick children at the government hospital.
We first went to the babies room. Fortunately all their mothers were there caring for them, but many had been there for months. Many of them have pneumonia and both mothers and children were fatigued by the long hospital visit. I felt God pulling on my to pray with them and talk with them. This was really pushing me out of my shell. I tried not to at first, but couldn't ignore the responsibility. I prayed for four babies and their moms by myself. I'm glad I could do this small thing for them.
Then this hospital visit got exponentially harder as we went down to the very last room- the abandoned baby room. One baby was only seven days old and was found in a dumpster! Another had been there fore a month or so. (She was so chubby and cute! :) )
There were two boys in cribs who seemed somewhat mentally disabled. This one boy was so happy for attention. He kept giving me thumbs up, high-fives, and he always smiled. His smile was so beautiful, regardless of the fact that almost all his teeth were rotten. He also had very crooked pinkies. I kept giving him stickers and he kept on smiling.
There were also three other boys in the room. (I wish I could describe for you this place. It is certainly not the children's wing in a U.S. hospital. Picture a movie with a scene from a mid-centruy mental institute, from the bland, dreary atmosphere, blank walls, white metal bed posts, and scratchy gray blankets complete with holes.) The one in the middle bed was slightly shy but responded to the stickers. I gave him high-fives and tickled him. He laughed and it was fun. Mary translated for me and we found out from him that his stomach hurt. He said he lived with his dad, but his dad wasn't there. He thought his father would come tomorrow, but at the discussion of this the boy started to cry. Mary told him that Jesus would be with him. He started to cry more... MY HEART BROKE COMPLETELY NOW... I wanted to cry so bad with him. To pick him up from his scratchy-gray-institute-blankets and hold him... but God actually helped me hold it together. I was so thankful that I was was able to get him to smile again by being silly. I gave him and his neighbor sheets of stickers and we left. The hardest part was leaving. Leaving and knowing that they'd been left before, knowing that there really wasn't much we could do for them at the moment. I was an emotional wreck and as we got back to the hotel room, I laid on my bed and had a very emotional cry.
I wonder what God sees when He knows these children are hurting- they are His children and this world is not fair to them. I do know that He is intimately aware of everything on their hearts.
Psalm 56:8
8 You keep track of all my sorrows.
You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.
As painful as it was for me to see these children and so many others we met in Africa, I know it is painful for God. We often ask God to give us His heart, to break our hearts for what breaks His... this is what this hospital visit did for me. His love extends to much greater lengths than ours ever could. I don't want any child to ever go through life not feeling loved, that's my personal agenda. I have a very strong feeling that this is God's heart too...
Will you help me get to Africa so I can be His arms to all the orphaned children He puts in my path? Please, please consider partnering with me monthly so I can be there by August! bethanneyoung@gmail.com
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Trust in Your Leader
Matt 13:31-33, 52
31He told them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches.”
33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty poundsa]">[a] of flour until it worked all through the dough.”
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”Nugget from 9/17/07, Swaziland, Africa (First Trip)
God was telling me that what I'm doing may feel small to me, but to His kingdom it will mean so much more. He was also saying that I'm prepared, whether I know it or not, I'll have what I need when i need it.
He also gave me this analogy: Any leader, when faced with a desperate situation, pulls out all the stops! Isn't God a great leader? Africa is in a desperate situation... He's telling me that I'm the BEST person for the job right now! What an honor!
Out of everyone, He is choosing me!! God is calling me, in these desperate times, to be HIS hands and feet in Africa, to share HIS heart with the Swazi people! And He thinks YOU are the best person to partner with me! Again, what an honor! God has chosen us, for this moment- such a time as this, to partner together to do HIS work in Africa! Let's not fail to act, leaving Him to ask His second choice or go to His back-up plan.
Listen to the tug on your heart, obey His prompting, Accept the role and partner with me today! bethanneyoung@gmail.com!!
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Run or Get Dragged
At prayer night on Friday, God gave me a really great visual of His expectation for me during this season as He propels me into the next one. Maybe it will mean something to you as well, so that's why I'm sharing it...
First off, did you ever see in a western how they tie the criminal up to the back of the wagon or horse and then the wagon/horse is set in motion, leaving the man to run like crazy and eventually fall and be dragged until unconscious.
Now, that's the visual God gave me as I cling to my promise land (Swaziland) just like those criminals... I WON'T LET GO... and God expects me not to. But then He spoke clearly to me about not just waiting for the future, but making the most of the present. I think I've been doing a really good job at trying to see the value of NOW, but I think God expects me to do better... after more reflection, I think a lot of it is my attitude towards the present and being more positive... but I'm sure there is more.
Here is the nugget I got about my reaction to the present: I can either be dragged all the way to the future promise land, or I can match my pace and run my heart out. Both get me to the end result- exactly where I want to be, but each has different consequences when I do arrive and that is the powerful difference.
Being dragged- basically, if you go limp and become an inactive, defeated participant a couple of things happen...
1- You miss the beauty of God at work in your life, because your face is in the dirt and your focus is on yourself... "When will I be relieved of this pain??" You miss the opportunity to build that testimony of what God can do with an obedient friend, and you miss the chance to praise in the midst of trials which is so powerful and intimate!
2- You can't see the potholes and debris on the road, you are now at the mercy of your circumstances. Sure God is there, divinely directing things, but how much harder are you making it on yourself if you aren't prepared to steer in the direction He tells you, or jump when He asks you?
3- The most detrimental- You arrive at your promise land- yes, you do arrive- but you are now battered, beaten up, worn out, defeated in spirit (remember you had your face in the ground the whole season and negativity builds up!), and you have lost some of the vision God had once given you. You find that you need healing and spiritual "first aid" before you can even start the task you've been waiting for all that time.
But, what if you matched pace with the driver? What if you ran the whole way, stayed on your feet? Things would be much different during the journey and at your destination!
1- You would be so encouraged, because you would have seen God at work in your life. You would have seen His passion for you and the mission He has for you and therefore, it would be instilled in you! Essentially, the vision would be clearer, not blurred. You would be blessed on the road to see the beauty of God at work and created a huge testimony that could carry you through other hard times. The work that you experience God do during this time of travel and change, can become a foundational element of the work you will do in your promise land!
2- You learn to be obedient, you learn to listen and discern the voice of God! You learn to face trials- potholes and obstacles- face on with faith that God will steer you right around them or through them. Again, this is building up foundational truths that will likely sustain you later in your mission. Remember intimacy is built as you are learning His voice, trusting His promptings, and being obedient.
3- Finally, because of the last two, because you stayed on your feet; you arrive at the promised destination whole and healthy!! Praise God! Not only that, but you are STRONGER! (You've been running and training the whole season! Now you are READY!!) You are much more CONFIDENT, not only in yourself, but more importantly in Yahweh God! You can do anything with Him!! You don't need time to heal, you don't need time to regain your vision... you are ready to "hit the ground (still) running" when you get to the promise land.
And that is what I believe God expects from us in the season of waiting for all that He has burned into your heart. Use this time to run passionately, matching your pace with the Holy Spirit, learning to trust God completely, and doing all you can to arrive in your promise land fully prepared to begin walking out the dream He gave you.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
First off, did you ever see in a western how they tie the criminal up to the back of the wagon or horse and then the wagon/horse is set in motion, leaving the man to run like crazy and eventually fall and be dragged until unconscious.
Now, that's the visual God gave me as I cling to my promise land (Swaziland) just like those criminals... I WON'T LET GO... and God expects me not to. But then He spoke clearly to me about not just waiting for the future, but making the most of the present. I think I've been doing a really good job at trying to see the value of NOW, but I think God expects me to do better... after more reflection, I think a lot of it is my attitude towards the present and being more positive... but I'm sure there is more.
Here is the nugget I got about my reaction to the present: I can either be dragged all the way to the future promise land, or I can match my pace and run my heart out. Both get me to the end result- exactly where I want to be, but each has different consequences when I do arrive and that is the powerful difference.
Being dragged- basically, if you go limp and become an inactive, defeated participant a couple of things happen...
1- You miss the beauty of God at work in your life, because your face is in the dirt and your focus is on yourself... "When will I be relieved of this pain??" You miss the opportunity to build that testimony of what God can do with an obedient friend, and you miss the chance to praise in the midst of trials which is so powerful and intimate!
2- You can't see the potholes and debris on the road, you are now at the mercy of your circumstances. Sure God is there, divinely directing things, but how much harder are you making it on yourself if you aren't prepared to steer in the direction He tells you, or jump when He asks you?
3- The most detrimental- You arrive at your promise land- yes, you do arrive- but you are now battered, beaten up, worn out, defeated in spirit (remember you had your face in the ground the whole season and negativity builds up!), and you have lost some of the vision God had once given you. You find that you need healing and spiritual "first aid" before you can even start the task you've been waiting for all that time.
But, what if you matched pace with the driver? What if you ran the whole way, stayed on your feet? Things would be much different during the journey and at your destination!
1- You would be so encouraged, because you would have seen God at work in your life. You would have seen His passion for you and the mission He has for you and therefore, it would be instilled in you! Essentially, the vision would be clearer, not blurred. You would be blessed on the road to see the beauty of God at work and created a huge testimony that could carry you through other hard times. The work that you experience God do during this time of travel and change, can become a foundational element of the work you will do in your promise land!
2- You learn to be obedient, you learn to listen and discern the voice of God! You learn to face trials- potholes and obstacles- face on with faith that God will steer you right around them or through them. Again, this is building up foundational truths that will likely sustain you later in your mission. Remember intimacy is built as you are learning His voice, trusting His promptings, and being obedient.
3- Finally, because of the last two, because you stayed on your feet; you arrive at the promised destination whole and healthy!! Praise God! Not only that, but you are STRONGER! (You've been running and training the whole season! Now you are READY!!) You are much more CONFIDENT, not only in yourself, but more importantly in Yahweh God! You can do anything with Him!! You don't need time to heal, you don't need time to regain your vision... you are ready to "hit the ground (still) running" when you get to the promise land.
And that is what I believe God expects from us in the season of waiting for all that He has burned into your heart. Use this time to run passionately, matching your pace with the Holy Spirit, learning to trust God completely, and doing all you can to arrive in your promise land fully prepared to begin walking out the dream He gave you.
1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us
Isaiah 40:31
but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
First Community Visit
The following is my journal entry from my first full day in Swaziland on my first trip:
September 16,2007
(After visiting a rural community where Cup was starting a Carepoint in partnership with a local church.) No words could ever explain what this community is like., what the people are like. There is so much red dirt and trash scattered among the sticks like bushes themselves. It is very dry- no grass, just dirt. There were shacks set up here and there. Some with mud covered walls, others were stick structures with large stones between them. Some roofs were thatched and some were corrugated metal held down with everything from rocks to old tires.
Many people and children were outside kinda of "hanging-out". We immediately started passing out smelly stickers to the children and I had to model smelling them.
The children were so precious and you just wanted to take each one home and clean them, feed them, love them, give them anything their hearts desired! Love... so much love...
I then proceeded to tell about the three women who showed us their homes. One was a young woman who had lost her parents to sickness. Another was a woman raising her four sons alone since her husband had left her to return to Mozambique. She allowed us to look into her house and I noted in my journal that it was smaller than my bathroom back home and had very little inside. I won't ever forget that feeling as we prayed for her and at the Amen, I saw the tears of thankfulness in her eyes. The power of God!! Another was the mother of seven children. Her husband had died years ago and now needed support from World Vision and other international relief organizations.
What caught me the most is the challenge they have just to get basic necessities like fresh water... The people in the community have to get water from the river, which is quite a distance away (we drove there- they walk). But even worse than having to trek for your daily water, FIVE people have died from crocodile attacks. Now they have a make-shift fence around a portion of the river for some protection. Except, because of the drought they have to go around it- the water is too low inside the fenced in part. Can you imagine having to get your water- life source- from a croc infested river??
This community walk forever changed my view of the world... and this was only the beginning of my experiences...
(I'll try to scan and upload pics from my photo album...)
September 16,2007
(After visiting a rural community where Cup was starting a Carepoint in partnership with a local church.) No words could ever explain what this community is like., what the people are like. There is so much red dirt and trash scattered among the sticks like bushes themselves. It is very dry- no grass, just dirt. There were shacks set up here and there. Some with mud covered walls, others were stick structures with large stones between them. Some roofs were thatched and some were corrugated metal held down with everything from rocks to old tires.
Many people and children were outside kinda of "hanging-out". We immediately started passing out smelly stickers to the children and I had to model smelling them.
The children were so precious and you just wanted to take each one home and clean them, feed them, love them, give them anything their hearts desired! Love... so much love...
I then proceeded to tell about the three women who showed us their homes. One was a young woman who had lost her parents to sickness. Another was a woman raising her four sons alone since her husband had left her to return to Mozambique. She allowed us to look into her house and I noted in my journal that it was smaller than my bathroom back home and had very little inside. I won't ever forget that feeling as we prayed for her and at the Amen, I saw the tears of thankfulness in her eyes. The power of God!! Another was the mother of seven children. Her husband had died years ago and now needed support from World Vision and other international relief organizations.
What caught me the most is the challenge they have just to get basic necessities like fresh water... The people in the community have to get water from the river, which is quite a distance away (we drove there- they walk). But even worse than having to trek for your daily water, FIVE people have died from crocodile attacks. Now they have a make-shift fence around a portion of the river for some protection. Except, because of the drought they have to go around it- the water is too low inside the fenced in part. Can you imagine having to get your water- life source- from a croc infested river??
This community walk forever changed my view of the world... and this was only the beginning of my experiences...
(I'll try to scan and upload pics from my photo album...)
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Loved and Prophetic Thoughts
Day 4 of the 21 Day Blog Challenge :)
The following are two paragraphs I wrote on the plane ride to Africa for the first time. I was so excited, nervous, and in awe of how far God had already taken me and I hadn't even touched African soil. Little did I know how much more He had in store for me on that trip and in the future, but interestingly enough when you read the second paragraph... maybe I did...
September 13, 2007
I'm getting emotional again as I write- I just can't believe how God has honored my decision. I trusted His promptings & urges and stayed the course with Him. See what has happened? I feel so loved, wanted, and needed, by the Creator of our Universe none the less!
I'm not sure if it means much, but I've had thoughts, again, of myself leading a "needy" ministry of education, like Christy Merrill just began doing for Children's Cup in Swaziland. Huh? This trip started as a small vision and tug too...
Things are coming full circle. In regards to the first paragraph, I'm in the same place- learning to be obedient to His promptings and stay the course! See my last post :)
In regards to the second... uhhh... Christy's position is the one I am fundraising to take on with Children's Cup. LOL God is funny. I love how He was warming me up to full-time mission work, even before I did my first short-term trip!
One thing that encourages me is imagining myself on the plane to Swaziland for the big move... I'm sure I'll be thinking some of the same things above- in complete awe of our amazing God. I wonder what prophetic thoughts He might share with me then...
The following are two paragraphs I wrote on the plane ride to Africa for the first time. I was so excited, nervous, and in awe of how far God had already taken me and I hadn't even touched African soil. Little did I know how much more He had in store for me on that trip and in the future, but interestingly enough when you read the second paragraph... maybe I did...
September 13, 2007
I'm getting emotional again as I write- I just can't believe how God has honored my decision. I trusted His promptings & urges and stayed the course with Him. See what has happened? I feel so loved, wanted, and needed, by the Creator of our Universe none the less!
I'm not sure if it means much, but I've had thoughts, again, of myself leading a "needy" ministry of education, like Christy Merrill just began doing for Children's Cup in Swaziland. Huh? This trip started as a small vision and tug too...
Things are coming full circle. In regards to the first paragraph, I'm in the same place- learning to be obedient to His promptings and stay the course! See my last post :)
In regards to the second... uhhh... Christy's position is the one I am fundraising to take on with Children's Cup. LOL God is funny. I love how He was warming me up to full-time mission work, even before I did my first short-term trip!
One thing that encourages me is imagining myself on the plane to Swaziland for the big move... I'm sure I'll be thinking some of the same things above- in complete awe of our amazing God. I wonder what prophetic thoughts He might share with me then...
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
More Scripture Logic
As a continuation of yesterday's post...
Human Logic:
If something is hard, maybe you aren't meant to do it...
God Logic:
I've had a handful of well-meaning folks say this to me, especially in this long fundraising process, but it just isn't fully scripture based. If God tells you to do something, you have to have cling to that- with your fingernails if necessary! Recently that's how I've been describing this latest part of the journey- "hanging on by my fingernails." Something cool that God gave me to combat those those was an emotional connection to many of the Bible heroes and the "crazy" directions they were given by God that went against all "normal" logic.
I started contemplating and put myself in their shoes a bit and realized that they couldn't have felt much different than me right now... confident/yet confused, full of faith/but facing doubt, hopeful/yet afraid... yes, you really can feel them all at one time! So some heroes struggles to consider:
- Abraham walking up to sacrifice Issac... He knew this is what God told Him to do, but surely it couldn't have made sense to sacrifice His long-awaited blessing. He had to have been "chomping at the bit" for God to make a move... He did, but it wasn't until the last minute!!
- Ruth made a decision to be faithful to Naomi even though she had every opportunity to turn-tail and run back to her homeland- her comfort zone. She knew what she was to do and she stuck it out though at times I'm sure it was a long, lonely and awkward road. In the end, God totally blesses her faithfulness. She had to trust that the prompting to go was the right thing and hold on to that during those difficult times of trying to acclimate to being a widow, a new culture, new home, and working for scraps in the fields too!
- There is of course Noah... I wonder if he ever doubted the building of that arc, especially when all his neighbors were laughing at him...
- Or maybe David as he went to face Goliath. I wonder if he ever though he was crazy himself. Even though all the older and stronger soldiers were too fearful, I wonder if he didn't feel that rise of must-do-it strength because he knew it was time to "put up or shut up" in the faith lane.
There are more, for sure, but I'll stop there... Here is what the scriptures told me about this way back in 2007 when I first journaled on the Human Logic vs. God Logic...
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whoa]"> have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Human Logic:
If something is hard, maybe you aren't meant to do it...
God Logic:
I've had a handful of well-meaning folks say this to me, especially in this long fundraising process, but it just isn't fully scripture based. If God tells you to do something, you have to have cling to that- with your fingernails if necessary! Recently that's how I've been describing this latest part of the journey- "hanging on by my fingernails." Something cool that God gave me to combat those those was an emotional connection to many of the Bible heroes and the "crazy" directions they were given by God that went against all "normal" logic.
I started contemplating and put myself in their shoes a bit and realized that they couldn't have felt much different than me right now... confident/yet confused, full of faith/but facing doubt, hopeful/yet afraid... yes, you really can feel them all at one time! So some heroes struggles to consider:
- Abraham walking up to sacrifice Issac... He knew this is what God told Him to do, but surely it couldn't have made sense to sacrifice His long-awaited blessing. He had to have been "chomping at the bit" for God to make a move... He did, but it wasn't until the last minute!!
- Ruth made a decision to be faithful to Naomi even though she had every opportunity to turn-tail and run back to her homeland- her comfort zone. She knew what she was to do and she stuck it out though at times I'm sure it was a long, lonely and awkward road. In the end, God totally blesses her faithfulness. She had to trust that the prompting to go was the right thing and hold on to that during those difficult times of trying to acclimate to being a widow, a new culture, new home, and working for scraps in the fields too!
- There is of course Noah... I wonder if he ever doubted the building of that arc, especially when all his neighbors were laughing at him...
- Or maybe David as he went to face Goliath. I wonder if he ever though he was crazy himself. Even though all the older and stronger soldiers were too fearful, I wonder if he didn't feel that rise of must-do-it strength because he knew it was time to "put up or shut up" in the faith lane.
There are more, for sure, but I'll stop there... Here is what the scriptures told me about this way back in 2007 when I first journaled on the Human Logic vs. God Logic...
Micah 7:7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Ecclesiastes 3:9-14 What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, whoa]"> have been called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 5:3-5 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Logic War
One of the big entries in my Africa journal was written as I was still attempting to make sense of actually going. I knew in my spiritual gut that I was supposed to go, but convincing my mind was harder. So, in my anal way, I created a chart of Human Logic vs. God Logic and then typed it all up! Nerdy- I know :)
So, I thought I'd share with you some of those thoughts that struck me today, because I find myself struggling with this even now- two years into fundraising.
HUMAN LOGIC:
We must take control to MAKE things happen in our favor.
The responsibility falls on me to make this happen. If it is not happening, it is my fault.
GOD LOGIC:
He is in control, not me. He expects me to be obedient to His promptings, but He can and will do the work. Learning to not run around like a chicken with my head cut off is difficult, especially when such a big task has been placed before me AND when that task's completion seems so impossible there is even more pressure. Renewing my mind is so important. This is the way I remind myself of HIS POWER. He is Yahweh!!! With that means I must always make sure that God is on His throne in my heart and I've given Him ALL control. Alone we fail, but with God we will succeed. An important lesson I've learned in this process is that backing off is necessary to allow God the room He needs to make a miracle happen and makes room for me to stretch into the woman He has called me to be. Even at this very minute, I do still find it a huge challenge to balance my move and God's move... It is hard to know how much to do, without making a mess of things (so to speak). I trust that God will take into consideration my ignorance on the matter and will make it really clear when he wants me to "jump" and I'm doing my best to be ready to ask "how high" when He does.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Micah 2:13 Then I, God, will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They'll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 12:1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering
Isaiah 11:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
Psalm 145:15-17 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD
Pressing On...
So, I thought I'd share with you some of those thoughts that struck me today, because I find myself struggling with this even now- two years into fundraising.
HUMAN LOGIC:
We must take control to MAKE things happen in our favor.
The responsibility falls on me to make this happen. If it is not happening, it is my fault.
GOD LOGIC:
He is in control, not me. He expects me to be obedient to His promptings, but He can and will do the work. Learning to not run around like a chicken with my head cut off is difficult, especially when such a big task has been placed before me AND when that task's completion seems so impossible there is even more pressure. Renewing my mind is so important. This is the way I remind myself of HIS POWER. He is Yahweh!!! With that means I must always make sure that God is on His throne in my heart and I've given Him ALL control. Alone we fail, but with God we will succeed. An important lesson I've learned in this process is that backing off is necessary to allow God the room He needs to make a miracle happen and makes room for me to stretch into the woman He has called me to be. Even at this very minute, I do still find it a huge challenge to balance my move and God's move... It is hard to know how much to do, without making a mess of things (so to speak). I trust that God will take into consideration my ignorance on the matter and will make it really clear when he wants me to "jump" and I'm doing my best to be ready to ask "how high" when He does.
Psalm 46:10 Be still, and know that I am God
Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight
Ephesians 3:20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Micah 2:13 Then I, God, will burst all confinements and lead them out into the open. They'll follow their King. I will be out in front leading them.
Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Romans 12:1 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering
Isaiah 11:19 If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;
Psalm 145:15-17 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing. The LORD is righteous in all his ways and faithful in all he does.
Romans 11:36 For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.
Micah 3:8 But as for me, I am filled with power, with the Spirit of the LORD
Pressing On...
Sunday, February 27, 2011
Fresh Start: 21 Day Blog Challenge
Catching you up:
My heart and mind are so on Africa right now. God's been stirring me up to make a bigger push toward this calling. I've been struggling with time management though in pursuing these stirrings. You see, even though I've been teaching for 10 years, this is probably my hardest year yet. This is my first year in the primary first grade. Let me tell you that first grade is drastically different from the third and fourth grade classes I've taught for the last decade. Teaching already is a time monopolizer, but with so many changes and a huge learning curve, it has been even more demanding. With that noted, little time is left to relax or pursue other passions like Africa. Currently I am praying that God would open up avenues of time and increase my time management so that I can devote much more of my time to my Africa dream pursuit. I'm also asking Him what I should be learning from this balancing struggle that He has given me...
Don't be confused though, my Africa preparation isn't on hold- I just wish I could devote MORE time to it, God is still pushing me, growing me, stretching me, changing me, and financially providing! WOO HOO- keep praying for all of that to continue, please!
One great things that God has placed before me recently is to step down from some church responsibilities to create space in my time to take a 15-week college level course on Missions created by the U.S. Center for World Missions and being held at a different church called Christian Family Chapel. This course, called Perspectives, is reshaping how I see missions and God's heart for missions. Above all else, God desires that His glory and name would be spread to ALL the nations and that is what missions is all about- making God famous, taking my little candle of God's glory that I carry with me and spreading it to one more and one more and one more...
This class has an intense amount of in-depth articles by theologians and each week we have a different speaker somehow involved with missions! One of the coolest things about this opportunity is to be around other missionaries and missions-minded individuals! It just fires me up to talk to them and just be around them EVERY week!! It is also cool to witness at Christian Family Chapel, how I feel, God intended the church to fully support their missionaries- financially, spiritually, and publicly.
Currently:
I've recently decided to revisit some of my old journals, particularly the ones from my trips to Swaziland. My hope is to reconnect with my love for Swaziland, but also to see the journey from a different perspective- looking back! How often do you do that? Stop and look back at where God has taken you? I love doing it, it changes your perspective. You begin to feel stronger, you build confidence in Him by seeing- "Ohhhhh, (high-pitched light bulb "oh") God you really were there and you really do have a big picture at work here..." and it excites you for the future!!! What is God going to do now, what's next????
The fresh start:
I am challenging myself to blog for 21 days straight and share with anyone who wants to hear tidbits from those journals and about my current experiences as a fundraising-soon-to-be-full-time-missionary. I guess I picked 21 days because that is a nice round "church number"- you know, with the 21 day fast... but this is actually like a fast because I promise you- between work and a college-level class- I will have to make sacrifices to connect with God and you through this blog every day. I might fall short, but I'm promising to do my best.
So, I hope you will join me and follow me as I look back, examine now, and dream for the future!
Africa or bust!! <3
Monday, January 17, 2011
Fully Pursuaded
I'm writing, because I want to. Not because I know what I want to say...
I was reminded of an awesome verse today, Romans 4:18-21 (above). I am definitely in a new season as of very recently, a season of believing, really believing, taking God at His word, asking, and trusting. Even if there is no hope to be seen, let me be fully persuaded, and not waiver because of the "facts." God's truth outweighs the facts of life EVERY time! This is also a season of fine-tuning me. A big part of that is changing my path some- where I invest my time and energy- and becoming more disciplined in all I do.
I feel ready, ready for Africa, ready for God to use me for His glory in a scope beyond my imagination. I feel called to bring peace and restoration through His Spirit, emotional healing, hope. I can't explain it, but I know that God wants me to be a vessel that shines His glory around and spread it like wildfire and I know that He wants to do it in a great and ridiculous way. This boxed in life, isn't going to cut it. The cookie-cut view of the world and His power, isn't going to work either. All around me, most all of us, underestimate God because we don't fully believe and we don't intimately know the Holy Spirit. I don't want to be normal, I want to make God gasp with pride, tear with joy, melt with love for me. I know I will as I am FULLY obedient to all He has dreamed for me. Yes, God has a dream for me. He formed it when He knit me together in my mother's womb. (Ps 139:13) (He has one for you too, ask Him about it!)
So, believing... I'm believing right now for $37,458 to be EXACT! That is how much I need (all that's left) to be fully funded for two full years in Swaziland. I decided to stop beating around the bush and ask specifically. Will you ask Him with me? I'm believing God that He has called me, He is the way maker, He will pay the bill... why? because He is a missionary God, seeking for the knowledge of His glory to be spread throughout the world and He is looking for someone to send- I've told Him that He can send me... I've planted seeds for sponsorship and I'm believing they will produce. Other than that I'm done giving God ideas, I've simply asked Him to open Heaven and send to me that which He has already promised me... Who is He that He should lie or change His mind? (1Sam 15:29) He also promises not to make me look like a fool. (Whew!) So, I'm praying for provision and direction, if there are things He wants me to do to seek that provision...
I'm also believing that He will do a miraculous work and I could be there by August! Yes, I'm saying it out loud. Will you pray for timing with me? I can't go until I have my funding... believing, faith, trust...
I don't know if faith is supposed to be easy, but it isn't for me. I've grown up so logical and full of fear. But, all I can do with a dream so big is to lean not on my own understanding but trust in Him. (Proberbs 3:5) Even if I'm at a 48% stalemate, even if I know of 3 missionaries who started after me getting to step on Africa soil before me, even if I have no clue what my next steps should be and I feel like I've run into brick walls, even if rationally raising $66,000 in our crazy US economy and being a missionary is absolutely illogical... I am gonna believe with ALL my heart! If God is for me, who can be against me? (Rom 8:31)
In closing, I'm loving learning about the different Hebrew names of God. One that I have clung to lately is El Chay. El Chay is our living God. God hears, speaks, and acts! You see in the past few months, God has spoken a lot to me. So much teaching and knowledge of who He is, who I am... it has been so personal and so amazing. I also want to give you a glimpse into how I know He hears me... I was driving home the other night and I really wanted to see a deer on the side of 95. I know it is silly, but it is just a cool thing to me, call me cheesy... I was hoping to see one and looking very hard, well I wasn't seeing one... I mean how many times in 10yrs had I driven around Jax and not seen a deer, its not like they are common! LOL Then I realized I hadn't prayed... so I did, asking to see a deer as a reminder that He is with me and I'm on the right path, and... not 5 seconds later I saw a deer on the side of the road who stopped eating and looked right at me. It is etched in my mind, even thought this isn't the first time God has humored me with a deer sighting (It is actually the 10th :) He once again reminded me that He, El Chay, The Living God, is present- is listening- is speaking- and when it is right, He WILL act.
Are you with me?
Let's believe in a God who acts, that His glory will fill the Earth, especially in Africa!
Let's believe in a God who acts, that His glory will fill the Earth, especially in Africa!
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Birthday Blessings???
It is my birthday tomorrow!
Birthday's are a great time to celebrate life! Tomorrow I want to celebrate the amazing call God has placed on my life! It still boggles me that He would choose me to be a missionary in Africa! God's people are so important to Him. He has a big message of freedom, love, and hope to share with His people in Swaziland and He has invited me to help spread it!
All I want for my birthday is to pass 50% and even reach 60%! Can you help me do that? In honor of my birthday, in honor of this call on my life, in honor of all the orphaned children in Swaziland, will you make a new donation to push me even closer?
How amazing would it be to move to Africa by August? That means I need all my funding NOW! Can you help me do it?
Good-bye 31 years old and 50%... Hello, 32 and African soil!
My heart beats with thankfulness for all my supporters!!!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Monday, August 9, 2010
Bearing Fruit Even in Drought
Jeremiah 17:5-8
NIV
5 This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
MSG
5-6God's Message:
"Cursed is the strong one
who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
and sets God aside as dead weight.
He's like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
in a land where nothing grows.
7-8"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
the woman who sticks with God.
They're like trees replanted in Eden,
putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
bearing fresh fruit every season.
There is no doubt that this is a season of drought for me. A season of waiting is definitely a season of drought as you fail to see anything happen that you think should be happening! For me, it is getting the funding I need to get to Africa... Being patient is hard, but these verses have been speaking to me so much on so many levels about quieting my own ambitions and trusting God; even if I see a vast, dry desert in front of me. He promises that if you seek Him first you will bear fruit, even if by all natural means it is impossible!! (Matt 6:33) I mean a tree bearing fruit in a a season of drought... that's pretty impossible isn't it? But He still promises FRESH fruit!! Here are some thoughts on these verses...
Why do the leaves stay green in the drought?
- The tree (you and I) is drinking from the stream (God's Word- He is Living Water!!!).
- It must have been planted for a while to have a substantial root system to even receive water, especially in a drought season.
- I've been thinking about the fact that during a drought (even summer months) a tree would actually need to drink MORE water than usual to counteract the heat's effects.
Why does it not worry in times of drought?
- God has PROMISED a harvest of fruit!!
- Have faith in that promise even when the heat continues, no life is seen, and dryness and hopelessness abound.
- Don't worry because you have access to all the water (stream=God) that you need and you WILL bear fruit.
Why doesn't it fear when heat comes?
- It doesn't fear because it is connected to the stream!!!
- See how it says the leaves stay green? I believe the tree is trusting because, although there isn't fruit YET, its leaves are green. That means you can see that the stream IS providing, IS nurishing and fruit is on its way!!!! I believe God is saying don't look at your circumstances (the heat and lack) but look at your source and evidence- even if it isn't what you'd expect (leaves instead of fruit... for me: spiritual growth and not financial- YET!)
Compare our two options:
1- Trusting in Man (Others/Ourselves)
You become like a tumbleweed in the dessert. You are tossed around, inconsistent, with no prosperity. Your heart is deceitful (vs. 9) because you are focused on your circumstances. This leads to worry and fear, which lead to confusion.
2- Trusting in God
You are like a tree planted by a stream of Living Water with strong, durable roots. You are consistent, bearing FRESH fruit EVERY season. Your focus is on God and His Word. Your focus is on the promises He has made you from the mountain top of faith. You trust Him, because He CANNOT lie! Therefore you are not worried, you do not fear, and you are serene and calm during this season of drought!
I don't know about you, but I'm working hard to be that tree and I'm just waiting for the harvest of fruit!! (Who'd really want to be a tumbleweed anyways!! LOL)
NIV
5 This is what the LORD says:
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man,
who depends on flesh for his strength
and whose heart turns away from the LORD.
6 He will be like a bush in the wastelands;
he will not see prosperity when it comes.
He will dwell in the parched places of the desert,
in a salt land where no one lives.
7 "But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD,
whose confidence is in him.
8 He will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit."
MSG
5-6God's Message:
"Cursed is the strong one
who depends on mere humans,
Who thinks he can make it on muscle alone
and sets God aside as dead weight.
He's like a tumbleweed on the prairie,
out of touch with the good earth.
He lives rootless and aimless
in a land where nothing grows.
7-8"But blessed is the man who trusts me, God,
the woman who sticks with God.
They're like trees replanted in Eden,
putting down roots near the rivers—
Never a worry through the hottest of summers,
never dropping a leaf,
Serene and calm through droughts,
bearing fresh fruit every season.
There is no doubt that this is a season of drought for me. A season of waiting is definitely a season of drought as you fail to see anything happen that you think should be happening! For me, it is getting the funding I need to get to Africa... Being patient is hard, but these verses have been speaking to me so much on so many levels about quieting my own ambitions and trusting God; even if I see a vast, dry desert in front of me. He promises that if you seek Him first you will bear fruit, even if by all natural means it is impossible!! (Matt 6:33) I mean a tree bearing fruit in a a season of drought... that's pretty impossible isn't it? But He still promises FRESH fruit!! Here are some thoughts on these verses...
Why do the leaves stay green in the drought?
- The tree (you and I) is drinking from the stream (God's Word- He is Living Water!!!).
- It must have been planted for a while to have a substantial root system to even receive water, especially in a drought season.
- I've been thinking about the fact that during a drought (even summer months) a tree would actually need to drink MORE water than usual to counteract the heat's effects.
Why does it not worry in times of drought?
- God has PROMISED a harvest of fruit!!
- Have faith in that promise even when the heat continues, no life is seen, and dryness and hopelessness abound.
- Don't worry because you have access to all the water (stream=God) that you need and you WILL bear fruit.
Why doesn't it fear when heat comes?
- It doesn't fear because it is connected to the stream!!!
- See how it says the leaves stay green? I believe the tree is trusting because, although there isn't fruit YET, its leaves are green. That means you can see that the stream IS providing, IS nurishing and fruit is on its way!!!! I believe God is saying don't look at your circumstances (the heat and lack) but look at your source and evidence- even if it isn't what you'd expect (leaves instead of fruit... for me: spiritual growth and not financial- YET!)
Compare our two options:
1- Trusting in Man (Others/Ourselves)
You become like a tumbleweed in the dessert. You are tossed around, inconsistent, with no prosperity. Your heart is deceitful (vs. 9) because you are focused on your circumstances. This leads to worry and fear, which lead to confusion.
2- Trusting in God
You are like a tree planted by a stream of Living Water with strong, durable roots. You are consistent, bearing FRESH fruit EVERY season. Your focus is on God and His Word. Your focus is on the promises He has made you from the mountain top of faith. You trust Him, because He CANNOT lie! Therefore you are not worried, you do not fear, and you are serene and calm during this season of drought!
I don't know about you, but I'm working hard to be that tree and I'm just waiting for the harvest of fruit!! (Who'd really want to be a tumbleweed anyways!! LOL)
Saturday, July 24, 2010
A Season of Growth and Revelation
I'm going to do my best to share in the next few posts some amazing nuggets that the Lord has given me recently. Lately, I've learned that, although God will speak to all of us through many different means, He and I very much communicate through revelation of His Word. He is showing me so many "meaty" things in my quiet time with Him. I love it, because as the Word speaks directly to my heart and situation; it proves every time that HE IS REAL!! HIS WORD IS ALIVE!! I have been falling in love with the Word of God and so much more with Him!
The following are summarized some of my recent nuggets or truths that God has been teaching me...
* If the wait has been all for this feeling of love for Him I've gained, then the wait is so worth it!!!
* In His PRESENCE is JOY, His JOY is our STRENGTH, His STRENGTH teaches us to be CONTENT... so, His PRESENCE = CONTENTMENT
* Prayer is aligning myself with what God wants to do IN me during this season.
* A warrior keeps putting one foot in front of the other, even when faith is the only reason to. I will trust in the One who loves me the most and who I love the most.
* God's dream of me (what He imagined as He knit me together and numbered the hairs on my head) is the woman I want to be and the woman He is molding me into.
* His Holy Spirit fire refines me and empowers me with passion and confidence.
* It's not about the natural, but the SUPERnatural! Not about the temporary, but the eternal. And there is far more going on in this season in the SUPERnatural that will last for eternity!!! Praise God!!
* God and I have created a Tent of Meeting that will last me my whole life. (I have a whole 5 point sermon on this to come! lol Revolutionizing me!!!)
* Every tree (person) planted by the stream (drinking from Christ) WILL produce fruit, but always in SEASON!!
* Let your YES be YES and your NO be NO!! A warrior must be committed, zealous, and firm.
* Seek God's approval, not man's
* I must continue to strive to GUARD MY HEART!!
Overall, I'm learning what it means to REALLY, REALLY, REALLY TRUST GOD, even when the situation around me is NOT aligning with His promises... this is very hard, but He is teaching me with tons of grace!
Pray that I continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge of Him. Pray for passion in me for all things Africa. Pray for a miracle in regards to the financial blessing I need to get to Swazi soil! Thank you!! Love you all!
The following are summarized some of my recent nuggets or truths that God has been teaching me...
* If the wait has been all for this feeling of love for Him I've gained, then the wait is so worth it!!!
* In His PRESENCE is JOY, His JOY is our STRENGTH, His STRENGTH teaches us to be CONTENT... so, His PRESENCE = CONTENTMENT
* Prayer is aligning myself with what God wants to do IN me during this season.
* A warrior keeps putting one foot in front of the other, even when faith is the only reason to. I will trust in the One who loves me the most and who I love the most.
* God's dream of me (what He imagined as He knit me together and numbered the hairs on my head) is the woman I want to be and the woman He is molding me into.
* His Holy Spirit fire refines me and empowers me with passion and confidence.
* It's not about the natural, but the SUPERnatural! Not about the temporary, but the eternal. And there is far more going on in this season in the SUPERnatural that will last for eternity!!! Praise God!!
* God and I have created a Tent of Meeting that will last me my whole life. (I have a whole 5 point sermon on this to come! lol Revolutionizing me!!!)
* Every tree (person) planted by the stream (drinking from Christ) WILL produce fruit, but always in SEASON!!
* Let your YES be YES and your NO be NO!! A warrior must be committed, zealous, and firm.
* Seek God's approval, not man's
* I must continue to strive to GUARD MY HEART!!
Overall, I'm learning what it means to REALLY, REALLY, REALLY TRUST GOD, even when the situation around me is NOT aligning with His promises... this is very hard, but He is teaching me with tons of grace!
Pray that I continue to grow in wisdom and knowledge of Him. Pray for passion in me for all things Africa. Pray for a miracle in regards to the financial blessing I need to get to Swazi soil! Thank you!! Love you all!
Monday, July 5, 2010
I wanted to share with everyone this amazing video. This video captures what Children's Cup is about and the work that I will be partnering with once I'm there. Thank you for all your support! Keep praying that God's timing will continue to unfold perfectly and that I will soon have all my funding to be on the ground in Swaziland. To God be the glory!
Monday, April 26, 2010
ARC week... Day 1
So today was just all driving to LA! Shannon and I road together, which means that we shared this-and-that's about Africa between me turning up the volume to every other "favorite song"! ;) lol
The dinner this weekend and my decision to actually hand over my cats has really freed me up and given me so much confidence! What is God going to do next?
Well, that's my expectations for this weekend... on the look out, ready to hear from the Holy Spirit!
This is my week to focus on being a missionary and I'm soooo excited!
Tomorrow morning is coffee with Swazi's head Children's Cup guy- Ben Rodgers! I'm looking forward to it!
I'll check in soon...
The dinner this weekend and my decision to actually hand over my cats has really freed me up and given me so much confidence! What is God going to do next?
Well, that's my expectations for this weekend... on the look out, ready to hear from the Holy Spirit!
This is my week to focus on being a missionary and I'm soooo excited!
Tomorrow morning is coffee with Swazi's head Children's Cup guy- Ben Rodgers! I'm looking forward to it!
I'll check in soon...
Saturday, April 24, 2010
God's Rocking My World
So much to say... my heart is so full... and my body so tired lol :)...
Tonight was my big fundraiser dinner... it's done, it's over, I made it, but only with the Holy Spirit doing His thing and God blessing my socks off with the best friends and parents ever! My vision became reality tonight as over 50 people joined me for lasagna and some time to share my heart for Africa. There was an awesome fundraiser, there were my keychains for donations, and there were donations galore! :)
The Holy Spirit spoke through me tonight and it was so cool. All week I struggled with what to say, nervous about getting up in front of people and not liking what I'd planned. Well, this morning during an awesome quiet time, God gave me a new outline! The amazing thing... I didn't even look at my notes!! :) What, what!!! Holy Spirit livin and movin and speakin through me... I cried like 4 times and I hear the Spirit even moved a handful of men to fan their eyes! lol Passion is passion and I think it came out tonight for real!
So... Drum Roll, Please... $1,900 upfront raised and $450 pledged for monthly and SO many seeds planted. If you are reading this, please pray with me that those that came tonight will refer me to people or God will continue to work on them to give monthly! Woo Hoo!!
In other news... a second big step toward Africa... I officially gave my cats away today... It breaks my heart, but I know that God wanted to see me break the tie, take the leap, and make a bold move... so I did... once the adrenaline wears off... I'm sure it will hit me more... right now, I'm just trying to not think about it and keep praying Psalm 23 over myself, esp. "He leads me down the RIGHT paths, for HIS name sake."
I'm doing my best to trust God with EVERY step and with that means I have to actually TAKE a step and then another and then another out of the box to Africa... :)
Tonight was my big fundraiser dinner... it's done, it's over, I made it, but only with the Holy Spirit doing His thing and God blessing my socks off with the best friends and parents ever! My vision became reality tonight as over 50 people joined me for lasagna and some time to share my heart for Africa. There was an awesome fundraiser, there were my keychains for donations, and there were donations galore! :)
The Holy Spirit spoke through me tonight and it was so cool. All week I struggled with what to say, nervous about getting up in front of people and not liking what I'd planned. Well, this morning during an awesome quiet time, God gave me a new outline! The amazing thing... I didn't even look at my notes!! :) What, what!!! Holy Spirit livin and movin and speakin through me... I cried like 4 times and I hear the Spirit even moved a handful of men to fan their eyes! lol Passion is passion and I think it came out tonight for real!
So... Drum Roll, Please... $1,900 upfront raised and $450 pledged for monthly and SO many seeds planted. If you are reading this, please pray with me that those that came tonight will refer me to people or God will continue to work on them to give monthly! Woo Hoo!!
In other news... a second big step toward Africa... I officially gave my cats away today... It breaks my heart, but I know that God wanted to see me break the tie, take the leap, and make a bold move... so I did... once the adrenaline wears off... I'm sure it will hit me more... right now, I'm just trying to not think about it and keep praying Psalm 23 over myself, esp. "He leads me down the RIGHT paths, for HIS name sake."
I'm doing my best to trust God with EVERY step and with that means I have to actually TAKE a step and then another and then another out of the box to Africa... :)
Sunday, April 4, 2010
The Mission Field is Where You are NOW...
Yesterday was such a great day! Why? Well, our 20's and 30's team joined up with Metro Kids at the Cleveland Arms apt. complex in downtown Jax to throw down an awesome outreach! There were games, crafts, hot dogs, Easter eggs, and even some labor in their new building! It was great to see our group really taking ownership of God's call on each of our lives to serve! It's way cool to see peers of mine serve as the hands and feet of Christ for the first time in their lives! I'm sure it's in their blood now! heehee It also makes me feel super blessed thinking back to all the opportunities I've had to serve God through outreach and missions since middle school. Isn't it such an honor that God uses US to do His work? So cool and such a good high!!!!
Being in the inner city yesterday reminded me a lot of Africa... right here in Jacksonville there are also so many children living in poverty with no father in sight, learning to survive the best way they can. Maybe God's not calling you to love on the children a continent away like He is me, but maybe, just maybe He wants you to do the same exact work... but just across town??? Think about it, pray about it... The Word of God says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
Being in the inner city yesterday reminded me a lot of Africa... right here in Jacksonville there are also so many children living in poverty with no father in sight, learning to survive the best way they can. Maybe God's not calling you to love on the children a continent away like He is me, but maybe, just maybe He wants you to do the same exact work... but just across town??? Think about it, pray about it... The Word of God says "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27
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