As some of you know I was very unsure if I was wanting to go on this trip this summer. My heart was lost in Uganda, to the little kids with no families, who had been kicked out of their communities. My heart broke for them. So when God called me to Zambia/South Africa I was not super excited. So I told God if he really wanted me to go on this trip, he was going to have to show me and not just with a knowing that I was to go but physically. So I started praying Lord if I'm to go will you please provide half of the funds by the end of January. And sure enough the funds came in. Then I began praying Lord I know I'm to go now, and I know your bigger than money, so please bring in the rest by the end of April. And sure enough the rest of the money has come in. There is some reason bigger than my mind can dream of why I'm supposed to be going on this trip, and I can't wait to see why. Thanks for all your prayers and support I couldn't do it alone. God Bless!
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Looking through His eyes
My prayer for the last well forever has been "God I want to see people the way you do." and my prayer for the last month or so everyday as I drive to school, is "Lord let me be your hands and feet today, in whatever way that may be." So as I pray these prayers the Lord has given me a glimpse through His eyes, and placed this longing on my heart to be his hands and feet to people in simple ways. So this brings me to the umph of my blog, I've been praying, asking, and looking. But when I would see the "needs" I wouldn't meet them. For example: Its snowing and I'm walking out of Wal-mart, there is this little old lady scooping of her car windows and instantly I think wow I should help her. As I turn to my friends to say wait lets help this lady, I get overwhelmed with the thoughts that, I don't have time, heck she is almost done what's one more window going to do to her, what are my friends going to think, and the list goes on and on."
That is just one story of several I've had in the past few weeks. I felt like God was telling me tonight to go to youth group instead of my missions class I normally would be at on a Sunday night, and my old youth pastor was speaking and the line that slapped me in the face was, "If someone were to read your life as a book, would it be an epic book/movie?" So many times in the past I've compromised the opportunities the Lord has given me to show His love. Why? Because its not comfortable, its not comfortable to go and ask to help someone you don't know, its not comfortable to give up some thing you've earned to let someone have more "comfort", IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST! The Lord has called us to step out of our comforts to advance His kingdom. Our life is only so long, and living with out comforts for a glimpse of eternity WON'T KILL US!
Now will you join with me in this life that the Lord has called us to live, a life of giving up everything, to gain THE ONLY THING, Jesus Christ!
That is just one story of several I've had in the past few weeks. I felt like God was telling me tonight to go to youth group instead of my missions class I normally would be at on a Sunday night, and my old youth pastor was speaking and the line that slapped me in the face was, "If someone were to read your life as a book, would it be an epic book/movie?" So many times in the past I've compromised the opportunities the Lord has given me to show His love. Why? Because its not comfortable, its not comfortable to go and ask to help someone you don't know, its not comfortable to give up some thing you've earned to let someone have more "comfort", IT'S NOT COMFORTABLE TO BE A FOLLOWER OF CHRIST! The Lord has called us to step out of our comforts to advance His kingdom. Our life is only so long, and living with out comforts for a glimpse of eternity WON'T KILL US!
Now will you join with me in this life that the Lord has called us to live, a life of giving up everything, to gain THE ONLY THING, Jesus Christ!
Sunday, January 17, 2010
WoW! What it takes for us to finally get it!
Wow! So as many of you know the earthquake in Haiti hit closer to home to me than I would of honestly ever liked to have. But in the raw and true reality it is super hard, but God is doing a new thing! My family has many ties to Haiti, and through all those ties yesterday we found out that the kids our family almost adopted 3 years ago (our friends ended up adopting them, and live just across town, praise God) sister in Haiti didn't make it through the earthquake. Also we have missionaries from our church here in small town Iowa that are having to send their children back to the states, because they don't know how much longer they will have clean water and food to eat.
But anyways back to my "click" "light on moment" I was sitting listening to my mom talk on the phone with our friends who adopted the boys from Haiti, just asking what were some major things you would tell these other families (we have 3 other families in the process of adopting 5 children from Haiti, and God willing 4 more will be coming back with them in the next few weeks and we are trusting God that families will rise to take them into their family) and as I sat there reflecting on the past week, and all the endless moments of praying, crying, and asking why, there is a hope a light at the end of the tunnel.
Through all this pain, physically and emotionally those who were Christ Followers are still praising God! If that were to happen here we "Christians" would be swearing at God, asking him why in the world would he do it to us? But these people trust God! They HAVE TO or there would be NO HOPE! They can't buy their hope like we can, if we feel sad we eat, buy new clothes to boost our ego, take a trip, or do something, but they have nothing to help "cover" their problems.
So as I went to get a drink of water tonight I turned on the sink and filled up my glass not thinking anything about it, then as I turned away my thought process changed! I've been in countries several times where I can't drink their water because its contaminated for a body with out resistance to it, but when in Haiti they don't even have bottled water, or real food, or a home, or hope for tomorrow. Some people have lost everyone in their family, and have nothing, does it seem fair NO OF COURSE NOT, but life isn't fair.
So finally I know I have skipped around a lot, but I'm still trying to process all of this while writing this out, but last people we need to stop complaining about the car we drive, the food on our plate, the clothes we are wearing, or whatever selfish thing we whine about, and start focusing our life's on God's daily plan like these people. Some times I feel like WE (AMERICANS!) are the ones in poverty, we have no hope past the next "new thing" where are you finding your HOPE, VALUE, and TRUTH? Is it in what your wearing, what your driving, what your eating, what are you spending your money that GOD has BLESSED you with on? Is it bringing him GLORY? HONOR? PRAISE? If not we need to do some rethinking.... I'm just as guilty, but its no excuse we need to live a life connected to Him, worthy of Him, and ready to give up everything (family, life, food, money) to follow him! WILL YOU?
But anyways back to my "click" "light on moment" I was sitting listening to my mom talk on the phone with our friends who adopted the boys from Haiti, just asking what were some major things you would tell these other families (we have 3 other families in the process of adopting 5 children from Haiti, and God willing 4 more will be coming back with them in the next few weeks and we are trusting God that families will rise to take them into their family) and as I sat there reflecting on the past week, and all the endless moments of praying, crying, and asking why, there is a hope a light at the end of the tunnel.
Through all this pain, physically and emotionally those who were Christ Followers are still praising God! If that were to happen here we "Christians" would be swearing at God, asking him why in the world would he do it to us? But these people trust God! They HAVE TO or there would be NO HOPE! They can't buy their hope like we can, if we feel sad we eat, buy new clothes to boost our ego, take a trip, or do something, but they have nothing to help "cover" their problems.
So as I went to get a drink of water tonight I turned on the sink and filled up my glass not thinking anything about it, then as I turned away my thought process changed! I've been in countries several times where I can't drink their water because its contaminated for a body with out resistance to it, but when in Haiti they don't even have bottled water, or real food, or a home, or hope for tomorrow. Some people have lost everyone in their family, and have nothing, does it seem fair NO OF COURSE NOT, but life isn't fair.
So finally I know I have skipped around a lot, but I'm still trying to process all of this while writing this out, but last people we need to stop complaining about the car we drive, the food on our plate, the clothes we are wearing, or whatever selfish thing we whine about, and start focusing our life's on God's daily plan like these people. Some times I feel like WE (AMERICANS!) are the ones in poverty, we have no hope past the next "new thing" where are you finding your HOPE, VALUE, and TRUTH? Is it in what your wearing, what your driving, what your eating, what are you spending your money that GOD has BLESSED you with on? Is it bringing him GLORY? HONOR? PRAISE? If not we need to do some rethinking.... I'm just as guilty, but its no excuse we need to live a life connected to Him, worthy of Him, and ready to give up everything (family, life, food, money) to follow him! WILL YOU?
Thursday, December 17, 2009
What do you think?
So I have been thinking a lot lately about our society/culture, and how the maturity rates of students especially in elementary seem very low compared to 3rd world countries. I started with the mind set of WOW, our kids are blessed to not have to grow up so fast and are able to be kids, but then I started thinking... YES they are blessed, but are we not allowing them to reach their full potential? Think about these few things.
Mary in the Bible was around the age of 12 when she became pregnant with Jesus.
The disciples were young teenagers.
We have been told several times to not back down because we are young. (1 Tim. 4:12, Jeremiah 1)
Jesus wasn't afraid to use the youth, why are we? Why don't we let them live up to all they can be, instead we tell them they are to young to do_______. God didn't think Mary was to young at the age of 12 (around 12) to carry his son, to deal with the pain of not being married, to raise the Savior. God uses the weak, meek, selfless, to reach the masses.
So what if, just what if we learned something from the 3rd world countries who allow their kids to do all they can do, to help raise the family, and to be a benefit to society rather than an outcast.
Let me know your thoughts...
Mary in the Bible was around the age of 12 when she became pregnant with Jesus.
The disciples were young teenagers.
We have been told several times to not back down because we are young. (1 Tim. 4:12, Jeremiah 1)
Jesus wasn't afraid to use the youth, why are we? Why don't we let them live up to all they can be, instead we tell them they are to young to do_______. God didn't think Mary was to young at the age of 12 (around 12) to carry his son, to deal with the pain of not being married, to raise the Savior. God uses the weak, meek, selfless, to reach the masses.
So what if, just what if we learned something from the 3rd world countries who allow their kids to do all they can do, to help raise the family, and to be a benefit to society rather than an outcast.
Let me know your thoughts...
Friday, December 4, 2009
True Love Waits (rap)
Here is an intense rap I wrote today, when a friend challanged me to write how I felt about dating, when your just doing it to do it...
So there's a passion that burns deep with in my soul
And I'm not gonna stand to let it fade to a dull.
So listen up yo far and near
here's a rap I pray will wreck your heart. (wreck=changes)
You don't understand the pain that will come
when your standing with the ring before the one.
All the lust that had come from past incounters
begins to flash through your head like a new found rapture.
You think 1...2...3...4... it'll be done and out the door.
The pain that I feel will be no more.
Let me tell you the truth it won't end right then
many years to come and the pains still with in.
All the tears you cried
when you thought you were alone.
And all the words you spoke
thinking they'll never know.
The thought of love seems so far fetched
so I let him have just one small test.
Never knowing the extent of my choice I made
untill I go to give it to my husband one day.
When you say yes to a man
but don't want his love.
Your just throwing your heart back in the mud.
I tell you the truth your a daughter of a King
don't let your heart be touched by a man thats unclean.
Put your trust in your Farther thats up above
He'll guide you to the one who was found through His love.
I tell you the truth
there's a grace from above
let your heavenly Father
fill that need for true love. (spoken)
So there's a passion that burns deep with in my soul
And I'm not gonna stand to let it fade to a dull.
So listen up yo far and near
here's a rap I pray will wreck your heart. (wreck=changes)
You don't understand the pain that will come
when your standing with the ring before the one.
All the lust that had come from past incounters
begins to flash through your head like a new found rapture.
You think 1...2...3...4... it'll be done and out the door.
The pain that I feel will be no more.
Let me tell you the truth it won't end right then
many years to come and the pains still with in.
All the tears you cried
when you thought you were alone.
And all the words you spoke
thinking they'll never know.
The thought of love seems so far fetched
so I let him have just one small test.
Never knowing the extent of my choice I made
untill I go to give it to my husband one day.
When you say yes to a man
but don't want his love.
Your just throwing your heart back in the mud.
I tell you the truth your a daughter of a King
don't let your heart be touched by a man thats unclean.
Put your trust in your Farther thats up above
He'll guide you to the one who was found through His love.
I tell you the truth
there's a grace from above
let your heavenly Father
fill that need for true love. (spoken)
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Fishers of Men...
As I woke up the other morning from a dream I was really being challenged. The question that kept running through my head was how come whenever we go fishing, and don't get a "profitable" catch we get angry with ourselves? Now if any of you really know me, if I go fishing and the fish aren't biting like boiling oil I get bored super fast.
As I really started to think about the question though my thought process changed from, how many fish I caught, to where I was. What happened to sitting out side in the beauty that God created for us? Smelling the fresh air, watching the birds make their nests, and having the sun radiant down upon your skin. What happened to just "being"?
And once again my thought process shifted to another gear. What was God calling us to when he said "Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."? How many times have you heard that said, and just brushed it off like it was another everyday word? People this is what God has called us to, to go be fishers of men, even when the fish aren't biting. We need to trust that he will bring in the harvest when the harvest is ready. Friends, don't get discouraged when it seems like your not reaping a "profitable" amount, because for one the "profit" isn't for you, and two your just called to be the hands and feet, to love the poor and broken hearted, to care for the weak and needed, and to GO WHERE EVER GOD SENDS YOU!
"We can give everything up, but if we do it because we HAVE to, and not because we love the Lord and WANT to grow closer to him and His love, it will mean nothing to Him."
As I really started to think about the question though my thought process changed from, how many fish I caught, to where I was. What happened to sitting out side in the beauty that God created for us? Smelling the fresh air, watching the birds make their nests, and having the sun radiant down upon your skin. What happened to just "being"?
And once again my thought process shifted to another gear. What was God calling us to when he said "Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."? How many times have you heard that said, and just brushed it off like it was another everyday word? People this is what God has called us to, to go be fishers of men, even when the fish aren't biting. We need to trust that he will bring in the harvest when the harvest is ready. Friends, don't get discouraged when it seems like your not reaping a "profitable" amount, because for one the "profit" isn't for you, and two your just called to be the hands and feet, to love the poor and broken hearted, to care for the weak and needed, and to GO WHERE EVER GOD SENDS YOU!
"We can give everything up, but if we do it because we HAVE to, and not because we love the Lord and WANT to grow closer to him and His love, it will mean nothing to Him."
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Beating of a Heart
Bump-Bump... Bump-Bump... my heart beats, but it feels like something is missing. Again it beats Bump-Bump... Where is the joy in life, the excitement that comes when a parent first hears their child's heart beat. Where did it go? What happened to our joy in life? We breath in... nothing comes out. We have only learned to consume information, love, and joy. What happened to breathing it out? In order to live we must breath out, our bodies weren't made to be chambers, but to be temples. They weren't made so on the out side they could look beautiful, but on the inside they are dark, cold, and dusty, with junk caught in the cob webs, and those pests running around that annoy us. NO JESUS died so we could be set free from those pests, to knock down the cob webs, to sweep up the dust, and most of all... to turn on that light that will never fade. Is your light on? Is your body a place where you would want to dwell, or is it a dark, cold, dirty chamber? Its your choice what it will look like...
"Why is it so easy to trust God with things in our lives that are good, but we aren't so fond of, but when it comes to trusting Him with the things that are good, and we enjoy we hesitate?"
"Why is it so easy to trust God with things in our lives that are good, but we aren't so fond of, but when it comes to trusting Him with the things that are good, and we enjoy we hesitate?"
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