The relationships God puts in our lives are well worth noticing. We are usually so use to them that we forget to look around and see what we have. But as you look you will find that He has put people in your life that are exactly what you needed. He's equipping us for trials, and taking up our cross and following Him.
This sunday I rediscovered just how beautifully designed my friendship with Carrie is. We had gotten some discouraging news, which now that I look back at it, isn't as big of a deal as I felt that it was. We found out that the organization we have been working towards working with for months now was no longer an option.
I was emotionally exhausted and disappointed, ready to just collapse. We went from church to my friend Rachel's house and cooked ourselves some lunch. I immediately put some worship music on and we both just kind of let God make sense of what we didn't want to.
We sat there, just the two of us, eating lunch not saying a thing. Just listening to the worship music, every once in a while we would sing along. Then Carrie broke the silence and said "You know it's actually exciting. Just think, God has something so much better planned for us!" I looked at her and nearly burst. Her faith totally blew me away and was exactly what my heart needed to hear. It brought me back to the truth. God is good all the time and He withholds no good thing from us! So this means, just as she said, that God has something so much greater planned for us.
I have learned over and over again that trusting God when it doesn't make sense always turns into something beautiful. And what looks to be a dark and lonely path is a path I walk with Jesus who is the very Light of the world. This particular setback is not really that big of deal. We will find another organization and we will still get back to Ethiopia. God will get us there. But this very small test helped me see how Carrie and I would deal with a big one. It's encouraging to know that I'm not going to be alone.
Many Godly woman that people just consider to be sweet turn out to be some of the bravest and wisest woman I know. My Mother, the widows I met in Korah, and my best friend Carrie.
They are filled with unbelievable faith and they know God in such an intimate way because of this faith. Just as the disciples had a much more personal relationship with Jesus than the thousands who filled the streets to sing Hosanna. Because they actually believed that Jesus was the Messiah. These woman have inspired me and I hope I become more like them.
I praise God for putting such a brave, faithful woman of God into my life. He has given me just what I needed. I couldn't imagine, going on this journey alone. Just as Naomi needed Ruth, I need Carrie. She is such a valuable gift to me. And I pray that I can return the favor by encouraging and loving her as Jesus has loved me. That we may always point each other towards Christ.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Consider It Pure Joy
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
The news that the three of us received concerning our trip came as a bit of a shock. In short, we will not be using the organization that we have intended on using. We are in the process of finding other opportunities with other ministries.
"For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for," 2 Corinthians 13:9.
We have been so incredibly blessed by our church family. Their willingness and enthusiasm to help and serve us has us overwhelmed with joy. They joined us in our passion for the orphan with joy. And now they joined us in our trial, willing to help carry the burden. It reminds us of how Jesus has loved us and reveals just how special the body is. Think about it. We get to love each other like Christ loved us. He enables this love that knows no bounds. We are so thankful for God's work in our lives and how He has used our church body: our family. ~Bethel
The love and support we see in these relationships is stunning. I am blown away by the encouragement and work these people have invested in getting us back to Ethiopia. They care so much for us. It isn't a good deed for them to help us. Their hearts long to help us in every way that they can. I am so grateful for this church family and all of the relationships we have.
To most people this trial would be a reason to give up but it makes me that much more excited to see what God has planned for us. I can't imagine how great his plan is. None can fathom his marvelous work.
"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." Psalm 145:3
This trial is helping me to lay down myself. I like to plan and have things mapped out, ready to go. But I am not in control. God is in control. Like the song lyrics: "The secret mysteries belong to you. We only know what you reveal." We don't have to have all the answers. We just need to have faith and trust God in his almighty power.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord, All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:1-3
God is good and he will not withhold any good thing from us. This heart for the orphan was placed in all of our hearts from God. He will get us there. Everything that comes our way leading up to the trip, during the trip, and for the rest of our lives is meant to bring glory to his name. What a blessing this trial is. He has revealed so much more in such a short amount of time. He has made simple truths come alive. I am not afraid. I am amazed by God and so excited to see his work displayed. I lay myself down!
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," Hebrews 11:1.
When we are leaving is unknown. What we will be doing is unknown. How much money and what we'll need is unknown.... by us. God knows! Nothing is a surprise to him.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11
"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" Job 11:7
What reason have I to doubt
Why would I dwell in fear
When all I have known is grace
My future in Christ is clear....
....I don't know what lies ahead
What if I fail again
You are my confidence
You'll keep me to the end
James 1:2-4
The news that the three of us received concerning our trip came as a bit of a shock. In short, we will not be using the organization that we have intended on using. We are in the process of finding other opportunities with other ministries.
"For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration is what we pray for," 2 Corinthians 13:9.
We have been so incredibly blessed by our church family. Their willingness and enthusiasm to help and serve us has us overwhelmed with joy. They joined us in our passion for the orphan with joy. And now they joined us in our trial, willing to help carry the burden. It reminds us of how Jesus has loved us and reveals just how special the body is. Think about it. We get to love each other like Christ loved us. He enables this love that knows no bounds. We are so thankful for God's work in our lives and how He has used our church body: our family. ~Bethel
The love and support we see in these relationships is stunning. I am blown away by the encouragement and work these people have invested in getting us back to Ethiopia. They care so much for us. It isn't a good deed for them to help us. Their hearts long to help us in every way that they can. I am so grateful for this church family and all of the relationships we have.
To most people this trial would be a reason to give up but it makes me that much more excited to see what God has planned for us. I can't imagine how great his plan is. None can fathom his marvelous work.
"Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom." Psalm 145:3
This trial is helping me to lay down myself. I like to plan and have things mapped out, ready to go. But I am not in control. God is in control. Like the song lyrics: "The secret mysteries belong to you. We only know what you reveal." We don't have to have all the answers. We just need to have faith and trust God in his almighty power.
"As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9
"The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord, All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord and your plans will be established." Proverbs 16:1-3
God is good and he will not withhold any good thing from us. This heart for the orphan was placed in all of our hearts from God. He will get us there. Everything that comes our way leading up to the trip, during the trip, and for the rest of our lives is meant to bring glory to his name. What a blessing this trial is. He has revealed so much more in such a short amount of time. He has made simple truths come alive. I am not afraid. I am amazed by God and so excited to see his work displayed. I lay myself down!
"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see," Hebrews 11:1.
When we are leaving is unknown. What we will be doing is unknown. How much money and what we'll need is unknown.... by us. God knows! Nothing is a surprise to him.
"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end." Ecclesiastes 3:11
"Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty?" Job 11:7
What reason have I to doubt
Why would I dwell in fear
When all I have known is grace
My future in Christ is clear....
....I don't know what lies ahead
What if I fail again
You are my confidence
You'll keep me to the end
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Response to Scars and Struggles On the Way
Read Bethel's blog before reading this one.
After I read Bethel's blog it reminded me of how our friendship was definitely ordained by God (As said in my last post). We really do compliment each other very well. In the situation Bethel just wrote about I am so discouraged and frustrated that If I didn't have her as a best friend I would have given up despite knowing the truth that if God wants me to go he is gonna make a way for me to go. Sometimes, even when you know that truth, it is still difficult to lean on the Lord. My prayer is to feel God's peace and trust him that his plan is far greater than anything I can imagine.
As in Job 5:8-9 As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.
Maybe this plan that the three of us are forming is nothing at all what God has planned. Maybe, when we get there, he is gonna have us doing something different than we intended. Or having us stay a different amount of time than we thought. Ultimately, God is in control. We can plan to physically go to Ethiopia but the details belong to him.
On our last trip we met a man who had moved to Ethiopia. He didn't like the idea of living in Ethiopia. When his wife brought up the idea he was totally against it saying, "I don't want to live in Ethiopia, learn Amharic and I am not good with kids." But after having a convicting dream, he shared with his wife that he would like to form and pastor a church in Ethiopia. She was thrilled. They moved there and everything that could go wrong with forming the church went wrong. Then God and his plan came in. This man was called to start a daycare. "If I knew that I was going to be working with kids all the time I would not have come," he said. "I am not good with kids but I am a pastor and that is what I am comfortable with." God gave him the heart to go to Ethiopia but when he got there God had a different plan for him. If he knew God's plan ahead of time he wouldn't have wanted to go but now he loves what he is doing. He is living in Ethiopia, learning Amharic, and enjoying each day with children.
I think about this story a lot. As much as we can plan, plan, plan... God is the one in control. I struggle with this a lot because I like to plan. I like things to be organized and thought through and done way in advance. I like to have things ready before it is time to put things into action. Don't get me wrong. I am not as boring as this sounds. I can live on edge too. I just live on edge in an organized manner. haha
As you can tell, there is so much going through my mind and this new trial about money has me going crazy. Right now we could really use your prayers. We need wisdom in making decisions and, also, comfort in the fact that God has this in the palm of his hands. Thank you so much.
And again... because I love this verse.
As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause, who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number.
Job 5:8-9 (ESV)
and because I like comparing versions
But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. (NIV)
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Scars And Struggles On The Way
Today was a really frustrating day. I had a stressful day and then came home to a stressful email about funds for Ethiopia. I wanted to throw things through my TV to be honest.
Raising awareness for the orphan is something I loooove to do! But when it comes to fundraising, I think it's hands down the worst part of a mission trip. People have been telling me that maybe it's a sign that God doesn't want me in Ethiopia right now, maybe I'm moving too fast. And these are people I respect and trust. But surprisingly I have felt nothing but the opposite.
The roadblocks and stress just remind me how I was built to do this. It shows me that this is exactly what He wants me to be doing. Every time I hit another roadblock it just fuels the fire. Yes, it might be harder to get there than I want it to be, but I'm not going to give in. He set my heart on fire and no amount of stress will put that fire out. I will not despair, He's going to get me there.
I'm so glad that it's God's plan and not my own because if it were my plan I would be there right now without any hardship. And without that hardship, I would have not seen this passion grow, and get more intense. I'm not content to stay here and talk everyone's head off with my passion, I want to do something with that passion. I want to be there, I want to love them. I want to be so completely spent each night from pouring everything I have into these children's lives and wake up the next morning with joy knowing I get to do it all over again.
In the midst of all this awful, stressful, fundraising something beautiful is happening: He is creating an unbreakable passion for His mission. With ever nock down I just want to get back up faster. With every disappointment I just want to get right back up on my feet again. I don't want to give up. Haha, how weird is that? I spent most of my life just giving up.
This journey has been full of joy too. So many people have come around us. They have not just supported us but encouraged us. Our church's outpouring of love and passion has been so beautiful to see. This past sunday one of the little girls from my sunday school class came up to me and told me that she was going to sell her homemade donuts and give all the money to me for my trip to Ethiopia..... I mean how amazing is that. There are few things I love more than when God works through children and fills them with His passion for the poor and needy.
The best part is that He is here every step of the way. The same God who put me on this crazy, scary, amazing path is going to complete what He started. And that is one of the most beautiful promised, that I get to walk with Him every step of the way. He's the reason the desire to love the orphans is there in the first place. If you take Him out of the picture, you won't find me loving the orphan. But He is with me. He will be with me through every frustrating night, and for every joyful morning.
So I'm going to keep singing till He gets me back where I need to be...
"Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful"
Raising awareness for the orphan is something I loooove to do! But when it comes to fundraising, I think it's hands down the worst part of a mission trip. People have been telling me that maybe it's a sign that God doesn't want me in Ethiopia right now, maybe I'm moving too fast. And these are people I respect and trust. But surprisingly I have felt nothing but the opposite.
The roadblocks and stress just remind me how I was built to do this. It shows me that this is exactly what He wants me to be doing. Every time I hit another roadblock it just fuels the fire. Yes, it might be harder to get there than I want it to be, but I'm not going to give in. He set my heart on fire and no amount of stress will put that fire out. I will not despair, He's going to get me there.
I'm so glad that it's God's plan and not my own because if it were my plan I would be there right now without any hardship. And without that hardship, I would have not seen this passion grow, and get more intense. I'm not content to stay here and talk everyone's head off with my passion, I want to do something with that passion. I want to be there, I want to love them. I want to be so completely spent each night from pouring everything I have into these children's lives and wake up the next morning with joy knowing I get to do it all over again.
In the midst of all this awful, stressful, fundraising something beautiful is happening: He is creating an unbreakable passion for His mission. With ever nock down I just want to get back up faster. With every disappointment I just want to get right back up on my feet again. I don't want to give up. Haha, how weird is that? I spent most of my life just giving up.
Part of me feels like no one can understand this desire I have because they don't understand my relationship with Jesus, what He's done for me. They weren't there when He called me to love them, they don't know the weight of this gift. Or how specifically He has designed me for this. How can they know? But I'm sure there are many before me who have felt the exact same way.
This journey has been full of joy too. So many people have come around us. They have not just supported us but encouraged us. Our church's outpouring of love and passion has been so beautiful to see. This past sunday one of the little girls from my sunday school class came up to me and told me that she was going to sell her homemade donuts and give all the money to me for my trip to Ethiopia..... I mean how amazing is that. There are few things I love more than when God works through children and fills them with His passion for the poor and needy.
The best part is that He is here every step of the way. The same God who put me on this crazy, scary, amazing path is going to complete what He started. And that is one of the most beautiful promised, that I get to walk with Him every step of the way. He's the reason the desire to love the orphans is there in the first place. If you take Him out of the picture, you won't find me loving the orphan. But He is with me. He will be with me through every frustrating night, and for every joyful morning.
So I'm going to keep singing till He gets me back where I need to be...
"Standing on this mountaintop
Looking just how far we’ve come
Knowing that for every step
You were with us
Kneeling on this battle ground
Seeing just how much You’ve done
Knowing every victory
Was Your power in us
Scars and struggles on the way
But with joy our hearts can say
Yes, our hearts can say
Never once did we ever walk alone
Never once did You leave us on our own
You are faithful, God, You are faithful"
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