God the Provider

At the beginning of this year, I found myself challenged to fight the sin of worry in regards to money. God had already gone above and beyond and supplied the money for me to go to South Africa this summer, but I suddenly had several large expenses and realized just how low my savings account was getting. This is when I realized it wasn't that I always trusted God...but that I always trusted my savings account. He sustained me and taught me a lot about His care for us.

Now He has amazed me once again. I didn't think I would make any money this summer, but God works for our good. Without me asking or looking,He provided several short, well paying jobs for me in these weeks before I leave for South Africa. Praise God! He always takes care of His children!

Yesterday I read these words from 2 Corinthians 9:

"6 Now I say, he who sows sparingly 

will also reap sparingly, 

and he who sows bountifully

will also reap bountifully.

 7 Each one must do just as he has purposed in his heart, 

not grudgingly or under compulsion,

 for God loves a cheerful giver. 

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, 

so that 

always having all sufficiency in everything,

you may have an abundance 

FOR EVERY GOOD DEED;"

If you are worrying about your finances or letting them keep you from being a cheerful giver or from serving..stop! I promise you that He will take care of you..even better, HE promises you! I'm not saying that we should not be good stewards or wise with our money. I don't have a family to take care of or bills to pay and I know that adds different responsibilities. I just want to encourage you to praise God with me for His abundant care and to remember that he will supply the need for every good deed!

Another Summer arrives... and so does Winter.

Summer is here and I'm off again on another adventure! I leave in eight days to fly to South Africa! A sunny, hot, dry, wear all khaki and a nice safari hat kinda place... oh wait! It is actually winter there! :) That's right.. I'm packing my big coat and long underwear for this trip! I'm beyond excited to meet my fellow intern, the missionaries, the people of SA, and especially the little nuggets (i.e. babies) I get to love on for the next two months!

If you don't know about this trip here's a quick update: God has given me a desire to work in an orphanage since I was very small. My junior year in high school I started working for a family who has a huge heart for some missionaries that our church supports and their mission in Pretoria, South Africa. As I worked along side this family, God opened my heart to love these missionaries too. Last year, I spoke with our missions pastor and found out that they have started taking interns. We began the application process and through the help of many people, if God wills it, I will be leaving soon to be an intern for 2 months at the Muphamuzi Baby Home.

Preparing for this trip has felt different from any other for reasons I'm not sure I can put into words yet. But for starters, this is my first mission trip to go on alone. That in and of itself is teaching me a lot. It has made me search my heart and find two things: First, in whom does my dependence and security lie? And secondly, on what/whom does my joy and excitement lie? It is easy to feel safe and secure when you are in a group of people and it is hard not to get excited about something when people you love are excited and going with you. Don't get me wrong... I'm bouncing up and down about this trip! It has been a dream of mine ever since I was a little girl to work in an orphanage and God is blessing me to allow me to serve him in this way.But, as I get ready, I'm learning that God is enough, he is where my joy and contentment is found. Only God will satisfy. I love that my lessons start even before I have a single pair of socks packed! God is going with me on this trip and he alone will be my rock and my strength - what more could I need? I'm so glad he is giving me the opportunity to pull other factors out of the picture and be convinced that my heart is truly full of Him.

The other big thing God has been convicting me of as I prepared for this trip all school year is living like a missionary now. It might fun, exciting, and even a command, to go to other nations and proclaim is gospel, as well as to take care of the orphans and the widows, but that most certainly doesn't exclude us from living that way now. If we don't live like a missionary at home - what makes us think we will in another country? I want to pursue holiness now - not just every summer. I want to share the gospel every chance I get - and make opportunities if I don't already have them. I want to glorify, enjoy, and proclaim God every day of my life - not just every summer.

I'm so thankful for the body of Christ! There are so many people who are making it possible for me to go! It is amazing how God has formed not only our physical bodies, but HIS body - the church - to work in such an intricate way that requires every member to function. I'm so thankful for my parents for supporting me, my dear friends the Everetts for encouraging me so much, all the secretaries at church and Pastor Hamline for organizing everything, as well as, all the other people who support me every summer as I pursue the desire God has given me to go unto all the nations. I'm thankful for the prayers and encouraging words, and I'm thankful for every person who has asked me about the trip.

I plan on keeping people updated through this blog so if you wanna see pictures of some cute babies or here about how God is working in my life you can read about it all right here! Please smother me in your prayers!

Requests:
- For safety as I travel alone, (I've never gone this far before.)*
- Pray that God would go before me and prepare what people I will interact with on the planes and in the airports.
- Pray for boldness, dependence, and a radiant joy that would draw people to Him.
- Pray that I would love selflessly, like Jesus does.
- Pray for all the intern, missionaries, baby home workers, and church members in SA and that God would knit their hearts and mine together quickly.
- Pray I'd know what to pack :)

*Departure is June 3rd at 5:30pm

Pura Vida

Pura Vida. The most common saying here in Costa Rica, these two words directly translate to “pure life” but are often used to mean “awesome.” This is the only expression that comes to mind to describe my time in Costa Rica so far – and that’s not just because I now think in Spanish. I’ve been here for 19 days now and it feels as normal to me as living in the states. I love every new experience, every new person. The way of life here is so simple, so warm. The people are kind, generous, and have such a good sense of humor.

Jonathon and Amy are our directors here and are even more awesome than they seemed when I was preparing to come. I love my discipleship time with them. The other interns here are constant reminders to me of God’s goodness. Each one of them has a different story, a different past, a different path that brought them here – but every one of us has our same great God in common! Some girls here have grown up in church, others have never been. Some have known Christ for more of life than they haven’t – others came to know him just this year. It’s amazing to me to see the way they respond to truths that I’ve heard countless times. It shows me the awe I should have of God that I don’t always have. One of my favorite conversations has been with one of the interns who just read about the Holy Spirit for the first time while here in Costa Rica.

All the interns before the Canopy Zipline

Back Left: Isaac, Kayla, Kelli, Blake, Jennifer

Front Left: Me, Melissa, Bailey, Katie, Kelsey

My host family is beyond words! I love them so much! Mitchelle is my Tica mama, Jeffrey my Tico daddy, and Felipe is my little brother. They’ve taken me and my roommate, Kayla, in and love us like their own. Felipe gave up his bedroom for us and sleeps on cushions in a closet. He gives us big hugs and calls us “My Gringos.” We laugh a lot when he tries to say our names! “Lay-er” and “K-ayyy-la.”  Nights spent with our family are Kayla and I’s highlight. We practice Spanish and laugh at things we say wrong. Jeffrey and Mitchelle are learning English so the lessons go both ways. One of our big jokes is that Mitchelle taught Kayla and I to say “Estoy satisfecha” or “I am satisfied” when we are full. Jeffrey laughed at us and held up his pinky and made a very snobby face and repeated it. He told us it’s snobby and to say “estoy llena” or “I am full” instead. Mitchelle tells him “Ellas son muy educadas” or “The girls are very educated.” Another big laugh has to be Jeffrey singing Adele in the shower for the whole house to hear. We laugh so much at home!

Mitchelle and I at the Fería (Market)

Felipe

Our extended family is wonderful too! Doña Olga is our Abuela and takes good care of us, Don Carlos our funny, Hollister-wearing abuelo, we have many aunts as well but I must say one of  my favorites is little Isa. Isabel is our 11 year old genius of a cousin. She speaks Spanish, English, and Mandarin! I love her to death!

Isa

How's the whole Spanish thing going? Well I guess I'm getting the hang of it - according to my Kayla I am sleep talking in Spanish!

Kayla

At the project, I enjoy the construction which so far has varied from digging dirt, gardening, painting, pulling nails to, yes, I used a power tool! Don’t worry only one person was injured in the process! Just kidding! This week we are doing an archeological dig on the new property which is required before getting building permits to start on 4 new Children’s Homes. The Children’s Homes are located on the project.  I love my afternoons spent there! The house parents are awesome missionaries (both gringos and ticos). The kids’ stories would make anyone’s stomach turn. Some stories involve a dad making his son box against bigger boys, betting on him like a chicken fight, and then giving him whiskey to numb the pain of the hit. This had been going on for years when the boy arrived at the age of 7. Others were addicted to alcohol and drugs by their parents, used in robberies, and one was even lying in bed with her mom when her dad used a machete to decapitate her. The horrors these kids have suffered are unimaginable to me – and even more so when you see their precious smiles. They are as normal as any kid you’ve ever seen. They love to play on the playground and be pushed on the swing and to wear my watch; and they don’t like doing homework or going to bed! I can’t post any pictures of them though because they are under protective care.

I’ve has some really cool experiences while here! Riding the canopy zipline was amazing! It’s was so beautiful. During a mission trip to another church last weekend I drank coconut milk from the coconut – cut open with a machete. I also ate sugar cane and palmitas (palm tree heart) cut open for us. The food here is bland and repetitive but still so good! The fruit is fresh and melts in your mouth. I think I eat a pineapple a day here!

Costa Rica is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever seen. The first word to describe it is verde – green. Everywhere I look is green and other vibrant colors. Mountains surround me no matter where I am. The weather is perfect – especially after a rain cools things down in the afternoon.

There is so much more I could say about life here – but I’m enjoying it too much to waste time writing about it!

If you’ve taken the time to read this far I’d ask for some prayers though:

• ·         Pray for the kids here. My heart is heavy for them. Pray for speedy adoption processes. Also pray for quick adaptation to the changes they encounter. We recently got two new kids (one with a broken arm and both with bruises). We are also getting new kids this week. It’s very hard for them to transition. Another girl was recently adopted and it’s been very hard on one of my favorite little boys here who grew up like a twin with her.
• ·         Pray for continued unity with the interns and for growth for all of us.
• ·         Pray that we’d all finish our month out strong, taking every opportunity to serve and to get to know each other and our Savior better.
• ·         Pray for me that I’d be an encouragement to the other interns and missionaries here and that I’d leave having been used by God.

Joseph: Trust and Obey

A few days ago I read Genesis 39, the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife. There are a few things that stuck out to me.

The first one was recently pointed out in Sunday school. In verse 9, Joseph says, "How then can i do this great wickedness and sin against God?" Joseph understood how terrible sin is. He had no regard for how it would affect his life to refuse the wife of an officer of Pharoh. He trusted God to take care of him and committed to obeying God. Joseph didn't have an attitude of "I've been good and look how God has rewarded me" which would have been an easy response in his situation. In verse 12, we see him fleeing from sin, literally. This should be our response. I am too quick to make excuses and toy with sin. I need to have the perspective of Joseph. I need to realize the terribleness of my sin against a Holy God and flee from it.

The second thing that sticks out to me is how often God says he is with Joseph and he is blessing Joseph. In Joseph's situation it would be so easy and natural to see only the bad and blame God. But, because of his perspective, Joseph was able to realize and enjoy the blessings of God.

v. 1 - We see God directing Joseph's path
v. 2 - The Lord was with Joseph and he became a successful man
v. 3 - His master saw that the Lord was with him and the Lord caused all he did to succeed.
v. 5 -  The Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. The blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and field.
v. 21 -  But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favor in sight of the keeper of the prison.
v. 23 - ...the LORD was with him.  And whatever he did the LORD made it succeed.

So many people in Joseph's situation would see only the injustice he suffered again and again.I know I would. I easily become focused on what "I deserve." So many people would question God's goodness and His hand in these evil events taking place in Joseph's life. But the whole time God was with Joseph. And hew as blessing him and directing his path.

No matter what the situation in life, I want to remember, like Joseph, how great sin is. I want to trust and obey. And I want to remember that God is with me and see his many blessings.

Going Home

I just got back from the last day of a Beth Moore bible study on Revelation at my church here in Russellville. I'm by no means an expert on this book of the bible. In fact, I'm just the opposite. This was my first study ever. I learned a lot..and didn't understand a lot more. Tonight we finished with Revelation 21 and 22. May I just say, I am ready to go home!! There is nothing like a study on those last two chapters to set your heart on the things above and give you a renewed longing for the day when Christ will return to claim His Bride.

There are so many things I gained that i truly can't put them all down or express them right now. I'll start with this though: The Importance of an Eternal Focus. By looking to heaven in this study it has motivated me to fight sin, encouraged me to press on in the race, and increase my desire to share the gospel. If you haven't thought about heaven recently.. do it. Read and meditate on it.

As believers, this world is not our home. I've always tended to feel a little out of place no matter where I am and I think this is true for most of us. We always will feel this here on this earth because we aren't home yet. But, when we go home... it will be so very sweet. Read these verses of the home we are waiting for:

"For behold, I create a new heaven and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind." Isaiah 65:17 - When we go home we won't remember the pain, the hurt, the sin. None of it. God may not see our sin now that he has forgiven it, but we always remember it. It's the reason for lyrics like "When Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within upward I look and see him there who put and end to all my sin." When we go home we won't have to work to remember. We will forget the sin and see only God. Only our Father.

"I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress. No more shall there be in it an infant who lives but a few days or an old man who does not fill out his days," Isaiah 65:19-20 All our pain will be no more. Sorrow will not be felt. Jesus will wipe away every tear. Revelation 21:4 "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, niether shall there be mourning , nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Can you imagine that? You know the feeling of your mom holding you and wiping your tears? Now try to imagine your Savior doing it? You can't. It's an incomprehensible feeling - but one that will come after we are home.

I'm ready. Are you?

Airplane, Airplane

Today I flew from Little Rock to St. Louis and then to Omaha. I love to fly! It always sets my mind running on the Lord. Part of that was because of what He was showing me in His Word (But that's another post!) but a big part of it was just what He was showing me out the window. I looked out as we were taking off from LR and saw so may houses it blew me away. Who knew LR was that big? God knows every single one of those people! He know's their name, their personality, their souls. He created them. He loves them. He knows the details of each of their lives... He planned those details for their good and His Glory! With all the spread sheets in the world i could never do that!
Then I looked farther out and the Lord took my mind to all the other people. LR is small... but He knows everyone in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Their lives. personality. souls.
He knows and created all this yet he cares about me? He CHOSE me! He SAVED me! Why? For no good I've done but His own glory.
Now the world is a lot bigger than what I saw... What i saw didn't show all the world yet alone the universe! In Job God talks bout knowing the names of all the stars...if you haven't noticed there are a whole lot of stars!

I see God on my level. He is so much bigger than that! I can't help but praise Him now. My hearts is just overflowing and my mind is completely boggled as I think about the God who loves me and you. Praise Him tonight for who He is. He is Awesome!

How it all began

This was my original Facebook post that got me started blogging:

So do you ever just get hit by something so hard that it starts to bubble out of you and you just want to share it with the world? That's happening to me as I type! I figure if I can't share it with the whole world right now - facebook gets it pretty close. [Or a blog;)]

I just read Hebrews 1... i was just trying to get through it and get to chapter 2 since that's what I'm supposed to be discussing a bible study tonight. God didn't let me get past the first 4 verses.

Hebrews 1:1-4 "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the whole world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purifications for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs."

Wow! So many thoughts started pouring through my head when I read this. They overlapped, trampling each other before even one could reach the finish line!

Verse three specifically blew me away:

1)He is the radiance of the glory of God.

- the glory of God is glowing! Light is flowing out of Him emitting the glory of God!

2) The exact imprint of his nature

- Don't ever tell me Jesus isn't God! He is no prophet - He is an exact imprint of God's own nature!

3) He upholds the universe by the word of his power.

-I can't adiquately put my thoughts into words on this one.

- This entire universe that scientists deem so huge and complex is held up simply by a word! The planets are held in orbit, they are spinning, staying perfectly aligned - BY A WORD!

4) After making purifications for sins

- Um, did I mention that the one who radiates God's glory, who is his exact imprint, who created the world (vs. 2) and holds it together wit h a word - also died to purify my sins...the sins i commited against him.

5) He sad down at the right hand of the Majesty on high

- Oh yeah, and now he who died is alive; sitting in heaven; ruling beside God.

I try to put God into my box of human understanding - I tell you not even his pinky fingernail would fit into it! He is so much greater than I give him credit for! Praise to the God deserving of it, who radiates his own glory; who created and holds together the world both, with only a word; the one who saved me from my own sins, the one who conquered death.