So I had this brilliant idea to keep y'all updated about the events of the day, everyday, so you knew how you could be praying specifically. In a perfect world I dream of writing daily and posting pictures. The reality is that for better or for worse I am a procrastinator (ex1. On my awesome 2 week countdown, I had planned to begin writing these like first thing. Instead, its the day I leave a few hours before I get picked up.) It just is what it is. Also, I really like the idea of actually being present in the moment. If I'm always thinking of how I'll share that moment I'll actually miss out on the moment itself. Know what I mean? So with that, I leave you a little prayer guide, scheduled to be posted daily right here on my little corner. Thanks for your support and prayers. And I mean that.
Because I don't actually have the brain power at this very moment to figure out when to schedule to post these so that you're actually praying for me the day the events occur I'm just going to post a day ahead of schedule. If that makes sense. (Just go with it.)
SUNDAY
Hey there! My flight arrives at 9 this morning and as luck would have it (actually such a mercy from the Lord) I don't have to take a cab or the bus, cause you know I would have been panicking about that as well, but I'm getting picked up by some new to me friends. I'm here a day early so today is light prayer day. :)
Pray that I would adjust to the time difference well.
Pray that I would also be able to enjoy this day and get to know these friends I've heard so much about!
And not that it's ever hard for me because I love it so(!!!!) would you pray that I sleep well tonight so I'm ready for the adventure that begins tomorrow!
Also pray that I would have some quiet time with the Lord to quiet my heart and mind before the week begins.
Thanks so much for praying along with me! I sooooo appreciate it!
So I had this brilliant idea to keep y'all updated about the events of the day, everyday, so you knew how you could be praying specifically. In a perfect world I dream of writing daily and posting pictures. The reality is that for better or for worse I am a procrastinator (ex1. On my awesome 2 week countdown, I had planned to begin writing these like first thing. Instead, its the day I leave a few hours before I get picked up.) It just is what it is. Also, I really like the idea of actually being present in the moment. If I'm always thinking of how I'll share that moment I'll actually miss out on the moment itself. Know what I mean? So with that, I leave you a little prayer guide, scheduled to be posted daily right here on my little corner. Thanks for your support and prayers. And I mean that.
Because I don't actually have the brain power at this very moment to figure out when to schedule to post these so that you're actually praying for me the day the events occur I'm just going to post a day ahead of schedule. If that makes sense. (Just go with it.)
Saturday
It's the big day. My flight leaves later this afternoon and I couldn't be more excited or feel less prepared in every way. The reality is though that I am prepared. I've packed well. I've prayed well. I've read what I need to. God's word has been perfectly timed to encourage my heart in areas I need it most. And now I go.
Here's how you can pray for me today:
traveling alone eek! I fancy myself a pretty observant person but in an airport I feel I could get turned around easily. Pray that I would get to every place that I need to be smoothly and with time to spare.
pray for my anxiety as well! When I get super anxious (lots of potential for that today) I get hyper emotional (as though I'm not there already) and who needs a blubbering lost woman on their hands today. No one that's who!
pray also that I would be able to sleep on the plane to transition to the time change better. Also that I'd be able to wake up easily from the sleeping aid I'll be taking. (I guess the sleeping part isn't what I need prayer for it's the waking up!)
And then pray of course that my luggage, Mr. Prodi, arrives safe and sound. It's his last go around. (We found mustache duct tape. I mean, what else did you expect me to do with it. I needed to have my red bag set apart just a bit. Mission accomplished.)
Oddly enough we had ANOTHER sermon on marriage. Desperately wanting to hear encouraging words for singles who may desire to be single for a lifetime or who may be called to that I went here. May God strengthen and encourage you wherever you may be.
I have been BLESSED with some amazing friends. And not only are these friends amazing they are also beautiful, caring, talented, blah, blahblah, blahblah. I know I just blahblahed over wonderful attributes of these people but the list could really go on for a while!
So there are 3 people that I would like to SPOTLIGHT today.
(this is a baby. an actual human life in its just beginning stages. pretty amazing right? Also, I refer to this little guy in male terms naturally. I'm not dropping hints at anything.)
So this little guy or girl is going to be quite the game changer. One of my besties is pregnant. She is already one of the gentelist, kindest, most even keeled people I know. I'm so excited to see the qualities that motherhood brings out in her. I can't even begin to imagine how awesome this litte babe is going to be. But I'm guessing between the sweetness of his mother, the creativity of his father, the adoration of his extended family, and the goofiness of his "aunt" he'll be pretty well rounded. Don't cha think!
Do you remember this post? Here's an amazing thing that I don't think I ever posted. All 3 of these people were healed. Pronounced cancer free. Pronounced free to keep living! WOW!!!! I remember the awe I felt as each got their clearence. One day they were fine. The next they had cancer. Months later cancer free. It's amazing to me the way God has designed our bodies. How they respond to things. How they themselves can be the attacker and yet also the agent that brings healing. This is a divine mystery to me. Those were fairly dark times for me. Watching these friends walk this road. Not knowing how to be a help or encouragement because I myself was wrestling spiritually. But I can say confidently the Lord met me there. He didn't answer all my questions of why. But He brought peace which is actually something I could understand better than His answers of "Why". So it is with saddness and yet much sureity that God loves and does good that I say the cancer has returned for one of these friends. Read her story here and be encouraged! She is one of the most beautiful people I know. Her blog address is Jenny O. loves Jesus. That is proven in her every word and response through this process. I know the sweet response she hears back is Jesus loves Jenny O.
Then there's a dear friend of mind who is RIDICULOUSLY encouraging. I mean she's one of those people that you'd be hard pressed to hear anything negative about anyone coming out of her mouth. She is also kind of brilliant. She'll never admit it herself because you know she's humble of course. But she challenges me to really think about things or why I believe certain things. She's pretty great. and guess what?! She's just started her own blog Unsilent Things. So now the world can read these wonderful thoughts of hers. Take a minute and check her out.
So this title came from a time when Emily and I were watching Fashion Star and that lady Kara Laricks (the one who won) wore and made those crazy pants with the high waist and the low crotch and some kind of crookedness going on in between. Oh my.
Confession: A blog I enjoy posted this video and I found myself watching it, longing to be on my own pantoon. Fully decorated with a slide and fun dancing. Bigger confession... I may have watched that video more than once.
Tonight I had high hopes of starting and finishing a to-do list I made last week..... That didn't happen. Between fun blogs and Facebook updates the time just slipped away. Dang it!
I'm currently listening to a song called Get It Together. Lyrics: "You're gonna have to get it together cause you're coming apart". So I'm going to go ahead and take my cue and start working on that to- do list.
Saturday is Great American Backyard Campout Day. (Ya, it's a real thing! You know how I love my holidays!) Thinking about grabbing the neices, building a teepee like this one (how cute is that!), relaxing by the pool, and talking teeneybopper girl stuff. Sounds kind of perf actually.(I thought about writing the whole word but then just decided to own the fact that this is how I talk now. It is what it is!)
"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this, says the LORD Almighty, and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it." Malachi 3:10
Truth. This is it. He is true to His word. I often don't believe it or really wrestle to grasp onto it and believe it for myself. But my friends He has proven Himself faithful in this over and over and over again in my own life and in others. IT'S TRUE!
This whole process of finally putting my hand to the plow of missions has been revealing, convicting, painful, scary, and full of blessing, joy, purpose, and beauty. I've had some major reservations about pursuing long term missions for years. From simple logistics to down right fear. I have run laps on this spectrum. But let me tell you that when I did finally give myself away to Him to be used completely and fully for and by Him, much blessing came. Let me also say a tithe can and should be money given to the purposes of God through His body, the church. And there is blessing to be had in that. But a tithe can also be anything you set apart as an offering to God; your time, resources, energies, self.
Now, I don't wish to give you the wrong impression that I somehow magically came to this point of easily surrendering myself to God; to be used by Him however He wished. I don't really know of any Christ follower who could say they EASILY surrendered. What I can say is that by His grace and His Spirit's leading I am acting and believing in ways I didn't feel capable of in times past.
I'm a procrastinator. Oh I hate the anxiety of not knowing if I'll make the deadline but I love the thrill of waiting to the last minute and making the deadline. And that thrill wins out most times. In this desire for missions there were reservations and also my complicated love of procrastinating. After pouring my heart out to the Lord again and submitting my life to His will whatever the cost again, He broke through my years of procrastinating tendencies to move me to act quickly on an opportunity to serve in London this summer. Blessing #1.
I have some sin issues. And by some I mean lots. Some that I'm aware of and others that I'm not yet cognizant of. Some of these sin issues revolve around the area of money and pride. In being accepted by the organization to go on this trip, participants were asked to examine their finances and see if there were any places of known sin and to repent of them. Immediate conviction was followed by immediate obedience. I was moved to go back to places where I had been financially sinful and apologize and to set things right. Humbling to say the very least. And another place where I know it was only by God's Spirit motivating me to change. Blessing #2.
Then there was this issue of actually raising support. Lots of doubt about God's calling on my life but also a place of seeing lots of trust that if God wanted me to go He would be the one to provide the way. I truly believed this. So when asked, "Do I Continue?" I could only respond yes. Until God said no or the money stopped coming or the agency rejected me I had to keep going. I have to tell you that today I received my final financial update and I am $670 over my required amount. Blessing #3
That's amazing right?! To go from a place of not knowing if I would make it to being far over my goal. But the place where I have found the most joy, excitement and encouragement is in the 34 of you who supported me and the countless number of you who have prayed for me. You are my blessings. You are what have come from the floodgates of Malachi. You have overflowed my cup so that the joy in my heart brims in my eyes every time I think of you.Blessings #4- 34 and beyond.
So, it is in this revelation of God's provision and urging that I've begun the process of applying for a position in full time missions. While in London I will meet with a different organization and discuss the possibility of serving with them full time beginning next summer. I am shocked and awed by God's ability to move this fearful and trepid girl to a place of boldly wanting to declare Him to the nations. He is indeed in the business of shock and awe.
"Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3
