"Dios le bendiga!" God bless you is a phrase that I use a lot while in Mexico. This year when I went was different from any other. Normally, I have driven down to Tijuana with a crew from Northwest Christian University. When I wasn't able to go with my own school I knew that it didn't mean that I wasn't supposed to go. I immediately asked one of my favorite people, my old campus pastor (and the new one at New Hope Christian College) if I could go with NHCC down to Mexico. He accepted me, no questions asked. It was interesting only knowing a hand full of people in the group, but everyone really made me feel loved, included, and part of the group. We all bonded and worked well together.
We were blessed to be able to do so many different things. We visited orphanages, preached in church, worshiped with believers and those who need healing physically and emotionally, fed the homeless, loved on the outcasts, did Bible study with a rehab group, spent time with HIV positive folks, and even helped to build on an addition to a church. God really worked through our team. The friendships that were already established grew and some of us even made instant besties, and I know that they are all relationships that will last a long time whether we see each other often or not. One girl from New Hope and I have served together in Mexico a few times now and we call each other best friends that never see each other. :) It's amazing how Christ brings us together and gives us a foundation for building an amazing relationship!
One of many favorite moments from the trip was being able to help a local pastor with his opening night of a coffee house ministry. Every year before we go to Mexico we brainstorm, pray, hear from God, and discuss what we would like to do in Tijuana. For a few years, now, ministering to the young adults/college-age students has been a thing that God has put on our hearts. But there was never a way to do so; there aren't many ministries to that particular population. This year God changed that. He had put it on a pastor's heart to create a place where the college students could hang out - a positive environment where they could be loved on in Jesus' name. We were blessed to be there the first night he was in business. In fact, we got to go out and pass around fliers letting people know about it! I spoke the most Spanish in my group that went out and was able to talk to a couple of girls (not quite college age) and see that there was excitement about having a coffee shop to go to. They ended up showing up and really connected to us. We talked about girl things (boys) and in my best Spanish soapbox speech I tried to encourage them to pursue a relationship with Christ first and only find guys who do the same. It was a great time of just hanging out and sharing life. They even added us on Facebook and I've been able to remember to pray for them and encourage them in Christ.
I was blessed to be able to go back down to Mexico and be used by God. It's got a very special place in my heart and I know that I will continue to go and visit for MANY years to come.
8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? ”
And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”
Each and every one of us has the command to "go and make disciples" (Matthew 28:19), but for some reason we fall short, we get scared, and we stay in our comfort zones. I try to remember the call as much as possible and shine Jesus everywhere I go. We don't have to go very far to be missionaries. Right in our own towns there are are people who need to hear the gospel; they need to know that there are people that love and care for them, but more importantly, they need to know that Christ loved them while they were still sinners and laid down His life as a gift for them. Each and every believer is to be a missionary to those in their circles of influence.
Then there are those that the Lord calls more specifically. I know that I have been called to a life of missions both in and out of my immediate and surrounding areas. Right now that takes the form of short term missions. I have, to date, been on ten! Every time that I have felt called and answered as Isaiah, "Here am I. Send me!" the Lord has totally been in control. He provides, He blesses, He protects, and He blows my mind. Every time. Without fail. I am so thankful that He chooses to use me and show me how He is working in cultures different than my own. I love the thrill of all of it - from deciding to go, fundraising, lots of prayer, traveling, being there as the hands and feet of Jesus, and then even coming back and sharing and encouraging others with my stories (that are really HIS).
God did something crazy this year (2012) and gave me the opportunity to serve Him on three mission trips!! Mexico in March, Kenya in June/July, and Panama/Columbia in October/November. All are totally Christ-centered with a lot of room for service and spiritual growth. My next several blog posts will be about these trips. Three in 2012! Still blows my mind.
Here is a video that I made (After going to Mexico) about the three trips. :)
You help a friend move and you dig through their Goodwill pile like it's Christmas.
All the items on your wish list are things you need and not actually want.
You are forced to participate in "No Shave November" because you can't afford razor refills.
You don't have gas money to get to the food pantry.
You have to use shampoo to wash your laundry.
You use duct tape to fix a problem in your car.
You know you're rich when:
You are surrounded by people who you love and love you back.
There are people that care about how you are REALLY doing.
You have Brothers and Sisters that have your back in a tough time.
God's joy runs through you despite rough circumstances.
You are a child of the King of Kings.
You are able to have fun anytime, anywhere.
These things are all straight from my life. It's all about perspective though. Do I choose to focus on the things that make me "poor" or those bullets that describe the great "wealth" that I have been given. I prefer to focus on what really matters. Though I may be poor by the standards of this world; I am very rich in spiritul blessings and the things that the Lord looks at.
Too often kids are confused by all the information that is thrown at them. Sometimes that information is good… other times, not so much. It is vital that, as adults and followers of Christ, we have the answers to questions that they ask. Many times, though, adults don’t even know the answers or where to look for them. I see this problem a lot and thought that I would address it for my Action Research Project in my M.Ed. program.
My literature review is going, but far from a final draft at this point. The research question that I came up with for this paper is: How does students’ K-12 experiences in public education affect their attitudes and beliefs on creation and what they are taught in church? There is a lot of information and I am working on how to put it all into my paper. Somehow what to cut out is the hardest thing to figure out. But the 15 pages will be together before too long.
For those that don’t know, I get to do my project for my church and even implement it in one of the Sunday School classrooms. The lessons encourage the kids to think about the truth of God’s word and to take what it says very seriously. From the surveys that I received back from both adults and students I can tell that others also believe that there is a need for such a curriculum. Many people said that it’s important how the universe began, that kids are often confused by what they are taught in school versus church, and that the church could do a better job preparing the youth.
I am praying that God will use me and this curriculum to influence the kids in an awesome way. This is really more than just a grade, but it is my desire to instill in the students a love for the Word and discovering the truth and treasures that it holds.
Last weekend I went to an awesome concert with Sonsofday. :) It was actually a youth event in Creswell, though, and they also had Jordan Kent there to speak. I had never heard him before, and what he had to say to the kids was pretty cool. The best part is that while he was talking about a passage God gave me a vision that helped me to understand better a rather interesting concept: predestination. The verses he spoke about are:
Ephesians 1:11-14 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory.
There is a lot that can be (and has been) said about predestination, but I really love how God revealed it to me. The way I saw it might have been because Jordan was comparing faith to football, but this is the vision God gave me. It's like He's a team captain and He chooses each and every one of us to be on His team. He's so happy as He points to each of us as His pick! We, in turn, have the choice to join His team or reject the offer. We can gladly join, run in for a high-five, and prepare for victory; or we can choose to play for the opposing team being full of unhealthy competition and negative things. There is so much that comes from this analogy that the Lord gave me. He blessed me with this great way to look at things.
So please, accept God's offer to play, and when you do, don't sit on the sidelines and watch... PLAY. Participate in the excitement of being on the WINNING team.
Where to even start? I am just so in awe and wonderfully blessed right now. There are so many thoughts and emotions; I really want to get this all out right away. Let it be known that today, August 16, 2011, God really rocked my world.
To give some background first would be a fabulous idea. I am currently in my second year of graduate school at Northwest Christian University. I love the Lord and know that He has gifted me to work with children so naturally I thought that education would be a good route for me. I graduated with my BA in Elementary Education from NCU in May of 2010. I have been substituting since and have really enjoyed it; I know God has used me and it’s where He wanted me. But as I’ve been continuing my education I have had many doubts. Is this really where God wants me? What am I supposed to do? Why am I in class? Is this really worth all of the loans that I have to take out? I really questioned if I should stay in the program. Many people, my wonderful mother included, have talked me out of just quitting. It’s only one more year. I’m so close. The degree would be very helpful and a great accomplishment. So I figured I’d stick it out (but for all of the wrong reasons).
If you know me at all you will know that I am a very busy person. I always take on a lot, probably too much. My plate is always full… you get the picture. Well, recently I’ve heard about another possibility for filling my schedule. I love ministry, and I was told about an opening position as a children’s pastor. Oooh. Right up my alley. It has been something that I’ve been praying about and felt like I should really look into it and apply. But then, do I really need another thing? I know that prayer is very important so I have asked others to lift this up to Jesus, too. The more the merrier. And I am so very thankful to those who have. I know that the Lord is listening.
Now to today… it seemed to be just another normal day. I was complaining about class starting, summer being way to short, and just plain had a negative attitude. Again, I was thinking, “One more year, what do I really have to lose?” But at the same time I was also very conflicted. I also was thinking, “I don’t know if God really wants me to finish this. I’m not usually a quitter, but maybe He wants to show me something through doing so.” I felt like maybe God had brought about the church position as an alternative for me, something that I could do with kids. But there’s no way I could do it all! I already have teaching, school, Good News Club, intramurals, worship team, youth group, Wednesday Night Club, and more. Could He really want me to add something else without dropping something??
Well, I reluctantly did some homework and went to babysit for a bit before class. Thankfully I babysit for beautiful women of God and today I got to pray with a mom and her sick child. I really feel like even that was preparing me for what He had for me. I got to class and was just not feeling very settled. (It probably really didn’t help that I had a coffee earlier today – I don’t drink coffee very often.) Anyway, we were discussing our projects and what we had in mind. And since I started thinking about my action research and literature review I have felt very unsure. But I gave my ideas and listened to everyone else’s. Then, right near the end of class, I finally heard something that my teacher had been saying. The practicum doesn’t have to be at a school. And I felt or heard, I’m not really sure, God tell me that it would connect perfectly with the church job! All in an instant, things clicked. There is a reason He has me in this program. The Lord can use me to teach, I mean really teach, in church. Kids need more than just stories and if they have good curriculum and delivery they will take away much more than they have been. My M.Ed. in curriculum design and instructional technology will not be a waste. The Lord wants to use those things in the church, too, to build His body of believers and meet them through new means. A surge of energy filled me and I knew that the Lord has a plan! I finally know a direction and feel a purpose. Praise Jesus!
I have always know that Jeremiah 29:11 was true, that God has a plan for me, but when I can truly feel it and get a glimpse of what it is it is so amazing. Really, what a rush. J And there have been several times when I’ve said that His plan and His timing are the best; I’ve encouraged others with those words and repeated them to myself when in need. It is more than true. God is perfect. He knows best. Why do we doubt? He reassures us in His word, “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:26). Such a wonderful feeling. Rejoice is all I could do. I excitedly got in my car and the song that was on the radio (Air1, of course. What else would I listen to?) was just for me. It was about 6:45 pm and Whatever Your Doing by Sanctus real was playing. I didn’t really need another thing to reaffirm what was going on inside of me, but God gave it anyway. “Whatever You’re doing inside of me, it feels like chaos but somehow there’s peace. And it’s hard to surrender to what I can’t see, but I’m giving into something heavenly.” This is exactly what was happening. God gave me a glimpse of what He has. I don’t know it all, it seems a little crazy, but I have a peace because I am giving it to Him and it is a heavenly plan. The car ride home turned into a hardcore worship session (I love it when that happens), and I am still just so overjoyed as to what God is doing.
The Lord has revealed to me a bit of His plan and I really felt that I wanted to share this with others. There are many people that I care about and want to be included in what’s going on in my life, and right now God is really moving in me and doing some awesome stuff. I really don’t want this fire and excitement to go away. I know that I won’t be on this high forever. This is when the enemy is really going to want to attack. So please keep me in your prayers. As I serve the Lord and go down this path that I know He has shown me I am going to need all the love and support that we all do. I can’t do this alone. I know I have Jesus, but I would love to have all of you as well. My friends, family, brothers and sisters, you are wonderful. Thanks so much for taking time to find out what God is doing in me. I love you all!
Vacation Bible School.
Not a vacation, but lots of Bible and we sure did school those kids. :)
It was such a blessed week. I couldn't imagine not being fortunate enough to be a part of what God does in the life of children during the summer.
For example, one of the few that gave their lives to the Lord truly blessed my heart. I gave the invitation using the Acts 16:31 Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved. Four children from the first grade group came out with me. I asked them why they were there (a couple came back almost every day) and I got some random answers. ie. "I'm thankful for my dog." HAHA. But when I asked the last little boy his response was, "I want to believe on Jesus." So pure and innocent. That boy got saved on Friday and the angels in heaven were rejoicing with us!
There's so much that could be said about the week, and I am just so very thankful for being used by God.
A PowerPoint presentation that I put together barely does justice to what went on.
