Camels and Kingdoms

     It seems like all aspects of my life recently have pointed my focus towards one thing: my purpose. I have asked myself quite a few times this week, if my life were to end tomorrow, would I have made a difference on this world for Christ? In about 127 days I could quite easily say YES, but what about now? It seems odd that it took until about two weeks ago for me to realize that my ministry doesn't start when I set foot on African soil, but rather, my ministry is now. I have had the opportunity to speak at about four different churches with two more in the near future--that is my mission. As I share with people what God is doing in my life--that is my mission. As I spend my prayer time lifting up the sweet faces I will be in community with in the coming months--that is my mission. When I fly out, I will be continuing the mission that God has placed before me, not beginning it. I have been challenged with the reality that my mission is now.

     In church we are working through the book of Mark, and this past week studied the passage on the rich entering the Kingdom of God. I encourage you to read Mark 10:17-31, but for now I'll give you the abridged version. A man asks Jesus what it would take to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jesus responds telling the man that he must sell all he owns and give it to the poor, then turn and follow Jesus. He proceeds to say that it would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom.

     Before I get into what Jesus is saying here, let me first tell you what he is NOT saying. Jesus is not saying that people who are blessed with a good paying job will not get into heaven. Jesus is not saying that if you have a solid savings account you are out of luck when it comes to eternity with Him. Jesus is not saying that if you want to have an hope of getting into the gates of glory you have to drop what you are doing, sell each and every item that you have, and call it a leap of faith. Rather, what I get from this is that Jesus is calling us to put our trust in Him fully, and be willing to make sacrifices to keep our focus and trust in Him alone. I'm going to go out on a limb here and say Jesus didn't want the man to really sell all that he had, but He wanted him to be willing, especially because his wealth was something that he could rest in without needing to put his faith in Jesus.

     One of the questions that we spent time talking about in my small group was, what is God calling us to give up to further His kingdom?

     Think about that... What is holding you back from fulfilling God's purpose for your life?

     This is a time in my life when I can very realistically relate to what Jesus is calling the man to do in Mark 10. God has called me to give up a lot in the name of spreading the gospel, and yet I have been blessed in the ways that God has turned a calling in my life into a dream of mine, a passion. Giving up things doesn't seem like a sacrifice, but rather part of living out my dream.

      As I temporarily leave my family, God opened the doors in Ethiopia and blessed me with a great family to welcome me. He asked me to leave my town, and yet the family that I am living with come from the town I currently call home. He has called me to leave 21st century America, and yet He has given me a joy and excitement in embracing the rustic lifestyle on the other side of the world--7,425 miles away to be exact. I have seen God's faithfulness in peace, and yet He didn't stop there. Right along with the peace is excitement, joy, passion, and purpose. God has been transforming my heart these past few months and I watch in amazement as He continues to pave the way for me. Simply blessed beyond words!

Twenty-Five Percent!

Today I find myself blessed beyond words! Just heard that I am 25% funded for my trip. The $14,000 I need to serve is a HUGE number, but I am continually reminded that I serve a God who is BIGGER!
  
Want to give, but don't know how?

Jonesboro Heights Baptist Church

Africa Missions

316 West Main Street

Sanford, NC 27332

 

Or, click here!

 

Thank you to those who have answered the call to give: I couldn't do it without you.

 

 

Learning by Leading

     This weekend, I had the joy and pleasure of leading a group of youth during a Bible study retreat. The theme: "Called 2 Follow". How fitting! The event I was leading was one I had been a part of myself for years when I was in youth, so I was excited to come back as a leader. The weekend consisted of games, snacks, worship, bonfires, hayrides, Bible studies, and not nearly enough sleep! My intent in participating in the weekend was to teach, but what I never expected is that I would be the one learning...

 

     I was continually reminded of God's call in my life as each and every lesson touched the depths of my heart. We looked at story after story of God calling people in the Bible to put down what they were doing to follow Him--the story of Jesus calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John is one in particular that stood out to me.  





As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” At once they left their nets and followed him.

 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Matthew 4:18-22

 

      There are a number of things that really stood out to me. The first being the time frame in which they were called. Jesus' call was for them to come immediately and follow, not a few weeks later once they had wrapped things up with their job, not a few days later once they told their families what they were doing, not even a few hours later when they had time to wrap their minds around the calling. Jesus called them to be obedient then and there. Here, the men are being called to do something beyond their comfort zone, something new. They did not know how to fish for men, and yet that didn't stop Jesus from calling. All Jesus asked was for them to come at once... He would show them what they needed to know--His call was for obedience.

 

The reality is that we are called to follow Jesus before we know it all. We are called to come as imperfect people. We can only learn to follow Jesus BY following Jesus. Period. Jesus did not call the disciples because they had already accomplished something or have previously prepared themselves. In the same way, God is making us disciples in showing us how to follow, as we follow.  

 

 

        We all have a purpose in life, something God has placed us on this earth to do. I am overjoyed in what I feel like my purpose is, as my purpose and dreams so closely align. Yet, I often sit back and ask myself, am I really able to do this? I find myself floored that the Lord of the universe would even consider calling little me for such a big job. When God started placing this passion in my heart, I was in middle school. When He began nudging me I was nowhere near qualified for the opportunity He had called me to, many years away from responding to the call, and yet He still chose me.

 

        There are days when I wonder if I can leave my family for a full year. I ask myself whether or not I can really adjust to a culture so vastly different from mine. I ask myself if I can raise the $14,000 necessary to follow this call. I wonder if I can really get up in front of another congregation of people to share what God has called me to do. I wonder if I can get together all the details and brave all the shots necessary to travel to Ethiopia. I wonder if I can come home after developing relationships and attachments to the beautiful people of Africa. I wonder if I can make it until August when with each passing day I am about ready to burst with excitement in following through with God's purpose for my life.

 

       The answer to these questions is quite simple. NO. No, I cannot leave my family, adjust to the culture, raise the money, get in front of people to share, get together all the details, come home confident in the difference the year had brought, and make it until August. I cannot do any of this, but I know the One who can!

 

      If I have learned anything this weekend it is that on my own I am nothing. On my own I can make nothing of the mission that the One who holds the earth in His hands has placed before me. I have a purpose, but I am not qualified. I have spent roughly six years preparing for this mission trip, and yet the only reason I can is because He can. He teaches me each and every day as I respond. The call is to act and respond, not be perfectly prepared from day one.

 

 

Are you allowing God teach you how to follow, as you follow?

Inhale. Exhale. Repeat.

     Oh what an experience the past 48 hours have been. Yesterday morning was the first I heard about the threat of snow in our area, and within minutes of hearing the news I found myself in a state of frustration. Why then, would something that I usually LOVE prove to be such a nuisance? Because I had plans of my own.

       In preparing for my trip, the plan has always been that I would meet the family that I will be living with in Ethiopia the day I hop off the plane in August; however, just a few weeks ago I got an e-mail that they would be in the states and passing through the area for a few days. Their trip here was unexpected and totally a God thing! Excitement set in faster than I could blink, and we decided on meeting up tonight. I have been eagerly awaiting this day since I Sharpied it onto my calendar. Naturally then, my frustration with the impending snow hit me like a ton of bricks. With all that is in me I wished away the flurries. I spent all last night checking the forecast, looking at the radars, and wishing that the weather man was wrong. He wasn't. When I saw the first flake fall this morning I fell once again into the trap of worry.

      During this time I had to remind myself to inhale, exhale, and repeat. This was out of my control. The weather is so far beyond my spectrum of influence and there was nothing at all I could do about it. What a scary feeling to have. Knowing that my plans, my once and done opportunity to meet my host family, could be pulled out from under me and I had no power over the situation. Inhale. Exhale. Repeat. That's all I could do.

       I was reminded of my mom's favorite verse... a verse that softly filled my heart when I stopped worrying for long enough to let it enter.

 

      As the case has been time and time again, God worked out the details and I was able to travel home to meet the Bridges (my host family).  Their unexpected trip home, the opportunity to meet, and being able to get to know one another before touching down in Africa were all such God things. I felt very good about them just through our e-mail conversations, but after getting to meet them in person I am even more eager for all that the next year will hold. 

 

     If I'm being completely honest, I was almost as nervous about getting to meet them as I was excited. However, within just a few minutes of meeting, I felt like we had known each other for years; all of the "what ifs" faded into nothingness. I cannot wait to be a part of what is going on over there, and now I am even more eager than ever to embrace the Ethiopian lifestyle. Tonight I am feeling very blessed by how the evening turned out. What an experience it has been. All I can say is: to God be the glory!

 

Now only 175 odd days until I board the plane to rejoin this fabulous family of four.... but who's counting?    

 





From Him Alone

 

 



     Tonight, I had the honor of watching God at work once again. This time, He came in the form of peace and inspiration.

      I've said before that I know that this calling to missions is a God thing. Why? Because I have peace. My life is often controlled by fear of change. Though I hate to admit it, nearly every unfamiliar situation shakes the walls in my life. Simply said: I HATE CHANGE! So then, how do I explain the overwhelming peace and excitement I have about leaving all that I know to spend a year in a village in a country far from my own? The only, and I mean ONLY explanation is God. He began working in my heart years ago, giving me a love for a world I had never been to and people I had never met. He slowly opened the doors of my heart to the idea of serving on missions, and when the time came for His call, He had fully prepared me to go. I am ready to go, ready to follow His calling in my life. I am in awe of the peace that has taken root in every aspect of this trip. I serve a remarkable God--not only do I have peace about the journey ahead of me, I have a passion and excitement for it.

     Earlier this evening, I went to a dinner to raise support for The Forsaken Children. I heard the stories of the children whose lives are being changed day in and day out because of God's work through TFC. Nega, who is the hands and feet on the ground in Addis came and shared. He spoke about how this work has changed his life, as well as the lives of countless others. Nega has a passion for the street children of Ethiopia, I could see it in his eyes from the minute he began to speak. He lit up as he spoke about the children, and broke down as he told their stories of restoration. As if hearing Nega share his heart wasn't powerful enough, he concluded his talk with "as long as I live, I will serve the street children". That, my friends, is God at work in the life of an obedient servant.

     I went into the evening ready to absorb anything that I could about this organization that God has brought into my life. I was ready to immerse myself in the reality that the children that Nega talked about would be faces I will meet, people I have the opportunity to serve, hearts God will allow me to love. Within a year, these children will not just be faces, they will be friends.

      After hearing all that Nega shared about what is going on in Ethiopia, and all that Joe, the founder of TFC, had to say about the work in Africa, I am even more excited to go than ever before. I really did not think I could be more eager, and I was fully convinced that God could not equip me with a greater calm in going. And yet, He has proved His providence yet again.

Today I am praising God for paving the way for me, and thanking Him for inspirational people like Nega who live to serve.  

Passport in Hand

      

     Today I returned home to the greatest of all surprises: my passport! I did not expect it for another 5 or 6 weeks, but the minute I saw that envelope my heart began to race. The excitement that came with holding the unopened piece of mail, knowing the priceless worth that it held, and knowing how many doors it opened for me was enough to put a smile on my face and an extra skip in my step. I had not been home for more than 3 minutes and I had already run to every room in the house showing it off. I felt like a little girl on Christmas morning. There is just something about holding the power to take adventures that is unexplainable!

     Along with my excitement came yet another dose of peace and assurance as I am now another step closer to following God's call. Each and every detail seems to be working out; I know without a shadow of a doubt that I am doing exactly what I am supposed to be. God has been working in my heart for years, and I see it now more than ever. In a time when I should be scared to death about all that is changing, I am overjoyed and resting in the comfort of the One who is sending me. My sole fear at this point is taking bucket baths, which is a teeny tiny idea to get used to between now and August. God continues to amaze me each and every day. With each new discovery He proves to be laying the way. With each day that passes He proves to be holding me close as excitement grows and fears diminish. I serve an amazing God who has called me to do amazing things: what an honor to say that I am His.

     Tonight I'll fall asleep with a smile on my face and joy in my heart as I think about all that He has entrusted me to do.

A New Year

 

     It is 2:52am on New Years Day and I have just finished my support letter. Clearly I am welcoming 2014 in style. It seems only fitting to spend the first hours of the year working on the biggest thing I will be a part of this year. As I sit here in the wee hours of 2014, I think about all that this year will hold: my college graduation, my brother's wedding, my puppy's 10th birthday, and let's not forget that little thing I've taken on called a mission trip. What a year it will be. There is quite a bit of change on the horizon, and unlike most times where I cringe at the thought of even slight alterations to life, I find myself refreshingly excited about all that is to come. And with that, the countdown must begin.... Only about 215 days until I am Ethiopia bound.