Today was Reach the Nations Day 7...I think. :) 3 young men asked Jesus to be their Saviour today. How awesome!!! I am so excited about this. Especially because tomorrow there will be a group invitation given to everyone and the gospel even more clearly stated to these kids.
I am praying for one Muslim boy in particular. While I doubt he would come forward in front of his brother and his friend, I am hoping that the Holy Spirit is tugging at his heart. I have been in a different group of kids this week so I haven't been able to see his reaction during devotion time but I am praying and hoping there is change taking place!
On a more heart-breaking note, I was ministering to a 6-year-old girl today who told me, "Everybody knows I'm gonna go to hell anyways." I think my heart broke right there when I heard those words. I wrapped my arms around her and told her that Jesus loves her so much and wants her to live forever in heaven with him and all she has to do is ask Him into her heart. She was talking about bad choices and I told her that Jesus will forgive her for her bad choices. She said, "But he knows I'll just do 'em again." Smile. "Yes, honey, He does know that. And you know what? He forgives you anyway again and again. He loves you that much."
Where does a 6 year old get the idea that she's going to hell??? Only because someone's told her that. It just infuriates me when I think about that. Who would tell a child that? Who would leave a child with THAT kind of fear and not tell them how they can escape going to hell?!
She didn't want to come back tomorrow but said she would if I would stay with her. :) So I agreed. How sweet!! I hope in the day I have left that the Lord will give me the words to speak to make a difference in her heart.
Thank you, Lord for this opportunity to participate in Reach the Nations. Thank you for not letting me pass this up!!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Morning Psalms
This morning as I was going through some psalms searching for verses about God's guidance, here is what I found:
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, do not let me be ashamed; do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. MAKE ME KNOW YOUR WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS. LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME, FOR YOU ARE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION; FOR YOU I WAIT ALL THE DAY."
Psalm 25:1-5
"The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face--even Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your head, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory."
Psalm 24
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
"To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary...." "Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. The Lord is their strenth, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also and carry them forever."
Psalm 28:1-2; 6-9
Isn't it wonderful how a little time with God demolishes the pity party inside my head? :)
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for guiding my steps even when I can't see where You're leading me. Thank you for picking me up and putting me back where I belong when I stray. O Lord O Lord how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
Amen!!!
"To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, in You I trust, do not let me be ashamed; do not let my enemies exult over me. Indeed, none of those who wait for You will be ashamed; those who deal treacherously without cause will be ashamed. MAKE ME KNOW YOUR WAYS, O LORD; TEACH ME YOUR PATHS. LEAD ME IN YOUR TRUTH AND TEACH ME, FOR YOU ARE THE GOD OF MY SALVATION; FOR YOU I WAIT ALL THE DAY."
Psalm 25:1-5
"The earth is the Lord's and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers. Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face--even Jacob. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle. Lift up your head, O gates, and lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, He is the King of glory."
Psalm 24
"Wait for the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the Lord."
Psalm 27:14
"To You, O Lord, I call; My rock, do not be deaf to me, for if You are silent to me, I will become like those who go down to the pit. Hear the voice of my supplications when I cry to You for help, when I lift up my hands toward Your holy sanctuary...." "Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplication. The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him. The Lord is their strenth, and He is a saving defense to His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; Be their shepherd also and carry them forever."
Psalm 28:1-2; 6-9
Isn't it wonderful how a little time with God demolishes the pity party inside my head? :)
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for guiding my steps even when I can't see where You're leading me. Thank you for picking me up and putting me back where I belong when I stray. O Lord O Lord how majestic is Your Name in all the earth!
Amen!!!
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Wanna be Facebook Post
"My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning. O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night but I have no rest. Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In Your our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed."
Psalm 22:1-5
Since apparently negative-type comments about my attitude are supposed to be kept from facebook, I guess I'll have to share my feelings here instead. :)
I feel let down but I know that God will answer in His own good time. I know He has better things out there for us. I think I have briefly fallen into coveting another lifestyle or something. Oh God please help me to move on past this and to GET OVER IT!!
Psalm 22:1-5
Since apparently negative-type comments about my attitude are supposed to be kept from facebook, I guess I'll have to share my feelings here instead. :)
I feel let down but I know that God will answer in His own good time. I know He has better things out there for us. I think I have briefly fallen into coveting another lifestyle or something. Oh God please help me to move on past this and to GET OVER IT!!
what is wrong with me?
Found out today (after falling in love with a house we went to look at in Acworth) that Craig isn't going to get the children's/youth pastor position he applied for. I was sooooooooo hoping he was going to get it. I really thought that was how God would prepare us for one day going on the mission field. But apparently not. Now I am sad. Can't seem to shake it off. Craig said he never really felt one way or another about it so he's okay. But me? Not okay. What's wrong with me? Why can't I just roll with the punches? What is God doing here? Why does it seem like when I get one or two questions answered, a thousand more follow in their places? What are we supposed to do? Why won't anyone hire him? How come when some people seek God they get an answer immediately...or in a few weeks/months??? But us---nope. I am having a hard day praising Him in the storm today. I wish I was one of those people who could always see the good in the bad. Usually I am. Not today. I am having a nice little pity party over here and I'm apparently ALL alone in that party.
I hate that we drove all over Acworth today. I hate that we looked inside that house. I hate that we have it all on video. I hate that I apparently have no clue where our lives are headed. And I hate that I feel like hating everything right now. I want to be happy, upbeat, excited about what God will offer in the future. You know...when God closes a door He opens a window and all that. Only trouble with that is now I'm thinking about that house with all the doors and windows!!
Please don't take this the wrong way. I do trust God. I do trust He will bring something better. I do know He will take care of us and provide for us. I've watched miracles take place in the last 9 months. I am just tired of not knowing where we will be in a month. And I am just human.
(Hopefully I will have something better to report next time...or at least be in a better mood.) :)
I hate that we drove all over Acworth today. I hate that we looked inside that house. I hate that we have it all on video. I hate that I apparently have no clue where our lives are headed. And I hate that I feel like hating everything right now. I want to be happy, upbeat, excited about what God will offer in the future. You know...when God closes a door He opens a window and all that. Only trouble with that is now I'm thinking about that house with all the doors and windows!!
Please don't take this the wrong way. I do trust God. I do trust He will bring something better. I do know He will take care of us and provide for us. I've watched miracles take place in the last 9 months. I am just tired of not knowing where we will be in a month. And I am just human.
(Hopefully I will have something better to report next time...or at least be in a better mood.) :)
Friday, July 10, 2009
This week
We had an awesome time this week serving in Stone Mountain amongst kids from the city as well as kids recently relocated here from Iraq, Tanzania, Nepal, Bhutan and I'm sure there were others. We only saw a little bit of it because some groups went into different apartments complexes to do backyard bible clubs as well. But what we were able to participate in has been an awesome experience. I almost passed up this opportunity. I almost said no when asked if I could help...why? Because it involved sports which is out of my comfort zone. Oh my goodness...thank you Lord for convicting me right out of that comfort zone. This week has grown me in ways I didn't think it would. I thought I went there to impact children's lives for Christ...and I hope that happened. However, my life was impacted as well. These children touched me. I now have such a desire to reach people who have never heard about a relationship with Jesus.
I have a special place in my heart for the kids I met this week. There was one child in particular...I didn't show favoritism in any way towards him but I will pray hardest for him. He is Muslim and I'm honestly not sure why he was allowed to come back after the first day finding out this was a Christian event. He didn't actively participate in Tuesday's devotion but he did sit there and listen respectfully. Wednesday I worried about him because he didn't come back. However he was back on Thursday and Friday but he had a friend with him. This friend tried to distract him during the devotion by walking away or quietly talking over me to him. I tried to get him involved, especially today since we talked about Abraham and we share that background of our faiths. I think, if it weren't for his friend being there, he would've listened intently to everything we had to say this week. I pray he comes back next week. I pray his friend does as well. But I pray they are in separate groups so that at the very least, one can hear the loving message of Jesus Christ preached.
I have smiled a ton this week. This is where God wants us for now. :) Until we know where to go next, "I will serve you while I'm waiting, I will worship while I'm waiting on you Lord!!"
Here is a video of what we did this week:
I have a special place in my heart for the kids I met this week. There was one child in particular...I didn't show favoritism in any way towards him but I will pray hardest for him. He is Muslim and I'm honestly not sure why he was allowed to come back after the first day finding out this was a Christian event. He didn't actively participate in Tuesday's devotion but he did sit there and listen respectfully. Wednesday I worried about him because he didn't come back. However he was back on Thursday and Friday but he had a friend with him. This friend tried to distract him during the devotion by walking away or quietly talking over me to him. I tried to get him involved, especially today since we talked about Abraham and we share that background of our faiths. I think, if it weren't for his friend being there, he would've listened intently to everything we had to say this week. I pray he comes back next week. I pray his friend does as well. But I pray they are in separate groups so that at the very least, one can hear the loving message of Jesus Christ preached.
I have smiled a ton this week. This is where God wants us for now. :) Until we know where to go next, "I will serve you while I'm waiting, I will worship while I'm waiting on you Lord!!"
Here is a video of what we did this week:
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
So, what next?
"Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:6-7
Easier "read" than done in my case. :) But one thing I know for sure, God's peace definitely surpasses my understanding!
With Craig in Romania, each of us has been thinking about our future in missions. He is growing and praying and being mentored over there. I am growing and praying over here. (Dont' so much have the mentor part...)
Should we be overseas missionaries? Latvia, Romania, some other place? Should we be missionaries where we are and take a few trips each year to these other places? What should our missionary lives look like? We have been called to international missions, but as I am learning there are TONS of opportunities for that right here in our area. How can we overlook these people who need Jesus, too? But on the flip side, how can we overlook those still in other countries who need Jesus and lots of physical help?
I am being presented with many opportunities for international missions over the next few months. I will be praying over which ones to do. I know I can't do them all because of finances and life in general, but I would like to do many of them.
How do we know what to do? What would best suit our family? More importantly, which option does God want us to choose? Why does it seem like all I ever do is to ask questions?
I do know one thing for sure, though--God has given all of us a heart for His people ALL over the world and a desire to know them, help them, love them. I pray that we will fulfill our part of going into all nations and making disciples for Jesus Christ!!
I can't wait til Craig gets back and we can have a real heart to heart about his experiences during this trip to Romania. Hopefully we'll plan a family mission trip to Romania in the semi-near future as well!
Philippians 4:6-7
Easier "read" than done in my case. :) But one thing I know for sure, God's peace definitely surpasses my understanding!
With Craig in Romania, each of us has been thinking about our future in missions. He is growing and praying and being mentored over there. I am growing and praying over here. (Dont' so much have the mentor part...)
Should we be overseas missionaries? Latvia, Romania, some other place? Should we be missionaries where we are and take a few trips each year to these other places? What should our missionary lives look like? We have been called to international missions, but as I am learning there are TONS of opportunities for that right here in our area. How can we overlook these people who need Jesus, too? But on the flip side, how can we overlook those still in other countries who need Jesus and lots of physical help?
I am being presented with many opportunities for international missions over the next few months. I will be praying over which ones to do. I know I can't do them all because of finances and life in general, but I would like to do many of them.
How do we know what to do? What would best suit our family? More importantly, which option does God want us to choose? Why does it seem like all I ever do is to ask questions?
I do know one thing for sure, though--God has given all of us a heart for His people ALL over the world and a desire to know them, help them, love them. I pray that we will fulfill our part of going into all nations and making disciples for Jesus Christ!!
I can't wait til Craig gets back and we can have a real heart to heart about his experiences during this trip to Romania. Hopefully we'll plan a family mission trip to Romania in the semi-near future as well!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Potty Training, Swimming Lessons, and other Random Thoughts
Well, Craig left this past Thursday for his mission trip to Romania. The team has many stories to tell, I'm sure, and I can't wait to hear them! I know that poor Craig is still missing his personal luggage so I'm sure his clothes are starting to get pretty stinky! :) But they are all having a wonderful time and learning tons, I know! Craig was performing a puppet skit today for the kids at the orphanage so I'm anxious to hear how that went. He loves that sort of thing!
I have volunteered to help out in Reach the Nations with Shannon and Kathy Ramsey in Stone Mountain next week. We will be having fun with Internationals and Refugees as well as underpriviledged kids from the area playing soccer and basketball. This is SO very much outside my comfort zone since I'm not a sports person, but God convicted me last night that I need to get outside this comfort zone a tad! :) I am excited to learn more about exactly what we're going to be doing. Shannon is supposed to call me today to give me more details. Depending on if we can get a sitter, Craig might be joining me as well. We will pray and see what happens.
Adalynn has chosen this week to decide to start using the potty. Great, right? Um, not really. She is refusing to wear a diaper--only big girl panties--which would be fine if she had actually used the potty more than 3 times so far. Not much fun cleaning pee and poop off of everything!! Why does she choose the week that Craig is in another country to decide to start doing this?? Oh the joys of being a mother! LOL. (Actually, I LOVE being a mommy---even when it's disgusting!)
We start the last week of Eileen's swimming lessons tonight. I hope it's not a repeat of Thursday where Merrick cries the whole time because it's not fair that he's not swimming and then Eileen doesn't obey when it's time to leave and I've got grumpy, crying children walking out of the YMCA facility! Pray for peace over that situation please!
We plan to start 2nd grade this week. We're going to take it slow and make it fun!!! She's going to learn so much this year, regardless, because everything is NEW!! I am so excited to go through the book of Matthew verse by verse and memorize with her some really awesome passages of Scripture! I am also excited to read the missionary biographies that go along with each country/region we're learning about. Eileen has such a missionary heart already and Exploring Countries and Cultures will only help to cement that love for other people deep within her. I'm so glad I was introduced to My Father's World and I hope we can use it for our entire school career until college!
Okay well these were just totally random thoughts for today!! Hopefully I'll have something worthwhile to write about another time!
I have volunteered to help out in Reach the Nations with Shannon and Kathy Ramsey in Stone Mountain next week. We will be having fun with Internationals and Refugees as well as underpriviledged kids from the area playing soccer and basketball. This is SO very much outside my comfort zone since I'm not a sports person, but God convicted me last night that I need to get outside this comfort zone a tad! :) I am excited to learn more about exactly what we're going to be doing. Shannon is supposed to call me today to give me more details. Depending on if we can get a sitter, Craig might be joining me as well. We will pray and see what happens.
Adalynn has chosen this week to decide to start using the potty. Great, right? Um, not really. She is refusing to wear a diaper--only big girl panties--which would be fine if she had actually used the potty more than 3 times so far. Not much fun cleaning pee and poop off of everything!! Why does she choose the week that Craig is in another country to decide to start doing this?? Oh the joys of being a mother! LOL. (Actually, I LOVE being a mommy---even when it's disgusting!)
We start the last week of Eileen's swimming lessons tonight. I hope it's not a repeat of Thursday where Merrick cries the whole time because it's not fair that he's not swimming and then Eileen doesn't obey when it's time to leave and I've got grumpy, crying children walking out of the YMCA facility! Pray for peace over that situation please!
We plan to start 2nd grade this week. We're going to take it slow and make it fun!!! She's going to learn so much this year, regardless, because everything is NEW!! I am so excited to go through the book of Matthew verse by verse and memorize with her some really awesome passages of Scripture! I am also excited to read the missionary biographies that go along with each country/region we're learning about. Eileen has such a missionary heart already and Exploring Countries and Cultures will only help to cement that love for other people deep within her. I'm so glad I was introduced to My Father's World and I hope we can use it for our entire school career until college!
Okay well these were just totally random thoughts for today!! Hopefully I'll have something worthwhile to write about another time!
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