The letter F, such an ever present Factor in my life since signing up for the World Race and being assigned to F-Squad. As my team and I try to come up with words we can identify with that begin with the letter F for training camp I though I would share a few ways in which it is changing my life...
F is for FAITH- In the last 2 weeks I have really come to the realization that I dont have enough faith. Everytime somthing seems to go in an unexpected way I immediatly respond in my self, instead of allowing GOD to be who he is! This year I pray to have Faith like I never have before as I watch GOD do the seemingly impossible, and I do mean impossible in my (our) lives. I have to leave my job in a couple weeks, a month earlier than I expected, yet somwhere in my heart I know GOD will provide.
F is for FREEDOM- How many of us have been bound by things, only to step into this season of preperation for the World Race and say to ourselves "I CANNOT take this issue on the missions field". Yes that is me. And I admit the minute I declared to be better, I got better. But it is not without opposition! This year, starting yesterday I am believing GOD for Freedom to be released over our lives! A freedom in HIM from insecurity, fear, lust, selfishness, and any other thing you might struggle with!
F is for FIGHT- Raise your hand if you have ever wanted to give up on somthing. (raises both hands) Through this experience GOD has brought another level of fight into my spirit! A fight that says I shall keep moving forward, although I have not met my deadline. A fight that says no matter what the enemy throws my way I will spend these 11 months serving GODs people, despite my own issues, wants, needs and desires. A fight that wont allow me to give in to mind battles, or set backs! This year I'm going to Fight for JESUS!
F is for Finances- seriously enough said... lol ( click support me) hahahahahah seriously though :)
F is for Forgiven- One of the greatest revelations we will come to in our Faith journey with Christ is that we are Forgiven! I no longer have to carry around the burdens of yesterday because of the Cross! This year I embrace that! I am redeemed, and forgiven, and I no longer walk in condemnation because of HIS love for me! It is as simple, and yet as complicated as that! I pray as we minister together we will walk as forgiven lights in the darkest of places, letting others know that in Christ they are forgiven too!
F is for Father- Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenlyFather feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
He has got it all taken care of! I look forward to the privilege of ministering with you F-squad this year :)
*** if you are reading this and would like to help with F is for Finances, click support me :) love you all!
I lie awake in bed thinking to myself "man am I really about to do this?"
Its been about 5 months since GOD has spoken the World Race over my life, yet I still some days have a hard time grasping the magnitude of the season I am about to walk into. 11 countries, 11 months, 11 plus new cultures, 334 days, 482,119 minutes, 5 major holidays, a dozen birthdays all away from home... away...
To be honest I dont know why im tripping, i mean ive done it before. Left home for significant amounts of time, but there is somthing about the closeness of this time to a years length that makes me feel somthing. When I think of all the things that take place in the span of a year, it brings tears to my eyes. I do not fear because I am afraid of sickness, or harm, I fear because some of the most precious moments in the lives of those I love will come and go, and I wont be around to see it. The wedding of a Best Friend, the whole first year of life of the first child of another best friend, the budding newness of a friendship once thought lost and yet restored, I have to give all that up? Really GOD? I am human, and I cant help but have some type of emotion about it. There are days i feel completely alone, knowing that I will see face book statuses of saturdays spent in the sun in west akron, or pictures uploaded from events i know nothing about. It may sound trivial, but to walk away from every one that you love for a year is not easy...
But then I am reminded that GOD feels some kind of way too... Hebrews 4:15 says " For we do not serve a high preist who is unable to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way just as we are, and was yet without sin". LORD you know the most intimate fears of my heart, and you sympathize with that, but you also draw me, call me to GO so that I dont stay bound by the fear of the unknown.
I am also reminded that there is nothing GOD asks us to give up that he doesnt restore in a better state. And although there are precious moments I will miss, the change that will have taken place inside of me, and my loved ones when I return home will make for even greater precious moments to be shared. I cannot be so selfish to think that my presence here, outweighs my presence there, in the midst of people who are in NEED of Christs unfailing love, and places so dark that even some believers question if GOD is truly there. And with that an excitement rips through my heart for the way GOD will use my squad this year, the souls that will be saved, the lives changes, the mission field!
I am not yet fearless, but I do FEAR-LESS because i am comforted by a saviour who holds my very existance in his hands. He knows what is needed for my journey in life to be fulfilled in His Glory, my purpose awaits...
*** GOD has been such a provider through this journey, but there is still a long way to go! please consider partnering to help in the kingdom work. You are touching way more than my life! To donate click the support me link on the left side of the page :)
Umm so yea Friday was a day to celebrate, I had officially exceeded my 1,000.00 mark well its three days later and here is that my thermometer says now...
We are over $2,000 in just 3 days!
There is but one singular explaination, GOD! He keeps his promises...
Philippians 4:19 But my GOD shall supply ALL your need according to His riches in glory...
One of the biggest challenges I believe for most missionaries, ministers, and Followers of Christ is to trust the vision that GOD has placed on your heart before the provision has manifested. I remember a few months back when I started this journey being really afraid to open my mouth. Afraid to share the vision for fear that the provision would not manifest, but just like always GOD stepped in and had His way...
Friday was a day to celebrate! My World Race account had officially exceeded the $1,000.00 mark, and I was overjoyed at hitting that milestone. I praised GOD throughout the day as I worked on a small message I had to deliver that night to some youth about missions. When it was almost time to head to the youth service a good friend of mine called and asked if he could come and support me. To be honest I was reluctant. I am really shy about speaking and having people around who know me only add to that nervousness. BUT I know GOD is not the source of fear, and that it's the HOLY SPIRIT that uses us to spread the gospel so really it's NOT about me. I agreed and he came. The service was really a blessing! The congregation was very welcoming and family like. The First Lady, whom I have built a relationship with has been such a blessing in this journey,and she encouraged me to move forward in what GOD called me to do! GOD had his way, and the church took up an offering and blessed me with the whole thing! I felt so blessed as I watched GOD provide for me through a group of people who had only known me for an hour of so.
When the service ended my friend invited me to another bible study. To be honest I was tired and slightly reluctant to go, but I felt like I needed to so we went. When we got there I was pleasantly surprised to see that the bible study was small and intimate. Just a group of about 20 people sharing their heart for GOD! The guy who lead for the night made a comment about vision preceding the provision and it really touched my heart. Another friend of mine, obviously moved by the HOLY SPIRIT asked if I would share a small piece of my testimony and what GOD was currently doing in my life, so I did for a couple minutes. And then The unexpected happened...
The lady who runs the bible study said " we never do this, but I want to raise an offering for you, right now and bless what GOD is doing in your life". I was blown away, and right there on the spot I watched GOD provide for me through a group of people who had known me 15 minutes at most, and heard about 3 minutes of my story. I cried when i got home that night. The feeling of being the recepient of that sort of sacrificial, Christ Love is absolutely irreplaceable! Then GOD ever so gently reminded me that he had got this thing. This journey is about HIM and not me, and he has used some of the most unlikely people and circumstances to be a blessing during it. The series of events that night were so devine, from my friend coming to support me to the move of GOD in the first service leading into a double portion by the end of the night.
I literally have a front row seat to a miracle...
If you need the LORD to do something, and he had promised to do it TRUST HIM, once again I am a living witness that He will come through. Be encouraged my brothers and sisters....
There are so many special occasions that we choose to celebrate. Birthdays, anniversary's, graduations and many more! While those are all beautiful occasions I would like to take the time out to celebrate GOD! Lately the LORD has been Healing me in the most beautiful ways, and one of those ways is by reminding me that he is a promise keeper! See when GOD speaks something it is ok to get your Hopes up, and to rejoice in it, because it SHALL come to pass! He is Faithful, and true, the very best of companions! I am a living witness...
And just like when GOD spoke to me at the end of last year, and told me that I would travel the world for 11 months spreading the Gospel, giving him glory he is bringing that into manifestation...
WE have reached our First $1,000.00 mark in support raising!!!! And I say WE because I honestly could not have done it with out the willing hearts of those who allow the LORD to bless me through them! I feel like I am on this journey with GOD and a group of people, not just myself! When you give, you are literally touching the NATIONS!
Here is where we are at in support raising so far.
Im excited yall! GOD is doing BIG things! We have a ways to go but I KNOW he will provide!
Again I would like to personally thank every one who has allowed GOD to use them! I have the most beautiful support system surrounding me that Anyone could ever ask for!
GOD's simple reminder to me to not let worry consume me, and distract me from the pure blessings and Joy of today! I pray it blesses you :) simple yet true...
So, it is the end of the first month in 2012. Most new years resolutions have been long forgotten, vows Broken, and promises forsaken. After this first month I cannot say that i have been sin or gluten free, but there is a theme that GOD has made apparent for me...ENDURANCE.
Endurance is not only that thing you need when you want to run a 5k or swim a long distance, its what WE need to continue in our Walks with the LORD. Living in such a microwave, instant gratification generation is all centers about the NOW! I want it NOW, and if i pray and don't get it now I suddenly have an issue with GOD, crying out to Him like, LORD where are you? Don't you hear me? In those times he gently speaks over me how he is teaching me to ENDURE, working somthing in me that cannot be taught, read from a Christian book, or bought from a store. If anointing and purpose has brought me to this season of the World Race, it is for sure that endurance will keep me. Keep me reading the WORD when I don't understand how to deal with adversity. Keep me on my knees praying through every situation, and even keep me from breaking down when I experience human feelings such as home sickness, and fatigue. I encourage you all to endure in these seasons my brothers and sisters. Know that where ever GOD is leading you through the mountain top, or the valley that He will keep you, and He will keep His promises. Wait patiently for those seemingly unanswered prayers, and remember a delay is NOT a denial. The WORD of GOD says that we shall reap if we don't faint. So don't give up, NEVER give up. I have seen GOD manifest my most beautiful blessings through times of endurance that taught me how to trust Him. Believe it, receive it...
A beautiful Scripture to rely on in this time is James 1: 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
Your time has come to an end, and it is with great joy that I write this letter to see you off. To be honest I am glad to see you go. Not that you weren't in a lot of ways good to me, because you were. You see it was during your stay that I learned the true meaning of what GODs grace is. Yes, it seemed as though you 2011 and GODs grace walked alongside me, hand in hand like a companion. You and grace stood where 2010 and my own strength used to be and oh how sweet it was. Grace has been such a better companion to me than self strength will ever be. You 2011 were very special. The first year I experienced post graduation, the year of freely living out acts 1:8. God did a lot with this year. Haiti, New York, Texas, Tennessee, Florida, and even a small taste of the D.R. The LORD used me to spread the gospel, teach, preach and many other things. I loved, lost, coped and healed.
Unfortunately, self strength crept up in there and I made some decisions that caused me to lose one thing I should have had during your stay 2011....Peace. These bad decisions caused a lot of unnecessary heart ache, and I missed some really good opportune moments because of the peace I was missing. But we know GOD to be a healer and redeemer, and that is why I am glad to see you go 2011. With 2012 taking your place GOD is redeeming lost moments, and manifesting even greater ones. Another chance to die to self, and have life in Christ, and I plan to seize this chance at life to the fullest! And although the companion of GODs grace will NEVER leave me, I plan to allow peace to join us in this walk together.
I must thank you though, for all you taught me, see there could not be a mountain top if there were not a valley present. And it is in the valley that your learn the most. Goodbye 2011. I will always remember the lessons you taught me, and one day your failures will be a distant memory in the shadow of my triumph in Christ.
***Dear Brothers and sisters, I have a long way to go in this journey, and with support raising. Please keep me in your prayers! I need strength and provision. And if you would like to support me click the support me link on the left side of the page.
Happy 2012!
Deep sigh....
As I sit here in my bed, wanting to sleep but not being able to I feel broken hearted....
No it's not because of a boy, or some broken relationship. It's because of something so much more...
It's weird tho. Where most would run from a broken heart, or quickly try to repair it, I walk towards it, embracing the pain like a wound that will never go away, a wound that reminds you not only of where you have been, but where you are going. I asked the LORD a long time ago to break my heart. To literally cause me discomfort and pain at the things that give him pain. It was during that time that GOD birthed a supernatural level of compassion in me for his people. A compassion that causes me to weep at hunger, and poverty. A compassion that causes me to anger at injustice. A compassion that moves not only my mouth but my actions.
I believe that when GOD really has a hold of you, when he really is perfecting his love in you that you cannot help but be broken hearted at the things that make him brokenhearted. His love transcends every boundary placed by humans, reaches deep into the heart of the most hateful person and redeems even them. The sinner. Me. Sometimes the very thought of what goes on in this world keeps me up at night. Sometimes I cry myself to sleep after reading articles of children starving to death in the horn of Africa after I just threw away half eaten chipotle.Is it fair? No. Does it seem like justice that I go to sleep every night in a nice warm bed, while homeless people sleep under newspaper? Certainly not! But to only cry and tweet about the needs of the world profits no one. GOD is saying it's time to MOVE!
MOVE out of my comfort zone, and boundaries. Move past the words of people telling me you can't do this, you are wasting your life, you are smart go back to school and make some money. I realized a long time ago that wasn't for me. I can't escape this drive this yearning in me to do something. This passion to let JESUS move in me in such a way that a generation is changed. I can't sit back and watch this injustice any longer I have to move. And it starts with prayer... So tonight instead of crying myself to sleep I am going to pray. Pray for any and every person, nation, people group, and form of oppression the LORD lays on my heart.
My dear brothers and sisters I hope that you will do the same....
Knowledge with out prayer and action are just words inside your head.
Use me LORD...Romans 12:1
*If you would like to support my World Race journey click the support me link on the left hand of the page *
Hello Everyone!!!
I have decided to try a new approace to blogging since i like to talk, and most people dont like to read.lol There will definitely be written blogs in the future, but for now videos it is! This is somthing the LORD has laid on my hear recently, and I wanted to share it. Also Sorry that I talk so fast! Be Blessed!!!
