A week from today I board a plane for Africa. Wow! A year ago, almost exactly is when God started speaking to me that I was to go there. I think that after a year of talking about it, the reality I am really going doesn't seem much like reality.
The last post I wrote about Africa was saying I was about halfway through raising support. Amazingly, about a week after that post I had raised all the money I needed to buy a plane ticket. He has proved to be faithful through monetary aspects of this trip.
I prayed that God also give me opportunities to use this trip as a witnessing tool for this past year. Many times, I have been given the opportunity to do so. People sometimes seem confused on why I would go to Africa for Christmas, so may explaination is a great way to share my faith. My favorite instance is when sometime asked, "what is a missions trip?" That opened a lot of doors to share the Gospel. Ironically, this same person randomly came into the lives of some dear friends of mine, and He now attends church on a weekly basis with them.
Also, to be completely honest, I have been given many similar opportunities that I have by-passed. It amazes me how many times I have done this throughout my life. Actually, it surprises me how many times I have done that just this week.
I pray ALL the time God give me boldness to share His word, and He gives it too me....and I dismiss it. This recently has been my biggest struggle pertaining to my trip to Africa. If I fail to share the Gospel here, in my daily life...why am I going to Africa? What makes me good enough for that? Its something I am constantly convicted about, and try to learn from. Luckily God is bigger than me, and knows what He is doing. Why He is using weak me, I often can't understand....its been a humbling experience for sure!
Pray for me as I prepare my heart. I am so ready to go "Tell the Nations!" but am TERRIFIED all at the same time.
Be looking out for another post tomorrow about details of what I will be doing in Liberia.
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prayer. Show all posts
Friday, December 9, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
He Prepared My Heart
(I have not blogged in a LONG time. 1. because my life has been out of control 2. blogspot locked me out of my account)
Over the last few months so much has happened. I have learned a lot of great life lessons as "life" itself has slapped me in the face.
One Monday afternoon I led a bible study at this cute diner in downtown Raleigh. We even dressed for the occasion. As requested by a peer, at the diner I led a study of 1 Corinthians. As we went chapter to chapter we pulled out teachings applicable to our life.
Applications of chapter 10 went on and on... but one verse struck us all the most.
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it."
Wow! How comforting to know this truth. We began to discuss times in our lives that bad things happened, and though they were hard, God provided us with a way to endure it.
That night when I got home this same scripture was posted as someones status on facebook. The next day I read it in a tweet on twitter. That following weekend I attended a retreat where I would be hearing several testimonies. Two girls included this scripture in their testimonies. That night the praise and worship leader introduced a song by using this verse.
Later that evening I told a dear friend of mine that I was worried. I knew this scripture was the truth, but the fact it was reappearing in my life so many times made me think something bad was about to happen. This was not the last time I would hear this verse that night. I remained slightly frightened, but prayed that God would continue to prepare my heart, if in fact that was what He was doing.
Sunday we returned from the retreat, and that night I got a heart breaking phone call. Someone very important to me had been diagnosed with cancer, and it wasn't good.
The week to follow would be a long, confusing, and worry-filled week. That Saturday, Ms. JoAnne Croix went to be with the Lord. It was probably one of the hardest realities I have had to face.
Through the pain... 1 Corinthians 10:13 remained in the back of my head.... actually the front of my head, and on the tip of my tongue, and in the depth of my heart. It truly did comfort me. What is most amazing is God is right...He did not give me more than I could handle, and He did provide me with the strength to see this trail through. Not only did God comfort me, but I watched in comfort so many people around me.
Not only is scripture the truth, but it is alive, and this experience was confirmation to me. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Over the last few months so much has happened. I have learned a lot of great life lessons as "life" itself has slapped me in the face.
One Monday afternoon I led a bible study at this cute diner in downtown Raleigh. We even dressed for the occasion. As requested by a peer, at the diner I led a study of 1 Corinthians. As we went chapter to chapter we pulled out teachings applicable to our life.
 |
| Us girls at the Diner |
1 Corinthians 10:13 says, "No temptation has overtaken you that is unusual for human beings. But God is faithful, and he will not allow you to be tempted beyond your strength. Instead, along with the temptation he will also provide a way out, so that you may be able to endure it."
Wow! How comforting to know this truth. We began to discuss times in our lives that bad things happened, and though they were hard, God provided us with a way to endure it.
That night when I got home this same scripture was posted as someones status on facebook. The next day I read it in a tweet on twitter. That following weekend I attended a retreat where I would be hearing several testimonies. Two girls included this scripture in their testimonies. That night the praise and worship leader introduced a song by using this verse.
Later that evening I told a dear friend of mine that I was worried. I knew this scripture was the truth, but the fact it was reappearing in my life so many times made me think something bad was about to happen. This was not the last time I would hear this verse that night. I remained slightly frightened, but prayed that God would continue to prepare my heart, if in fact that was what He was doing.
Sunday we returned from the retreat, and that night I got a heart breaking phone call. Someone very important to me had been diagnosed with cancer, and it wasn't good.
The week to follow would be a long, confusing, and worry-filled week. That Saturday, Ms. JoAnne Croix went to be with the Lord. It was probably one of the hardest realities I have had to face.
 |
| Ms. JoAnne |
Not only is scripture the truth, but it is alive, and this experience was confirmation to me. God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Surprise Us God!!
One of my absolute favorite things about having believing friends is praying together; it has been a huge encouragement in my life, especially in the last few weeks.
Often when we pray, we pray that God fix something, prevent something, or stop something. We assume in our head bad things are going to happen, but why do we do that? For example...a few weeks ago the weather men predicted that a monstrous hurricane would hit the eastern coast. Scared, we all prayed, "God protect my family, protect my house, keep us safe." When did God say He was going to hurt anything? We took a possible situation and ran with it, creating fear in our heads and hearts.
The other night a group of my favorite people got on our knees together to pray. I think this night may have possibly transformed the way I talk to God. We were going around the circle chatting away to God and asking him for favors. We likewise were dueling on a possible bad situation that was causing us to be fearful. Then one of my sweet friends began her prayer with..."SURPRISE US GOD!"
These words put a huge smile on my face. We serve such a amazing God, who has everything under control. We don't need to try to take over his job and figure it out our self, nor do we need to create problems for Him to fix. We should pray, "surprise me God." He is so much more wiser than we are....what a great thing to rest on. When we surrender to Him like my friend did, and acknowledge He has bigger and better things in store for us, He proves Himself to us over and over again.
That night God surprised us!!! He gave us peace, and patience. He took total control of the situation, and we all know He was right there with us.
"But He said "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."" -Luke 18:27
Often when we pray, we pray that God fix something, prevent something, or stop something. We assume in our head bad things are going to happen, but why do we do that? For example...a few weeks ago the weather men predicted that a monstrous hurricane would hit the eastern coast. Scared, we all prayed, "God protect my family, protect my house, keep us safe." When did God say He was going to hurt anything? We took a possible situation and ran with it, creating fear in our heads and hearts.
The other night a group of my favorite people got on our knees together to pray. I think this night may have possibly transformed the way I talk to God. We were going around the circle chatting away to God and asking him for favors. We likewise were dueling on a possible bad situation that was causing us to be fearful. Then one of my sweet friends began her prayer with..."SURPRISE US GOD!"
These words put a huge smile on my face. We serve such a amazing God, who has everything under control. We don't need to try to take over his job and figure it out our self, nor do we need to create problems for Him to fix. We should pray, "surprise me God." He is so much more wiser than we are....what a great thing to rest on. When we surrender to Him like my friend did, and acknowledge He has bigger and better things in store for us, He proves Himself to us over and over again.
That night God surprised us!!! He gave us peace, and patience. He took total control of the situation, and we all know He was right there with us.
"But He said "The things which are impossible with men are possible with God."" -Luke 18:27
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