As God's children, we know God always hears our prayers. And we know that God longs to give us the desires of our heart. For me, God has been answering a lot of prayer in real ways lately.
God has provided a place for me to live in Lansing. There is a couple at our church who have opened their home to me and invited me to live with them until Ian and I get married in March. We have been praying for months that God would open some doors that would bring me back to Lansing. I've been dying to get more involved at Riverview and now that I have a place to live, I can get involved this fall.
God has opened the door for me to use my talents at church. I am in the process of planning a Spanish class to be taught at church for people who want/ are planning on going to Mexico to serve with Back2Back Ministries. I've already gotten a lot of positive feedback from people who have heard about the class and I'm really excited to be using my gifts of Spanish and teaching to serve God.
And now, FINALLY, God has provided a job interview. It's definitely not a for-sure deal by any means. I don't have a lot of experience in this area either, so getting this job would definitely be all God's work. I'm excited and nervous, but we'll see what God has in store. Even if this isn't the job God has, it's just awesome to see him answering prayer.
This all has got me thinking... if this is how God answers persistent prayers that I can see... how much is he or would he answer the persistent prayers that I can't see??
It makes me want to be more persistent in praying for things that I may never get to see the fruit of... because that isn't what it's really about. It's about seeking and petitioning the Lord, praying his will, and trusting him with the results.
17.8.09
29.7.09
until only love remains
for the first time in a long time, i've had a song that seemed to scream out the desires of my heart. if you don't connect to music the way that i do, you probably have no idea what i'm talking about. i'll try to describe it for you, though i don't know if you'll get it...
it's a strong sense of connection with the words in the song... like you feel exactly what is being sung. you feel the strings of your heart being pulled, drawing you closer and closer to the artist's words. it kind of makes you want to cry. you can't help but belt out the words, because you feel it deep in your soul.
this song for me right now is "only love remains" by jj heller
scenes of you come rushing through, you are breaking me down
so break me into pieces that will grow in the ground
i know that i deserve to die for the murder in my heart
so be gentle with me, Jesus, as you tear me apart
please, kill the liar, kill the thief in me
you know that i am tired of their cruelty
breathe into my spirit, breathe into my veins
until only love remains
you burn away the ropes that bind and hold me to the earth
the fire only leaves behind whatever is of worth
i begin to see reality for the first time in my life
i know that i'm a shadow but i'm dancing in your light
teach me to be humble, call me from the grave
show me how to walk with you upon the waves
and breathe into my spirit, breathe into my veins
until only love remains
teach me to be humble, call me from the grave
show me how to walk with you upon the waves
and breathe into my spirit, breathe into my veins
until only love remains...
if you haven't heard the song before, you should check it out.
it's a strong sense of connection with the words in the song... like you feel exactly what is being sung. you feel the strings of your heart being pulled, drawing you closer and closer to the artist's words. it kind of makes you want to cry. you can't help but belt out the words, because you feel it deep in your soul.
this song for me right now is "only love remains" by jj heller
scenes of you come rushing through, you are breaking me down
so break me into pieces that will grow in the ground
i know that i deserve to die for the murder in my heart
so be gentle with me, Jesus, as you tear me apart
please, kill the liar, kill the thief in me
you know that i am tired of their cruelty
breathe into my spirit, breathe into my veins
until only love remains
you burn away the ropes that bind and hold me to the earth
the fire only leaves behind whatever is of worth
i begin to see reality for the first time in my life
i know that i'm a shadow but i'm dancing in your light
teach me to be humble, call me from the grave
show me how to walk with you upon the waves
and breathe into my spirit, breathe into my veins
until only love remains
teach me to be humble, call me from the grave
show me how to walk with you upon the waves
and breathe into my spirit, breathe into my veins
until only love remains...
if you haven't heard the song before, you should check it out.
22.7.09
mosaic
1. ...LEONARDO'S SMILING ROSE TO MONA LISA..., 2. Sushi, 3. frog invasion, 4. Cookie splash! v6, 5. "Walking on the ocean" Los Roques Venezuela National Park Los Roques Los Roques archipelago Venezuela Snorkeling Scuba Diving Travel/ Reisen/Voyager/Viaggiare/Viajar South America America del Sur Atoll Aquatic Caribbean Sea, 6. Cd Art (700+ faves) :-), 7. Feed the hungry, 8. good friday, 9. Sassy
a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search (http://www.flickr.com/)
b. Using only the first page, pick an image.
c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s Mosaic Maker (http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/mosaic.php)
d. Save the image and post it on a note!
The Questions:
1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favorite food?
3. What is your favorite color?
4. Favorite drink?
5. Dream vacation?
6. Favorite Hobby?
7. What you want to be/do when you grow up?
8. What do you love most in life?
9. One word to describe you?
i stole this from jbrtva :)
17.7.09
to feel alive
Why is it that living in a foreign country, working hard, spending time with orphans, sweating, with no internet and wearing nothing more than t-shirts and shorts is more appealing than the comforts of middle-class suburban living?
Is it that I'm jaded by an overload of wealth that most of the world doesn't get to experience?
Or is it that I've been numbed for so long that the rawness of that type of environment is like a slap in the face?
Or maybe I've been so numbed by comfort that once I'm finally removed from it, I can feel alive?
Or maybe my heart was just made differently?
Maybe my heart was made to break for things that most people try to not think about?
Maybe I was made with a boldness to put myself out there and that is willing to let myself be affected by injustice?
Maybe I've been touched by LOVE in a way that only makes me want to reach out and pour out more than I ever thought possible?
Maybe that's why being there makes me feel alive...
and we need people who feel alive. People who are caught up in the latest trends and lost in the flow of busy everyday life don't change the world.
Sure, showing love to one orphan doesn't change the world... but it can change theirs. Their life being changed causes them to want to change the lives of others and the snowball effect happens. So many other lives are changed because of the one. THAT changes the world.
Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?
Is it that I'm jaded by an overload of wealth that most of the world doesn't get to experience?
Or is it that I've been numbed for so long that the rawness of that type of environment is like a slap in the face?
Or maybe I've been so numbed by comfort that once I'm finally removed from it, I can feel alive?
Or maybe my heart was just made differently?
Maybe my heart was made to break for things that most people try to not think about?
Maybe I was made with a boldness to put myself out there and that is willing to let myself be affected by injustice?
Maybe I've been touched by LOVE in a way that only makes me want to reach out and pour out more than I ever thought possible?
Maybe that's why being there makes me feel alive...
and we need people who feel alive. People who are caught up in the latest trends and lost in the flow of busy everyday life don't change the world.
Sure, showing love to one orphan doesn't change the world... but it can change theirs. Their life being changed causes them to want to change the lives of others and the snowball effect happens. So many other lives are changed because of the one. THAT changes the world.
Who wouldn't want to be a part of that?
13.7.09
Give me your eyes so I can see...
This is the view of the mountains from the Back2Back campus we stayed at in Monterrey. There's an equally beautiful set of them behind where I was standing as well. After a week of hard work and playing with kids, I am feeling exhausted and hungering for more. I felt more purpose in my life that week than I have in a long time. I'm still processing through a lot of things, and I am no where close to knowing what this experience means for me, but I know for sure that I will never be the same.Jamas seré igual.
30.6.09
crave
This post is something I've had on my heart for a while. I finally feel like I have the words to explain it all.
The last series at my church was titled "CRAVE." The question Noel always used to ask toward of the sermons was, "What do you crave?" During the offering after the final week in the series, my fiance leaned over to me and jokingly asked, "So, what do you crave?" I couldn't tell if he was being serious because his tone led me to believe it was some-what mocking... just sighed and said, "A lot."
Which is true, unfortunately.
So I made a list. I crave:
-a job that pays money
-moving back to Lansing
-getting married
-watching ridiculous t.v. (a.k.a. numbing myself)
-clothes, shoes, things...
-being in full-time ministry
-being in full-time ministry overseas...
And why do we end up with all of these cravings?
It finally hit me.
I have been so idle- I haven't been filling myself up on the Word of God, on time with Him, on encouraging words and people who push me on in my relationship with Him. I've been leaving myself to starved and empty that of course I run to all of these other things to fill me and it just leaves me craving...
There are warnings all over Scripture against idleness- idle hands and idle words. Even the wife of noble character [Proverbs 31:10-31] does not eat the bread of idleness (and if I really want to be a good wife to my future husband someday, I'm not exactly headed in the right direction...)
So after my conclusion, and after discovering the true desires of my heart (obviously, not for the things I crave, but for my LORD and Savior to be my joy and my delight), I have been trying to be more intentional about what I am filling myself with. Filling myself with the Word and not endless hours on Facebook or watching Gossip Girl. (both completely fine things in moderation) Taking time out of my day for prayer instead of numbing myself with shopping for things that I don't need.
I'm working on it, but I've still got a long way to go.
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."
[1 john 2:15-17]
Amen.
The last series at my church was titled "CRAVE." The question Noel always used to ask toward of the sermons was, "What do you crave?" During the offering after the final week in the series, my fiance leaned over to me and jokingly asked, "So, what do you crave?" I couldn't tell if he was being serious because his tone led me to believe it was some-what mocking... just sighed and said, "A lot."
Which is true, unfortunately.
So I made a list. I crave:
-a job that pays money
-moving back to Lansing
-getting married
-watching ridiculous t.v. (a.k.a. numbing myself)
-clothes, shoes, things...
-being in full-time ministry
-being in full-time ministry overseas...
And why do we end up with all of these cravings?
It finally hit me.
I have been so idle- I haven't been filling myself up on the Word of God, on time with Him, on encouraging words and people who push me on in my relationship with Him. I've been leaving myself to starved and empty that of course I run to all of these other things to fill me and it just leaves me craving...
There are warnings all over Scripture against idleness- idle hands and idle words. Even the wife of noble character [Proverbs 31:10-31] does not eat the bread of idleness (and if I really want to be a good wife to my future husband someday, I'm not exactly headed in the right direction...)
So after my conclusion, and after discovering the true desires of my heart (obviously, not for the things I crave, but for my LORD and Savior to be my joy and my delight), I have been trying to be more intentional about what I am filling myself with. Filling myself with the Word and not endless hours on Facebook or watching Gossip Girl. (both completely fine things in moderation) Taking time out of my day for prayer instead of numbing myself with shopping for things that I don't need.
I'm working on it, but I've still got a long way to go.
"Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever."
[1 john 2:15-17]
Amen.
1.6.09
glory
I'm always taken aback by the part in God's story where Moses tells God, "Show me your glory!"
First of all... seeing God's glory is a pretty big deal. No one has ever seen God this side of heaven in all His glory and lived. All of the awe His glory inspires... I definitely understand wanting to see it, but the other part of that event that blows me away is that Moses didn't even ask... he just said, "God, show me your glory!" It's more of a demand than a question.
Who in their right mind would demand God to show him that? Demand God, the creator of the universe and everything in it, to show him (His servant) something that no one on earth had ever seen and lived to tell about it because it's that magnificent... Moses obviously had the cajones to do it.
The question is why don't we?
First of all... seeing God's glory is a pretty big deal. No one has ever seen God this side of heaven in all His glory and lived. All of the awe His glory inspires... I definitely understand wanting to see it, but the other part of that event that blows me away is that Moses didn't even ask... he just said, "God, show me your glory!" It's more of a demand than a question.
Who in their right mind would demand God to show him that? Demand God, the creator of the universe and everything in it, to show him (His servant) something that no one on earth had ever seen and lived to tell about it because it's that magnificent... Moses obviously had the cajones to do it.
The question is why don't we?
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