Inspiration|Procrastination.

Where does inspiration come from?

I mean, I wish I blogged more. I wish I wrote songs more often. I wish I played piano and guitar more...

Is it the lack of inspiration or motivation?
If only a formula could be found.
Surely it is some sort of mixture of the two added to a few cups of discipline...

The things I believe to love... are they really my passion? If they are, shouldn't I be addicted to each activity? How much of doing something you love comes from passion and how much of it comes from plain old discipline?

Some people find one thing, one skill set, and pursue it until they know every inch and detail.
While people like me are drawn to many things but can never quite stay focused on anything.

Though I agree with what this says, I constantly get caught in a tangle of what to start pursuing first and whether it is the best thing I should pursue.

Wow, I think I just diagnosed my problem: over-analyzing.
And how did I come to this sudden moment of resolve? By writing. Even though I felt no inspiration.

I know this post doesn't seem like much, even I am surprised at how much focus I seem to be getting all of a sudden!

New Goal: one blog post every day. It can be long, short, deep, shallow, fun or serious, just as long as I discipline myself to do this. Oof, I am getting nervous now that this new goal is posted into cyber space!!

Graciously.

So often I find myself singing Chris McClarney's "Your Love is Everything"



Ah, love it. <3

As you have or will hear, there is this one line that always stops me in my tracks:
"I will not forget, I won't forget Your promises."

Let me just be straight with all you blogosphere folks: I have been seeking after God, the Father of Jesus Christ my Savior for the vast majority of my life. Yet, I am CONSTANTLY forgetting God's promises! It's terrible. But such evidence that I live fully by God's constant grace. This ain't religion, that's for sure... if that were the case, I would've stopped messin' with this stuff a looong time ago!

Anyway, all that said because I'm trying to remind myself of God's promises more & more lately in hopes of strengthening my constant doubting and distrust of God's character.

Romans 8:32 will forever astound me.
"He who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all- how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?"

AH! So often I freak out about not having a paycheck, not knowing my life plan, not being like this person or having a relationship with that person or that I should have it all together like everybody expects!
So funny how we put such expectations on each other though we ourselves have not fully attained it and never will.

I put my hope & weight on all the things that are not promising; not faithful; UNcertain. As though they are so valuable compared to what I have already been given!

God. Gave His Son-the BEST THING HE COULD POSSIBLY GIVE!- for me. The God of heaven gave Him up for an unfaithful, selfish, prideful, stubborn, stupid, sinful, forgetful, idolater of a girl!

AAANNNND!

He's ready to throw in my every need on top of it.
WHY?!?!!?!!!?!!!??!
Oh, ya know... just cuz He loves me.
He loves me even though I forget him every day.

He loves me even though I constantly insist on having my own way.

He loves me even when I yell at Him in anger.

He loves me through all my whining.

He loves me even when I blame Him for my problems.

He loves me when I don't actually trust Him to deliver.

He loves me... though I shove these doubts, anger, and distrust in His face on a daily basis.

Now that is love.
That is the love all of our hearts search for.
It's so obvious... Just look at the love songs we write.
Hopeful longings for love to be fulfilled.
Aching wounds from short-lived love.
Always searching; wondering, who will love me for who I am, flaws and all?

Our hearts are calling out to the One who first gave us a heartbeat. We were made to love Him. We were made to be loved by Him.

Graciously, God loves. He has no reason to love us at all, but He loves us graciously to top it all off!

Graciously: showing divine grace- unmerited favor with no price tag, no hidden fees.

Wow. That will astound me the rest of my life & forevermore. Grace.

{Unpacking.}

Time to confess: for roughly the first month home, I lived out of my suitcase.

Seriously, I wouldn't unpack.

Sounds ridiculous, but subconsciously, I denied the idea of staying home for any amount of time that required unpacking. I felt this momentum from college and had no intention of losing air. Little did I recognize that a series of "small" decisions amounted to a rough landing into the place I was determined not to go.

Nothing is actually wrong with home, I love home!
But the comfort of home is what worried me. I would call it fear of laziness.

And maybe, fear of acknowledging the past.

It felt like going backward because I am not the same person that moved out of this place 4 years ago.
But it is not like she has completely disappeared either.

When I finally gave in to emptying my luggage, I also began cleaning house. I sorted through old stuff that stuck around through the years: journal entries, pictures, e-mails, documents, awards, music, childhood jewelry, clothes, and notes passed around through high school.

It reminds me of years that were savored down to the last minute. Years where every day was lived fully. Awkward years. Years I would feel too embarrassed to share with anyone. Is it just me, or is it inevitable to look back and think, "I was SUCH a dork!"

But looking back, while bringing my "new" self home, has been the perfect mixture to preserving who I truly am at this point in time. Some significant parts of me were forgotten while I was away. I was free enough to show some of my cards, but never truly free to show them all. Now that I have had to marinate in home life, I am just praying that I will be free to show all my cards wherever I end up next.

Wherever I end up next...

That's where I feel a bit like an oddball. A lot of people have been asking if I plan to stay here. When I ask myself the same question, the answer is so obvious. To stay here is just not me. It would feel too much like living in the past. While I've watched most of my friends settle here all over again or keep their roots in college town, I am wondering which pond is next in line to hop.

At first I hoped to settle somewhere I already had roots in.
Have some sense of normalcy for a while. Prove that I can handle more responsibilities.
But this force I have had all my life has kept me from really following through with normal.
It has become especially unruly without a school system containing it.
"This force" is hard to describe. Deep down, there is this magnetic pull type feeling towards something extraordinary.

Don't get me wrong, there are extraordinary aspects of doing "normal" things.
Realistically, settling down somewhere isn't exactly the season I am in.
As comforting as that would be, trying to develop something outside its season would be unfruitful.

Vast land sits in front of me. Unbroken ground waiting to be traveled on.
Travel lightly. Leave everything behind. What really needs to be carried is everything inside.
Its lush green pastures invite me to come. walk. see what's beyond the hillside.

I think I will...

Just found this song today... fits right in:

"Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart..."

Over the past week I have been fortunate to witness a couple very significant events. One being the 25th wedding anniversary of Joe & Nancy. The other, the funeral of Mr. Rich.

Both brought me back into the presence of people from my past- the Praise Fellowship crew! I doubt that I can fully relay what it was like to grow up with a place like Praise Fellowship Church (PFC) in my life. But for the time being, let's just say this group is like an extra appendage on my family tree. I have yet to find something quite like it.

It was such an honor to witness these events, though much emotion came along with them. All in all, they both molded my heart into a more grateful one.

At both of these events I watched men and women stand before a microphone to speak about more than anything this world contains. Instead of simply praising the couple for staying together or mourning the loss of a great man, they gave all glory to God & placed Him first even though this was about particular people.

Even though all the focus could have been on them, they could not help but point it all back to Jesus and humbly say, "How Great Thou Art."

I was especially impacted to hear the friends of Joe & Nancy speak. They told stories, but at one point somebody started to prophesy over their lives. In that moment the presence of the Lord seemed to coagulate through the entire room. My eyes widened at the experience of seeing people of my parents' generation still practicing the manifest presence of God in their friendships. I had always been afraid that that sort of charismatic culture would dwindle away from my life after college, but observing that gave me hope. It was a reminder that those things only disappear if I choose not to practice them regularly.

At the wake and memorial service, I reflected back on how I remember Rich as a kid. He was a pretty quiet, yet joyful man. Though I did not know him to the same capacity as others, the impact he had on my life is more tremendous than even I anticipated!

It is amazing what one person's life does for so many others.

I am not sure how else to pull all of this together except by saying: thank you.
To Mary and Rich, Joe and Nancy, Cindy and Gary, Kim and Denny, Don and Ginny, Kelly, Tim, Sarah, Angela, and all the rest of my Praise Fellowship family:

Thank you for choosing the Lord Jesus Christ first.
For raising your children to love and serve Him first.
For treating your spiritual family like they truly are family.
And for just showing up and being present in my life.

Being raised in an environment where I was surrounded by people, of course including my parents, who seek to be like Christ really set the foundation for my life.
We didn't even need to be inside the church for God's presence to be relayed through your character.

I am so all-around healthy today because great people trained me up and walked me through my childhood. And I will never, ever, part from it.

I love you all so very, very much.
Thank you.


To anyone else reading this, all I can say is: live for Jesus. It's the only thing that makes a real difference.

The Reality of a Dreamer.

So I have been thinking about how I need to write a current day response to my last blog ever since... well, since I posted it!

Trying to wrap my head around how I think now has certainly revealed just how much life has changed me.
One could say my feet have left the ledge while simultaneously staying planted on solid ground.

It is not like I can pretend to have decades upon decades under my belt, but here is what I have found.

I answer the question, "What's your biggest dream?" in a very different way than I did 5 years ago.

Or maybe it is just that I answer this question with less loftiness and more sincerity. Hmm...

What has stayed the same?
My desire to impact the world- the entire world.
The call to ministry- to make Jesus Christ known through everything I am, say, and do.

I used to want to approach this through more direct means: singing, working in a church, etc. But as I shyly attempt to squirm my way into adulthood, I keep asking God for wisdom.
(How else could I survive this transition?)

Naturally, the Lord has delivered... cuz He always lives up to His promises! (James 1:5)
And of course, He goes straight for the things I always thought had nothing to do with me!
(Does that happen to you? I think God gets a kick out of it!)

For the longest time, I expected impacting the world for Jesus would mean traveling non-stop. There is no way I could consider meeting someone or starting a family anytime soon! HELLOOOO!

I am tryiiing to change the world here, people!!

2 things I have always put on a pedestal:
-World travel.
-Being a career woman.

But the World Race attempt, college graduation, and unemployment have all been tools God has used to sit me down.
And to stay.
Real still.
Then, when anxiety overcomes me it's like He picks me up and shakes it out of me- just what I need.
(Yeah, God & I have a really funny/strange relationship, it's great lol)

"Here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud," (thank you, Cummings):

You ready for it?

If we want to make a TREMENDOUS impact on this world...
...it has to start in the home.

There is nothing more set apart, more impactful, more rich, than a family that:
-loves the Lord deeply.
-love each other deeply as a result.
-raise children with higher standards even if it seems uncool.
-remain faithful to one another.
-can love on their friends and community because of their unity.

THAT is something the world rarely sees. It is truly a diamond in the rough.



A natural response to this would be, "Good for you, Sarah, but in case you forgot: you're single! And when you're waiting on the Lord, you can't really do much about that!"

I object.

I think the biggest lie single people (men AND women) believe is that we have not yet arrived until we have found someone.
OR,
That our high impact, adventurous lives end once we have said, "I do."


Proverbs 31 describes a wife of noble character. Verse 12 says, "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life."
ALL the days of her life.
Not, after she marries him. Nor is it once they have started dating.

It is every day. All my life. Before God presents me with a bow on top and after.
There is PLENTY for me to do right now!
And it's gonna make the rest of my life a heck of a lot easier than if I cram it into post-marriage season.

I am not trading in my dreams of travel, music, and a career for this. It is just that the Lord has helped me configure things into their rightful place. Some things do not matter to me as much any more, while others have found a more balanced place on my priority list.

And it is not that I seek these things because of some distant vision I have of the man of my dreams.
It is for the First Love of my life - My Maker, My Husband (Is. 54:5).
He will still be first even when I find an earthly husband -then I can make 'em both happy! ;D


She seeks wisdom. She walks fearlessly. She is an investor & wise with her money. Trustworthy, joyful, and diligent. She is creative and virtuous.

All of these are things any woman- young or old- can do in any season of her life.

To be this kind of woman...
... that would be my biggest dream.

Woww...

Upon returning to my parents' house for "post-graduation transition time," I've been cleaning up my bedroom & came across an old narrative from high school composition class. This narrative is about 5 years old, but it is absolutely crazy to read back and see certain consistencies regarding my purpose. If you've somewhat kept up with my blogs, you'll see what I mean.

It's pretty funny to notice my juvenility in this, but I suppose I can accept it. lol

Here goes:


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It was a perfect night in March. School was manageable, life was social; everything seemed pretty relaxed after a grueling school year and I was soaking up a fun night.

I had just arrived to a bonfire after spending the evening at a luau when I saw Ben peering hard through the darkness. I hardly recognized him at first, but after he waved I went to meet him. I had previously invited him to come after the luau finished up and was slightly surprised that he actually came (he really didn't know many people).

The night was cold, yet everyone's spirit of happiness kept each other warm. A few of us marched down the dark path of the forest in search of nothing in particular except to enjoy each others' company. The ground began to crunch under our feet as we stepped upon the glowing white gravel. But, our journey fell apart fast and we headed back up to join everyone else at the fire. Our group quickly scattered leaving Ben and I at a quiet spot in the outskirts of the bonfire.

The simpler conversations from that night have long drifted from my memory. We asked each other many random questions, but there was only one that dug itself deep into my mind... it might have even seeped down to my heart.

"What's your biggest dream?" Ben asked me as he gazed up at the radiating clouds in the moonlight.

Unprepared to answer this question, my mouth stammered a few "uhs" and "ums" as my brain ran through the files to find my folder full of dreams. I hastily chose the dream in my mind that I had had almost my whole life.

"I want to be a Christian recording artist like Darlene Zscech because she's so real about her faith and doesn't change who she is for the media." I asked him the same question and soon after came the response that rekindled an old flame deep within my heart of hearts.

"I want to build a church in Colorado and have a summer camp there. I'm not really into the whole media thing so there wouldn't be TVs or anything. We'd live there with other couples and just live life more simply."

His usage of "we" rapidly jumped out to my attention. My mind started churning up questions to ask him for more clarity since "we" were simply friends, but I quickly shoved them away -- there were more important things on my mind.

As the rest of the night rolled on, the crisp, cold air began to pierce my coat. And yet the thoughts went reeling through my brain; relentlessly pressing on towards a resolved conclusion. There's no other dialogue I remember from that night except saying good-bye to everyone as we left for home.

Heading straight to my room, I plunged into my dresser drawers pulling out clothes and plopping them on my bed. Immediately after, I pulled open my closet and yanked the light bulb to life. The feeling in my heart was unbelievable! It was like my heart had sprouted wings and began to flutter through the air expressing its freedom from an anchor of selfishness. Finally, it hit me. My heart was at last convicted of this addiction I had been stuck on for so long.

I began disbursing my clothes, easily pulling out the items I knew I didn't need. The thought of someone in great need wearing these unnecessary clothes of mine overrode thoughts of selfishness battling inside my conscience. I was finally, honestly ready to try and live a simpler life.

After dumping my extra clothes into a laundry basket, I shut the door and bounced into my bed. I pulled out a sheet of paper and began doodling out the words in a bold title,
"What's your biggest dream?"
Unsorted questions and feelings zoomed through my head like cars speeding through the highway. My prayers spat out of my mouth for clarity and wisdom; when the last word came, my insides began to take in a deep breath.

The words streamed out of my pen as my paper came in contact with the ink. The wonderment in my mind was answered by the words on my paper. I dug deep into my heart, trying to figure out my heart's desire and what had changed since I had put material possessions in front of the things my Designer created me to treasure. I came to realize that having a recording contract isn't what I long for.

I don't need lights and I don't need fame.

I want to help people change for Good. I need to see the love of Christ enter others' hearts and soak into their lives as it has in mine. It's like I had been spending over fifteen hours a week at church investing in peoples' lives without even recognizing that I feed off of seeing the effects. Not my effects, of course, but of the One who uses my life for others. The one word to sum it all up finally smacked into the windshield of my brain.

Ministry.

"THAT'S IT!" My heart was screaming at my brain by this point and it finally seemed to get the message. That's it. All I want to do is see the glimmer in someone's eyes after continuously searching for something stable in their life. A job that doesn't seem too rewarding in annual salaries, but reaps so much more than man could ever sow.

How glorious it was to discover my purpose and know what to strive for in my life. This experience has turned all my natural thoughts around one hundred and eighty degrees. All in one night; because of one question:

"What is your biggest dream?"

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Hahaa :) So there it is. Stay tuned for part 2... a present day response?

FLAKE.

That's the name I keep calling myself inside.

Or so I think.

It is likely I am hearing that liar's attempt to condemn me.

But I am not condemned.
There is no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus.

"Flake," has been running through my mind for several months.
So much has changed since December.
I signed up to go on The World Race.
Started raising support.
I'm not going anymore.

I signed up for the Every Nation School of Ministry.
Told everyone. Constantly.
It's even on the my University website.
I pulled out 2 days before the start.

So here I am now, sitting in my lazy-boy, writing a blog.

Why?
Why didn't I stick with at least ONE of these things??

I just couldn't.

Not because The World Race wouldn't have been an amazing, adventurous experience.
Not because the School of Ministry wouldn't have given me greater insight.

Only because I never had peace.

It's easy to fabricate confidence,
but you can't devise peace.

A couple blog posts down, I was proud enough to say, "As a matter of fact, I DO know what I'm doing after college!"

Oh, how pride comes before the fall.

That's really all I was after: having a post-college plan. The more exciting and adventurous sounding, the better.
It sounded so sacrificial to live out of a backpack for 11 months to tell 11 countries about Jesus being alive.
I tried to be propitiatory to God and my peers to take ministry training over a summer job or any job for that matter.

But, "obedience is better than sacrifice." (1 Sam. 15:22, NLT)

What IS more pleasing to the LORD? Sacrifice or obedience to His voice?

Obedience.

Obedience, obedience, obedience.

I kept asking the Lord, "What should I do? Where should I go? Whom should I work for?"

"Intimacy..." is His first request.

"Okay," I thought, "that must mean a mission trip... that must mean ministry school."

Silence. (Not peace.)

Not a mission trip. Not ministry school. Just intimacy.

I've been running from the mundane; too insecure to tell people I don't know what is coming next.
Too anxious to trust or wait on the Lord.

Why do we insist on asking each other for 5 year plans?
No one can possibly hold a blueprint of his or her life in their hands.

I know in part what I am made to do, but it cannot begin until I have laid more groundwork of deeper intimacy with God one-on-one. Structured organizations or weekly meetings can't keep feeding me. I'm a big girl now.

None of these things are bad-
some people are called to The World Race, others to ministry school.
Being in church every week is necessary for fellowship's sake.

But it cannot replace the unique love relationship I alone have with the world's Savior.

As He has already prepared good works for me to do, He also has to prepare me to be a good steward of my ministry- whether that is in literal ministry, a career, or my family.

He's so faithful. Faithful enough to chase me down & poke at my spirit until I realize I'm headed the wrong way.
Faithful enough to love and lead me to everything HE hopes and dreams for my life.
A dream that is exceedingly and abundantly more than I have ever asked for or imagined.


Singing this song is so refreshing to my spirit. It is an opportunity to testify and praise the Lord for all He is teaching me:

Morning by morning I wake up to find
The power and comfort of God’s hand in mine
Season by season I watch Him, amazed
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

I can’t remember a trial or a pain
He did not recycle to bring me gain
I can’t remember one single regret
In serving God only, and trusting His hand
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful to me.

This is my anthem, this is my song
The theme of the stories I’ve heard for so long
God has been faithful, He will be again
His loving compassion, it knows no end
All I have need of, His hand will provide
He’s always been faithful, He’s always been faithful
He’s always been faithful to me.

~"Always Been Faithful," Sara Groves.


Praise the Lord, O my soul. All that is within me PRAISE His holy name. :)

"Though Chains Be of Gold, They Are Chains All The Same."

Well 2009, you have been quite the year.

This year has probably been the most the most difficult, humbling refining, and fulfilling year of my entire life.

Sigh.

When I say fulfilling, I do not actually mean I have been content or satisfied all year. In fact, there have been many seasons of discontent and constant hunger.

But somewhere, in all the failure, the searching and the discontent, I have been fulfilled because I sought. Everything I strived for was worth working toward even if I never saw it come to fruition like I thought it should. At least I put up a fight. And that fight has made me a stronger person whom I have never known before.

Yes, I grew up in a Christian home with godly parents, but...

I feel like I have finally started living this year.

My eyes have been opened to so many things, both good and bad. Many I have never had to face before but it has forced me to not just know my convictions, but to stand up on them in my actions as well.

Most significantly, God has begun to reveal just how significant we are as humans. He has given us an abundant source of magnificent power!! Yet there is such a scarcity of His followers that live life with this understanding on a daily basis! We have not truly lived! We do not fully know God if we do not know and see His power dominate our lives! YES, it will be tangible! Yes, it will change the way you live and every life you touch!

I feel like I've found a leak in a dam and the entire wall is about to break!

This discovery is so timely as I prepare to go on The World Race. Living in a tent for a year, on a mat, on $3 of food a day in poverty stricken countries where I am susceptible to all kinds of risky situations sounds illogical for a girl like me– the youngest child from a tight knit family living in a great neighborhood who likes her nice clothes and pretty accessories.

I have motivation to make something of myself... graduate school, entrepreneurship, and becoming a professor.

But I first have motivation to make something of myself: to be a woman of God (as He defines it), a servant, a life-changer; a sister, mother, and friend to those who live without. I want my hand to be the one an orphan holds. I want to embrace the prostitute who has forgotten her worth as she's sold every 30 minutes. I want them to know [they. are. loved.] because no one has ever told them so.

My wounds, healed by Christ, have made me strong enough to bring healing to those looking for the Healer.

My comfortable bed, nice clothes, and fine jewelry aren't worth keeping if it costs me the real life I was made for.

So here's to 2010: the year that dam finally breaks and God's power gushes out through my life. The year I joyfully walk away from the stuff I used to care about.

Though chains be of gold, they are chains all the same.

As a Matter of Fact, I DO Know What I'm Doing After College!

Many of you have heard about the calling God just recently placed in my life over the last couple weeks. In case you haven't, let me tell you now. I've just been accepted into the World Race July team with Adventures in Missions. Please read the press release about the January team below and ask God how you can walk alongside me in this next step of faith!

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GAINESVILLE, Ga., Nov. 23 -- Over 100 men and women ages 21-35, compelled by issues of social justice and simple living, are leaving the comfort of their homes and possessions in January of 2010 to travel 11 to countries in 11 months, sharing the hope of Jesus Christ as they go.

The group is called the World Race and was first conceived by Seth Barnes, founder and executive director of Adventures In Missions, in 2006. He designed a trip that would remove young people from their comfortable lifestyles for a year--to see the developing world and be transformed by what they saw. The first team consisted of 14 people. Since then, AIM has sent 92 teams consisting of over 630 men and women on 12 different trips around the world and visiting over 64 countries.

"While I am excited to observe a medley of people this next year throughout the world, I am more excited to love, serve, and care for the people that God will place in my life," says Hannah Vitkus of Nashville, Tennessee, who is looking forward to leaving in January. "Be it an orphan, a prostitute, the homeless, a college student or an older family--with your help, I am able to do this--to be the hands and feet, to go, to love, to serve."

"I expect to be ripped from my comfort zone on this trip. I expect to see Christ move in unimaginable ways. I expect to have the experience of a lifetime. I expect to never be the same," says Jesse Walsh of Birmingham, Alabama who is also leaving in January. "But most of all, I expect to not have my expectations met and in turn, be given something I could have never even known to expect."

Each World Race team relies on the hospitality and generosity of strangers--whether this means living in a tent in a farmer's field, staying in an urban shanty or enjoying the rare comfort of a warm bed. Through their experiences, World Racers learn to depend on each other. They also learn to care more and live with less. It's a journey of self-discovery and worldview--a chance to explore life in a whole new way.

"I'm leaving behind the woman I thought I have always wanted to be, to become the woman God intended me to be... which is someone I never had the guts to be," shares Michelle Euperio from Mesquite, Texas, who is also a part of the World Race in January 2010.

"Many people look at the World Race and get the wrong idea," says Barnes. "They think it's about young people seeing the world. The reality is that, while young people often sign up because of the adventures they know they'll have and the worldview that a year of global travel will give them, it's really an initiation experience. On the World Race you learn about what God is doing on the earth and how to join Him in it."

For more information on the World Race visit www.theworldrace.org.

World Race participants and staff are available for interviews and speaking engagements upon request.

Adventures In Missions (AIM) is an interdenominational missions organization that focuses on discipleship. They emphasize prayer and relationships in their work amongst the poor. Since being established in 1989, AIM has taken over 80,000 people into the mission field, some for as short as a week and others for as long as a year or longer. Through 14 bases around the world, AIM has year-round ministry to places where "the least of these" are found. AIM believes that by giving people the opportunity to hold orphans, bring hope to the hopeless, and pray for the sick, lives are transformed.


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Original Article can be found at ChristianNewsWire.

Such a good reminder :)

I just love how this puts everything into a clear perspective...

WHAT IS A MISSIONARY?

"As My Father hath sent Me, even so send I you." ~John 20:21

A missionary is one sent by Jesus Christ as He was sent by God. The great dominant note is not the needs of men, but the command of Jesus. The source of our inspiration in work for God is behind, not before. The tendency to-day is to put the inspiration ahead, to sweep everything in front of us and bring it all out to our conception of success. In the New Testament the inspiration is put behind us, the Lord Jesus. The ideal is to be true to Him, to carry out His enterprises.

Personal attachment to the Lord Jesus and His point of view is the one thing that must not be overlooked. In missionary enterprise the great danger is that God's call is effaced by the needs of the people until human sympathy absolutely overwhelms the meaning of being sent by Jesus. The needs are so enormous, the conditions so perplexing, that every power of mind falters and fails. We forget that the one great reason underneath all missionary enterprise is not first the elevation of the people, nor the education of the people, nor their needs; but first and foremost the command of Jesus Christ - "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations."

When looking back on the lives of men and women of God the tendency is to say - What wonderfully astute wisdom they had! How perfectly they understood all God wanted! The astute mind behind is the Mind of God, not human wisdom at all. We give credit to human wisdom when we should give credit to the Divine guidance of God through childlike people who were foolish enough to trust God's wisdom and the supernatural equipment of God.


(Taken from Oct. 26th reading of Oswald Chamber's My Utmost for His Highest)

We are all missionaries. I don't care where you are, where you are going, or where you are not going, it is the love of Christ which compels us to tell all people of every nation and every generation that He is Lord of all. Each day is our chance to live out love, not just in deeds or service (though they have equal significance), but in words as well. It is easy to forget the magnitude of what we say to each other. Let us be wise, cautious and intentional with our speech because they set so many things in motion, whether Truth or lies. (Col. 3:16-17)

Above every cause and every need that is crying out to be met, the message and display of His love will cure all.

An Oldie but a Goodie.

I just love this song... God's been using it a lot lately to just remind me of exactly who He is and what He is capable of! Take some time to just read each line and think about how far His characteristics go.

"I Am" ~Mark Schultz

I am the maker of the Heavens
I am the bright and morning star
I am the breath of all Creation
Who always was
And is to come

I am the One who walked on water
I am the One who calmed the seas
I am the miracles and wonders
So come and see
And follow me
You will know

Chorus:
I am the fount of living water
The risen Son of man
The healer of the broken
And when you cry
I am your savior and redeemer
Who bore the sins of man
The author and perfecter
Beginning and the end
I am

I am the spirit deep inside you
I am the word upon your heart
I am the One who even knew you
Before your birth
Before you were

Chorus:

Before the Earth (I am)
The universe (I am)
In every heart (I am)
Oh, where you are (I am)
The Lord of love (I am)
The King of Kings (I am)
The Holy lamb (I am)
Above all things

Chorus:

Yes, I am almighty God your father
The risen son of man
The healer of the broken
And when you cry
I am your savior and redeemer
Who bore the sins of man
The author and perfecter
Beginning and the end
I am

The i Heart Revolution.

We need each other.

Watching that movie made me recognize what things need to happen in order for Christ to finally return and rebuild His kingdom on the earth. Missionaries, social entrepreneurs like me and advocates who promote natural human rights are going to usher our world into the return of Christ. If in fact we do end up with a worldwide currency that is so popularly predicted and already currently in the form of proposals by world leading countries, the economic condition of each individual nation must be leveled off equally to where it is economically possible to no longer have an exchange rate. For us to reach that level, we need to keep doing what we are doing: micro-financing and aid work to help bring people out of extreme poverty and disease. With the way our Christian culture is here in the U.S. it is easy to think about the “end times” and the return of Christ with negative connotation when in fact we should be anticipating it. Though it will be difficult at first, we know what the end result is and should be excited about the fact that our God is going to rebuild his kingdom on the earth He created so that it could be perfected and we can have life in eternity as we were meant to live.

We need to stop allowing ourselves to feel useless and worthless. It only keeps us from recognizing that I alone can accomplish a certain task given specifically to me by God. I have to put my own plans and goals aside in order to experience the purpose God had in mind for me since the day I was born. He did not have to give me these tasks. I am useless without Him. ALL I AM NOT, HE IS. [And I am nothing.]

I have to stop looking in the mirror and thinking that everything I am worth comes from the feautres I can see about myself- my skills, my looks, my possessions; my achievements. My value was nailed to a cross. My value was raised to life. I need to come to grips with the fact that He is what defines and solidifies my worth. If I keep searching for treasures on this earth or something to gratify my longings on this earth I will be chasing the wind for the rest of my life. It would also be a chase after the wind if I find my value in outdoing someone else in my successes. "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35). That’s what I want to push myself in. That’s what I need to push myself to compete against others in with all of my life and for the rest of my life. If I can’t love my sisters or my brothers, I cannot possibly love God. I can’t accomplish anything without others alongside me. I can’t keep living like I’m the only one that needs to save the world. It is not just my responsibility, or even the responsibility of my nation. It is the responsibility of every individual that calls themselves a follower of Christ. If we are called followers, why are we constantly trying to pave our own road instead of following the trail Christ has already left for us? Why is it that we are just now grasping His calling on our lives to meet the needs of people around us when it is constantly mentioned in the word? How much of his voice have we ignored?

“Being unwanted, unloved, uncared for, forgotten by everybody, I think that is a much greater hunger, a much greater poverty than the person who has nothing to eat.”
(Mother Teresa)

Lord, you’ve given us a mind, logic, hands, feet, and a voice so that we could be practical in our worship. Show us how to really live. Let your love transform us so deeply that we see our fellow man with your eyes. We have such universal needs and desires. We cannot pretend like we are separated by culture anymore.

When you sent your son to this earth, his desires were your same desires. He was willing. He said, "I will go for their sake. I will go for them!"

In a speech he gave in 1965 at the University of Cape Town in South Africa, then Senator Bobby Kennedy talked about how the world was changing, and said the following:
"Everywhere [that] new technology and communications bring men and nations closer together, the concerns of one inevitably become the concerns of all. And our new closeness is stripping away the false masks, the illusion of differences which is at the root of injustice and hate and war. Only earthbound man still clings to the dark and poisoning superstition that his world is bound by the nearest hill, his universe ends at river's shore, his common humanity is enclosed in the tight circle of those who share his town or his views and the color of his skin."
He went on to say to a group of students: "It is your job, the task of the young people in this world to strip the last remnants of that ancient cruel belief from the civilization of man."

We need each other. We need to love each other.

((fight for it.))

No Kidding, You Should Read This.

"The Christians should have continued this missionary work among all peoples. They would then have met worthwile hazards of physical hardships and social persecution. They would have been compelled to pray without ceasing a prayer of sincerity and importunity. As they traveled, educating the world, every day they would have received fresh strength from the King of their hearts and souls who takes especial care of his soldiers on the firing line and the outposts of his kingdom. True it is that many Christians did teach this way. Suppose thousands of spiritually and mentally strong teachers had continued the work and had persistently taught true Christianity, the best Greek science and philosophy, arts and crafts, the Dark Ages might never have come upon the Western world and civilization might now be advanced to a point beyond imagining.
The teachers who might have been went into monastic cells. They substituted contemplation for service...While they gazed into the skies searching for God, the barbarians stormed through..."

~Alber & Emily Vail, Transforming Light: The Living Heritage of World Religions

>>Punk Rock<< Did I say that out loud?

I never realized how long it has taken me to fully come back to who I am since coming down south 3 years ago...

Among other things, I am currently listening to the category "Jimmy Eat World Music" on Pandora.com... Jimmy Eat World, Sugarcult, Dashboard Confessional, and Snow Patrol have been playing some good 'ol love songs and ya know what? I am enjoying it. I feel like the music scene at Belmont can make me feel like I have to be some sophisticated music snob (no offense) when, in reality, I just want to listen to music because it's fun to listen (thanks to Chris for pointing that out to me over Spring Break). Granted, I like how much exposure I have received from being in the midst of people who are so knowledgeable, though sometimes even Belmont can have a consistent sound throughout different bands... I just want to be comfortable with what my taste in music is first. It has surprised me to see how self-conscious I get when other people are listening to my iTunes or my iPod is playing in the car. Obviously I am not going to keep myself stuck on one genre and one only cuz I enjoy pretty much every type of music so long as my mood will accept it.

Phew. Glad I got that out there. It's about time I said that "out loud."

Don't L00k At Me Like That.

The pulsation of my heart has been pumping harder lately; as though it has been bench pressing and someone just added a few more weights on.

I am tired of the things this world says.

Forgive me if I am about to be to blatant out loud, but maybe we have all just been much to PC to get up the nerves to say anything about it.

PRAISE GOD FOR GENDER DIFFERENCES.

I hope that raised a curious, questioning brow or two.

I am not out to offend or argue with the homosexual community if that's where your mind is leading you. Although I do not agree with that lifestyle I love that community more than people probably realize.

What I am trying to say is that I am so tired of the confusion and need for control between men and women. It's like someone erased the defining line between what makes me a woman and what makes a man, a man.

My heart longs to fully know what God was thinking when he designed Eve; why He decided on what characteristics to design her with and for what purpose He hoped (and still hopes) to fulfill through women.

But even above that, my heart has been tearing down the center for the men in my life and all the confusion and bombardment of lies they have to beat their way through in order to reach the surface and into the sunshine of God's design for their gender. I realize that I am incapable of understanding all of God's thoughts and purposes in things, but I am so certain that men were not created with such masculinity for the sake of outdoing one another in tolerance for ungodly things whether it be in thoughts, actions, or entertainment. Give me a man who wants nothing more than to yank the kingdom of heaven into earth through his goodness, servant's heart, wisdom, and courage to go against the grain of his peers or even his pride.

I could not care less how imperfect your (men's) life has been: His mercies are new EVERY morning and so should ours (women's or visa versa).
That's something that sent a slight jab into my heart this past weekend: a guest speaker came to my college service and he brought up the blessing that his wife was and was boasting about how she was a virgin at the time they married (and praise God for that!). Seriously, I am happy for him it's just that I could not help but wonder if those who could not boast virginity about their lives received any sting of guilt or were struck with the fact that they could not identify with keeping that gift until marriage.

As a virgin I dare say give me a godly man who has had an imperfect past and I will tell you I am beholding a miracle. For though he went astray, the Lord left ninety-nine to find him and bring him home again. My Father makes ALL things new. The old has gone; the new has come - and that is something to live by.

More than anything, I am sick and tired of being put into the box of women stereotypes. As a matter of fact, I would like to submit to you men; if I am going to take your job and be paid as well as you it better be because I am capable and qualified not because affirmative action says so. And NO I do not like to be bossy. As a woman, it is important to me to accomplish things that are important and will insist on getting it moving if the other party is not. Ultimately, I wish the other party at least gave input other than, "you make the call." Though this may be the case for some women, that does not give me some heavy duty power trip: it makes me tired. It wears me down because I was not meant to take on the world by myself. God made me to be a partner, a helper, a supporter and encourager. The greatest privilege on this earth for me would be to help one man accomplish the unimaginable quest that God has laid before him: a unique plan tailor made for one of His sons and I.

I realize that there are people out there who could read this and call me a hypocrite because I have not lived up to all of these things. But everyone can be called a hypocrite at some point in their lives so can we just move on?

As women, we have not made men's lives easy. We are indecisive, insecure control freaks who convince ourselves to believe that sweet talking and dressing in inappropriate ways will finally lure in the perfect man and seal the deal when really it welcomes all the wrong attention and encourages men to see us with perverted vision.

Don't look at me like that!

I am calling out to all the men: PLEASE!! Restore me! Tell me what I am supposed to be not what the world says I am. Step into God's definition of masculinity and if you don't know what that definition is then ask Him to tell you. Pray that I understand what God's definition of femininity is. How I can encourage you? Hold me accountable to walking (and talking) in truth and purity.

Personally, I really like how different men are from women and women from men. Together in our true light, we cover all grounds.

Please... let's do something different than this world has been teaching us.

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." -Hebrews 12:1

Why I Love This Girl. :)

God has truly blessed my life with family and friends who have and continue to challenge me and push me to reach out for more and more of what the Lord wants to do through my life.

One of those people- a best friend and sister from childhood- is Sarah Barlow. God has used her to be a great example of faith in her everyday life. We had a wonderful conversation the other day about stepping out in faith, but doing so without keeping one hand in the situation. And then I came across this blog post of hers that I really want to pass along to all of you.

The power and capability we have is LIMITLESS through Christ Jesus our Lord!! We need to stop selling ourselves short!

How bad do you want it??
I've had some pretty amazing conversations this week, that for me is probably one of my most favorite things about life...long DEEP conversations about just everything! There's just something about it.
Yesterday, my incredible friend, Amy and I got together for lunch to catch up...after talking for awhile we realized that one of the things that BOTH of us were majorly dealing with was passivity... knowing exactly what we are supposed to do but just NOT wanting to do it!
I've come to realize that I have chosen where I am today...I could if I wanted to... have been a multi-millionaire with a huge business, giving millions into the gospel by now and saving kids over in Africa. It's truly been my choice... I feel like I've been putting out about 30% of my potential into what I undertake...which I've accomplished a lot so far... but...that's right there's been sooo many buts!



I spend the day on Facebook instead of getting what I need to do done. I watch that movie rather than working out. I go hang out with friends instead of spending time with God. And I go shopping instead of doing my taxes. Not that ANY of these are wrong..if you aren't doing these then there is something wrong there too...but it's doing these things mainly and the other things when I muster up the feeling to do it!
Really what I've realized is it's the flesh and right now it is MUCH stronger than my conscience... denying yourself things in fasting is a WONDERFUL way of putting that flesh under and rising above it! I've realized that the times that I've gotten THE most done is when I've lived a fasted lifestyle...one that doesn't constantly succumb to every whim that my flesh wants! It's saying no FIERCELY to those things for awhile and realizing how much time we are wasting just sitting around waiting for something amazing to happen! We are the amazing thing that is about to happen to this world but only if we get off our buts-butts and GET MOVING! I think we will be surprised in heaven when God shows us HOW MUCH we were able to accomplish compared to what we actually did because of us letting that flesh get in the way! As my desktop background says...THE WORLD IS WAITING FOR YOU!!! Let's PRESS IN! Not lean back!!

Posted by Sarah Barlow at 1:13 PM 6 comments
Labels: Thoughts
TUESDAY, MARCH 03, 2009

[.Insert Blog Title Here.]

I'm not sure what to write here.

So much has been invading my mind these last two weeks... a refreshing change to my thoughtlessness over the past few months.

I wish so many things right now...
But I know that all I really need is to trust in one Heavenly Father-
Who knows who I really am though I haven't always been true in front of other people,
Him who makes me worthy of something greater and beyond my faults though I don't deserve a second, third, fifty millionth chance at doing things right.

He is someone who loves me to no end even though my understanding of love has been tarnished by this world and I struggle to receive His affection.

I want to be free in the understanding that He is God and I am not.
I want to trust Him with all of me because He actually knows my days: past, present, and future.
As if I actually understand what he has laid out in front of me in the coming days/months/years...
Letting go of control makes me feel light as a feather,
Yet my hands are aching to clench something I long for.

If we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

I have no direction for my life except that scripture above and this one below:

Let love and faithfulness never leave you.

God use me to pour into the beautiful people you have surrounded my life with... don't let me take time for granted for we are but a mist, here today gone tomorrow.
May I remain in your Spirit so that I might be a blessing to others.
I don't want to waste my life by witholding Your love in my life from other people.

In Jesus Name,
Amen.

This Should Not Have Taken So Long!

At last, an update from my India Trip. For more, check out: india-oh-eight.blogspot.com



Oh man. I do not know how I will ever be able to communicate how much this trip has impacted me.
I would probably have to label it as the most meaningful trip I have ever taken.

And it was nothing like we had anticipated.

I think this trip was a very individual journey for each team member.
At this point I can only speak for myself, but hopefully everyone will have their stories up here too.

This journey was much more difficult and emotional than I prepared for.
For the first time I saw my late grandmother's entire ministry and even slept in her old bed located in the same room.
I finally grieved her death since she passed about 5 years ago.
But I got to see how alive her faith was and just how much its fruit exceeds a lifetime.

I met cousins, aunts, uncles, even my grand uncle and grand auntie... my grandmother's last brother and wife.
It was he, my tambi tatha, who exemplified the meaning of family to me.
He gave me so much love and affection it was unbelievable. I could barely hold my tears in when we said goodbye.



Don't let the picture fool you, he sat next to me and held my hand through pretty much the entire time my dad and I visited with them. :)

In short, I have been amazed to see how lasting of an impact this trip has made on my life. Even up to now, it is impossible to shake the images and experiences of India: the sights, smells, the people...

Although it was the hardest trip I have ever taken, I look back on it with the strongest degree of affection than the others.
God started and is still teaching me what it means to really pursue him. That nothing else, not even my own efforts can bring me any closer to God. I simply need to seek and rely on him alone. That is when fruit really starts to grow from my life.

I love you all. Thank you so much for your unconditional support, love and trust that all this would pull through.

Glory to God, He deserves all the credit...

Not THIS Introverted!

So...
I've been studying here since about 10 am.
Yesterday, I was here from about 9:30am-4:30 pm including a good lunch break w/ HP :) and then I went to my night class...
Tomorrow it starts all over again: 6:00 alarm, 7:30 class, online class/study.
I don't think I've seen my roommate for more than 5 minutes since the week started.

Sorry I just gotta let this out.

I like being independent... but this is a bit much.
I NEED PEOPLE!!!!!
Haha, this is complete proof that I am not a 100% introvert.
My friends, so many of them are here on campus doing the CA thing or whatever...
but if I don't stay focused on my work there's no way I'll keep up.
Thankfully, I've pretty much got the week's assignments over with for one class, just gotta keep up reading for the other and online discussion for the "other other" class.
Tonight's gonna be sooo good :)
Peoplepeoplepeoplepeople!
Can you tell I've been thinking a little much?

I'd be surprised if anyone's made it this far down, sorry this is so boring!

Another flight on Friday! Both exciting and stressful at the same time.
It'll be good, as always :)

I need to find something else to do...
Like sleeping. Or eating...
That'd be good :)

Wow this is a sad blog...

3 Weeks of Summer...

...hasn't quite been summer, but I'll take it. :)

It's been a whirlwind of juggling family time with some major projects that need to be tackled. I came home to this beautiful city and just started pouring my time into a mission trip to India that I am coordinating. PHEW! It's been so intense, but when the trip comes it'll all be SO WORTH it! I can't lie it's been stressful. Getting responses from people and decisions made can create such a road block for progress. Unfortunately the stress carried over into my family, especially my brother, and I wasn't being the best sister to be around. That Thursday night I had a breakdown, but thankfully my mentor was up baking a cake (I should thank her dog cuz he ate some of the first cake lol)! I tried to hold it in at first and then just let the tears loose and told her how horrible I felt for not being here for my brother and how things weren't holding steady with the mission trip and I was loosing grip on my confidence in Christ and how this is all going to turn out in good timing.
The best thing she said to me was this (yes, I wrote it down):

"It may be a worry to you, but it's not to God. He's got it all figured out,
He has got it all figured out."


Ah...love it. :)

God's been pushing to get the focus right again. The business details of the trip need to get done, but ultimately, the trip is centered around Him. If I am not walking with Him, then everything I've been doing is meaningless.

Since the focus is being fixed, the load has lightened. Things are falling into place and people are extending their hands to help me carry the load.

This week, I've had the chance to catch up with some old friends and spend more time with my family. :) And my sister flies in tomorrow!!!!!!!! I'm SO EXCITED!!! It's nice to breathe a little, but the work doesn't stop! Haha, I had to start my sociology assignments today... yay for summer semester?

Regardless, I can't lie, it's exciting to still anticipate another flight and a summer with some of the greatest people on earth...
I can feel a new chapter beginning!
AHH!!!