Pictures!

 This was at a village where we shared the gospel. I love these precious children!

 Getting ready to play football! 

 We travelled to this village and had church with them on Sunday. Last year's team came here and planted the church. It was the first time they had ever heard the gospel. Now there is a church!

 I got to speak to these high schoolers. Four committed their lives to Christ!

We taught it many schools like this one. Beautiful children!

These are just a few snapshots. There are so many more than I want to share with you!

June 24, 2015 "The Gospel is Joy and Jesus is Worthy"

This morning I had the privilege of giving the chapel message at a high school. I was excited for that opportunity because I love working with teenagers and have a passion to see them fall in love with Jesus and abandon themselves to Him. Below is a recap of what I shared with them, which has come out of things the Lord has been teaching me over the years and even in recent weeks.

This morning I want to leave you with two things. The first is that the gospel is joy and it is worth giving up everything for. The second is that Jesus is completely worthy of all your devotion.

To begin, I’d like to first clarify terms. What I mean by the phrase, ‘the gospel’ is this: God created you and loves you. But we are sinners and, no matter how hard we strive, cannot make ourselves right before God. So God sent Jesus to bear our sins in His body on the cross so we might die to sin and live for righteousness (1 Peter 2:24). Jesus died as our punishment. God raised Him from the dead and decreed that whoever believes in Jesus and receives Him will live forever with God (John 3:16, 1:12).

With that foundation laid, I want to make a case that the gospel is joy and is worth giving up everything for. Consider Matthew 13:44-46

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.

Notice two things about this passage. First, in both cases the treasure was at a great cost. Both men sold everything they had to attain their prize. Second, consider the attitude with which they conducted their affairs. The text says, “in his joy [he] went and sold all he had and bought that field” (emphasis mine). They had this joy because they knew that the treasure was infinitely greater than the possessions they were giving up.

It is the same with following Jesus. I am not here to stand before you today to tell you that if you give your life to Christ, all your problems will disappear. If you decide to follow Jesus, you won’t suddenly become rich or have perfect health or never face trials. Actually, the opposite could be true. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” And elsewhere, Jesus tells His followers, “In this world you will have trouble.” If you give your life to Christ, friends could laugh at you. Your family may not understand. You still will experience hardship.

Earlier this year, a friend of mine got sick. We prayed hard that God would heal him. But He didn’t. My friend died. And it was hard. It still is hard. But I can rejoice because he knew Jesus and is with Him now. If I had only believed that the gospel was about God giving us things we want, then my faith would have been shaken. But that’s not what the gospel is about. It’s about Jesus. And He is so much greater than every trial we could ever face. Knowing Him is joy. Philippians 3:8 says, “I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things.” Even though we struggle, even those we face hardships, those things will be like a single raindrop compared to the ocean in light of the treasure we have in Christ. I can stand before you today and testify that Jesus is the greatest joy in my life, the greatest treasure on earth.

The second thing I want to leave you with today is this: Jesus is completely worthy of all your devotion. Revelation 5:9-10 says of Jesus:

You are worthy…because you were slain and with your blood your purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God and they will reign on the earth.

Jesus is worthy of your affection, your allegiance, your praise, because he bore your sins in His body on the cross. He purchased souls for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. My friends, that includes you. That includes you. Do not think that because we are from America we are special and have our lives all put together. It doesn’t matter where we are from. God purposed that you would be born here, in _______. What matters is that you serve Him.

I want to invite you today to follow Him, to give your lives to Him. Please do not do this lightly. Jesus told those who wanted to follow Him to count the cost. So count the cost. But also know the beautiful, outstanding, immeasurable treasure there is in knowing Christ Jesus.

Village Life - June 21st

I’m writing from my bedroom in compound in a village. There are open windows, mosquito nets, and crickets chirping. I’m waiting to take a bucket shower after a day of sweating and playing in the red African dirt. In the morning I’ll wake up to the sounds of roosters crowing, goats bleating, and women who have already started on the days’ work of cooking and laundry.

Our first few days in the country were slower-paced, helping us acclimate to the new culture. We took drives and walks, absorbing all we could. We people-watched (and got watched by people! – I’ve never been so stared at before). We had devotions and training on the culture. Then, on Tuesday we loaded into a van, opened the windows, and made a 12-hour trip north. We passed through villages and towns and long stretches of countryside with rich vegetation and even some stunning mountains, stopping for lunch at a local restaurant. When we arrived we met the missionaries and volunteers who live in this town.

On Wednesday we began our work! We went to a primary school and taught in the classrooms for a couple of hours. When the classes let out, the children swarmed us. Precious black hands covered every inch of my white exposed arms. Personal space ceased to exist! It was fun and new and exciting, but when we talked about the event that night as a team, we felt a quiet dis-settling. We were like celebrities to them. While the attention was fun, we established that we don’t want to simply promote ourselves. If all they see are some friendly white girls (and one black sister!) from America, they’ve gained nothing. We want them to see Christ. The next day, at a different school, we were more prepared. In the classrooms, after giving a school lesson, we shared the gospel and were intentional with our time. Several students prayed to receive the Lord.

On Friday I woke up sick and had to stay back from the school but the other girls had a great time with the kids and had them memorize some Scripture verses. We’re planting the word! That afternoon, I felt stronger (thanks to so many of you who were praying for me!) and was able to join my team for evangelism in a village. We went out in two’s, along with interpreters, and asked people if we could tell them about Jesus. They were incredibly hospitable and open to hearing what we had to say. Some were already believers. Others had heard of Jesus but did not know much about Him. After hearing, several said they wanted to follow Him. While we probably won’t see them again (on earth!), the missionaries will be able to get them Bibles and follow up with them.

Yesterday we played a town soccer game. As it was my first real soccer game, I was object of laughter more than once! It was particularly humbling when the referee told me, “You’re not very good at this game”! But thanks to some of the locals who joined our team, we managed a draw. After the game, we gathered all the children together, preached the gospel, and many wanted to follow Him. That makes all the humility worth it!

Today we drove an hour on bumpy roads out to a rural village where we joined believers for church. A year ago, this village had never heard the gospel, but last year’s team came and preached to them. Now their church is growing.

The Lord is good and we are grateful to be a part of His work. We’ve each had unique struggles. It’s not always easy. And we still need prayer covering. But we serve such a kind, loving Father and in Him there is joy (Psalm 16).

Week 1

Orientation last week was so rich it’s difficult to put to words. I found myself encouraged and challenged at the people around me. It was amazing to be in one place with so many like-minded people. Conversations echoed of the Lord and His work. You’d sit down to a meal with someone you’d never met, ask what trip they were taking, talk about the work they would be doing, and talk about the Lord! Saying goodbye at the end of the week was like saying goodbye to friends. The body of Christ is so beautiful!

It was a stretching week for me personally. Through the teachings and team discussion time, the Lord taught me several things. I had a new revelation of the depths of my own sinfulness and utter inability to muster up any righteousness on my own. My righteousness is wholly dependent on Christ. It was as if the Lord was teaching me the gospel all over again before I left to take it to others.

The transit from orientation to the field was also a growing experience. Four young women travelling alone, switching airports in the UK, and going through the travel processes seemed to me a place of vulnerability. But I think it’s exactly where the Lord wanted me. Landing on the continent, going through customs, and collecting our bags, I prayed the whole time. We didn’t even know who was picking us up from the airport! It forced me to rely on the Lord in a completely new way. We found our contacts and even though we had just met, we trusted them. Being separated from my physical family has forced me to rely on my spiritual family, first on my Father and also on his children.

As I lay on my bed to go to sleep last night, my heart was filled with contentment. There was quiet peace and great thankfulness. I recalled two falls ago, wishing I could quit school to go on the field. Last fall I wrestled with where I would go. Last night, I was living the realization of those dreams! I felt remembered by the Lord. He had cherished the dreams of my heart and had not wasted any experiences to get here.

This morning we had an extended time of worship—all acapella—and read from the word and prayed. One of our friends shared about being the salt of the earth. I felt my view of God increase and me decrease.

Trusting the Lord is an adventure. And I have a feeling it’s one, that if lived fully, will never leave you with regret.

Another Chapter in the Adventure

I've been putting off writing on this blog because I haven't been sure what to say.

As my summer-long mission trip nears, my emotions have been strong and varied. I've been fearful about the unknown, stressed about the preparations, homesick for the time I'll be parted from my family, and excited about the adventure. I've broken down in tears on several occasions. Through it all, the Lord has been my quiet strength.

I don't want to make this trip more than what it is. I don't want to minimize it either, but accept it gratefully as another chapter in the story the Lord is writing--one that I graciously get to be a part of.
As followers of Christ, every season in which we find ourselves is meaningful. Those who are working, those who are traveling, those who are keeping home all are partaking in kingdom work. Wherever we are, the same is required of us: simple obedience. Whether I am in America or Africa, I want this: to rejoice in the Lord and to love Him whole-heartedly.

Homemaker

Missionary

Coach, Musician

Pastor, mother,

Worker in the kitchen

Writer, teacher

Despise not the work you've been given

Each of us called 

 To do His bidding

Cherish the story

Complete the task

Love fully

Joy at last

In His presence 

Will be our reward

Forever and ever

With Jesus our Lord 

All of the emotions I mentioned at the beginning have been real and sometimes overwhelming. I find that the best way to work through them is not by focusing on them, but on putting my eyes back on the Lord. Worship has been the balm of my soul. It is not without reason that we are told to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). That's when we run best.  

Ready to Go

The other day, while facing the prospect that I will be leaving Birmingham on my way to Ghana in just over a month, I started feeling overwhelmed. I don't feel ready. I still have funds to raise, documents to submit, supplies to buy, books to read, workouts to complete, and scriptures to memorize. And those things are in addition to my regular to-do list. There is so much to do.

Today, however, God gave me grace. Sitting on my back porch, drinking in the sun-dipped leaves, breathing in the cool morning air, listening to the song of the birds, I felt a quiet reassurance...a whisper that I am ready. Not because of anything I have done but simply because the His Holy Spirt is inside me. Jesus said, "All authority...has been given to me. Therefore go" (Matthew 28:18-19).

The most important prerequisite has already been met. Jesus has authority. And since His Spirit is in me, I walk under that authority, infused with that power (see 2 Corinthians 1:21-22 and Ephesians 1:18-22). Therefore, I may go.

This is not to excuse me from accountability, nor does it remove those items mentioned above. It does, however, provide me with an assurance that over all my preparations, God has given me all that I need. He has set this trip before me. It was He who put the desire in my young heart to travel...to go. And He will be the One to see me through.

I may never feel ready. But Jesus didn't ask me to. He didn't ask His disciples if they felt "up" to going. He simply said, "go." And He gave them a promise: "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age" (Mathew 28:19-20).

I am ready. Not because I feel so, but because He is with me.

Sources:
Girl with backpack looking at water at sunset. Digital image. Healing Hands Urgent Care. N.p., n.d. Web. 2 May 2015. <http://www.healinghandsuc.com/travel-med/>

Holy Bible New International Version. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002. Print.

Doing Hard Things

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The other week, after spending a hefty amount of money on shots for my trip to Ghana because insurance doesn't cover international vaccines, I was irritated. The thought crossed my mind, "Why am I spending so much money on a trip that may not even be that fun?" It will be hot. There will be bugs. I hate bugs. It will be rainy. Who knows what kind of food we will be eating. We will take bucket showers...for seven weeks. There won't be much indoor plumbing. Am I crazy? I could probably be much happier if I just stayed in Birmingham.

A few days after I was having those thoughts, my dad shared with me a blog post from Brain Cane, called "I Hate Running, and I Run Marathons...WHY?". In the article, Cane speaks of delayed gratification, of doing something hard not for the sake of doing it, but for the reward that comes after it. The article affected me on several levels. First, it made me want to get into shape! But it also reminded me of the bigger picture.

1 Corinthians 15:9 "If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied." What does this mean? I think it means we should be living in a way now that costs us. Christ has been raised. Therefore we have eternal pleasure. So if we miss out on some pleasure here on earth, that's okay. We already have the pearl of great price. We already have everything.

Praise God that Jesus didn't live for temporary pleasure! If He did, there would be no cross. But that doesn't mean there is no joy. There is...the very best kind. It's just in the "not yet" realm.

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross...Consider him...so that you will not grow weary and lose heart" (Hebrews 12:2-3).

We wouldn't be given this word if there wasn't a possibility we would grow weary. We wouldn't grow weary if life wasn't hard.

But we don't do hard things just for the sake of doing them. We do them for the joy set before us. Just like Jesus.