Embarking on a Trip

Right now I am packing for a trip I will be embarking on on Wednesday...

My school offers something like 20 missions trips a year and holds a meeting about these trips at the beginning of each fall semester. This was my third fall semester at Liberty and my first time attending one of these meetings. It has been a very long time since I have been on an overseas missions trip (about 7 years) and felt like God was telling me it was time to go on one again.

I walked into the meeting with my best friend with the intentions of going on a trip during spring break with her. We looked at the list of trips and decided on one that looked interesting for spring break, but as the meeting started both of our hearts were drawn to two different places.

One of the first trips they discussed was a trip to East Asia. When I read the description of the trip my heart was immediately stirred. I looked over to my friend and said "I want to go on this trip." As soon as the meeting was over, I headed over to the computer to print out an application because if you don't get your application in the next day you most likely won't be able to go on the trip you desire.

Well the next day I handed in my application and set up an interview for the following week. It was September 8th (ironically my birthday) when I walked out of the Light Ministries office with the news that I had been chosen for the trip and would be going to East Asia over winter break.

I leave for East Asia on Wednesday, and I cannot believe how fast time has gone. The team will be there from December 29th until January 15th. While we are there we will be teaching English in a kindergarten and also going to an orphanage. I ask that you would keep the team and I in your prays over the next two weeks. Specifically pray for my health because my body tends to rebel against me when I travel.

I know God has a lot in store for me and the team over the next two weeks, and I cannot wait to see what he does. While I am there I will be keeping a journal and when I get back I will post everything in my blog. Thank you for your prayers!

Spoiled

Well I have been studying all day and my brain feels like mush, so I am taking a break and thought I would write a little bit. Tomorrow I have my last two finals, and they are my hardest finals. I will probably be up most of the night preparing so this break is definitely needed.

I have been reading the book Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller, and I am really enjoying. His opening note for the book says "I never liked Jazz music because Jazz music doesn't resolve. But I was outside the Bagdad Theater in Portland one night when I saw a man playing the saxophone. I stood there for fifteen minutes, and he never opened his eyes. After that I liked Jazz music. Sometimes you have to watch somebody love something before you can live it yourself." That in itself gives you a good taste of the book. Miller takes you on his journey to falling in love with God.

The other day I was reading the chapter entitled "Gods" and towards the end of it there was a very convicting line, "Don't complain about the way God answers your prayers...Your problem is not that God is not fulfilling, your problem is that you are spoiled." Well if that is not a slap in the face then I don't know what is. I think that so many Christians today pray for things and then tell God exactly how they want Him to bring about their request. Sorry to burst your bubble, but God doesn't take orders from us. When you tell God exactly how you want something to come about you are putting Him in a box, and not allowing Him to show his power.

As Christians we are suppose to present all of our requests to God and give Him complete control of the circumstances in our life. Its such a simple concept and yet there are still so many spoiled Christians. Be willing to break out of the box of spoils and let God do whatever He pleases with your life. Your life His is to do with what He pleases, and all he asks of us to follow his plan, not your own.

The Playlist- Part 4

It's been a while but here is the next for my playlist. "I will waste my Life" by Misty Edwards

I will waste my life,
I'll be tested and tried.
With no regrets inside of me,
Just to find I'm at your feet,
Let me find I'm at your feet.

I leave my father's house, and
I leave my Mother.
I leave all I have known, and
I'll have no other.

For I am in love with you,
and there is no cost.
I am in love with you,
and there is no loss.
I am in love with you,
I want to take your name.
I am in love with you,
I want to cling to you, Jesus,
Just let me cling to you, Jesus.

I say goodbye to my father, my mother,
I turn my back on every other lover, and I
Press on, yes I press on.
I say goodbye to my father, my mother,
I turn my back on every other lover, and I press on, yes I press on.

For I am in love with you,
and there is no cost.
I am in love with you,
and there is no loss.
I am in love with you,
I want to take your name.
I am in love with you,
I want to cling to you, Jesus,
just let me cling to you, Jesus,
I want to cling to you...


I was listening to this song this morning as I was running some errands and just singing it out as my prayer to Jesus. All I really need right now is to cling to Jesus and let him have all of me. So in singing this prayer I decided to dedicate the next three and half months to him and him alone.

I still find myself in moments of complete brokenness but it is a brokenness that leaves seeking Jesus. I feel like I have reached this new level of maturity because I recognize that what I want right now is the one thing I really don't need. So I'm going to turn my back on what I want, and I am going to press on and seek out what I need the most...Jesus.