Joy is one of those words that I knew the meaning of but I never let it fully resonate within me. As a new semester has started, and with it a new year, I have decided that I want JOY to mark my life. My favorite time of year is the time between Thanksgiving and New Years. One of the reasons that I like this time of year is because I still get that child-like happiness that comes with the season. Not because of the gifts, santa or no school (although all of those are exciting things) but because of the meaning that comes with this time of year (as well as the anticipation of snow too!). It is my new focus, especially this semester: I want to live life and this next semester focusing on having a joyful spirit.
Dictionary.com defines joy as: "The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation."
As I was walking to the gym this morning as the sun was rising, it dawned on me that that joy I live with is all because of Christ. HE is the 'something' that is 'exceptionally good or satisfying.' It is in Him that I find my completeness. I am content in being in relationship with him and him alone and for that, I get much joy. It is my goal this semester to live each and everyday with a new spirit of true joy! Instead of complaining about too much work or being stressed out, I am going to enjoy every day of this coming semester and year with new anticipation and hope! Life is too short to stress so much and I want to experience a joyful life in the environment that God has placed me in.
Psalm 37:4 says, "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart!" - There are a few things that I am hoping for this coming year and a few things that I desire...but instead of worrying about them, they are going on my mental 'daily prayer list' and I am choosing to trust that God will guide as He sees fit. Living a joyful life can be hard at times, but with God's help, I will be reminded that He is enough and He gives me reason to sing and be joyful!
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Haiti Bound in 2012!
Sometimes when we say 'Yes' to God He takes us on bigger adventures than anything we thought possible. That is what He has done with my mission trip to Haiti. This journey started several years ago so I thought I would start from the beginning to share how I have gotten here today...to this place of preparing for a cross cultural mission trip...the adventure of a life time!
Several years ago my old babysitter Jamie went on a mission trip to Haiti. She came over to our house after her trip and shared her stories and pictures with us. I was simply a junior in High School who loved kids and would do just about anything for an experience like Jamie had but completely unaware that it was something I could actually do. I always thought it would be cool to do what she did and go serve in Haiti with a bunch of orphans but like I said I didn't think I had the ability, talents and bravery to do something that big.
My little sister Jori was always the one who was more interested in Missions. She was the adventure seeker, the one that liked to be out of her comfort zone and the one that was more brave than anyone else I knew. I thought for sure she was the one that God was preparing for big time Missions. Unlike my sister, I like being home...in the US that is...and I don't like being out of my comfort zone. I don't like doing things alone and the thought of a mission trip all by myself is still terrifying me. But, God was working in my heart to prepare me for saying yes to a big trip like this...all by myself so that I can grow and be stretched in more ways than one!
Every summer since 2007 I have wanted to go on a mission trip. Each year my sister went on trips and whenever she would go I would think to myself, "Why can't I do that? What is holding me back?" Finally, September 2011 roles around. I am now a junior in college and a lot more adventurous and independent than I was 5 years ago. I remember thinking in September, "Could I go to Haiti this summer? I don't want to wait till I graduate because I will probably want to start working right away. There is no one holding me back from doing something big like this. I can afford to do this and not work for a few weeks. There is no good reason for me not to go." These were just a few of the million thoughts flying through my head but I came out of that thinking Yes...I can do this.
After several weeks of praying, talking with my friends and family and even more praying I felt like more than ever God was asking me to step out of my comfort zone and spend some time serving Him in Haiti 2012. I did some research and found an organization that sounded good 'God's Littlest Angels' based out of Port-au-Prince Haiti. This organization was a home to many little Haitian orphans. They survive off of volunteers from around the world who come in to spend time with the children.
http://www.glahaiti.org/
As a volunteer, I will be given roughly 8 kids for my time there and I will basically be their Mom. It will be my job to take each child for an hour a day and work with that child on whatever their needs are. Some might need to learn how to crawl, walk or talk and some might just need to be fed and walked. The abilities of each child is different so my tasks will be different but no matter what I get to love on some kids everyday and THAT is something I am MOST excited about.
As it is a mission trip, I will need to be flexible and ready for whatever job they ask me to do, but this should be what my days will mostly consist of. And, because it is a mission trip I will need to raise support in order to go and serve, but I know that God has a plan for that and He will provide my every need because He is the one calling me to this trip.
I am scheduled to be in Haiti May 21-June 11th. I plan on blogging throughout these next few weeks as I prepare to go on this trip and I hope that I can blog some while I am in Haiti as well, but we'll have to see about that. In the meantime please join me on this journey as I continue to write this blog!
PRAYER requests:
- That I would be able to receive the funding needed to go.
- That all the paperwork will come together with visas and passports and all those fun things!
- That all the doctors appointments and shots would come together as well.
That is all for now but stay tuned for more info and more detailed prayer requests later! :)
Several years ago my old babysitter Jamie went on a mission trip to Haiti. She came over to our house after her trip and shared her stories and pictures with us. I was simply a junior in High School who loved kids and would do just about anything for an experience like Jamie had but completely unaware that it was something I could actually do. I always thought it would be cool to do what she did and go serve in Haiti with a bunch of orphans but like I said I didn't think I had the ability, talents and bravery to do something that big.
My little sister Jori was always the one who was more interested in Missions. She was the adventure seeker, the one that liked to be out of her comfort zone and the one that was more brave than anyone else I knew. I thought for sure she was the one that God was preparing for big time Missions. Unlike my sister, I like being home...in the US that is...and I don't like being out of my comfort zone. I don't like doing things alone and the thought of a mission trip all by myself is still terrifying me. But, God was working in my heart to prepare me for saying yes to a big trip like this...all by myself so that I can grow and be stretched in more ways than one!
Every summer since 2007 I have wanted to go on a mission trip. Each year my sister went on trips and whenever she would go I would think to myself, "Why can't I do that? What is holding me back?" Finally, September 2011 roles around. I am now a junior in college and a lot more adventurous and independent than I was 5 years ago. I remember thinking in September, "Could I go to Haiti this summer? I don't want to wait till I graduate because I will probably want to start working right away. There is no one holding me back from doing something big like this. I can afford to do this and not work for a few weeks. There is no good reason for me not to go." These were just a few of the million thoughts flying through my head but I came out of that thinking Yes...I can do this.
After several weeks of praying, talking with my friends and family and even more praying I felt like more than ever God was asking me to step out of my comfort zone and spend some time serving Him in Haiti 2012. I did some research and found an organization that sounded good 'God's Littlest Angels' based out of Port-au-Prince Haiti. This organization was a home to many little Haitian orphans. They survive off of volunteers from around the world who come in to spend time with the children.
http://www.glahaiti.org/
As a volunteer, I will be given roughly 8 kids for my time there and I will basically be their Mom. It will be my job to take each child for an hour a day and work with that child on whatever their needs are. Some might need to learn how to crawl, walk or talk and some might just need to be fed and walked. The abilities of each child is different so my tasks will be different but no matter what I get to love on some kids everyday and THAT is something I am MOST excited about.
As it is a mission trip, I will need to be flexible and ready for whatever job they ask me to do, but this should be what my days will mostly consist of. And, because it is a mission trip I will need to raise support in order to go and serve, but I know that God has a plan for that and He will provide my every need because He is the one calling me to this trip.
I am scheduled to be in Haiti May 21-June 11th. I plan on blogging throughout these next few weeks as I prepare to go on this trip and I hope that I can blog some while I am in Haiti as well, but we'll have to see about that. In the meantime please join me on this journey as I continue to write this blog!
PRAYER requests:
- That I would be able to receive the funding needed to go.
- That all the paperwork will come together with visas and passports and all those fun things!
- That all the doctors appointments and shots would come together as well.
That is all for now but stay tuned for more info and more detailed prayer requests later! :)
Saturday, December 31, 2011
A Year End Review
It's that time of year again where we spend time reflecting on what has happened in 2011. As I sit and write this, I can remember many elements of 2011 where I was stretched and challenged in so many different ways. I had no clue going in to the year just how much I would learn and just how much more my relationship with Christ would deepen. Looking back over the last year, there is one very specific thing I learned. Yes, there were lots of lessons here and there, but one overall theme I would say. This is a lesson that I hope I never forget and that I continue to remember in the years ahead.
2011 taught me that God rewards those who listen to Him and OBEY, even if it is hard to do so in the moment. There were several areas of my life where I needed to make decisions about wether or not I would obey God or not. In each of these decisions, God has blessed me tremendously. I have learned that in the midst of the hard times where we need to make a decision, God gives us exactly what we need for each of those weeks, days and moments. There is not a single second that God is not giving us the strength we need! What a blessing!
2 Corinthians 12:9 has sort of become my life verse for this period of my life. Paul says, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." So many times in this last year I have felt weak and wounded; yet, God has used each of those moments to teach not only me things, but he has used me and my story to challenge and teach those around me. I am so blessed to be able to minister to women at my school and girls in the youth group at Church. Being able to share my story has been a significant method to help me process appropriately.
This year I am experiencing an incredible amount of joy with the coming of this new year. I am closing the book on a very challenging year and I am ready for this new chapter of my life to open. I have no clue what the year 2012 will hold. I have some hopes for the year, but I know that God has a specific plan already laid out for this new year and as a follower of Christ it is my job to sit and trust God daily. I can't wait to see what God is going to teach me in this new year and I am so anxious to continue to fall more in Love with my Savior.
May you also experience this same joy as 2012 is quickly approaching. May you, like me, remember that "When we have nothing left but God, we discover that God is enough!"
2011 taught me that God rewards those who listen to Him and OBEY, even if it is hard to do so in the moment. There were several areas of my life where I needed to make decisions about wether or not I would obey God or not. In each of these decisions, God has blessed me tremendously. I have learned that in the midst of the hard times where we need to make a decision, God gives us exactly what we need for each of those weeks, days and moments. There is not a single second that God is not giving us the strength we need! What a blessing!
2 Corinthians 12:9 has sort of become my life verse for this period of my life. Paul says, "But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." So many times in this last year I have felt weak and wounded; yet, God has used each of those moments to teach not only me things, but he has used me and my story to challenge and teach those around me. I am so blessed to be able to minister to women at my school and girls in the youth group at Church. Being able to share my story has been a significant method to help me process appropriately.
This year I am experiencing an incredible amount of joy with the coming of this new year. I am closing the book on a very challenging year and I am ready for this new chapter of my life to open. I have no clue what the year 2012 will hold. I have some hopes for the year, but I know that God has a specific plan already laid out for this new year and as a follower of Christ it is my job to sit and trust God daily. I can't wait to see what God is going to teach me in this new year and I am so anxious to continue to fall more in Love with my Savior.
May you also experience this same joy as 2012 is quickly approaching. May you, like me, remember that "When we have nothing left but God, we discover that God is enough!"
Thursday, December 1, 2011
God is so Good!
Sometimes in the midst of papers to write and books to read I forget the reason I am at a Bible college. It is awful to admit, but it is true. I forget that I came to Multnomah to fall more in love with the Lord. I had forgotten how blessed I am in the first place to be able to study God's word and learn more about Him through my classes, homework and the Bible.
Right now I am so overwhelmed, I have so much left to do and only a week to do it all in! Yikes! But, just like previous semesters, I always get everything done. Maybe not perfectly, but it is done. God is so good in allowing us the strength we need for exactly what we have to accomplish. Yesterday I was reminded about the strength that he provides us in the midst of our busy lives. I was reading from Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology book (which, is way better than what it sounds!) when a passage of Scripture jumped out at me...as if it was God speaking directly to me. It was a strange feeling but after reading it dozens of times, a strange sense of peace came over me and I was relaxed for the first time in the last few days. May it encourage you in the midst of your busy lives as you finish school or as you go into this busy holiday season.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Remembering this sweet song by Chris Tomlin as I go back to doing more homework tonight:
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me
Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I see your grace is enough
I'm covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me
Right now I am so overwhelmed, I have so much left to do and only a week to do it all in! Yikes! But, just like previous semesters, I always get everything done. Maybe not perfectly, but it is done. God is so good in allowing us the strength we need for exactly what we have to accomplish. Yesterday I was reminded about the strength that he provides us in the midst of our busy lives. I was reading from Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology book (which, is way better than what it sounds!) when a passage of Scripture jumped out at me...as if it was God speaking directly to me. It was a strange feeling but after reading it dozens of times, a strange sense of peace came over me and I was relaxed for the first time in the last few days. May it encourage you in the midst of your busy lives as you finish school or as you go into this busy holiday season.
"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weakness, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." 2 Corinthians 12:9
Remembering this sweet song by Chris Tomlin as I go back to doing more homework tonight:
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough
Your grace is enough for me
Your grace is enough
Heaven reaching down to us
Your grace is enough for me
God I see your grace is enough
I'm covered in your love
Your grace is enough for me
For me
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
A New Perspective...
It is amazing how much God teaches us in our daily lives...and yet, so often we forget to take time to process and truly realize what it is he wants us to learn. One thing I know he has been teaching me is simply being content in HIM. Realizing that all I need is him and I need to find my contentment in that...just me and him. After a slightly rough few weeks my sister Jori sent me a youtube link to a song last week and it truly helped me remember this new concept. The lyrics have been stuck in my head everyday since.
Me And Jesus by Stellar Kart
Me And Jesus by Stellar Kart
When there's nowhere else to turn
All your bridges have been burned
Feels like you've hit rock bottom
Don't give up it's not the end
Open up your heart again
When you feel like no one Understands where you are
All your bridges have been burned
Feels like you've hit rock bottom
Don't give up it's not the end
Open up your heart again
When you feel like no one Understands where you are
[chorus]
Someone loves you even when you don't think so don't you know you got
Me and Jesus by your side through the fight you will never be alone on your own you got me and Jesus
Someone loves you even when you don't think so don't you know you got
Me and Jesus by your side through the fight you will never be alone on your own you got me and Jesus
After all that we've been through
Be now you know I've doubted too
But everytime my head was in my
Hands you said to me
Hold on to what we got
This is worth any cost so
Make the most of life
That's borrowed
Love like there's no tomorrow
Be now you know I've doubted too
But everytime my head was in my
Hands you said to me
Hold on to what we got
This is worth any cost so
Make the most of life
That's borrowed
Love like there's no tomorrow
All I need is JESUS! That's it...everything else is just blessings from the Lord! I am now on a quest to love those around me and more importantly love Jesus everyday. As good as I can for today...because that is all we have. I am working on worrying less about tomorrow and what my future will hold and be content with me and Jesus right now.
It has been a daily battle the last few weeks especially trying to keep this new perspective of just me and Jesus. Today in chapel we sang another song that brought tears to my eyes and for the first time I realized today that I am there...maybe not for good but for today I am content. Me and Jesus. I don't know what tomorrow or the next day will look like, but for right now I am content and I have a new song in my heart.
Forever Reign by Hillsong Live
You are good, You are good
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
When there's nothing good in me
You are love, You are love
On display for all to see
You are light, You are light
When the darkness closes in
You are hope, You are hope
You have covered all my sin
You are peace, You are peace
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting
When my fear is crippling
You are true, You are true
Even in my wandering
You are joy, You are joy
You're the reason that I sing
You are life, You are life,
In You death has lost its sting
Oh, I’m running to Your arms,
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
You are more, You are more
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Than my words will ever say
You are Lord, You are Lord
All creation will proclaim
You are here, You are here
In Your presence I'm made whole
You are God, You are God
Of all else I'm letting go
Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
My heart will sing
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus
no other Name
Jesus, Jesus
Oh, I’m running to Your arms
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
I’m running to Your arms
The riches of Your love
Will always be enough
Nothing compares to Your embrace
Light of the world forever reign
As I go into this Thanksgiving, I am holding the perspective that it is me and Jesus. I will be constantly reminding myself this truth, but I know the truth...all I need is me and Jesus.
Dear Lord,
I praise you for this truth you have reminded me of these last few weeks. I praise you that you are all I need and that you love me more than anyone else does or ever will. Help me to be content in it just being me and you. I know I will fail and that I will need your grace as I adjust to this new perspective, but I praise you in advance for that grace you will provide. I love you...I am yours and you are mine!
P.S. Sorry for the length of this...I almost cut some of the lyrics out but they are just all too good...I couldn't do it. Thanks for reading. :)
Monday, November 14, 2011
The Beginning...
Well, here it is...my first blog post. I don't even know where to begin. God has been teaching me so much the last few months of my life and I need to start sharing my story because I know God has a bigger and better plan than I do...so here it is...
On August 30th, we had an All Dorm Meeting. Our school counselor came in and read us a poem about transformation and moving on. (Honestly, I don't remember much about the poem itself...I remember more of the amount of tears it made me produce...and yet that was just the beginning). She asked us the following question and asked us to respond to that question...below is what I wrote in my journal.
What do you want to leave behind?
Leaving behind things is hard to do when you try. Often we leave things behind when we don't mean to. Why is it so hard to let go of things when we try? Is it the Holy Spirit prompting us to remember how we have changed? Maybe it's the grip that Satan has on our soul...forcing us to remember our sins...hoping for our return to that sin. Maybe we can't leave things behind because of the fear of the unknown. Leaving things behind brings about change, growth and stretching...all of which are hard to go through and yet are essential elements that God uses to shapen us into someone more like Him...good ol' sanctification! Leaving things behind and becoming a new and transformed being into someone more like Him is what we are Christians are called to do. Change our lives on earth to represent Christ and who He is...now the question is...Why are we afraid to change?
Little did I know God was preparing me for a lot of change in the following weeks and months. This question still haunts me..."why are we afraid to change?" Especially when the changing is for the better, why are we afraid of it? I know God has a plan for what he is having me walk through, yet, a part of me doesn't feel ready.
My blog will be stories of how God is working in my life. I realized that my story is too good to keep to myself...so that's what this blog is for. I am a little nervous to share my heart like this, but I love writing and I want to share this gift to the world. I am anxious and terrified to see what else God is planning on teaching me this year...but I know God is faithful, and that he loves me very much...so in some strange sorta way...I am ready!
On August 30th, we had an All Dorm Meeting. Our school counselor came in and read us a poem about transformation and moving on. (Honestly, I don't remember much about the poem itself...I remember more of the amount of tears it made me produce...and yet that was just the beginning). She asked us the following question and asked us to respond to that question...below is what I wrote in my journal.
What do you want to leave behind?
Leaving behind things is hard to do when you try. Often we leave things behind when we don't mean to. Why is it so hard to let go of things when we try? Is it the Holy Spirit prompting us to remember how we have changed? Maybe it's the grip that Satan has on our soul...forcing us to remember our sins...hoping for our return to that sin. Maybe we can't leave things behind because of the fear of the unknown. Leaving things behind brings about change, growth and stretching...all of which are hard to go through and yet are essential elements that God uses to shapen us into someone more like Him...good ol' sanctification! Leaving things behind and becoming a new and transformed being into someone more like Him is what we are Christians are called to do. Change our lives on earth to represent Christ and who He is...now the question is...Why are we afraid to change?
Little did I know God was preparing me for a lot of change in the following weeks and months. This question still haunts me..."why are we afraid to change?" Especially when the changing is for the better, why are we afraid of it? I know God has a plan for what he is having me walk through, yet, a part of me doesn't feel ready.
My blog will be stories of how God is working in my life. I realized that my story is too good to keep to myself...so that's what this blog is for. I am a little nervous to share my heart like this, but I love writing and I want to share this gift to the world. I am anxious and terrified to see what else God is planning on teaching me this year...but I know God is faithful, and that he loves me very much...so in some strange sorta way...I am ready!
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