All they wanna do is "date" God

"There is something in us that makes us afraid of the commitment that comes with real intimacy with God. For one thing, intimacy with God requires purity. The days of fun and games in the Church are over. What do I mean by "fun and games?" If your definition of fun is "low commitment and lots of thrills and chills," then all you've ever wanted to do is "date God." ...God is tired of us wanting to get our thrills from Him without putting on the ring of commitment! Some are more enamored with the "goose bumps" than the glory! They're addicted to the annointing, liking the feeling of being blessed, receiving the "gifts" like a religious "gold-digger", happy with chocolates, flowers and jewelry. The last time I checked, He was still looking for a bride, not a girlfriend; one who will "stick" with Him."
-God Chasers Tommy Tenney

This book really challenged me on so many levels. Its all about learning to give God a full commitment of all that we are. Seeking His face not just His hands, seeking the Giver not just the gifts, seeking the Blesser not just the blessings. It was really convicting to look at how we must die to ourselves to truly experience the absolute fullness of God. Frank Bartleman from the Azusa Revival said, "The depth of your repentance will determine the height of your revival." The more we want of God the more we must let go of ourselves and plunge into HIM!
How awesome that we have the privilege of dwelling with the Creator of the Universe. How awesome that He who sees all things and knows all things wants to simply hang out with us. How beautiful that He takes our mistakes and times that we fail Him and he casts them as far as the east is from the west. How incredible that we can be filled with all that He is until we overflow and splash onto others. What kind of commitment are you giving Him of yourself? How deep do you wanna go into God?

understanding, radically involved, and discovering

James 4:13-17 speaks of not claiming what you will do tomorrow, but rather "If the Lord wants us to, we will......." So my current plan is to head to work with the W.M.U. (woman's missionary union) in april. That is if its God's will. I truly believe this is His will as it has so easily came about. It's so awesome to see their vision statement and how it matches with my vision in life!

"WMU challenges Christian believers to understand and be radically involved in the mission of God. Kentucky WMU equips women, men, girls and boys to discover the joy of missions."

I am so excited to work with them and see others understand, involved, and discovering the JOY of missions :)

so happy belated new year!

So its been awhile since I wrote last.....I wanted to catch up on whats been going on since mid-December when I wrote last. I went back to the States on the 15th for a very exciting Christmas break. It was so good to visit with my family and friends back in KY. I wasn't sure how much culture shock I was gonna go thru, but had really prayed about it beforehand, had some good chats at the base here, and also read a really good book called "Re-entry." I was not sure how I would deal with the vast material wealth in the States in high contrast to the poverty that I've seen in Mexico. However, God really revealed an awesome lesson to me prior to leaving, to recognize that God pours out His favor and grace upon whom he chooses. Grace makes life not fair. And praise God for that....because if he just operated in fairness I would be plumb out of luck because I totally don't deserve the gifts he lavishes on me. So I really wanted to return stateside with an attitude of thanks for the goodness of God that he has laid upon so many in the US and that they are entrusted to use the gifts that God gives them with wisdom and as a good steward. And praise God, I was able to transition back to the states pretty easily. It was different being in restaraunts with menus......hadn't seen them in so long! It was different to jump in the car and go get a soda at the gas station! But one very different and highly exciting thing for me was being able to take bubble baths! they are totally my haven! i treasure my bath time and in mexico i have no bath tub....we shower for only two minutes every other day! needless to say this girly-girl really enjoyed her bubble baths :)
but on to the real recap...so much happened and i know you have a ton of stuff to do today...so i'll be list format (which I know is boring) ....but yet short and sweet on some of the highlights: :)

*i was able to stay at my parent's house quite a bit and so enjoyed the beautiful way my mom had gone all out in decorating...the house was so cute and cozy :)......it was so nice to see the generosity of my parents and the way they love to treat others...the house was full of christmas goodies and yummy smells.......
*i also got to have some good hangout times with my brother....he is such a genius and i was so amazed to hang with him and see his talent in mechanics...i miss being able to chat with him much...you know how most men aren't big on emails...every now and then he will send me a short and sweet one :)
*i really enjoyed some good quality time with nathaniel.....he is so good to me....he was very patient and going to and from places i had to be......he really went all out and took us up to brown co. indiana for a good time getaway to do some shopping and enjoy the quaint little town there :)........i really had such a good time being able to spend time laughing with him and enjoying the fun we have together!........it was a little easier to leave him this time because I now have much more peace than I did last semester......its a bit easier i think to leave knowing when I would be back......when i had left last semester it was all up in the air of when i would return.......so praise GOd for a little more direction in my future to know I'll be returning stateside in April
*i had an interview with the wmu back home.....and will be doing an internship with them starting in april! this is so so so super exciting b/c there vision matches up so well with my vision....they are all about educating and inspiring the church to get out there and love others both stateside and in other countries...very exciting they just got onboard with the International Mission Board a few years back and are really focusing attention on the unreached people groups.....obviously this has a big place in my heart in knowing that of the 15k people groups in the world...still 6k have yet to hear the name of Christ!.......i am really pumped to work with this organization and be a part of writing English curriculum for missions overseas, student camps to inspire students in missions, and many other awesome endeavors.......
*i got to speak in a few classes at my home church and share about the awesome things God has been doing in Mexico...it was great to see the faces of those who are supporting me in finances and prayer back home....it was so good to share with them the awesome things we have seen God do from baptisms, to new relationships in our English classes, to Christians growing deeper in their faith, and loving others thru being the hands and feet of Christ
*i got to meet lots of mexicans living in the states as we of course visited lots of mexican restaraunts.....:) I missed the real mexican food! it was so good to be able to share about my faith with the manager at one fave restaraunt......it was so nice to share in the mexican culture and show love to those living in the states :).......im really excited when I get back this spring to also take some classes in teaching english as a second language.....i found lots of those i met had been in the states for awhile and didnt know english but really expressed to me their desire to learn and really connect with some american friends.....
*it was just awesome to be back home.....sharing with others what God had taught me while in Missionary training school and thru the relationships there......there is so much he has been teaching me over the past year.....trying to let it all sink in and just be a sponge....i wanna soak in all that he has for me.......send me an email if you'd like to hear more specifics :) i'd love to share!

ok....so thats a brief and general recap of my time back home in ky for christmas and new years.....
i pray that as we begin this new year......you and i can both look at our lives....look at our goals..our vision and call that we feel God has put us on this earth for.......what has he gifted you in? what are your talents? how can you use them to bring a smile to his face? what dreams do you have? what do you want to acheive in this life? in this year?

DREAM BIG! DREAM LARGE! DREAM VIVID! DREAM TODAY!
If today was my last day what would I do? ok...then....thats the way I wanna go ahead and live today! :)
take today and live it as a "gift" given to you....for that is what it is "the present"

welcome to our world

So last week I was doing some journaling about what I have learned and experienced while on the mission field. Trying to really reflect on what's new before I return stateside and be aware of changes to help with reverse culture shock.
I think one of the huge truths that God really drove into my Spirit, is just the hugeness of the incarnation! I knew Jesus came to "seek and to save that which was lost", but I guess for whatever reason I never before had looked at the missionary example Christ set for us. He came into a world He didn't know.....he didnt know the culture, the language, the customs, the traditions,......He came as a babe, as a learner into this people group of the Jews some 2000 years ago! Wow, so much I can learn from Him......I must be a learner.....in language, in culture, in social ways, in traditions, in all things!
Entonces, I have always been a Christmas-y person...I love celebrating the birth of Christ, the gifts He puts in our lives, and the wonder of the virgin birth.....but this year there is something new stirring in me..........Christ set the standard......left all the glory and familarity of the heavens He knew...and came to a world unknown so that He might seek and save those who were lost like sheep without a shepherd thru His amazing, unending Love! How beautiful is our Savior....how much more of His love I have to learn and bask in :)

"Your attitude should be the same that Christ Jesus had. Though he was God, he did not demand and cling to his rights as God. He made himself nothing; He took the humble position of a slave and appeared in human form. And in human form he obediently humbled himself even further by dying a criminal's death on a cross." Philippians 2:5-8

a time for everything

This week has been bittersweet.....its super super exciting to look forward to returning home to visit with friends and family back in my home state over Christmas....but of course since its my last week, its been hard to say goodbye.....although its only for a few weeks, its emotional.
Today, I had an awesome visit with my friend V..... who is a fellow Christian wanting to grow in her faith.....I am blown away by the generosity and open hearts of the Mexican people. They give and give! When we were seperating she was asking when I would be back and sharing she would miss me. We both had tears in our eyes as we hugged and parted ways.

I am so grateful that God taught me an important lesson about two weeks ago that I can now reach back and recall that lesson once more. A few weeks ago I knew I wasn't going to see my friend C.... for a whole week and was hoping she would be coming to church with me that next Sunday. I was kind of nervous as to not see her for a whole week knowing the enemy would be moving against her as she was moving away from him and agreeing to visit church. But God really spoke to me and was like, "You know what? Can you just give her to me? I can do a much better job of taking care of her then you ever could. Trust me to hold her in my hands....I am more than capable." That was so like Wow! for me as I just really released her into God's care and let him do his thing as only he can! So that is where I am now.....emotional at times in leaving some good friends that I know have a lot on their plates right now, but yet at rest within for I know God is able to keep them and care for them with His amazing love that far, far outweighs mine!
LET GO, LET GOD! :)

If my people.....

"If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7:14

This past Saturday morning I really saw God answering this promise. The past few weeks have been trying at our base as we have had a lot of attacks from our enemy. This past Saturday, however, we had an awesome share time and then our girls group broke off for a prayer circle. We really felt the Holy Spirit descend and pour out a spirit of repentance. We had a great time of confession and humbling ourselves. How beautiful that among all the tear-covered faces, snotty noses, and open hearts; our Father heard and came to heal us! I am so grateful for the unity we are experiencing here, but most of all the unity we can experience of abiding as one in the creator of the Universe! Praise His Name ;)

changes

-just so you know, today in class we had some good discussion about privacy for those we work with here...to keep their names sort of undisclosed for privacy and security purposes......so with that......names will sometimes be 'coded' so to speak.....:)