Hey All,
I checked my EM (Experience Mission) account this morning to find my total at $2300! How incredible! A $1,000 donation was made by Bethany Christian Church, where my grandparents are active members. That's actually--kind of, what this post is about. Let me explain.
"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven." Matt. 5:14-16
This Church is located in the small town of Burton, Texas. My grandparents are jokingly known as the "youth group," since the majority of the members are elderly, have great-grandchildren, etc. Their attendance may only be averaging 30 or so a week, some of them park their wheelchairs in the aisle, and some can't drive themselves to and from the small service. But don't let the description fool you, this community of believers supports more mission work than most larger Churches I've attended. They send kids (including myself over the years) to Sandy Creek Bible Camp by paying for the week(s) in full, sponsor Destino Del Reino (an orphanage and school in Honduras), and several other missionaries around the World. They pray for each, by name and circumstance, and constantly stay up to date with the lives of those in their community.
When people talk about living as a light that shines for Christ, these are the kind of people I think about. Not all missionaries have to cross oceans to serve the Lord, and we're all called to live as examples wherever we are. Their group of believers supports so many efforts to share the Gospel and puts a hurtin' on satan when he tries to get a hold on anyone they know!
They minister and do outreach in their own community, too. They host Bible studies, Women's conferences, and other events as well. While supporting missionaries around the world. While keeping up with family and friends, always offering to have you over for dinner or pray for you or help you in whatever way is needed. They think of others first, regardless of what health issues they may be having at the time. And they rarely (if ever) miss a Sunday service.
This is a small group of 50+ year old believers, doing work for the Lord in ways that most twentysomethings "don't have time for" or "don't have energy for". Imagine what we could do if we followed their example and actively served as missionaries in our own little spheres; our own little worlds. That's what Church is all about, and I'd argue they make a pretty good example of living their lives in the full understanding of the Gospel.
I am incredibly thankful for their example, support, prayers, and donation towards my trip. My only hope is that I could live my life in such a way that people undoubtedly see Christ through my actions, like they do. Doing mission work isn't just about building a Church in another country (though there's value in that), it's about building His kingdom wherever we are. We have to live it here and now. Serving Christ doesn't start when you get on a plane for South Africa, and it doesn't end when you get back. It's a lifestyle, a status of the heart, and what we're called to do.
213 days to go.
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
Sunday, November 4, 2012
The Struggle
Hey All,
First off, I really need to thank those of you who took the time to read my first post. I received so many kind messages, phone calls, and hugs after putting it up and your support is a very real and tangible blessing in my life! I have had such an awesome time sharing with people what God is doing in my life and there are a few things I want to be clear on.
"Hallelujah, we are free to struggle
We're not struggling to be free
Your blood bought and makes us children,
Children, drop your chains and sing"
I'm sure that from a quick glance, it would be easy to assume that I'm a "good" person, I must spend all of my time in my Bible, or that I've dreamed of Seminary my whole life and have whole-heartedly chased after God's calling for my life every step of the way. I'll make this easy; none of the above are true.
I certainly struggle. I struggle with sin, guilt, the lies of the enemy he tries to speak over my life, and trying to discern what in my life is the Lord's plan versus a temptation from the world, and the list can go on. I spent the majority of my first year in college out of Church, out of Bible study, and out of the Word. I've struggled with low self-esteem, relationships that weren't Christ-centered, getting my priorities out of order, making bad decisions, and had to run back to the Cross to find redemption and healing. In no way am I a better person or a better Christian because of a six month trip, being a chaplain, or going to Seminary. None of these works or actions can save me. Only our Savior in His incredible grace can save my from my sin and call me to be used for His glory. It's a calling I don't (and won't ever) deserve, but that's the beauty of it. God can call us all to be used to further His kingdom, no matter what our struggles are.
In all honesty, the things I've been called to do can be really intimidating a huge way. Surely there are people who have studied the Word in more depth, surely there are people with gifts of evangelism and spreading the Gospel with people they don't know, and I'm sure that plenty of people could be better servants or mission workers than I. Right? Wrong, and here's the beauty of my story. And all of our stories, really. We don't need to let comparison steal our joy or our certainty. The only assurance needed is that we are called to serve, God will take care of the rest.
I am currently sitting at around $1300 in my missions account. First off, AMEN. That is a lot of heartfelt money that's been given by people from all walks of life and it humbles me every time I look at the bottom line. I'll need to have that up to $2000 in 94 days, I am believing in faith that the money will be there! If you feel lead to give, below is the link. My User ID is CMOR1002. By all means, please give if you feel lead and are able. I am also interested in what I'm calling "real support," which is people who will pray for me and my team members, encourage us along the way, and be supportive of us in our time of preparation. That will mean more to me than any dollar amount, so thank you all for your support and love.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
http://www.experiencemission.org/Display.asp?Page=donatelanding
First off, I really need to thank those of you who took the time to read my first post. I received so many kind messages, phone calls, and hugs after putting it up and your support is a very real and tangible blessing in my life! I have had such an awesome time sharing with people what God is doing in my life and there are a few things I want to be clear on.
"Hallelujah, we are free to struggle
We're not struggling to be free
Your blood bought and makes us children,
Children, drop your chains and sing"
I'm sure that from a quick glance, it would be easy to assume that I'm a "good" person, I must spend all of my time in my Bible, or that I've dreamed of Seminary my whole life and have whole-heartedly chased after God's calling for my life every step of the way. I'll make this easy; none of the above are true.
I certainly struggle. I struggle with sin, guilt, the lies of the enemy he tries to speak over my life, and trying to discern what in my life is the Lord's plan versus a temptation from the world, and the list can go on. I spent the majority of my first year in college out of Church, out of Bible study, and out of the Word. I've struggled with low self-esteem, relationships that weren't Christ-centered, getting my priorities out of order, making bad decisions, and had to run back to the Cross to find redemption and healing. In no way am I a better person or a better Christian because of a six month trip, being a chaplain, or going to Seminary. None of these works or actions can save me. Only our Savior in His incredible grace can save my from my sin and call me to be used for His glory. It's a calling I don't (and won't ever) deserve, but that's the beauty of it. God can call us all to be used to further His kingdom, no matter what our struggles are.
In all honesty, the things I've been called to do can be really intimidating a huge way. Surely there are people who have studied the Word in more depth, surely there are people with gifts of evangelism and spreading the Gospel with people they don't know, and I'm sure that plenty of people could be better servants or mission workers than I. Right? Wrong, and here's the beauty of my story. And all of our stories, really. We don't need to let comparison steal our joy or our certainty. The only assurance needed is that we are called to serve, God will take care of the rest.
I am currently sitting at around $1300 in my missions account. First off, AMEN. That is a lot of heartfelt money that's been given by people from all walks of life and it humbles me every time I look at the bottom line. I'll need to have that up to $2000 in 94 days, I am believing in faith that the money will be there! If you feel lead to give, below is the link. My User ID is CMOR1002. By all means, please give if you feel lead and are able. I am also interested in what I'm calling "real support," which is people who will pray for me and my team members, encourage us along the way, and be supportive of us in our time of preparation. That will mean more to me than any dollar amount, so thank you all for your support and love.
"We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure." Hebrews 6:19
http://www.experiencemission.org/Display.asp?Page=donatelanding
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
The Five Year Plan: Take Two
Hey All,
Thank you for taking the time to check out my latest adventure with the Lord! This post is about where I am right now and how I've been lead to this particular trip at this specific time in my life. It's a doozie, and a long one at that--so feel free to skip around to the "good parts"!
You may have read in my last blog that I felt the Lord calling me to do some sort of mission work. Well, God being all-knowing and having perfect timing, has beautifully orchestrated a trip for me. Well...okay, I finally realized that I will never have six months off to conveniently go serve Him in another country, and that if I am truly dedicated to this calling, I'll have to clear my schedule for six months and just go. In other words, a trip like this may be in His plan for me, but I have to decide that I'm willing. I have to drop my net, chase the lion, put Him first, and GO.
That sounds easy, right? Hmm...no. Not quite. You see, I've always been a bit of a planner. (Those of you that don't know me may nod in agreement, those that know me well are laughing at how I understated my love of planning things out...) Alright, yes. I am a huge planner. So, naturally, God likes to remind me that His plans are far greater (Jeremiah 29:11 gets me every time) and that it's His timing I should be in tune with. That's how I ended up leaving for college at the still-in-the-cradle age of 16 and will be graduating in May months before my 21st birthday. God's timing and I have an ironic and ongoing relationship. I can sum it up for you though; His timing always wins. His plans are always better.
All of that being said, when I felt a tug (ahem, huge pull) at my heart to pursue some sort of mission work, I thought I'd just add it to my five year plan. Oh, how I wish I was joking. It went a little something like this: BA in Psychology at 20, Master's in Counseling by the age of 23, a year doing mission work, then back in the US with a job and my license to counsel by 25--just in time to settle down and have kids. I am quite sure that God had a good laugh at that plan. Looking back, I can chuckle as well.
Yes, I will still be graduating in May. But I quickly realized that after six years of college and wanting to get 2 solid years of job experience in Social Work before completing my Master's, that I would be quite comfortable in my little bubble after finishing my second degree. I'm sure I'd have a decent job with a prospective promotion, a pay increase with a higher degree, a nice apartment with a pinterest load of decorations, maybe energy enough for a PhD, and plenty of time to--uh. Wait. When am I supposed to take a year off to go do mission work? Can I really be out of the work scene for a year? What about that license to counsel? What about having kids? What about Aggie Football?
And that's when it hit me. I'd say "when I realized" or "the thought came to me"--but no. When I say this "hit me", I mean it darn near literally. It was a moment of clarity that I'm truly thankful for. It floored me entirely when I realized I'd easily spend the next 30 years telling God that I'd go share His love with the world--as soon as it was convenient for me. Ouch, right? The truth is, it will never be completely convenient to uproot my life for several months at a time to go work in another country. But taking the time to go as soon as possible, putting His work before my personal gains, and clearing my schedule for Him to work in my life? That sounds more like it. That sounds like what I wanted way back when--before school and job applications and graduate studies and the list of all the worldly things that keep so many people from ministry if they let it. That sounds like an adventure, and I like the sound of that.
The best way I can describe this heart-tugging feeling of needing to look and apply to mission trips is that it became persistent. When God puts something on your heart, it doesn't fade over time; it grows. I found myself Google-ing jobs in other countries working with orphans, looking into Seminary for degrees in Counseling that could be used in a mission work environment, asking again about that family friend with a teaching job in Honduras, and searching for a trip that resonated with my heart--not my calendar.
I ended up on the website of Experience Mission, looking in their Immersion Programs. Six months, domestic and international missions, living with the locals, learning how to be a missionary, working as a team, manual labor, sharing the Gospel, and serving those in need. These were the descriptions I found on their website that instantly struck chords with me. I applied instantly and had an answer by midway through August. Then, something wonderful happened. I got crazy, off-my-rocker, joy-of-the-Lord, excited. Excited to shower out of a bucket and put off Seminary for six months; so at peace in my heart that living the Word before I go to spend two years studying it is going to prepare my heart for more ministry, assured and reassured and reminded constantly that God must be doing work in my life. He is, and I have never had such a certain and unshakable joy like I do now.
So, sure. I could try secular graduate school and have a comfortable living with a nice salary, work hard to get ahead of my competition, climb the corporate latter, and be "successful". But after hearing stories and seeing the work God does in these orphanages and the healing that comes to these children in such desolate situations, I can't think of any job I want more. Suddenly that nice two-story house and BMW don't seem important. And more honestly, I don't think they'd make me happy. As I've looked back over my work experience, the two times I've enjoyed myself the most were working with children, and doing manual labor at a Church camp (yes, me, doing manual labor, It has to be a God thing, right?).
So, I'm headed to South Africa to continue that work, share the joy, and proclaim His love to some beautiful children. I can honestly say I've never been so excited--to go shower out of a bucket, live in a mud hut, and do some work for my Savior. I don't have my five year plan written out anymore, but by His grace it is so much better than anything I could come up with.
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" Ephesians 6:19
Thank you for taking the time to check out my latest adventure with the Lord! This post is about where I am right now and how I've been lead to this particular trip at this specific time in my life. It's a doozie, and a long one at that--so feel free to skip around to the "good parts"!
You may have read in my last blog that I felt the Lord calling me to do some sort of mission work. Well, God being all-knowing and having perfect timing, has beautifully orchestrated a trip for me. Well...okay, I finally realized that I will never have six months off to conveniently go serve Him in another country, and that if I am truly dedicated to this calling, I'll have to clear my schedule for six months and just go. In other words, a trip like this may be in His plan for me, but I have to decide that I'm willing. I have to drop my net, chase the lion, put Him first, and GO.
That sounds easy, right? Hmm...no. Not quite. You see, I've always been a bit of a planner. (Those of you that don't know me may nod in agreement, those that know me well are laughing at how I understated my love of planning things out...) Alright, yes. I am a huge planner. So, naturally, God likes to remind me that His plans are far greater (Jeremiah 29:11 gets me every time) and that it's His timing I should be in tune with. That's how I ended up leaving for college at the still-in-the-cradle age of 16 and will be graduating in May months before my 21st birthday. God's timing and I have an ironic and ongoing relationship. I can sum it up for you though; His timing always wins. His plans are always better.
All of that being said, when I felt a tug (ahem, huge pull) at my heart to pursue some sort of mission work, I thought I'd just add it to my five year plan. Oh, how I wish I was joking. It went a little something like this: BA in Psychology at 20, Master's in Counseling by the age of 23, a year doing mission work, then back in the US with a job and my license to counsel by 25--just in time to settle down and have kids. I am quite sure that God had a good laugh at that plan. Looking back, I can chuckle as well.
Yes, I will still be graduating in May. But I quickly realized that after six years of college and wanting to get 2 solid years of job experience in Social Work before completing my Master's, that I would be quite comfortable in my little bubble after finishing my second degree. I'm sure I'd have a decent job with a prospective promotion, a pay increase with a higher degree, a nice apartment with a pinterest load of decorations, maybe energy enough for a PhD, and plenty of time to--uh. Wait. When am I supposed to take a year off to go do mission work? Can I really be out of the work scene for a year? What about that license to counsel? What about having kids? What about Aggie Football?
And that's when it hit me. I'd say "when I realized" or "the thought came to me"--but no. When I say this "hit me", I mean it darn near literally. It was a moment of clarity that I'm truly thankful for. It floored me entirely when I realized I'd easily spend the next 30 years telling God that I'd go share His love with the world--as soon as it was convenient for me. Ouch, right? The truth is, it will never be completely convenient to uproot my life for several months at a time to go work in another country. But taking the time to go as soon as possible, putting His work before my personal gains, and clearing my schedule for Him to work in my life? That sounds more like it. That sounds like what I wanted way back when--before school and job applications and graduate studies and the list of all the worldly things that keep so many people from ministry if they let it. That sounds like an adventure, and I like the sound of that.
The best way I can describe this heart-tugging feeling of needing to look and apply to mission trips is that it became persistent. When God puts something on your heart, it doesn't fade over time; it grows. I found myself Google-ing jobs in other countries working with orphans, looking into Seminary for degrees in Counseling that could be used in a mission work environment, asking again about that family friend with a teaching job in Honduras, and searching for a trip that resonated with my heart--not my calendar.
I ended up on the website of Experience Mission, looking in their Immersion Programs. Six months, domestic and international missions, living with the locals, learning how to be a missionary, working as a team, manual labor, sharing the Gospel, and serving those in need. These were the descriptions I found on their website that instantly struck chords with me. I applied instantly and had an answer by midway through August. Then, something wonderful happened. I got crazy, off-my-rocker, joy-of-the-Lord, excited. Excited to shower out of a bucket and put off Seminary for six months; so at peace in my heart that living the Word before I go to spend two years studying it is going to prepare my heart for more ministry, assured and reassured and reminded constantly that God must be doing work in my life. He is, and I have never had such a certain and unshakable joy like I do now.
So, sure. I could try secular graduate school and have a comfortable living with a nice salary, work hard to get ahead of my competition, climb the corporate latter, and be "successful". But after hearing stories and seeing the work God does in these orphanages and the healing that comes to these children in such desolate situations, I can't think of any job I want more. Suddenly that nice two-story house and BMW don't seem important. And more honestly, I don't think they'd make me happy. As I've looked back over my work experience, the two times I've enjoyed myself the most were working with children, and doing manual labor at a Church camp (yes, me, doing manual labor, It has to be a God thing, right?).
So, I'm headed to South Africa to continue that work, share the joy, and proclaim His love to some beautiful children. I can honestly say I've never been so excited--to go shower out of a bucket, live in a mud hut, and do some work for my Savior. I don't have my five year plan written out anymore, but by His grace it is so much better than anything I could come up with.
"Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel" Ephesians 6:19
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