Amazing Grace

I have been wondering what to write about first as I begin to unpack this trip. What is hitting me the hardest is how thankful I am for the church. This doesn't have to do with finances, although I cannot begin to thank everyone enough for that and for your prayers for my team and I, but I want to tell you is a story about a temple and a church I visited in Southeast Asia.

 I remember it like it was yesterday. Walking up the stairs to this temple and having to ask my friend if we could walk up with our elbows locked and a word of prayer on our lips as I was hit with an overwhelming shock of mixed emotions. I saw the beggars with no limbs. I heard chanting music. I smelled the smoke being offered up to their ancestors and it broke my heart as I was rocked with the reality that these sweet people really didn't know where they were going after they died and it was a generational fear. It is a routine to come to this temple, bow down to the idols and force their kids to do it too because as a part of their culture, one did not want to mess up this religious curse, I'll call it, that has been continually passed down. As I watched one family bow down to an idol the tears came rushing down and I had to take a minute to gather my emotions as I wrapped my head around the truth that these people don't know that their lives are at stake because they haven't heard the truth of the gospel.

 I will never forget this moment, but don't worry it gets a lot better.

 There's this place called a church. It's sometimes difficult to find, but once you walk in there it is a feeling of Amazing Grace, both when you sing it out and when you walk in with your bare feet and the villagers offer you nuts or whatever they have that is their very best because you are a foreigner and they want to give you the very best they have.

 It's hard being a Christian they say, all over Southeast Asia, but as one Koran boy told a member of our group:   he felt bad for us because it is hard since we have so much luxury that we don't have to depend on God. I think it is, for us, a matter of recognizing God. Yes, he may feel bad for us, but when we take a deep breath and perhaps we are dropped to our knees because we see, we really see God's grace, and when we take the time too look at it and sing, "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me..." we recognize that we are wretch's and that we are all in need of that sweet deep reminder of grace especially when you take a moment to recognize it, please don't forget to recognize that today.

Be blessed, church! 

Character is Destiny

What's on my mind? Our strength and weaknesses. During a discussion one day, we focused on what separates the elite or "very good", from settling for just being good. Seriously, have you ever thought about that? What can we do to become our best selves? I have for so long wondered what or how it is that we can find our destiny! Do you suddenly wake up and realize, this is what I am supposed to do and I am going to spend the rest of my life doing this exact same thing? 
          Our discussion about what separates the elite from those who settle for just being, 'good enough', is mainly that that the elite are those who  are aware of their weaknesses and challenge themselves to find strength in them. Along with that thought, I have come to realize that it can be difficult for us to relate to people's strengths, but more often than not, we can especially relate to each other's weaknesses. After a conversation, about our character's from 2nd Peter 2-1l, I've come to realize, while still learning, that in order to find one's destiny and to really be effective not only in ourselves, but also when it comes to sharing the gospel, is waking up both individually and collectively to each other's weaknesses and start their in challenging ourselves to find strength in them by building up that weak side of our character. I encourage you to read that passage from 2nd Peter and to ask yourself what your weakness is, but not forget about our strengths either, character is destiny! It is never too late to ask Jesus, what  He desires to teach us about ourselves.

Sparks Fly

Its been more than just me who has said that since being in Washington sparks seem to fly with creativity! I've written a song that I hope to share soon as I am learning to play it on guitar (slowly, but surely). Some of you may know my passion for writing, I have written more than one poem and I really hope to have a story written, but its crazy the amount of time and effort we are preparing to get ready to leave, but I crave my time and space to write. Here's a poem that I'd like to share with you that I wrote for my dad for his birthday yesterday: 
Who is this man?
He is strong a mighty man of God and a tender father
He picks me up when I fall and shows me love most of all
He is called chosen and loved and called?
Called to what?
A deeper abiding a deeper rest in a heavenly Father who loves him most of all
Who is this man with a great smile, warm hugs and strong hands?
It starts with a D-E-A-.....
Nope...
That's his name
But he's my Daddy:)
This is his life
Happy Birthday and many to come!

Intercession is Crucial!

2 weeks left of classes after Thanksgiving break and then I leave Washington! This video will give you better insight into the work that I will be doing in Thailand. I am so excited for all that God has been doing in my life right here, right now and all that is to come in His future plans for me! Pray people. Intercession is crucial. http://vimeo.com/4673059. 

Acceptance

What does acceptance mean to you? Since being in Washington, God has taught me more of the meaning behind acceptance. Acceptance of who He has designed me to be, or acceptance of other people and how He's designed them. I've posted a few things on Facebook, asking for prayer requests about getting a cold, I'm  much better now and through being sick God taught me a deeper level of acceptance.
        I like to think of myself as an independent person. It was hard for me to let things go as I got more sick and I had to let other people do things for me. Towards the beginning of this past week God reminded me that it was my job to be outrageously loved, this is my first primary occupation in life and its yours too! He calls us the Beloved, because we were created to Be-Loved. Whether it was someone taking my dishes, lending me their hat to wear, giving me cough drops to suck on or a drink of vitamin C, I was touched by my family's kindness to me and through this process of getting better God taught me to be gracious, let go and receive with gratitude. 
         Thank you for your prayers! My prayer for you is that you may be able to grasp where you are His acceptance for you in how He designed you to be and that hopefully it won't take being sick for you to be able to let go and receive with gratitude! 

What More Could I Ask For?

People really don't understand when my sister and I will explain to them how excited we are to be going to our favorite place in the world-East Grand Forks, Minnesota. They usually nod their heads and say something like, "I hope you have fun!" To which my sister Grace and I shake our heads and whisper, "They really don't get it do they?" Because, we know that when people say, "I hope you have fun!" We don't even have to, 'hope to have fun!' we are always going to have a good time here in this town, that is guaranteed. You'd think that after 6 days in Europe and a plan to visit India for missions, I might not even look forward to coming to such a small place as this, but these visits are what I look forward to the most.
      As I wake up this morning, still in my pajamas and looking forward to a day that could hold almost anything, such as-enjoying the afternoon on the deck, getting a tan and eating the Mexican Caviar that my Grandma has made, taking a break to play basketball with my neighbor friend, and if anyone knows my family you know how much we love movies, and when we went to go see the Lone Ranger movie we walked away happy. I call this blog, "What More Could I Ask For?" simply because as I sit content in this happy home I really can't think of anything else that I could possibly want or need! You'll see a picture here of my sister and I with our neighbor friend, Christian as we sit on my grandparents back deck. We've spent a big chunk of our time here playing basketball together, as well as flashlight tag, and most of all laughing together as childhood friends. We see each other as cousins and will hopefully always be that close. I love how many people live here that I can call family, that are not my biological family. 
       How do we reach such a place of contentment? So many people today have all the wealth of the world at their fingertips and, "all they could ever ask for..." from all the wealth and money they have, but is that all they could really ask for? Wealth and riches beyond all comparison? As I read in my devotional, Jesus Calling, this morning, "The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal. The Light of My Presence is brilliant and everlasting." Contentment comes from inside of us. We all know that and I pray that as a reader you will have felt this type of contentment at some point in your life that I feel whenever I walk in the front door of this home, this sweet escape. Jesus promises us peace that transcends all understanding. As I think about my future and wonder, "When will I get to come back here again? Will I have to wait until I get back from India in order to enjoy my Grandma's company, and homemade food and basketball with my sister and friend?" The Bible tells us not to fear 365 times, so why is it that we usually wake up in the morning with so many fears and burdens to carry in our mind and heart? Besides, the burden of fear we also tend to carry on a lot, is too much worry, I know this is a familiar verse to those who grew up in the Church, but I never tire of hearing this, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." Matthew 6:25-26, 34. It's up to us to decide to stop this worrying, sit back and enjoy our day for what it has to offer. I am going to choose right now to not worry today, of course I will worry later on, but my mindset is on the right path and even though I am human and will forget I will also choose to take joy in my circumstances. I will laugh as I attempt to shoot baskets and will usually miss, I will laugh as I sip my Tennessee tea and listen to my Grandpa tell stories, and I will laugh at the worries that come my way, and choose today to rest and walk in the path of truth that tells me a different story, that tells me to not be afraid. 

Mighty to Save

Yesterday, was one of my classmates 18th birthday. After a full day of class, local outreach and other activities a different friend and I had taken a walk by the ocean, came back to the base and were talked into playing a game of frisbee. After this, someone suggested playing tag. It was so fun to run around in the big field in front of the campus and act like little kids again! This was also a funny way to end this friend's 18th birthday! While chasing each other, someone eventually got out the hoola-hoops a jump rope and each new activity brought out a new challenge. Challenges like: To see who could hoola-hoop or jump rope the longest, or jump through the hoola-hoop and land on their feet. Playing in the field with whatever we could find seemed like a great way to end a great week of learning and a good beginning for the weekend. 
      One of the most comforting concepts that I have been able to grasp is that although I've heard it over and over again, is the truth that our God is Mighty to Save. I have really come to grips with this reality more than ever through my time in Washington thus far. It has especially hit me during our time of worship together before class as we sing it out, or during a local outreach on Friday's. Together, we can all walk in the reality that our God can save the smallest and biggest in this world and as I am in this relaxing coffeeshop writing, I can know the truth that together we can whisper, "Shine your light and let the whole world see, we're singing for the glory of the Risen King!" May the lyrics to this song be forever whispered on your lips and lived out through whatever atmosphere we find ourselves in.