Leaving for the Ministry

This Thursday I'm flying out west to join a group of young people to work with a children's ministry. I can't help but think back to the day God told me to quit my job to do ministry work and the only ministry work in sight was one week of youth camp. Now, several months later, I'm leaving for 2 1/2 months to serve God in a way that I've never done before. A step of faith has now turned into sight. I will be stretched beyond any service I have ever worked with, forced to look at myself to see where I am lacking, and expand my outreach to others. Yes, I'll be out of my comfort zone but it's during those moments when I feel totally inadequate that I have to depend on God all the more. Like I should every day.

I always doubt if I am doing God's will. Did God really lead me to this ministry? Is this really the right time? What if I was wrong? While all these questions went through my mind yesterday I was prompted to ask God to rebuke the devil (if the doubts were in fact coming from him and not myself) and then purify my mind with scripture. Realizing that I haven't changed my calendar to September, I flipped up the next page and read the scripture that was printed on the picture. "Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:" Hebrews 10:23-24. With that in mind I can go forward confidently knowing that God will be faithful.

I have always wanted to work in the ministry but when I actually got a chance it was hard to believe that my desire was really being fulfilled. And of all places it's in the west! Somewhere I've always wanted to visit! God is very good!

I've scheduled a few posts so that this little spot on the web doesn't go completely dormant. I don't expect to be able to post any updates while I am away, but when I return I will write of all the things God has done.

All of this started with committing my life to the Lord. Don't hold back! Surrender everything to the Lord and be willing to do His will. I'm glad I did.

Love Letter From God

God is all this, and so much more!

Meditation

If two people read a scripture and take away the same interpretation, but one thinks upon it for a long time while the other goes on to other things, the one who meditated on the scripture will get strong.

Will I love my life unto death?

The junior kids playing "Crazy Bird"

Two weeks ago three of my siblings and I went to a camp in North Carolina where we enjoyed some crazy fun and great church services and devotion time. I went as a helper from our church so I didn't get to do everything, but I enjoyed being right where I was at. I followed the junior kids and took lots of pictures while they had their chapel time and fun activities, and even made it to a few of the teen activities and church services. I absolutely LOVED the junior's preacher and his ministry he has for children. His silliness (or crazyness?) kept their attention, yet he also knew how to get on their level with the spiritual things so that they knew exactly what he was talking about. He took time for everyone whether it was playing carpet ball with them or talking about a hard trial in their life. His heart was full of compassion and he took everything they said so seriously. He is a great example of what a children's ministry worker should strive to be.

Bethany and Amy durring group time.

Throughout the week we heard a lot about mission work and the great need for missionaries in the 10/40 window. Even the juniors learned, durring a message titled "Open Your Eyes", about chilren in other countries who were suffering. One of the scriptures that was expounded upon during the week was Revelation 12:10-11, "And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death." Many people don't give their lives to become missionaries because they love their lives. Since hearing this message I have kept asking myself, "Am I going to love my life unto death?" It would be a tragic thing to stand before God one day and realize that I could have done so much for eternity and those who will spend it in heaven or hell, but I chose to spend my life - my short life - enjoying the pleasures of life?



Phillip durring group time.

 Bob Roberson, that I just spoke of, began to realize that he was not giving God his all, but was instead living the American dream. When the opportunity arose, he and his wife moved to Hong Kong where he and his wife teach english and the Bible in the public shools. He extanged his large house for a smaller one, a home by the river for a home in the crowded city, and comfortable places to serve God for a life long experience of serving God in a foreign land. Bob Roberson chose not to love his life unto death. What will we do?

A Scrapbook Solution

I have quite the collection of scrapbook paper and tools that I have bought or where given over the years. I don't do much scrap-booking, but I love to make cards and (my new interest) envelopes. But every time I get my scrap-booking supplies out I get frustrated at the unorganized mess it is in. I use to store it in a large, shallow container that fit under my bed, but that didn't work well, so I now keep everything in a 31 bag my aunt gave me for Christmas. It's a cute bag, but not practical for storing scrapbook supplies.

Today while I was making a card I came up with a fabulous way to store my scrap pieces of paper that always get bent and tore. I took an scrapbook that I'm not using (and probably wont for a long time) and put all the little leftover pieces of paper in each sleeve. 

Some of them are color coordinated, while there were some scraps I couldn't do that with.

My supplies are far from being as organized as I want them, but this is certainly a step in the right direction. So, while we're on the subject . . . here's some of the cards I've made. Nothing fancy, but I love the look of a handmade personalized card.

The Best Time Management

Martin Luther once said, "If I fail to spend two hours in prayer each morning, the devil gets the victory through the day. I have so much business I cannot get on without spending three hours daily in prayer." That has never left my mind. So busy he has to spend three hours in prayer? Don't we usually think the opposite? If I'm very busy my first tendency is to spend less time in prayer, not an extra hour! But what a great mistake that is.

While at a Set Apart Girl Conference in June Leslie Ludy said that the best time management is prayer. I have since made an effort to make prayer a priority in my life and have been so blessed by doing so! This morning I didn't make much time to pray, but I prayed anyways and continued to pray as I did my hair and made my bed before I left for a shopping trip to buy some necessary items. From the first store to the very last I found everything I needed and in a timely manner! I almost always go home without something on my list because I couldn't find what I needed or I got so frustrated that I decided to buy it later, but this morning it was so easy to find everything I needed with no frustration. A huge blessing was to find modest clothes and on sale as well! Praise the Lord! Putting God first is the best thing I could ever do! Thanks, Easter, for the inspiration to put this to the test!

A week of being TOGETHER

Last week we had a great week of Youth Camp with almost 200 campers and counselors. The theme was "I Can Through Christ" which was so amazing, because while I was preparing for camp I knew that the only way I could make it through the week successfully is to let Christ work through me. He did that and so much more! All week I could feel God helping me every step of the way. I felt empowered by God in a way that I've never felt before.



I enjoyed having church in an open air tabernacle!



It was such a blessing to see teenagers get right with God, apologize to their friends and siblings, and surrender their lives to God and the ministry. God worked in a mighty way in so many lives. On Thursday night God began to show himself to me before the service even started. He showed Himself to be mighty, strong, a protector, and lover of my soul. He showed me that I have no reason to fear, because he is more than capable to help me as I try to accomplish His will. His presence was very real from the first song we sang and by the time the preaching was over I couldn't wait to find a place to praise and worship my God! The time I spent with God was so sweet! When I went back to the church service God was working in others lives and we were able to have a wonderful time encouraging each other and praying with one another in the very presence of the God himself. God showed me how precious togetherness is. What great joy there is in praying together. Praising God together. Singing to our Lord together. That night we experianced that God's goodness is too great to be kept to ourself.



Every one fo the morning devotions spoke to my heart.



Other blessings from the week was seeing people with such a great servant's heart that encouraged me to be more ready to serve at the first sight of need. The activities we had were loads of fun and we made friendships that will not be easily forgotten. I believe the greates result of the week was knowing that lots of young people went home seeking God's will for their life and entertaining the thought that they need to take a new path on a journey designed by God, not themselves. For some, that means being a better example at their school and speaking up for what is right, others may feel they need to get more involved with their church and start hanging out with Godly friends instead of the worldy influence they have been around, while some now realize that God wants them to serve Him to a far greater extent then they ever imagined. So many of us have decisions to make and a lot of praying to do as we seek God's will for our lives. One thing is certain, God is trustworthy. If we give Him control, He will not steer us in the wrong direction. God has promised that if we seek Him with our whole heart, we will find Him! (Due. 4:29)