Getting away

It's crazy sometimes how television shows can give you such a great insight to your life. Tonight I was watching One Tree Hill and one of the lines was " it was good to get away and get a different perspective on life." It made me realize how true that statement is in my life. So many things seemed so crazy when I was home ( in ga ) but now that I have spent a few weeks in Ohio with my family, I realize what really is the most important. Some of the things that were bothering me are still there but I recognize how to not put them at the top of the list of worries. Most of all I have come to worry less and trust God more which I think in itself is a huge accomplishment. A friend shared these words with me tonight. They are from a book called Jesus Calling and they really spoke to me and the place that I am in life right now. I hope they speak to you as well.

"Trust Me enough to let things happen without striving to predict or control them. Relax, and refresh yourself in the Light of My everlasting Love...when you project yourself into the future, rehearsing what you will do or say, you are seeking to be self-sufficient: to be adequate without My help. This is a subtle sin- so common that it usually slips by unnoticed.

The alternative is to live fully in the present, depending on Me each moment. Rather than fearing your inadequacy, rejoice in My abundant supply. Train your mind to seek My help continually, even when you feel competent to handle something by yourself... learn to rely on Me in every situation. This discipline will enable you to enjoy life more and to face each day confidently"

Oh how things change.

It crazy how we plan and plan and plan and yet no matter how much we plan, God's plan is always the one that wins out. I thought I had everything planned to go to Australia but little did I know God had a different plan. You see, I thought that this experience was going to be one of crazy stories and impossible happenings, but what has happened is that God decided that I needed a lesson in patience and trusting Him instead.

As some of you know, I am not in Australia. I am still in the states, in Ohio. This is definitely not where I thought I would be today. I thought I would be in Townsville undergoing orientation for the amazing 6 month journey that I was about to take place in. I didn't think that I would be at my parents house in Ohio, not sure of what the future holds.

Learning trust and patience is a very hard concept. I know that I am getting better at it, but it seems harder some days. I don't like not knowing what happens next. I like to have a plan!

So, here is my plan.....I'm going to Trust God!

When I say I don't know what the future holds, it pretty much covers everything. I know that I was not to be on the October trip of DTS and I do believe that I am to be on the January one. However, God has a funny way of changin things up on me. So here is what I do know. I have a house that I need rented, I have funds that need raised, and preferably,I have a car that needs sold. I know that God can orchestrate all of that beautifully to come together for this january trip and I really hope that He does. So what I have learned is that I am going to do my part and pursue this thing with all my heart. I am going to work hard to find a renter, work hard to raise the money, and just simply work hard. But what I have come to learn is that, if for some reason it still doesn't happen in January, God has a plan and it is far greater than anything I could imagine so I am going to trust in that and know that the path that I am on is a blessed one.

Update

SO I have been really bad at updating this weekly. Hopefully I will be better at it when Im actually over in Australia.

Currently things are progressing slowly but God is teaching me lessons through it so my faith and trust in Him and this whole process is very high. I know that He will get me there!

This week He taught me such a huge lesson.

Even though God knows the desires of our hearts does not mean that He doesn't want to hear us ask for them!

I realized that throughout this whole journey, I don't think I actually sat back and just asked God to provide for this trip. How crazy is that??? How crazy am I???

Yesterday I sent up a simple request and He was so faithful to come through. I know that He will do the same for the finances on this trip.

Thanks for praying for me and this journey. I know God has amazing things planned for me. He has already changed me so much I can't imagine who I will be after this whole experience!

Info

I know I haven't let everyone in on Exactly what's going on so I thought now would be a good time...

In Mark 15:16 Jesus tells us to, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone.” This October I plan on doing just that.

I have been given an amazing opportunity to serve with YWAM for six months beginning in October. I will be participating in a program called Discipleship Training School ( DTS). As well as going on multiple mission outreaches, I will also be participating in training where my group of 29 will be learning how to share the Gospel to the best of our abilities to others all over the world. The program will start in Australia and lead to multiple destinations. Some of our mission opportunities will take place in Australia while others will take place in other countries, still being determined.

I am so excited for the opportunity to go and serve God in another part of the world and I would love it if you would partner with me. Most importantly I am asking for your prayers. This is unlike anything I have ever done before and I am more than excited. I know that I am going to be stretched and tested like never before and would love for you to join with me in prayer during these upcoming six months.

The other way I would love for you to partner with me is financially. Because this is a six month program the fees are quite a bit larger than a short-term missions trip. I am hoping to raise $15,000 for this six months. There are a few ways that you can help me financially. One would be by donating directly to me. Even if you can only give five or ten dollars, every little bit will help. Also, if you would like to donate via credit card you can go to the YWAM website ( www.ywamrto.org)

and click on “Donate” and then place my name in the recipient space. If you choose to do this please let me know so that I can contact them and make sure that there were no problems with the donation. Also, I will be compiling a list of supplies that I am going to need for this trip. If you would feel more comfortable in helping me obtain those items that too would be greatly appreciated.

I will be updating this weblog about my journey with YWAM. As soon as I get the list of what is needed I will post it there as well.

If you would like more information on the program or the organization please feel free to look at their website www.ywamdts.org.

I would love it if you could support me in this stage of my life both prayerfully and financially. Thank you so much for the impact you have made on my life already!

Australia

Well it has began,

I am finishing up my support letter right now and going to get together all my addresses. It is a scary thing. I can't believe that this is actually happening. I always knew that God was amazing but seeing Him in action is incredible!

Pursuing God...

I thought it would be a good idea to put this in writing, not only to hold myself accountable but so that anyone who reads it can do the same as well as possibly join me.

For the past couple weeks I have been toying ( aka fighting what God was leading me to do ) with a no dating pact. I gave in a little bit and said well maybe just till the end of summer I wont date. (Not that the boys are knocking down the doors) but I wasn't really committed. Well Sunday Andy challenged singles to go on a one year relationship break. He challenged us to take a year to focus not on members of the opposite and whether or not they would be "the one". To take time to focus on ourselves. To focus on our relationship with God. To focus on preparing ourselves for when that time actually comes. As I write this I am reminded of a quote that I just heard in a message, " If you wait to prepare for a fight until you find the fight then you will always fail." I think this totally can apply to relationships. Why do we wait until we think we have found the person that we want to spend the rest of our lives with to prepare ourselves?

So, here it is, I am taking a break. Until December 31, 2010 I am not going to date anyone. I am taking the rest of this year to pursue and build my relationship with God. I want to move from a child of God to a woman of God. I am asking God to prepare me to be a woman that can be a godly wife. I know that the road ahead is going to be tough but I also know that He will always be there right beside me to get me through it. I want the rest of this year to be about finding myself and who I am in Christ. Who He wants me to be and hopefully along the way find out where He wants me to be.

I am super excited about the journey ahead. I know that I will struggle but I also know that God will be there with His grace ready to pick me up and continue walking on this life journey.

Ballroom Dancing

It's crazy how so many things in life relate to each other.

Last night I went ballroom dancing with some friends.

When I was dancing with one of my friends, he was trying to teach me a dance, and I kept messing up. Finally he stopped and looked at me and said " Stop Leading" and when I did, when I just followed his lead and released control we were able to just dance without messing up.

You see, I have been going through this lesson in life where I need to learn to be patient. I have trouble just sitting back and letting things happen with the natural flow. I want things to happen in a certain order and a certain time. And I most certainly like to be in control. It occurred to me that I need to approach life the way I approached the dance. Give up control and learn to follow the one who is leading. I won't be able to see what is coming because my back is turned. But the beauty of it, is that He is holding me close to Him and directing me to where I need to go. Once I learn to give up the direction that I think things should be going and just follow Him, the rest of the trip will be like a smooth dance.