Sing Praise to Him

I have been holding onto this song the last few days, as I pray continously for those around me who are in pain and hurting. It seems ever where I turn there is a family member or close friend whose heart weighs heavy with the burdens of life. Every job I have is within the helping field, calling me to give of myself in many different ways. The crying shoulder as someone mourns their loved one. The unbiased listener to those who feel abused and lost between the cracks of public assistance, whose daily routine consists of finding the next meal and making it back to the shelter for the night. Weekends are spent answering helpline calls for a sexual assault crisis center, where I spend the evening helping individuals through flashbacks and nightmares that leave them terrified. Yet, at the end of the day- I lack the power, the means, and the strength to take away anyones pain. How I would love to wave a magic wand, and make all better. Though God has given me the gift of intuition ...

Today while speaking to a friend about my excitement/nerves about officially saying yes to the trip she spoke about a sermon she recently heard, and the analogy was that of a green light. Just to GO. On my way home after being getting my physical travel clearance by my doctor this song came on. The first few words, "Give me the green light, show me the finish line No more spinning in circles, no more wasting time So let it start today, where I flip the switch and say You're my light, I won't fight, I'll go wherever You say To the top of the highest mountain, to the bottom of every valley I'll be the spark that turns into the grand finale This love is something everyone needs to know Hearts are calling', no more stalling It's just ready set go". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgkzlu-FaMU ‪#‎ IgetitGod‬ ‪#‎ Greenlight‬ ‪#‎ LIVEYOURMISSION‬ ‪#‎ YES‬

I twiddled my thumbs, I prayed, I questioned, I prayed some more and then when I least expected I found an E-mail sitting there- unopened & it sunk in. I WAS ACCEPTED! 6 Month Journey to the Caribbean:  1 week in Indiana  2 weeks at a Navajo Reservation  Haiti  Jamaica  Belize Costa Rica  (7 weeks at each location)  Spreading the LOVE OF JESUS!  I couldn't help but laugh at how God works. I've been so impatient these last few years, wondering- waiting, questioning- and right when I catch on and learn the lesson He was working in me for so long it is then I get the news.  Pastor Dick from the Mechanic Falls Vineyard often says "Faithful with a little and He will give you more." Below is a link to learn more about the program: http://experiencemission.org/immersion/

               This last past year has been a year of growth, accomplishments, trials and loss. It has been a roller coster ride of events, and my faith wavered at times. I was unsure what was next on my path for life and I was becoming frustrated that I didn't know exactly what was next. Struggling with personal baggage, and holding onto past events left me chained down. I was angry at God for not helping, when I was so frustrated. Months later, through prayer, tears and patience I came to realize I was the one who was holding myself back.               I chose to let go of the past which was holding me captive. Some days I still find myself looking back, questioning and pondering- but ultimately I must continue ahead. I've learned that it is OK to look back, but instead of focusing on the negative's of a situation, shifting gears to focus on the blessings of God and the testimony of how HE helped you throu...

I found this old writing I did in High School, and the irony is- every bit of this is what I have been currently struggling to grasp. A sweet reminder of His love, a love that has no boundaries. "I'm absolutely convinced that nothing-nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable-absolutely nothing can get between us and God's LOVE because of the way that Jesus, our master has embraced us," (Romans 8:38-39). So, God is good. He loves us and has promised to never leave us; not ever. Let me guess, this isn't the first time you've heard this, is it? I'm sure you've heard many truths about God. Maybe you've heard them so much and so often that they sound meaningless or superficial. You see though, these truths about God aren't just facts; so called “guidelines for Christians” or even do's and don't. We should be clinging to the truth no matter what life throws our way. But instead we...

A Chinese international exchange student who just so happened to be my neighbor in the dorms.  Passing him in the hall one day I excitedly blurted out, “Hey! You  should come to New Orleans with us.”  A week later he had signed up and was beginning to fundraise.  Through out the week he grappled with questions concerning his faith.  Upon returning to UMF he received an E-mail from a former teacher who wrote to him “God has blessed you tremendously.”  Coming from a community of communism in China, this message was unexpected and out of the ordinary.  It was at this moment that it clicked for Bill, that Jesus was calling him into a relationship.  He knocked on my door a few minutes later, with a smile so big I thought he won the jack pot-only to find out He so totally did!  It was then that he fully committed his life to Jesus and was excited to continue amongst a group of fellow Christian peers.  

Our site leader, mentor and a New Orleans local.  After surviving the flood, Darren committed himself to longterm recovery relief.  He now works for Lower Nine the organization we worked for.  He spoke 100mph an hour and only half explained anything we were working on, but despite constant miscommunication & confusion we were able to get the job done just in time!

“God, I pray this trip takes me out of my comfort zone…”                          This was my every day prayer leading up to the trip, but two seconds on the work site I realized I prayed a very dangerous prayer.  I was hoping for painting, because hey I did that last year and it was fun. Maybe cleaning up a yard- or building something? More like- shingling a roof.  The site leader was calling for a few people to help up top- but when no hands shot up, I decided to (as many leaders do) step up and say yes.  On my way up the  ladder, all I could think about was “What in the world am I doing…” As I heard the leader say, “If you are scared of height’s please don’t come up.”  Too late, I was already half way up and was not about to go down the ladder.  A week later I was known as the runner, because the best part was running up and down the ladder.  Funny how God works. 

As I was driving back to Farmington my muffler broke off. At this point I honestly can't help but laugh at the stories this car has given me. Upon asking an elderly man if he had a bungee cord he ended up offering to help. I couldn't help but laugh, he had a roll of toilet paper in his shirt pocket. He drove back home and returned with tools. As I began to assist him cutting mechanic wire as we both looked under my car we spoke of his daughter and what he does for a living. W e spoke about school and life and how thankful I was he showed up. But then it got even better he stated, "You girls must have thought I was crazy, carrying toilet paper on me." But anyone who knows me well know I always have toilet paper in my car! Though I was frustrated and fed up because it literally has felt like I'm just waiting for the next thing to "fall apart" and then it literally happens. It was as though God was saying, "I've got You, even when you think I don...

A beautiful sunset.  A sweet reminder that God is the master of all creations, from the muddy hills to the glorious sky.  If God can uplift this beautiful landscape, just think of all He can do.  Life has been weighing me down, the stress, the struggles of trying to do it all on my own.  "I've got this God, just let me handle it."  Yet, He is patient, knowing without Him we will not be whole.  He waits, as a patient Father.  2 Chronicles states, "The BATTLE is not ours, but God's." To hand it over to him, leaving it at the cross.  My sins, failure and short comings.

Today I saw a young lady sitting by herself at a coffee shop. I could tell she was having a rough day, her head phones in- hood up. I couldn't help but think of all the times I've been there, staring off in space questioning life. I told myself to walk away, and leave her be- that is of course what she most likely wanted. Yet I couldn't leave, knowing sometimes as hard as it may be people just need a friend, stranger or not. So we introduced ourselves, sat down and enjoye d our coffees. We laughed, shared stories and she opened up about her most recently struggles. We then sat in silence together, happy to be in one another's presence. A raw moment, between two strangers who come together in their struggles. I walked away with a sweet and needed reminder that it's OKAY to not be OKAY. Learning to put down the mask of perfection down and admit- I too am human. I mess up and get back up. I stumble and fall, yet I will continue on. Because at the end of the day we'...