Sing Praise to Him

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.