Pray Boldly

Just a short, quick post. I'll be leaving for Africa this month! Plans are coming together nicely and I'm getting really excited for it. I was having a discussion recently with another girl (Sarah) who is going on the trip. She said something that really struck a chord with me and I've been thinking about a lot lately. First she said "I know the trip is a few weeks away still, but already I feel as though I have so much to tell about my trip to Ethiopia." The funny thing is, I feel the same way. I haven't even left yet already I feel like I have stories to share about how God is using this experience.

Later, the whole team was on a conference call and we were discussing a book we are all reading together in preparation for our departure called "Mack and Leanne's Guide to Short Term Missions." We were talking about praying for our trip and how we expect God to show up in our work and ministries while we are in Africa. And typically, mission trips do result in life-changing experiences because we experience God so intensely. But the thing is, typically we pray pretty boldly for mission trips. I know for this particular trip I've been praying a lot!! So the thing is, why don't I pray with that same boldness about the missions I'm involved with here...right here in my community? Why don't I pray boldly about the children I work with at the rescue mission? Why don't I pray boldly for my small group? Why don't I pray boldly for my colleagues? Why don't I pray boldly for my family? Why don't I pray boldly for my friends? Why don't I pray boldly for my roommate? Why don't I pray boldly for my city? Maybe if I were in constant, never-ceasing prayer for the every day things of my seemingly ordinary life I would experience God in a powerful way right here. Maybe I need to be praying that he would awaken my heart to the work he is doing around me. Every. Single. Day.

I believe in the necessity of international missions. Obviously, I do--I couldn't be more anxious and excited to go to Africa. But at the same time, my eyes are being opened to the reality that God is calling us to be bold in our faith here. That God is calling us to be missionaries here. That God's work needs done here.

So I'm challenging myself (and you!) to pray boldly. Pray boldly that your heart will be awakened and you will experience God in your ordinary, everyday life. Pray that His love and His Truth would be evident through your actions to the people you come in contact every day. Pray that you would see the needs of the people immediately around you and that you would rise up to meet those needs with love and compassion. Pray that God would come and fill you with hope for this nation and all nations.

Pray Boldly.
And have faith that He hears.

Prayer Request

So if you're reading my blog I'm assuming that I know you or that you found my blog through a friend that knows me so I can consider you a friend. In any case, you probably have some sort of interest in my life because I certainly don't post very profound thoughts here. So basically if you're reading this I'm kinda requesting your prayers. I've been very anxious about a few things (namely just 2 things) lately and I've wanted these things to happen in my timing instead of trusting in God's timing. I've been making plans of my own and schedules of my own and been disappointed when things don't turn out as I had hoped. So I would ask that you would pray that I would learn to wait on the Lord and trust that His timing is perfect. Please pray that I would trust that He will provide for my every need when the time is right and that I don't need to take things into my own hands and make them happen.

I would so appreciate all the prayers I can get on this. I think it's something I've battled for a long time. I'm horrible at waiting especially when I really want something. Lately I feel like my ability to wait has gotten increasingly worse. So please pray that the holy spirit would descend upon me and allow me to rest in the peace that only God can give.

I know this is really vague....I'll definitely share more in person or over the phone, but for now, this is it :)

Thanks all for your support.

Oh, and just a little reminder....you can still give to my trip to Ethiopia! Check it out here: https://www.mochaclub.org/africa-trips

Because it's already been done

Lots of things running through my mind in recent days.  So much has been going on in so many areas of my life and sometimes it's hard to just slow down and take it all into perspective.  A lot of things at church tonight really struck a chord with me.  Two things in particular.  It's easy to give praise to God when things are going peachy, but what about praising him through the storms?  Do I find joy in the midst of difficult circumstances?  Do I give thanks for trials and lean on Him during those times?  Sure, I can be a fun, pleasant person to be around when things are on the up and up, but how about when I'm struggling?  Do my actions reflect that of a girl who fully believes that her God is in control and carrying her?  I'll admit...not always....probably not even often.

In my devotional today it talked about "Flowers That Grow in the Shade."  Like Paul, in the Bible, many times Christians thrive and grow the most in times of struggle and heartache.  It's through these times that are weaknesses and brokeness is brought to the surface and we are made whole.

Another thought that has been on my mind has been praying and believing that God has answered that prayer.  Tonight at church the pastor talked about constantly praying with Thanksgiving because God has already said he's going to make all things new.  He's already in control.  This isn't the first time I've thought about this.  I remember spending a weekend in Miami about a year ago with my friend Chelsea and she spoke into my life on this very topic.  She talked to me about praying for something and believing that God has answered that prayer.  Now don't get me wrong, I think it's necessary to constantly be in prayer, but I think sometimes I take the same thing to the Lord over and over again because I'm uncertain as to whether I prayed "good enough" the first time...really, I think it's just me trying to convince myself that God is going to answer the prayer.  

I don't know if that makes any sense to anyone but me...but it makes sense to me...

Anyway...a few other random things the pastor said tonight at church that struck a chord with me...enjoy:

"You may be a rebel, but so am I and Christ died for rebels.  He's wild about you."

"Talk to God about people before you talk to people about God."

"The most powerful thing we own is the ability to speak.  Not only do we have the ability to speak God's love and grace into other's lives, but we also hold the ability to speak eroding words into the lives of others."

That's all I have for now.  Have a blessed week. :)

National Day of Prayer

Thursday, May 1st, is the National Day of Prayer. In a world full of so much conflict, we need prayer now more than ever. With the war, the elections and politics, human rights issues here and abroad and so much more, we have plenty to be praying about.

We spoke recently at small group about what kind of fingerprints we're leaving. While we continue to think about how we can ensure that the fingerprints we are leaving our positive ones, we can also be praying for our nation that we as as a nation can leave positive fingerprints on the world. We're a nation with so much influence on the rest of the world and we have the power to decide what kind of influence we're going to have. In this way, it's important that we pray for God's grace and guidance over our nation that we may be given the clarity to make decisions that honor Him and pray that He would provide the leadership and the resources we need to be a great nation in his eyes.

So I encourage you to find what events are going on in your community for the National Day of Prayer. If there aren't any, gather a group of friends and family and pray. Check the National Day of Prayer website for more information.