Crazy people...faithful God

Since the beginning of the year, I have been working my way through the Old testament. You know what ALWAYS blows me away? It doesn't matter if I've heard the "stories" once or a thousand times...God uses the CRAZIEST people to do His work here on earth! Seriously. I mean, we've all heard the account of Noah, and Abraham, and Moses...all loony in their own way, of course. But really. A donkey??? A woman shoving a tent spike through a man's head??? An "army" of 300 men, "fighting" by banging a bunch of clay pots together??? Wow. If one thing is clear, it's that God has quite the imagination!

All silliness aside, I have been so encouraged by my time in the Old Testament...I am reminded day in and day out that God loves to use ordinary, sometimes stupid (and always inadequate) people to do His work. I'm encouraged because I pretty much ace that description.

I left school today feeling a little bit disheartened. We had been practicing a very important nursing skill, and I just couldn't seem to get it right! If I had been "practicing" the skill on a live person, he would have been dead 3 times over! There are days when I think, "God, I don't think this was such a good idea. How am I EVER going to do this?" Today was one of those days. But then I climbed into my car, and you know what blew up on the sky-canvas right in front of me?

The most beautiful reminder of God's faithfulness...in the form of a ribbon of color lacing the stormy sky. At the same time, these words crooned through the radio: "'Cause if He started this work in your life, He will be faithful to complete it...If only you believe it!" He knew I needed these simple reminders of His faithfulness...and His ability to take my inadequacy and use it to His glory.

A couple of months ago, I shared with you all about the new journey God is taking me on. It is hard to believe, but in 2 months, I will be in Guatemala! To be honest, I don't know what I stepped into when I signed up for this trip!

A couple of weeks ago at our team meeting, we met the doctor who will be traveling and working with our team. While he lives and works in the United States, he humbly shared that he has been on more than 90 medical missions trips. 90! I think my eyes were probably bigger than ever as he went through a slide show of tropical diseases we could encounter as we seek to love and care for the people there. Ahem. I won't post any of those pictures here, as I would hate for you to have to make a not-so-fun trip to the restroom = ) Needless to say, as I think about this upcoming trip God is preparing me for, it is easy to feel overwhelmed, unprepared, and yes, inadequate. Thankfully, He loves inadequate! And He loves to prove His faithfulness!

I want to share a huge praise and some prayer requests...humbly asking that you would consider praying for me in the next few months as I prepare to follow God's leading to Guatemala:

First of all, I am MORE than fully funded!!! Praise God for His provision, and thank you so much to those of you who have partnered with me on this journey!

As the time of my departure nears, please be praying for:
~My heart, that God would continue to instill in me a deep love and compassion for the people of Guatemala
~For team unity...we are essentially going to be setting up makeshift "urgent care" centers in churches, a feat that requires quite a bit of team work and patience!

~For the people we will encounter, that God would go ahead of us and prepare their hearts.
~For health, safety, and organization as we prepare supplies and medications for our departure in late June.

I stand before you as a work in progress...and as a reminder that God uses the foolish things of this world to shame the wise!

All for His glory,

What would you do for someone you love?

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"'Cause you know I'd walk a thousand miles if I could just see you." This music lyric has been rolling around my head lately. Oh, what I wouldn't give to see my dad again! Just for one day, I truly would walk a thousand miles.

What would you do for someone you love? Today is the day we remember what Jesus did for those He loves. We recount the blood sweat and the tears shed, the brow broken and side torn. We sit before the cross and remember. I worry, though. I worry that I forget, that I numb myself to the pain He experienced. And I think, what would I do for someone I love?

I smell Mary's perfume (John 12:3) and wonder, what do I have that I can lay at Jesus' feet?

I sit at that table, eating the bread and drinking from the cup...and I cry out with the disciples, "Lord, who? Certainly not I!" Yet I know of the betrayal, the spitting in His face and turning the other way.

I am with Him in the garden, confused by His anguish because I know not what He faces...and I sleep. I abandon Him in His hour of distress, unaware of his blood-sweat.

I am there when they come for Him, slipping through the trees to hide as they bind His hands and sneer in His face. I run away.

And I am there, at the foot of the cross...drops of blood and sweat from His brow drip to my skin. My cry is lost in His: "My God! My God! Why have you forsaken me?" His groans and agony too much to take in, I hide my face.

All the while, I wonder. What would I do for someone I love? Jesus broke the body...God incarnate broke Himself from the Godhead and experienced hell--a world without God. He took the weight of my sin--of my guilt, my shame, my brokenness and pain--and heaped it all upon His back. He breathed His last breath. The perfect lamb, slaughtered in my place. For my soul.

אלוהים ירחם עלי

Lord, my God, have mercy on me.

He cares about the details

I've been thinking this week about how grateful I am that Jesus meets me where I'm at. When I'm tired, when I'm scared, when I can barely walk (30 day shred, remember?), when I'm content, when I'm not content...No matter where I am emotionally, physically, spiritually--He's there. Can you imagine if we had to meet HIM where He's at?! I know I would never get there.

I finished my second week of the school quarter, and while I am definitely busy and challenged, I am so incredibly thankful for the Lord's presence and comfort. It is so easy to lose sight of Him in the midst of the storm, but when I keep my eyes fixed on the Author and Perfecter of my faith, of ME, everything else starts to fade away.

I have so much running through my head and racing around my heart, but I wanted to share a thought with you all...remember that He cares about the details of your life. In fact, He delights in the details of your life. "The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand" (Psalm 37:23-24). Allow Him to hold your hand, to meet you right where you're at.

If you are facing anything scary or challenging or daunting or exciting...I would be privileged to pray for you. Just leave me a comment on this post or shoot me an email at the address listed under the "Contact" tab above.

At peace because of Him,

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Today would have been the 62nd birthday of one of the greatest men I have ever known.

About 2 weeks before he went to be with Jesus

Today, I am thinking of how he would have loved to celebrate the day.
*He would have taken the day off.

*He would have started the morning out with a lengthy time of prayer and studying God's Word...and mostly praying, for my brothers and sisters and I, and especially for my mom.

*He would have gone on a nice long morning run...on a golf course. Bare foot. = )

*He would have taken a long nap.

*In response to questions like, "Dad, what do you want for your birthday?" He would have said, "All I want is a nice big hug from YOU!"

*He would have wanted some nice big treat to celebrate...Maybe a DQ ice cream cake, or a nice big milkshake in a mostly empty peanut butter jar.

*He would have spent the day with those he loved most.

*He would have started and ended the day with one of the gentlest, most captivating smiles you have ever seen.

Today would have been my Dad's 62nd birthday. I am missing him today, and hoping that God gives him an extra scoop of ice cream and most of the things from the list above.

I love you, Dad! Happy almost 2-year Heaven birthday!

Love,

Just Show Up!

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"It is starting that is essential when we face a difficult task." Tonight, as I read these words so eloquently penned by my dear friend, Kathy, I was reminded of something my dad used to say to me. Whenever I was nervous about something, or dreading it more than anything in the world, my dad would say, "Ab, all you gotta do is show up. Just show up, and let God do the rest." What a great reminder for my trembling heart! Too often, I am focused on the hows and whys of what I am about to do, losing sight of the One who "delights in every detail of my life" (Psalm 37:23), the One who will most certainly take care of the hows and whys in His perfect timing. As another dear friend, Rebecca, was reminding me this past week, sometimes all God asks is that I take the next step. Often that next step will be right into stormy water...and yet He still calls me to take it, believing that He will part the sea.

This week, as I begin a new season in my training to be a nurse, I will be stepping out into stormy water. I am nervous...I am excited...I am eager to see God show up as I trust Him to give me the strength to finish what we started together! I am resting in these wise words from my friends tonight, and tomorrow I will take my dad's wonderful advice once again: I'm gonna show up and let God do the rest!

What about you, friend? Where is God asking you to take the next step...to just show up and allow Him to do the rest? As I'm praying for strength for my next step tomorrow, I am also praying for yours!