Get out of the boat

Okay so today I turn on the radio which I rarely do at work and I listen to family life today they had Priscilla Scheier on there teaching out of Judges chapter 7 which I've been studying judges and them she was talking about Gideon and how God dwindled down his army. I went on to read a little more, and actually before God dwindled down his army he threw a fleece out and asked God to show him what to do and then God gave an answer and you know story Gideon throws a fleece out again and God was patient with him because he is reassuring him of what was to happen.

From there she quoted Christine Caine and I really enjoy listening to Christine Caine and so I thought well I'm going to go look at this quote on the Internet so I can post to my Facebook and lo and behold what did I find... I found that Christine Caine is the founder of A21 campaign which is a campaign I've been following that is combating human trafficking, which if you know me is huge passion of mine I didn't know that she was the founder of that so from there I went to her blog and what was the title of today's??? Getting out of the boat. I was BLOWN away for the reason that God had really been laying that phrase "get out of the boat" on my heart for so many months now, dating back all the way to March but I haven't heard it the last couple of months and so the phrase "get out of the boat" has so much more of a meaning to me now after what I saw in Africa and the human trafficking that happens on Lake Volta.

Then I was reminded how when I was a IHOP earlier this year, I was in the prophecy room and a guy prophesied over me about a boat and rotors and he wasn't really quite sure what that meant but I do! I need to go back and find that because I recorded it and see what the meaning God has for my life right now.

I LOVE the way God reminds us that He is in charge and has a plan.

Find Your Mark meeting Tuesday, November 22 at LUMC at 7:00!

We get up to an alarm, a warm bed, a cup of coffee, warm clothes...

Do we think?

We go to work and complain about our jobs, wishing for Friday to come...

Do we think?

We come home, cook supper, wash dishes, sweep, spend little quality time with our families...

Do we think?

We do it all again, day after day after day...

Do we think?

Do we think about those starving not too far away, those needing a kind word just down the block, that someone that would give anything for a warm hug, someone to love them.

Do we think?

About those some 7,000 kids trafficked on a Lake so many miles away, working 16 hour days with little sleep and one meal a day

Do we think just how blessed we are that God choose us to lead the lives we are when he could have put us in someone else's situation?

I know I didn't used to but how could I not now. It haunts my thoughts daily but I must choose to Seek Justice, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with my God.

It only takes one, will you be that one?

Photo by Rachel Johnson of Touch A Life

Seek Justice
Love Mercy
Walk Humbly with your God
Micah 6:8

God is pleading with Israel is this chapter, He is saying to them that He has brought them out of Egypt, He saved them from bondage. He isn't asking for burnt offerings, He has shown them what is good and that is to SEEK JUSTICE, LOVE MERCY, AND WALK HUMBLY WITH HIM!

He wants us to love him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. To look for the injustices of the world, to allow His Spirit to move through us to stand up for those that cannot stand up for themselves. To be sold out for Him and answer the call to GO!

Where is your mission field today?

Not quite the same...

I have been back from Africa exactly 13 days and for exactly 13 days I have felt I just do not fit in here anymore.

A lot of emotions, a lot of trying to sort out those emotions, and a lot of my heart swelling to a place I didn't think it could go.

Africa had always been a dream of mine. I have always had a passion for Africa but little did I know exactly how much my heart I would leave in Ghana. It was one of the most amazing things I have ever done, and one of the most challenging things.

The flight was long and I slept very little. We landed in Accra, Ghana and as soon as my feet hit the ground I was overtaken by emotion. I cried and cried, overwhelmed that I was in a place I so long dreamed about.

Everyone has asked me to tell them about the trip but that is the most difficult thing to do because I do not feel I can accurately explain what I saw and felt and experienced. I can tell you this, I will NEVER be the same.

We got the opportunity to spend a couple days with 47 kids who had been rescued from child trafficking, if you haven't watched the video I posted a couple weeks ago please do. These kids were the most amazing, happy kids I been around. For kids that have experienced the darkest days anyone should they are so loving. I was amazed at how all 15 of us had one or 2 kids that latched onto us. I am pleased to be able to sponsor one that I bonded with. William has an amazing smile that will melt your heart.

One other incident that sticks out to me was a time when we got "stuck" in water on the way to Kete Krachi (which we never made it to). Our bus was stuck in knee high water, and for as far down the road as you could see people from the closest village ran to help us. There were probably 60 kids or so. We were stuck for about 7 hours total I think. At one point Stephanie and Pat had laid hands on the bus and were praying. I asked a girl that was 13, that could speak English, if she wanted to go pray with me on the bus to which she replied "yes, but I will pray in my language". I said that is fine, she then turned around and said something to the other kids and they swarmed the bus to lay hands on it and began to pray aloud in their language. IT was one of the most beautiful sounds I have ever heard.

These people that have far less than us Americans have something that is of greater value than we do... a sense of community and a faith so strong. A huge lesson to be learned there.

The Touch A Life Foundation

Is it really happening?

Welp, we are almost down to single digits for my Africa trip. I remember blogging, what seems like forever ago, my desire to go to Africa one day. Who know that would be in 10 days!

I am honestly not all jumping up and down with excitement because I don;t think it has really sunk in yet. I have done a lot of preparing but it is a little surreal. and to be honest I am trying not to make this trip my whole life, well because if it was then coming back would be a little disappointing.

I know that I am not perpared mentally for what I might see but I am thankful I get to experience it with 14 other amazing people. Two of them being my daughter and my sister.

I am going to post a video to my blog for you tp check out where and what we will be doing. I thank you in advance for your prayers.

Summer... Gone??

I cannot believe the summer is almost gone!

To be honest, I have been completely lazy this summer. This is the first summer we have had "off" in a long time. So I spent a lot of time in my recliner. Mainly reading, I bought a new Bible and I LOVE it. Ed, on the other hand bought 3 in the last few months! I have really enjoyed re-reading the life of David. For someone that had SO many fleshly issues, he was still called a man after God's own heart. I can relate!!! Well not to the adultey, murder plotting part but I think it brings so much hope for us today as we struggle to live in this fallen world!

Yes, I am still alive...

Well, it has been almost 5 months since I last blogged.

Lazy, really...

and nothing to say that I thought anyone would want to read...

Alot has been going on since I last blogged so here goes

- Cole is a junior in high school now?!?!?! Let's not even go there

- We are moving Aimee back to OCU today for her sophomore year in college... again let's not go there

- Ed is preaching pretty regularly... and again let's not go there... no really I LOVE hearing him preach. I am just a tad terrified about being a preacher's wife for many reasons. Let's name a few;
1. I do not play the piano
2. I do not wear dresses
3. I do not sing in the choir
4. I am, most of the time, not very humble.
5. BUT I know that my God can do ANYTHING so I am leaving it in His hands

- I leave for Africa in less than 50 days!!! This really hit me this weekend that I will be in Africa in little over a month. I know that I am not prepared for the heartache we will see but I have such a heart for Africa. I am anxious.

For now, that is all.... I will blog more (I hope)

What is your obsession?

Obsession

Old Webster defines it as:

- noun
1.
the domination of one's thoughts or feelings by a persistent idea, image, desire, etc.
2.
the idea, image, desire, feeling, etc., itself.
3.
the state of being obsessed.
4.
the act of obsessing.


I have found that my "obsession" tends to change with the seasons of my life.

When I was 5 it was matchbox cars and GI Joes. I know you probably find that hard to believe right?!?! Lol

When I was 10 it was slumber parties, my friends and I had THE BEST slumber parties.

At 15 it was boys. Man, what was I thinking?

At 20 it was my tiny baby boy. A precious time in my life

At 25 it was making money to raise a family that I adored

At 30 it was the kids and their sports...

Then it was like a light was turned on. I started living toward the Magnificent Obsession. Striving to live my life in a way that's pleasing to my Savior Jesus Christ!

What is your Obsession?

Doing things "my" way


As I was reading my daily reading it was about Abram & Sarai. Now, as much as I hate to admit it, my girl Sarai is a lot like me. You see, God promised Abram a son & many descendants but ole Sarai just couldn't wait for God to fulfill that promise so she hatches this plan. Now, I'm not so sure I would have done THIS but ..... She takes her maidservant & decides that it would be a good idea to have her husband sleep with Hagar.

I'm thinking, what in the world made her think of that?? I mean come on, that was bound to cause all kinds of problems. Little did she know!! Now here's the part that cracks me up, when Hagar realized she was pregnant she started showing contempt toward Sarai (well duh) & what is Sarai's reaction?? She tells Abram it's all his fault. She says to him "I gave her the privilege of sleeping with you. The Lord will make you pay for what's been done to me". Really?? Isn't this just like how us women do?? We come up with this brilliant plan & when it fails who do we blame??? I'm my home, it's always Ed.


I could go on about all the problems this one decision caused but we would be here forever. Go check it out yourself in Genesis 16. The lesson for the day.... WAIT for God to do what He says He will do!