Quarters of Hope...

It's that time again, we're going back to Russia. Rewind: We went over spring break to two new orphanages, and had an absolutely wonderful experience and I just realized that I never got to update about that trip! I will post soon, because God did some AMAZING things there and I am excited for where He is leading us.

Ok, so back to present time -- we're going back to the orphanage that we started sponsoring in 2007, and we cannot wait to see all of our sweet kids! We've heard that there has been a lot of turn over there in the past year or so and that means there will be a LOT of new faces that we haven't gotten to meet. We were able to 'drop in' over spring break and say hello to some of the children we've grown to love, and I can't wait to see them all again in June.

One of the main things that the Lord always teaches me during this time is trust. Honestly, most of it deals with finances, and getting the funds to be able to go do to this ministry. It is always such a character builder -- and each trip, the Lord really teaches me more and more about honestly trusting in Him.

This year I did a '$10 for Hope' challenge on Facebook. I created an event and my goal was to see if I could get 250 people to commit $10 for Russia Missions (Each team member was asked to raise about 2,500 for trip costs and costs and ministry expenses). Though I did not make it to 250, many many people gave and the Lord has provided the amount of money I need to make this trip. He is GOOD!

In the meantime, I have encountered a few great stories, and I wanted to share some of them with you because they really encouraged me.... they are from completely different ends of the spectrum, but both impacted me in a huge way.

#1) One night I was at our college bible study, and we were about to get started when a young friend came up to me and said that she had received my '$10 for Hope' invite on Facebook. She said that she had a lot of friends going on mission trips this summer and that the Lord had really laid it on her heart to give to the ministry that was going on... she asked me how much more money I needed (which at the time was about $1,500). She then told me that she had gotten some grants for her school this semester, and she still had a good amount left that she felt called to just 'give'.... she went out to her car and handed me a check for $400. I couldn't believe it. I think I was in shock at the moment... and even now, I think of how sacrificial it is for a college student to give $400. I still am amazed at the sacrificial heart of this sweet girl, and how she chose to give that money instead of use it for the million other things that could have come up... Man, I pray for a sacrificial heart like that.

#2) During the whole '$10 for Hope' thing, I would get things in the mail pretty often, because that is how most people would send their donation. A few days after I got the check mentioned above, I checked the mail and received a envelope from a childhood friend. She is married, and also has a little boy who is very young. I have kept up with this friend only through Facebook, and I have been excited to see that she is growing in her walk with the Lord, but we hadn't talked that often. I opened the envelope and there was 9 one dollar bills, and 4 quarters taped to a piece of notebook paper. Quarters of hope. On the notebook paper it said, "Sorry about the change, money is really tight right now. Hope this helps." At that moment, tears ran down my face. I couldn't believe the sacrificial heart of this friend. That $10 was a huge sacrifice, and I could feel the weight of what that meant to her and her family. Again, I pray for a sacrificial heart like that.

So, in both cases, I saw a great example of sacrificial love. Each sweet friend sacrificing in a different way, but bringing glory to God in an amazing way and reminding me what this whole thing is about.... showing Christ to others. They both did that for me, and I am grateful.

Our team will leave for Russia on June 13th, and I cannot wait! We need about $4,600 total for each person to reach their fundraising goal -- and I know God will provide!

All I have to do is remember those quarters, and how those and so many other $10 donations added up to get me to the fundraising total I needed. 

*countless*

I am recently finding that when the Lord is teaching you something, He gives you many opportunities to put into practice that character skill that he is teaching. He has designed it lately in my life like this... I am struggling with something right now, and this week alone, I have had countless opportunities -- *and when I say 'opportunities' what I really mean to say is super tough/hard situations that make me realize all I can do is trust in my Savior* -- anyway- countless.... I mean countless opportunities to look to the cross instead of worrying or being discouraged....


I must confess -- I am still working on this... but I'm thankful that the Lord gives many chances because if He only gave me one opportunity to show growth in a specific area, I would, in all honesty, screw it up. When He gives multiple opportunities, I hope with each situation that I can grow closer and closer to having a complete Christlike reaction -- again, I am still working on this... but I am beginning to see a pattern in some recent happenings and some things that the Lord is obviously calling me to 'work on'... Have you noticed any 'patterns' in your struggles? Do you think that these are something that the Lord is trying to teach you? Here is the kicker.... are you being a good student? (Again, I must admit -- I haven't been... I don't listen very well... but I am now trying to have my eyes & ears on my teacher alone...) 


I know that the Lord is at work... Russia in 2 weeks... and I know that He has something big (mostly b/c I've seen the enemy up to no good more recently than in a looooong time...) I just want to trust.... I want to trust completely

trust the Artist...

Have you ever watched an artist paint on a canvas?

I mean a true artist... not one like me who splatters colors about every now and again. I'm the kind of person who says after painting... "ehh..... good enough." Oh no, no... these guys have a wonderful picture in mind before they even begin. Art is not my gift, so it intrigues me to watch artists in their element. They pick up their brush, and most often start painting... nothing to trace... oh no... not great artists... no guidelines or "paint by numbers" for these guys.... they just paint...

So free. So beautiful. Such creativity pouring out of their soul.

It's a beautiful thing to watch.

Lately, it seems my life has been a blank canvas... Me, being no artist, I want to have everything sketched out before the painting even begins. I want to know which colors go where, which way is up, what is my setting? My audience? Most of all, what will my final product... my final painting look like?

God has so reminded me lately that HE is the ultimate artist... check out this verse...

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. - Psalm 19:1

And take a look at a little of His workmanship... these are just a few pictures I've taken recently... (I'm kind of obsessed with sunsets!!!)

I can just imagine God with a blank canvas setting these beautiful sunsets into motion... some deep blue, a splash of orange, and a few rays of light peeking through the clouds to remind us of how great the Creator of the Universe is...

Man, if our God paints the skies with such purpose, how much more does He paint the canvas of our lives?

When we look at our life, or a certain circumstance... we may see a "blank canvas"... we may see colors scattered about here and there, and we definitely don't see what the final picture will look like, but that's because WE aren't the artist. I forget this so many times... God looks at the canvas of our life, and even of our circumstances, ands sees a beautiful picture... He has the final masterpiece in mind, He knows how it's supposed to turn out... He knows which strokes to paint, and when. He doesn't erase, and He doesn't look upon these canvases as "ordinary". And, just when it seems like the painting may turn into a jumbled mess, He finishes the picture, and it is simply breathtaking. He paints each one uniquely, and with a specific purpose... and He beckons us to trust His artistry. He beckons us to trust that He is a much greater artist, and that the masterpieces He can paint only pale in comparison to the ones that we may be able to sketch out for ourselves.

So I encourage you, next time you look at a sunset, remember that God is the ultimate artist, and that He wants to paint something beautiful for your life... yes, it may look completely different than anything you ever tried painting for yourself... And while you're waiting for the completed painting, it may seem like it's not going to fit together... when you finally see the 'big picture' of whatever circumstance you're in, it will be way more beautiful and breathtaking than we could imagine...

Sit back, watch God make each brushstroke, and know that He is creating a beautiful masterpiece in you...

I want to believe before I see...

Trust.

God in so many ways beckons me to trust Him.

It's amazing, this summer will be my 5th trip to Russia. Last year I was able to travel there 3 different times! As I was fundraising for each trip, God provided in abundance!!

However; each time, after a certain point, it's almost like I seem to 'forget' what God has done in the past. I begin to get anxious, and begin to believe the lie that says, 'He will not come through'...

I KNOW God is the great provider. I KNOW my God is true to His word. I KNOW my God is beckoning me to trust Him.

It's amazing... Last week Tuesday was an amazing day. As the day began, I was feeling 'anxious' about finances for our trip, and I was not going back to the promises of God, and relying on Him... BUT our God is good, and He is faithful, even when I am not. So, Tuesday, while at the church, we received a check that was a donation for our trip. Amazing. Praise the Lord. Then, at TRUTH we had a bake sale.... which went well! Also, we sold our fundraiser T-Shirts at TRUTH and sold 44 out of 50 the FIRST NIGHT! Amazing! God is good! Then, I get home at about 11 pm... all the while having an amazing day and seeing God be so faithful. Finally, I check the mail! We received another check in the mail as a donation for our trip! AMAZING! So I am running around the house at almost midnight just in awe of God and his goodness! THEN after all of this amazingness, I get online to check out flight prices, and they had gone from $1,023 each to $693 per person! This saves our team about $3,000!! PRAISE THE LORD!

All this to say, GOD PROVIDES! I know this. I have seen Him provide. Every. Time!

But, my point is this... why do I wait to SEE Him provide? Why can't I just KNOW that He will. Each time, I find myself falling into the lie of doubting how GOOD my God is. I don't say it outright, but I say it with my actions. I begin to be anxious, and I don't trust Him.

The time I had with the Lord on Tuesday and Wednesday after seeing God provide for our team in amazing ways was SO sweet... but I began to think. I want that sweet intimacy ALL THE TIME. I want to KNOW that my God provides. He is beckoning us to trust Him...

If we have to SEE God move, how much different are we from those in the new testament who asked for Jesus to show them more signs and miracles before they would believe who he was. Yes, miracles happen, and God is good! He provides, but we shouldn't wait to see it to believe it. I want to just KNOW! I want to believe His word SO MUCH that I don't have to wait to see the end result to praise Him.

I want to praise Him even before I see what He does or where He leads!

I don't want to be a someone who is always waiting for something from God, and who only believes He is who He says He is after I see it... I want to be someone who is praising my Savior just for WHO HE IS! Because He is just that... my SAVIOR!

So I'll ask you... what are you waiting for? Financial provision? A Job? A child? A Spouse? Something else? We are all waiting for something... but don't let the time of waiting pass you by... let it be a sweet time of intimacy with your savior. We know God is good, faithful, and will provide (maybe not in our timing, or exactly what we wanted, but what HE wants)... so why wait to praise Him, and why doubt He will come through? Bank on the fact that He is in control and TRUST.