2011

I am determined to know Christ and the power of His resurrection. ~Phil. 3:10

Your love is everything

When I am dry and thirsty Lord,
And I'm crying out for more,
I know I can trust in your love.
In the darkness in the night
When I'm starving for the light
I know I can trust in Your love

You keep no records of my sin,
and you don't remember all my shame.

Your love heals every disease
Your love fulfills my every need
Your love is everything to me
Your love is everything

I will not forget
I wont forget your promises
I will not forget
I wont forget your love.

I will not forget
I wont forget nothing is impossible
I will not forget
I wont forget your love.

<3 

Days awayyy!

Oh my goodness! Two weeks till I leave for Zambia! :-) Pleaseeeee be praying for the team!

No confidence in the flesh

It has been a stressful week. This scripture is helping me get through it:


"...We rely on what Christ Jesus has done for us. We put no confidence in human effort..." Phillipians 3:3b

Power

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power. ~1 Corinthians 4:20

This scripture is written on a church's billboard in Livingstone, Zambia. Love it.

Where the Road Meets the Sun

Favor

For some days Nehemiah mourned and fasted and prayed before the God of heaven...

"O Lord, let your ear be attentive to the prayer of this your servant and to the prayer of your servants who delight in revering your name. Give your servant success today by granting him favor in the presence of this man." ~Nehemiah 1:11

This was my prayer as well, in seeking to get an extended period of time off from work in July to go to Zambia. I sent out an e-mail Tuesday to my administrators asking for a few minutes to discuss the schedule in July. I met with them that afternoon, and by way of miracle, I am happy to report that I got the time off! It will create somewhat of a burden for the others who will have to fill my shoes while I'm away, as we have been faced with a staffing shortage and furloughs for more than a year, however, we've been facing this type of situation for so long it should be manageable. Please remember them in your prayers, though, as they work hard to cover for me while I am away. I really feel bad creating any extra work for anyone at the paper during these frustrating times, and I realize I am extremely blessed to work with such amazing people. 


But yeah.....I will be living in Zambia for a full 21 daysssssss! Wooooo!! This was confirmation for me that Zambia is where God wants me at this time. It's pretty amazing actually, and I cannot wait! I am starting to realize how much I will be out of my comfort zone...it's like "God, what are you getting me into?!" :) But it's exciting! Now I just need the funds to get there! ...and I'm actually not worried about that at all.


When God calls you to something, He provides the means to make it happen.

Accepted to Zambia Mission!!!

Overland called me Thursday afternoon to tell me I have been accepted to go on an expedition to Zambia with them! I was so excited when I found out, I almost burst into tears at work! I could hardly focus for the rest of the night honestly. 

Also it was great confirmation for me because I was unsure when I should go (June, July or August). I knew Zambia, but I didn't feel particularly compelled to go any particular month (except that I wanted to go on them ALL). I assumed June or August because those are the 14-day expeditions, which fit best with my schedule/vacation time. Thursday morning I was thinking and praying about the timing, and I really felt like I should ask my bosses if I could get an extra week off and go to Zam for a full 21 days (the July expedition). This expedition is classified as "challenging" and is to the most remote parts of Western Zambia. That afternoon when I got the call from Overland, they recommended I go on the 21-day mission trip. Now I am to go to Zambia in July for a full 21 days, sometimes walking or rafting for hours in between fishing villages just to reach people who are largely forgotten by the rest of the world. What an awesome privilege to share the Gospel with them! I am so excited! 


On Tuesday I will be asking my bosses for the time off, which in the natural may seem like a challenge. I am assuming we will continue to have furlough days during that quarter so I will have the time, it's just a difficult month to take off, especially since my editor is taking the second week of July off and they need me there when she is away. 


BUT GOD knows. So I will pray. A lot. And believe God. I really am blessed to work for/with such wonderful people. I think they will understand. This would give me such an amazing taste of Africa to be there for an extended period of time.

Gcinekile Gudnite

I had been struggling with why she died.


I know God's plans are greater, but it hurt. My faith in the miraculous dimmed. I didn't want it to, but I had a lot of questions for God, a lot of thoughts that somehow I failed Him. 


Then today, as I was working on a support letter for my upcoming mission trip to Zambia, God began to speak this scripture to me: 


But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy,made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. (Ephesians 2:4-6)


I am not sure I understand the depth of what God is speaking to me through this situation and through the revelation of His word here, but so far I see this:


We don't always see it in the natural, but God is rich in mercy. He is a God of love, and everything He does is done out of love because it is His character. So I trust Him, and I thank Him for having mercy on little Gcinekile.

Step.step_out.

Filled out my application for Zambia and mailed it yesterday! Stepping out in faith.

Where I want to be

"Overland Missions' Africa Ministry"
This video continues to touch my heart each time I watch it. I want to be right there telling others about Christ. I want to be a person who will "Go," and I am really looking forward to a trip to Zambia in the coming months with this organization. <3

Zambia --> June 2010

Things have changed some, and I am as excited as ever. I believe God is calling me here, to Zambia, with Overland Missions in June. I need a miracle in financing this trip, but I trust God to provide. This is a mission into the bush, pioneering churches (preaching the Gospel, praying for the sick and casting out demons) in unreached villages along the Zambezi. It will be a faith-builder. It will also be tough, but I have peace about it, and I cannot wait. 


1 Thess. 5:24
He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.

What I've learned from Haiti

I've been glued to the news coverage of Haiti. As I was thinking about Plattsburgh State and a Jesus follower's role on campus this morning, God showed me this: 

We've gotta be in tune with the Holy Spirit and save as many as we can. Thousands of students and faculty are just as lost as the people in Haiti trapped in the rubble of their city. We've got to reach out and free as many as we can, and like them, we don't have a lot of time -- we can't depend on more time. If we really believe all that the Bible says, we've got to see this as an emergency. We need wisdom, and we need to mobilize. We've got to catch God's vision for all people everywhere and live it out in love.

...I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw...
~Proverbs 24:32

Rescue those being led away to death;
hold back those staggering toward slaughter.
~Proverbs 24:11

**Ooo, and I just found this scripture! Amen!! Make sure you check out verse 12!! :)))**

“No, this is the kind of fasting I want:
Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;
lighten the burden of those who work for you.
Let the oppressed go free,
and remove the chains that bind people.
7 Share your food with the hungry,
and give shelter to the homeless.
Give clothes to those who need them,
and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

8 “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,
and your wounds will quickly heal.
Your godliness will lead you forward,
and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.
9 Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
10 Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
11 The Lord will guide you continually,
giving you water when you are dry
and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like an ever-flowing spring.
12 Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.
Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls
and a restorer of homes.
~Isaiah 58:6-12

I'm excited for what God has in store for this generation!