More Like Falling in Love

What comes to mind when you hear the word "missions?"  Maybe you get a picture of a bunch of white people traipsing into a foreign land pounding down people's doors and force feeding them religion.  Any takers on that one?  Maybe you think of people who go overseas to "fix" another country; those who want to provide clean water, schools, and medical care.  Is this really what missions is about?  While I don't think I have all the answers about how to do ministry overseas, spending time in southeast Asia has opened my eyes to new perspectives.

In recent months as I've talked to people about how Patrick and I want to go into missions I've gotten a lot of blank stares.  What does that really mean?  What does it look like to bring the gospel to people who have never heard it?  Why would we even want to do that in a country that is predominantly Muslim?  These are all good questions, and I hope that over time friends and family will start to catch the vision for the work we want to do and the ways we feel like Jesus is calling us to serve him.

I'll admit, I used to think missionaries were people who wanted to go crashing through the jungles of foreign countries to re-create their churches from back home.  In fact, there are mission workers who fit that stereotype of wanting to build brick and mortar buildings with steeples, sing hymns, and wear white robes in the services,  but I'm not convinced that's what Jesus meant when he gave the great commission.  He didn't say "go build church buildings and sing hymns."  He said, "Go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you."  (Matthew 28:19-20)

When we move into the mission field we have no intention of bringing organized religion with us.  All we want to do is introduce people to Jesus and share with them what he's done in our lives and what he can do in their lives too.  We're not concerned about creating a church that looks like the ones we attend in the U.S.  We're about bringing glory to God among people groups who don't know him yet.  If the people we get to know and talk to aren't interested in Jesus, we have no intention of beating them over the head with the gospel.  Everyone has a choice to make about who God is, and our only job in the process is to present Christ as clearly as possible.  After that, it's up to them.

The thing is, Jesus wasn't all that interested in religion either.  In fact, in scripture we usually see him berating the religious leaders of the day because they lacked genuine faith.  I think what Jesus is interested in is having a relationship with his followers.  People can sit in church pews seven days a week and sing hymns without really knowing Jesus.  On the other hand, people might have never heard "Rock of Ages" but still be passionate about Christ.

There's a great Jason Grey song titled "More Like Falling in Love," I think it really sums up this idea.

He sings that our relationship with Jesus should be:

More like falling in love

Than something to believe in

More like losing my heart

Than giving my allegiance

When we share Jesus on the mission field or at home we're not interested in placing new burdens on people's shoulders.  We want to introduce them to the one person who can remove those burdens and bring them joy and hope.  We're not about making people Christians.  We're about teaching them how to be followers of Jesus.  We're totally in love with Jesus and simply want to share that love with others!

Knowing Nothing

Do you ever read or watch something that completely turns what you think you know on its head?  A couple weeks ago we started watching a video series by Carl Medaeris called "Engage," and it's all about how to engage culture as you share your faith in Jesus.  The paradigm Carl shared had our heads spinning, and gave us more than just a little to think about.  I love that kind of stuff!  I love being challenged in the way I think so I can not only learn more about myself, but also about other people.

In the sessions we watched, Carl discussed how stressed out people get about trying to "evangelize" people from other religions, because they don't know anything about those religions.  I know the feeling.  It can be incredibly intimidating talking to someone from another faith background when you think you need to have all the right answers.  But wait, isn't that making it all about us when we come at it from that angle?  Isn't it supposed to be about Jesus?  Whoever said I have to have all the answers?  The point Carl was making is that we shouldn't try to argue people into the kingdom of God.  When we think we need all the right answers, our pride gets in the way of doing anything even remotely productive.  We have to start with what we know, and that's Jesus.  

I absolutely love what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, "When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.  For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.  I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.  My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit's power, so that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom, but on God's power."  Amen!  I know how downright terrifying it can be to share my faith with someone who doesn't agree with me at all.  I tend to put all sorts of undue pressure on myself, when really all I'm doing is taking back a burden that Jesus never meant for me to carry in the first place.  Funny how we all tend to do that sometimes...  

Engaging people and sharing the gospel isn't about winning an argument, it's about simply sharing what you know about Jesus through the way he's working in your life.  Wow, that's not so hard after all!  I might not know every detail about every doctrine, but I certainly know my own story pretty well.  I can tell you the things that Jesus is doing in my life on a daily basis, and I bet you can too.  That's where the power lies.  You can talk about doctrine till you're blue in the face, but if your life isn't a visible demonstration of what Jesus can do, who's going to listen?

One other thing that Carl said is, "Jesus is the missionary, we are just pointers to him."  How true.  It is the Holy Spirit who draws people to himself.  John 6:44 says, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up on the last day.  It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God.'  Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me."  Doesn't this take the pressure off?  We are not ultimately responsible for someone's decision to follow Christ.  If we have shared our faith and lived our life in such a way that represents Jesus well, we have done what we are called to do.  We can leave the rest up to God!

It is clear to me that I still have so much to learn about Jesus.  As soon as I start to think I know much, he reveals himself in a new way that leaves my head spinning.  He also leaves me humbled, and for that I am thankful.  So rather than debating and arguing about different faiths, we can approach others with a humbled heart and an earnest desire to seek Jesus wherever he may be found.  We're sure to be much more effective in sharing the gospel when we do so with an open heart!

So Long South Carolina

It's hard to believe a whole year has passed since we moved to South Carolina, and already it's time to move on.  In a short time we've made some lifelong friends whom we will miss dearly when we leave.  The past year has been packed with wonderful memories, and I'm so thankful for all of God's provisions.

We've been blessed with incredibly godly friends, good jobs, a great church, and awesome neighbors.  There were often times when we weren't sure how God planned to use us while we were in South Carolina, and in a lot of ways I feel like the last year was just a wonderful time for us to draw closer to Him.  It's been an incredible year of spiritual growth for both of us, and we are now looking forward to the future and how we can continue living out our faith as we move to Kentucky.

Tomorrow is moving day, and I'm hoping it will go smoothly and quickly so we can get on the road back to Louisville.  Here's to beginning yet another new chapter in our lives!

Saying Goodbye to the Best Part of Beaufort

Tonight was a rough night, because we had to say our final goodbyes to some of our very best friends in the world, Shane and Melia.  God brought them into our lives last fall shortly after we started attending Seaside Vineyard Fellowship, and we were instantly friends.  It was one of those situations where we just knew that these people were going to change our lives.

Over the past year we've had so many adventures with Shane and Melia and have had an absolute blast.  We've traveled all over South Carolina checking out cool beaches, hiking, bike riding across Hilton Head, and oh so much more.  We've spent hours just hanging out playing Wii Mario and laughing at old episodes of "The Office."  No matter what we're doing together, it's always fun and there's always a ton of laughter, often to the point of tears (those are the best moments in my opinion.)

Top Ten Favorite Shane and Melia Moments in No Particular Order

1.  Going to Columbia for my first UK basketball game.  Shane's family sends them loads of UK gear so they were able to outfit our whole group with wildcat shirts!

2.  Chowing down on an e-n-o-r-m-o-u-s pizza in Savannah.  Seriously, the picture doesn't even do it justice.

3.  Having game night with our small group and playing Mario on the Wii.  When Patrick stopped working they lent us their Wii so we spent two weeks straight playing Mario.  (Video games aren't good for people with addictive personalities!)

4.  Cutting Shane's hair on our front porch.

5.  Sitting on the bench where Forrest Gump was filmed in Savannah.

6.  Checking out the Sheldon Church Ruins and other beautiful parts of South Carolina.

7.  Canoeing!

8.  Standing in K-Mart doing one of those recordable storybooks for a friend who was deploying.

9.  Taking contemplative pictures.

10.  Eating Brusters ice cream (sadly I don't have a picture of any of these many occasions, but they were certainly memorable.)

Obviously we spent plenty of time goofing off, but we also spent hours together studying God's Word and encouraging each other in our faith.  I have been so inspired by the way they live out their faith and are constantly looking for ways to serve the Lord.  It's not often you meet people who are so genuine in their love for others and their willingness to sacrifice for them.    

I'm so thankful for their friendship and all the ways we were able to share our lives with them.  While we have to say goodbye for now, I know it's not forever.   There are plenty more adventures to be had, and I'm excited to see how God brings us all together again!

Adventures in a Postcard

We spent a lot of time exploring the beauty of southeast Asia, and we were all under the general impression that we were standing in a postcard most of the time.  Pictures could never do justice to the beauty of God's creation!  We hiked mountains, swam in waterfalls, drove through jungles, and played in the ocean.  This trip certainly was a busy one, and we were able to experience so much!  I'll let some of the pictures speak for themselves.

We visited the Bird Park in Bali and saw tons of cool species!

The boys got a surfing lesson

We hung out at the Monkey Forest where monkeys climbed all over us!

The market or "pasar"

Some quality time with my niece Esther!

We made friends with the family that lives in this house and sat on their porch eating coconuts one afternoon.

Enjoying a rare perspective of the land

Sarah and I were invited to a 5 year old's birthday party...there were at least 100 kids there!

Some much needed time with my dear friend :)

Building Bridges in Southeast Asia

We had an incredible time overseas just getting to know people and hearing their stories.  We learned so much about how to engage people and begin building relationships with them, and we had so much fun doing just that!

We stayed in host homes in a small village, and in the afternoons we spent time walking through the town chatting with anyone who spoke English.  Of course, we knew a few pleasantries in the local language, but not much past that.  I was surprised at the incredible hospitality of everyone there.  We were invited into several homes for tea or coffee and were able to spend quite a bit of time learning about what life is like in that village.

Along the way we met many people who were interested in teaching us new words or sharing new foods with us.  I also got to hold lots of babies!  Children on their way to or from school were eager to be in pictures and to shout out the few English words they knew.  We got a lot of "Hey Mister!" even when they were talking to Sarah or me.  I guess they haven't learned the word Mrs. yet.  We made friends with one woman and her children, and we visited her several times during our stay in the village.  She spoke excellent English so it was fun to be able to ask a lot of questions and learn all about her life there.  I even got her address so we can stay in touch.

I'm learning that everything about ministry is relational.  Jesus was all about building relationships with his followers and allowing them to know him on a personal level.  Shouldn't we be doing the same thing?  How can we expect to share the gospel with people we've never taken the time to get to know?  I've come to realize that doing missions is an incredibly slow process, especially in Muslim communities.  On this trip we took a few baby steps in sharing Christ and that was to being building bridges with people in the village.  The mission workers who are there full time will continue getting to know these new friends and over time will share the gospel.  We were but one small step in a long process.



Actually this was incredibly humbling.  On mission trips you typically want to go, share the gospel and be able to see people coming to faith in Christ right then and there.  How eye opening it was to learn that's not how things work here.  In fact, the missionaries we spent time with have been there for nearly a decade and have yet to see one person come to faith in Christ.  They might not see a lot of fruit from their labor, but they know that God is faithful, and they are incredibly blessed in their ministry.  We were blessed as well to be a part of their greater work within this country!

Expecting Bigger Things

Usually when I read through the stories of Jesus' life I am amazed at how dense the disciples were.  I tend to think that they had a serious advantage over us today because they actually stood in Jesus' presence and saw first hand the miracles he performed.  How then were they still so clueless about who he was?  I'm humbled to realize that I do the same thing even today.  How often do I witness for myself the enormity of Jesus and still don't fully comprehend who he is?

This morning I'm reading in Matthew of the time Jesus calmed the storm.  The story is found in Matthew 8:23-27.

"Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him.  Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat.  But Jesus was sleeping.  The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord save us!  We're going to drown!'  
He replied, 'You of little faith, why are you so afraid?'  Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  
The men were amazed and asked, 'What kind of man is this?  Even the winds and the waves obey him!'"


One thing I love about this passage is that when the disciples thought they were perishing, they turned to the one person who really could save them.  At least they got that part right!  Surely they must have known that Jesus wasn't just a regular guy.  There was something different about him, and even though they didn't quite understand what it was, they knew that they could trust him with their very lives.  

Clearly the disciples were terrified during this storm, but when they woke Jesus asking him to save them, I wonder what it was they expected him to do.  They were surprised when he actually did calm the storm, so what was it they had anticipated from Jesus?  They had witnessed plenty of miraculous healings and exorcisms, so why was this scenario different?  I think perhaps it was because everything they had seen dealt only with the people whom Jesus was healing, not forces of nature.  So when Jesus rebukes the wind and waves the disciples got a glimpse of how big God really is.  They asked Jesus to save them from the storm, but I doubt they expected Jesus to get rid of the storm altogether!

Does God ever do this in your life?  You ask him for something seemingly small and he shows you something much greater?  What kinds of things do you ask of God?  How does he show up in your life?  Are you ever surprised at how God works?   I realize that whenever I ask God for something, He's always bigger than how I usually expect him to show himself.  If we all understood the enormity of God, would we ever be surprised at the way he works in our lives?  I doubt it!  Maybe one thing we can learn from this passage is that we can expect big things from God, because he is always faithful to show up in big ways (even if it's in ways we don't anticipate.)

Called to be Witnesses

The primary purpose of our trip to southeast Asia was to learn.  Learn about the culture, learn more of the language, and learn what it looks like to do ministry among a majority Muslim population.  I absorbed so much in the last two weeks, and I feel like I've just barely scratched the surface.  Our ultimate prayer throughout the trip was that God would open our eyes to show us what he is doing in this beautiful country.

I've had this mindset that until missionaries go to a place, God isn't there yet.  How ridiculous!  Before we even left I felt like God was already showing me that He is in fact doing great things there even before anyone shows up with the Gospel.  I needed to be reminded that God doesn't need us to accomplish his global purposes, but he allows us to be used.  We learn from John 6:44, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."  Clearly God is already at work in people's hearts, drawing them to himself long before they even hear the Word.


We spent a lot of time with current mission workers who helped show us how to see the fruit of their labor.  In countries like Indo where, until relatively recently, there have been few missionaries, it would appear that very little is accomplished there.  You just don't have people becoming believers everyday.  We were introduced to the concept of 0 to 1 vs. 1 to 1000.  The idea is that in many countries with a long history of missionaries who have paved the way for new generations, loads of people are responding positively to the gospel.  You might have hundreds or even thousands come to faith in Christ at once.  On the other hand, in south east Asia where there are many roadblocks in missions, that foundation is still being laid.  Relationships are built over time and Jesus is introduced to a few people at a time.

This was a stark reminder that missions is a slow process.  When you read missionary biographies you learn of people who spent years, decades even, in remote areas with no fruit at all for their labor.  It's not until years later that the seeds they sowed yield a harvest.  In many ways the workers in Indo are still waiting for the great harvest, but we know that someday it will come.

During one of our team devotions one of our new friends said something that stuck out to me.  He talked about how we are called to be witnesses, and how we usually take that to mean we speak out for Christ.  If you think about the word witness, though, you realize that it means to observe or see something happening.  So when Jesus calls us to witness, we are called to see what He's up to and be a part of it!  How cool is that?  So part of our calling during this trip was to find out where Jesus was and how he was already working in the lives of the nationals.  What we found was pretty incredible...

Experiencing Southeast Asia

A typical house on stilts

It would be impossible to write about everything we saw and experienced overseas in just one post, so I'll be writing several entries to try to give you a glimpse into our recent trip.

To begin I just have to say how awesome it was to finally set foot on this country's soil after planning and praying about this trip for so long.  It's been over a year since we felt called to missions, and this trip was something of a first step toward that long term goal.  For those of you who were praying, THANK YOU!  Everything went smoothly throughout the two weeks we were there, and I know it was only because our team was covered in prayer the whole time.  What an incredible blessing it was to know that we had so many dear friends interceding for us!

Hanging out on the front porch

Before getting into the more profound aspects of the trip, I thought it would be fun to fill you in on some of the interesting cultural things that we experienced.  This place is unlike any other country we have visited.  Of course it shares similarities with nearby southeast Asian countries, but much of the culture is unique to this country.

It can be difficult to prepare yourself to travel to a place like this since absolutely everything is so different from the way Americans live.  The best preparation was to simply pray that God would give me grace and give me patience and understanding of the new culture.  One of the hardest parts of the trip was simply being uncomfortable most of the time.  I'm so spoiled at home with comfy furniture, and there most people don't have much, if any furniture in their homes.  Rather than lounging couches with fluffy pillows, we would sit on the tiled floors of people's homes or porches.  That certainly takes some getting used to, especially since you have to constantly be aware of your feet!  It is rude to have the bottom of your feet facing toward anyone, so you typically have to sit with your feet underneath you or to the side.

Bathroom: laundry, bucket shower, and toilet

Another adjustment was the whole bathroom situation.  I'm thankful that, at least for now, I live in a country that has toilets and showers!  Toilets in Indo generally consist of a hole in the floor (referred to as a squatty potty) and a bucket of water you can use to flush with.  It's a good idea to carry toilet paper with you, because it practically doesn't exist there.  There is often a hose next to the squatty potty that people use to rinse off with.  And then there's the shower.  Rarely will you find an actual shower; generally you will have a tub filled with cold water and a smaller bucket that you use to dump the water over yourself.  The cool water can be refreshing after being in the heat all day and you certainly use less water, but I'm still grateful to be able to take normal showers now that we're home!

Sheep wandering the village streets

The places where we stayed were in fairly rural areas so there was plenty of livestock to be seen everywhere.  A misconception I've always had was that roosters crowed once a day, in the morning, when you actually want to get up.  Where I got that idea I have no clue, but I couldn't have been more wrong.  Apparently roosters "go off" quite early and tend to sound like they are moments away from death by strangulation.  Not the most pleasant way to wake up if I'm perfectly honest.  But they don't stop after one or two crows.  They go on all day and are quite loud! 

Our bedroom in one of the host homes

Possibly the biggest challenge for me was the language barrier.  While there is a national language spoken by the majority of people, but most also speak a language specific to their people group or geographical area.  I've learned how to say a few things in the language, but not nearly enough to have an in-depth conversation with people who spoke no English at all.  This brought on a lot of frustration since I wanted so badly to be able to communicate!  We definitely have a lot to learn...

Delicious food!

One thing I loved about this country was the food!  They eat a lot of fried rice (or nasi goreng) and fried chicken.  One of our favorite desserts was tehran bulan which is somewhat like a very thick crepe with chocolate, peanuts, and sweetened condensed milk.  Needless to say, we didn't lose any weight on this trip!

There are a million other little details I could write about, but hopefully this gives you an idea of what it was like in southeast Asia!  It truly is an incredible place, and I can't wait to go back!

Enough Already!

The other day Patrick and I were watching "No Reservations" on Netflix, the episode where Anthony Bourdain goes to Sweden.  In one segment of the show he was talking to a couple of Swedes asking what is typically Swedish.  Their reply was the word lagom.  Although there is no direct translation in English, the closest equivalent words in our language would be "enough" or "sufficient."  The Swedes in the show were explaining how Americans are all about being number one and always pushing the idea of always wanting more.  Lagom alludes to a sense of being content with "just enough."

Today I was thinking about what the world would be like if more people adopted the notion of lagom.  Not necessarily in the sense that they don't care to be good at what they do, but in the sense that they are satisfied with what they have; that they are content with just enough.  Part of the reason lagom seems to foreign to us is because it is contrary to the American Dream, and idea that endorses constantly striving for more.  We're brought up believing that more is better, and this makes it rather hard to be satisfied with what we do have.  In the constant struggle for more we rarely take on a grateful attitude.  Not only that, but we often miss out on the one thing that really is enough for us.

Paul writes to the Philippians in 4:11-13 saying, "I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.  I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty.  I have learned the secret of being content in any situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.  I can do everything through him who gives me strength."  Here Paul makes it clear that it is possible to be content even when we are lacking in material wealth.  What bring true contentment is knowing Christ.

Please understand that I think it it wonderful to enjoy God's blessings, whether material or otherwise.  God has blessed us richly in many ways, and we are grateful for those blessings!  But let us remember that even if all the material things of the world were stripped away, Christ alone is still sufficient for us.  When we have Christ in our lives we truly have all we could ever need.  He is enough!  As someone who tries hard to follow Christ I want my life to be a continual demonstration of this fact.  I do not need more stuff to fill any void in my life, because I have the ever-present, completely satisfying love of Jesus!

Destination: Southeast Asia

You all know by now that Patrick and I plan to move to southeast Asia within the next 3 years or so to do full time missions among Muslims.  As part of our preparation for this we'll be taking several short term trips to the country to be involved in ministry and to meet other missionaries.

Our first such trip is coming up soon.  We'll be in southeast for two weeks, and our purpose is twofold:  

1. Meet up with another missionary, who has been in country for several years, and learn how he does ministry and if he is someone we'd like to partner with down the road
2. Stay among Muslim villagers and share our love for Christ with them

I know that we still have much to learn about full time ministry among another people group, and that's why I'm looking forward to this trip.  Our team (three friends still in Okinawa, and us) has been preparing for many months now, praying together, studying God's Word together, and planning for what kind of ministry we will have someday.  We've spent a long time preparing for this short term trip, and it's exciting to see it all come together!  We know that above all this will be a learning experience for all of us, and we excited to see what God has to show us.

Patrick and I have been so blessed by the financial and prayer support of friends and family, and we are so grateful for everyone who has caught the vision of what God has called us to do!  We really want this trip to have a foundation in prayer, and there are several things you can pray for:

• Pray that God would give everyone on our team a humble, teachable heart
• Pray for the people we will encounter with whom we will share the gospel
• Pray that God would give us a love for the people in this country
• Pray that we would constantly be reminded that our work is not about us but about the love of Christ and how the Holy Spirit is working through us.

Recently I was telling someone about our call to missions, and she said she too would love to be a missionary but had no idea where to start.  That's the beauty of what we're doing, at first we had no idea either!  This whole process has been Spirit led, and I think that's what will make it a successful ministry.  It's easy to think that people who go into missions always have everything figured out, but the more I learn, the more I realize that's not true.  Missionaries are normal people like me and you who are willing to be obedient to God's call in their lives.  They aren't spiritual superheroes, they are just people who love Jesus and want to make his name great among the nations.  All we have to do is be willing to let God use us, and the Lord will guide our steps through the process.  After all, after giving the Great Commission Jesus said, "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:20).  Amen!

It's doubtful that we'll have internet access while we're overseas, but I'm looking forward to posting more updates about our trip when we return so stay tuned!

A Change You Can't Help but Notice

Lately I've been reading through the book of Acts, and I love reading about the ministries of the apostles, and the incredible ways that God used them through the working of the Holy Spirit.  The church was so alive, and I wish I could have been there to see it all firsthand.  There are many accounts of people who were healed and instantly began praising God, because they recognized that it was by his grace alone that they were made well.

The other day I read the story of a man who was crippled from birth.  He had to be carried every day to the temple gates so he could beg for money.  One day as Peter and John were going up to the temple they stopped at the man and looked directly at him.  I believe that they were able to see not just his physical needs but his spiritual needs as well.  (Some people just have a way of doing that don't they?)  The man expected a hand out, but what Peter gave him was much greater.  Verse 8 says, "Then Peter said, 'Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you.  In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk." Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man's feet and ankles became strong.  He jumped to his feet and began to walk.  Then he went with them into that temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."  Here's the part I really love.  Acts 3:9-10 says, "When all the people saw him walking and praising God, they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him."  


Isn't this a picture of what our lives should look like?  Before we encounter Christ we are like the crippled man on the street; desperate for hope.  But then Jesus comes in and brings glory into our lives and we can walk again!  We can run and jump and dance and praise God!  Jesus changes people.  That's just how He works.  Jesus is all about coming in to people's lives and turning them upside down (for the better.)  And don't you know that people notice that kind of transformation?  There's something contagious about the joy that Christ bestows on those who put their trust in Him.

I want my life to look different because I love Jesus.  Honestly, there are plenty of times when I don't think I reflect the light of Christ the way I should.  I let the worries of the day cloud over my joy in the Lord, or I find other ways of putting my lamp under a basket.  I'm constantly praying that God would show himself to me in new ways every day, and that I would experience him afresh every morning.  And let me tell you, when I do, it's incredible!  I might not be healed physically like the man in Acts was, but the change in my heart can be just as drastic.

I really believe that our purpose on this earth is to glorify God.  We all have different ways of doing that, of course, but our purpose is the same nonetheless.  When we give our lives to Christ, we should look different...changed.  And through our transformation we can bring other people into the fold of God.  How incredible is it that God uses us to bring others into the family of believers?

Just a Minute to Change a Life

Today I finished reading Wess Stafford's new book "Just a Minute."  Stafford is the president of Compassion International, and his passion for kids, especially those in poverty around the world, really resonates in these pages.  The main idea of the book is that it can take just a minute to change the life of a child, for better or worse.  We often take for granted our impact on the kids around us, whether we're tuned into their needs or not.  This book is a compilation of stories from Wess and others who were greatly impacted by adults during their childhoods.  Some of the stories are of kids who were encouraged and uplifted and were able to reach great heights because of a caring adult who believed in them.  Other stories tell the tragic tale of the devastating words of a parent or teacher who tore down the self confidence of a young child and left them scarred for years afterwards.

Very often children are looked down upon in society or thought of as "the least of these."  They might come from homes were affirmation of them is lacking.  They may be growing up in an environment that is telling them they don't matter.  It might take just one person to turn that around by taking the time to tell them they are important, to smile at them or offer a word of encouragement.  How hard is that really?

As someone who works with and loves kids I think the message of this book is one we all need to hear and be reminded of often.  The children we see around us really are our future, and we should be investing in them!  The great thing about this idea is that it's really not a difficult thing to do.  We can all take one minute out of  our busy days to lift up a child who comes across our path.  It might very well just change the course of their life!  So maybe today you can look for opportunities to encourage a child around you.  You have no idea the affect you might have on them!

"I invite you to join me in making this cause for children your own passion, to fight the battle child by child and minute by minute, being alert and willing to step in and make a memory that just might transform a life, heal a wounded heart, or lovingly send a child on their way.  In the heart of a child, a moment can last forever.  It is my prayer that a grassroots movement will arise, millions of us dedicated to recognize and seize these moments to breathe hope, joy, faith, and love into the little ones God has entrusted to us --maybe in just a minute!"  (P. 209)

Waiting Well

Do you ever find yourself just waiting for the next phase of your life to come along?  As though you are begrudging the pages of your calendar for not flipping fast enough?   This has characterized my life in many instances.  In middle school I couldn't wait for high school.  In high school I couldn't wait for college.  In college I couldn't wait to get married.  This waiting game continues today as I look forward to the time when we move overseas and into full-time missions.

The other day I started thinking about the importance of waiting.  We might not always understand why God calls us to wait for certain things, but He certainly has a plan for us during those times.  Waiting doesn't mean a lack of activity...quite the opposite I think.  I'm starting to see that when God calls us to wait, he's actually calling us to prepare.  We might feel called to something but we might not be spiritually, emotionally, or even physically ready for whatever the task at hand is.  When God gives us time to wait, he continues to shape us and mold us into his image and get us ready for what he's called us to do.

The next few years will be anything but boring for us.  We have a lot to do to prepare for missions work in another country, and I'm excited to see the changes that take place in our hearts and minds during this time.  We're hoping to go on several missions trips to southeast Asia to learn and experience more of what it's like to minister in the specific community we're called to and share the love of Christ with people who have never heard his name.

There are going to be many things in my life that God calls me to wait for, and I want to wait well.  I don't want to waste those times in inactivity, but to seek God's guidance in how he would have me prepare for the next steps in my life.

The End of an Era.... and a Fresh Start

Today was a day long in coming, and it was a bittersweet day for sure.  Today was Patrick's last day in the Marine Corps.  It's hard to believe that after 6 years of service, plus many more in preparation, we're no longer a "military family."  Today I drove on base for the last time as a Marine Wife, and I must say, I got a little teary-eyed.  In a way, a lot of who we are has been wrapped up in the Marine Corps.  When Patrick and I first started dating we knew that he would serve as a Marine, and ever since then it has shaped our lives in many ways.

In some ways the military is like a family.  We all speak the same acronym-riddled language and understand what it's like when friends or friends' spouses are deployed.  You form bonds with people just because you go through so much together and there is a strong sense of solidarity.  I'm going to miss that sense of community!

This afternoon Patrick had an EAS (End of Active Service) ceremony, and shortly after 1:00 PM his Marine career was officially over.

Last night I finished my 15th journal notebook, and it seems really appropriate that today I start a new one.  There's something really exciting about starting on a fresh page, and today seems like the perfect day to start fresh.  As I flip through the blank pages, I can't help but wonder what life experiences will fill them.  The next few years will be completely different from anything we've done before.  For so long our life has been about the military, and now we're excited to shift our focus to missions.  I can't wait to see what God brings about in our life over the next couple of years.  I've written before about how interesting it is to go back through old journal entries to see how God has shaped my life, and how I've grown in my faith over the years.  It's also fun to think forward a bit and wonder how I will continue to grow and change over the next phase of life.  I love that God is never finished with us, and that he continues to mold us up until the very end of life.  So here's hoping that this next notebook will be filled with new insights and experiences that will bring me closer to the Lord!

The Six Month Plan

 The more I think about it the more I realize how crazy the next few months of our lives are going to be.  In an earlier post I think I mentioned that Patrick and I have dubbed 2012 as The Year of Living Out of Suitcases.  In case anyone is wondering what Patrick and I will be up to, I thought I'd sort of outline our plan for the rest of the year.

As many of you know, Patrick and I are planning to begin long term missions in southeast Asia within the next three years.  This June we are going out there for two weeks with our long-term team to meet up with some missionaries who are already working there.  We're hoping to check out some potential ways in which we can partner with them to spread the gospel of Christ to the outlying islands and villages.  We're so excited for this trip not only for the wonderful ministry opportunities we'll have, but also the chance to spend some time with our dear friends whom we haven't seen in a year.  (The other members of our team were friends we met in Okinawa, and they're all still there.)

Only a week after we return to South Carolina we will move back to Kentucky.  Talk about a whirlwind week!  We've already begun making lots of plans with friends in Beaufort so we can spend as much time together as possible before we have to leave.  My Dad (though he lives in Canada) still has a house in Louisville and has graciously said we can live there while we're in town.  I'm excited to make that house our home!

Our plan is basically to drop off our stuff in Louisville then travel around the country visiting friends and family we haven't seen in years.  We hope to visit Colorado, Missouri, and Michigan, and possibly a few other places if time (and our budget) allows.

In the fall we're flying out to Zambia to spend a few months with Holly, Patrick's sister, on the mission field.  I'm hoping to teach in the orphan school, so I'm already busy preparing ideas and materials to take with me.  I know it will be such a blessing to get to teach there and work with all those precious children!  Patrick and I are really looking forward to spending a large chunk of time out there and getting a true feel for what it's like to be a missionary.  And I have a feeling it'll be really hard to leave at the end of our 2-3 months out there.

We're hoping to be back in Kentucky by Thanksgiving, but who knows for sure.  We'll then have some time to prepare for Patrick to start his Masters degree at the Southern Baptist Seminary.  At that point I'll also be looking for a teaching position.  I'm not sure what kinds of opportunities will be available at that time in the year, but I know that God is preparing a place for me somewhere.  The program Patrick plans to do will take about 2 years so we'll stay put in Kentucky for at least that long as he finishes school and we start raising support for our ministry overseas.

And for the record, yes, we do plan to have kids, potentially even next year.  On several occasions after telling people about our plans to move overseas they have said, "Oh, so you're not going to have a family."  I have no idea where the notion came from that missionaries don't have kids, but it's not true.  Children are a blessing in the mission field, and actually open up many new opportunities to minister to families.  I know that raising children in that part of the world will be full of challenges (and potential dangers), but we are trusting in the Lord in all things, including raising kids!

Well there you have it.  Our lives will be full of changes in the coming months, and we're excited to see what God has in store for us!  I'll be posting a lot (hopefully) about our upcoming travels so stay tuned!