Living the Dream!

The question on the lips of many friends and acquaintances is "So, what are you doing now?"  After explaining the sorting of old stuff, figuring out what needs to be done prior to leaving, meeting with people, working on a variety of different projects, and couch surfing or staying at my parents' place I figure I should simply say "I'm living the dream."  

This "dream" isn't like the American dream or the dream that Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of in his famous speech.  This dream isn't one that I thought I would ever be living, but it's the one I have been given.  The dream of simply trusting the Lord and letting Him lead.  It's incredibly freeing to be completely surrendered in the capable hands of the Creator of the universe!  I will admit that sometimes I forget that He can and will do what is needed, so I am grateful for the grace upon grace that I have been given.  Yes, I am very grateful!

Even though this "Living the Dream" is a little unconventional, I continue focusing on God and the calling He has given me.  Every item that gets crossed off my checklist  brings me a little closer to Haiti--this place I have been called to serve.  The time is drawing near when I will no longer be sleeping on couches or practicing my Creole with my mom making random noises--definitely NOT Creole--in the background.  Instead, I will be able to practice Creole in Haiti and be corrected a million times when I continually mispronounce word after word.  

Be praying, my dear friends, that God would continue to guide and direct my path and provide every need!  I know that He will!  And I will keep on "Living the Dream"...

Remembering the Reason

Last night, when I was fast asleep, I was woken up--not by a loud noise or a nightmare--by a bright light shining through my window.  The clouds had parted and the moon was so bright that I was confused about what this light was.  Peace came over me and I rolled over saying, "Thank you, Jesus."  This morning as I was remembering what happened last night and it was a beautiful thing.  The moon pierced the darkness and could not be hidden much like the city on a hill described in Matthew 5:14-16:  "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."  What an amazing reminder of what God has called us to:  Be a light in the darkness and give glory to our Heavenly Father.  Praise God for the different beautiful ways He reminds us of our calling and the honor it is shine His light in dark places.


I have had days of incredible hope and encouragement and days of discouragement as I continue planning and preparing to serve in Haiti.  I was able to attend the Association Free Lutheran Congregations Pastor's Conference where God provided opportunities to talk to many different pastors and their wives about the ministry He is calling me to.  I am praying that He will continue to provide many more opportunities to share with others this heart and passion God has given me.  


I know I am called to be a light for Christ in Haiti, but in the meantime I need to be a light here, wherever I am.  It's sometimes really difficult to be patient when I desperately want to be in Haiti, but it's in those times--when I'm struggling--that I remember that God's timing is perfect and He will provide the funding, the prayer supporters, and everything necessary for me to go.  So, I continue walking in faith and trusting that God will continue to pave the way for me as I seek His will.  


I will remember the moon and His light that pierces the darkness like a city on a hill.

Orchestra Hall

I feel like I am sitting in an orchestra hall listening to beautiful music play. God is the conductor. He is holding His conductor's stick (whatever that is called) and making the horns blast, the drums beat, the winds blow and all of it is coming together in beautiful harmony and I have nothing to do with it! It is all God and His purposes being worked out in my life. Now I am only one person. God is doing this for all Creation...sometimes there are minor keys, but then the resolution is magnificent....ending in GLORY! Praise God our King for all He is doing and all He has done and all He will do forever and ever!  AMEN!


This week I have been working on this "In the Midst" idea and blog, my mission portfolio, and so many other things to prepare for Haiti!  No matter what it is I am working on or where I am at, it seems as that I am not doing things, but getting one step closer.  Closer to what God has laid on my heart.  Closer to what is next!  And He's bringing it all together, as He does! :)  


And now as I continue moving forward, my list continues to grow, my time seems to be running short, but my God is the same yesterday, today, and forever!  He is more than able to work out the budgets, meetings, airfare, support letters, doctor appointments, and sorting that I have to do.  He is the One I trust.  He is the one who is orchestrating the music of my life making it GLORIFY HIM and HIS NAME!  

How do I Listen to God?

What astonishes me is the many different ways God chooses to speak to us.  I believe that at the center of hearing God's voice is being able to recognize His voice, like in John 10 where Jesus is the Good Shepherd and His sheep recognize His voice.  The best way to recognize the voice of God, is to know God and know His Word.  I am FAR from perfect in keeping up with studying His Word; it's something I want to do, but seem to fail at--like Paul in Romans 7.  That doesn't mean I give up, I need to keep studying His Word so I can continue to know God better, so I can hear Him more clearly, so I can worship Him more completely, so I can point others to Jesus and make His name great among the nations.

God speaks in a variety of ways.  I was very stubborn in trying to make "the plan" work, but my plans don't always jive with God's plans.  And He has His ways of making that clear...sometimes those ways are easy, but, when you are stubborn, sometimes those ways are very difficult.  I wrote out all my options for going on the World Race with AIM--changing dates, changing trips, shorter trip, different kind of trip--and as I wrote the options out with pros/cons, praying over them, discussing them with a very wise woman (my mom), and talking with a representative from AIM over the course of two days.  The doors began to close--for example, one trip that would have been an option was a shorter World Race (4 months instead of 11) which meant less cost, less commitment, and a different view.  After praying over it and weighing the pros/cons, I called AIM to see what they thought of "the plan".  That trip had filled up the day before and they were not letting anyone else join.  That was a closed door if I have ever seen one.  God closes doors that need to be closed, so somehow, after tears have been shed and the clouds of disappointment are lifted, we can see the doors that God is opening for us:  things that are so much better that we could ever have imagined and things that He has prepared for us.  Doors that we wouldn't have seen unless we turned from something else that may have looked good but it wasn't God's best.

Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."--Isaiah 30:21

What a great God we serve!  Everything that I have gone through, every experience I have had, every job that I have held, education, relationships, and upbringing:  God's hand was in it and He is using it somehow for His glory and using it all to mold me and prepare me for His work!  He has used things, people, His Word, and the Holy Spirit to speak to me.  I just pray that I have open ears to listen and a heart to continue to know Him more.