Why does it feel like....

With only a week and three days until I return to Haiti, why does it feel like I have so much to do and so little time to do it, but when I actually sit down to crank some work out--it doesn't feel like as much?  Am I missing something here?  I toss and turn all night long and when I wake up after another bad dream, I sing "Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" and quote Psalm 116:7 which says, "Return, oh my soul, to your rest for the Lord has dealt bountifully with you."  Why does if feel like from every angle things are getting out of control and I wake up feeling confused and heavy-hearted, but when I actually think through the things that I need to do and the people I need to be in contact with, it doesn't seem so bad?  Why does it feel this way?  Why am I feeling like I am up against a wall?  

I have a theory.  I ask you to pray.  My list includes things like connecting with pastors I have visited this summer, packing, working on a variety of projects from for Haiti Christian Orphanage, sharing with a few more churches, and dealing with financials among other things.  This IS quite a bit when you try to fit things into a short amount of time, but I know that God is in control.  Reminding myself of that when I am feeling overwhelmed or anxious is a struggle.  I believe that Satan is piling a few things and reminders of his own on me and trying to discourage me.  Friends, my dear brothers and sisters, PRAY!  

Pray that God would protect me--and I know He will.  Pray the my eyes be completely focused on Him.  Pray that I would lay down my life and follow Him daily--as we are all to be doing just that.  Pray that God would guide my steps and my thoughts.  Pray that I would be in the Word often so I can use my sword!

Friends, why does it feel like I am being attacked?  It's because I am.  Please be praying for me as I prepare to go and as I stand on the promises that are in God's Word.  He has dealt bountifully with me.  His goodness and  faithfulness and mercy and love is truly undeniably amazing.  May He be praised above all things.  May He be glorified in this time of preparation.  

Feet in the Water, Eyes on Jesus

This morning as I sat at the side of a Minnesota lake with my feet dangling in the water, I was reminded of the importance of keeping my eyes focused on Jesus.  In Psalm 105 and 106, the Psalmist recounts some of the history of Israel going through the wilderness and time after time, they forgot God.  And then in verse 8 of Psalm 106 it says, "Yet He saved them for His name's sake, that He might make known His mighty power."  Now, here it was in reference to the exodus from Egypt but time after time God spared the Israelites even when they forgot Him.  

I am very human.  I fall short of God's glory daily in my calling, in my life.  I was thanking God for grace today as I was seeking His mercy and guidance.  He is so good and His mercy really is new every morning.  How great is our God! 

I have come to the realization that Satan is not fond of me.  When struggles and trials and hard things happen, I sometimes wonder if Satan is trying to derail me and take my focus away from my Jesus.  Sometimes, he succeeds and my eyes wander from the One who deserves all the glory, honor, and praise.  I forget what I am doing and who I am doing it for, but God is patient with me and reminds me through a variety of means that He is God and He is in control of all things!  

This is why it is SO important to DAILY take up my cross and follow HIM!  Please be praying that my heart remains steadfast, my mind remains steadily on my Jesus, and I would remain faithful to my calling as God continues to amaze with me constantly in confirming my call.  

"Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His presence continually!"--Psalm 105:4

Where in the world???

The last week has been crazy!  I don't think I have slept in the same house for more than one night since last Tuesday night and even then it was just two nights in a row.  So, where in the world am I now?  I am in Evansville, Indiana, with two of the amazing leaders from Praying Pelican Missions where we are going to be meeting with the leaders of Haiti Christian Orphanage.  

Praying Pelican Missions has been given an incredible opportunity to oversee and run an orphanage in Haiti.  I am planning on serving there with them soon!  In the meantime, there is much work to be done on the logistical side, so meeting with the Haiti Christian Orphanage board and visiting the orphanage itself--which I did last a little over a week ago--is an essential part of this process.  It has definitely kept me busy as I am traveling from place to place and visiting churches on the weekend, but this whole process has been very informative and has reminded me of how God is IN THE MIDST of His people.  

Prayer Warriors, be PRAYING this week for wisdom, guidance, God-glorifying conversations, and clear minds as we--the leaders from HCO and PPM--learn from each other and seek the Lord together!  I know that God is working here and He will be faithful!  1 Thessalonians 5:24 says, "He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it."  This is so true and I am clinging to this promise today!  However He moves and however He calls, He will be faithful!  

Miracles...

I believe that God can do more than we could ever ask or imagine.  Ephesians 3:20-21 says "Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."  

On my last post, I mentioned Tropical Storm Emily which looked like it was wreaking havoc on the country of Haiti.  News reports were saying that 20 inches of rain was expected in the mountains and would cause incredible flooding in the city of Port-au-Prince where so many people are still living in temporary shelters and tent cities after the earthquake in 2010.  I know that the people of God were praying in Haiti for the rain not to come.  I know I was praying for God to spare this country from another disaster.  

That Thursday morning, I was traveling to Haiti.  When I finally arrived, not a drop had fallen in Port-au-Prince and there was no flooding.  The wind was strong, but there was no rain and the rain did not come.  God worked a miracle here.  Tropical Storm Emily was one of these times where God showed that He can stop the storm.  Even when our reason and knowledge tells us the storm will come, He can calm the storm and protect His people when it is His will so He can get more glory!

"Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen."

Amen!

Waiting to see...

On Tuesday this week, I packed for Haiti and drove to Minneapolis to run errands before spending time with dear friends.  On Wednesday, I boarded a plane to Chicago, then to Miami where I was greeted by some of the most hospitable people I have ever met.  I stayed at their house last night and got up early for my flight from Miami to Haiti.  My flight was cancelled and I am currently sitting in the Miami airport to see if the flight I was re-booked on will be taking off.  There are so many people waiting here.  Waiting to see...

For the past several days, I have been keeping a close eye on the weather in Haiti.  Tropical Storm Emily looked threatening for a while, but the reality is...she is very threatening.  With a foot of rain expected in the mountains today and lots of wind, my heart goes out to those who don't have a place to go.  There are still many people living in tents or temporary shelters in Port-au-Prince where roads will likely flood and, on the mountain, mudslides will happen.  

So, although this is an inconvenience for me, it is a threat and a dangerous situation for many.  Be praying for Haiti.  For those who don't have somewhere safe to wait out the storm.  Pray that God would be glorified even in this situation.  Pray, friends, pray as we are waiting to see what is going to happen in Haiti today.  

4 o'clock!

I really don't know what started this, but I know it started sometime last fall after I returned from Haiti.  I didn't know then that I would be where I am now...looking forward to much more time in Haiti, but I felt the need to be praying for this country I had such a passion for!  I didn't want to forget my friends, the ministry, the local church, or even the government.  I must have told someone that I would be praying for Haiti, so I set my alarm on my phone for that purpose.  Every day at 4 o'clock I heard the BIDIRIDIRIDIRIDIRIDIRID! BIDIRIDIRIDIRIDIRIDIRID!  It's funny because even when my phone was on silent the speakers would blare this sound into the office, the movie theater, the bank, or wherever else I would happen to be at 4.  I would remember to pray for Haiti...

When I returned from Haiti in June, I turned my old phone on--it had been on standby while I was away.  It shocked me when it was 4 o'clock, because I had forgotten that alarm was still set.  Haiti is often on my mind now as I have been reflecting on the several months I was there and now that I am preparing to return, but I haven't turned that alarm off for some reason.  I guess it is because I still need to be reminded to pray.  To pray for the people of Haiti, the ministry that is happening there, the government, even the weather--we are really praying that hurricane season would again be non-existent in Haiti this year.  I need to be reminded.  So easily we forget the things we need to remember most.

And so, God,

I come before you again, crying out for the people of Haiti.  Lord, like Habakkuk prayed, I ask that in the midst of these years revive Your works, in the midst of these years make Your works known!  God, send a revival that would make Haiti a light that people turn to and they would see You working there!  Lord, be with Your children and give them a hunger to know You more!  You are good and You are God!  May Your name be praised and lifted up in Haiti and around the world!  Amen!

Dear God...

I had to chuckle when I wrote that title, not because prayer is funny, but because of my experience of praying in Creole the week before I had to leave Haiti.  I'll write what I said in English so you call can understand why I had to laugh at myself:  "Thank you, Lord for today and for grace and for all the people together here today. Amen."  


Prayer is so vitally important and I am so glad that God can hear the prayers of our hearts when our words don't quite suffice!  In Creole, my words are limited.  Very limited.  Today, I feel like I am praying in an even more limited language.  My words are not coming out and cannot express what my heart is saying.  Romans 8:26-28 says, "Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.  And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.  And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose."


And so, Dear God,
You know what you have planned for me.  You know my heart and my thoughts better than I do.  God, I need Your peace today and Your love and comfort to surround me.  I am so grateful that You allow us to approach you in the midst of good times, in the fire, and in the battles we face.  I am thankful that You are God and I am not.  Lord, I surrender to You.