Monday, January 30, 2012

It is beginning to sink in...

In a little less than 3 months I will be boarding a plane headed for Central Asia. The process of raising support and getting everything ready has been long but rewarding. It is so great to see that people have a heart for the lost.

I have been looking at plane tickets regularly just waiting until I can finally buy them. In mid March I will be applying for my visa in hopes that I do not get denied. God has been so faithful and I have confidence that I will have no problem getting my visa! (stay tuned to find out if everything goes as planned)

As I wait and pray and seek to prepare myself for what is to come, I am so thankful that I am not going alone. I take refuge in Hebrews 13:5 "I will never leave you are forsake you." God will be with me every step of the way! So as this trip begins to sink in and everything comes together keep me in your prayers. When God has something big to do Satan is never far behind.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Do Not Be Anxious

When planning a trip over seas there is always the fear of details and anticipation. What to expect, what to take, raising the support, knowing whether or not it is God’s will, and how will my family react are only a few of the questions that come up. This can be a very stressful time and a very confusing time; a time that I have found myself in for the past few months. May of 2012 is the departure date, only five months away, and the time is ticking by. So how exactly do you avoid all the stress and confusion? This answer was not easy to come by. I find myself seeking for it daily. The best I have come up with is through God’s word. In Philippians 4 Paul gives us some great advice.
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Do not be anxious about anything. So often I find myself so anxious about going that I neglect the time of preparation and the time of prayer before hand. God’s word brings us answers and gives us instructions to live a life dedicated to Christ. To live a life that is sacrificial and Christ-centered. The prep time before the trip should be a time of awe. In awe of how God works and how God leads. He has a plan and a purpose that only He can see. He knows what He is doing. So as I plan to leave I enter in to a season of awe.