To My Brothers and Sisters

November 6 was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church. Remember those who are being persecuted for their faith!


You don't know me. I don't know you. But you are there and I am here. We are real.
Your life is full of pain, fear, persecution. Mine the very opposite.
But we are bound- across the land, across the cultures, across the languages. Bound through Christ- by His love, grace, mercy, and peace.
I don't know your name- but I know you exist. You don't know my name- but you know I exist. We can't forget about each other. We need each other. You need my prayers- I need yours. We need strength, strength to see God in all, strength to live each day for Him.
My brothers and sisters, may God protect you, guide you, and strengthen you. And may I never forget you.

Doubt

It hit again today.
It completely undid me.
It brought me down, knocked me out.
It punched me in the gut and kicked my feet out from under me.
It took away my confidence and strength.
It brought me to the end of myself.
It told me I'm not good enough.

I found that I can't live this life on my own again.
But that's a good thing. Even if it's the hardest lesson that I have to keep relearning.
Again. And again. And again.

Will it end?
I don't know.
The enemy knows what cracks to break into. He knows what lies to tell me.

So how do I move forward from being crippled again?
The only way I can.
Jesus.
He's told me He loves me.
He's told me He won for me.
I don't have to fight.
Jesus fought for me.
Even better He won for me.

So now?
Come back to Him. Again.
Depend on Him. Again.
Let Him fight for me. Again.
Let Him love me. Again.
Let Him carry me. Again.

Heaven on Earth

Rooted in the earth beneath,

Pointing to the heavens above,

House of worship, 

House of prayer. 

Your glory, O Lord,

Your glory, reaches us here. 

Here we find You. 

Here we find hope. 

Here we find faith. 

Here we find love. 

You find us here. 

You reach us here. 

We come broken, 

but You heal us. 

We come in pain, 

but You bring peace.

We come untrusting, 

but You give us Your steadfast word. 

We come wanting,

and You give Yourself. 

You fill us and make us new. 

You love us and keep loving. 

You forgive us and forgive fully. 

You show us Your beauty, 

and simply say, "Come, follow Me."

You root us in heaven above

and point us back to the earth beneath. 

"Be a people of worship,

and a rock of prayer. 

Show My glory to others.

Offer hope.

Share faith.

Show love.

Find others that need Me. 

Show them your broken life, 

but My healing touch. 

Show them your pain, 

but My hand of peace. 

Show them your doubt, 

but My faithful promises. 

Give them what they want most, Me. 

Bring heaven to earth for them. "

Restful

Green blurs past me,

As trees and brambles

Glide beside me. 

The train speeds up, 

It rocks me back and forth,

My eyes begin to close. 

As the sun smiles through the clouds,

It blankets me in its warmth,

And I am now asleep. 

Plan for Eternity

Plan for Eternity. 

What huge significance that has for living life. 

Plan for eternity, not just the day, the week, month, year. 

If I plan for eternity, I'm reminded that my time is not mine. It reminds me that the truly important things aren't always the daily things. 

If I plan for eternity, action must follow. I'm reminded that God has a plan for my life, so finding Him is more important than planning my life. 

If I plan for eternity, I'm reminded that others will be in eternity too. Do they know where they will spend their eternity? Do they know because of my life that eternity is important?

Wanderlust

Wanderlust (n): a strong, innate desire to rove or travel about.

The travel bug never leaves. But sometimes the dreams become reality and you actually get to do something about it!

This summer I have the opportunity to go back to the Czech Republic to a week long English Camp that I have taught at the past three years. At the English Camp we not only teach English, but we also get to share the gospel during our classes. Our theme for camp this year is "On the Road" and we will be teaching on various themes related to that and about the journey's that Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Saul/Paul, and Philip took. 

I would love your prayers. Please pray for our American team and our Czech team! We want to rely on God's strength and His Word to be spoken clearly. Please pray for the campers to be ready and excited to learn! Please pray that our entire team can show God's love to each other and everyone at camp!

See you "on the road again!"

Look to God for Your Help

Everyday you're surrounded by those who will mock you or make you question what you know and believe- look to God. 

Like Nehemiah, look to God for your help. 

Look to God for strength and encouragement. 

When discouragement hits and life's struggles seem too hard to take anymore- look to God. 

"Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome…"

Remember that God is good; that God works for you. 

His good hand is on you. 

So look to God for your help. 

And watch Him work. 

Praise Him for His works.