He answers swiftly

Luke 18:1-8

And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

For the last few weeks the Lord has been stirring Luke 18: 1-8 into my heart. Our small group studied the passage several weeks ago and it has echoed in my heart and mind ever since. In the midst of my doubt and unbelief the Lord has reminded me of the widow who came before the judge and persisted for justice. Through his annoyance the unrighteous judge finally agreed to hear her plea. But we serve a judge with grace, mercy, and compassion. One who is righteousness itself. And promises that those who are elect will have justice. The One who tells us that as we cry out to Him day and night not only does he hear us, but He will swiftly answer us. He is not the unrighteous judge who answers out of annoyance but instead The Judge who answers out of love.

It amazes me that even in the promises found in God's word and seeing His constant faithfulness; I still have the tendency to doubt. To doubt my Creator and Savior who is always good and seeks His Glory! In His blessings I am brought back to my knees before Him overwhelmed by how good he is; overwhelmed that He does keep His promises. That He does work for His good. That He does use those He has elected.

The blessings that have brought me back to my knees:

*In one week my support has jumped to 67%

*The Lord has provided someone to go with me-- Jeanne Arp

* The Lord has allowed me minister here in the states for the summer at Heritage Baptist Church

*The people the Lord has brought into my life to encourage me, lift me up, and bless my life

* Seeing so many great friends this week

He Goes out before us

Psalm 68: 7-10

O God, when you went out before your people,
when you marched through the wilderness,
the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain,
before God, the One of Sinai,
before God, the God of Israel.

Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
you restored your inheritance as it languished;
your flock found a dwelling in it;
in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy.

Today, I thought a lot about what it meant to go to South Asia. What is the worth of my ministry. Could it possibly make any difference? What is my purpose? I love to begin journeys by contemplating the end. What will it be like to come back in two years? What changes will I see in me... in my relationship with Christ... in my understanding of Scripture... in my heart for the world... for the poor... and for those who are lost? Who will I be?

In the midst of my thoughts today I came across this psalm. And I was reminded... that it is all about Him. My purpose... is His glory. My Worth... is in Him. My desires... are to be changed into His image. As moments of doubt in His faithfulness may come. I am reminded of His faithfulness throughout Scripture. Ruth, Naomi, David, Daniel, Moses, Hannah, Esther, Joseph, Abraham, and Isaac are incredible reminders of God's faithfulness to His children. When He goes before us the earth quakes.... mountain moves... and rain pours.

I praise the Lord for His faithfulness. Today I reached 40% of my financial needs. Even in my wonderment and doubt- He is still moving. He is still faithful. With 2 1/2 months left before I leave. I know that He has gone before me- for I am a child of Him. So I know that He will move-in His way- in His time.

Psalm 68: 32-35

O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God;
sing praises to the Lord,

to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens;
behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice.

Ascribe power to God,
whose majesty is over Israel,
and whose power is in the skies.
Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!

It's already written

As graduation quickly approached and passed these past weeks, I was filled with the strangest emotions of sadness while saying goodbye but excitement that it was one less thing between me and South Asia. As I sat there during commencement; I thought back to the last four years. I am so thankful for every circumstance that I faced throughout those years. My relationship with the Lord has grown more than I knew was possible. I have been stretched, challenged, and refined through my years. While I know there is still lots of growing to do, I can't help thinking that these years of incubator learning are over. The friends I have made will always be a huge part of my experiences at Liberty- I am so thankful for the incredible blessing of those I have met. If I had known at the start of my freshman year what the next four years would hold, I would have realized I had reason to be nervous but not to be anxious. The next years would prove to me that God is faithful! That God is trustworthy! He is Sovereign! His Timing is Perfect! And that It is ALL for His Glory!!

Looking back, reminds me of just how faithful He is... even when I don't know or understand He was still working for His own glory! As I leave my world at Liberty and look to a new adventure, I take comfort and joy in knowing that as circumstances, people, and life changes- He will never Change. He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Last year I was challenged by my pastor to not allow these last years be my greatest years in this life, but rather for it to be just the beginning of a wonderful journey serving the Lord. So I leave Liberty with a little more knowledge, a little more wisdom, and a little more understanding for what will come- the beginning of a journey that He has already written.

Always in His Grip...

Lavish Blessings!

We serve such a wonderfully personal God! The blessings he pours over us can at times be incredibly overwhelming! Tonight I was reminded of the grace of God! That he promises to continue the good work he has begun in us. What a blessing that I will not be left in my human body- with all of my faults, failures, and sin. What a blessing to know that the Holy Spirit will continue to break me of myself and fill me with the Spirit of God. That I will one day be released completely of my sinful body and my soul will worship the One True God with no restraints! Praise God that He is Lord of Lords.... that He is working.... and that He is the Ruler of this world- which He will one day reclaim! He is the answerer of prayers- He is the breaker of Spirits- He is the Redeemer! Praise God for He is God!

"As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:9

continuously praising...

Praise God!!! As of today, I am officially at 30% of my funds raised... we serve a great God who is doing great things! Praise Him for His faithfulness!

He is God!

We serve a Great God! And though we don't know what is next or how we will get there.... we serve a God who is THE beginning and end. Praise God that He knows even when we do not! Praise God because He is God and deserves the Glory and we do not! Praise God because He is ruler of all, majestic, good, kind, loving, and faithful.... even when we are not... Praise God that His faithfulness is not contingent on our own... Praise God because He is GOD!

Psalm 118: 28-29

You are my God, and I will give thanks to you;
you are my God; I will extol you.

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
for his steadfast love endures forever!

Anticipating the Day

So my roommate and best friend is getting married. As each day gets closer the checklist gets smaller. I have loved rooming with this soon to be bride; watching the excitement and anticipation for what is to come. As the days get less and less the excitement builds. This Bride and Groom wait in Anticipation for the day they are united as husband and wife.

Watching their anticipated day play out has been an incredible challenge to me in my relationship to Christ. The earthly husband and wife is a picture of the ultimate Bride and Groom; the church with Christ. We should be waiting with excitement and anticipation for the day the church is united with its Groom, Christ. The return of Christ should be an anticipated day. Anticipating the moment, planning and preparing should be done for when we are ridden of our earthly bodies and finally see the face of our Groom. We should be actively participating in the coming of our Savior, not because we have to or because it somehow affects our salvation but because we love Christ more than this earth and what it may bring. We look forward to the day we are united with Him; longing for the moment we are finally joined together. As we live out each day it should be with the hope and desire for the day our groom returns for us. We long for a better country, a better home. We long for the home and relationship we were created for.

Hebrews 11: 13-16

"All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. ¹⁴ People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. ¹⁵ If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them."