Perspective Shift: Need

You sit in a coffee shop, classroom, office building... and look around. Faces are seen everywhere - faces of people who are hurting, broken, bruised. Masked faces that keep moving forward directionless (or maybe completely driven by fear). It used to overwhelm me, the many people who don't know the Truth. Who haven't read the Word (either by choice or lack of ability). Faces of people who've never had faith in Jesus Christ, or have chosen to reject it.

I used to be overwhelmed by these faces, and more then just the faces that overwhelmed me were the friends, acquaintances, and people i see everyday. The people whose stories i know, or at least know some of, that i can't help but desperately pray that the Lord would open up their eyes to His presence and respond to Him in repentance and adoration.

Two weeks ago, i had a conversation that completely rocked my world and I realized... I can either chose to be overwhelmed by the need or chose to focus on building deep transparent relationships where God cannot help but be glorified. I'm horrible at focusing; at saying "no"... i want to help everyone, to show Jesus' magnificence to everyone not just a few. I want to be everything to everyone.

I didn't use to think this was a big issue until i realized the root reason why "I" wanted to do all of these things: pride. & the root reason I don't like saying no: I don't trust God.

So here's to a break and semester about narrow focus, and the choice to be free from overwhelming stress at such great need.

Keys To Survival

My favorite things list. In a particular order? yes and no.
- Bible
- Journal
- Family
- Best Friend
- Coffee
- Good Music: I.E punk, rap, rock, oldies, and of course Christmas music.
- Cute Boots
- Scarves
- Skinny Jeans
- Chocolate
- Cozy chairs
- Fireplaces
- Poetry

The Amputee

Do you know The Gospel?

I do. I mean, if you know me and don’t know that I would be slightly surprised, but more then know the Gospel I LOVE The Gospel. Without knowing that Jesus Christ has died for me, and made it possible to have a loving relationship with the creator of the UNIVERSE I would be… well a drunken sex and body-image obsessed women trying to force others to love me. The Gospel is what drives me, what causes me to love and live.

Do you love the gospel? Really actually LOVE it?

If yes: why do so many of our neighbors not know it?

Aren’t we a nation with church buildings on every other corner, a “Christian” nation. How then, do so many not know the True Gospel. If you know The Gospel, do you not love it? And if you do claim to love it, why are those YOU LOVE still without relationship with The King, Lord and Saviour? Why have YOU not chosen to tell them? Why have you kept from them the very thing that sustains, the very hope that encourages you when most broken? Do you think it’s “uncomfortable” or “rude” that you are “pushing you’re beliefs on someone else”? Stop believing the lie! Love is caring enough for someone else that you are willing to be uncomfortable, and die for them, so that they can hear and have a chance to respond to the truth!

And if they know, and you so kindly feel it’s in your right to judge them because they “aren’t living like people who are trying to do what Jesus did” why are YOU not teaching them what life is REALLY about. What following Christ really IS (a constant call to die to self, and live for Him). Why have you not chosen to train them in righteousness by pointing them to The Word? Why do you think it’s okay to act like the knowledge you’ve been given mercifully by Our King is something you somehow earned.

My heart breaks at this. At just the knowledge that there are so many people in America, a “Christian nation” who don’t even know THE GOSPEL. Let alone what Jesus grants to those who obey Him. WHY!?

I think a large part of the issue lies with these false notions: I am not good enough. I am not good enough to share the gospel, I do not know enough, there are others (i.e: pastors, missionaries, bible study leaders, priests…) who should be telling The Gospel, not me. These are boldfaced lies; it is your responsibility and it is mine, it is OUR job to “preach the word; in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2). A wise man has said “God’s plan is His People”, and His people includes every single one of us who knows and loves The Gospel.

It causes my heart to twist with agony when I think of the many people who desperately need and are waiting for SOMEONE, (i.e: you and me) to give them The Gospel.

So please, Love someone - today.

Dear Women,

Don't we crave it? Adventure. Beauty. To be pursued relentlessly? It's the deepest cry from the pit of my heart; to be delighted in and enjoyed by others, and most of all by my daddy in heaven.

We run from it sometimes, run to our corners and sit down covering ourselves in hopes that noone will ever find us. Wishing, for a time, that we can forever shut all of the disappointment out and control our invisibility (don't we love/hate control so?). Hoping that we'll never be wounded (this badly) again. Wondering if we'll be okay if our beauty remains completely hidden.

From the time i can remember i always sought the attention of others: Look at me, tell me I'm caring, good, wonderful. Tell me my passion and intensity isn't too much, that it's okay to be "this way" whatever "this way" is. The thing is, others will never be consistent, anymore than i am. They will always question, critique, and some may even abhor my personality and pursuits.

But.

But my daddy in heaven always welcomes me. He has never, and will never, reject me or refuse to love. Despite my glaring inadequacies, desires, and pride he has never once ran away from me. It's His beauty that i give, It is His love that grants me permission, and even encourages, me to go on adventures (most i would never be on without Him). Ultimately, it is He who has relentlessly pursued my heart from the beginning.

& so yet again I will say: forever and always, I am His because He FIRST loved me.

One Descriptive Word

If I could explain God in one word it would be this: Beautiful. Not loving, merciful, just, righteous, glorious… or any other of the trillion correct attributes of God but simply beautiful. A friend once questioned me on this, acting shocked that I would describe God this way… “Beautiful?” He said, sounding incredulous, “that doesn’t make sense”. At first, I felt a little silly and withdrawn… maybe my view of God wasn’t accurate and it was just my inaptitude which caused me to see Him this way. Then… I continued reflecting.

Beauty is enticing, alluring, it calls to us asking to be delighted in and searched for. It is life-giving. Is not God these things as well? Does he not tell us “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart” Jer 29:13. God does not throw himself at the feet of people, begging them to love Him. He does not throw himself away as a prostitute. No, he requires us to search for him, and that we all do even when we don’t know it’s Him we are searching for. Why? Because His beauty is alluring, enticing and mostly because His beauty makes us free.

Beautiful. My creator, daddy, king, and savior is radiantly beautiful.

*Citation Note: I am currently re-reading Captivating, the second paragraph is a
reflection of my reading.

Jumbled Notion

Beauty flourishes amidst pain, it does not wilt or bend to agony instead in the depths of great anguish beauty is often found. As i struggle through life, it is my weaknesses which have humbled me to my knees. Then, a beauty that is not from my own work or doing is revealed, a beauty that cannot be weighed down by this world but that overcomes it.

Even now, as I look up to my Father i feel his arms wrapped tightly around me, pouring His self through me. HIS BEAUTY streaming through that brings life into my brokenness. Without this beauty I would be... well... gone. I would have wilted by now in my own weakness to bitterness, anger, and hatred but He has given me amazing grace so I am able to forgive. PTL!


Random Thoughts:
It's hard for me to publish my thoughts... it makes me feel naked. Interesting how the digital world does such an excellent job of that.
Transparency seems like such an impossibilty, do we really ever allow ourselves the freedom to simply pour out our hearts?

Fear despite a faithful God.

It's a familar place with slightly different scenary and an almost identical feel to an old comfortable spot i love. To the untrained eye, it might appear to be worlds apart from that familar place... but the heart can see it's exactly what i'm used to. You may ask, what place? Well it is colored forest blue and filled with a solitary depressiveness that somehow makes it bearable. It is fear; fear that i try and deny but that exists nontheless. Yet here I am still.

My place of fear can overwhelm if i stay sitting for long. Even having the ability to lead me, staggering drunkenly from one side to the next, sure of where I want to go but unsure I will get there. I've visited it so often that the owners, whom i've never seen, call me a resident. It is interwoven into the very fabric of my being as places sometimes can become. Despite my ability to charge ahead with God's strength it remains, continually evolving.

There isn't a good ending yet, for i can't even see the end. It is a fighting point, a place where God leads me to look up and cry "Daddy, I have no idea how to move on from this spot". I have hope, knowing that He has brought me out of this comfortable place before, but for now... I sit here. Struggling to move, yet remaining. Clinging to the promise of 1 Cor 1:9 "God, who has called you into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful."

It's worth your 10 minutes.

Listen. Question. Reflect.






"An unexamined life is not worth living" - Socrates

Playing Mom

Hm, well for the past few days i've been hanging out with four crazy unique individuals: An old soul who shares a love for china, nature, and reading with me (i've never meet anyone more like my 9 year old self). A 6 year old who can't tie his own shoes but can beat me in HORSE (this might have something to do with a lack of talent on my part), a Justin Bieber loving mini-diva baby-talking 7 year old, plus a giant but gentle football obsessed highschool freshmen.

Life has been entertaining, to say the least. I just got done dealing with a fly infested bed due to some juice spillage that my favorite 6 year old didn't tell me about (on his big brothers bed of all places... "sigh")...

Through the craziness i've discovered that love and patience are constant necessities, more laundry will always need to be done, and cleaning is never something you can check off the to-do list. Most of all though, that my mom deserves an extremely large prize for all the little things she's always done for me.

A Beautiful Wedding Day!

Their love is the genuine kind that makes tough men cry and young girls believe in fairy tales. They’re the perfect tag team for a group of 7 individualistic and awesome kids.

Luckily, not only did I get to see them tie the knot, but I also had the awesome privilege of picking out wildflowers for the aisles and being one of ten people getting ready (yes, this included the bride ) in one house. I also had the best dance partners, getting to break it down besides some pretty legit break dancers (that just happened to be 6 and 7 years old) until the early morning (okay we might have all crashed at midnight).

Here’s a glimpse of the greatness!



P.S: I have the best brother in the world! Amazing beautiful girlfriends, and my God is so insanely faithful. "if we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." 2 Timothy 2:13 ".

God WILL BE exalted.

Be Still and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, i will be exalted in the earth. - Psalm 46:10

Regardless of what I do (or don't do) - my God will be exalted.

Therefore, I will labor and thirst for God's Kingdom not because He needs me to but because The Gospel is:


---------*-------------Joy; regardless of circumstances.
---------*--------------Peace; when tomorrow is unsure.
---------*---------------Truth; in a world full of lies.
---------*-----------------Love; pure and whole
---------*--------------------Life-giving.

I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. - 1 Cor 9:23

Alpha Xi Delta or Alpha Delta Pi?

The looming & impossibly hard question had to be answered. I sat staring down at “the sheet” I had to write my decision on after the final preference ceremony on Saturday, August 28th 2010.
The fact I was even pondering that question is even ridiculous in some ways. Here I am in my third (and last) year at the UNI and I’m going through the formal recruitment process to join a sorority?! I honestly thought I’d gone crazy at one point during the process… but God is faithful and he showed me that it really was never about my comfort level but always about living for Him regardless of where I’m at.

So there I was, with a billion thoughts running in my head and all I thought was “God, why did I have to be invited back to BOTH preference ceremony’s!? I then, rapidly wrote down Alpha XI Delta and ADPi … I have no idea why I did it in that order other than Alpha Xi Delta was the last preference ceremony I went to but there you have it… my final decision and pledge. I have a fabulous pledge class and I’m extremely excited for the community I’ll have there!
I’m so excited to see what God has in store for me this year, and how He is going to fulfill Eph 3:20 in my life… and the life of so many others.

All for His glory – to know Christ and make him known to the ends of the earth!

Heather

P.S: Why doesn’t everyone go Greek? Seriously… I’m firmly convinced thus far that most everyone would love it!

Hello/Goodbye!?

Hello/Goodbye

I am insanely blessed. Insanely – that regardless of where I’m at I know leaving will be a little sad because of the fabulous people I’ll have to say “goodbye” to. At the same time, just knowing how many new individuals I’ll get to know and old friends to see makes me extremely stoked for the next adventure! This summer was EPIC – literally the best summer of my life (This is saying a lot, I’ve had some pretty great summers). My excitement level has been building as God continues to be unexplainably sweet and do immeasurably more than I can ask or imagine. (I am getting slightly overwhelmed with just how wide, deep, and long his LOVE truly is.)

So, I left Marshalltown for Cedar Falls – and here I am back at the lovely University of Northern Iowa! As previously stated, I’m so excited to be rushing! I meet my RHO Gamma (think of this as my Sorority Recruitment mentor) last night, and she’s great! Talking with the other RHO Gammas and fellow rushee’s (how precisely do you say that? Rush’s, girls who are rushing also, rushes’… hmm ) have also made me extremely ready for official rushing to start. I’m feeling an EPIC year coming – o wait it’s already begun!

Love.

Love.

You Know, the word everyone throws around left and right (myself included). The cliched term that can mean so many - millions - of different things. I want to live out that word. To truly give everything without wanting, expecting, or demanding any form of love back.

Action Step #1? Fighting the "all about me" nature.




Hannah Hummond "Love is to cast ourselves down like a waterfall, in happy giving."

Flashes of Clarity

There's something about driving in lighting storms that gets me every time. The slightly dangerous element of trying to see whats ahead with rain pounding down and wind violently thrashing the trees and bushes. Then the illuminations as lighting cracks letting me see for a moment. It's stunning. (This of course leads to other issues since instead of watching the road i happen to be looking elsewhere... but that's a different story :) ).



Driving in a storm tonight, I am reminded of the reason for the peace I have which transcends all understanding. A peace that I have not because of any confidance in my own abilities to survive or know what's next - but because I realize that the Lord will give me the same flashes of clarity on where to go next when it's best for me. Just one more reminder that even though what lays ahead may seem a little dangerous and sketchy, Christ already knows what's to come and will let me see the beauty which lays ahead in His perfect timing.

"In your presence Lord, I am completly satisfied"

So, clearly I havn't written anything in a very long time... and since I'm home now I thought I'd let you all in on some reflection/review time I've been blessed with since getting home yesterday (YAY!).

Faith, Prayer, & God's Promises:
This was by far by favorite week for a variety of reasons:

1: Check out Jehosaphat! What an incredible man of the Lord, I was in shock at his complete trust in the Lord's faithfulness as he praised God for the victory before the battle was even faught.

During this week I came to a shocking and difficult relization: i didn't trust God. In fact, I believed that He was capable of lying, and had lied to me repeatedly. I was slightly terrified as I realized the implications of it all; if God had lied to me, then He was really no God at all. As I began questioning him, He told me "Heather, sometimes I havn't fulfilled my promises to you how you'd like me too, but that doesn't mean I havn't fulfilled them. In fact more than that, I have blessed you far beyond what you've asked for." Whew! What a relief that "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill?" Numbers 23:19. it's been so sweet to praise the Lord for what He will do in the upcoming days, months, and years.

2. Promises to claim; it was so fun to grab onto a few of the promises God has given us specifically Eph 3:20 (He is able to do greater things than we can imagine),



before this summer started in Jacksonville I had never heard about "claiming promises", it was something I had done every once in awhile... but not often and definatly not very intentionally. I'm STOKED to see how God fulfills his promises!

Identity Crisis: Who Am I?

The past weeks focus looked at just who each one of us, individually, as followers of Jesus Christ. Not only that, but also what exactly holding one’s identity in the Lord actively looks like.

Before the week began, I was contemplating my identity as I previously knew myself in various facets; there is the person I present myself as, and the person who I truly am including both painful and joyful secrets. I know who I am in Christ – deeply loved, completely forgiven, fully pleasing, powerfully equipped, and complete in Christ. But I act according to the lies I believe – that I am vile and disgusting.

I didn’t really expect to hear anything I hadn’t before, going into the week since I knew who I was in Christ. I discovered, however just because I could tell someone who I am in Christ doesn’t mean I believe it because actions meet with beliefs. Unbeknownst to me, God started working on my heart’s identity before the week had started. Showing me how I truly identified myself as to others, and the lies I believed about myself. In retrospect, He had to break me so I could hear the message of what He, my creator, thought about me.

My Lord told me that I am holy in his sight, righteous and blameless. Insane? Yes. True? Yes. Am I capable of holiness? No, which makes the redeeming power of Jesus Christs blood all the more powerful, that through the simple acceptance of Christ and invitation for Him to be savior and Lord (ruler) of my life I am blameless in His sight. Regardless of the insane amount of things I do that are in direct opposition to everything my Lord is about, he still sees me as his beautiful daughter who he rescued from depravity and destructive obsessions. As I continue to soak in that knowledge of who I truly am; a child of the King, I am in awe of the Lord’s great power and strength!

God bless,

Heather

Spiritual Multiplication

Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.

Commonly referred to as the Great Commission, this is just one of many verses which gives the command to GO so that others may learn the Good News and to also teach them how to live righteous lives on earth. A mission that desperately needs to be taken outside of the U.S but that I also must share wherever I am, including Jacksonville Florida while I’m here.

Matthew 7:18 – 20 says “A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.” This scripture has been on my mind recently, and caused me to evaluate my own life and whether I truly do love others enough to share the power of Jesus death and resurrection, that erases our sin so that we can live eternally with God Along with loving new and old followers of Jesus Christ alike as we all strive to live righteously. So, I’ve begun to pray asking God to give me good fruit that I may remain in Him, growing and maturing in righteousness and bearing good fruit.

God is faithful, and has responded promptly to bless me with opportunities to plant seeds of the good news, see it sprout, and also stand besides it watching and encouraging growth.

This past weekend I was teaching a 9th grade Sunday school class with my friend Aly and a church member Ryan. The topic was sharing Christ in different cultures, and as we shared about going out and sharing the gospel in different settings and situations (Including the JAX beaches) Dillon, one of the guys, started asking questions on how to actively do it in his own life. As we were beginning to close, he said one of the most beautiful statements I’ve ever heard “So, can we do this?” I was, needless to say, ecstatic at his willingness and said “Yes! Come with!” His desire to go out is just one answer to my request that I can give what little knowledge of life in Christ I have with others. I am stoked about the opportunity to be of use in God’s kingdom on earth.

So, Wednesday I’ll be going with Aly today begin training and on Saturday we’ll be hitting the beach with a bunch of high school students willing to boldly proclaim the goodness of faith. I am so blessed to be given the opportunity to use the word of God to teach others (2 Tim 3:16) and excited! Please pray that:

• God will give us the wisdom & words to train the students
• A group of BOLD students
• God’s grace to be shared
• Teachability to both students and adults as we learn from each other
• Kristen & all other new believers.

Praise God for His faithfulness to fulfill all the promises He has given us!

For Lack of Better Title: UpDate!

This past week has been: difficult, a blessing, challenging, and overall one large lesson on the faithfulness of God to His children. He has shown once more that he brings to completion the promises He gives to obedient, expectant children and redeems our brokenness.

Difficult.. but a huge blessing: The first full work week was crazy but wonderful. I was able to establish relationships with all of my 4th, 5th, and 6th grade kids and not only find out who they are but also teach them who I am and what I’m about. I’m excited about the ministry opportunity and am excited to see how God uses me at Isle of Faith to further His Kingdom.

Challenging… and a large lesson on God’s faithfulness: Outside of work, the life lessons continue. Beach evangelism was difficult for me this week as I started out with two outright rejections, which is extremely rare. TJem. O was able to speak with a few more women who were polarized either fully serving the Lord or not even interested in spiritual matters. After, I was encouraged by a team member as we discussed how 1st) Our feelings don’t dictate our success, we are successful simply if we are obedient to Christ’s command to go and spread His word and 2nd) that some seed will fall on rocky, some on thorn infested ground, and some on fertile soil. God worked successfully to further His Kingdom & that was a great reminder of just how faithful God is to fulfill His promise to open the eyes of the blind.

Gods faithfulness in providing jobs and hours has also been refreshing this one area where I have seen myself grow simply in the realization that the Lord can, and will, provide for every need and that finances are a completely inadequate excuse to disobey the Lord’s command to go and make disciples.

Friday I was blessed tremendously with a day of communion with Christ, ministry, and fellowship and was reminded just how blessed those who call on the name of the Lord, and how privileged I am to share in Christ’s suffering along with His comfort (2 Cor 1:1-12).

God bless!!

JAX STP 411

I arrived in Jaxonville 17 days ago (after a sweet road trip down) and time has flown by at an insanely rapid pace... I wonder to myself how in the world it's already 6:45 a.m. on June 17th. Here's a small look into a typical day:

6:30: Run (Obviously I skipped it this morning to catch up on things like this :) ). And most importantly, sharing a wonderful morning with the few other morning people who are around (and the not so che

8:30 Work: I work at Isle of Faith Daycare and am with the oldest group (3-6th graders) all day which is pretty wonderful! They're precious kids ... even if they're a little obnoxious sometimes ... and we love each other for the weird quirks we all have.

6:00 Off Work: I don't work from 9 - 6 every day, more like every other and on the off days I go in at 2:30 which is nice because it gives me a lot of time in the Word, with Memorization, and cleaning "The Crossings" (our dormitory).

6:20 Back on campus for some grub

7:00 Evening Sessions (Nav Night/Workshop/1 on 1's/ Team bible study/ Date night)

9:00 chill time/bible study/fellowship... etc

I've been blessed with a wonderful team made up entirely of seniors has taught me so much already, and the members include:

Kayla: Team Leader, and a a JAX STP Alumni, she has a gentle and soft heart and enjoys cooking, movies, and studying the Word (naturally)

Amy: Is a good friend from UNI, and I've been so blessed to have her with me! I can't even begin to count the many ways I've been encouraged by her, and the great fun we've had (even though we tend to be opposites, it makes life so fun!)

Ally: Is from KU she enjoys stuffed dinos, frozen yogurt, and is our token backseat driver.

I'll give a more intense update later, (no really... i'll try... the internet in the dorms is really sketchy) but for now remain in the Fathers love, seek out His will and obey out of gratitude for what He has done for you.

Coffee Chats

Running through the front door, I spotted my good friend Lydia, and hurriedly ran and give her a hug. Exclaiming my apology for being late, I then look around slightly embarrassed, greeting everyone in the shop (who seemed to find my antics rather humorous (specifically, the man who watched me parallel park and end up on the curb...), with a smile and slight laughter.

Purchasing our cups of goodness we went to enjoy the glorious summer day in Iowa. Slowly, the last 6 months of stories began to pour out; with all of the scandalous and holy details. As one hour, then two passed; I became aware of how wonderful fellowship with old friends is. There's something about a friend who knows it all; the days where you didn't know what was up or down, and days where you think that the world belongs to you... the friend who you can still laugh with about that inevitable "awkward stage" and entrust every new secret of your heart to. The one who understands that walking with the Lord has never been easy, and it doesn't look to be easy in the future... and is right there walking along besides you anyways.


"Faithful friends are beyond price: No amount can balance their worth"

My Grace story is that God is RELENTLESS.

I grew up in a Christian family, said the sinners’ prayer by 7, and knew all the right answers to Bible Trivia by the time I was ten. I was the epitome of the good church girl, and before the age of 7 I knew I was going to “be a missionary” when I was older. I became enamored with the story of Mother Teresa, and other faithful believers who went on grand adventures to share the gospel and help the desolate, poor, and alien.

However, as I entered middle-school I became sick of Christianity, and began resenting all the rules it imposed on me. Quickly, I turned my back to God, telling Him that I didn’t need him to thrive. I started living a life obsessed with popular culture, and became an expert on living a double-standard lifestyle acting as a chameleon wherever I went. After a year of living a lifestyle going against God’s teaching, everything that I had built up to bring me happiness began to crash down around me. Slowly, I sunk into a deep depression that I blamed solely on God.

I hated God and I hated people.

God is faithful though, and he shone through my hatred bringing me back into His arms. I decided to give God a try again, and my sophomore year of high school I choose to go on a mission’s trip that changed my life – There I experienced for the first time the unspeakable joy of speaking freely about My Savior. This began a two-year time period where I was living the Christian lifestyle in a small and unremarkable way to make everyone around me comfortable. I was doing all of the right things, and in some ways even for the right reasons. In retrospect, the lifestyle I was living was simply to live up to the “perfect Christian girl” label I had.

Senior year I began walking away from the Lord again, I was getting sick of trying really hard and honestly didn’t see what was so great about the “Christian” life. To me, it seemed like a good excuse to judge everyone around me because of my “moral superiority”. From my senior year of high school to my first year at UNI I struggled with how I wanted to live. There was a large part of me that wanted to live for the Lord – but I didn’t know how to truly do that and honestly trying to force happiness through others acceptance, as miserable as it was, lay easily accessible in front of me.

Somehow, my brother managed to convince me to work at a camp in Colorado last summer, and God began blessing me with a community of believers who were seeking the Lord. As the summer ended, I began praying that God would give me someone at UNI that wanted to follow Him so we could journey together and find community. Thankfully, God is faithful and answered that prayer and I have come to my knees multiple times in wonder that God would bless me with so many wonderful people who truly love the Lord all around me.

As God has blessed me, I’ve come to understand that we are all blessed to be a blessing that others may also know the abundant life that God provides to all who follow Him. Honestly, I wish you could see the sick nature of my heart a year and a half ago, or even a few months ago – because God has been so incredible to take me from my miserable state of self-dependency to Christ-dependency. To a life that is so full of His joy & peace. I know that there will be tough times ahead, but I am confident that the Lord will continue the work He has begun in me and complete it.

The fact that I can stand and proclaim the name of the Lord is a testimony to His faithfulness and ultimate power over the devils evil schemes and my own inadequacies. I am in awe that he has brought me to a place where I am able to consistently choose obedience to His will and plan for me, instead of my own. To a place where I have finally come to the realization that His way is costly, but that it is WORTH the price. Because the joy and life that Christ brings is the only thing that makes this life meaningful.

I’ve tasted the darkness that those living apart from total surrender to Christ experience, and am desperately, earnestly clinging to the knowledge that the Lord can open the eyes of the lost to accept the Good News of Jesus death and resurrection! That they may experience the abundant life only He can give. Therefore my life mission is this: To zealously proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven to ALL nations that He may be glorified!

How Good the Lord is to relentlessly pursue!

The Shaikh People

This past semester I've taken Perspectives on the World Christian Movement (I HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who is following the Lord!) In Cedar Falls. It has been a huge blessing as I've come to see more of God's heart for the nations, and His desire to make himself known that all nations, tribes, and toungues may glorify His name (Matthew 28:18-20, Revelations 5:9).

My heart has grown more in line with The Lords throughout the past year. Becauseo f this, I have been meeting together with other in prayer for the nations, and have decided leaving UNI this semester to adopt an unreached people group. That I may ask the Lord to make His name known to one people group, that His name be glorified

The group I have chosen is the Shaikh people of Nepal. I chose them for a variety of reasons including:

1) God is growing in me a heart for the Muslim people, and I'm getting very excited to join in the work He has started to make His name glorified in the Muslim world.
2) Muslims are beautiful, beautiful people.
3) Strategy:The Shaikh people also have a large presence in the Panjabi region of Pakistan, including a large Sikh population (Sikhism is a religion similar to Hinduism that I have studied this past semester).
4)Nepal is fairly accesible through business start-ups, shelter homes, etc. and the Shaikh people of Nepal can reach those in their people group in the Panjabi region of Pakistan.
5) Least Reached People Group: The Shaikh people fall into this category meaning that they have noone trying to reach them with the Good News of the Kingdom of Heaven!




Shaikh Bio:
Occupations: Traditionally they are farmers, but many are now hold jobs in business, and public service.

Join me in praying that:
Spiritual Leaders Would come to Christ through visions and revelations
That the Lord would build up workers to go and reach the Shaikh people
That the Shailkh peoples hearts would be opened to the Gospel message

(Simply go to the Joshua Project to adopt your own people group, or learn more about the Shaikh people!)

Two Is Better Then One (For When One Falls, The Other Will Pick Him Up).

In the past semester I’ve had the amazing privilege of getting to know some wonderful people who LOVE the Lord, and genuinely seek Him in all that they do. This blessing has been one of those gifts from the Father that makes me want to fall on my knees forever in absolute wonder at His perfection in all things. However, this gift is new to me because for so long I’ve lived my life believing the dangerous lie that “I can live for Jesus alone”.

Ridiculous! We have been made for relationships, to love each other as Christ loves us. & Christ’s love is no watered down, easy love. No, it is perfection. A love that is beautifully freeing and intricate. This is how we are to love one another. To live as if I can be wholeheartedly pursuing the Creator of my soul separate from others who praise His name is impossible, I am merely a fallen human being saved by awe-inspiring grace.

I believe God created our inherent desire for relationship that we may, together, overcome the lies, attacks, and fear that Satan constantly throws at us. For a cord of three strands is not easily broken, likewise when friends come together as Servants of the Lord great things happen! Jesus name is proclaimed, people see His grace, and new sons and daughters of the King become zealous to share the Good News.

What an AMAZING, Powerful, Loving, Jealous King!

As my beautiful friend Paige would say “Satan better watch out!” because when God sends people out, two by two, things happen and The Kingdom is spread.

The Importance of Every Hour

The Importance of Every Hour

The more God is teaching me about his greatness my passion grows to share the gospel message with E.V.E.R.Y.O.N.E I meet; whether it be the gas station clerk, three American guy’s studying in the Union, or an international student. The more I’ve been stretched to manage every hour with great importance, not trying to waste a single second because “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Mt 24:36).

While it is imperative that sharing Christ and uplifting believers should be my primary passion, I began and am still struggling with trying to discover how to maintain other responsibilities (studies, work, family obligations) that I enjoy and require time. As an American, and more specifically an Iowan, a good work ethic is something that is coveted. Strong grades and long work hours are both widely seen to be greater than the Kingdom. In my contemplation of this issue God brought me to Ecclesiastes, a book of the Bible written by the Holy Spirit through the very wise King Solomon. “Meaningless! Meaningless! Says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is Meaningless!” Meaningless is used 35 times throughout Ecclesiastes. Woah, Solomon the most wise king who built up business and homes, had harems and anything else he wanted has come to the realization that literally e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g apart from God, and not for God is meaningless. This is a man who had it all - just like Brian Welch (KoRn), Andre Agassi, etc who discovered that at the end all of the fame and fortune just led to complete misery and despair.

Does this give me a reason to drop out of school and/or fail all of my classes? No, of course not it simply means that every class I go into should know the importance of Christ and the message of salvation. It means that I shouldn’t be studying alone, but with others to share Christ with them. It means that my life will look drastically different and go from worrying about every grade to considering how I am reflecting my King through all of my actions (including how I do on tests). “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:” (Ec 3:1) and because “I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him.” (Ec: 3:14). Therefore, in writing this I have come to the conclusion that God gives us an enormous blessing by COMMANDING us to Go Unto All The World (Mt 28:19)and thus I should strive to do so in every circumstance and situation, preaching the gospel every place my feet land.

The Faithfulness of the King!

God, being the perfect father that He is has given me the most amazing gift in this life. He allowed me to cultivate the seed’s he has sown and experience a new sister getting brought into The Kingdom! GOD IS SO GOOD! & I am so weak.

It was an atypical Tuesday night. I went to night class desperately begging for it to end at 8:00 p.m. because I really wanted to attend Navigators (a christian group on campus), the subject was homosexuality that night and it was an issue I have been contemplating and seeking insight about. It was a great session, approximately half of it was UNIFI and the other half was Navigators – many tough questions were asked and the speaker did an excellent job of speaking the truth. My heart broke during the session however, as I realized just how hard many of those presents hearts were.

Afterwards, my friend Katie, who has been an amazing blessing from God – she’s really pushed me to act out on my faith and has been a major factor in keeping me accountable – came up to me and we started talking. After a short discussion, we walked out about to leave. Unbeknownst to me Katie and a friend had planned to stop in the union on the way back to Campbell to talk with people about Jesus and their spiritual path.

Katie’s friend was having another spiritual conversation however, and so on the way back we went to the union instead. God meet us there – faithful as always – and did His wonderful work. Before we entered we prayed that He would lead us to softened hearts and willing ears.

God is faithful. First, we went and talked with three girls who we found out had just gotten back from Gods Mountain, after encouraging them in their faith and leaving them with “One Thing You Can’t Do In Heaven” by Mark Cahill (a HUGE factor in why we were even there) we left them to their discussion.

Then, God led us to a sweet sophamore woman who is in a spinercise class with Katie. She was willing to share her questions and thoughts on life after death, heaven and hell, etc. God took complete control, I mean absolute control and it was EPIC (as God always is). After a long discussion, and learning more about just who she is, where she came from, and sharing my Grace story I asked Katie if she wanted to accept Christ into her heart to know in all finality what we are living for, and what comes after this life ends. She did!

I was shocked, Katie was shocked and we were both extremely ecstatic – WE HAVE A NEW SISTER, AND GOD LET US BE USED TO DO IT! This show’s just how weak I am, knowing God’s power I still didn’t expect Him to be faithful and use me.

Needless to say, I am overwhelmed at the blessing God gives when we go out and obey His commandments, and just how overwhelmingly good the faithfulness of the King can be!