happy birthday Karen!

Karen is a sophomore at Furman from Pennsylvania. If you saw my video from the summer, you've met Karen!!
About a month ago, we had a party for Karen at my house for her Birthday!!!

Karen is one of the girls who always asks me how Im doing- and really has taken the time to get to know me, ask me questions. Her genuine heart and tender spirit always warm my heart:)

I will sing of my redeemer...

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His wondrous love to me;
On the cruel cross He suffered,
From the curse to set me free.

Sing, oh, sing of my Redeemer,
With His blood He purchased me,
On the cross He sealed my pardon,
Paid the debt, and made me free.

I will tell the wondrous story,
How my lost estate to save,
In His boundless love and mercy,
He the ransom freely gave.

I will praise my dear Redeemer,
His triumphant pow'r I'll tell,
How the victory He giveth
Over sin, and death, and hell.

I will sing of my Redeemer,
And His heav'nly love to me;
He from death to life hath brought me,
Son of God with Him to be.


The composition was found in a piece of baggage rescued from a fiery train wreck on the day of December 20, 1876. The poem’s author, 38-year-old Philip P. Bliss, has been traveling with his wife to Chicago to fulfill an engagement at D. L. Moody’s Tabernacle.

Near Ashtabula, Ohio a bridge collapsed and the train plunged into an icy river bed. It is said that Bliss survived the fall and climbed out through a coach window only to return, looking for his wife. Reunited, they died together in the flaming wreckage.


a beautiful, simple hymn.

fun things.

today, despite things not going by my plan, God blessed me greatly. If you know me, you know that my like and dislikes lists must include the following:

likes:
reading and journaling
exercise
people
life stories
any small animal

dislikes:
well, i was born a pessimist so i wont fill that out, but lets just say, when i dont accomplish all i want/plan to :(

Today, I woke up at 6:30, had 2 hours with God, all to myself, THe house was so quiet you could hear a mouse run across the floor if it dared. I studied acts 2, journaled, read my fav blog (scotty smith's http://thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/scottysmith/), and really heard God speak to me in Acts 2 about community, and trusting the Lord to add to our number daily, not Lindsay owens to add to the number and do all the work.

Later, I took a short nap, went to the halls at Furman and had a heart to heart with Laura, a sophomore...God is doing amazing things, so much that we both were almost in tears at HIS faithfulness, HIS work, HIs power.

Then, I went to ZUMBA!! a dance class...interestingly enough in the old building where we had our meetings. It was crazy, but so energizing and completely FUN. I even got a treat to see my old boss from atlanta bread!!

At my favorite time of day, nearing sunset when the sky is periwinkle, I went to furman by the lake. What appeared in my path by God's sovereign grace?? A tiny dog!!! what a joy...turns out the lady was a christian, we sat and talked for an hour. Our pasts were so similar, and for one of the first times, I had victory in the Lord to share my wounds with another wounded. amazing grace that we are saved by.

Then, I got to come home and talk to lynn. We never get to talk on weekdays because of our schedules,but God knew we needed to laugh and pray together.

One of my conclusions is that God knows what we need. I had planned on going to the dorms for 3 hours. Even now I feel guilty...and am repenting of this need to control and do all things. Even small interruptions, chance encounters, and dance classes are gifts from HIm.

Father, help me trust you with these girls at Furman. I want them to know you first, I want to love them and share you with them, but I want to be led by the Spirit, and to trust you completely. Help me trust you and not myself, and thank you that you give me rest, even when I think I dont need it. Thank you that my job allows me to share daily and grows me like nothing else. Give me an undivided heart. I love you Dad.

This prayer really spoke to my heart.

God is desiring more freedom in my life, and teaching me about what it means to be fully broken, real, and needy of HIm. Scotty Smith writes,


A Prayer About More Freedom from Jesus

“If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

Dear Lord Jesus, I’m still not as free as you intend. Though you’ve already freed me from trying to earn my salvation by anything I do or based on anything in me… though you’ve already liberated me from the illusion that I can earn more of God’s love by ramping up my obedience and decreasing my foolishness… though the chains of condemnation have already been broken and the fears of death, Judgment Day and the future have been sent packing… I’m still not as free as you intend.

I’m still a babe… a neophyte… a raw rookie in so many gospel-freedoms. Only the gospel helps me see and acknowledge these things. Only your grace keeps me from going to shame and self-contempt as I offer these prayers…

Jesus, please free me for being less irritated… more often… with fewer people. Please turn my hair-trigger reactions into slower, wiser responses. Please help me to use less words and more listening, when engaging others. Please unshackle me from the illusion of control and my commitment to a pain-free heart.

Jesus, please liberate me from thinking about the next thing, so I can be present in the current moment. Please help me make better eye contact and heart connection with others. Please help me to be more intrigued with people I don’t know and less timid around strangers.

Jesus, please break even more of the chains of my insecurities. Please free me from the grave-clothes of feeling incompetent about important things in life. Please unfetter me from thinking too much about what I’m not… by showing me more of you and who I am in you.

Jesus, please free me for greater spontaneity… louder laughter… saltier tears… and quicker repentances. So very Amen, I pray, in your most compassionate name.

Discipline:The Glad Surrender

Right now I'm reading Elisabeth Elliot's book called Discipline: the Glad Surrender. Its really making me think about what God really calls us to when He calls us to Himself, to come and die and live a new life.
She says, "the conditions are not such as attract multitudes. Jesus stated them :

1. He must leave self behind
2. he must take up his cross
3. and come with me

The result of the decision is guaranteed:
1.Whoever cares for his own safety is lost
2.but if a man will let himself be lost for my sake, he will find his true self

Elisabeth says that to be a Christian MEANS we are disciples...means that we leave ourselves behind.
So often I hear myself saying, like those she mentions, "Yes, I'll be a disciple, but no, I certainly don't want to leave self behind."

This is the essence of being a Christian. And its very hard...I know God is teaching me about how selfish and self reliant I am right now. Following Christ is not as simple and easy as praying a prayer, reading the Bible, and going on your merry way..it is about denying self and living for Christ! Before I was a Christian, I lived totally for myself, so the same sin creeps into my life as Christian- selfishness. I know God is changing me day by day, and I have to trust Him that He can and will. And that the Gospel isnt about me, not about doing enough good things...but this challenges me
Do I really believe that Christ is worth it? Do I believe He deserves my all? Is He my treasure alone?

Gal 2:20
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Praying that will be true for me every day.

fundraising

My blog has been staring at me today, but somehow theres not that much to write about all my girls....Im fundraising. Most definitely the most challenging part of being a missionary in America! All the time I experience things like..."What a minute..where are you going?"
me: "what do you mean?"
"i mean, where are you going to be a missionary?"

Me: "the college campus. Furman University."

"oh. I thought you said you were going to be a missionary."

Sometimes I feel guilty that Im not in the 10/40 window, doing the real thing. Hang on.. This IS the real thing, Maybe not forever here in America, but for now. I know that people who think that missions exist only outside america dont mean to be rude or anything, maybe they have never talked to anyone outside a church about Jesus, faith, God, eternity, But, I challenge you- do it. Talk to someone that you may have known forever and not talked about spiritual things to, or someone you have just met, at the store, getting your nails done, wherever, and experience the truth - most people dont know HIm. Theyve heard of Him but they dont deeply know Him. Live for Him, treasure Him, spend time with HIm. we must tell people in our nation about the only One who can save us. Jesus.

Once upon a time, I had no idea there was more to being a Christian than just going to church and being a good person. I thought missionaries only needed to go to where people were hungry and physically broken. Somewhere not as fortunate. But, ironically, someone was a missionary TO ME. Someone came to me on the college campus. Someone helped me see the truth, and the need that right next door to my dorm room, across the hall, in the library, the dining hall, everywhere, people were wasting their lives. Ive learned this year how needy every single person is of a Savior. They may look like they have it all together on the outside, but what about their heart? We must be Jesus to the hungry, the poor, the brokenhearted, but we must also be Jesus to the rich, the businessman or woman, the arrogant teenager who is living for the future, the middle class mom who relies on herself to get things done. I was one of those people, searching for something, nothing was working. Until God changed me. I really really really really see a need for us to send people to our own children and youth. No one ever asked me about my personal relationship with Jesus till i was 19 years old.

Anyways, I have about 2 weeks to try and raise the remainder of my financial support! Pray that God provides. I have about 400 dollars a month left to raise, and I am praying that God supply it by July 21st. A big prayer I know, but please join me in it. I can tell you that while I have been meeting with people, I have been SO ENCOURAGED. Seeing people in Rutherfordton living for something greater than themselves. Seeing how they raise their children to be godly. Seeing how they want to be a part of reaching this next generation of leaders. And getting to share the joys of this past year with people.

here is a verse i am praying for this time in my life:phil 3:12-14

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I
press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Pray for the Unreached!

I was thinking of ideas for missions for our students, and remembered I wanted to post my missionary's story on here for all of you to read!

Have you ever heard of the 10/40 window? Its the largest area of non Christians in the world, which are mostly unreached- have never heard the name of Jesus, most don't have Bibles or missionaries to tell them the good news. According to another website, 1% of missionaries go there (so 99% are reaching the reached) and .05% of missions funds are sent there. We must pray for God to send out workers into the harvest field, to the reached and the unreached!!

Matt 9:37-38

Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

Matthew 24:14

"And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come."

Everyone must hear the news!!!

I support a missionary named Harpreet in India through the gospel of asiahttp://www.gfa.org/, check it out!

here is her story-

Harpreet's Testimony

I was born February 2, 1991 into a non-Christian family in India. My parents were devout in worshipping and performing pujas (rituals) to our gods but I had no interest in taking part in any activities of our religion. On the other hand, I was an atheist and argued with friends and family about the existence of God.

As I grew up, I was very staunch in my personal belief but never understood that there is a living God who is my Savior. My family always counseled me to change my attitude and to follow their religion and they explained the principles that the religion emphasized. However, I continued to live a life according to my will and desire. Thus I have no interest to know the reality.

It was during this time, my mother happened to take active participation in the religious activities. She became a follower of a god-woman and began to worship her. One day, my mother fell sick and was rushed to the hospital. The whole family was worried and was not able to understand what to do? Life became miserable when the doctors explained us that my mother had a heart problem and need to undergo an operation immediately. We were discouraged and my father struggled to meet the expenses for the operation.

At this desperate situation, my father happened to meet a Bible woman in my aunt's home. After knowing the critical condition of our family, she shared the Gospel and requested my father to believe in Christ to attain healing and to bring my mother to a nearby church for prayer. As a last resort, my father was convinced and we happened to take my mother for prayer. The Spirit-filled worship and the powerful Word comforted us. As the days passed by, slowly my mother recovered and received complete healing. The river of joy filled my heart, and I understood that God is real and Christ Jesus is the only God. So, I began to spend more time in attending church meetings and prayer fellowships.

My mother's deliverance helped me to understand the need of knowing the Lord personally. Meanwhile, my pastor shared with me the Gospel and in no time we confessed my sins along with my family members and received Jesus as my personal Savior. From then on, I experienced great peace in my heart. Later, I made a public testimony of my faith.

After transformation, seeing my interest in spiritual matter, my father asked me to seek God's will for my life. In due time, I received the call and began to help my pastor in all the activities of my church. Soon, I understood the importance of a systematic study of the Word and the desire to know the Lord closely. I then joined a Bible School to train myself for the ministry ahead.

Present Ministry

I am presently serving the Lord as a Bible woman in India. The majority of the people among whom I am working are non-Christians. To expand God's kingdom, I share His Word through Gospel tract distribution, house visitation and home prayer fellowships. I also work among women and children.

Please pray for me that I may fulfill God's plan to expand His kingdom.

Pray for her as she shares, pray for the nations!