Well everyone... here we are... the final push. I had hoped to have all of my support raised by the end of April, which is in two days by the way:) So... I have about $180/month left to raise. That's a little more than 7 people giving $25/month! Maybe that $25/month could be you or someone you know?!?
Please pray with me that the last support that I need will come in quickly so that I can focus on getting ready to go and just dealing with life and leaving well. Today I am overwhelmed and emotional and having a hard time wrapping my mind around so much change. So please keep me in your prayers.
Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Awesome Sunday
Yesterday was just a good day. It started out with church in the morning and this quote on the bulletin cover...
"The great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him" - CS Lewis Mere Christianity
I love the truth of this quote and I love that the Lord is a relentless pursuer of people, particularly me. I love that He is faithful on the, oh so many days, that I am not.
So, that was church and then birthday lunch with my family where I got many fun gifts, but especially a picture baby book that my mom made for me online! It was a great surprise!
Last night was my last night at Peace Church youth group :( Todd did an amazing job planning a goodbye party with kids bringing pictures for a scrapbook and cards that I have only begun to read b/c there were so many of them, and a slideshow of the last couple years. It was really fun to be loved on by my church family and reminded of God's faithfulness to me over the last 5 years. I have worked the best job I could have possibly asked for and I am going to miss it like crazy. I honestly can't believe my time at Peace is almost over... I'll post some pictures and other thoughts soon.
"The great thing to remember is that, though our feelings come and go, His love for us does not. It is not wearied by our sins, or our indifference; and, therefore, it is quite relentless in its determination that we shall be cured of those sins, at whatever cost to us, at whatever cost to Him" - CS Lewis Mere Christianity
I love the truth of this quote and I love that the Lord is a relentless pursuer of people, particularly me. I love that He is faithful on the, oh so many days, that I am not.
So, that was church and then birthday lunch with my family where I got many fun gifts, but especially a picture baby book that my mom made for me online! It was a great surprise!
Last night was my last night at Peace Church youth group :( Todd did an amazing job planning a goodbye party with kids bringing pictures for a scrapbook and cards that I have only begun to read b/c there were so many of them, and a slideshow of the last couple years. It was really fun to be loved on by my church family and reminded of God's faithfulness to me over the last 5 years. I have worked the best job I could have possibly asked for and I am going to miss it like crazy. I honestly can't believe my time at Peace is almost over... I'll post some pictures and other thoughts soon.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
The end is in sight...
Last week I had a sad moment of realizing that I had been reading my forms wrong from MTW. I was much closer to reaching the end of my support in my head than in real life :( That is never good news. After a conversation with my representative in the office, I realized I had $5,500 left in my one-time need. That night I had a support meeting with a family from church and at the end of the meeting they told me that they wanted to give me the $5,500 that I needed. What?!? God is so good. I told this story to a friend who replied, "Shannon it seemed like God took that money away just to show you that He is the one who provides for you." And it's true. Sometimes I need that reminder in such a tangible way!
So, all that to say, I have 96% of my monthly support. I need to raise about $180/month more in pledges or $5000 and then I'll be finished! So, if you've been holding off to be one of my last pledges, the time is now :)
God is so faithful to provide, not only for me, but also my team members. The Clow family got the last of their support this week and we'll be in La Ceiba the first week of May! We are so thankful for that!
Keep praying...
So, all that to say, I have 96% of my monthly support. I need to raise about $180/month more in pledges or $5000 and then I'll be finished! So, if you've been holding off to be one of my last pledges, the time is now :)
God is so faithful to provide, not only for me, but also my team members. The Clow family got the last of their support this week and we'll be in La Ceiba the first week of May! We are so thankful for that!
Keep praying...
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
A ridiculous day
This is the end of a ridiculous day. It’s been exhausting and emotionally draining. I’ve run late everywhere that I’ve gone and I didn’t even begin to answer my phone every time it rang. And yet, in the midst of a crazy day – a crazy life… I am so at peace. The LORD is good to remind me that HE is more than enough for me at every moment and in every way.
***Aside: to explain the precious baby pictured on my facebook…
I have had the privilege of loving on and caring for little Wesley for the past couple weeks while his mom makes some big life decisions. He is stealing my heart a little bit more every day and I am blown away by the miracle of life. My God is a brilliant creator who not only creates tiny little people who are fully functional, but He gives them sweet little personalities that grip your heart every time they grin or laugh or act like rolling over is the hardest thing they will ever have to do!
That said… let me tell you one way the Lord encouraged me today. In the midst of running late, I had a hungry baby and too many errands to run in downtown Cary. So after visiting the tailor and waiting in a 30+ minute line at the post office, it was way past eating time. Ashworths drugstore seemed like a great place to get bottle-temperature water, and I got a diet coke to validate my presence (and b/c I was thirsty and caffeine addicted). Babies have a way of attracting people and I spent the next twenty minutes talking to the nicest 90 year old Scottish man who told me all about his family, his time in the Royal Navy, and his infant grandson. So precious! And then the high school kid at the counter didn’t make me pay for my drink. What small blessings… but they made my day.
Also, the Lord’s provision… I did a support presentation on Sunday night and heard from 2 people before the night was out who want to support me. I have NEVER had such a quick response before. I was blown away.
Thank you to each of you who continue to be a blessing to me and show me little glimpses of the Lord. I love it. And thank you to John at Ashworths. I loved meeting you.
***Aside: to explain the precious baby pictured on my facebook…
I have had the privilege of loving on and caring for little Wesley for the past couple weeks while his mom makes some big life decisions. He is stealing my heart a little bit more every day and I am blown away by the miracle of life. My God is a brilliant creator who not only creates tiny little people who are fully functional, but He gives them sweet little personalities that grip your heart every time they grin or laugh or act like rolling over is the hardest thing they will ever have to do!
That said… let me tell you one way the Lord encouraged me today. In the midst of running late, I had a hungry baby and too many errands to run in downtown Cary. So after visiting the tailor and waiting in a 30+ minute line at the post office, it was way past eating time. Ashworths drugstore seemed like a great place to get bottle-temperature water, and I got a diet coke to validate my presence (and b/c I was thirsty and caffeine addicted). Babies have a way of attracting people and I spent the next twenty minutes talking to the nicest 90 year old Scottish man who told me all about his family, his time in the Royal Navy, and his infant grandson. So precious! And then the high school kid at the counter didn’t make me pay for my drink. What small blessings… but they made my day.
Also, the Lord’s provision… I did a support presentation on Sunday night and heard from 2 people before the night was out who want to support me. I have NEVER had such a quick response before. I was blown away.
Thank you to each of you who continue to be a blessing to me and show me little glimpses of the Lord. I love it. And thank you to John at Ashworths. I loved meeting you.
Friday, April 9, 2010
surrender
Surrender. This is a word that we hate. In my mind it means giving up. Surrender means loss. It’s associated with losing something, probably something that we love. In my battle with the Lord right now surrender is a hot spot. In Scripture, God promises that surrender is a good thing. Giving up all of ourselves to the Lord is a good thing and it is for HIS glory and for our good. It really is better to give up all of our mess to Jesus. In my head I believe this. In my heart this still feels like loss. My prayer in the last couple weeks is that the Lord will turn that around.
I want surrender to feel like victory and not like loss.
But I can’t make that happen. All that I can do is trust that obedience to the Lord looks like surrender. I have to give up my sin and my temptations and my doubts and my fears and all the things that I like holding on to so tightly. I have to trust that He knows what to do with them better than I do. And then, I’m praying that as I slowly peel back my fingers from the vice-grip I have on my heart, that God will allow me to feel free, to feel victory, to experience the joy of knowing that I belong fully to HIM.
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