DTS

  So, it's been over month since I've updated. I didn't mean for it be so long without updating, but it just happened. It's been a busy month!

  A couple weeks ago, I sent in my application to do a DTS(Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). I had decided that if it got turned down, God was sending me a different direction. But, I got accepted.

   God is leading me to YWAM next September. I am so very excited to be able to do this. I know it's going to be hard, but I also know that it's the best possible thing I could be doing with my life for now...

  The next step for this is raising money... The entire cost of the DTS is $5300, not including outreach airfare ($800-$2000). I am asking that you would not only pray for me during this time, but also please prayerfully consider sponsoring my DTS.

   I have set up a couple different sites to help keep you up to date if you feel like following my DTS journey.

  Like me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/sendmedtsjourney
  Donate online: http://www.myywamdts.myevent.com/3/donate.htm
  Follow my blog: myywamdts.blogspot.com

  Thank you!

Wrapped in Grace

   Being a human, as we all are, we sometimes have to remind ourselves to give others grace. We have to remind ourselves to give others that undeserved love and forgiveness. Do we always do it? 

   No.

   We don't always do it. It's a process. We all get impatient, we all yell sometimes, we all get mad. We're human. It's going to happen. But, the Bible says to be an example of Christ. Jesus walked this earth and gave us so much grace that we didn't deserve. 

   Jesus, a perfect human being, came down to our sinful earth. He showed us what grace is on the cross. While he was beaten, mocked, and tortured.... While blood was dripping down his aching body... While thorns were being jabbed into his head.... He never complained. A few of his last words on the cross were, "Father, forgive them." 

"Father, forgive them." 

   That's grace. We didn't deserve what he gave, but he gave it to us. He gave us grace, to show us who He is. He gave us love. He took OUR punishment that we deserved. He took all of our sins with him to the cross. 

   The perfect human being that ever walked the face of the earth, died for us. He died for everyone. We just need to accept his free gift of salvation. With salvation comes grace. It's a package. 

   Salvation is wrapped in grace.

   If grace is just the wrapping for salvation, how much better can the inside be? Salvation is eternal life with Jesus Christ. Grace is undeserved love and forgiveness, and Salvation means eternal life with Jesus. What a great gift! 

   Have you opened your gift yet? 

Something for today~

   Everyday I find myself questioning God's authority. Every time I question it, whether it be once or a hundred times a day, God always responds back with a question.

Do you trust me?

   Every time that question is asked, I find myself pausing and doing a quick check through me. Every time I answer yes. I do trust Him. I trust His plan for me. 

   To say that I never get frustrated hearing that question over and over on a daily basis, well, that'd be a lie. 

But, I realize that the reason that God asks me that, is because I was questioning his authority in the first place. It's my fault that he asks me that over and over, and I have no right to get mad at Him because he asks it. 

   We all need reminders. Sometimes just simple notes or kind words like, "I love you." or "You can do it, and I'll be here to encourage you every step of the way." 

Simple things usually mean the most. 

   Try it. Do something sweet and simple for someone who needs it today. Whether it's a kind word, touch, or smile. Just do it. You won't regret it. 

    

Faith > Fear

   Fear is what holds you back from experiencing life to the fullest.

   Faith is what pushes you forward and lets you experience life to the fullest. 

   Fear pulls you down. 

   Faith pushes you up. 

   Fear takes away joy.

   Faith lets you experience joy. 

   Fear may seem strong and intimidating, but in reality it isn't. 

   Faith is greater than fear. Faith is stronger than fear. 

   True faith is found in Christ. Faith is believing in something that is unseen. 

   Too often, my fear of opinions and of failure hold me back and keep me from doing what God wants me 

    to do. If it keeps me from doing it, and I don't do it, regret is what happens. 

    Regret happens when we know that we've missed an opportunity that we should have taken.

    ~

    We need to get over ourselves. We need to let our faith in God conquer our fear of failure. 

     It's easier said than done. I know. A lot of things in this world are easier said than done. 

    Our fears of doing what God asks of us tend to hold us back from doing what God asks of us. 

    We need to stop thinking about what might happen or go wrong, and just do it and give it to God. 

    Once we accept Christ as our Lord and Savior, our life is His. We are God's hands and feet in this 

    world. We are his children. We can choose to obey or disobey. 

    

     Disobeying God usually means we just missed an opportunity to grow and be stretched through Him. 

     But when we actually choose to obey God, we are blessed because of it. 

     There is a verse in Matthew 5 verse 11. It says, "Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you 

     and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." 

     We are blessed when we obey God and if we obey and are insulted and persecuted because of it, we 

      are also blessed. 

      Letting our faith conquer our fear is such an amazing feeling. When we have fear about doing something,       but know in our hearts that we're supposed to do it, and we do it, we are blessed. If we don't do it, 

      we've missed out on an opportunity to grow closer to God and depend on Him more. 

     Dare to let your faith and trust in Jesus Christ be bigger than your fears. 

    

Eucharisto

Eucharisto~ It means grace, thanksgiving, and joy.

~

   This entire year has been a learning year for me. I've been learning how to accept God's free gift of life and with that comes unending, overflowing, grace. I've been realizing through a couple different people who have really challenged me with things this year, that gratitude is very important. Lastly, I've been learning to find the joy in any and every circumstance of everyday.  

   This year's word seems to be eucharisto.

   Resting in the open arms of Jesus and being filled to the brim with grace, thanksgiving, and joy. That's what God wants for each one of us. He just wants us to run to him and learn to rest in his safe arms that are always open.

   Doesn't that sound glorious? It does. If you're anything like me, you like to be in control of things. Have your own plan. You worry about things that haven't even happened yet. You might rerun conversations in your head before they even happen. You sometimes have a hard time staying in the present time instead of dwelling in the past or focusing on the future.

   One thing that I've been learning this past year is how important it is to remember the past but don't dwell in it, think about the future but don't focus on it. Instead, live in the moment.

  I know how hard living in the moment can be. I still struggle with that every day. But, I've realized that every moment holds so much joy... We just have to be willing to search for it. In the midst of dark day, there is always joy. Learn to search for it.

  God gave us this earth to live on for a reason. He gave us so many little simple gifts of joy on a daily basis, and I realize now how little credit we give him. Giving thanks to God is so very important. He loves to hear us say, "Thank you, God."

  Even if it is just as simple as bubbles glimmering in the afternoon sun. Or maybe it's something like the purring of a kitten. They don't have to be big complicated things. Just simple little joys in the midst of darkness.

   

   

My dream, and God's dream.

As a young child, dreams often come in all sorts of shapes and forms.

Maybe a firefighter, Subway worker, nurse, or electrician...

As a child, dreams seemed endless. They all seemed possible.

It seemed impossible to choose only one.

Given the chance, we would have jumped at the opprotunity to live our dream.

But, just because it's our dream for our life, doesn't mean that it's God's dream for

our life.

Having a life-long dream can be changed in what seems like an instant.

Seeing something, being broken, feeling changed, and knowing love can change everything

you thought you knew.

Everything you thought you knew you wanted for your life can disappear in an instant.

It just takes a situation, a broken heart, being changed, and knowing love.... But most of all,

it takes God working in your heart.

What I wanted for my life wasn't what God wanted.

My lifelong dream was taken away, and a new one was laid.

I was given an excitement and a peace that I had never experienced before.

It was an excitement for a greater purpose. An excitement that God had given me, and peace in

knowing that it was God working.

My life took a turn into a road that I never would have taken... A road that I used to have no desire

to enter.

God changed all that, and he changed me.

He loved me, and revealed to me that he had a different plan in mind for me.

My dream for my life would have eventually led to a dead end, and a feeling of uselessness. I realize that with this changed dream that was God-given, I would be happy. I would know that I am doing what God wants for me.

My dream change wasn't painful, it was peaceful. I felt content. I felt loved. And, I felt like everything that I've been through and am going through is for a greater purpose.

I knew that my purpose in life was found. I also knew that God was doing this all for the greater good.

My dream change was necessary so that I could live a better purpose in life. A purpose that would be far more fulfilling than my life-long dream ever would.

My eyes were opened, my heart was broken, my mind was changed, and my dream was found...

Waiting.

   Getting back into my daily 'normal' routine is seeming impossible right now. The things I used to be able to ignore, I can't anymore. I feel a deeper longing to help in someway... To love more. To help more. To encourage more.

   God has placed me in the States for this point in my life. I'm trying to remember that what I want for my life is no longer what I want. I want to follow God and strive for perfection in my relationship with Him.

   I know that at some point in my life, I am going to be living a life on the mission field. I'm praying that God will guide my steps as I continue to pursue His purpose for me. If I go right after high school, that's fine. If I have to wait any amount of time for God's timing, I'm praying that he will give me the patience I need to wait and the heart I need to accept it.

   This past year has been really hard, but I can look back now and realize that it really has all worked together for good, and I know that it will continue to work together for good.

   "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

   That's the hope I cling to. I have to constantly remind myself lately that my life isn't mine anymore, it's God's life. He can use me as he wants, and I know that he will give me what I need to live it out.

   Despite how hard coming back from Ecuador has been on me, I know that there was a reason for that trip, and that reason was to show me that my dreams for myself weren't God's dreams for me.

  I love the country of Ecuador, and the many people I met. I loved the sunrises in the morning, and the sunsets at night. I loved the breezy days and the chilly nights. I loved the simple way of living. I loved the kids. I loved the vibrant green jungle. I loved the sound of the rain on the roof at night. I loved it. Every minute seemed unreal. I want to go back to Ecuador at some point, but it's up to God. If he calls me back, I will go. But if not, I know that something even better awaits.