JESUS (and GOD) is AWESOME
What is crazy though, is that I have only actually MET 4 fellow ou(R) squad racers IN person. Training camp in Georgia, is only 35 days, when I will have the honour of meeting the rest of ou(R) squad in person. Launch in July itself, is only
78 days away…and I still have SO VERY MUCH to do.But GOD is still amazing
and He CLEARLY reminded me of this detail, time and time again lately. Ou(R) squad has not even LEFT North America yet, and already the evidence of GOD being ALIVE and moving throughout the team, is so very clear. From GOD providing a squadmate with $12,000 to be FULLY FUNDED (From a church that was NOT her own…seriously…read Ricci's story here) to God restoring family relationships, to physically healing a busted squadmates wrist (Read Marie's adventure HERE), to bringing in a combined fundraising total of $28, 000 in ONE WEEK…it is very clear that God has hand picked this squad. Read another sqaudmates praises to HIM here, as she sums it up very well!Although
we have lost squadmates (for a various reasons) recently, God is teaching/showing/reminding me that HIS plans, are FAR Greater than my own. I may not/will not understand a LOT of what He does-but that will NOT change the fact that He loves ME and YOU no matter what we have done, are doing, or will do. That is one of the wonderful things about the Grace HE offers. I had the privilage and honour of meeting up with some friends last night. One of them was a friend from France (you know, that country in Europe?!
), who I had not seen in person, in 4 years. As we sat and enjoyed coffee and cheesecake, we shared about what we learned in the last few years. As I was listening to them share, and then sharing myself…I realized that, although the majority of the past 4 years I have spent simply living on my home, working in youth ministry as a leader and working a 9-5 paying job, God has used this 'season' in my life to 'refuel' and 'relite' a fire for Him. This time at home, in a place that I am very comfortable in, has allowed me to secure my faith and become stronger in what I believe and in what I want others to see and believe. It has allowed me to really look at 'who I am', as a person, but also as a DAUGHTER OF THE KING.
True, the journey has NOT always been easy these last few years. My two trips to Zambia where a major time when I 'wrestled' with God, His Character and yes, even His love. Upon returning from my first trip there, I 'lashed' out at Canadian (North American) culture and the greedy driven, materialistic society that we live in. I hurt family realtionships in this process…for that I am so very sorry.
As much as a joy and blessing youth ministry has been…I have spent a LOT of time in prayer simply crying out to God for a youth, or a particular situation when I had no idea what to do. I asked myself constantly "How can I get it through to this youth, that she is beautiful and thatGod loves her…no matter what anyone else around her says?" I questioned the fact of 'why didn't God heal a sick little boy…a grandson of a local pastor in the community…when literally the WHOLE COMMUNITY was praying for him?' I found myself asking, "what does love truely look like, when fear (and hate) is the only response we can come up with? Can we ever actually attain/understand an Agape love?"
There has been a LOT more…yet through it,
Micah 6:6-8 has spoken volumes into my life
6 With what shall I come before the Lord
and bow down before the exalted God?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7 Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousand rivers of olive oil?
Shall I offer my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
8 He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Psalm 46 has always been a favourite of mine as well–> as it too, has spoken TRUTH into my life in times of need…and I know it will continue to.
God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
he lifts his voice, the earth melts.
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Come and see what the Lord has done,
the desolations he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spears
he burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth.”
The Lord Almighty is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
GOD BLESS
GO BLESS
(P.s. if you feel called to support me financially on this journey, do not forget to click "SUPPORT ME (FINANCIALLY) on the left side and follow through the online instructions! I am currently just over $4100. Every little bit helps!)
