Friends, Family and fellow Race aficionados,
It is four in the morning and I am sitting in the Chicago airport sipping my last cup of Starbucks coffee (Pumpkin Spice). I took my last hot American shower at 1am this morning and traded in the last few hours of sleep in my warm hotel bed for something much more restful and fulfilling, a night in prayer with my sisters. It was the first time my team and I really got to be alone and be ourselves without an assignment or agenda. We had no candle to light during our prayer time, so we cozied a head-lamp next to a full Nalgene bottle and the fuzzy glow had the same effect. We fly to the Dominican Republic in a few hours and I can’t believe I am here. Not only here, but that it has already started. I have been away from home for five days now, and even though I miss my family and friends already (notes keep falling out of my bible which lead to random ugly bursts of tears), I can literally feel God’s love and presence tangibly around me and there is nothing more intoxicating.
So this is it, the big leap. Before I go, I wanted to send a huge heartfelt thank you for sending me. It is crazy to believe I am fully funded before I even stepped foot on foreign soil. But God set the bar for miracles here already, so get ready for all that He has to come. It is going to be fire! I’m holding His hand tight and looking forward. I carry you all with me and can feel your love and prayers strengthening me every day. Believe in how powerful your voice is and how fast our Father responds. I could not have made it two inches out the door if it weren’t for you all. I love you so much and I carry you with me, in my heart (and in a huge bag of love letters many of you have written me!) Thank you. I wrote a poem for all my prayer warriors. May it empower you to press in and speak out on my behalf (my team and squad too!). You are ferociously loved by our heavenly Father, and by a missionary somewhere out in the world whistling a tune towards heaven.
^
^^
^^^^
The Sea
God spoke it
Moses parted it
Jesus walked on it
John baptized with it
The Spirit hovered over it
Now, all I have to do is cross it!
But no need to worry. God’s got my back:
::
::
“If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your
hand will guide me; your right hand will hold
me fast.”
–Psalm 194:4
Dear Prayer Warrior,
I wrote a poem for you. I hope you like it.
Wind in the Sails
I am a mighty sailboat
Sailing out to sea
No fearing what may lie ahead
For Jesus carries me.
My anchor is His Word
My sail’s made for His Spirit
He sends me to proclaim them both
To any that will hear it.
I will not fear the seas ahead
The rocks, the storms, the breakers
Try to thwart this Pilgrim’s Progress
I’ll say, “Go meet your Makers!”
He walked upon the waters
And calmed them with His voice
‘Cause when they heard Jesus speak
They really had no choice.
You want to know a secret?
Unbelievable but true?
That same power Jesus had
Resides inside of you!
You’ve done so much already
How could I ask for more?
But for the purpose of this poem,
One last thing I’ll implore.
My ship it runs on wind
To propel across the waters
This wind is born from open mouths
Of God’s own sons and daughters.
So pray pray pray pray pray!
And then go pray some more!
Until this ship returns
Anchored safely by the shore.
And where the winds will carry me
I’ll never go alone
My sails receive power
From my armada back at home.
Now, just like I’m a sailboat
Did you know that you’re one too?
Our Captain has a special course
Mapped out that‘s just for you!
A ship in a harbor may be safe,
But like a flower in shade will wilt
Unless sent out to brave the seas
For that’s why ships are built!
