Did you say 36?????!!!!!

Just a very quick update.....

As you can see on the side bar countdown, we are leaving in 36 days!!!!  It seems so unreal.

I have rented my home, which was causing some unnecessary stress.  Through the process though I have learned some very good lessons about faith and trust.  Leave it with God, without taking it back, and He will bring the RIGHT people.  Thank you Lord for teaching me to rely on you, and you alone.

We have had two successful fundraisers, with the help of my trusted La la's.  Raising close to $4500!!!  AMAZING!  What an awesome confirmation from God that He has called us to this.

Mackenzie and I are both doing well.  I am having a bit of a hard time with the thought of giving up the comforts of home if I may be completely honest.  God is bigger than any of these comforts though, and He will provide peace.  I am fearful at times too, but God has directed me to this passage:

 Isaiah 41:9-10
I have called you back from the ends of the earth, saying, ‘You are my servant.’
For I have chosen you
and will not throw you away.
10 Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.

I have made the mistake of thinking this journey is about me, in my fear and my struggle.  God is revealing a bigger truth, this is about HIM and HIM alone.  I feel privileged to be asked to give up what I have here in Ontario, Canada to be His hands and feet in this big world of His.  To Him be the glory!

Now I must go and ready myself for some packing and organizing!!!

Blessings,

Everyone needs a few La La's

You've heard of Ya Ya's.  

I have La La's.  A sisterhood.  Friendships that focus not on age, personality, or backgrounds. 

We don't have any weird ceremonies or chants, athough I may come up with a chant someday, might be fun!!!  We have come together with one thing in common beyond all other things, a love for Jesus.

This post is to honour each one of them.  These women have come alongside Kenzie and I in this mission journey in ways that I never thought women could do.  These women are prayer warriors.  These women are special.  These women have been a gift from the Lord.....for such a time as this.  I could not be doing what I am doing without them. 

Thank you Jesus for these ladies.

And so, without further ado, I introduce you to my La La's...in no particular order....

Bonnie -  You give me the courage to be me.
Connie -  You are genuine and loving.
Gwen - You have a true servants heart, it is beautiful.
Jean - My BFFWAOP (best friends forever with an old person).  You are so real and true.
Joan - Organizer extrodinaire.  Your laughter is contagious and beautiful.
Karen - Your honesty and vulnerablity give me the strength to be so also.
Laura - You have taught me things I never knew I needed to know. You cheer me on.
Lynn - You are full of grace and joy.
Margaret - You are an inspiration to me in so many ways, you take the time to really see people.
Marilyn - You are dedicated to those around you.
Nikki - Having only knowing you a short time, your willingness to help has made my heart smile.
Patricia - You have a beautiful way about you, you have true integrity.
Patty - You are generous and have a heart of gold.
Sharon - You are compassionate and full of mercy.
Sherri - You are a prayer warrior.  Your spirit makes me want to sing.
Shirley - You have a quiet loving way about you.
Sue - Your words speak directly to my heart.
Cecile -  You have no judgement in you, you see people for who they are and love them no matter what.

In all of you ladies, I see Jesus; You have all inspired me to be strong and courageous; You are all my warriors, encircling me, ready to do battle for Kenzie and I. You have all shown great love,compassion and support.  May you all be abundantly blessed because of what you have done for Kenzie and I. Thank you.

Again I say.....we all need a few La La's around us!!!!

Blessings,

The Call

Throughout my life I have heard about people being "called" to this or that, not really understanding what that meant. I suppose when I was really little I imagined this big cloud appearing to these people and a loud booming voice from the cloud saying "I want you to be a doctor" or "I want you to move into the jungle". Funny when I think of it now. As I got older I have to admit I was pretty indifferent about the called of my church congregation, that was good for them, but for me, nope, God was not calling me to do anything special.

As I reflect now on the indifference I felt, I realize it was the enemy speaking to me.  Yes, satan does has a booming voice sometimes.  I felt that I was not good enough to be called, or strong enough, or smart enough, basically I wasn't anything enough.  I was focused so much on the me and not the HIM.  The enemy grabbed a hold of that telling me that God would never use a girl like me, I was not like the other girls in my church, I was far from perfect and God only uses the close to perfect if not the absolute perfect to do anything for Him.  In light of these so called truths I was hearing I walked away.  I didn't want to be a hypocrite and used that as the perfect excuse not to go to church or to continue hanging out with my friends from church.  I didn't turn my back on God, I used that aspect in times of sadness or trouble, times when I didn't study much for an exam and needed God to intervene.  I was nothing special.  I had nothing special to offer.  I made choices that reflected this self dialogue (with the help of some well trained demons).

I made choices to drink alcohol, to have inappropriate relationships, conversations with friends had very little to do with God if anything to do with Him at all.  I kept that piece of my heart hidden.  I was not a wild child or anything, don't get me wrong, but I wanted to enjoy my life, I wanted to have fun and believed the lies I was hearing that walking with God wouldn't give me that.  I stand (actually I am sitting, but in my heart I am standing before all of you) before you today to say walking with God, in the will of God is the most exciting place I have been.  He is bringing me to things that I  could never have imagined for myself.  He is showing me how big He is, He is showing me that surrendering is courageous, that lifting my hands to Him and saying "do what you will" is truly an adventure.  He is showing me that it is NOT about me, it is about HIM and He will make me into a world changer, something I wanted to be all my life but never would have been if it were not for Him. 

I write to encourage all of us, we are all called to be world changers.  So, let's change the world people, one person at a time.

Blessings,

Top 100....WOW!!!!

My blog has been listed as one of the top 100 Christian Women's Blogs in 2009 at Internet cafe.  Ten different catagories, ten blogs listed in each......mine is in the "All new flavour blog" catagory......cool!!!

Thank you to all who nominated me.  This has given me the encouragement to continue on this blogging journey and to make sure that the ideas in my head blossom into posts.  Very cool......thanks again.

Blessings,

It is all about the LOVE

According to recent statistics there are 2.1 billion Christians in this world. Now, I realize that this number encompasses a lot of different ideas, but for the sake of this post, let's assume that this number represents true Jesus followers. The approximate population of the world, as of September 3, 2009, is 6.7 billion. This means that there are 4.6 billion people who do not know Jesus.

Jesus.  This name causes some people in my world to cringe.  This name said out loud means that I must be a religious freak, a holy roller, a bible thumper.  I'm ok with that.  I'm ok with it, because I know that my relationship with Jesus has very little to do with any of these terms. 

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it truly means to be a Jesus follower. 

Ghandi once said
“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”

If I may simplify what it means to me to be a Jesus follower then, it means, striving to be Christ like.

The Jesus I know, is all about LOVE. 

John 3:16-17 says: "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

John 13:35 says: "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

God sent His son, Jesus, because He LOVES us.
Jesus LOVES us so much that He died on the cross to save us.
If  I want to be like Jesus, then I must LOVE all people.

Does this mean that I think I am perfect?  Does it mean that I am better than everyone else?  Does it mean that I have the right to judge people?  No, No, and No.

If you do not know Jesus, please do not reject Him because of us christians.  We fail miserably at this most days, we struggle and sin daily, which is why we need a Saviour. I long for others to know the Jesus that I know.

I will not be ashamed of my faith.  I will not be ashamed to use the name of Jesus in daily conversation. I will not be ashamed to give all the glory to God if something awesome happens in my life, whether or not the person I say it to looks at me with an unbelieving eye and a smirk.  I will walk in faith and love, striving to be like Jesus, hoping that I will have the priviledge to lead someone to this amazing, loving, Father God that I serve.

To truly know Jesus is to know grace, mercy and love. 

Blessings,

Leaving on a jet plane....

It is real, so real.......we are leaving......June 1st..........

I have not been updating often as the things on my "to do" list are all very boring in terms of writing about them.....I mean how in the world could I make talking to the travel agent for over an hour exciting to read???? Or booking vaccination times for Kenzie.....much to her absolute dismay.  Not very exciting stuff really.

The exciting thing is that GOD is coming through in every situation.  God has answered prayers in bigger and better ways than I could have imagined, He has placed Mackenzie and I on the hearts of people just when we needed it.  I wonder sometimes, why am I always so amazed by His awesomeness.....perhaps I am a slow learner.....perhaps it is exactly how God wants us to feel.

I would love to hear some of your God stories, the times when you felt like the situation was too big and He came through bigger and better. 

Blessings my friends,

Out of my comfort zone

I have quickly realized on this missions journey that stepping out of my comfort zone is really challenging.

Asking for donations is tough, but a step of faith.

I have added a paypal gadget to the sidebar of my blog and if you have been led to make a donation to our journey we would both very much appreciate it.

More importantly though, if you would all continue to lift us up in prayer.  We have some tough challenges ahead, before we leave and of course during our time away.  A lot of questions are yet to be answered, but thankfully we serve a GIANT Father GOD, who has all of the answers.

Bless you friends.