Mission work doesn't just exist overseas. It doesn't begin in Ghana this summer or in Zambia a couple years from now. It occurs now at home, at school, in the workplace, even in my sorority. Walking through that front door of the sorority house, I know that I'm stepping into a war zone; a battle between good and evil. Satan is trying so hard to keep those girls in darkness while God desires each one of their hearts to return to Him through Jesus. But Jesus has already won the battle. All the girls have to do is surrender, to wave the white flag. It's such a blessing to see sorority sisters stand up to be followers of Jesus. Two years ago it was just me and a couple of older girls. But now I'm surrounded by a group of encouragers, of prayer warriors, of beautiful hearts. One of these beautiful hearts shared her testimony today at a new member meeting. And right away we got to see incredible fruit. Several young women expressed interest in getting to know this "Jesus" we've all placed our hope in. It's nothing but GRACE that allows me to be surrounded by these Christian women. Our mission statement, and yours too if you're a child of God, is Isaiah 61:1-3. I have fallen in love with this passage and hope you will too. Such purpose, such a plainly stated mission for life with others.
"The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of BEAUTY instead of ashes, the oil of JOY instead of mourning, and a GARMENT OF PRAISE instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of HIS SPLENDOR." Isaiah 61:1-3
The mission is now. The mission is here. All this for His glory.
ps check out clothedinhope.etsy.com for the first few items that are ready!
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Leap of Faith
"BY FAITH Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." Hebrews 11:8
Months of praying, months of hardship, months of joy from witnessing God move in the hearts of Greek students, months of vivid memories from Africa, months of anxiety that maybe all this Africa talk was just selfish, months of questioning, months of rest. I've been through quite the journey but our God is faithful and full of GRACE. I could type 50 pages on just how God's brought me to this point and made things so clear for me but I'll spare you. But don't get me wrong, I rejoice over it and would love to talk about it so feel free to email me if you want to know more about this. Anyways check out Hebrews 11. Incredible steps of faith were taken by incredible followers of God. Africa was just supposed to be a check off of my bucket list of life, a chapter in this book that's being written. But it's not. I've recently felt the call to stop pondering, stop dreaming and DO! So BY FAITH I'm stepping out into an unknown land. The land of creating a non-profit organization as a 21 year old fashion merchandising college student in a sorority. But here we go!
I believe that for this moment in my life God is screaming at me. He's opening doors, and all I'm doing is walking through. I'm not doing anything super amazing, not even making provisions for this. God's doing everything! His GRACE has been and is incredible to experience, but "incredible" doesn't even begin to describe just how much my mind and heart have been blown over the past week or so. God's calling and all I'm doing is saying "YES!" Maybe down the road God will have a different plan. But I'm confident that right now this is it. Again, nothing superb on my end. I admit that I'm even hesitant in telling some people because I don't want the "you're such an amazing person!" comment. Because I'm not. I'm a sinner, unworthy of being used by God, but have been reconciled to Him through Jesus and can live in freedom because of this extraordinary gift. None of this should be credited to me. In fact it's GRACE that allows me to be used as the hands and feet of Jesus. God doesn't NEED me to bring Him glory but He CHOOSES me! And He chooses You! Ah doesn't that just rock your world?!
So just a quick summary of what all this actually is. I'm working on getting granted non-profit status for this organization God's leading me to start, Clothed in Hope. Clothed in Hope will provide skills training in sewing in order for widows of the Ng'Ombe slum in Lusaka, Zambia to gain respect in society, and make a sustainable income to provide for their children and themselves. Zambian women are so inspiring; so full of strength despite the intensity of their pain. There are hopes of selling garments made by the Zambian women to women in America, recognizing that these women are no different. Sure they're thousands of miles away, living a completely different lifestyle but our hearts are all the same. We all struggle with the same need for affection, security, comfort, and HOPE. Not just a short-term financial or even social hope, but a hope that's everlasting. A hope rooted in our Savior.
So yet again, please join me in praying for this. Pray for more of Him, less of me. Pray for the Zambian women who are so awfully oppressed in their culture. Pray for provision with every step of this complicated process. Pray for God to be reflected so brilliantly in every moment of this journey. He IS providing, guiding and moving and deserves praise!
www.clothedinhope.etsy.com will have shirts and other things for sale to help start up some fundraising for this endeavor. Please pass this link along once I can get a few things up, and same goes for the website as soon as that's up. Rather than focusing on financial support I want to stress the need of spiritual support! And even using this as a means to say- don't settle with anything less than God's best. Even if that means living radicailly! My eyes have been opened to see that as a Christian, my life should never make sense to others. It should simply point them to Christ.
All this for HIS glory!
p.s. a friend of mine is also choosing to live incredibly BY FAITH. check this out: www.jasonhilborn.theworldrace.org
Months of praying, months of hardship, months of joy from witnessing God move in the hearts of Greek students, months of vivid memories from Africa, months of anxiety that maybe all this Africa talk was just selfish, months of questioning, months of rest. I've been through quite the journey but our God is faithful and full of GRACE. I could type 50 pages on just how God's brought me to this point and made things so clear for me but I'll spare you. But don't get me wrong, I rejoice over it and would love to talk about it so feel free to email me if you want to know more about this. Anyways check out Hebrews 11. Incredible steps of faith were taken by incredible followers of God. Africa was just supposed to be a check off of my bucket list of life, a chapter in this book that's being written. But it's not. I've recently felt the call to stop pondering, stop dreaming and DO! So BY FAITH I'm stepping out into an unknown land. The land of creating a non-profit organization as a 21 year old fashion merchandising college student in a sorority. But here we go!
I believe that for this moment in my life God is screaming at me. He's opening doors, and all I'm doing is walking through. I'm not doing anything super amazing, not even making provisions for this. God's doing everything! His GRACE has been and is incredible to experience, but "incredible" doesn't even begin to describe just how much my mind and heart have been blown over the past week or so. God's calling and all I'm doing is saying "YES!" Maybe down the road God will have a different plan. But I'm confident that right now this is it. Again, nothing superb on my end. I admit that I'm even hesitant in telling some people because I don't want the "you're such an amazing person!" comment. Because I'm not. I'm a sinner, unworthy of being used by God, but have been reconciled to Him through Jesus and can live in freedom because of this extraordinary gift. None of this should be credited to me. In fact it's GRACE that allows me to be used as the hands and feet of Jesus. God doesn't NEED me to bring Him glory but He CHOOSES me! And He chooses You! Ah doesn't that just rock your world?!
So just a quick summary of what all this actually is. I'm working on getting granted non-profit status for this organization God's leading me to start, Clothed in Hope. Clothed in Hope will provide skills training in sewing in order for widows of the Ng'Ombe slum in Lusaka, Zambia to gain respect in society, and make a sustainable income to provide for their children and themselves. Zambian women are so inspiring; so full of strength despite the intensity of their pain. There are hopes of selling garments made by the Zambian women to women in America, recognizing that these women are no different. Sure they're thousands of miles away, living a completely different lifestyle but our hearts are all the same. We all struggle with the same need for affection, security, comfort, and HOPE. Not just a short-term financial or even social hope, but a hope that's everlasting. A hope rooted in our Savior.
So yet again, please join me in praying for this. Pray for more of Him, less of me. Pray for the Zambian women who are so awfully oppressed in their culture. Pray for provision with every step of this complicated process. Pray for God to be reflected so brilliantly in every moment of this journey. He IS providing, guiding and moving and deserves praise!
www.clothedinhope.etsy.com will have shirts and other things for sale to help start up some fundraising for this endeavor. Please pass this link along once I can get a few things up, and same goes for the website as soon as that's up. Rather than focusing on financial support I want to stress the need of spiritual support! And even using this as a means to say- don't settle with anything less than God's best. Even if that means living radicailly! My eyes have been opened to see that as a Christian, my life should never make sense to others. It should simply point them to Christ.
All this for HIS glory!
p.s. a friend of mine is also choosing to live incredibly BY FAITH. check this out: www.jasonhilborn.theworldrace.org
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Faithful
So instead of writing about why I'm picking up with blogging again I think I'll just kick it off. The purpose of this one is to share what God is doing in and around me. It'll expose my heart, it'll share joys, and it may even challenge you in your own walk with the Lord. My only prayer is that through this is that God will be glorified.
My other blog (which you can view from my user profile thing) is all about Africa. It was basically my journal from my summer project to Zambia, Africa last summer- the place where I left pieces of my heart, the place that never leaves mine. I'm reminded of all God did there daily, even hourly as my room may even be overly African-ized with little trinkets and photos from the journey. I reflect back to one of the most challenging summers but the summer that I was able to experience the sweetest intimacy with my Jesus. But usually it stops there. I end my daydreaming (dayreflecting?) with a smile on my face and a thankful heart.
Except that today was different. I was attempting to take a nice afternoon nap on this gorgeous January-in-South-Carolina day, sunny and 65 (guess I should've been outside huh?), when I looked up at my photo collage on my wall. Kinda hard to describe but on one of my chitenges (fabric for a skirt wrap, etc) is a collage of my favorite photos from the trip. It's basically the focal point of my room so it's not out of the ordinary that I just stop to stare at it. I look at all the faces of the orphans, all of the gorgeous sunsets, and even cherish seeing the faces of the other students on my team, so thankful that our community still thrives 6 months later. Today. Today I looked up and didn't see all this. I just saw one face. It even felt like I made eye contact with this particular child and I just wept.
This child's name is Mary. I have basically an entire entry devoted to my interactions with her as she touched my heart in a way like never before. This small child, maybe around 7, carries her baby brother on her back from "morning to night" with no shoes on her feet and the same tattered clothing day after day. She's incredibly shy but her smile is enough to light up the entire village. It took a few weeks at Deborah Orphanage (zambiahope.com) in order for me to really start connecting with her. She craved love, she craved just someone to hold her close. Usually Mary would come find me halfway through the day to stand by me and hold my hand. But the last day we were there I slowly walked up to the orphanage, upset that it was our last time seeing these children, wanting to be alone. A few steps off the bus and I feel a hand grab mine. A little hand, calloused and dirty, grabbed mine. No words of greeting, no words spoken at all. I just look down to see Mary with a grin on her face as she's pulling my arm closer to her body.
This is the Mary that shook up my life that trip, and did the same for me today. Tear-filled eyes, I sat there frustrated, confused, hurting for this little girl. Where is she now? What does she do? Does she still have to care for her baby brother all day long? Who is there to love her? Has she outgrown her tattered clothes? Does she eat? It hurt me so badly to not be able to be there for Mary. I felt like I had abandoned her. But God. Don't most incredible statements begin like that? But God. God stepped in and showed me the reality of my feelings. Showed me mercy and grace in that moment. I'm just one person. I can't save the world. At age 21, it's unrealistic for me to adopt a little girl and her baby brother from Zambia and sustain them on my own. It appears that I can't even save one/two lives from extreme poverty. But God can.
In that moment of weakness I was reminded of a verse that's hung so heavily on my heart since I've been back, for a variety of different reasons. Africa never being one of them though. Hebrews 10:23 reads, "Let us hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for HE who PROMISED is FAITHFUL." Now there's a whole lot packed into that sentence. But for me today, God wanted to remind me through this that He's got it. He PROMISES in His Word to protect them, to comfort the orphans. Psalm 34:6 says, "The poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." And Psalm 68:5 "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." And Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." God has PROMISED this HOPE for Mary in His Word. So according to Hebrews 10:23, and the rest of the Bible for that matter, I can believe that He will be faithful to carry out these promises.
I'm not called to worry about Mary, to stay up at night fearing for her life. I'm called to trust that God's plan is sovereign, that He's protecting her & her brother Thomas. And I'm called to pray my guts out. Through the tears is motivation to pray. It's become evident lately just how incredibly powerful prayer is, and what an expression of grace it is that Jesus makes it possible for us to approach THE God, our Maker, our Sustainer, our Creator, etc etc etc in prayer.
Stop for a second. Maybe you didn't cry over looking at a starving child's face today. Maybe you did. But I do know of something every single one of us has done today, probably a billion times today. And that's worry. Live in fear about some uncertain situation. But reflect on the promises of God! He will the FAITHFUL to carry them out! Now what's there to worry about when the God of the Universe says that He's got it?
All this for His glory.
My other blog (which you can view from my user profile thing) is all about Africa. It was basically my journal from my summer project to Zambia, Africa last summer- the place where I left pieces of my heart, the place that never leaves mine. I'm reminded of all God did there daily, even hourly as my room may even be overly African-ized with little trinkets and photos from the journey. I reflect back to one of the most challenging summers but the summer that I was able to experience the sweetest intimacy with my Jesus. But usually it stops there. I end my daydreaming (dayreflecting?) with a smile on my face and a thankful heart.
Except that today was different. I was attempting to take a nice afternoon nap on this gorgeous January-in-South-Carolina day, sunny and 65 (guess I should've been outside huh?), when I looked up at my photo collage on my wall. Kinda hard to describe but on one of my chitenges (fabric for a skirt wrap, etc) is a collage of my favorite photos from the trip. It's basically the focal point of my room so it's not out of the ordinary that I just stop to stare at it. I look at all the faces of the orphans, all of the gorgeous sunsets, and even cherish seeing the faces of the other students on my team, so thankful that our community still thrives 6 months later. Today. Today I looked up and didn't see all this. I just saw one face. It even felt like I made eye contact with this particular child and I just wept.
This child's name is Mary. I have basically an entire entry devoted to my interactions with her as she touched my heart in a way like never before. This small child, maybe around 7, carries her baby brother on her back from "morning to night" with no shoes on her feet and the same tattered clothing day after day. She's incredibly shy but her smile is enough to light up the entire village. It took a few weeks at Deborah Orphanage (zambiahope.com) in order for me to really start connecting with her. She craved love, she craved just someone to hold her close. Usually Mary would come find me halfway through the day to stand by me and hold my hand. But the last day we were there I slowly walked up to the orphanage, upset that it was our last time seeing these children, wanting to be alone. A few steps off the bus and I feel a hand grab mine. A little hand, calloused and dirty, grabbed mine. No words of greeting, no words spoken at all. I just look down to see Mary with a grin on her face as she's pulling my arm closer to her body.
This is the Mary that shook up my life that trip, and did the same for me today. Tear-filled eyes, I sat there frustrated, confused, hurting for this little girl. Where is she now? What does she do? Does she still have to care for her baby brother all day long? Who is there to love her? Has she outgrown her tattered clothes? Does she eat? It hurt me so badly to not be able to be there for Mary. I felt like I had abandoned her. But God. Don't most incredible statements begin like that? But God. God stepped in and showed me the reality of my feelings. Showed me mercy and grace in that moment. I'm just one person. I can't save the world. At age 21, it's unrealistic for me to adopt a little girl and her baby brother from Zambia and sustain them on my own. It appears that I can't even save one/two lives from extreme poverty. But God can.
In that moment of weakness I was reminded of a verse that's hung so heavily on my heart since I've been back, for a variety of different reasons. Africa never being one of them though. Hebrews 10:23 reads, "Let us hold unswervingly to the HOPE we profess, for HE who PROMISED is FAITHFUL." Now there's a whole lot packed into that sentence. But for me today, God wanted to remind me through this that He's got it. He PROMISES in His Word to protect them, to comfort the orphans. Psalm 34:6 says, "The poor man cried and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles." And Psalm 68:5 "A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling." And Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." God has PROMISED this HOPE for Mary in His Word. So according to Hebrews 10:23, and the rest of the Bible for that matter, I can believe that He will be faithful to carry out these promises.
I'm not called to worry about Mary, to stay up at night fearing for her life. I'm called to trust that God's plan is sovereign, that He's protecting her & her brother Thomas. And I'm called to pray my guts out. Through the tears is motivation to pray. It's become evident lately just how incredibly powerful prayer is, and what an expression of grace it is that Jesus makes it possible for us to approach THE God, our Maker, our Sustainer, our Creator, etc etc etc in prayer.
Stop for a second. Maybe you didn't cry over looking at a starving child's face today. Maybe you did. But I do know of something every single one of us has done today, probably a billion times today. And that's worry. Live in fear about some uncertain situation. But reflect on the promises of God! He will the FAITHFUL to carry them out! Now what's there to worry about when the God of the Universe says that He's got it?
All this for His glory.
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