He is with Us. Always.

Its been a little heavy on book reviews, home tours and tutorials around here lately. Sorry about that....did you happen to catch that we moved again lol. On my days at work the girls have had me thinking up creative projects to keep their little hands busy during long summer days. Thank goodness we can play outside again now that its warm out. 

I mentioned before how I was trying to make my way through deeper content with daily prompts which took place back in February when I didn't have time for it. So I decided to just do them as I can which has actually given me time to think and process before just jumping in and writing. The first prompt was sharing your story/testimony which you can read here. 

So onto prompt number two: What fires you up? What are you passionate about? 

Well if we were together in person, I hope we would grab coffee for this conversation as I'm sure once we both get talking we would be here a while. What a question. And where does one even start on answering it? There's a reason I wrote an entire series back in October on figuring out all the different things I am passionate about, it was called 31 Days to figuring out the Pieces (link here). All of those different topics get me fired up in different ways. 


Purity. Waiting on the Lord. Hearing the sweet testimonies and stories of the Lord's faithfulness in sweet friend's lives. Central Africa. Adoption. Being a godly wife. Missions. Other Cultures. 

So many things....I couldn't even hope to touch on all of them in one simple answer to such a huge question. But I will share one way the Lord stirred my heart and got me fired up one weekend. 

We were sitting in our Sunday morning adult fellowship class listening to a precious young family share their story and where the Lord currently has them. 
He has called them to this crazy situation (at least I thought so when they first explained), living in community with people in the middle of a jungle. The only way in is by aircraft. 
No Target right down the street to go browse, no takeout locations in abundance if a night off from cooking is needed, no hospital to take their babies should they have a high fever & mama needs peace of mind. There kids are young, both under 3 and one of them a newborn. My first thought was wow Lord, I want to know this woman because I need faith like that.

Faith that would give me peace about following you into a situation where medical care is difficult and not easily accessible for my little ones. Faith that you will provide when supplies are needed and there is unrest in a country you have called us to. Faith that trusts you above situations occurring around us, that listens when you say stay & when you say go. 
Faith that requires placing future children in the palm of your hand and being willing to go wherever you called us even if that means a remote village and everyone we know thinks we are crazy. 

I want that kind of faith. 

To be able to trust Him so much for our daily bread, my every need. That I would be more afraid to be comfortable and outside of God's will for us, than in the middle of a jungle with precious little ones. 

I love it when the Lord stirs my heart and shows me more about Himself and areas of my life that need to change. Its far from comfortable, but its beautiful. 

May I never grow content with being comfortable.  

Passion By Louie Giglio & others: A Book Review.

I should really add a tab on my sidebar for all these book reviews. I just can't help it, I'm currently devouring books like a small kid on Halloween with candy. Maybe a note to self for after my desk is no longer in boxes to remember the little tab. Moving is probably why I'm reading so much, probably doesn't make a whole lot of sense to most. But its because all my craft things are in boxes, and in the evenings when I'm done working on the house for the day, I have been reading to relax before falling into a deep deep sleep. Maybe its more like passing out from exhaustion, I'm not sure. 

After my last review, I was determined to pick something nonfiction this time. Unless a great fiction one comes along, I may just have to stick with reviewing some nonfiction. I've discovered I'm really picky when it comes to fiction, not a fan of historical fiction but then some are ok. Not a huge fan of the bridal stories but again some are ok. So when I saw the list of authors on this nonfiction book, I was pretty sure we had a winner.

I have heard of the Passion conference & our church even sends a group of students or has in the past anyway. We we unable to go and I never lived here as a student, but I was interested to hear about the conference since I respect a lot of the speakers as individuals. I was impressed. 

The book is a collection of talks from the conference itself over the years, and is a great encouragement giving so much food for thought. I will probably come back and read parts of this book again just to glean more wisdom from the pages. Due to the different authors within the book, some of the talks are heavier and harder to read than others, but all of them had really good things to say and will encourage you not to grow complacent in your faith and purpose here on earth.

“You must come alive to the overarching purpose of the entire universe—which is the glory of God.” 

- Louie Giglio

“What matters is that you fall in love with Jesus and with His love for you. And when you do, you will find that He becomes your source of happiness, not what you do or where you go.” 

- Louie Giglio

“What if He asks your generation to sow the seed, but another generation reaps the harvest?

Would the seed still be worth sowing?” 

- Beth Moore

“Don’t be afraid to fail. You have more than a safety net beneath you. You have the arms of God around you.” 

- Louie Giglio

“Very few people have ever said to me, or shown me what I’ve now seen in the Bible, that God chose me for his glory.” 

- John Piper

'" want to beg you to not just study the Bible, but to tremble at the very words of God."

- Francis Chan

"Change comes in our lives,not through amazement of many distractions in our lives but by quietly pondering & meditating on Him."

- Beth Moore

All of the talks were solid in biblical teaching with scripture used throughout. All appropriate and applicable to anyone reading, not just for college students although the conference is geared towards that audience. The stats in the book are about colleges across the nation, but you get the idea of what the speakers are saying. I would highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to read some solid teaching. It will encourage you, yet also stand on your toes. But who doesn't want a little kick up the butt from time to time right? 

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this novel through BookLook, however all opinions expressed are my own. 

//Be Brave//

I apologize that these posts never made it into the 31 day series time frame  they are the last of the final week digesting truth. So since I feel they are still appropriate, I'm going to finish sharing them =) 

Isn't it so funny how sometimes after we figure out what passion or dream to pursue, we still feel we aren't cut out for it? 

We still question when things get a little bumpy, when it doesn't go smoothly. 

And we find ourselves asking so many questions, was this really the right thing to do? Is this trouble a result of making the wrong choice? Is it simply because this is a good thing and I am being attacked? 

There's fear involved with chasing dreams.

Fear of failure. Fear of success. Fear of Change. Fear of it not meeting expectations. 

Feeling as we see others doing what we are trying to do better than we can.

Feeling as though are talents are less than those of others.

I don't know about you friends, but sometimes I even wish for another's calling. I wish to be able to do things like someone else does. Wish that I could be more like them. 

Then I was reminded of some truth.

'There is no new truth, all belongs to God. 

But sometimes we simply need to hear someone else say it.'

(Emily Freeman, A Million Little Ways)

It's true. Someone else may have the same dream, talents or abilities as you. But sometimes in order to hear things, they need to be said or communicated in a different way. By writing your stories, or making your artwork or taking your pictures or whatever dream you have, you may have the ability to share with someone something that allows them to finally hear a message. 

Even if its been said before, when you say it. They may finally hear it! 

How encouraging is that? We may not be the most talented or best, but we can still be used by God.

We just need to be brave! There are so many things in each of us that are not in anyone else. We have all been made different from each other with a different mix of abilities. 

(Via)

  

Be Brave friends! Lets pursue those dreams and talents we know we should chase!

This post is still part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

(I added several extra days to finish sharing truth I found along the way!)

//Knowing What to Chase//

One of the biggest things I have struggled with is the question of knowing what to chase. So there are all these passions in my life, potential things I could pursue. But how do we know what we should look into? What things are good things to pursue? Which one should I do that brings glory to God? 

Well first of all, the question of what shouldn't we pursue could be considered. 

'Chasing a desire that will lead to doing something wrong is sin. But be very careful with your wording. The point isn't that you would then be violating the law of God - we already know we can't keep his law. The point now, as a new covenant believer, is that you would be violating the love of God, and that is a different motivation altogether.'

(A Million Little Ways, Emily Freeman p.121)

So we know that we want to reveal His glory! That is our purpose. And our greatest fear is to violate His love. When we love someone, we want to do what brings them joy. So out of our love for Him, we know that is something we don't want to chase. Something that would hurt Him. 

'So God created human beings in his own image.

    In the image of God he created them;

    male and female he created them.'

(Genesis 1:27)

We are made in His image, for this reason we are an artist like He is. Isn't that amazing? I have always loved being creative, of feeling crazy and sitting with my felt & glue gun loving the mess of making something beautiful. There are times when projects don't quite turn out the way I see them in my mind though, where my talents come up short. That's ok too. 

Our limits can be a gift themselves. They should us what our passion isn't, what we shouldn't chase. And knowing what we shouldn't chase can be just as important as knowing what to chase.

'If you are a person who has received the sacrifice of Jesus in your place and who has a spirit united with His spirit, then your greatest purpose is to reveal His glory and your greatest grief is to violate His love.'

(A Million Little Ways, Emily Freeman p.121)

Guess I'll have to prayerfully consider which of the things in my life I have shared that are not to be chased. That is at least something helpful. 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//We All Have a Unique Purpose, and it will look so different//

Emily Freeman said it so well:

'Uncovering your art does not mean you will find only rainbows & sunshine to pour out on everyone around you. Uncovering your art is about uncovering what is really there within you, coming face-to-face with your profound capacity for beauty as well as sin, your deepest dreams and your longing for God. 

You are capable of glory-grasping and it might get ugly.

But you are designed to reflect the glory of God, and when you release the fullness of who you most deeply are, we will see God because we are finally seeing you.'

(Emily Freeman, A Million Little Ways, p.36)

The Lord has been slowly wrecking me this month, He knew I would preorder a copy of Emily Freeman's new book A Million Little Ways. He also knew that it would release the day I started this series, that I would have finished my previous books and have time to read it the day it arrived in the mail. That is would speak truth to my heart about these very answers I was asking and puzzled about. 

In the wrecking, there has been healing.

While piecing together the pieces which consist of all these passions I have found, deep in my heart & DNA, my abilities and my dreams, may not be clear....I have seen truth. 

There may not be one great thing I am made to do.

But there is one great God I am made to glorify in whatever I do.

That is the big picture. 

So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

(Genesis 1:27) 

Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.

(Revelation 3:20)

The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.

(Jeremiah 31:3)

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

(Psalm 84:11)

We are made in God's image, for the purpose of being in relationship with Him, to reflect His glory! 

My life does have great purpose (& so does yours!) but we are never told in scripture that we will know exactly what our God-given purpose is. But we are told that God knows the specific plans He has for us (Jeremiah 29:11). In His grace, we may see what our purpose is but we are not promised that. 



But I am know that I am made to glorify Him.



Just like you are.



And the way you do that will look very different to the way I do it! For we are all gifted in so many different ways. 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//Sharing the Journey//

Friends! I can't believe that the month of October is coming to a close. As relieved as I will be to go back into some freedom in how frequently I write in this little space, part of me will be extremely sorry to see this series end. To see the daily diligence of having to wade through the mess. I hope its a habit I continue to do actually.


I don't know that I could explain in just a few words for each of the next four days, just how much the Lord has been teaching me and showing me in this area of life. This series has just had me see event after event in how the Lord gave me this topic, and then through books, sermons, friends and even my fiction books I have been reading....continued to draw this theme into the month of October. I guess it is my season for now. 

I do feel as though I am coming out of a funk though I will admit. That by seeking my Savior and looking for truth on this, I have felt more alive than I have in quite some time. 
I wanted to share a quote with you I read the other day by Beth Moore because I feel it really sums up the whole purpose of this series. 

'I'm a common woman, sharing common problems seeking common solutions on a journey with an uncommon Savior. If something hurts me, I conclude it probably hurts somebody else too. If something confuses me, I figure it probably confuses someone else. If something helps me, I hope against hope that it might help somebody else. After all, 'no trial has overtaken us that is not faced by others. And God is faithful (1 Cor 10:13).'

These last few days, I want to take some time to share with you some truth. Some things the Lord has revealed to me that I wrote throughout the month but wanted to wait until the end to share. 

I don't know if you have found yourself on a journey of figuring out your purpose this month along with me. Of questioning why you have so many passions in your life and why the Lord hasn't brought opportunities in your path to use them. 

I don't have all the answers, because these are still very much my own questions.

But I hope to share the little wisdom I have gleaned from others and from my sweet Savior during this process.

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//A Heart for Red Dirt Beneath My Feet//

Well, I'm sorry for dropping the ball these past couple days with posting. Its so easy to get busy & then once I missed one day it was easy to get out of my regular late night routine of sitting and writing the next section of this journey. Writing the posts has been taking place whenever I get time during my day in a little notebook. I am treasuring that thing as every thought has been going in there, which I have been screening before writing on here. 


I can't tell you how the Lord has been speaking to me through this series, through everything actually. But more on that on Monday when I begin to share the truth I have been learning. So lets get to the last couple of passion pieces I have in my life shall we.


I don't know that I have a ton to share about this particular passion, because I have talked about it so many times before.
I have a heart for a place I've only been to once, and a country I have actually never set foot in. But I'm praying and praying and trusting that several of these passions do tie up in a dream of mine, so we shall see if that is the Lord's will for us or not. Because I really do what His will, His heart.  


This passion started a while ago now. (I shared this previously on Moriah's Blog here)
To put it in context, this was the summer that I had said goodbye to a guy never knowing if I would see Him again, following this post. 

I recall sitting on a bus travelling across India the summer after I graduated high school, some seven year ago now (how’s that for crazy!). We had just completed the short-term project we were on working and were heading back home to the Middle East. While on the trip I had developed some friendships with several girls who didn't live in the same city as I did, and we weren't sure when we would see each other again. One of them asked me if I was going on the second trip leaving for Africa a week later.

I replied with a no and they soon asked me why I wasn't going. I informed them I didn't have the money that was needed to go on yet another mission trip. I hadn't done any fund raising, and really I hadn't thought about another trip. I was just super excited to have gone on the first. They asked me what I planned on doing instead. And really, the answer was nothing. I had the whole summer ahead of me before college started the other side of the world. But I didn't have any set plans. So they challenged me about coming with them. 

I remember feeling frustrated that I hadn't thought about it before. That something like money would stop me from going to Africa for the first time because I hadn't planned. And I felt that nudge. I felt the Lord challenge me about whether I thought He could provide. 

I secretly felt it was hopeless, there was only six days between landing and leaving for Africa. 

But I chose to trust. Thinking I had nothing to lose. 

After returning home, through God’s provision of visas, parental support and financial support being provided within 24 hrs of returning home from India, I found myself on another plane a few short days later. 

Once arriving in the bush of a small village in northern Tanzania, I fell in love. It really is so true that Africa just gets under your skin. Once its in your blood, its not going anywhere! A place full of people who passionately love God and others who desperately need to hear about Him. 

A place where I hope someday to return, to adopt and maybe even use my passion for photography. 

I’m not yet sure how all of these passions are linked to one another. I only know that the Lord continues to work them further into the depths of my soul. His provision on my high school trip really proved to me that sometimes when God has something for you, the doors will open like you've never seen. 

For now, I am working on furthering my photography skills, working on involvement with The Mocha Club and networking with so many incredible women with a heart for Africa and adoption. As for what happens next, only God knows....

I really think that in order to find your passion, you need to walk with eyes open. Find what inspires you, encourages you to seek the Lord and listen to those small nudges. And be ready to let go of things when He asks us to. 

He will show you where He wants you. 

At least that’s my prayer.





I've previously shared about my heart for Africa:
Mocha Club I Need Africa
Mocha Club A Purpose Project
Girl Behind the Blog A Non-Blogging Passion
When God Provided: Africa Part 1
Where My Heart Is: Africa Part 2
Elise Cooper From Forever Changed: Guest Post
Wynne Elder A Heart for Adoption: Guest Post

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//The Dream//

{Via}

This.

Such a picture of heaven to me.

Of redemption & adoption.

Of how heaven will one day look.

Where physical appearance is irrelevant.

We are family.

This is my dream.

My someday.

What I am praying for. 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.

//When God's Heart is becoming My Heart//

{Via}

My love for kids just continues to grow on a daily basis. I also love that I am learning so much about myself while I learn how to steer their hearts towards Him. Even through the difficult questions I don't always know how to answer, the tantrums and silly moments. I just can't help but love them for all they teach me. 


It is our Father's heart.
I remember singing a song when I was little about how Jesus loves the little children, do you know the one? All the children of the world....they are precious in His sight.  

'Then people brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.' 

{Matthew 19:13-15 NIV}

And I so want more of the Father's heart, friends! By praying for more of His heart, I have been falling head over heels in love with so many different kids. Yes, even ones that at first glance may seem difficult to love (but aren't they just an amazing reminder of how difficult we can be to love?). 

I love how He has been working this passion into our hearts as well as giving us a heart for adoption. Both individually, then together & who knows what He will do with this. 

I love that it is our Father's heart and it is becoming ours. 

'For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.'

{Ephesians 1:4-6 NIV}

'Sing to God, sing in praise of his name,
    extol him who rides on the clouds;
    rejoice before him—his name is the Lord.
 A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,
    is God in his holy dwelling.
 God sets the lonely in families,
    he leads out the prisoners with singing;
    but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.'

{Psalm 68:4-6 NIV}

While we personally have yet to experience the trials & many blessings of the journey of adoption, I am inspired by the stories of several amazing ladies who have. Rejoicing with them & crying with them and seeing how beautiful these stories are.

(Katie Davis, Lauren Casper, Danielle Burkleo, Wynne Elder) 

I'm sure there are many many others out there! 
I hope to join these women & their families someday on this beautiful journey.
This picture of redemption.
The gospel lived out.

'Adoption is a redemptive response to tragedy that happens in this broken world. And every single day it is worth it, because adoption is God's heart.' 

{Katie Davis, Kisses From Katie, p.72}

What a picture of us belonging to God's family. 
It is how He himself calls us Sons and Daughters, how we are children of a king. 
What grace! And what a price He paid for us! 
We were worth that much to Him! 
I'm just overwhelmed by grace at that thought and how adoption just displays that message to me again and again, right in front of me so I can see it! 

{Via}

I love how Katie in her book Kisses From Katie mentions that God commands us to care for orphans and widows (See James 1:27). And that will not look the same for everyone, we all have our own stories to live for Him and our own ways to bring glory to the Father, but there are ways we can all obey this command. (For instance, Child Sponsorship is an incredible way to be a part of this! We have been a part of World Vision for a while. There is also the Mocha Club to get involved with for orphan projects.) 

'But someone who does not know, and then does something wrong, will be punished only lightly. When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.'

{Luke 12:48 NIV}

 'If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.'

{Matthew 10:39 NIV}

I can't wait to share more about this particular journey in future as we pray, seek God and His plan for us and ask Him for timing in how to act on our convictions.  This is a topic SO close to my heart friends! Something I am so utterly excited and passionate about.
Until then I get so much encouragement from following along with the sweet adventures of these sweet families who have opened their homes & hearts to precious little ones. 
They inspire me so much to keep praying and seeking Him with these dreams! 

This post is part of my 31 day series for the month of October, 
fighting through the fears and sharing the confusing passions I have. 
Hoping to figure out the bigger picture of all these interests.