Tonight I'm reflecting on these last several months and realizing that faith and obedience is a lot like that game in youth group where you're blindfolded and without touching your partner, you're lead by voice through a path in the forest, trying not to stumble on roots and rocks. You quickly have to trust that the one who is leading you can see and is right next to you giving clear directions. At the same time you obey their voice and commands, trusting that they are speaking the truth to you and have your best interest in mind....which includes not falling in a ravine. Faith & Obedience are challenging at times, as often I find myself in situations where the commands don't make a lot of sense based on my current surroundings but that is exactly where I need to obey and have faith in the One who is leading me.
What I love the most is when I read the Gospels -Jesus always had things prepared. There is never a time when He is caught off guard or surprised by an extra 4988 people showing up for lunch. Imagine that:) The disciples freak out, but He always has it covered. When the disciples fished all night and caught absolutely nothing, Jesus tells them to cast their nets on the right side of the boat...they obey...and in come their full nets. Then they realize it's Jesus and head to shore where Jesus had already prepared breakfast for them...fish, bread, and all~
If I could only fully grasp the One whom I'm serving, then faith & obedience would come so easy.
For those of you praying with me, I had the first interview with MAF last Thursday. It went well and I'm now in the process of filling out the next part of the paper application. Please continue to pray with me. I have lots of questions, but I still feel that I'm following His lead.
Following in obedience and in faith ~April
Monday, November 22, 2010
Sunday, November 14, 2010
What's holding you back?
That was the question two friends asked me this week when I shared about my journey. It took some thinking this weekend to really pick out what it is. Quite frankly, I've been moving toward this goal for 12 years now - always a distance away "in the future" and now it's here - staring me in the face. I had imagined this moment to be different. I had pictured my life to be in a different place. I thought that I would be a couple of years into a marriage and the two of us would venture across the world to serve together. Instead, it's just me & God. Just is a bit of an understatement. My Aunt shared with me the last time I was home that she prays that the Lord will just give me what I need. The Bible says "My God shall supply all my needs according to His riches in glory." Therefore I can trust that what I currently have including my friendships and family, is all I need...along with Christ of course. I do require a reminder of this truth and I'm thankful my friends asked me this question. The Lord is faithful to provide all my needs. I do not have to hold back.
Friends, I look forward to what is ahead. After seeing the Lord's hand guiding me this week with specific conversations, I have chosen to walk in His direction and start the application process with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). I have been working towards this goal for 12 years now! I can't believe it's finally here!
Please pray for me as I continue to seek the Lord for discernment and wisdom throughout this process. I want to be attentive to His voice.
Thank you to those who have been praying alongside me, I have received more and more clarity and confirmation. I do humbly ask you to continue.
Thank you with lots of love,
April
Friends, I look forward to what is ahead. After seeing the Lord's hand guiding me this week with specific conversations, I have chosen to walk in His direction and start the application process with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). I have been working towards this goal for 12 years now! I can't believe it's finally here!
Please pray for me as I continue to seek the Lord for discernment and wisdom throughout this process. I want to be attentive to His voice.
Thank you to those who have been praying alongside me, I have received more and more clarity and confirmation. I do humbly ask you to continue.
Thank you with lots of love,
April
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
A boat & A Helicopter
Do you remember hearing the fictitious story of a woman and the flood? How as the rains came she would move higher and higher in her house until eventually she moved to the roof and waited for God to rescue her? Then some people came by in a boat to help her, but she turned them down saying she was waiting for God to rescue her....then a helicopter came by and again she refused to get in, hoping and waiting for God to rescue her...and then the end of the story is about her talking to God and asking Him why He didn't answer her and then He proceeds to tell her that He sent the guy in the boat and the helicopter? Have you heard this story before?
Well this week has been interesting. I've had several "random" encounters with people including close friends who have encouraged me to move into a certain direction for my future. I do believe that God directs people through others and through His Word. I do not want to be thick headed like this woman in the story. I know that God is directing me and I can trust Him.
Many people who have known me as an adult probably have no idea, but as a child I was extremely shy and timid. I feel like those characteristics are still scattered within my heart and often causes me to work at half capacity. I do not want to exist at 50% of my potential - of whom God has created me to be. I too often let the fear of the unknown paralyse my feet. At times I even thought that God would direct me through my fears as in if I felt anxious about it, then it wasn't God's purpose. Gosh, that is a tactic from the devil himself. God is not the source of fear and He does not use fear to guide His kids.
So in writing that, I look to His Word, knowing that it's the Truth, and believe that "God did not give us (me) a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
II Timothy 1: 7
Well this week has been interesting. I've had several "random" encounters with people including close friends who have encouraged me to move into a certain direction for my future. I do believe that God directs people through others and through His Word. I do not want to be thick headed like this woman in the story. I know that God is directing me and I can trust Him.
Many people who have known me as an adult probably have no idea, but as a child I was extremely shy and timid. I feel like those characteristics are still scattered within my heart and often causes me to work at half capacity. I do not want to exist at 50% of my potential - of whom God has created me to be. I too often let the fear of the unknown paralyse my feet. At times I even thought that God would direct me through my fears as in if I felt anxious about it, then it wasn't God's purpose. Gosh, that is a tactic from the devil himself. God is not the source of fear and He does not use fear to guide His kids.
So in writing that, I look to His Word, knowing that it's the Truth, and believe that "God did not give us (me) a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."
II Timothy 1: 7
Monday, November 1, 2010
Geometry
One triangle can never be a square. We discovered this truth this weekend at a Square Dance. It is truly impossible to corporately do these dances with only 3 couples...as we found out:) Unfortunately for us, we were in the dead zone of the speakers so we could only clearly hear statements like "bow to your partner...bow to the corner....circle to the left...circle to the right..." and somehow the other squares could hear many other calls - for their dances looked very organized and fluent. Ours on the other hand, often looked more like a star formation rather than a square. There is apparently rules about returning to your home partner...unfortunately again...we missed those rules so we would immediately weave around the circle and end up on the opposite side of the circle from our partners and the caller would say "bow to your partner"...and then we would scurry across and find our partner again with very confused faces wondering what kind of odd dance this was. This was repeated SEVERAL times. By the end, I had tears of laughter:) It was a wonderful wedding hoe-down!~
I spent this last weekend visiting my dear friends Ruth & Michael. Their home truly is an oasis. It is calm with a large dense forest and a little waterfall stream running through their backyard. I spent many hours talking and listening with my good friend and it was so wonderful to be in her company. I slept soundly in the most comfortable bed I have ever laid my weary body on, covered with the weight of multiple duvets. Gosh, it was heavenly. I could feel my body starting to relax. I wish I could have stayed longer. Ruth & Michael - you'll never know how deeply you both blessed my soul this weekend - Thank You!
I continue to ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom. The other night I was looking for specific verses and came across 2 chapters I had memorized several years ago. It was another reminder to me that the Lord is not surprised by the outcomes of my days. He is not afar off. He is closer than we think.
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me,b]">[b] O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18
I spent this last weekend visiting my dear friends Ruth & Michael. Their home truly is an oasis. It is calm with a large dense forest and a little waterfall stream running through their backyard. I spent many hours talking and listening with my good friend and it was so wonderful to be in her company. I slept soundly in the most comfortable bed I have ever laid my weary body on, covered with the weight of multiple duvets. Gosh, it was heavenly. I could feel my body starting to relax. I wish I could have stayed longer. Ruth & Michael - you'll never know how deeply you both blessed my soul this weekend - Thank You!
I continue to ask the Lord for guidance and wisdom. The other night I was looking for specific verses and came across 2 chapters I had memorized several years ago. It was another reminder to me that the Lord is not surprised by the outcomes of my days. He is not afar off. He is closer than we think.
1 O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
4 You know what I am going to say
even before I say it, Lord.
5 You go before me and follow me.
You place your hand of blessing on my head.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too great for me to understand!
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me,b]">[b] O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up,
you are still with me!
Psalm 139: 1-6, 13-18