I read the devotional My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers and the other day I read this one and it felt so right! Each day, God speaks to me through these devotions, but this one in particular spoke to me about my current situation. 

". . . so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus." Acts 20:24

Joy means the perfect fulfillment of that for which I was created and regenerated, not the successful doing of a thing. The joy Our Lord had lay in doing what the Father sent Him to do, and He says - "As My Father hath sent Me, even so am I sending you." Have I received a ministry from the Lord? If so, I have to be loyal to it, to count my life precious only for the fulfilling of that ministry. Think of the satisfaction it will be to hear Jesus say - "Well done, good and faithful servant"; to know that you have done what He sent you to do. We have all to find our niche in life, and spiritually we find it when we receive our ministry from the Lord. In order to do this we must have companied with Jesus; we must know Him as more than a personal Savior. "I will show him how great things he must suffer for My sake."

I am living in Gainesville, Georgia now and I have found the ministry God has for me. I get to be directly involved with international missions while living in the states. I get to be a big part of every World Racer's journey from now on out! It is amazing! I already love it here and I am excited to grow in the Lord as I grow in the ministry God has made for me.

To continue to help mobilize others to go on international mission trips – I need YOUR help! Everyone who works for Adventures in Missions must raise financial support so that any money that comes in as a donation, goes straight to helping the poorest of the poor. Currently, I have $540 / month coming in. I need to raise $2500 / a month. I hope that you will see the importance of the ministry that I am doing and you will want to invest in the Kingdom in this way. Just think: if you have ever gone on a mission trip – someone, somewhere is working behind a desk to ensure that you get an amazing, life-changing experience. 

Click HERE to make a donation!

Obviously this past year was a really amazing and challenging year for me. I knew that coming back home was going to be an adjustment, but I just did not anticipate that the ways of life in America would become so overwhelming. When I was overseas – I never worried about money or the other things that now cloud my mind and faith. And, so I struggle now between what is practical and where God is asking me to step out in faith and trust Him.

God is so good to me, always has been. Thankfully, He created me and knows all of my flaws. He also knows how to speak to my heart and just how long He is going to have to gently speak to my heart before I will give up and give in to what He wants for me. Back in January (when I was in the Dominican Republic), God started speaking to me about the possibility of working for AIM (Adventures in Missions). It sounded fun and I knew that it was pretty much a dream job for me....to live in the States, work with international missions as my job and life, AND get to travel overseas on top of that! But, that whole raising support thing (oh, and moving out of Texas) really just seemed like something I could not give in to. But, over time – I let God speak to me about it and it started to sound better and better. Well, He started to sound better and better I suppose. 

So, I have given up on my fears and I am beginning to walk into what seems like the biggest and scariest step of faith I have taken so far in my life. I am walking in faith that God is going to financially provide for me – not just for a one year trip – but for a lifetime! With the economy the way it is and the misconception that "somebody else" will financially fund my trips ... it can become an overwhelming thought that maybe this will all fall apart and maybe I am going to crash and burn. But, how could I remove all that I KNOW God is and all the ways He has told me that He is going to take care of me. 1 John 4:18 says "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" and I know that the love God has for me is perfect and so I can rest in knowing that there is nothing to fear. 

I would be honored if you would join me in this next step in my life. I will begin working for AIM starting next month and I need to raise $2500/month. I pray that you might consider giving a monthly support of $25/month. You can do that by clicking HERE and typing in your information.  So far, I have raised about $1800 in all, so your donation would be a huge blessing to me!

        

 I trusted them from the beginning and for some reason, I knew that I could open up and share my heart and my struggles with them.  They truly are the easiest people to talk to – and they have no judgments to make...you are accepted and loved just for who you are when you are in their presence.  I have had a lot of adults in my life act as spiritual mentors ... but I have never had "spiritual parents", until Mike & Patti.  They began as Ms. Patti and Mr. Mike ... but I wholeheartedly call them Momma and Pops now!  I am beyond honored and blessed to have them in my life – for the rest of my life! 

 I have sought their wisdom so much this year, I probably drove them nuts with all the emails and questions.  But, I know that I need them in my life and I desire to be the Christ that I see in them.  I am encouraged by them as individuals and of course by their marriage – I truly want to have a marriage like theirs in the future.  They are so real and normal ... and yet so freakishly in tune with the Holy Spirit, that I basically cried every time they ever shared anything with me this year.  They are both so strong and full of wisdom and yet are full of grace and love and a gentleness that makes you feel at ease when you are with them.  Mike is the tough teddy bear who always tells you the truth, even if it is hard to hear.  (But is always available and ready with hugs and kisses).  And Patti is just adorable and full of love and acceptance and you can't help but love her – she is even a little sassy at times! (And my favorite Patti is the one at 4 am)! 

         

 It is hard for me to explain the way that I love them or the way that I feel when I am around them ...they make me feel at home and home is something I cherish with all of my heart!  They have taught me this year about the real Jesus – the Jesus who loved with all of His heart and held no judgments against anyone.  They have walked hand in hand with me and patiently loved me as I began to learn who the Holy Spirit really is!  They have had grace with me as I have confessed some things in my life that I felt guilt and shame over! 

 I cannot and would not want to imagine how this year would have been without them.  And now, I never want to imagine my life without them.  I am thankful that they are stuck with me forever and I am always looking forward to the next time I am with them. 

                               

I love you both SO MUCH and I seriously thank God every single day that you are in my life!  You being a part of my life seriously has changed me forever!