This pretty much says it all...powerful stuff!

Amazima_Final

Just Some Thoughts

Don't worry bloggers, I haven't stopped blogging. I just have not had that many things to say lately. Right now I am still praying through where God wants me to be, and for the time being, it is being a nanny for the sweetest family of 5 kids. But at the end of everyday, this is where my heart is...

I have just started reading the book Radical by David Platt. Let me just say, if you have not picked this book up yet, I suggest you do. It has really put things in perspective for me. I am not very far in the book but I have come across something that I just have to share with you guys...

"But in the Bible is missions ever identified as an optional program in the
church?We have just seen that we were all created by God, saved from our sins,
and blessed by God to make his glory known in all the world. Indeed, Jesus
himself has not merely called us to go to all nations; he has created us and
commanded us to go to all nations. We have taken this command, though, and
reduced it to a calling--something that only a few people receive.

I find it interesting that we don't do this with other words from Jesus. We
take Jesus' command in Matthew 28 to make disciples of all nations, and we say,
'that means other people.' But we look at Jesus' command in Matthew 11:28, 'Come
to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,' and we say,
'Now, that means me.' We take Jesus' promise in Acts 1:8 that the Spirit will
lead us to the ends of the earth, and we say, 'That means some people.' But we
take Jesus' promise in John 10:10 that we will have abundant life, and we say,
'That means me.'

In the process we have unneccessarily (and unbiblically) drawn a line of
distinction, assigning the obligations of Christianity to a few while
keeping the privileges of Christianity for us all. In this way we
choose to send off other people to carry out the global purpose of Christianity
while the rest of us sit back because we're 'just not called to that.'

Now, we know that each of us has different gifts, different skills, different
passions, and different callings from God. God has gifted you and me in
different ways. This was undoubtedly the case with the disciples. Peter and Paul
had different callings. James and John had different callings. However, each
follower of Christ in the New Testament, regardless of his or her calling, was
intended to take up the mantle of proclaiming the gospel to the ends of the
earth. That's the reason why he gave each of them his Spirit and why he gave
them all the same plan: make disciples of all nations."

I hope that passage inspires you to read this book, if you haven't already read it.

Sixty Feet

My heart is crushed into a million pieces right now. I was reading a blog and came across this website. As soon as I read it I burst into tears. This is a place in Africa that is considered a modern day concentration camp for children. These children are left here because they are "stubborn children- street beggars, disobedient kids, unwanted orphans, handicapped or mentally disabled kids". I can't even find the words to write now. Please just go read this blog and do whatever you can to help!

Father,
These beautiful children need your help! Move mountains for them and save them from this hell on earth! And help us to be willing to do whatever it takes to help!

Falling Whistles

Please go and read the Story of these child soldiers in the Congo who are put on the front lines of the worlds biggest and deadliest war with a whistle as their only weapon.

More Reflections

Ok I know that I have been back from Africa for almost as long as I was there but sometimes these things take a long time to process…

I have been home since Thanksgiving and almost every day someone asks me, “How was Africa?” Usually they ask in passing and don’t really have the time to hear everything that went on, so my usual response is “Oh, it was so amazing” or “I had such a great time” or “It was life-changing”. But to be honest, I do not have a word in my vocabulary, and there is probably not a word in the dictionary, to describe what my time in Africa was like. I mean, how can you describe waking up to children singing worship songs every morning? Or making a premature baby who never made eye contact with anyone or even smiled, smile for the first time? Or being able to love someone in their last few days on Earth who had never experienced love before? You can’t. It’s impossible. But these are just a few of the things that happened to me while I was there. These are just a few of the things that have changed my life forever. And, these are just a few of the reasons that I can’t wait to go back to Uganda. Experiencing worship through the eyes and hearts of pre-school aged orphans is more than you can imagine. Falling in love with little Eric, even though he threw up on me numerous times each day, and being able to be responsible for causing his first smile touched me deeply. Seeing little Walter take his last breathe while being able to sing to him and read Scripture over him was transforming. God has taught me so much about unconditional love and service. But, I know that I have so much more to learn. As seems to always be the case when you are serving others, I was served much more than these children. These children that the world sees as poor and wretched gave me gifts that can never be taken from me. They are worth more money than I will ever have. And I know that they are just a small portion of what my Heavenly Father longs to give me.

“I love you, Lord! You answered my prayers. You paid attention to me, and so I will pray to you as long as I live. Death attacked from all sides, and I was captured by its painful chains. But when I was really hurting, I prayed and said, ‘Lord, please don’t let me die!’ You are kind, Lord, so good and merciful. You protect ordinary people, and when I was helpless, you saved me and treated me so kindly that I don’t need to worry anymore. You, Lord, have saved my life from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. Now I will walk at your side in this land of the living. I was faithful to you when I was suffering, though in my confusion I said, ‘I can't trust anyone!’ What must I give you, Lord, for being so good to me? I will pour out an offering of wine to you, and I will pray in your name because you have saved me. I will keep my promise to you when your people meet. You are deeply concerned when one of your loyal people faces death. I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death. I will offer you a sacrifice to show how grateful I am, and I will pray. I will keep my promise to you when your people gather at your temple in Jerusalem. Shout praises to the Lord!” ~Psalm 116

Please continue to pray with me as I wait patiently for God’s directions to wherever He leads me next.

Troubled Heart

I dont even know the words to describe how I feel. Tonight as I'm getting ready for bed I get an overwhelming feeling that this is not where I am supposed to be. As tears are streaming down my face I ask myself "If I know this is not where I am supposed to be then how do I know where I am supposed to be?" I feel sure that the Lord is calling me to Africa...but where do I go? There are so many places I could go.. but where to start? I feel like I should just get on a plane and go and let the Lord direct me from there...but am I that strong? I honestly wish my answer to that question was "Yes, I am strong enough to just get on a plane and have faith that the Lord will show me where to go." I want to have that much faith and that much trust...but to be honest it is hard!

As I am writing this I went to google to look up some verses (because I dont have my Bible next to me) and this is the first thing I read:

"My presence will go with you, and I will give you peace" Exodus 33:14

"It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed." Deuteronomy 31:8

So if we know we are not where we are supposed to be, but dont know where we are supposed to go, what do we do? My answer is look to God, listen to His voice, and follow Him!

Passion 2010

This weekend was Passion 2010! There is so much to process that I'm not going to share it all right now but I do want to share one of my highlights from the week.

We went to the Hillsong United concert last night and left a little bit early so that we could catch the marta back to our hotel instead of being stranded in downtown Atl at 1 in the morning. When we got to the platform where our train was going to come there were about 100 other college students that had the same idea we had. We started riding down the escalator and heard everyone sing praise songs to our Savior! We joined in and had an amazing time waiting for our marta to come! It was such a wonderful thing to see! Heres a video of it!!