Small Tips

It's been tough lately. My support started out strong, I was checking my account everyday and it seemed like it kept rising for a couple weeks. Then I was soo excited! So what happened now? When it's not rolling in week by week, do I just get discouraged and lose my faith? Sometimes I think so. But I've told and I've conversed with God time and time again, "I am giving this all to you. I can't raise $5,000 by myself and you know that. You have all the money in the world because it belongs to you. I'm letting you worry about bringing in the support, while I keep living my life through you. I trust you and I put my whole dependence on you. It is not even an option to worry about this". God said "Let me do this for you". Now that the percentage of support has stayed at the same spot for a couple weeks, is when I've been doubting everything again. The enemy definitely got a hold of my thoughts at that time- but like I learned from my mentor; "bring it on Satan!". Tell the devil to bring it on- do what you think you can do to make me reject God and I will SHOW YOU I BELONG TO HIM because He is faithful. It has been on my mind for a week now- all I care about is what God thinks and how strongly I can stand up for Him.

So my next piece of advice. Where else can I look to make small amounts of money for my missions trip. Another girl who will be going with me to Swaziland has used the smallest way to collect cans and recycle them for a small profit- yes it is so small because you get paid by the pound and pop cans are soo light! But, it helps. I'm still looking around for craft shows for the spring time...I don't know if anymore will come up before May, but I'm sure praying there will be some. I made $350 at my last show, which actually disappointed me a bit. God had a good reason for that though. I'm trusting YOU will bring me through again, Father. What other small ways can I bring support about. My etsy shop has been soo slow, and i've been working on making it more attractive- it's not easy though because there are SOOO many sellers on etsy. Spend $ before you receive, is the philosophy statement I guess.

rich

We are rich.
No matter what you think about how much money you make or all the material things you think you don't have. We are rich.
Most of the world is made up of adults and children living in dirt homes, living in the streets, going from homeless shelter to homeless shelter.
We are rich.
We have clothes on our backs, we have 3 meals a day, we have a roof over our heads, we have beds to sleep in, we have showers to clean up in, we have our own computers-phones-mp3 players-books-decorations-makeup-hair products-stuff that we could live without, but have, unlike most of the world.
We are rich.
We aren't worrying about whether we will get another meal today. We aren't desperate for food and water so badly that we drink out of the sewar. We aren't freezing during the winter while sleeping outside all curled up. We aren't just getting by day to day. We aren't hoping we will get a coat donated to us before the winter hits.
We are rich.
We have so much. We don't even realize how truly blessed we are. We are healthy (most of the time), we get checkups, dentist appointments, we go shopping wanting more and more, we look for bigger and better things, these things consume us as though we are worshiping another god. We have hope, we have joy, we are not thankful for all the things God has given us. We act as though nothing is wrong in this world. Everything is okay, as long as I don't turn up like that man.
We are rich.
We don't even take one look at a homeless person and wonder what their story is. How did they get to living out on the streets? We pass them by...Some of most poor, broken-hearted, hurt, destitute, etc people in this world are actually in God's favor even though we are all loved equally. Jesus says to feed the hungry. Jesus gave his time after time after time to those who have nothing and are at the pit-bottom of their lives.
We are so rich.


"I love you Lord; break me and take me to the deepest places on this earth who need to know what you have done for them. And I will open up my heart, search me in the deepest part; by you, I'm purified"

craftshow.madness

This is what getting ready for a craft show looks like. So much planning and putting stuff together as well as deciding what price seems accurate!
Check it out!

10-15 picture frames Over 20 varied boxes

Miscellaneous CHEAP items

Flowers, Fowers n' Dots, Varied Cards

Clothes-pin Clips: Magnet or not magnet
Over 120!!

Over 25 Large Flowers and more to come!

A little bit of everything including notebooks!

First Craft Show Planning!

Wow, I'm so excited yet so boggled down (is that a word?) with all the planning and things I need to do for my craft show!

Make signs
Put prices on items
Get creative!
Get extra money/change
Table cloths
Boxes
Make more products in 3 weeks
Set up an imitation table
Make a "my.creations" sign
MORE!!!!

I think this will be so much fun though. With all the work and time and LOVE I've put into these items, which I absolutely love doing, I am so pleased and excited and thankful for such an opportunity like this one. I even had this craft show planned before my missions trip opportunity came up. And look where its taking me....God will provide and support me through this as well! I'm so excited for everything I'm looking forward to coming up soon!

.......:::::'hear your heart beat':::::.....

"The more I seek you,
The more I find you
The more I find you,
the more I love you

I wanna sit at your feet
drink from the cup in your hand
Lay back against you and breath, hear your heart beat

This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand

I melt in your peace, it's overwhelming"


I was listening to this song tonight by Kari Jobe. She leads worship down in this huge church in Texas but also does a little bit of traveling with her band. She is amazing. All her songs are so soft and intimate and the words always hit me deeply.
As I was pondering this song I had remembered something my mentor had told me. I explained that most of the time I wonder how can God possibly be that dedicated to me and each one of us when He has 6 billion people in the world to take care of. For some reason I can't seem to understand the fact that He thinks about us MORE than the grains of sand combined. How precious and amazing! But when I mentioned that, she told me something I had never heard before. Something that made me view my personal, eternal, intimate relationship with Jesus on a whole new level. She said "He waits for your phone call. He waits for you to call on Him and to talk to Him just as we wait for a boy on earth to call us. When He answers that phone and sees our name on the caller-id, His heart flutters and beats faster and faster. He gets nervous. He says with excitement 'Oh my, it's my precious daughter calling me'. He waits for that and cherishes it." Think of it as a guy who you have a crush on or want to notice you. You wait for that phone call or for that instant moment of communication with him/her. You become so excited and nervous, your hands sweat, your heart beats crazily.

Except with Jesus and God the Father, it is true love. Can you just picture Him picking up the phone, saying your name out loud and has been waiting for you to call Him.

Now its our turn. Pick up the phone and call Him. Dial Him 24/7.

...life...

Life is complicated. We are blessed and we struggle. We love and we feel jealousy. I hate how I always think I'm becoming stronger through Christ in myself, but then it comes out to mean "I think I'm better than everyone else". Which I know is not true. It's so hard to not to judge people, but just to love them despite their faults.

I've been blessed so many times this year, and yet my friends are hurting, and it hurts me so much because all I want to do is help them. I have been blessed through christian friendships- the real deal. Those who support me and lift me up when I'm struggling. Those who love me for who I am in Christ. Those who pray with me and praise God for the amazing things He does in our lives each and everyday throughout all the students here on campus. I have been blessed with an AMAZING opportunity to serve the Swazi people next summer. Something I have always dreamed of, now God I'm relying on you to make it happen.

Ever since I've started college, 1 1/2 yrs ago, I have noticed an empty feeling inside of myself. Those who read this probably know me well, because most don't even know I have a blog (ha). Well, anyways, so I grew up without a father (and brother passed away as well), something that grows deeper everytime i hear one of my friends talk about their dad and how they miss him and always sit on his lap and just talk. Alot of students here are close to their fathers. Now, I do have a father-figure in my life right now. But I didn't for around 8 years, which is probably when I needed one the most. This is why I feel like something is missing. Is it me or is it the fact that because I didn't grow up with a father, I missed out on that connection we're supposed to have with the opposite sex. I'm not talking about dating; I'm talking about everyday conversations and friendships. Why exactly it is this way? I'm not sure at all...I have been searching and seeking for an answer but have not found one. So, guys, bare with me. Don't get me wrong though, I have a wonderful step-father who supports my family in every way possible and I am so grateful for him in our life, but if he would have been there when I was five, maybe things would have turned out differently. Yet, isn't that questioning God's will? God's plan? His reason, His perfect time, His perfect ways?

Wow, I can't believe I just shared all this out loud on my blog for everybody to see.

Well, for now, I should probably head to bed.

///swazi///

So I had my interview today. It went so well I was so full of joy because God gave me the words to speak and to show my passion through my words to the interviewer. I was so very pleased. And I was told right over the phone that I was accepted into AIM and onto the team to Swazi. Wow. I cannot even believe this! Now, I need to just keep constantly praying for support. Doubts run across my mind ever so often, but I'm keeping them out as best as I can. God has been providing in the smallest ways through my crafts, and I know He will help me in the days and months to come! If you read this, please keep praying for me.