A Fortified City, an Iron Pillar, a Bronze Wall

I haven't updated in almost a full 4 months! ...oops! A lot has been happening and all to the glory of God. I came home from my DTS and drowned in reverse culture shock, struggling to be back in my "home" with no one who understood where I was coming from, and a lot of confusion on what exactly was coming in this new season. I've always described my walk with God using Psalm 119:105, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path," and I imagine myself standing in a forest so black that it's dense and on my own I have no direction or idea of how to go forward, but God is my lamp and the light shines in the direction I'm supposed to be going just enough for me to take 1 step. After I've taken that step, the lamp continues to show me step by step and it is only with complete faith that I follow the light.

Community

I had been praying to find friends who loved Jesus for what seemed like forever and I hadn't been finding it. I've been finding people who are verbally saying they love Jesus but denying Him by their actions, or people who don't know Him, and those people are good friends but I've definitely needed solid believers to pour into me and pour into. But God can use ANYONE! I met my friend Danielle through one of my roommates who is not a believer. Danielle gets it. She totally sees the glory, understands the urgency, and seeks the fullness of Christ. We've been having some deep conversations about the Lord and His glory and His plan and the coming of His Kingdom...it goes on and on, just like His faithfulness! Because of my deep friendship with her I've been introduced to her group of friends who live in a house run by their church; it's been day and night having community with these kids! I've just been incredibly blessed and it is so worth the frustration and struggle then to have this now.

lukewarm love.

What do your extracurricular activities look 

like? A life set on God will yield fruit. 

Study of the Bible, yielding to His will, and 

serving as He commands. A life that is 

serving as He commands. A life that is

inward focused looks as self serving

activities: putting things you want first!

Whether your addiction is working out,

partying, or Facebook; whether your idols

are your friends, your things, or celebrities--

you are not focused on God. I am either

your everything or I am your nothing at all.

God doesn't want half of your heart, half of your

life, because He gave Jesus as your whole atonement

1 Corinthians 3:2 says by now we should

be eating solid food, but we are still drinking

milk; In Revelation 3:16, God says that 

if you are lukewarm he will spit you out of

His mouth, that he prefers you to be either for

Him or against Him. God is merciful, full

of grace, but He is just and there is a season

in your life where you have to grow up.

This morning's lecture basically wrecked my heart for Jesus, yet again. I've got to hate not just the things that are easy to hate, but also the things that are hard to hate and are accepted in our culture. Gossip, abortion, tattoos, piercings, jewelry.

**But, more than that I need to not confuse hate for sin as hatred of sinners.**

Keep your friendships, but hate sin.

Find a different environment to be around.

Call me if you want to watch football, call if you want to go to dinner, even to see a movie, but don't call me to come out and party because I will say no. Call me if you're drunk at 3 AM and need a ride, but don't call me to party, because I don't live that life anymore.

If you can be around it, then you don't hate it!

I hate clowns so you aren't going to find me around them, I hate Raclette cheese so you aren't going to find me eating it. You don't willingly decide to be around the things that you hate.

master. mission. mate.

1 john 2:15

"Do not love the world or anything in the world."

I know that my master is God. "...I chose you..." [John 15:16]

I know that my mission is to "suffer according to God's will..commit [myself] to the faithful Creator and continue to do good." [1 Peter 4:12-19]

And as far as the mate, it is clear that my heart does not desire that. [Matthew 19:9-12]

Jesus warns about it, God warns about it, the disciples warn about it, and now I am warning you about it. Do not be complacent and do not accept the watered down Gospel, because at judgement He will not be a watered down God. You are responsible for the truth that you know.

live it out.

'He chose to give us'

I read James this morning and here are some key pieces I picked out:
'He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created.'
'Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.'
'Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be given to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment! '
'You see that his faith and his deeds were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.'
'...no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With our tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.'
'Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will do this or that.'


Also, the DTS is going really well and I'm having a lot of fun :)
The lectures are incredible, the teachings are solid, and I'm seeing what needs to be fixed in my heart.
God is definitely transforming my soul. Making me a woman of His word, a woman after His heart.
Just to try and grasp His love makes my head spin although the picture of His love is becoming a little clearer.

Definitely hitting frustrations with the financial situation. Still owe $5,086 for the program and just meeting so much opposition, but this week more people in my family are speaking to me. I'm just praying for God to open the hearts of His people. Those who are able to support in prayer and financially of course.

I'm going to try and update more often, but until then here are some photos :)

Saying goodbye to a member of the Outreach Team! We love you!

 

Having fun before class!

Baking with our favorite French students!

This is the cafe area where the students can buy tea and coffee during their lunch break.

Cam! :)

I was not as good at baking as everyone else!

Playing around singing Adele on the guitar!

Singing some worship songs :D

Arn!

team photo!

Thomas

Pray for these high school students to have their ears opened to the gospel and the power of Jesus Christ. As a believer we know how incredibly life transforming His love is.

I live in Christ, that's why I shine so bright!

What scares people about me picking up and going to be a missionary is because almost no one listens to God and just does what He asks. It is always, "I wish I could do that, but I have all these scholarships," or "God, right now isn't really good for me." I mean, really? I'm so happy Jesus didn't say that! Anyway, I have always told God, "not now." Whether that means that everyone turns their back on me, God has me in His breast and will not let me go. There is no fear in that. :)

The Bible is extremely clear that my life is not my own, but that I was created  to be a living example of who Christ is, to expedite the gospel to the nations, to love, and to further His kingdom. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain! So no worries, the hand of God is upon me, and He will not lead those who seek Him into trouble. He goes before me, with me, and He will be here to calm those behind me.

So, if God is telling you to do something or if you're reading a story about someone who is answering God's call and you say, "I wish I could do something like that," you need to know that you can and if it is God's will then He will take you through it fully.

Thank YOU for all that You have done for me, in me, and through me and all that is coming, I trust fully in Your plan. Amen.