"Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done..."

What is God’s main goal for all of history?

When we pray ‘Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven… “ what are we really asking?

-       a confirmation in prayer of our allegiance to the sovereign rule of the Kingdom of God above all else -- absolute submission to God’s will is born only out of undivided, absolute allegiance to His Kingdom.

-       Communion with God through His Word and prayer is essential to the fruitful life that will hasten the coming of His Kingdom.

*Quotes from Kay Arthur in ‘Lord Teach me to Pray in 28 Days’

There is a big picture and we can choose to be a part of it, or we can continue to live our days as if it were only about us and our choices and our needs and feelings and happiness.

As I stand before my students every day and ‘teach’ them – I keep asking God to give me TIMELESS TRUTHS to impress on their hearts. Little did I know, they were being more impressed upon mine.

Mountain Getaway View

I have lived in unbelief in God’s great scheme. I have uttered words of belief and have tried to muster up the belief from my own inner strength and I have fallen miserably short.  When I sink down into the mud of this world and forget to turn my chin up, or when I simply just get dragged down by selfishness and busyness, I don’t remember what the higher calling to God’s kingdom is on my life.  I lose sight and fall short.

We were studying Joshua Ch. 1 in Sunday school yesterday and the pastor was talking about how God warns the people against the idols they were dealing with in Egypt and then he warns them about the idols they will face as they enter the promised land. He mentions two separate idols. One set are the ones in the past -- the bondage that we used to face and sometimes go back to. The ones in the new land are the idols of unbelief … the ones we trade for when we lose sight of God’s law and promises and trade the truth we know in the quiet of our hearts for momentary and easy.

Honduran version of race for the cure!

We fight the idols of the past by REMEMBERING God’s faithfulness, guidance, and blessings and we fight the idols of the now and future with FAITH.

Anything done apart from faith is sin. (Rom. 14:23)

Oh Lord I believe, help me in my unbelief. (Mark 9:24)

During a weekend retreat for missionary women I was challenged to write down my personal mission statement. This took me back to my knees in humility. I have been given much and called to MUCH MORE! Have you defined the reason for your existence, what your life should be all about? Maybe your church has a mission statement that you understand and agree with, but do you have one for YOUR life, your family? What are you living for? What is this momentary life all about?

Joelle -- my flexible student teacher!

You will find my scribblings below… just a start. I challenge you to try your pen at one, pray over it and continue revising as you learn and grow in the Lord. Then line your life up with your declarations and surround yourself with people who will hold you accountable to your claims and spur you on to love and good deeds.

Friends, we have but one life to live. If we don’t define our motives and set our gaze on something we will fall to anything.

A quick update from the school and ministry side of things here in Honduras:

1.)  School is a pleasure and the Lord is answering prayers for the student teacher and her short time in my classroom. We are in the thick of projects on Egypt and my classroom is a disaster zone of chaos in all the best ways… I love the mayhem!

Hands of praise/surrender 

       2.)  Bible study last week was on worship. 17 girls with their hands raised, hearts bent low, and minds seeking to take hold of God. They are hungry and yearning and I can’t help but tear up when I partake in it.

       3.)  I’m greeting more and more people at church, preparing for the wedding I will be in next month, and seeking ways to serve and love on others at church… so thankful for this community!

       4.)  Running with my crew keeps me going through long days and tough spots. I completed my first Honduran 10K which was actually 7.5 miles J and it was all by God’s grace. My next 9K race is this coming weekend!

5.)  Learning and being transformed by what I am learning in God’s word and teaching. What a privilege to have time and a job that allows me to dive in to the holy word of God. May this ever be the anthem of my life.

Staff who have become my family here

       6.)  I have made the dreaded decision to not extend my commitment for the following year here. I’ve finally found the courage to claim it. As I do though, I feel a deep sense of sadness overwhelm me, for the Lord has done great things for me here. I know NOT what the future may hold, but I do know that I am in good hands and have nothing to fear. Please pray for this reality as it’s destroying my heart. I trust the Lord and walk where He leads.

With renewed faith and strength flowing I press on, seeking first His kingdom and all these things (and immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine!) will be added unto me.

My beautiful friend Isa who will
be getting married in a month!

  Favorite songs as of late:

  Sovereign over Us by Aaron Keyes --   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPkMbhydU9I

  My Heart is Yours by Kristian Stanfil – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zC1MgLr2LqE

Personal Mission Statement

That I would remain in Him and He in me to: (John 15)

1.)  Bear good fruit

2.)  Share all things with the Father

3.)  Have abundant joy

4.)  Be sanctified by the truth

*Be still and know that He is God (Psalm 46:10)

Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of God is this: to care for widows and orphans in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27)

1.)  Care for orphans in whatever capacity God allows

2.)  Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed with renewed mind and heart on truth and God’s higher calling (Romans 12:2)

Prayer and thanksgiving for all things at all times: (1 Thess. 5:16-18)

*the Lord gives and takes away -- Blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21)

*Forgiveness is the secret weapon of a Christian life, I forgive all things and cover them in the blood of Christ so that the enemy may not use them to steal, kill or destroy, but the Lord may use for His glory (Eph. 4:32).

*Everything we receive is good if received with thanksgiving and sanctified by the word of God and prayer. (1 Tim. 4:5)

Servant leadership in humility:

1.)  Whatever you do for the least of these you do unto me (Matt. 25:45)

2.)  Attitude as that of Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5)

3.)  Actions and words that point to Christ – a city on a hill (Matt. 5:14-16)

Mission:

1.)  May my life reflect all that I have received from God

2.)  Proclaim the good news in word or deed and on all occasions

3.)  Raise up the next generation with a heart for the nations and disciple to go unto all the earth with hope

4.)  "I know that my redeemer lives and in the end he will stand upon the earth." This is my secure hope and peace in all situations and times. (Job 19:25)