new series: "STORIES from a missionary"

sunday will start the new series: "STORIES from a missionary."  i hope you will be able to follow along as many people who have answered the call to make disciples will be sharing their experiences with the world.  they have gone across the street to the other side of town, to another state and another country, they've flown from continents to all of the nations

these adventurous stories from REAL people with REAL emotions, REAL passion, have experienced REAL life lessons. hear what they have to say this entire month on the blog starting in february!

why do you say that God is good?

when you hear someone say, "God is good all the time," 9 times out of 10, you'll respond, "all the time, God is good."

but why do we say that God is good?

why?

think about that, seriously.

why do you say that God is good?

if i'm honest with myself, the words i'm about the write are convicting to me more than anyone.

a lot of times we say God is good because of the things that happen to us or the things we get.

"i got a raise, God is good."
"i passed the test, God is good."
"my fantasy football team is winning, God is good."
"mom made dinner, God is good."
"i got the iPad i wanted, God is good."
"she said yes, God is good."
"yes, i'm losing weight, God is good."

all of that could realistically happen, and we should give praise be to God all the more for that.  we can genuinely praise him for those blessings, absolutely.  however, saying that God is good only when these things happen is a misrepresentation of God's character.

God is good.  he is the definition of goodness.  he is not good because of the things that do (or do not) happen.  good or bad, his goodness remains.

read the psalms.  the writer of the psalms praises God simply for God's character, not for the things he does or doesn't have.

while the Lord provides and wants good things for his children, is he only good while things are going our way?

can we say 'God is good' when bad things happen?   

"i have been diagnosed with cancer, ___________________."
"i had to bury our only child, ___________________."
"my boss reprimanded me in front of my coworkers, _____________________."
"my spouse doesn't appreciate my hard work, ______________________."
"i am struggling to financially provide for my family, _____________________."
"my family no longer wants me to come around, ____________________."
"i just got broken up with, __________________."

can we really say that God is good in those times?  do we say that he is good?  again, if i am honest with myself, i find bitterness welling up inside of me and thinking God is anything but good in those times.  

however, our scope is limited.  often we can't see the big picture.  we might not always know why unfortunate circumstances come our way, but that doesn't change God's character.  God is sovereign over every situation, and when things don't go our way, he is still good.

goodness is God's nature and who God is.  God sets our standard of goodness.

romans 8:28 says that for those who love God, all things work together for their good according to God's purposes.  so for the christ-follower, though sometimes things are contrary to what we may want to happen, every single thing is to make us more christ-like.  it is to grow us more into the image of christ.  it is not always easy for me to recognize God's goodness in the midst of turmoil, but still, it's comforting to know that God's  hand is in everything for our good.

God's goodness is not dependent on our definition of goodness but of his.

in your life, how have you seen God's goodness displayed?

reason for my ink

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i wanted to take a minute to tell you about my tattoo.  though i didn't have time to participate in my friend cassie's "link your ink" i still want to share my story.  most of the time i forget i have a tattoo.  yes it's a part of me, but it's not something i think of every day.  with that being said, it IS a part of me.  like i have arms and legs and rarely stop to consider them, i have a tattoo on my back left shoulder.

a lot of people are against tattoos, think that they give you a bad association, will actively condemn people with tattoos, and try to misuse the bible as a weapon against them.  i've really never understood that. i guess people do that with several things: hair cuts, specific clothing, piercings, etc.  i think having a tattoo can make you more approachable in today's society; however, in saying that, that is not a reason to get one.  i have always fancied the idea of getting a tattoo.  i am not sure where that idea was birthed, but it was there.  when i got into college, i fully believed i would get a cross-country tattoo associated with mississippi state university.  the more i thought of that, the thought of permanence freaked me out.  injury after injury plagued me leaving external reminders in the form of tears and scares.   i knew that i didn't want another reminder of dreams unfulfilled.  

i began growing in my relationship with the lord my senior year of college, 2011-2012.  this is when i can recall to surrendering my life to christ and giving up control of my life.  there i found so much freedom.  i remember sitting at the kitchen table in my house on loch lane where i lived with my 3 incredible friends.  i was going through proverbs and i ran across a verse i never noticed before.  

proverbs 4:23 says, "above all else guard your heart for it affects everything you do." 

how true this was in my life.  for a girl who ran from obsession to obsession, i was highly influenced by where my heart led.  my heart has always led me away from christ and towards boys, running, work, vanity, anger, and the list goes on to an unhealthy extent.  i decided that i wanted to live out this truth i had run across in God's word.  while sitting at our kitchen table, i started to doodle as i pondered the truths i had just read.  what resulted from that moment of pondering is now with me forever, etched on my back. 

the moment i colored in my doodle, i felt this strong pull to stick it on my body.  it was like i knew that that picture was going to be with me, forever.  so on april 3, 2012, i penned my doodle to my back.  (funny story about the actual tattoo process, but that's for another day)  today, my tattoo is an external alter and a reminder that the Lord is faithful, that his word is True, and that my heart was not created to be filled by frivolous things.  my heart was designed by God, for God, and i choose to glorify him by guarding it.

since having my tattoo, it has been an incredible witness opportunity.  i get to tell them what my tattoo means and the reason behind it.  many people who don't know me will assume that i have had a heart transplant.  they are not too far from the truth, jesus has taken my heart and made me new.  

ezekiel 36:26 says, "and i will give you a new heart, and a new spirit i will put within you.  and i will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh."

another way my tattoo has been a useful tool is that when i see someone else with a tattoo and i am caught in an uncomfortable or awkward situation, i always ask them about their tattoo.  people are always so willing to share their stories behind their tattoos because there is deep, emotional meaning to most.  when i was on an airplane headed to vancouver for a mission trip, i got to sit by a girl named katie.  she was from texas, adopted, went to ball state university, and had a tattoo of love on her foot.  to break the ice of a 3-hour plane ride, i simply asked what her tattoo meant.  after talking about it, i got to share that i too had one.  this was the perfect entrance into the gospel which i did not shy away from.  katie and i still keep in touch today.

whatever your opinion on tattoos, i challenge you to not let your own fear of us weird people with tattoo freak you out and try to view tattoos as a creative expression of reality for that person.  a lot of times, if you are willing to ask, people will become their most vulnerable when you ask the meaning behind a tattoo.  

still actively guarding my heart, 

FEBRUARY preview

i am siting at the coffee capital drinking my free cup of java (thanks grandma).  big things are going to be happening in the month of february on this blog.  i want this little space of internet to become more interactive and glorify God all the more.  in just two short weeks, this space will be littered with new voices and new stories.

a "mission" is defined by merriam-webster as a task or job that someone is given to do.

mission implies an important assignment.
mission implies an overseer to ensure the job is completed.

as a christ-follower, we have a mission, and we have an overseer.

our mission is given to us by christ in matthew 28:19 when he says, "go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that i have commanded you.  and behold, i  am with you always, to the end of the age."

our task: make disciples

our overseer: jesus, forever.

this february i want to highlight the incredible things God is doing through his people.  i want to highlight the unbelievable ability for God to shine in some of the darkest places and the awe-inspiring obedience of the ones whose heart beats for jesus.

this coming month you will read incredible stories of God's immaculate provision, the holy spirit's unmatched power, tear-jerking lessons learned, supernatural patience in unheard of predicaments, overwhelming boldness when fear could cripple, perfect wording in a difficult situations, heart changing moments, and so many more ways.

what is YOUR mission?  comment below and let's talk!

the rearview mirror: 2014

january
we rang in 2014 while sledding in ohio with mark's family.
we cheered on our NFL teams at buffalo wild wings for the divisional round. poor colts.
loren threw me a bridal shower and my sister surprised me in starkville.

february
february was a slow month.
i made final preparations for the wedding and we celebrated valentines day at chicfila

march
the youth group threw mark and i a surprise wedding shower
i got married to my best friend
we went to ocho rios, jamaica for our honeymoon

april
mark got inducted into the society of scholars at MSU
mark played a roman guard in our easter play
we went to lots of MSU baseball
we took a weekend getaway to atlanta
mark was my date to the high school prom

may
we got our first house
i graduated with my masters
mark graduated with his bachelors
we had lots of cookouts with friends out our house
russell and julie got married

june
went to daytona beach with mark's family
we took the youth group to north carolina for a mission trip
my best friend, hannah, got married

july
my parents had a welcome home party for us in indiana
we celebrated america's independence with my family
aubrey got married to her best friend, jacob
we took the youth group to clinton, ms for Super Summer camp #greenuniversity #GU
we met cassie and matt in louisville, ky (first time in real life)
we took a weekend trip to memphis
mark started seminary

august
school started back
i helped lead FCA at the high school
i helped out with the high school cross-country team

september
celebrated 6 months of marriage with the best meal around: chickfila
i visited my parent's lake house for the first time while mark was at seminary
my sister surrendered her life to christ
we went to the MSU vs LSU football game (my first time ever going to an away football game)
i received an outstanding teacher award

october
we went to lots and lots of MSU football.  God provided so many tickets!
college game day and SEC nation came to starkville
MSU was #1 in the CFP
we took the high school youth group to lake tiaokhata for fall retreat
savannah and bobby d got married
we went to the pumpkin patch....and it was 86 degrees. blah.
we threw a black-light dodgeball tournament for the youth group, and the team i was on (#terminators) WON!

november
mark's parents came to starkville
my sister came to starkville
mark made me a home-made cake (FUNFETTI!) for my 25th birthday
my parents came to starkville!
we took the youth group to a memphis grizzlies' game
we spent thanksgiving with my parents
mark and i tried pickled beets for the first time (gross)
mark visited st. louis for the first time
i started working for itworks! to help mark pay for seminary

december
couples christmas cookie decorating party with our sunday school class
we got a new car!
amy, my sister in law, got engaged to justin
we saw the gainesville christmas festival at westside baptist church
we got our eyes examined (haha, finally)
we built gingerbread houses with our friends alex and rachel
we hosted our sunday school christmas party after christmas caroling at the nursing homes
kenan and katie got married!
we went (gl)ice skating and to the zoo with mark's family and rang in the new year with sparkling grape juice and a sweet kiss.

happy 2015 everyone

JO BETH GOES TO ENGLAND

i have had the sincerest privilege to do life with jo beth dodds for 1.5 years.  our mentor-mentee relationship has grown so much more than that.  jo beth may be a senior in high school, but her maturity matches that of a college graduate.  jo beth's fire for the lord is contagious and her willingness to obey God at all costs is truly awesome.  

jo beth has the wonderful opportunity to go to brieley hill, england this summer.  below, jo beth has composed a short summary of what her summer 2015 will look like.  

please take a moment to read her comments and pray fully consider donating a tax-deductible gift to such a kingdom-impacting project and young lady.

My name is Jo Beth Dodds! Let me tell you, i love serving the Lord through missions! This past summer i spent 10 days in England serving along side a church called Church in the Community. This church is located in Brieley Hill, England. The pastor has asked me to come back and serve as intern for two months. He asked me to begin preparing to disciple youth, lead small groups, work in the church’s coffee shop, and serve the homeless. This summer should be very busy! 
Would you be willing to partner with me to share the gospel in England where only 2% of the population claims to be Christ followers? I feel that this is God’s will for me to spend 2 months worshiping Him through service. Please help me shine His marvelous Light! 

if you feel led to give, please click HERE.  

please feel free to share this blogpost and her link so jo beth can be fully funded by april.