STORIES from a Missionary LINK-UP

2.28.2015 |


  • Do you have a missions-based post?  
  • Do you have a STORY of how the Lord is moving in your life or in the life of others?  
  • Do you want to share how God is using you to fulfill the great commission?
  • Do you have an old post from a past mission trip?
Link it up here!


My #STORY:
I have only ever been on one mission trip, but I like to think that my life is on big mission; at least, that is what I am told by Jesus in Matthew 28:19.  

 I went to Vancouver, Canada in December 2012 with Pine Lake Starkville.  I had no idea what to expect.  I decided to go at the LAST possible opportunity, because it was the FIRST time I had heard about it.  I felt burdened to go, so I decided that I was going to go. 

 As I was driving home after making that decision, I started to doubt.  How was I going to raise the funds in just over TWO WEEKS? How can I spend nearly all of my Christmas break AWAY from my family who I barely get to see anyway?  Why would I be useful on a trip that I don't know a single person?  How could I be good at mission work if I don't even know what I going to do?

All of these doubts filled me, but all were satisfied ad put to rest in Jesus.  

 Philippians 1:6 tells me that Jesus is not just going to leave me on my own.

 Hebrews 13:21 tells me that Jesus has equipped me to do what he wants me to do.  I don't have to rely on my own strength, praise God because I am so weak.

 Once I got to Vancouver, I realized that it was the PERFECT place for me.  He had put me on the team to be an encouragement.  To be a loud voice in the midst of a big city.  To be an outgoing weirdo who isn't afraid to talk to anyone on a subway, not even someone who doesn't speak english.  To see his faithfulness at work.

 I would not trade this trip for the world.  In fact, I still keep in contact with a few people I met in Vancouver through Facebook.  

 Though the trip was nothing that I expected, it was everything I needed to grow my relationship with Christ and open up my eyes to the incredible ways that God has provided, equipped, and uniquely made everyone.  

 If you are hesitant about signing up for a mission trip because you are shy, don't have money, don't know anyone, don't like to fly, or can chalk up any other excuse. stop.  You are missing out on one of the biggest blessings of your life time.  It will encourage you to live missionally in your every day life and emboldened you to see people through the Christ-like lenses.

 It's time to go. 

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STORIES from a missionary: YOU

2.26.2015 |


Matthew 28:19 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."

Acts 1:8  says, "but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."  


 There have been so many encouraging stories this month.

Jerusalem→right here in our own home town 

Judea and Samaria→in our nation and surrounding states

Ends of the Earth→across the world


So where do you fit into the mix?

Maybe you can't pick up and move to another country.  Maybe you are not called to work a summer camp.  That is not the issue.  The issue is where are you right now?  As Christ-followers, Jesus commands us to make disciples everywhere.

This series has been challenging for me just as much as it has been for you, I promise.

What can we do in our own cities, towns, homes, and places of work to build relationships and share the gospel?

  • Create goodie bags with various items and a hand written note for teachers and deliver to local schools
  • Bake cookies with a hand written note and deliver to local businesses or apartment complexes
  • Intentionally live in an area outside of your comfort zone: in an international area, or lower income level.  
  • Ask your neighbors over for dinner and share the gospel.
  • Visit nursing home residents and ask to pray with them
  • Become friends with your local barista.  Hold conversations with them, invite them into your home
  • Ask your church about home-bound people and offer to do tasks around their house and visit for a while
  • Bring coffee to your coworkers or to workers/STAFF at a large event
  • Go to local police and fire stations with handmade holiday cards with the message of hope inside
  • Host an international hour at your house or visit an international club 
  • Gather old clothes, go to an area you know could use them, and pass out the clothes.  


My church has done several of these and I was so excited to be apart of them.  All of these are meant to provide you opportunity to encounter people you normally would not.  All ages can participate!  I think you will be pleasantly surprised at how welcomed you will be and what kind of conversations will be sparked because of simple kindness.  We have got to start getting out into the real world and stop holing up in the comfort of our own skin.  These ideas are meant to give you a way to share the gospel while demonstrating the love of Christ to those around you.  When the church is actually the church, people are shocked because it is a kind of love that is remarkably unfamiliar, but ever so delightful.

We can't be silent.  We have the cure for death, and that was never meant to be hoarded for ourselves.


What mission projects or events are you apart of?

 What other ideas have you done around your own town?

 How have you seen local mission projects affect your relationship with Christ?

 How have you seen local mission projects influence your outlook on people in your community?


STORIES from a missionary LINK-UP
Saturday, February 28
Grab this button for your mission-minded, faith-based posts, and then link it to Saturday's post
Mulling Over My Morning Coffee


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My Prayer Life Sucks

2.25.2015 |

If I am going to be completely honest with you, my prayer life has always sucked.  No pretending, it's just was flat out awful.  It wasn't horrible because I wasn't good at praying or didn't have anything to pray about, but because I just didn't do it.  I was faithful to pray at meals and if someone specifically requested something, but rarely would I ever go to the Lord in prayer to meet with him


I have never made an effort to make praying a spiritual discipline.  In December, I decided I was going to get up early each day and pray.  I challenged myself, but found myself exhausted and overwhelmed and half-asleep: Why Don't We Pray

About 3-weeks ago, my husband began leading me in morning prayer and reading a few verses.  We would diligently pray for the students in my first block class (another story in its self).  Since then, it has been INCREDIBLE and REMARKABLE and FLAT OUT AMAZING how I have seen God show up in first block.

When you see prayers answered, it makes you excited to keep praying.

This Lenten season, I struggled with deciding what to "give up" and shrugged it off.  I knew if I was going to give up something, it would be rash, half-hearted, and probably easy by day 3.  (So not the point).

My women's small group decided that we would each pray fervently for 40-days for something specific.  At first, I jumped on this idea because, uh, yeah we are supposed to pray.  But then I found myself anxious and unsure of how to start this 40-day prayer pursuit.  I knew that I would be held accountable and that my friends would ask me if I had been praying.  I couldn't lie, so I had to start praying.

I find that my mind wanders during prayer if I am not 100% tuned in.  I get distracted by my own loud thoughts crammed inside my head.  I have to write down my prayers.  This is beneficial not only for focus, but it is a good way to document prayers so you can see them answered.

I have found that using scripture to pray makes your prayers meaningful, transparent, and incredibly deep. No longer are you just flinging up prayers, but you are using God's word to talk to God.  I encourage you to use scripture to pray.

Examples:

 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15
But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth. To this he called you through our gospel, so that you may obtain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the traditions that you were taught by us, either by our spoken word or by our letter.

God, thank you so much for choosing me as your daughter.  God thank you for sanctifying me by the Spirit.  God, you called me out of darkness.  I don't deserve your love, but I thank you for loving me so much that you would take my place in death.  God help me to stand firm in your truth.


2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command. May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ.
God, thank you for being faithful in my life.  I have failed you so many times, Father forgive me.  You are faithful still.  God please direct my heart to your love and toward the steadfastness of Christ. Guard me from the enemy Lord.

How do you pray?
Are there specific times you pray?
Is there a method you like best while praying?

I am so excited to see the fruit from this 40-day prayer, I literally am crying imagining it.  Glory to God forever.


1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Father, forgive me for not giving you my all.  Forgive me for not lifting my prayers to you.  Thank you for your faithfulness and the power of the cross to cleanse me from this unrighteousness.



If you are joining in the STORIES from a missionary LINK-UP on SATURDAY, feel free to grab this button! 
I can't wait to read your encouraging and inspiring mission-minded posts!

Mulling Over My Morning Coffee
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