Open your eyes...

This past May I had the privilege of going on a Disaster Relief mission trip to Arab, Alabama. Last night, our group reunited (minus a few members) and told our testimony to Oak Grove Baptist Church. It was here, where the trip transpired from a simple statement into an action. Jessica Prescott was our amazing leader from day 1 up until the day we returned. Her vision and leadership always kept us on track and staying focused on the goal.

Some shared about why they decided to go, what God had shown them, how their heart was changed and many other examples of what the trip meant to them. As for me, my story was one of having the opportunity to see glimpses of God. I watched as Satan stayed nearby the entire trip and God defeated Him because we were obedient. We stayed in the word even though we were tired, we prayed before each work site and afterwards that His will be done and that people would see Christ through us.

While there was never a time that I recall where we presented the gospel and lead someone to Christ, I am certain that those around saw the love of Christ. I know for us as a group, we were encouraged by each other to keep working and to give it our all. We knew that God was working in and through us.

I'd like to share a few examples of how God showed me his hand in what we were doing. Our trip transpired on a Wednesday afternoon, 8 days later God had provided $6,000, a trailer full of supplies (including a generator), 3 men, 8 women and 3 homes to crash at.

We made our plans, had it down pat, knew what we where we were going and what we were doing and 2 days before we left, God changed it all. He gave us a glimpse of what it's like to fully trust Him and have faith in the calling he had placed on our lives. And by the time we arrived, we fell right into his plan and everything worked out.

By Saturday, we were physically exhausted and tired and constantly brainstorming of where and how to spend the $ we had been entrusted with. Satan tried in many different ways to discourage us, defeat us and plant little seeds of doubt in our minds. But the victory was already won and God showed us where and how to spend the money, whom to help and how and he gave us a peace about bringing some of the money back with us to help others in the future.

Sunday morning we went to church and in our minds, lost a good 4 or 5 hours of working time but just knew it was necessary to attend church and worship our Lord and Savior. The pastor announced our group, mentioned where we would be working and our team grew from 11 people to over 20 people. He  had doubled our team and we were getting more work done than we had ever imagined.

I shared on Wednesday night that in Matthew 25:40, it says, "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me'."

So often we search for BIG things, BIG miracles, BIG signs of Jesus being present. We must remember that he is always with us and it's up to us to choose to see His face. He comes in ways that we least expect it ... in a manager, as a carpenters son, through the homeless and weak, through people that are hurting, through the orphans and widows. As Believers, we must take time to stop and minister to those in need. Because when we do so, He will reveal himself! It's a matter of us opening our eyes!

Stand Firm 9/11

Yesterday was the 10 year anniversary for 9/11. I remember exactly where I was when it all happened. I was in 9th grade at Hardee Senior High School. It was at the end of first period when the 1st plane hit. The bell rang, we all went to our second period class and that's when we all saw it! All the TV's were on; both teachers and students sat watching the horror take place. I didn't know what it all meant at the time, I actually didn't know what the twin towers were. It wasn't until that afternoon did it all sink in. I was watching history take place right before my eyes. And 9/11 would forever be apart of my life.


It wasn't until 2004 that 9/11 would come full circle for me and mean more than just a day of attack. 9/11/04 was the day I got married to my first husband. This represented joy in my life, but at the same time he was joining the military and so it meant so much more. Being an Army wife brought me closer to the real reason why 9/11 was so important to this country. I would now see first hand the consequences to the attacks on 9/11 and it would directly effect me and my family. A few years passed by and the war that was taking place in Iraq & Afghanistan also became the war within our home. By 2007, our war ended in divorce.


9/11, for many years now, has represented more than pain, more than hurt, more than terrorism and it has been a day that I try to avoid. But September 11, 2011 is different. My walk with the Lord has grown. My outlook on life and the reason things happen has changed and now I see the HOPE in 9/11. I'm reminded often that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Eph 6:12)


I can recall watching Gracia Burnham give her testimony after some muslims had captured her and her husband (who was killed during captivity) and she spoke of how she continued to pray for them. She didn't speak of the revenge she had in store for them or how she couldn't forgive them. Her words were words of healing, forgiveness and a true concern of their eternal destination. 


I finish with this...  I find hope in that while "When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever." (Prov. 10:25) The pain of this world will not overtake us. We will not be left alone and fighting this battle by ourselves. 
STAND FIRM brothers and sisters, Stand Firm!

My first personal post...

I've been blogging now for almost a year. Helping with blogs for missions, for a ladies ministry and a church. But now I have my own personal blog where I can post what's on my heart and where God is leading me.

I'm constantly reminded that I am only passing through this world, this is not my home. This is exciting news each and every morning that I wake up. However, until it is my time to completely pass through, God has a mission for me and for you to spread his love and share of his word so that at the end of this journey when it is time to reach our final destination we will be joining others in Heaven to spend eternity in our home that God has prepared for us.