Category: Lessons Learned

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Freedom in Facing Your Fears

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Lessons Learned From Daring to Finally Use my Flat Iron

Ladies, I’m pretty sure you’re going to be able to relate to this post. Fellas, hang in there. Just substitute the mentions of the flat iron with something you fear.

I bought a pretty pink flat iron about two years ago. For those two years, it just sat there in its box. I wanted to use it. I had looked at the instructions when I first got it. But I was afraid. I feared burning my hair or my skin, I worried that I might accidentally burn the house down, and I was convinced that it would take too much time to straighten my hair.

So it just sat there for weeks, months, and years.

That is until a few weeks ago when I became determined to stop making excuses and to conquer this fear. I wanted to stop avoiding this simple item that I saw others using with ease. Below are some of the steps I took to make this change. I pray that you will be able to apply even some of these lessons to overcome some lingering fears you may be battling:

I learned more about the item. I found videos online that showed step-by-step how to use a flat iron. Thank God for online tutorials! As I watched the videos, I relaxed and saw how easy it was to use this device. I now had a model to follow. The same could help you with whatever is keeping you frozen with fear. Ask people for guidance or help, read about people in similar situations, and learn more about what you’re afraid of. The more informed you are, the more confidence you’ll have to tackle that situation.

I actually used the item. Armed with all this new information, one morning I finally tried it out. This is so important. It’s easy to get stuck in the first stage, but we need to then take action. What good would all that knowledge have been if I didn’t then act on it? Guess what? It wasn’t so bad. I’m almost embarrassed to admit how long I avoided using this item, and I wonder how much longer I would have let the flat iron just sit there collecting dust instead of using it for what it was intended to do. In your case, after you’ve prayed and learned about your situation there comes a time when you will need to step out in faith and take the next step.

Practice really does make progress. The first time I used the flat iron it didn’t go as well as I would have liked, but I didn’t give up. I kept trying. And my results keep getting better and better. Don’t be discouraged if you step out and things don’t go as smoothly as you’d like. Keep trying, growing, and learning. It will hopefully become easier and feel more natural for you as you gain experience.

Rejoice in big and little victories. Ok, so taming my wavy hair isn’t a big deal in the grand scheme of things, but I’m writing about this because it was a small victory for me. I faced my fear and tried something new. I stepped out of my comfort zone, and now I’m enjoying the rewards of that decision. It’s something I’m doing in several areas of my life. It’s empowering to know that you can push past your fears. I pray that you will have the courage, with God’s help, to face any fears that may be hindering you. Don’t stay stuck and let your flat iron stay in its box for another year.

May you have a fun, fearless year! Trust God and have the courage and boldness to step out in faith, to follow Jesus wholeheartedly, and to live your God-given dreams! Blessings!

“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline” (2 Timothy 1-7).

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

button (24)For more encouragement, read my new ebook Waiting on God Well: How to Prevent Breaking Down on Your Way to Your Breakthrough! To learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Lessons From Imperfect Nails

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“I was admiring your nails from a distance,” said my colleague after a recent meeting.

What a nice compliment, right? But instead of saying, “Thank you,” I quickly blurted out something more like, “Oh, just keep admiring them from a distance. If you look closely, you’ll see how messy they are.” And I began to share all the flaws before she could spot them.

Stay with me. This incident is about more than simple nail polish or learning how to take a compliment. As I was having this conversation, I got a picture of what many of us do when we don’t want others to get close to us.

We try to keep people at a distance because we don’t want them to see how messy we can be. We want them to stay far away in hopes that they won’t discover our flaws.

Isn’t it sometimes easier to push people away instead of letting them see the real you? Especially if you feel like the real you is chipped, faded, or somehow missing the mark.

If you’re tired of hiding, may I suggest you:

Ask the Lord to show you who to trust. There are people around you who love you and want to get to know you better. The Lord will make them clear. Once He points them out, take step after step towards letting them into your world.

Be honest about your faults with trustworthy people. Chances are they probably can see your imperfections before you mention them or they can see them even clearer than you can. Pray and then take a risk and share with them some of what you’re struggling with. If they truly are your friends, they will love you even with your imperfections.

Remember that no one is perfect. Stop striving to be perfect in everything and in every way. We all make mistakes, we’re all learning, and as the Bible says we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). That means we all need a Savior! When we sin, we can ask Jesus for forgiveness and He is Faithful and just to forgive us (I John 1:9). We can also confess our sins to those trustworthy believers that God has placed in our lives (James 5:16). That helps to bring healing!

Be rooted and grounded in God’s love for you! He loves you. Plain and simple. He’s not surprised by your flaws and weaknesses. He loves you anyway. His Grace is enough to help you in your weak areas and to transform you into the image of His Son Jesus. Even if others reject you, God’s love remains.

The next time you’re tempted to shrink back and hide, I hope you’ll ask the Lord to give you courage to be transparent with others!

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” (1 Peter 4:8)

Did this encourage you? Please hit “like” and don’t forget to sign up below to have my weekly encouraging blog posts e-mailed straight to you for free. When you subscribe below, you’ll also receive the free “12 Journal Writing Prompts” PDF I created to help inspire you as you write/journal.

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For more encouragement and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach or to invite me to speak at your event, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com. You can also find me on YouTube and Pinterest.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Lessons Learned from My Dad

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Photo taken during my visit to Ecuador in 2003

In honor of Father’s Day, I’d like to share a few lessons I’ve learned over the years from my Dad. I hope they will bless and encourage you as well.

Be Courageous – My Dad is the youngest of seven and the first of his family to leave Ecuador to move to the United States. He was in his twenties at the time and only knew one person here in the states, but that didn’t stop him. He still said, “Yes” to the adventure.

Don’t Forget Your Roots – Over the years, my Dad has stayed very connected to his extended family in Ecuador. He visits them often and is proud of where he came from.

Fight for Worthy Causes – My Dad has dedicated much of his later years to championing the rights of Ecuadorians living abroad. He’s helped get legislation passed in his home country to protect the rights of those who have emigrated from Ecuador.

Keep Dreaming! – My Dad has traveled far and wide. He recently came back from Italy. It was his third time meeting a Pope! He’s still building and doing construction. He’s still active in different civic organizations.

Use all Your Talents – My Dad has been successful in the field of mechanics as well as in real estate and politics. He’s written, he plays instruments by ear, and he’s got a very green thumb. In high school he enjoyed roughing it out in the Andes mountains with his friends as one of the leaders of his school’s mountain climbing club.

Find Time to Laugh – There’s a time to be serious, but then there’s a time to relax and share a joke or humorous story. My Dad has a healthy funny bone and enjoys telling stories. His laughter is pretty infectious, too.

I’m grateful for all these lessons and more! Thanks Dad, Love You!

 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)

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All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

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Compelled by Love

Lessons Learned from Missionary Heidi Baker

I first heard about Heidi Baker while on my short-term missions trip to Honduras last July. Some of my fellow missionaries were talking about the tremendous work God is allowing Heidi to do in Africa.

Of course, I was intrigued.

Just a few weeks ago, I got to watch the movie about her life called “Compelled by Love.” It’s the story of her 20+ years as a missionary to Mozambique and other nations. (Please see the film trailer above).

The movie was a wonderful testament to what God can do through a yielded life! What made the evening even better was that Heidi was there and spoke to the audience afterwards. What a blessing to see her spend most of her time on the stage on her knees, before her open Bible. She ended the evening praying for those called into full-time missions, the NYC leaders and pastors that were present, and others.

She’s a humble woman, yet powerful! She walks in the authority God has given her. That’s inspiring to see.

I’d like to share just a few lessons based on the film and what Heidi said to those in attendance:

Live a Life that Continually Says, “YES” to God – Heidi knows she has a BIG God and she’s not afraid to say, “Yes” to Him. She has made a habit out of continually surrendering to God. We’re called to do the same. No, we don’t all have to move to Africa, but we are called to obey and be led by the Holy Spirit.

Be Compelled by Love – Heidi doesn’t serve God because she’s afraid He’ll be angry with her if she doesn’t do everything He says or because she’s trying to earn His love. She does it out of her extreme love for God. Once we understand God’s love for us, we are set free to serve Him out of our genuine passion for Christ.

Spend time with God – Heidi shared that she makes it a priority to spend 5 or 6 hours with the Lord every day. She knows that we need to be filled before we can pour out to others!  We may not be able to clear our busy schedules to spend hours with God, but we can make some adjustments to be with our Maker. We can also talk to Him throughout the day.

Work with God – Heidi said she sometimes pictures herself as a little girl who is standing on her daddy’s shoes and walking with Him. (Guess she’s a Daddy’s Girl too!) She’s thrilled to be a part of what God is doing on earth. Many times it seems we’d rather wrestle with God or try to somehow boss Him around, instead of simply joining Him in His plans.

Heidi’s story reminded me what a privilege it is to be about our Father’s business. God is looking for willing vessels to fill so we can overflow into other’s lives.

Your mission field may be right in your office, on your block, or under your roof. I encourage you to be faithful. Love those around you. Obey God. Shine for Jesus. Trust Him to do the rest.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25)

Did this encourage you? I’d love to hear your thoughts! Please hit “Like” or share a comment below.

To get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox weekly, and to get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots from the Mission Fields, click here.

For more encouragement, and to learn how I can come alongside of you as your Life Coach, visit my website www.aboundingfaith.com.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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10 Lessons Learned from Mom

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My Mom’s birthday is coming up, so allow me to pay tribute to one of the strongest and most faithful women of God I know! I’m sure that a big reason why I am who I am today is because of my Mom’s wonderful example, God’s Grace, and my mama’s PRAYERS!

Below is just a taste of all that I’ve learned from my Mom! May it bless you as well.

Don’t be Afraid of a Little Adventure! – At the age of 27, my Mom left behind her entire family in her home country and boarded a plane to the United States. She dared to come with only a work visa and a suitcase. She didn’t know one soul in this country. Not even the family she was coming to work for. Talk about guts! Perhaps that’s part of the reason why I can board planes to just about any part of the world.

Follow Your Dreams – My Mom went to a beauty academy in her home country and had her own beauty shop by the time she was 23. After a few years here in the U.S., she opened up a beauty shop in our neighborhood with the help of my Dad. She would go on to successfully run it for 25 years! Yes, much of my childhood was spent watching customers walking around in rollers or with dye in their hair and breathing in the hair spray and nail polish fumes. My best friend and I used to pretend to be aliens while sitting underneath the beehive hair dryers. I have all those memories because my Mom had the courage to follow her dream of opening up her own salon.

Hold onto Jesus, No Matter What! All hell literally broke loose in my family when my parents divorced. My Mom ended up raising my older sister and me, caring for our two dogs and bird, and running her business on her own! It wasn’t easy, but God stepped into all that chaos, brokenness, and trauma and rescued my Mom. It was out of that ugliness that Jesus saved her and gave her peace, joy, and love.

Take a Stand for Jesus. My sister and I freaked out when we found out that my Mom had left the Catholic faith and was a born-again Christian. We feared she had joined a cult! We thought she was a traitor. But my Mom stood her ground and continued following Jesus. That decision changed the course of our family!

Serve God with All Your Heart! – My Mom was one of the original members of the church she ended up attending for more than 20 years! Over the years, she served as a Sunday School teacher, usher, deacon, prayer team member, and food-pantry volunteer. You name it, she did it! She even had an online radio show with another prayer warrior and preached at various events in her church. My Mom is a servant with a capital “S”.

Trust God to Fulfill His Word! – God means it when He says you and your household will be saved (Acts 16:31). A few years after my Mom got saved, my sister also became a born-again Christian. A few more years later, I finally got saved. God’s Word is True! Don’t give up on your loved ones that are still lost because God surely hasn’t!

Always be a Student of the Word – My Mom has been to seminary and has taken many Bible study courses over the years. She loves reading her Bible. She can read it for hours! She doesn’t hesitate to pull out her Bible dictionaries and commentaries when she wants to understand something further. She really is a life-long learner. May we all continue studying to show ourselves approved. (2 Timothy 2:15)

Family Comes First – My Mom is the kind of person who will drop everything to help her children and grandchildren. Back when we were younger, my Mom wouldn’t hesitate to close her beauty shop early to drive me to skating practice and would wait in the car until I was done! She would also pick up my sister or me at night when we would get out late from our after-school job. Were we spoiled? Probably. Did we feel loved? Absolutely!

Let God be Your Vindicator – When people wrong my Mom, she doesn’t get even. She does something way better. She goes to the throne and lets God handle her battles. And He does! (Romans 12:19)

Let God Reward You – My Mom delights in helping those in need without expecting anything in return from them. She enjoys accompanying her friends to their doctor appointments, translating for people who struggle with English, or praying for people who are going through hard times. My Mom just has this grace for helping people. God finds creative ways to bless her for her servant’s heart.

Happy Birthday, Mom! I love you! Thank You!

“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”  (Proverbs 31:30-31)

 

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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In Full Bloom

Lessons from the Lilies

I pray you are having a wonderful start to 2014! How is it already the end of January?

This week, I’d like to share some lessons I was reminded of from these two lilies in the same bouquet. They caught my attention because at first they were all closed up. They were sealed tighter than in the picture on the left side. Then, in typical fashion, as the days passed they opened up so that their beauty was on full display.

Once again, through God’s creation, I saw how we are called to be transformed. Little by little. Day by day. From Glory to Glory. We are slowly being transformed into the image of Christ (2 Corinthians 3:18). Into all that God has created us to be. Yes, we hold this treasure in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7). At just the right time, we get to share that treasure with others.

Whether you’re feeling like that closed up lily in the first picture or already radiating like the lily in the second shot, here are a few lessons to keep in mind as you continue throughout the year:

Stay connected and keep showing up. These lilies were part of an assorted arrangement of flowers. There was a rose, a carnation, a few daises and such. The lilies and the rose were the ones all buttoned up. As the lilies started to blossom, so did the rose. What’s my point? Sometimes we’re tempted to stay isolated when we’re feeling uncomfortable, awkward, and in the middle of a transition time. Yes, there’s a time to be alone with God, but there is also a time to surround yourself with others. When we continue to meet with fellow believers, we encourage one another and we find that we start growing together as well.

“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Start blooming right where you are. The lilies didn’t wait to be moved to another bouquet, they opened up and shined right where they were! Are you waiting for God to open some doors in your life? Who isn’t, right? Well, why not decide to invest your time and talents into the places that God has for you in this season? After all, it’s God who placed you in your neighborhood, country, workplace, school, etc… There’s a reason why you’re alive and part of this generation. How can you be a blessing right now?

“From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands.” (Acts 17:26)

Don’t be afraid to shine for Christ! It’s so easy to be worried, scared, or timid about using your gifts and talents to honor God, but we must resist the urge to shrink back! Don’t let people intimidate you or cause you to doubt whether you should pursue your God-given dreams. The whole bouquet I mentioned above was stunning, but still the lilies towered over all the rest of the flowers. They were created to stand out. It’s not about boasting or comparing yourself to others. It’s about shining your light for the Glory of God!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Getting to bloom doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen! Ok, so it only took the lilies a few days to open up once they arrived, but it still didn’t happen overnight. We also have to go through a process. Don’t let the process overwhelm you. Remember that God is with you. Keep praying, keep believing, keep obeying God, keep trusting His timing, and watch how He’ll come through for you! Amen!

“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.” (1 Peter 5:6)

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on Pinterest, click here or on Facebook, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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Sailing into a Storm

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Another beautiful sunset from my recent vacation.

Lessons from the Storm at Sea

On my recent vacation that I mentioned here, we came across some rough weather. It was our second day at sea, and my Mom, my sister, and I were enjoying lunch when my sister saw a flash of lightening. I kinda brushed it off. I didn’t see the lightening because I was sitting in the opposite direction of her.

After a few minutes, my sister saw more lightening.  And eventually I saw the flashes off in the distance. I also saw the storm clouds. Uh oh.

What comforted me were the thoughts that God was ultimately in control, and the crew must have been used to maneuvering around this kind of weather. I’m sure the captain didn’t panic. I’m guessing he didn’t get tempted to turn around and retreat or cancel the trip. I’m sure he had experienced this hundreds of times and was prepared to stay the course. The ship may have taken some extra steps to get out of harms way, but the mild storm didn’t seem to rattle the captain or crew enough to stop them in their tracks.

What an odd feeling to be on the ship calmly headed in the general direction of a storm. After I finished eating, I just went about my relaxing day.

What would happen if we approached the storms in our lives with that same quiet confidence? As believers, God is the “Captain” of our lives. He knows how to navigate us through any storm or trial.

Oh, that we would TRUST God to be the Sovereign Lord of our lives! Every area of it!

It did rain that day, but we were all safe in the ship, thank God.

The rain followed us a bit, which was fine. When we arrived at the first island the following day, there was a brief sun shower that didn’t stop any of our fun. The next day at the second island, we must have just missed the morning showers because there was a STUNNING rainbow there to greet us!

So what are some of the lessons I was reminded of?

When Storms Come, They Don’t Have to Paralyze us or Deter us. With God’s Grace, we can continue on the path that He has for us. We don’t have to cower in fear or give up even when things look rather dark or scary. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)

Trust that the Lord, our ultimate Captain, Knows how to Get us Through the Storms Safely! God isn’t asleep at the wheel. Your storms haven’t caught Him by surprise. “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)

You can Still Enjoy Your Life Even While it’s Pouring. Thankfully, storms don’t last forever. But don’t wait until they’re over to praise God. Ask God to give you the strength to worship Him and thank Him despite the clouds, wind, and rain. “I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.” (Psalm 34:1)

Rejoicing and Rainbows Come After the Storms! God will bring you through, and will restore you, renew you, and refresh you. He’ll also put a new song in your heart! “You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,  that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” (Psalm 30:11-12)

No matter how hard the wind is blowing right now, be encouraged that God is with you! He knows the exact route to take to get you to where you’re going!

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

 

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Receive It!

Lessons from the Sunrise

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During my recent vacation to the Caribbean, I was excited about catching a glimpse of a sunrise over the ocean. I’m so not a morning person, but I didn’t want to miss out on the spectacular sight.

The only problem was that on the particular morning that I peeled myself out of bed in time, it was really rainy and overcast. What a major bummer! I had gotten up extra early for seemingly nothing.

The day did clear up, and I eventually forgot about the disappointment of not seeing the sunrise. That evening I enjoyed watching a gorgeous sunset like the one pictured above instead. Truly amazing!

The following morning included a mad dash to get to breakfast before visiting our first island. Trying to catch the sunrise was NOT on my schedule, but I was happily surprised.

While we were eating at a table near a window, the beautiful, bright sun came rising up in all its splendor to greet us. It was so breathtaking! And because I wasn’t “striving” to see it, it felt even more like a gift from my Heavenly Father.

So what was the difference?

The first morning it was all about my agenda and having the sunrise fit into my “to-do list”. The following day, it was an unexpected blessing. It was a very welcome interruption to my plans.

Here are just a few thoughts I’d like to share from this experience:

Things are Better When we Sit Back, Relax, and Let God be GOD! – I admit I’m more of a doer. I like to set goals and achieve them. I like to co-labor with God to get things done. Those are good characteristics, but God has been showing me that sometimes it’s better to Be Still and let Him work. Is it easy? NO! Is it possible with God’s help? Absolutely!

Leave Room for God to Surprise You! – There’s no use trying to figure out everything or trying to keep God in a box. He’s too Glorious for that! What He has for you is better than you can even imagine! Just typing that made me smile! What about you? Will you try to stop controlling every detail and let God Almighty have His way in your life? Will you receive the gifts He has especially for you?

Slowing Down can Actually be a Good Thing. – Is God working out the fruit of patience in you as well, my Friend? If so, no worries. God knows what He’s doing and He’s never late. Sometimes when we get caught up in a flurry of activities and feverishly try to check off items from our never-ending list of tasks, we miss out on some of the best parts of our days.

It’s great to have goals and plans. Yes, act when God tells you to act. But hold steady when God says so. While you wait, don’t forget to enjoy something as Miraculous and Lovely as a sunrise or sunset!

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”  (James 1:17)

Did this encourage you?  Feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below. To get my free e-booklet MiraculousLovely Abroad: Lessons and Snapshots From the Mission Fields and to get these posts e-mailed straight to your inbox, click here. To find MiraculousLovely on YouTube, click here.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

 

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It’s All About the PROCESS

Lessons from Assembling the Cubbies

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I finally got around to buying this organizer the other day, and I felt daring enough to tackle assembling it all on my own. I figured it would be a fun project to work on without breaking too much of a sweat.

I’m not a builder by any stretch of the imagination. So, I put on a relaxing Gospel CD and took inventory of all the moving parts. Yes, as you can imagine I found tons of spiritual applications along the way that helped to show me what our faith journey is like. I thought I’d share them with you below.

Know Your Goal – Here the goal was to take all the pieces and put them together like the picture on the outside of the box. In life, you also need to have goals and dreams in front of you. Our ultimate goal should be to be more like Christ.

Have the Right Tools – In this case, I used the different pieces provided and I made sure I had a hammer and screwdriver handy. In our walk with Christ, our tools include prayer, reading the Bible, and being plugged into a church.

Read the Manual! – Had I ignored the instructions, I would not have known where to start or how the pieces fit together. The same is true with reading the Bible. We need to read it so we know how to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord.

 

cubbie middle
Don’t Give Up Half Way! – I did hit a road block on the first day, which I’ll mention below, but I was determined to keep going! What would have happened if I just left the organizer like it looked above? I couldn’t use it for its intended purpose. So many times in our walk, we may be tempted to quit when it seems too hard or we get distracted by other interests. But as I recently heard a Pastor say, “It’s always too early to give up.”

It’s OK to Ask for Help if You Need it. – I accidentally put some pieces where they didn’t belong, so I couldn’t get them out. Since it was already late in the evening, I decided to stop the construction for the moment. I figured I could find the pliers the following day. My uncle happened to be visiting that day so he helped me take out the misplaced pieces. So in this case, I needed to find an extra tool and I needed a family member to help me. When we encounter an obstacle in our spiritual walk, it’s ok to ask a trusted friend in the Lord to help even if it’s just to lift us up in prayer. Of course, we can always turn to Jesus directly to ask Him to forgive us if we’ve sinned or to give us the strength to move past the problem or situation.

It Takes Time to Build Something! – In this case, the shelves didn’t instantly appear. The pieces had to be stacked piece by piece and row by row. There was an order to it. The same is true in our Christian walk. We can’t be jumping around and skipping steps. Each part of the process is important. Eventually, the finished work will be ready!

So how did my shelves turn out?

cubbie final

Not bad, eh?  I still need to put some finishing touches on it, but soon my books and other items will have a new home.

So wherever you are in your journey, remember to try not to despise the process. It can seem long, or hard, or tedious or boring or painful, but God is the Master Builder and He knows what He’s doing!

“…being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”       (Philippians 1:6)

Did this encourage you? If so, please feel free to leave a comment or hit “Like” below.

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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Short-term missions trips 101

These days more and more people are asking me how I started going on short term missions trips and sharing with me that they are interested in going as well. Awesome! There’s a big, beautiful world out there with too many people who don’t know the Lord!

As I’ve shared before, I’m more of an accidental short-term missionary. I’m no “expert” in this field. However, after going on four short-term missions trips I’ve learned a thing or two so I’d like to share that info with you as you make your decision to GO!

Pray, pray, and well PRAY! – Short-term missions trips shouldn’t be confused with vacations or getaways. Yes, you get to travel to a foreign land and get to meet people from different cultures and perhaps get to see some famous sites while there, but that’s not the main reason for your trip! Honestly, I see it more as going off to battle. There’s a spiritual war going on and people’s souls are at stake. That’s why prayer and even fasting are key! As soon as you get an inkling that you might want to go on a trip, invite others you trust to start praying as well!

Do your research – There are tons of organizations out there and most have websites you can check out. Look up a few of them (unless your church is providing you with the opportunity to work with a particular organization). What are their beliefs? What is their vision for the trip? What will the mission be? Do they have a sample itinerary they could send you? Do you need to sign up with your own group or can you go as an individual (or family) and be assigned to a group? At this point, ask people you trust if they’ve heard of the organizations and visit their social media pages and blogs to read about their past trips. Again, ask God to guide you to the right organization. (To read how God led me to my recent trip, read Hola Honduras).

Listen to the Lord’s leading – Are you feeling drawn to a certain country or people group? Are you feeling called to work with children? There are various types of missions opportunities. Some groups focus on visiting orphans, holding vacation Bible schools for kids or doing outreaches like skits and puppet shows for children. Others focus more on construction and building orphanages or renovating buildings. Still others are more evangelism focused and include doing outreaches or festivals in public plazas or other venues. Others are strictly compassion focused and take teams to the poorest of the poor to feed, clothe them or to offer medical clinics. We’re all gifted in different ways, so ask God to show you where your gifts, talents, and personality would best fit.

How long is the trip? – Short-term trips are usually 1 to 2 weeks long. Other trips can be for 3 months, 6 months or even a year. If you’re interested in going for a year or longer, congratulations!  Keep praying! That most likely means you are being called to be a full-time missionary! If that is the case, I would say to go to your pastor, elder or other trusted mature Christians (including family members) to ask them to help you make that decision. You might want to go to a Bible school or seminary to learn more.

Some practicals – What is the temperature like in the area you would be going to? I don’t do well when it’s extremely hot, so that’s very important to me. What will the sleeping conditions be like? I’ve gone from sleeping in a hammock on a boat in the Amazon in Brazil to staying in a beautiful 4-star hotel in Honduras! Both have been wonderful, but it helps to know that ahead of time. How safe is the area and what is the plan to keep the team safe? Will you have translators or is English popular there?  I was happily surprised that so many people spoke English in Ethiopia! Will there be a doctor or nurse on the team or will you be close to a clinic, God forbid something happens! What kind of shots or visas are needed for the trip?

What is the cost? – Notice, I left this last on the list because honestly, if you’ve gotten this far in the process and you still feel the Lord calling you to GO on the trip then trust that God will make a way for you to go no matter what the price tag is! As the saying goes, where God guides, He provides! There are tons of fundraising ideas online that you can look into, and again pray about which family and friends you may want to ask to help fund your trip. You might be surprised by how many will happily contribute!

I hope this helps you as you make your decision. Ultimately though, if God is calling you to go on a certain trip I would encourage you to GO FOR IT even if at first it doesn’t seem to suit your calling, giftings, personality, etc… God knows what He’s doing and He might just want to use the trip to help s-t-r-e-t-c-h you! (To read how I was stretched on the construction site in Brazil, read Adventures in the Amazon).

Missions trips may not be easy (think enduring long travel times, interacting with a team of people with different personalty types, eating new food, pouring out and serving others day after day), but they are so rewarding!

As I’ve shared before, I see God do the miraculous while abroad! He’s done amazing things inside of me as well!  My faith always grows by leaps and bounds when I step out and GO and help to be the hands and feet of Jesus!

I pray that if you GO, you will have an amazing adventure of a lifetime as well! I look forward to hearing all about it!

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10)

If this encouraged you, please feel free to leave a comment below or to hit “Like” and share it with your friends!

THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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