Time is of the Essence

Last night was the last resource for this semester. We took time to look over what the Lord has done this semester in our small groups and what we've learned. Kristen said it best; no one ever told me how much I would love these girls. Through all the lessons in LTC that we went over, all that they prepared us for, they didn't prepare me for how much my heart would ache over these women; I wasn't prepared for how broken I could become for the soul of another. The realization of just how little time you have with people can hit so hard when you aren't expecting the end of that journey to finally get here. It's as if all along the way you tell yourself keep going, don't give up, stay steadfast we'll get there someday, but before you know it that day is here and you are saying goodbye and are left with all the things you should have said but waited too long to tell them.

The time God gives us is so precious. It can't be wasted by being too scared that the truth will fall on deaf ears. How will I know they are unable to hear if I don't speak so that they have a chance to respond. If they don't hear my whispers then I speak louder, I shout if I have to. Only then will I know who is listening, only then will they have the opportunity to react. None of us can afford to have their blood on our hands simply because we allowed ourselves to be scared into silence.

What I have learned is that I have never in any relationship, with any boy, had my heart broken like I have had it broken for one of my girls. God has shown me how His heart breaks for his children everyday. It takes a MIGHTY God to be able to handle that much heartache.

This semester I have sewn the seed. Next semester pray that God will reap the harvest.

2 Timothy 2:2

"and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also."

"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 that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." Matthew 28:19-20

MTW called this morning with some great news. I am officially going to Dublin over the summer! God is so faithful. I can't say it enough, because he truly truly is. I know that he has placed this desire in my heart and I am so excited that he is sending me to serve him there.

A while a go I went to a missions meeting with my church and it was great to have the emphasis put back on the Lord. Missions have nothing to do with anything that we take upon ourselves to do. It is entirely the work of God and what he is doing through us. Missions are altogether the purpose, goals, and actions of the Lord, acted out through us as he leads us.

I've been asked numerous times through this application process why I wanted to do missions, or what made me feel called to the mission field. My answer is this. God said go. If for no other reason than that I feel certain that I am called to missions. Just as he asked in Isaiah "whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" God is looking for his people to go out and teach his word. So it isn't a question of am I called, we are all called to missions whether in our hometowns, or overseas. It's a question of how much of myself am I willing to give him; will I go where he leads me?

This is such a blessing to go and serve him. Thank ya'll for all your prayers and support, and I ask for continued support as the Lord leads me.

God Bless!!

Application Update

I had my phone interview today with MTW. I felt a little ridiculous once the interview got going for having felt so nervous before. My coach's name was Blair. She is AMAZING! Quite possibly the cheeriest, most positive person I have ever spoken with. And she was very encouraging throughout the whole interview and made me really comfortable. Anyway, we talked about different sections of my application in order for her to get a better understanding of how I came to find MTW and what drew me to missions and to Dublin, etc. Overall it was a very great experience.

What's more important than anything is that this is the Lord's will. I'm extremely excited about possibly going to Dublin and serving over the summer, but first and foremost it's important that this is aligned with God's will. I will be perfectly honest, I will be disappointed if I am not accepted, but I trust Him enough to know that he has other plans for me if I don't. I just want to be used by Him. So I feel calm and confident that it will work out ok nomatter what the outcome is. I KNOW he is in control.

Great News!

Well, I got an email this morning from MTW about my application. They received the last reference letter and have set up a time for my phone interview. Things are finally moving along again. God is so faithful!!! 

patience

"Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday. Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him." Psalm 37:5-7

"For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us." Psalm 62:5-8

I am constantly reminded that I am not in control. I so strongly desire to serve the Lord, but often find myself frustrated that things aren't happening as quickly as I would like them to. Of course they're not. As long as my will is not aligned with His it will never seem to happen according to my will, which is a good thing if that is the case. I need Him to show me the plans that He has for me. I need Him to come first, because he has everything figured out. I need to trust that he knows what he is doing and that things will happen...on His time. Patience......

one of those days

These last two days have not been the best days ever. Last week I took a math test, which I know I aced, only to find that my Professor lost my test. It's not the worst thing in the world. I'm definitely frustrated with the situation, but there isn't anything I can do about it. I thought that he found it, but apparently there are more than one "Brittany" in the class so I still have to retake it. The most frustrating part is how a small problem has seemed to be drawn out so much. I was supposed to take it today but when I went in to take it my Professor wasn't there. After waiting for over 30 min someone informed me that he was in the library (later I found out he forgot). Hopefully I can take it tomorrow and get it over with.

Today I woke up with a sore throat. I'm hoping it doesn't turn into strep, since that's been going around lately. In addition I've had a screaming headache all day. I tried to take a nap thinking that might help, but didn't feel rested at all, and if anything felt worse off. So the past couple days have  just been off.  If anything it has pushed me closer to the Lord. I've felt a distance these past couple days and I've been struggling to keep my focus on Him. The times when I feel loneliest are usually the times when I pursue the Lord even harder, but these two days have really been hard. With the test situation, and feeling sick, plus just being perpetually exhausted and busy, it all has just hit me hard. I keep reminding myself that the Lord will never give me more than I can handle. He knows me and He knows my heart better than even I know myself. I trust Him, but I feel like I've been under spiritual warfare this week. 

I'm sure the days will get better, it's just been one of those days...twice in a row.

Fall Festival

So Last night was the XA fall festival. It was pretty exciting. There was a costume contest (the winners were dressed as King David and Bathsheba), bobbing for apples, a pumpkin pie eating contest, pumpkin carving contest, and roughly 8-10 crock pots, 1 giant pan, 2 pots, and a cooler full of tortilla soup. I know because I hand washed the dishes for the entire duration of the party. 

Oddly enough I hadn't planned on going at all. I got off work and Kelli and I rode down to the XA house because we heard there was free food there and on my budget free food is a good excuse to go anywhere! Somehow or another I ended up behind the counter, although I'm pretty sure it was of my own volition. 

So as dishes began piling in the sink I thought I would start washing them...and then I kept washing them, cleaned some tables, picked up trash, etc. And with the help of some others had everything cleaned and put away by the end of the party. YAY! I'm not saying this to boast of my own servitude, but there is a point to this.

As Christians we have a perfect example of humility, of service, of love for others in Christ Jesus. I had a lot of fun cleaning those dishes and laughing with all those behind that counter serving alongside me. It made me realize just how much joy can be had through service alone. We tend to groan at the thought of helping out, of going out of our own way, our comforts to serve those who need it, but how often do we allow ourselves to be joyful in our serving? It isn't always easy, and sometimes it is extremely taxing, but most of the time our poor attitudes are what keep it from being enjoyable. Colossians 3:23-24 says, "And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ." 

Beannachtai ort!

Hello All,

This is the first of I hope many entries to come. I set this up as a way for friends and family to keep track of what's going on: things I've read, developments from day to day in my spiritual walk, etc.

Currently I'm in the process of applying for a summer missionary internship to Dublin, Ireland. I've sent in the application but am now awaiting the next step, which is a phone interview. The Lord is really teaching me patience while I wait for each stage of the application process, but each step is just one step closer to Dublin, God willing. It's well worth the wait.

That's all for now.

God Bless!