Colorado

A couple weeks ago I was able to go and visit my sister, brother in law and nephew in Colorado! I have not seen them for a year, and this time we were celebrating my adorable and sweet little nephews 1st birthday!

I thoroughly enjoyed my week of vacation (from everything but school) but I also enjoyed being able to spend so much time with a little one again....I really miss spending everyday with children!

My sissy!

We were able to go into the mountains for a day, I had such a great time spending time with dear friends that I rarely get to see and spend time with!

I really enjoyed being surrounded by mountains again...Lukey and I enjoyed the fresh air!

He even helped out a little with painting his new room!

Yes, he is completely adorable!

It was such a wonderful week! I spent lots of time with my sister and nephew, friends I have made through them and rekindle friendships with very dear friends!

Unfortunately because I did not get any sleep the night before either of my flights I slept the whole time on the plane....bummer since I really enjoy it! But an excited moment to realize the next time I'm on a plane, Lord willing it will be to go back to Ecuador for my little sister!!

WHY?

Why did I go to Ecuador?

Recently being asked this question, it has been on my mind....

Why? Why did I go anyway? Why is my heart still there? Why do I want to go back?

For the children?

I loved the children, children are such a precious, priceless gift from God! I want each child to know he is, and be treated as such.

For God?

He gave His all for me...should I do any less for Him?

For me?

I want to be different, I want to be more and more like Christ, I want my priorities to keep changing, I want to be less selfish, I want to see God work and move, I want to draw closer to Him and so much more!!

Well, when I first felt God laying the calling on my heart, I had no idea I would go to Ecuador or an orphanage....So I guess my first desire was to do it for Christ, and to be obedient.....then along the way, I started realizing how it would change me, and how much I needed to be changed.....then I wanted to go for the children, to love them and meet any needs I could.

So I guess the truth is, I didn't start out doing it for the children...that was just an added blessing! Me? well that was just a given! God was bound to need to change me along the way.....and God, well, if He can use me.... I can only be grateful! I'm so thankful He chose me. The children, well my heart can't forget them....its as if they are part of me......

So what did I get? An absolutely life changing adventure, the largest faith growing test, and an undeniable belief in the power of Christ and the cross!

But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord,

are changed into the same image from glory to glory,

even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:18

Thank You

One of those nights...well this summer has had some of the most stressful weeks of my life, and with school, a new job, and continued fundraising and adopting.....It's not over yet! But it just continually proves to me that His grace is sufficient and man plans BUT GOD, directs his steps. I know these two concepts yet they never cease to amaze me! Even six months ago, I never would have imagined the ways that God would provide or where He would have me be today, but by the grace of God...here I am!

So as I collapsed into bed exhausted, suddenly my mind went reeling and sleep escaped me! I struggled and tossed and turned...then I gave up and started reading Courageous Faith, a book that I have to read for school, but that was no accident! God knew exactly what I would need...I read a couple of pages and ended with my arms reaching out to my Saviour, dropping all my burdens and cares and receiving the sweet peace that can only come from Him! This song came to mind....

I'm so thankful for a God who cares, a God who loves, and a God who is here. I'm so thankful He carries my burdens and struggles that would pull me under, He never leaves me or forsakes me. Truly what else can I say but thank you?

Free Indeed

You can hear something a million times but sometimes they just come out and smack you across the face! If you are in my church for any length of time you will probably hear my pastor say..."Was it comfortable for Christ at the cross? Should it be comfortable for us to follow and serve Him?" Well thats right a couple of weeks ago it just smacked me across the face and continues to smack me everytime I ponder it...

And when He had called unto Him His twelve disciples, He gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Now the name of the twelve apostles are these; The first Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Phillip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles  and into any city for the Samaritans enter ye not: But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel  And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils; freely ye have received  freely give. Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy, and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And it the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but it it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils  and they will scourge you in their synagogues; And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. And the brothers shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against their parents, and cause them to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: be he that endureth to the end shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel  till the Son of man be come. The disciple is not above his master, not the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub  how much more shall they call them of his household? Fear them nor therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. What I tell you in darkness  that speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops. And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, Him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, Him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's foes shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son for daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for My sake shall find it. He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth Him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous mans reward. And whosoever shall give unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Matthew 10:1-42

Can you tell that I love Scripture? Well I guess I just need frequent reminding! God will take care of me! Whom shall I fear? Then why do I expect my life to be easier than Christs?

If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. John 8:36

Here am I Lord, send me...an empty vessel....but so often filled with myself, I need to continually be emptied so that You can use me....So fill me again, Lord, fill me again.....