a new purpose.

so, after a tremendous failure in the attempt to keep a blog of my thoughts and such, i'm going to change my goal a little bit. this blog is going to turn into more of an appeal...a place that i can send people when they ask what i've been doing in missions work lately and how they can help. so if you're interested in helping me and my church be "Jesus with skin on" to the people of mexico, texas, kentucky, belize, and guatemala (and hopefully more places to come!) please keep looking here for updates on what we're doing and how you can support us!

so, to start, i'll talk about the trip i'm most excited for this summer. i'll be joining a team of about 25 people going to belize to help out one of the strongest women i've ever heard of. this amazing daughter of God, suzette, runs a place that provides a safe shelter for the "lost children" around the city...the kids whose dads are out of the picture and whose moms are typically involved in prostitution or drugs to get money. these kids have a place to sleep at night, but not much of a "family feeling", and suzette tries to provide that for them. she wakes up every morning and makes breakfast for 75 neighborhood children, tutors them after school, and tries her best to give them diverse opportunities, from soccer teams to outings to a lake, and the list goes on.

however, the visions and dreams she has for this place require a great deal more money and resources than she has. she has so many ideas...she wants soccer uniforms and goals for the team, to expand her 20x26 foot building, to get some computers for the kids' homework, a van to drive the kids to games and special trips, sewing machines to teach neighborhood women a skill to make some money, and so much more. her dreams are almost as big as her heart, but significantly bigger than her budget. we're going down to give them a basketball court, hang out with the kids, and just take some pressure off suzette for the week by giving her extra hands to do whatever she needs.

we'd love to help her out more, but we need some help. please please PLEASE pray about it, and let me know if you have any way to help us get computers, vans, soccer equipment (including goals!), sewing supplies, or monetary donations to help out suzette and the kids she has such a heart for.

i'll be posting more about the other trips i have taken and will take soon...but for now, please pray for suzette!

LET GOd work

at a concert by chasen and luminate this sunday, i happened to notice the guitar straps of chasen's band members. they had a picture of a bird, and said simply:

LET

GOd

work.

notice the capitalizations.  in order to truly yield to God's work and God's plan for your life, you have to let go. you have to let him take control.

but that's scary.

but that's crazy.

but that's unrealistic.

but that means i have to trust Him.

but that means i have to trust Him completely.

and that's really the issue, isn't it? it's an problem of trust. we don't trust God enough to give up everything--all of our ambitions, our hopes, our posessions, our relationships, our dreams, our wishes, our plans. we hold on desperately, trying to cling to the little control we have in our lives.

so many have tremendous potential to make a kingdom difference, but are too afraid to try, or don't believe that they can do it. you want to become a missionary, but you're worried about being able to provide for yourself. you want to become a minister, but you don't think God can speak through you. the bottom line is, too often, we underestimate the power and the benevolent nature of our God, and we doubt that he'll be able to fully take care of us if we let go of everything else.

when i'm having trouble letting go all the way, i always think of the verse every little kid learns in VBS or sunday school. "are not two little sparrows sold for a penny? and yet not one of them will fall to the ground without your Father's leave and notice. but even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. fear not, then; you are of more value than many sparrows."--matthew 10:29-31.

God's got you covered. there's nothing else to say about it. He concerns himself with your well-being every day, every moment. He loves you, He protects you, He takes care of you, more and better than anyone else can or will. so you can trust Him. you can let go and give him control, knowing that no matter what comes next.

so here's the challenge. for me, for you, for our family in Christ. we have to sincerely LET GOd work. let go, and push forward. live the life He has planned for you, and live it boldly.