Batten Down the Hatches

I just couldn't resist a storm themed post for today - thanks for the inspiration Sandy.

Living on the coast here in Virginia, we have had our fair share of hurricanes, some more intense than others. We follow the same pattern each time too - a few days out from the storm people begin to go to the grocery stores & stock up on the basics, water, bread, & gas for the generator just in case the power goes out. We board our windows and charge our laptops (again, just in case the power goes out, so we don't die from boredom.) Then we wait for the storm to come, & rest in knowing we are ready to face it.

It's not quite the same in our spiritual lives though is it? The Bible tells us that storms (trials, temptations, & tests) will come (James 1:2) but we don't know exactly when. Because we don't know when to expect them, most of us are unprepared when they do hit. But the Bible teaches us to be prepared always. So, how can we be ready for something that we don't know when, where, or how it will come?

Paul teaches us in Ephesians 6:10-18 to put on the full armor of God daily so that we can stand when spiritual storms come. "Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the tactics of the Devil. For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens. This is why you must take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. Stand, therefore,

with truth like a belt around your waist,
righteousness like armor on your chest,
 and your feet sandaled with readiness
for the gospel of peace.
 In every situation take the shield of faith,
and with it you will be able to extinguish
all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
 Take the helmet of salvation,
and the sword of the Spirit,
which is God’s word.

Pray at all times in the Spirit with every prayer and request, and stay alert in this with all perseverance and intercession for all the saints."

If we arm ourselves with each piece daily, when a sudden storm comes we can rest in Christ & depend on Him, knowing that He has prepared us.The only way to be prepared for something unexpected is to always be on the alert, by staying in prayer and in God's Word daily, & surrounding ourselves with others who will go to war alongside us in prayer.

Let me encourage you to put your armor on today and as you begin each day & find other individuals who will do the same to help hold you accountable, so that when your next storm comes you'll be ready in Christ Jesus. And if at the end of reading this, you're not sure how to go about putting your armor on, dig deeper and find a friend (or me) to help explain it. But don't ignore it, because the storm will come. Are you prepared?

A view of King Neptune at the Virginia Beach Boardwalk during Hurricane Sandy

A Mentor Gone Home

This week the Lord called home a very influential person in my life, Bob Hougasian. I might never have gotten to know Bob, if not for a mandatory assignment to fulfill the graduation requirements of my BA degree. We were required, as anthropology majors with a focus on missions to participate in an overseas mission trip. We could choose the location and duration of the trip, but the assignment was not optional. My home church at the time only participated in domestic missions, so I began to branch out and seek another church who might allow me to serve beside them. My boyfriend's mom, now husband, suggested I try to connect with their church's missions department. They had many trip options, including Argentina, South Africa, and China. The Argentina trip was not at a convenient time for me, and I was petrified of going to South Africa - which is humorous because I now love South Africa and have since been twice and will continue to go. So it was settled, I would go to China.

After raising the money required to participate in the trip, I found myself traveling with a group of strangers to an even stranger land. But these strangers would soon become lifelong friends and mentors. Bob was one of these individuals. I had studied the mechanics of evangelism in foreign countries, specifically China, but head knowledge is so very far from practical experience. Bob came alongside me during our time in China and helped me turn my knowledge and passion for sharing the gospel into action. I watched as Bob skillfully presented the love of Christ to so many with passion and intensity. He was clear and to the point, while genuinely engaging the individual he was witnessing to. He was familiar with the culture and customs, and was careful to be considerate of their worldview but always left the person with a choice and with the knowledge that he cared for them dearly.

I gained more valuable information watching Bob than I had in almost 4 years of college studying missions. His words of encouragement to me while overseas continued once we were home as well. Bob became ill shortly after we returned home and fought a long battle with sickness. But even in that time, his love for the Lord only grew and he continued to take every opportunity to share Christ with those around him. Bob was a great mentor to me and I will miss him dearly, but always look fondly on the time we spent together in China and cherish the impact he had on my life. I look forward to seeing him again in glory.

Part of our mission team in Sun City, China 2006. Bob is on the left with the backpack on. : )

A shot of Bob's legendary backpack - he was always prepared. Pastor Mark says that if an elephant had jumped out on the street, Bob would have had an elephant gun and tranquilizer at the ready.

Birthdays

Every year each person has one. Some dread it, while some anticipate it with high excitement. I like to use my birthday to evaluate my life over the past year: successes, failures, goals met & unmet, achievements, etc.

As I reflect back on my 27th year and the goals I set, like most, I met some and completely forgot about others. Like the one to be at least a red belt in Tae Kwon Do getting ready to test again - who knew I would have to choose between TKD and going back to school. And school, well that's a whole other story. I never thought I would take Hebrew and live to tell the tale. And then, there are those that I was able to accomplish, like hosting a 5K race fundraiser to raise money to return to South Africa, and building relationships with certain students that had been hard to connect with.

What about the things I never anticipated? A year ago, if told I would have the opportunity to begin working with a missions agency, I would have thought, "yeah, right." A dream job, but not an option. And here I sit on the cusp of beginning a new journey with Praying Pelican Missions. I am excited by the new challenges this ministry will hold and the great things I know God has in store. To know that His Word tells me that He had this decided before I was even created. "All my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began" (Psalm 139:16).

It's a comforting thought to know that no matter what goals I have in mind for my 28th year, God knows them all - those I will achieve, those I will not, & those I have no idea about. Praise Him that He is in control and leads me down better paths than I would set for myself.

So here's to all the things unanticipated that God has in store for me this year. I can't wait to get to each and every one.

Test Blog

Just a test to see what my page looks like with more than one blog. : )

A Life Not My Own

As I continue my journey with Christ and begin my adventure with Praying Pelican Missions, I am constantly reminded that my life is not my own; I was bought for a high price. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 relates, "For Christ’s love compels us, since we have reached this conclusion: If One died for all, then all died. And He died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for the One who died for them and was raised."

It is my greatest desire to live each and every day for Christ, so that those who do not know His grace and love may have opportunity to experience Him just as I have and in turn, no longer live for themselves. Our culture dictates we must look out for our own interests and profit, but Christ teaches us something radically different: “If anyone wants to be My follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life because of Me and the gospel will save it. For what does it benefit a man to gain the whole world yet lose his life?" (Mark  8:34-36). You see, I can endeavor my who life to accumulate stuff and power, but at the end of the day it's meaningless and empty.

A few chapters later in Mark, Jesus presents another extreme concept:

Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!”  But the disciples were astonished at His words. Again Jesus said to them, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.”

So they were even more astonished, saying to one another, “Then who can be saved?”

Looking at them, Jesus said, “With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God.”

Peter began to tell Him, “Look, we have left everything and followed You.”

“I assure you,” Jesus said, “there is no one who has left house, brothers or sisters, mother or father, children, or fields because of Me and the gospel, who will not receive 100 times more, now at this time —houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields, with persecutions— and eternal life in the age to come. But many who are first will be last, and the last first.” (Mark 10:23-31)

So these are the promises I lay claim to; they may not be the easiest, but Christ never said it would be easy, only that He would never leave me. When I look into the faces of those I share Christ with here and all over the world I know that Christ is faithful to His word and has already blessed me 100 times over and will continue to do so. Please pray for me that I may be a vessel for Christ to use in any way necessary to bring lost souls to himself and prayerfully consider giving so that I may continue to do so.