I love my church.

I love Sundays.  I have been beyond blessed to be a part of the church I currently attend.

I'm not saying my church is perfect by any means or that we are better than anyone, but I have been reminded several times of the way that God shows me His love through individuals at my church.

I sent out letters to some friends and family and then several Sundays ago, my pastor brought me up front and we told the congregation about my trip and the opportunity to support me.  My trip and flight are both paid for and the last I checked with the church secretary, I was a little over my goal!  I'm hoping to use the extra for some random expenses I didn't figure in my costs, ie-immunizations, visa, travel to and from airport, etc.  I love how God provides.

People have constantly been asking me how things are going as I prepare and telling me how excited they are, which makes me excited!  Of course I'm excited to go, but it is so reassuring and just confirms that God is leading the way for me to do this as He continues to open the doors for everything!  It is also reassuring knowing that I belong to a body that I know is praying for me now and will be covering me in prayer while I'm on this trip.

So if you go to the Wadena Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, thank you.  I love belonging to that family.  To the rest of you, thank you also for your prayers and support.  I couldn't be doing any of this without all of you!!!  I also hope that you belong to a similar community of believers and can relate with what I'm talking about.

Happy Sunday  :)

Faith is spelled R-I-S-K...

I went to a friend's church a couple Sunday's ago because she was getting baptized and the pastor mentioned this is in his sermon (Faith is spelled R-I-S-K.)  Last Sunday, at my church, I heard the same thing...it's made me think...

I'm a hoarder-control freak.  It's true.

I love structure, routine and predictability, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.  However, I like to know how things will happen, when it will happen and the process of it all.  Once I'm out of my comfort zone and doing said task, or after it's complete, I'm reminded how much I enjoy being out of my comfort zone.  It takes me a little while to get there though.

I've also felt really convicted lately on this hoarding issue.  (I'm not sure that hoarder is the best term for it, but it's what I got right now...)  I know that God has a plan for me that is good.  I know that.  It's clearly evident in his Word that He loves me and his plans are better than anything I would ever dream of!  Yet, I still play the catch game...  "Here's my life God---I want your will!"  And then a little while later, "But I'm just going to hold onto this...I can take care of that...oh and that too...why don't you just let me deal with that.  Oh yeah, I forgot about that, I'll hang on to that while I'm at it."  And before I know it, I've taken full control.

I was trying to find one of my favorite skits to post, but can't seem to find it.  I did come across this one by The Skit Guys, that is performed almost every year at the conference we take our youth group students to.  It is full of God's promises and oozing with Truth.  It's a little lengthy, but so good.  Check it out...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhfUzodLRvk&feature=relmfu

I don't know where you find yourself at today, but as for me, ultimately I want that chisel.  Watching the video again, I'm reminded of how often I become content with "good enough."  But like he said, God loves us too much to leave us there.  And for that I'm grateful.  Bring on the chisel.