New Life...

New Life...New Clarity

2009-12-19T16:52:00.000-06:00

I have a very important announcement to tell all of you. It may be shocking, but it is acutally very good news. I will not be leaving for Peru in February. I know your initial reaction will probably be disappointment for me, but this is a good thing.

After two years of internship, I was used to my leadership making decisions for me. That is necessary during the program, but it does make for a kind of messy transition period once you graduate and start making decisions for yourself. My heart was so submitted to my leadership that I took their suggestion to send me to Peru as a decision and just ran full speed ahead. Two months later, I found myself questioning if this is the right thing for me. My mistake was not really searching my heart and taking more time to hear from God for myself. After a lot of fasting, praying, and meetings, I have discovered that my heart is fully devoted to HPC and that this is where I am planted and should stay. I truly believe that because my motive was purely to serve the kingdom of God here or in Peru, that all things will work out for the good of everyone involved.

For now, I will be staying in Baton Rouge and serving in every way that I can at HPC. I believe that I am in a season where God is walking me through the process of discovering the desires of my heart and His will for my life. As Psalm 37 says, i will be trusting in the Lord, doing good, and dwelling in the land and cultivating faithfulness. I delight in Him and He will give me the desires of my heart.

I also wanted to say THANK YOU so much for all of your prayers, encouragement, and donations. I know that the Lord will still bless you for your generosity and faithfulness. I could not have done any of this without you. My heart is bursting with joy because I will be able to stay here and do life with you!!!

If you have given any donations, they will be forwarded to Heather Stewart for her 5-year return as a missionary to Honduras unless you inform me otherwise. I will be contacting some of you after Christmas to discuss a particular donation that you made to make sure that your wishes for the donation are honored. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart, and I'll be seeing you around!

Merry Christmas! I love you all SO much!!!!

Christmas Gifts

2009-12-02T23:03:00.000-06:00

Looking for some unique, creative Christmas gifts?

To help me raise funds for Peru, my sister is custom making and selling necklaces. She uses a wood burner to carve beautiful, intricate designs on pendants made of thin pieces of wood. The pendants are fastened to a brown ribbon so you can wear them as a necklace.

The best thing about them is that they are one-of-a-kind and completely custom made. You can get initials, a name, or a design/symbol. You can get a Saints Fleur de Lis or an LSU pendant. You can decide if you want it large or small.

AND, they are only $5 each. They would make wonderful stocking stuffers or small gifts for teachers or friends. So, buy one for everyone you know, and help send me to Peru!!!!! If you are interested, please email me your order requests or questions: marybethguedry@gmail.com.

Here are some pics....

Calling all Prayer Partners

2009-11-03T10:10:00.000-06:00

This season of preparing to leave for Peru has been the most difficult season of my life. I have never felt so heavy, burdened, and under attack before. I can sense in the spirit that there is darkness all around me trying to stop me from going. Everyday is a fight to stay focused and driven. God is with me helping me through this, but I need your prayer support also. Your prayers are powerful because you are righteous in Christ, and I need all of the help I can get from my brothers and sisters in Christ!

James 5:15-17 says:

Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us prayed hard that it wouldn't rain, and it didn't - not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again.

Wow! Our prayers are powerful, and it should be common practice for us to prayer for each other. So, I am committed to praying for all of you. Would you also join in prayer with me?

I have added a prayer requests section on my blog. It is located beneath the picture on the right side of the page. This will always show a current list of what I am praying for, so that you can pray along with me. I will also be posting updates on prayer requests. That way, when God hears our prayers and moves on our behalf, we will be able to celebrate together, and our faith will be increased!

Please send me your prayer requests as well. Since we will be separated physically for the next year, this is a great way for us to stay connected. This passage of scripture does not say, "Just pray for the one who seems to have the most need or the one who seems to have the biggest problem." It just says that we should be pray for each other all the time. I would love for us to do this together! I care about your life, and I want to be a part of asking God to take care of you! I want to fight for you!

For those of you who read my blog on facebook, here is the current list of prayer requests...

~ that God will provide the resources I need to get to Peru
~ comfort and peace for the hearts of my family and friends
~ clear vision and focus during the next couple of months
~ protection from any evil plans of distraction, confusion, doubt, and fear trying to keep me from accomplishing the will of God

Peru Update

2009-10-27T11:29:00.000-05:00

January is approaching quickly, and there are so many things going on to get me to Peru. Just to keep you informed, here's what happening now...

I am building a contact list to send support letters, updates, and newsletters. If you would like to included in this list, please email me your name, address, email, and phone number.
Pastor Fernando and his wife Missy are helping find a family from the HPC Spanish Campus who will let me live with them until I leave. This will help me learn more Spanish and give me practice speaking what I know.
The initial newsletter is currently being designed and written. It should be ready to mail out in about a week.
I am in the process of raising funds. If you or anyone you know has any odd jobs to offer for a donation to the Peru fund, please email me, call me, or give them my number.
If you have any creative ideas for fundraising, please let me know. I am always looking for new, creative ideas to bless those who want to support the mission!

Above ALL else, I need God to move in miraculous ways in the next few months to make this all possible. I know that He can and He will. Please pray that I continue to work with efficiency, wisdom, and faithfulness. And, pray that God shows us all His glory through how He will bring all of this together!

Love y'all!

Mary Beth
marybethguedry@gmail.com
225-715-0591

New Life....IN PERU

2009-10-13T12:04:00.000-05:00

With two years of Healing Place School of Ministry behind me, a new season of life is beginning for me. I'm transitioning. I'm growing. I'm learning to really discern the voice of God. AND......I'M MOVING TO PERU IN JANUARY! CAN YOU BELIEVE IT???

Healing Place Church is sending me to Camino de Vida in Lima, Peru to help them start an internship program there. I couldn't be more thrilled! There's nothing I love more than to see the plan of God for your life unfold before you and to understand how He's been preparing you for what is to come all along. It is an honor to me that CDV would have me and that my beloved HPC family and friends would send me.

So far, this is what I know:

I will leave in late January and come back in December.
I will be living in a host home. A family from CDV is going to be kind enough to let me live with them for a year.
I will be there as a missionary. The staff at CDV who are from the United States do not get paid from the tithe. They are there to serve the people as missionaries. I will be there specifically as a missionary to help invest in the future generation of leaders at CDV.
I will be serving at our Spainsh Campus in St. Amant until January to get acquainted with the language and the culture.

I love all of you dearly, and I cannot do this without you. I need your prayers, your encouragement, and your help. I would love for every single person I know to be involved in some way. Here's how you can be involved...

PRAY. You can join me in praying that God has his way in every single detail of this journey. I really need some prayer partners.
GIVE. I will be raising support for the entire year for the remainder of the time that I am here in the United States. I need people who would like to partner with me financially or give a donation. BUT, I also need people who can just help me actually put on the fundraisers and come up with new ideas.

If you are interested in partnering with me in anyway (feel free to get creative), let me know. This month, I will begin sending out support letters and newsletters with prayer requests and updates and much more. If you want to be included in this correspondence, just email me (marybethguedry@gmail.com) your email address, home address, and phone number. That way, I can keep you informed.

Thank you all in advance for all of the prayers I know you will pray, all of the encouraging words you will offer, and all of support you will lend. It means the world to me, and I pray that God will bless you for being so generous and loving!

What's Going On Here

2009-08-27T15:45:00.002-05:00

Finally, time to post and a good enough internet connection.

Here are some of the things that we've been doing since we arrived in Rio Viejo, Honduras....

reorganized a storage room where HHG (healing hands global) keeps all of their give away stuff for their patients
reorganizing and taking inventory of the medical supplies for the clinic
sorting and counting meds in the pharmacy

The funny thing about it all is that this is exactly what I did at the hospital I worked for before I did HPSM. I did this for six years. Funny how God prepares for things that you don't even know you are going to use for His Kingdom.

I am just excited to be here serving my best friend ever, Heather Stewart, and the Williams family at HHG. God is blessing this ministry, and I'm humbled and grateful to be a part of it.

Female Bathroom Etiquette

2009-07-11T21:12:00.002-05:00

After learning about the world of male bathrooms, I decided to pay a little more attention to what we do in the ladies room and why we do it. I'm am quite sad to report today that us ladies do not display the same caliber of bathroom etiquette as do our gentlemen friends. This is kind of how it works in our bathroom rules...

Come in with at least one other girlfriend, and talk the entire time. Don't you worry about those who have shy bladders. It's all about finishing your conversation. You can even stand right outside their stall door.
Don't go in the really big stall unless you have children because that is the baby changing stall.....aka - the nastiest bathroom stall on the planet. Hands touching a poopy baby tush and the touching everything else in the bathroom...yucky!
Use as much toilet paper as you like, and please make sure to use more than you need. No worries if you stop up the toilet. The person after you will just clean it up. (This really happened to me the other day. I was the next person who walked into a bathroom with a half inch of toilet water covering the floor. In the overflowing toilet, I found the remnants of what could have been an entire roll of toilet paper.)
Brush your hair enough so that it falls all over the floor.
IF, and I did say IF, you wash your hands, do that wonderful hand flicking thing that gets the excess water off of your hands and right onto the mirror.
Any excess water that isn't removed in this manner can just drip onto the counter as you reach for the paper towel dispenser. Toss it in the garbage after you dry your hands, because it is no longer useful to wipe up the water you just dripped everywhere.
If you get too caught up fixing your hair, reapplying make-up, or you just have too much stuff to carry (kids, bags, purses, etc) don't even worry about washing your hands. That's why the rest of us just don't touch the door handle on the way out.

GIRLS, what are we doing???? We've gotta tighten up. I love you all very much, but the people that clean up restrooms after us hard a very unpleasant job (trust me - I am this person sometimes). Having seen the inside of both facilities (at our church), I would gladly use the men's restroom if I could. I am no longer offended by a lid left up. They do us a favor by lifting it in the first place. I'd rather put a lid down walk into a bathroom covered with toilet water (while wearing sandals, by the way).

I believe that all is not lost, though. WE CAN clean up our bathrooms. WE CAN develop etiquette and consideration that will make the female restroom experience better for all of us! WE CAN!

Experiment #2

2009-07-11T19:06:00.005-05:00

Here is an experiment gone WRONG!

After being under intern rules for two years, I'm a bit afraid to get a tattoo. Instead, we decided to play around with temporary tatoo inks, and put this tribal design on my arm. Word to the wise, jagua doesn't work, and NEVER put henna on top of it. Because the jagua wasn't turning black like it was supposed to, I decided to go over it with henna. BAD IDEA! The henna did not take on my skin because of the jagua. It got all blotchy and kind of peeled off. After four different scrubbing sessions, this is what I was left with. Unfortunately, it will be like this for at least a week. UGH....win some lose some I guess. HAHA!

The good news is, the henna paste does really work and it is very pretty. (We tried just henna on my neice.) So if you want to play around with temporary tattoos or try out a tattoo before you actually get the real deal, use henna NOT jagua!

Experiment #1

2009-07-11T19:00:00.006-05:00

Here's an experiment gone GREAT!

After being on an intern budget for two years (which means you have no money all the time), I really don't like spending money if I don't absolutely have to. So, I cut my own hair. I found a hairstyle I liked, and went for it. This hair cut cost me an hour and whatever the cost is for a plastic bic razor. That's right, I cut it in my bathroom with a plastic bic razor for leg shaving. Sounds crazy, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. I like to say that its a quality of a Proverbs 31 woman....lol!

Honduras Slideshow

2009-07-09T00:25:00.001-05:00

Here are some pics from our mission trip to Honduras in May....

Chapter Closed

2009-07-03T14:16:00.007-05:00

So, after two years, the chapter of HPSM in my life is closed.

It was hard, but fun.
It was demanding, but rewarding.
It was long, but over so fast.
It was costly, but priceless.
But most of all, it was the best thing I've ever done.

It has not been easy transitioning out of being an intern for two years, but I have never been happier. I don't know exactly what my future holds, but I do know that I'm not the same person I was when I started this. God has transformed me COMPLETELY. I will terribly miss HPSM and intern life, but I am so excited about the future. My heart has changed so much. I've really given God my future, and I believe that He is going to send me to places I've never even dreamed of. AND, I just can't wait!!!!

Stayed tuned for more of the journey......

Male Bathroom Etiquette

2009-06-14T19:42:00.005-05:00

So, I learned something totally fascinating today. There is an entire male bathroom etiquette that most women are probably unaware of. Here's kind of how it works...

1. If there are three urinals in the bathroom and the outer two are occupied, a proper man will wait rather than use the urinal in the middle. Only that weird guy goes in the middle.

2. If their is a stall open, it is okay to go in just to urinate, but they don't really lock the door. They just push it closed.

3. No hand shaking, fist bumping, or high fiving is allowed. Apparently, we unduely give them a bad rap for not caring about good hygience practices. They actually give mean glances to the men who do not wash their hands. According to Scott, about 95% typically wash their hands before exiting the facilities. Ladies, we can relax about shaking or holding the hands of our boyfriends, friends, husbands, and dads. Good to know!

4. Talking is only allowed or encouraged at the sink. It is too awkward to chat while doing their business.

5. Looking around is not allowed at the urinal either. Just stare straight ahead, flush, and move on.

6. Absolutely NO touching is allowed. This includes good-gaming, goosing, or shoulder bumping while at the urinal. I have been told this is due to the great deal of balance and concentration needed to complete the task at hand without any mishaps.

In fact, there is even an iPhone app that teaches proper male restroom etiquette. It's called "The Urinal Test". Apparently, for men, this urinal choosing process is a no-brainer. They just naturally do it - no deep thought required. I, however, had to practice on the app. I really had to stop and think about it....

"If I choose this urinal and another man comes in, then we will be side by side....If I choose the one next to the wall, then only one person could potentially end up next to me...."

I'm proud to say that after a little practice, I scored a 23 out of 25. My ranking was "part of the upper echelons of urinal etiquette practitioners". Oh yeah!!!!

Now, before you go to judging me for writing such an odd blog or playing a game not designed for women, know that my fascination with this subject is indeed innocent. It's like learning about another culture. It's so intriguing to me! It's kind of like being allowed to go behind the door that says "Authorized Personnel Only". It's like being able to access some place where you are not allowed. I wonder what else I don't know about men that is oddly interesting or vastly different from the culture of women.

To any men who are reading this, kudos to you for your oh-so-impressive bathroom etiquette and hygiene!

Also, I must give a shout out to my guy friends who so kindly enlightened me to the unknown culture of men....

Thank you Scott, John, Alex, Blake and Vince!

12-year old on Abortion

2009-02-28T14:35:00.002-06:00

Take a look at this video. It's a 12-year old girl giving a speech about abortion. She is INCREDIBLE! She handles the content so maturely, and her speaking abilities alone blow me away.

I pray that we always encourage our children to express what they are passionate about. I hope after hearing Lia, you will agree. They can make a difference despite their age. Imagine how much impact she will have when she's 30.

America's NIV

2009-01-04T20:17:00.001-06:00

I did the coolest thing today....

Zondervan Publishing is putting together a bible that is hand-written by people all over the US. They were at Healing Place today, and we were able to participate! Each person was given a card with a scripture on it and then wrote it on the document. The scripture I wrote is Matthew 10:8...

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."

I'm happy with that. Some people were given some really crazy scriptures from 2 Kings in the Old Testament. I had to laugh thinking about someone writing the scripture about some of the traditions of ancient Israelites. If you don't know what I'm talking about, read through Leviticus, and you'll see.

Really though, this is the coolest thing to me. I can't wait to get one when it is published. It's one thing to read scriptures about unity in a bible that was printed by a machine in mass quantities. It's another thing, though, to read about it in a bible that is handwritten by believers all over the country - 31,173 of them. That's how many people it will take to hand write this bible one verse and one person at a time. HOW INCREDIBLE!

To find an event nearest you, or to suggest a "rolling stop" in your town, please visit Bible Across America and leave the team a message.

2008 Year End

2008-12-30T18:30:00.011-06:00

So, my first impulse was to open this post by apologizing for not posting in so long. BUT, then I remembered that only like 2 people read this blog anyway!

Maybe that should be my regret for 2008 - not being consistent in communicating and staying in touch with people. So, to you two, please accept my sincerest apology and deepest regrets!

As 2008 comes to an end, I've been thinking about and evaluating the last 364ish days of my life. There have been some successes and some regrets. I've decided, though, that at the end of 2009 one regret I won't have is dragging 2008 with me. 2008 was fine, but I don't want it following me around for the next 365 days.

I came across a video about regrets on a blog that I read periodically. I wasn't quite sure about sharing it because it seems to focus on regrets only, but there is a message of hope at the end. It left me feeling like those things are over and done, and now new things are to come because we serve a God who is always doing a new thing.

So watch it and enjoy, or reflect, or whatever you do. My prayer for all of us is "new things for a new year"!

Regrets from Igniter Media on Vimeo.

Home Is Where the Heart Is

2008-09-11T12:13:00.003-05:00

I don't know why, but God has really been changing my idea of "home" lately. I've only lived in one place my entire life, so my idea of where I should feel "at home" is at the house where I was born and raised with my family. BUT, as I've been meditating lately on the idea that heaven is my real, eternal home, that's all been changing. It's almost like this idea of "home" has become a weight in my life. I feel like I can't leave it or I have to stick close by because I don't belong anywhere else.

During hurricane Gustav relief, I spent most of my time helping out in Donaldsonville. I had never been to this campus before, but after only a few days there, I realized that I felt completely "at home". I can be real there. I can just be me there, and it makes sense. Not only does it make sense, though, it actually benefits the people in the community and furthers the kingdom of God. I don't have to change for anyone or perform. I can just love and serve people as my true self. It's a beautiful thing! Yesterday was my last day there full time, and my heart is so sad. So, today, I truly understand what it means to say home is where the heart is, and really mean it. It feels like my heart has always been searching for "home" and has found it, not just in a place, but in a spirit, in a community, and in a team.

It was the most amazing thing I've done so far in ministry and has and will impact my life forever. I cannot describe how incredible it has been to see the church and the government partnering together to meet the needs of the people in Donaldsonville. We were able to form new connections, start great friendships, and truly be the light and the salt! All of this, TO MAKE JESUS FAMOUS AND TOUCH LIVES!

Here are just a few of the pictures I took of our experience! I hope you look at them and see what we see - love, unity, friendship, fun, and blessings. That's what you find in Donaldsonville.

Africa Pics

2008-07-07T22:55:00.002-05:00

UPDATED SLIDESHOW 7/8/08....WATCH IT AGAIN TO SEE THE GAME PARK PICS! They are amazing.

Here are the only pics I could get my hands on for now.....

Hopefully, there will be more to come.

God bless!!

Coming soon....

2008-05-28T19:30:00.002-05:00

The last few months of my life has been such a whirlwind - wrapping up Elevate, getting ready for Africa, international travel, jet lag, graduation, and now working at the church for the summer. As crazy as its been, I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm loving life, and Jesus, and people more than I ever have before. I can honestly say, "I WOULDN'T CHANGE A THING!"

So, I will be posting soon about Africa. I am waiting until I get some pics from the other team members. I haven't had any down time yet, so cut me some slack.... :) It's worth the wait, trust me!

Do you have this heart?

2008-03-25T08:57:00.003-05:00

Check out this pic. My great friend Kelly Finn took it of Heather's hands. The scripture on her wrist is Isaiah 58:10.

"And if you give yourself to the hungry And satisfy the desire of the afflicted, Then your light will rise in darkness And your gloom {will become} like midday."

Doesn't this pic really capture the essence of this scripture? Do you have this heart? I believe that each and every one of us have this call on our lives even if we aren't called to another country to be a full time missionary. If you think about it, we are all missionaries right where we're at.

Me and Martial Arts

2008-03-12T15:45:00.004-05:00

Check this video out. This is a commercial we made when I was doing martial arts training in 2004. I'm the one with the long black hair. The music doesn't play, but it's still cool to watch. I MISS IT SO SO SO MUCH!

Terren the Chicken Man

2008-03-11T01:27:00.003-05:00

This is a video of Kelly's friend Terren, one of the funniest people I've ever met!!!!!! It's probably funnier if you know him, but take a look and see what you think. Try to pay attention to the couple that come out of the restaraunt toward the end. He tries to get to them, but they walk the other direction.

Hope you enjoy! It cracks me up everytime I watch it.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

2008-03-11T00:42:00.005-05:00

So, the poll's over. Wanna know the results?

11 people voted. 1 person voted for romance. 7 people voted for intimacy. Only 1 person voted for sacrifice. 3 people voted for commitment.

Amazingly enough, these were the results I expected. The whole reason I did the poll was to see what people think of when they think of love. I plan on using the results when I talk to my Intentional Connections class. I really want them to understand love from a biblical perspective. I think that if we do that, it would radically change every relationship we have, and maybe even motivate us to make new ones.

We live in a culture that has romanticized love, for the most part, into something that it is not. We, at large, have a tendancy to approach love thinking, "What can it do for me? How can it make me feel good?" I don't pretend to know everything about love, but I'm learning more and more about it everyday and in every season of my life, especially this season. What I do know is that the love that the bible speaks of requires selfless action all the time. It's a choice. A decision that we make and then decide to stick to it because we are commanded to love one another as Christ loves us. And He did just so happen to give up his life for us. That's why it's funny to me that no one voted for sacrifice. In my mind, that is the beginning of it all. I believe that you won't ever know great love without great sacrifice. That is true for brotherly love and for the love of husband and wife or parent and child.

God so loved the world that he GAVE. And He didn't just give anything. He gave His SON. And He didn't just give ANY son. He gave His ONLY son. That sounds a little like sacrifice to me. The bible also says that we know no greater love then the love that Christ had for us when He laid down his life for His friends (which would be us). This kind of love is not driven by emotions or feelings. It is driven by obedience. Intimacy brings the happy, feel-good things that we enjoy about love. You know, intimacy may be the greatest part of love, but try having it without sacrifice. It doesn't work that way. To develop intimacy, you have to give your time, your energy, your life, YOURSELF. This is the same for our relationship with God and with people. It's not too much to ask. It's what we are commanded to do.

I've heard this said before..."You can give without loving, but you can't love without giving."

Living the Life God Intended

2008-03-04T15:27:00.004-06:00

I wanted to let you all know about a wonderful opportunity we have at HPC to explore spiritual disciplines. I know that doesn't sound very exciting, but hear me out...

HPC offers a class called Living the Life God Intended. We take 6 weeks and discuss, in detail, different spiritual disciplines that we should all implement in our daily lives. Each week is dedicated to a different discipline. We will discuss things such as, biblical understanding and holiness, prayer, intentional connections, and more. We have class for 45 minutes, and then we break into small groups.

We really don't even like to call it a "class" because we believe that it will be the beginning of experiencing God in a new way rather than just learning information. We believe that in life there are no big secrets, just daily disciplines. Our heart is that you will fully take hold of that for which Christ has laid hold of you. We want you to experience and walk in the FULLNESS of what God has for you - the life he intended! We encourage you to come expecting God to transform your heart and mind from the inside out!

If you are interested in coming, the class begins on March 9th at 10AM at ITI Technical College. Just follow the LLGI signs once you get to the campus.

I hope to see you there!!!!!

Citizen of Heaven

2008-02-28T14:51:00.006-06:00

You know, I've heard it said before that we are to live on this earth as citizens of heaven, but recently that statement has taken on a new meaning to me.

I've been thinking about a lot of things differently in light of our upcoming mission to Mozambique. I have a heart for missions, but not necessarily a calling to be a missionary. However, David Ohlerking, a missionary who works at HPC, talked to us today about family life in full time ministry. He was talking about how missionary kids sometimes grow up feeling like they have no real home. They don't quite fit in in the country where they are missionaries, but they don't quite fit in in their own country either. He said this statement that stuck with me. "Heaven is your home."

That really did something in me because I'm not missions-minded. I am a homebody. Thinking globally and externally do not happen easily for me. I've always thought that the idea of leaving the place in which I was born and raised, where all of my family is, to go into a culture that is foreign and where I know no one would be absolutely crazy and WAY too scary. But, that changes a little once I think about the fact that my real home is in heaven. That means that even when I'm living in the place on this earth that I call "home", I'm not really home, from an eternal perspective. So, that makes me think about this....If I'm supposed to live my life in light of eternity, which I say I do, then I must consider every aspect of my life in eternal perspective. I don't believe in compartmentalizing my life. By that I mean, I can't think eternally in regard to my finances, but not in regard to material things. Now, I don't think that there is anything wrong with staying in one place. God doesn't call everyone to missions in other countries. We wouldn't have local churches if he did, and we would suffer without local churches. I just think that I should always be willing to give it up if He asked me to. I believe that reluctance to move where the Lord might ask me to move may reveal that I am storing up treasures here and that there is something not right in my heart.

This whole idea that heaven is my home really frees me to understand that I can reside ANYWHERE the Lord might decide to bring me because, in all actuality, I'm 'visiting' anywhere I go on this earth until He calls me home and I don't truly own any of it. How silly that I cling to the security I find in a place that truly is just my temporary place of residence. IT'S NOT MY TRUE HOME. IT'S ONLY TEMPORAL! That's like treasuring material things, things that in their present state are dying and decaying - I can't take it with me. No more of that nonsense, I cling to Christ, not comfort. I would leave it all behind to serve the people that the Lord calls me to, if he so required that of me.

I do not suddenly feel called to go into missions, but I do have a new found sense of freedom and perspective. I can go anywhere and do anything because I am on this earth as a citizen of heaven. I take home with me wherever I go, because I'm not attached to or bound by the material idea of home.

En Garde!

2008-02-26T17:21:00.001-06:00

Check out this video when you get a chance. It was probably funnier in person, but watch it anyway. Hearing Joy and Heather laughing in the background is the funniest part! Hope you enjoy!

By the way, no Mark Youngers were harmed in the making of this film. The swords were styrofoam, and they didn't hurt a bit.

Heather's High Points: Long awaited post#links

Music from Another Room

2008-02-25T19:52:00.005-06:00

The Lord spoke this to me this weekend at Amplified. So great that I wanted to share it in hopes that it will speak to you like it did to me.

Hearing the voice of the Lord is like hearing music from another room. Imagine that there is a radio playing a song in a room in the back of your house. You are in the living room where you are accompanied by many distractions - thoughts, worries, mental images - some good, some bad. These visitors are so loud that you can just faintly here something that sounds like music from another room in the house. You strain to hear it, but you can't quite make out the words. So, you begin to dismiss each of the visitors/intruders one by one. You speak to them, and then ask them to leave. You notice that as each distraction leaves, the house is quieter and you can hear the music from the other room a little more. Those remaining begin to notice that others are leaving, so they follow suit. Then before you know it, all is calm and quiet, and you can begin to figure out where the music is coming from. You point yourself in the right direction and begin to take steps to get closer to the music. You take one step closer - you make yourself available to God for some amount of time every day. Then, you notice that you can kind of recognize the beat and rhythm. So, you eagerly take another step closer - you devote yourself to studying God's word. Suddenly, you realize that you can make out some of the words. Yet another step closer - you begin to pray because you want to, not because you know you have to. Now, you are close enough to hear not just words, but the chorus. Soon, you enter the room. You're close enough to the source now that any disctractions or doubts are drowned out by the beautiful melody you hear from the source you've so diligently sought out.

You know, God delights over you. He sings songs over you! He desires to speak to you ALL OF THE TIME. In fact, He is always speaking, you just have to learn to listen. There's no formula and no big secrets, just daily disciplines and devotion. You just seek diligently and with all of your heart. It's kind of like hearing music from another room.

Big and Small

2008-02-21T12:53:00.003-06:00

This is probably the shortest post I'll ever type, but sometimes God just speaks to me profoundly yet simply.

This morning I was just thinking about this...

God is so big that he can be everywhere, and God is so small that he can be everywhere.

Seems simple, but think about it for a bit. He HAS to be both big and small. He CAN be both big and small. The same God that created the vast universe we live in can be small enough to fit inside our little hearts.

Isn't He amazing????

Playing with Purity

2008-02-08T14:22:00.000-06:00

After prayer one day, I just felt like I wanted to renew my commitment of purity to God. So, I married Jesus! I prayed that God would cleanse me from all sexual immorality that has taken place in my life, from all the impure motives of my heart, and even from the fantasies and wicked thoughts in my mind. I wrote vows, read them aloud, and accepted the cleansing offered to me through Christ Jesus. Then, I felt inspired by the Holy Spirit to get a ring to symbolize this cleansing and newfound closeness. (this is not something that everyone must do! it was just a personal conviction for myself, between me and God) I felt that I needed something tangable, something that I could see, touch, and feel to remind me of my vow of purity with the Lord because I know that trying times are certain. I actually have three of them - one to represent purity in my mind, one to represent purity in my heart, and one to represent purity in my body. I have decided that I will give my heart to NO man until it completely belongs to the Lord first.

So, I said all that to say this...

Yesterday, I took them off and was just kind of playing with them, and I dropped them on the ground. (Now, please keep in mind that it's not about the rings themselves, but it's about what they symbolize.) In that moment the Lord spoke to me. He said, now you see what you've done with purity your whole life. You take it off and play with it. When you do this, your chances of dropping it and getting it all dirty drastically increase. And once you drop it and it does become dirty, you HAVE, in fact, lost it.

You know, you can clean off rings or buy new ones, but you can't buy purity and virginity. Once you dirty it or lose it, it's gone! God gives stern warnings against impurity and sexual morality to protect us, not to hurt us. Your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. It's your greatest tool for fulfilling His will for your life. Do not defile it, do not sin against it because, if you do, then the presence of the Lord can't fully dwell there! Are you willing to compromise something so serious for fleeting, temporary pleasure that only causes pain in the end? Are you hiding ANY impurity in your heart and mind? I pray that you say, "NO!"

Hide Your Heart

2008-02-05T15:51:00.000-06:00

Someone said this this weekend, "Girls, you need to hide your heart SO deep in God that a man will have to seek God to get to it."

That really spoke into my life. It gives me a different perspective on the kind of man I can expect that God will send to me. I don't ever want to put my heart out there again for some guy to gain easy access to it. I don't ever want to give it away so easily again. It gives me a new patience and trust in God. All of a sudden, I realized that I'm not even ready to meet the guy for me because my heart is not hidden deep enough in God. I don't want any man to find a way to my heart by seeking me. I want him to seek God first in order to even get to me.

One thing I've learned in my lifetime is that I am not good at all at picking out the right guy. I'm horrible at it, but God is not. I'm 26 years old now, and every time I think of how close I am to 30, I get a little bit nervous. BUT, after really thinking about it, I just feel at peace about releasing that area of my life to God. I can do one of two things...I can continue to pick wrong guys or I can let go and let God do it. He knows me better than I know myself.

My heart is that EVERY girl who reads this and is still waiting for her man to come along will begin to hide her heart. Don't see every single guy you look at as a possibility. That will only leave you at a dead end EVERY time. It will leave you with wounds caused by soul ties that never should have existed. I know that from experience. Hide your heart enough that when you are worshipping God at church you're not thinking about the cute guy in the band that might see you and seems like good husband material. Don't get jealous when your girlfriends date and marry before you do. Be pure even in your thought life. The result will not just be sexual or relationship purity, but the deepest level of purity possible - a sincere and complete purity of heart and motives before God.

God loves ALL of his girls! He desires greater things for you then you could ever imagine, hope for or dream. So, don't try to pick your man. If you do, you may be selling yourself short, EVEN IF HE IS A GOOD GUY. Have your non-negotiables for husband qualities (because he does want to grant you the desires of your heart) and just leave the rest up to God. And please, don't give your heart away to any man until you have given it to God completely. A guy who seeks God first and is led to you will not quit. He will pursue you no matter what, so it's ok to be guarded.

I love all of you! You are precious jewels in His crown and made in His image. You are beautiful and valuable. He has great things in store for you. Be encourage while you wait. Soak Him in!

Confessions of Christ

2008-01-06T17:35:00.000-06:00

These are some random confessions I thought of during early morning prayer one day.....

You set the captive free, and then you captivate his heart.
You free us from the bondage of sin, and then we become slaves to the kingdom.
You take away the chaos that we can't rid ourselves of, and you give us a joy that we can't contain!
You are the Spotless Lamb and the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
You create individuals only to unite them in one body, the church.
You make us whole only when we give every part of ourselves to you.
You take impossibility, and you give promise.
We die so that You might give us new life.

God is amazing! There is nothing and no one like Him.

Black Eyes and Obedience

2008-01-02T14:31:00.000-06:00

How amazing is God? Everytime I just cry out to Him, He always answers me exactly the right way. The amazing part is that it's usually an answer to a desperate prayer that I felt was really, really unspiritual. I know it sounds silly, but I get stuck in that mindset sometimes. That one that says, "God won't hear my prayer unless it is super spiritual and I say exactly the right things." When I really am touched and hear from God the most is when I cry out in desperation and when I just speak honestly and bodly to Him. When I'm mad, I tell him I'm mad, and almost instantly, He speaks to me. He responds immediately when I share with Him what is truly on my heart, and not what I think I should pray or what I think God wants to hear.

I said all of that to say that I have made some decisions in obedience to God at the beginning and throughout Elevate that have caused dramatically less than favorable conditions for myself. I always knew that obedience to God could be very costly at times. So now I also realize that at those times when it requires sacrifice and full commitment to obey God, it may also produce results that seem to tell you that you did the wrong thing. You ask questions like, "If I did the right thing, then why is there so much pain?" or "If I was successful at obeying the voice of the Lord, then why are people against me?" Right in the midst of me asking this kind of question the other night, I broke down. I cried out to God saying, "How long, O God, will these circumstances continue???!!!! I did what is right by you, and it's only caused me pain!" It was a moment of prayer where my heart was totally exposed before God. Just a couple days later (which would be today) I got this email from Robert Cook.....

Black Eyes and Obedience
by Preston Gillham

"Once when I was in grade school I got on the wrong side with the class bully. I decided to do the right thing and reason with him. The black eye he gave me took a week to heal. Trying to do the right thing does not insure that the right thing always happens. And when your best intentions go bust, it is tempting to declare that you have failed. But by God's standard you may be a smashing success! You see, it's not the results of you're efforts that bring glory to God, it's the method you use. If you are walking by faith in obedience to God-trusting Christ-then the results are really left up to Him. When you walk by faith you may never see the results you're hoping for. But remember your goal; to bring honor to God, and that happens every time you act in obedience to Him... regardless of the results."

Bringing glory to God does not always bring you favor in the eyes of people. In fact, when you obey God, you become closer and more intimate with Him, which, in turn, will often put rightful distance between you and sin or you and other people, places, or things. BUT, your Heavenly Father will look upon you and be pleased!

Today, for the first time, I completely trust God with the results of my obedience! He knew the results before he asked me to obey Him. He is Almighty, and He is faithful!

Things Change, but God Remains

2007-12-29T22:14:00.000-06:00

One semester of Elevate has come and gone. It's amazing how much we all have changed. Second to knowing christ, it truly is the best thing I've done in my life. When you intentionally devote everything to God, your finances, relationships, time, hopes, and dreams, you will not believe how your perspective changes. I find myself praying that a lot lately - that God would anoint my eyes to have His vision and my mind to have His perspective. It's what makes all of this possible. It's impossible for me to do, but God gives me strength, wisdom, and courage every day of my life. That's the only reason I'm able endure the pain of unjust persecution, slander, and misunderstanding. I don't blame any of it on God or on other people, but, instead, I am so thankful that I have been presented an opportunity to learn and grow through certain life experiences. It's cost me a lot to be where I am today - time, money, career, relationship, friends. For what I've given up and lost, though, I've gained so much more. You can't outgive God. He replaces what you are faithful to give up with so much more than you could ever imagine. My life and character have been enriched in so many ways that those other things could not provide. I'm closer to God than ever before, and it's only the beginning of the rest of my life in Christ.

Of all that's changed, there are some things that have remained the same. I still have my family and my few really close friends. To these people who know my true character, my heart, and my intentions, I thank you for your continuous and unconditional love and support. I know I don't say this much but I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH! Jill, Heather, Kelly Pitts, Joy, Kristina - I love you girls. My teaching mentors, Mike and Denise, Mike and Judy, and Mike and Rachel - I would not be where I am today without your support and influence. I'm honored that you find importance in what God has called me to do!

I don't know what my future holds, but I do know that it is bright and I am eager!

Day after Thanksgiving

2007-11-23T13:22:00.000-06:00

So, everyone knows that the day after Thanskgiving is the biggest shopping day of the year. We went to Tanger Mall at midnight. It was the craziest thing I've ever seen! The interstate was backed up as far as we could see and the people were lining up outside of the stores. As soon as midnight struck, the race was on! People were nearly trampeling over each other just to get in a store. It was madness!!! We found what we needed and stood in line for and hour and a half. Some people were cutting line, some people were outside falling asleep, and some people were getting frustrated and leaving.

While standing in the midst of all the commotion just observing, I couldn't help but think of how we all have a tendency to fuss over insignificant, temporal things. How would our world be transformed if we sacrificed that much time and money for the eternal things of God? What would happen if we were lining up at the feet of Jesus to buy from Him white garments, fire-refined gold, and eye salve? Where would our priorities lie if our definition of importance matched God's?

Think about that this holiday season. There is nothing wrong with christmas trees and decorations. There is nothing wrong with giving gifts and playing Santa Clause, but what is your priority? Don't trade celebrating the most precious eternal gift, the birth of our Savior, for celebrating temporary gifts year after year. Try something new this year! Instead of giving so many gifts, just give one. To replace the other gifts, share the story of the birth of Jesus with your family, or DO something special for each person. Or, even better, reach out as a family to those who are in need, to those who can't go to the mall for their children or to the grocery to the store to feed their family. Focus on what is closest to the Lord's heart this year and see if your holiday season isn't less stressful and much more sentimental. You may forget the shirt you got last year, but you will never forget the family you touched for eternity!

My blessings go out to all of you this holdiay season! Enjoy your families, and do not forget about the lonely and needy!

I love you all, and HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

The One?

2007-11-07T15:04:00.000-06:00

Just a thought provoking topic a few people and I discussed at the Fusion retreat...

Does God really create one particular person for each of us to marry? If he does, then what happens to me if I pick the wrong person? What happens to everyone else if I pick the wrong person? Think about it for a moment. If it really is true that there is only one correct person for us to marry, then where would we be today if one person married the wrong person 600 years ago. Really think about it! If a man 600 years ago chose to marry the wrong woman, then that same woman also married the wrong man. Which means that the man and woman that they were supposed to marry, will also go on to marry the wrong person unless they don't marry at all. In that case, the people that they don't marry would more than likely go on to marry the wrong person. So, you can see how it would snowball to the point that, today, we would have a very slim chance of actually marrying the "right" person. Why would God enstate something like this when He is not an advocate of divorce? If you say, "Well, God is sovereign. He already knows who we will choose. That's why we say there is 'the one' ", then where does that leave free will? How do you determine what God ordains and what he doesn't?

So, perhaps, we are simply compatible with certain people. Perhaps, certain people are good matches and would be a wise decision for us to marry. Perhaps, we really just BECOME and are BECOMING "the one" for each other throughout the marriage with whom we choose.

Tell me what you think!

The Upward Call of Christ

2007-11-01T21:07:00.000-05:00

Wow! Only three months has past, and I cannot believe the difference in my character, my relationships, my goals, and my perspective. It's so easy to get on a path that seems to be from God because it's "good", but then He calls you to "great". Even while pursuing excellence, there is still a constant temptation to compromise "great" for "good". However, there is nothing more blessed in this life than living the life God intended for you to live and to live it constantly pursuing excellence. God has so much more for us than "good". The bible says that eye has not seen and ear has not heard what God has in mind for those who serve and love him. It also says that God is capable of doing more than we could ever hope for, dream, or imagine. I do not ever want to live my life excepting what is "good" because it is easy and comfortable. Instead, I want to live a life of TRUE obedience. I am learning, lately, that obedience comes at a price! God has called me to a life of leadership and influence, and to whom much is given, much is required. I can't afford to be teaching and encouraging people to live the life God intended (which happens to be the fullness of God in Christ) and not be living it myself. I am learning how to steward the talents and gifts that God has given me to do effective work for His Kingdom. I have to be responsible with the influence God has given me, and I have to be the picutre of Christ's strength being perfected in my weakness. God has called me to be obedient at any cost and to be an example of being a strong and devoted woman of God. I cannot imagine spending my time and effort doing anything else! I AM and ambassador of Christ! There are too many lost and hurting people for me to be playing around with what I think is "good". I'm in hot pursuit of my Savior and all that He has for myself and for this world in His great work of redemption.

I also wanted to say a thanks to all you who are supporting me in prayer and financially! I could not do this without you! I pray that God will bless you and your house for sowing into what God is doing in my life. I love you and thank you all!!!!!!!!!!

Numero Uno

2007-07-26T19:50:00.000-05:00

My first blog ever! I never thought I'd see the day. My newsletter will offer updates and news, but this blog will be a journal of my heart, experiences, and revelations as I grow spiritually.

As I prepare for Elevate, my prayer has been that my heart will be prepared when the internship begins. Come what may and bring the rain! Whatever needs to be undone, be undone. Whatever needs to be done, be done.

It's amazing how quickly and specifically God acts when you really are desperately seeking Him. I heard someone say the other day that sometimes the reason we don't get specific answers to our prayers is because we are not praying specifically but generally. I was instantly convicted and challenged, and I prayed for a cleansing of my heart that would rid it of any wrong attitudes or ideas that would hinder my growth in Elevate. I prayed that through it all I would remain humble before the Lord and resist a legalistic attitude.

That night, at the girl's bible study I attend, God began to do so. We were studying Ecclesiastes 2. We were looking at the different avenues Solomon was pursusing to bring joy to his life. Things such as treasures, family, work, and knowledge, but, in the end, they were all meaningless. This is what he concluded:

So I decided there is nothing better than to enjoy food and drink and to find satisfaction in work. Then I realized that this pleasure is from the hand of God. For who can eat or enjoy anything apart from Him? Eccl 2:24-25

It's been hard lately to see the significance in my work. I have known for a long time that God has a higher calling on my life than my current situation. The thought of staying in my current job field for the rest of my life truly saddens my heart. BUT, after looking into Solomon's heart and comparing it to mine, I realized that there is fine line between divine discontentment and seeking joy in vain. I cannot run from my job because it brings me no joy and enter Elevate with a heart seeking joy from the internship itself. I have to find satisfaction in my work (whatever it may be) and do it as unto the Lord. I will find joy in knowing that wherever I am is where God has put me, and I will find satisfaction in what I'm doing because it is what the Lord has called me to do. Nothing is too insignificant for me to do when I do it unto the Lord.

The joy of the Lord is my strength!!!!