The Edge

I feel like I'm standing on the precipice, about to take a leap. A HUGE leap. A leap of faith. And, I am.

I don't know what this journey holds. I leave in 9 days for Malaysia. There are many things running through my mind. Things I need to complete. People I need to contact. My friends here whom I need to invest in. Prayers to be said.

It is overwhelming in many aspects, and yet, there is this peace that doesn't leave. I can't explain it. I have struggled for much of my life with worry and anxiety, and yet, as I'm about to do one of the biggest things I've ever done, I am not anxious. It might sound weird, but the truth often sounds weird. I began this journey, 10 weeks ago, being a bit nervous. I honestly was not excited about going overseas. I was scared. But that has changed so drastically in 10 weeks. I am freaking excited now! I am excited to minister, and to see God's hand at work as we call a new place 'home' for two months.That doesn't mean that I don't realize that there will be tough things to wade through, I am well aware of that, but I am still so excited to see God work. I cannot wait. It is amazing the changes that can take place in such a short amount of time.

Coming to DTS was one of the best things I've ever done. In fact, after becoming a Christian, I think it is the best thing I've ever done. I didn't come expecting it to be like this. But its so much better than I ever anticipated. All I can say, is, I am blown away by God's faithfulness. He is faithful. Always faithful. FAITHFUL. I can't say it enough. He has provided financially. And these are HUGE sums of money that he has brought in, literally overnight. He has given our school unity, and He's changed hearts and lives even since being here. Oh, I am so thankful that I serve a faithful God.

I am a different person now than I was 10 weeks ago. Sometimes I don't believe that. But when I start doubting the work that God has done in my life, that is when He comes in and reminds me of who I am, of how He has changed me, and of His great love for me. I feel like He wraps me in a warm blanket and just holds me when I'm feeling discouraged and down. It doesn't take long for God to shut out the lies that creep in at times, and to replace them with His truth.

I can't explain what He's doing. But he is working. This is such a special place, and me and 53 other students from all across the world, in all walks of life have had the privilege of experiencing this together, and its a bond that we'll always share in our hearts. We went through it together, and there isn't a group of people I would rather experience this crazy journey with, than this group. There is not a single doubt in my mind that God brought every individual here, at this time. I just love how He works. God is smart, and I love that. He knows what He's doing.

As we're preparing to say 'good bye' to this gorgeous place, and many of the friends that we've met here, there is a sadness that comes along with that. I don't want to leave my friends. But, I know that what we're doing in Asia is of eternal value. And that makes it all worth it. This isn't the end. This is only the beginning. Yes, we've been here for 10+ weeks already, but that doesn't mean that just because we're saying 'good bye' to each other for a season, that we have to say 'good bye' forever.

God is still working. One of my favorite verses, Philippians 1:6 says: "Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion, until the day of Christ." Yep, my God is still at work. That brings me so much joy and peace.

So, I will leave you with a song that we sung this morning, and that I've had stuck in my head most of the day. I feel like it very accurately portrays life for us right now. It is called "Our God is Greater" and it is by Chris Tomlin.

Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shining
Out of the ashes we rise
There's no one like You
None like You

CHORUS
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There's no One like You
None like You.

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsty.com/chris-tomlin-our-god-is-greater-lyrics.html ]
BRIDGE
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...

And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who can ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?
Then what can stand against?

Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power
Our God, Our God...
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome and power

Our God, Our God...

Unashamed Love

 I want to have a childlike faith. That is why my blog is named as it is, and the inspiration for the 

actual title came from this song. I love it, and I feel its very relevant:

Your calling me to lay aside the worries of my day 

                          
To quiet down my busy mind and find a hiding place   

Worthy, You are worthy
                             
I open up my heart and let my spirit worship Yours
  
I open up my mouth and let a song of praise come forth

Worthy You are Worthy
                       
Of a childlike faith and of my honest praise
   
And of my unashamed love

Of a holy life and of my sacrifice
    
And of my unashamed love

This life

Two days in a row of posting, that must be some sort of record.

Things here are going well. Today was spent resting and enjoying time with friends in the snow. I always feel like the snow is God's way of cleansing things, and I love how pure and white it is.To me, the beauty of it never fades.

I love this place, so I thought I'd share some of the love. Enjoy!

My not-boring life

I love to write, and yet recently, when I've sat down to write a blog post, its like my mind just goes blank. Its not because my life is boring, or I have nothing to say. Quite the contrary. My life is insane, and I love it, yet sometimes I just can't find the words to put to it. So this is my best effort in my extreme writer's block.

The past nine weeks have been incredible, challenging, overwhelming, awesome, tough, transformational, fun, hard and everything in between. I have embarked on this journey that has taken me to places I didn't expect, hard places, and yet healing places. When I came to DTS, I knew what it was about, but I didn't really know just how life changing it would really be for me.

The first five weeks or so were probably the most emotional, as I was learning a great deal about myself and about God and who He really is, and what His character looks like. I cried a lot, and most everyone else cried a lot as well. As time has gone on, the lectures are still just as rich and challenging, but as I've grown in knowledge of who I am, and who He is, the tears have not been as frequent.

The last several weeks have been some of the best for me, personally. I have learned how to hear God's voice more clearly, and He has changed my perspective on so many things. I can honestly say that I think differently now than when I first arrived. He's shown me areas of my life that weren't in full submission to Him, and areas where my attitude needed an adjustment. Its never fun to come to these realizations, but it is important. I'm so grateful for the work that He is doing in me during this time, and I am grateful as well for His patience.

Our days here are busy and often tiring and exhausting, but in the best way possible. There is a lot to process, lots of work to be done, preparations being made as we are getting ready to embark on our journey overseas. In the midst of the craziness, though, I am incredibly blessed. There isn't anywhere I would rather be. There isn't anything I'd rather be doing. There isn't anyone I'd rather share this journey with. I am so blessed to be here right now. In simple terms, one of the biggest things I have learned is that God knows what He is doing, and He is faithful.

Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare to embark on our journey's overseas. We leave in just over two weeks, and there is a lot of planning that goes into these next several weeks. Pray for health and safety in travel, for right hearts and attitudes, and above all, that we would accomplish what it is that God has for us during this time. It is really exciting, but there will also be tough times that come. Nonetheless, I am looking forward to it!

Thank you all for your prayers, support, love and encouragement. It means so much!