As I continue to reflect on my time in Suriname, He showed me how He used every family there to teach me either something new or remind me of something I should already know about Him. I went through the training with 5 other units and each one was a blessing to me.

He used my roommate, Christy to show me how to constantly put others needs first. She is a people pleaser and loves to serve others. She was constantly looking for ways to serve the community whether it was making sweet treats for everyone, checking on people when they were sick, or just talking to anyone, anywhere, and at anytime.  He showed me more about this command to love others more than I love myself through her. My favorite moments with my roomie were either the moments early in the AM when she wasn’t awake and would tell me all kinds of things or the times when we sat at the table and shared what HE was doing in our lives. Please pry for her and the two teams she has coming to work with her in the next 4 weeks.

He used the neighbors,  the Burkhaulter’s to show me what grace looks like in a house of 6. They were tested and tried with all kinds of illnesses and epidemics during their time in Suriname, much like their last year on the field. It was beautiful to watch them loving forgive their children, teach them about forgiveness and grace, and show them grace when they did not deserve it. Both of them are very different in their parenting styles and He taught me just how perfect His plans are in marriage. He is using his flaws to sanctify her and using her flaws to sanctify him. To me, they look a lot like He does, as they love each other and their kids. He definitely taught me more about grace and marriage through the neighbors. Oh there are so many favorite moments with this amazing family. From Travis yelling “good morning, Suriname” every morning, Sophie’s dry sense of humor, Isaac’s daily trips to our house for a “band aid”/sweet treat, Bella’s laugh, Joy’s dancing and Beth…she is adorable! I think one of my favorite times with her was just hearing her heart about her work and our last night together at dinner just being completely goofy! Please pry for wisdom as Travis goes out to their people, for Beth as she homeschools and decides whether or not to continue storying at one of the houses in her city.

He used the Grady’s to remind me just how creative He is and how He knows no bounds or limits. They are a very structured family and it is great to have such a well-prepared family in our community. They are a strong, Chrst centered family and I loved watching them work together like a well-oiled machine. Due to early bedtimes for the boys, I did not get to spend as much down time with this family but their redemption stories and comments during our training gave me plenty to pry over them and praise Him for each day. One of my favorite moments with this family was when we were eating dinner together at their cabin and their littlest one did not want to eat his veggies and wanted more bread. Christy asks both boys if I should get another portion of veggies. The oldest one replies yes with a little grin because he didn’t like the veggies. The youngest one looks at me, looks at his mom, and says that he thinks that I should get another piece of bread, flashing his cute little smile at his mom! I died laughing at his intelligence and wit in order to get his piece of bread. Please pry for them as they serve as their team leaders and still do His work amongst their people. Ask for wisdom for John and Sonia as they raise their boys to be like Him!

He used the Murphrees to remind me just how patient He is and just how quickly He answers our pryrs when we align our will to His will. Josh and Crystal love the Lrd, each other, their children, and their people so much. He used their dealings with each other and with their children to remind me of what His patience looks like in the real world. As they disciplined and taught their children, they did it with such love and patience. I had the privilege of hanging out Crystal early on in our training and she shared some of her requests to me. It was such an honor to pry for her and over her and then watch Him answer so quickly. She was completely transformed during this training and Josh was as well. It was so neat to see Him unite them in Him, give them His love to the point I started calling them the honeymoon couple because they were all lovey-dovey! My favorite moments with this family were when we ate together and the kids really opened up and showed their cute little personalities. I loved pryng each week with Crystal, her witty comments during our trainings, and her honesty. Josh is the most prepared man I know for any injury related emergency and yet he is so humble that he is always wants to learn. 
I will never forget a little inside joke that is properly named “hammock time” and still makes me laugh!

He used the Pearman’s to remind me of the beauty of Our Redeemer, to be content wherever He places you, and serve whomever He places in your path for that day. Ba Dally (as he is known in the interior) and Margaret just finished 2 months of training in VA and arrived to the interior a week before we did to be apart of 5 more weeks of training! I remember how I was after training…on fire and ready to share with the world. I was definitely not wanting to sit through another training again but their attitudes were that of Chrst Jss. They did not complain about 4 months of training but were content with what He had given them to do. Ba Dally and Margaret’s redemption stories are beautiful and how He placed them together, and called them to His work showed me just another gorgeous aspect of My Savior! And talk about service, those two did whatever for the community good and were willing to learn and teach at anytime. My favorite moment with these two was when they were sharing about their “nacho night” and whenever I would try to give Margaret a hard time for always looking so cute (in the jungle), her response was always, it is not-yo-night! Pry for them as they learn a new language, learn a new culture, and follow Him where He is moving.

The other families were all trainer families and HE definitely taught me through them as well but these 5 units had a special place in my heart as we were all experiencing the same thing for the first time. I praise Him for allowing me to get to know each one of them and now pry alongside of them as they serve Him in their different locations.

How do I begin to summarize what He has been teaching me over the past 5 weeks into one post...that is not so long that you might actually read it! Well, I will just say that He had me in 1 John and it was an interesting month in 1 John. He basically reminded me of the basics of being a true follower. My life has to be based on sound doctrine, obedience and His LOVE! I have to be faithful in these basics every moment of every day. I have to strive for a life of holiness in Him as I firmly stand on true doctrine, follow Him in complete obedience, and love Him like He commands. Oh, how I fall short of this lifestyle but I desire it more than anything else.

      Suriname Prayer Calendar

As part of fulfilling the Great Commission to take the gospel to the end of the world, we will pray for Kendall, other M's, and the people of Suriname during the next 5 weeks of training, challenges, sanctification, and worship.

Thank you for joining me on this adventure and committing to carry me to Him on your knees!

January 12: Lord, we ask that You calm Kendall’s spirit today and that your peace fill her as she finalizes all details for this training. Remind her Who you are and that time is in Your hands to do everything she needs to do today. Give her rest tonight physically, emotionally, and spiritually – especially control the thoughts that tend to race in her mind and rob her of her sleep. - In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety. Psalm 4:8

Jan 13:  Lord, we pray for Kendall and other M’s as they travel today. Remind them to focus on their personal relationship with You and abide in Your Words. – Abide in Me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. John 15:4

Jan 14: Lord, we pray that you fill Kendall and other M’s with Your Spirit. We ask in Jesus’ Name that all obstacles, doubts, fear will be removed from each of one as they prepare for this week and travel into the interior of the jungle today. – Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I AM The Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have The Light of life.” John 8:12

Jan 15: Lord, we ask that you give Your Wisdom to the IMB leadership that will be leading, teaching, and preparing these M’s this next month. - If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, Who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. James 1:5

Jan 16: Lord, prepare the way before Kendall in Suriname. May your angels encamp all around Kendall. Keep Kendall strong and healthy. Open her mind to know Your will so that Your Word is proclaimed with power and simplicity. Open the hearts of those who You will bring into her life that she make speak Your Truth with joy and gladness and that they will respond to You.  - Oh magnify The Lord with me, and let us exalt His Name together…the angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him and delivers them. Psalm 34:3, 7

Jan 17: Lord, help Kendall, her family, and the other M’s to not worry about the things that they do not understand. This training is Yours. The people are Yours. The road is Yours to guide them on. Show them what they need to know, at the right time according to Your will. Help Kendall to depend on you and not herself. Show Yourself among this group, so that people of Suriname will give You the glory. -Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

Jan 18: Lord, we exalt You in our lives and we praise Your Name, the Mighty Name of Jesus. You told us that when Your Name is magnified, You will call the lost to You. Penetrate the people’s closed hearts. Break the bondage of sin and shame to draw them by Your grace, so that they can believe the Truth.  - Then they cried to The Lord in their trouble, and He delivered them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and break their chains. Psalm 107:13-14

Jan 17: Lord, we pray that you provide everything that Kendall will need today to glorify Your Name. Everything from the "A" through "Z", from love to patience, from time with You to time to reflect Your glory amongst those she comes in contact with, from beginning of the day to the end.  - I ask God to give you everything you need, according to the glorious riches in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 4:19

Jan 18: Lord, fill Kendall with Your wisdom and discernment. Fill her with Your Spirit and Words as she goes about her daily activities. May she have patience that comes from you in all things that are slightly more difficult in the jungle.  – Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the Lord Your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:9

Jan 19: Lord, prepare Kendall physically, spiritually, and emotionally for today. May she seek Your face and listen to You as You reveal to her Your purpose for this training. Bless her with good health today. – O fear The Lord, you His saints, for those who fear Him have no lack. Psalm 34:9

Jan 20: Lord, Thank you for choosing Kendall to be adopted as Your daughter. Give her Your love for the people. Give her boldness to share what You have done in her life. Give her transparency as she loves and shares her life with all. - Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-8

Jan 21: Lord, May You use this time to train Kendall to live a life of holiness and godliness. May she continue to surrender all control of her life and this day into Your hands and rest in You- If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. 1 Timothy 4:6-8

Jan 22: Lord, we praise You for opening up the door and providing this opportunity for Kendall and other M’s to serve You and see You in a new way. May they abide in Your Words, trust in You, and wait expectantly for how You are going to change them and the lives of others around them. – How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to Your Word. With my whole heart I seek You; let me not wander from Your Commandments. Psalm 119:9-10

Jan 23: Lord, we bring Kendall and Christie (her roommate) to You today asking that you fill them with Your Spirit. May they learn to hear You clearly and discern the steps that You have ordered for their day for your glory. Give them strength to love with Your steadfast love, to pray fervently, to live in radical obedience to You, and trust You completely. Guard their hearts and mind. – Oh how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day. Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies, for it is ever with me…I understand more than the elders for I keep Your precepts. Psalm 119:97-98, 100

Jan 24: Lord, we praise You for the life of Kendall. Please allow her to feel Your presence in a tangible way today as she celebrates 34 years of life that by Your grace have been given to her. Be with her family as they are unable to communicate today to share in this special day with her. May she see once again what true dependence on You looks like today. -  For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.            

Jeremiah 29:10-12

Jan 25: Lord, prepare Kendall’s heart to worship You today. Let the words of her mouth and the meditations of her heart be pleasing to You, Our Lord and Redeemer. Give her a desire and a longing to reach the unsaved with the Gospel. Give her Your desires and grant her an open door of opportunity to minister the Word with anointing and power. - Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

2 Corinthians 5:20

Jan 26: Lord, we ask in the Name of Jesus that you go before Kendall as she maybe enters into a new area of the jungle and for Darlys as she enters into Palenque. Prepare the way for them, clearing any obstacle from their paths. Place Your angels around them. May they remember to put on Your full armor as they head out to battle in Your Name.  - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel.

Ephesians 6:10-19

Jan 27: Lord, protect Kendall and the other M’s minds and bodies from any attacks from the enemy today as they seek to share Your Truth and Love with the people and each other. He put another parable before them, saying, “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.” Matthew 13:31-32

Jan 28: Lord, draw the Palenqueros to You today. May they see Your Light in Darlys and come to receive Your Truth. May You continue to create a hunger in them for Your Words as they study with Darlys. Speak through her today. Fill her with energy as she serves in the hot sun. - Finally, brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may speed ahead and be honored, as happened among you, and that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men. For not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

Jan 29: Lord, open Kendall’s eyes to see the many ways in which she can worship You. Put Your song in her heart today as she learns today. Allow her to understand the people through Your Spirit today. - All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. Psalm 86:8

Jan 30: Lord, provide time for Kendall to rest in You today! Provide the same rest for her family, as they have not been able to communicate with Kendall in several weeks. Unite them today as they seek rest and place all faith in You. May they come away refreshed, renewed, and eager to be used by You! - All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Matthew 11: 27-29

Jan 31: Lord, we ask that you continue to teach Kendall and Darlys how to love You and your people. May they consistently look to You for the love for the Palenqueros. Please continue to unite their hearts and fix their eyes on You as they obediently serve You in Palenque. - Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Feb 1: Lord, remind Kendall, her parents, and her friends today that You sit on the throne. You are not worried, stressed or depressed but You confidently sit... fully trusting in Your sovereign plan with no doubting. Also remind them that You sit high, nothing is above Your position, nor past Your sight. You, The Great Monarch reign and fully know all things! God help us to rest so well, knowing You are still on the Throne of Heaven and nothing happens out side of You that will not work together for our good and Your glory. - In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Isaiah 6:1

Feb 2: Lord, sanctify us. Oh, that Your spirit might come and saturate every faculty, subdue every passion, and use every power of our nature for

obedience to You today.  - Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thessalonians 5:23

Feb 3: Lord, May every breath be for You; may every minute be spent for You.  Help us
to live while we live and while we are busy in the world as we must be,
for we are called to it, may we sanctify the world for Your service.  May
we be lumps of salt in the midst of society.  May our spirit and temper
as well as our conversation be heavenly; may there be an influence about
us that shall make the world the better before we leave it.  Lord, this is my prayer for Kendall and myself today.

Feb 4: Lord, save men, save this village, the surrounding cities, this country.  Lord, arouse them; arouse them by any means that they may turn to You.  Save

sinners all the world over, and let Your precious Word be fulfilled. - Behold, he is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him. Even so. Amen.

Revelation 1:7

Feb 5: Lord, refresh Kendall, the other M’s and the leadership today in You as they are exhausted physically, spiritually, and emotionally. Be their strength today. Renew their spirits. Set their eyes on You. May their hammocks feel like soft comfy beds tonight as they sleep. - Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. Isaiah40: 30-31

Feb 6: Lord, help Kendall and myself to - Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may speak forth the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; that I may make it clear in the way I ought to speak. Colossians 4:2-4

Feb 7: Lord, help Kendall and myself understand that You have given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ advances in the world. Prayer gives us the significance of front-line forces, and gives God the glory of a limitless Provider. The one who gives the power gets the glory. Thus prayer safeguards the supremacy of God in missions while linking us with endless grace for every need. – Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Matthew 6:9

Feb 8: Lord, I ask that You heal Kendall’s knee. Free her from the pain that she has been living with now for months. Do this not for her comfort but for the glory of Your Name. – Heal me, O Jehovah, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:14

Feb 9: Lord, protect Kendall and the other M’s today wherever they are and in whatever they are doing. May they be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to be angry today with each other, situations, and the people. Continue to change the hearts of the people where they are living to accept You. – Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run and be glorified, even as also it is with you; and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and evil men; for all have not faith.

But the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and guard you from the evil one.

And we have confidence in the Lord touching you that ye both do and will do the things, which we command. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Chris. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

Feb 10: Lord, we ask that today you be with the people of Palenque. We pray that they will resist Satan’s plans to obstruct the spread of the gospel in this village. We ask you give Darlys the strength to continue the work and mobilize others to begin to spread the gospel message all over Cartagena. - Be subject therefore unto God; but resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Feb 11: Lord, we pray that the ministry You have given Kendall and her attitude would be worthy of acceptance. That You would receive both as a sweet smelling offering of worship to You today. That Your face would shine upon her today. I ask you to help her partners and myself to be more actively involved in what You are doing and obediently support her in the way You have designed. - For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray and make request for you, that ye may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, to walk worthily of the Lord unto all pleasing, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, unto all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks unto the Father, who made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light; who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love; in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins: who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him were all things created, in the heavens and upon the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and unto him; and he is before all things, and in him all things consist.  Colossians 1: 9-17

Feb 12: Lord, we praise You for carrying Kendall, her family, friends, and other M’s through this training. We praise You for your grace and love that we have seen over the past 5 weeks as we have prayed and sought Your face. We praise You for what You did in Kendall’s life and how You have transformed her more into the image of Your Son through this experience. May she finish strong today for the glory of Your Name. - For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure is come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give to me at that day; and not to me only, but also to all them that have loved his appearing. 2 Timothy 4:6-8

Feb 13: Lord, we ask that You will watch over Kendall and other’s as they travel today. Open up their eyes for ways to share Your Gospel message with those around them in the airplane and airport. May they each have an opportunity to share with someone the change that You have done in their lives through this time in Suriname. May they take the time to give You thanks for this amazing opportunity. And may they commit to pray for what You are going to do over the next week, month, and year in Suriname. – And when his time of service had ended, he went to his home.

Luke 1:23

Feb 14: Lord, we ask that You, through Your Holy Spirit, help Kendall process what she saw, heard, and experienced. We ask that You allow her to rest in Your Words that giver her strength, joy, and guidance. May she be reminded of the love You have for her today. Bless her with time in worship of You, with internet to speak to her family, and clean water to bath in. Happy Valentines Day, My Beloved! - Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1 John 4:10

What does Jesus want this Christmas? We can see the answer in his prayers. What does he ask God for? His longest prayer is John 17. Here is the climax of his desire:

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am (v. 24).

Among all the undeserving sinners in the world, there are those whom God has "given to Jesus." These are those whom God has drawn to the Son (John 6:44, 65). These areChristians – people who have "received" Jesus as the crucified and risen Savior and Lord and Treasure of their lives (John 1:12; 10:11, 17-18; 20:28; 6:35; 3:17). Jesus says he wants them to be with him.

Sometimes we hear people say that God created man because he was lonely. So they say, "God created us so that we would be with him." Does Jesus agree with this? Well, he doessay that he really wants us to be with him! Yes, but why? Consider the rest of the verse. Why does Jesus want us to be with him?

. . . to see my glory that you [Father] have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.

That would be a strange way of expressing his loneliness. "I want them with me so they can see my glory." In fact it doesn't express his loneliness. It expresses his concern for the satisfaction of our longing, not his loneliness. Jesus is not lonely. He and the Father and the Spirit are profoundly satisfied in the fellowship of the Trinity. We, not he, are starving for something. And what Jesus wants for Christmas is for us to experience what we were really made for – seeing and savoring his glory.

Oh, that God would make this sink in to our souls! Jesus made us (John 1:3) to see his glory. Just before he goes to the cross he pleads his deepest desires with the Father: "Father, I desire – I desire! – that they . . . may be with me where I am, to see my glory."

But that is only half of what Jesus wants in these final, climactic verses of his prayer. I just said we were really made for seeing and savoring his glory. Is that what he wants – that we not only see his glory but savor it, relish it, delight in it, treasure it, love it? Consider verse 26, the very last verse:

I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.

That is the end of the prayer. What is Jesus' final goal for us? Not that we simply see his glory, but that we love him with the same love that the Father has for him: "that the love with which you [Father] have loved me may be in them." Jesus' longing and goal is that we see his glory and then that we be able to love what we see with the same love that the Father has for the Son. And he doesn't mean that we merely imitate the love of the Father for the Son. He means the Father's very love becomes our love for the Son – that we love the Son with the love of the Father for the Son. This is what the Spirit becomes and bestows in our lives: Love for the Son by the Father through the Spirit.

What Jesus wants most for Christmas is that his elect be gathered in and then get whatthey want most – to see his glory and then savor it with the very savoring of the Father for the Son.

What I want most for Christmas this year is to join you (and many others) in seeing Christ in all his fullness and that we together be able to love what we see with a love far beyond our own half-hearted human capacities.

This is what Jesus prays for us this Christmas: "Father, show them my glory and give them the very delight in me that you have in me." Oh, may we see Christ with the eyes of God and savor Christ with the heart of God. That is the essence of heaven. That is the gift Christ came to purchase for sinners at the cost of his death in our place.

As I sit here sweating in my apt on this day of thanksgiving, I cannot complain about being miles away from my family. I cannot complain that I am sweating, covered in bug bites, and breathing in smoke from my neighbor. I cannot complain that I haven't been able to go to Palenque for the past month. I cannot complain that my dog continues to be sick and my knee pain robs me of sleep as I wait for His timing.

All I can do is praise Him for the blessings that He has surrounded me with each day. I praise Him that He chose me and sent me to a land far away from my family for His Glory. I praise Him for bringing me here to show me more of Him and draw me close to Him. I praise Him that I can spend hours at His Feet worshipping, crying, reading His Words, or resting in silence. I praise Him for a mom and dad who love me, pry for me, and support me in every way that the world says that they should not. I praise Him for a sister and a brother-in-law who have radically obeyed Him and are starting a movement amongst young people in Bogota. I praise Him that I have electricity right now to feel the breeze of a fan and hopefully upload this to the website. I praise Him that I can feel the sweat running down my back, feel the sting of the mosquito bites, and can smell the bitter smoke creeping into my balcony. I praise Him for the people in Palenque who have accepted me and love me because of Him. I praise Him for a faithful companion who does not complain, does not leave my side, and always lets me love on him. I praise Him for my body, that I can walk, pick up my little nephew, hug the people around me, and can type this update to you.

So on this thanksgiving day, I sit in awe of a Dad Who chose me, Who saved me, Who justified me, Who loved me, Who is sanctifying me, and Who is worthy of all honor and praise. This is the song that I keep singing to Him today...join with me in praising the One Who Created Everything!!

Before the throne of God above
I have a strong and perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love, 
Who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands, 
My name is written on His heart; 
I know that while in heaven He stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.

When Satan tempts me to despair, 
And tells me of the guilt within, 
Upward I look, and see Him there
Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died, 
My sinful soul is counted free; 
For God the just is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me

Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One, 
Risen Son of God! 

Behold Him there, the Risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness, 
The great unchangeable I Am, 
The King of glory and of grace! 

One with Himself I cannot die
My soul is purchased by His blood
My life is hid with Christ on high, 
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God


Happy Thanksgiving! I love you guys and miss you more than you will ever know!!

I recently listened to another challenging sermon by Paul Washer and he recommended that we read an article that his wife wrote called, Becoming Esther. It was such an incredible read that I wanted each of you to have the opportunity to read it and allow Him to change you through it.

In his book, 10 Who Changed the World, Danny Akin cites the following excerpt from the great Baptist m William Carey on his 70th birthday, just three years before his death:

“I am this day seventy years old, a monument of Divine mercy and goodness, though on review of my life I find much, very much, for which I ought to be humbled in the dust; my direct and positive sins are innumerable, my negligence in the Lrd’s work has been great, I have not promoted his cause, nor sought his glory and honor as I ought, notwithstanding all this, I am spared till now, and am still retained in his Work, and I trust I am received into the divine favor through him. I wish to be more entirely devoted to his service, more completely sanctified and more habitually exercising all the Chrstn graces, and bringing forth the fruits of righteousness to the praise and honor of that Savior who gave his life a sacrifice for sin.” 

Three years later, Carey’s tombstone would read as follows:

“A wretched, poor, and helpless worm, on thy kind arms I fall.” 

This humble self-assessment by the “father of the modern missions movement” may surprise us, for as Akin points out, “William Carey may have been the greatest missionary since the time of the apostles”. However, Carey’s words remind us that even those who are used by Gd in remarkable ways are used, not due to their own ability, but rather in spite of their inability.

 All is of grace.

Why do you want to make disciples?

Have you ever asked yourself that question? The answer is incredibly important.

As followers of Jesus Christ, we should be focused on making disciples. But if we don’t do it with the right motives, we are wasting our time. Worse yet, we could be doing more harm than good. Ministering to other people has been a deadly trap for seemingly godly people throughout the ages. If God cared only about outward appearances and religious activities, then any effort toward ministry would please Him. But God tells us repeatedly that He cares more about the heart than the externals.

If God cared only about religious activities, then the Pharisees would have been heroes of the faith. They were continuously engaged in ministry: they vigorously pursued outward demonstrations of godliness; they made sure the people around them kept themselves holy, and they diligently taught the law of God. And yet the Gospels present the Pharisees as villains. Jesus’s harshest words were reserved for these religious overachievers:

This people honors me with their lips,
     but their heart is far from me;
in vain do they worship me,
     teaching as doctrines the commandments of men. (Matt. 15:8–9)

The Pharisees devoted their whole lives to religious activity. They must have seemed so impressive to the people around them. Yet Jesus came along and declared that it was all in vain! An important theme that runs throughout Scripture is this: “The LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart“ (1 Sam. 16:7). Clearly, God wants us to pursue certain actions, but as we put God’s commands into action, our motivation makes all the difference.” (39-40)

Making disciples is obviously a good thing, and we should desire to obey God in this matter. But as Francis Chan and Mark Beuving point out above, our motives for doing so must be right.

Everything we do in service to God should be done out of love for Him and a love for others (Matt 22:36-40). Making disciples isn’t a way of earning God’s favor or getting another notch on your spiritual belt. It is the fruit of knowing, trusting, and loving the God who has revealed Himself supremely in Jesus Christ. To be sure, this won’t always be easy, nor will we always “feel” like doing it; Satan, sin, and selfishness still seek to pull us away from doing God’s will. But at the end of the day, disciples of Jesus should desire to see others come to know and love our great Savior. And Christ has promised to be with us in this task (Matt 28:20).

"If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that HE Our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:26-27

What does my life look like in relation to what HE calls us to? My religion has been worthless and honestly I have only seen glimpses of pure and undefiled religion in my life. My life has looked more like a garbage dump than a Temple of the Most High. Oh what a wretch I am and these are only 2 verse of this book...the shoe leather of the gospel. I have been deceived to believe that my life was normal, reality. What HE has shown me is that this...this is reality. His Reality. 

What does true and pure religion look like? 
A bridled tongue: being quick to listen and slow to speak. Pry for me as I turn over the reigns of this evil tongue of mine to The One Who can bridle it and control it just like He controls my life.
Visiting orphans and widows in afflictions: Pry for me as I seek to make my commitment at the farm more of what HE desires. I am not sure what that will look like but that is what I desire.
Keeping myself unstained and unpolluted from the world: Pry for me as He convicts me of areas of disobedience to His Commands and obedience to the normalcy of the world. Pry this verse over me as I allow Him to reveal these areas of pollution in my life, deep in my life and allow Him to clean them through this beautiful and painful process of sanctification. "I will not set before my eyes ANYTHING that is worthless." Psalm 101:3.

I long to be mature, complete, not lacking anything. I desire to humbly plant His Words of Truth in my life. I desire to look intently into His Perfect Law and allow it to change me. I want my religion that He accepts; pure and faultless. Pry that HE will give me the faith in His Sovereignty and that HE will be my Satisfaction and I will not want.

And you? How can I be pryng for you? How has HE used these verses to speak to you?