I know its been a couple of weeks. A few people from my church family reminded me today that they haven't heard from me in a while. Things have been kinda crazy for me the past couple of weeks.
The 22nd was my birthday and a few of my friends planned to take me to Disneyland for three days. I had an amazing time with them. I know a lot of you are from the east coast so just to compare....Disneyland is a lot like Disneyworld, but a lot more fun and what seems like a lot more spread out. We did a lot of laughing, A LOT of walking, and a lot of sharing life with one another. I'm close with all three of them, but being in close quarters together for three and a half days, you get to know one another even better.
We were on our 8 hour drive back to Napa and I realized something as I was driving. Two of my friends were sleeping and the other one was reading his book, the music was turned down pretty low and it hit me. I'm so happy right now. I'm so happy to think that in just a few months time, I will be on a plane headed toward my destiny. I'm happy that I'm walking right toward God's purpose and plan for my life. I'm happy that I'm getting to spend these precious last moments with my friends. I'm happy that I'm getting a chance to take a break to go back east and spend some real time with my family. Most of all, I'm happy that I found a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Without Him, I wouldn't have any of these things. Without Him, I wouldn't be headed where I'm headed. Without Him, I would be trying to live my life on my own and would be failing miserably. I give God all the honor and glory for where He has brought me from and where I am headed, for who He has surrounded me with and all the support systems He has put in place for me. Without Him, I wouldn't have any of you.
They say Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. I say that can't be possible because the happiest place on earth is knowing Jesus as my personal Savior and walking in His will for my life.
Riding in the passenger seat,
Gina :)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 13, 2008
Making the Impossible....Possible
I had a pretty sweet conversation with two of my best friends last week. The three of us are in seasons of major change in our lives. We were sharing with each other how God can turn an impossible situation into a possible opportunity.
When I first made the step to knock on the door God had put in front of me to go to Africa, I couldn't see how it was going to work. I still have some school debt, lots of responsibilities here that I have had to rethink, a car to get rid of, a job that I love to leave behind, a church that has become my home that I have to leave, solid and deep relationships that won't be in my everyday life anymore...and the list goes on. I couldn't see how God was going to work all of that out, plus work out my finances to be able to get me to Africa. In my eyes, it was impossible. Even as I write this, I am still in awe of the awesome things He has done to start fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together.
This made me think of the story in Luke 18 after the parable of the rich ruler when the people who heard Jesus speak to the rich ruler asked how anyone can be saved. Jesus then told them in verse 27 that what is impossible with men is possible with God. These things may seem like an impossibility to me. Leaving all I know and everyone I love to follow the call God has put on my life, but because I have heard God's voice and obeyed His command to go, He is letting everything fall into place for me.
I realized during this conversation with my friends that in a month's time, I will solely be financially supported by God's voice in people's lives. The sacrifice you are making to obey God's voice is what I will be living off of. That is awesome and scary and exciting all at the same time. It is building my faith, giving me strength, and making me so thankful. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for who each of you are to me and for the sacrifice you are making to support me. Sometimes it may look impossible, but know that with God, all things are possible. Keep hearing and obeying God and all the pieces will fall into place.
Riding in the passenger seat,
Gina :)
When I first made the step to knock on the door God had put in front of me to go to Africa, I couldn't see how it was going to work. I still have some school debt, lots of responsibilities here that I have had to rethink, a car to get rid of, a job that I love to leave behind, a church that has become my home that I have to leave, solid and deep relationships that won't be in my everyday life anymore...and the list goes on. I couldn't see how God was going to work all of that out, plus work out my finances to be able to get me to Africa. In my eyes, it was impossible. Even as I write this, I am still in awe of the awesome things He has done to start fitting all the pieces of the puzzle together.
This made me think of the story in Luke 18 after the parable of the rich ruler when the people who heard Jesus speak to the rich ruler asked how anyone can be saved. Jesus then told them in verse 27 that what is impossible with men is possible with God. These things may seem like an impossibility to me. Leaving all I know and everyone I love to follow the call God has put on my life, but because I have heard God's voice and obeyed His command to go, He is letting everything fall into place for me.
I realized during this conversation with my friends that in a month's time, I will solely be financially supported by God's voice in people's lives. The sacrifice you are making to obey God's voice is what I will be living off of. That is awesome and scary and exciting all at the same time. It is building my faith, giving me strength, and making me so thankful. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for who each of you are to me and for the sacrifice you are making to support me. Sometimes it may look impossible, but know that with God, all things are possible. Keep hearing and obeying God and all the pieces will fall into place.
Riding in the passenger seat,
Gina :)
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Amazing....and some God thoughts
I just read over my last blog entry and became so thankful to God for where he has brought me in a short week's time. My last update informed you that I was at $600/month in pledges and at $1,645 in one-time donations. Over this weekend, I raised another $100 in monthly pledges which takes me to $700/month as well as $450 in one-time donations which brought me to $2,095. I will still need another $400 in monthly pledges and $1,500 in one-time donations however, I am very happy to inform you that my plane ticket will most likely be purchased by the end of the week. All I can say is thank you!! Thank you to God and thank you to all of you. WOW. I am overwhelmed. Keep those prayers coming!!
My official leave date will probably be September 3rd. I will let you know for sure as soon as I get my ticket bought because we are still looking for the best deal....pray for favor with the airlines because I would really love my ticket to be under $2,000.
As I've been thinking over this last weekend, which was filled with amazing God moments and confirming words from Him about my call to Africa, I realize that I have no words to describe how I'm feeling right now. Grateful doesn't even begin to explain to you how I have been feeling toward the Lord. A few months back, my Pastor spoke from a scripture passage in 2 Samuel 7 and when I started to ponder my current situation, this passage came to mind and I want to share it with you. This passage is King David's prayer after the prophet Nathan prophesied over him concerning God's promises to King David about his kingdom.
"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?" 2 Samuel 7:18-19
So I started thinking, yeah.....Who am I? Who am I that God would call me to do this amazing thing for Him? I am just a sheltered girl from a small town in western Pennsylvania. I never really had street smarts. I was a nerd and a band geek that attended theater school. I could never make up my mind what activities I wanted to be involved in while in school so I tried a little of everything. I went off to college convinced I wanted to be a chef but was unaware of what I would have to go through to make it. I spent 3 and a half years making really unhealthy decisions for myself and then moved to California, like a crazy person, chasing a dream that I wasn't even sure would work out.
Who am I, God? Is this your usual way of dealing with man? That you would take a broken young girl and make her new again? But not only that....that you would make her new AND call her not only into ministry full-time, but send her out on to the mission field to serve You in a spiritually dark place? That You would confirm over and over again through others that she is called to Africa and that there are children waiting for her specifically? God, how can this be? Who am I that You would have brought me this far AND have spoken to me about my future?
I can't wrap my mind around it, but I'm humbled to think that through it all, He is going to use me in a mighty way. He is going to take the dirty rags from my past and turn them in to bright white linen handkerchiefs for my future. I'll tell you one thing, I can't wait to see what He is going to show me when I get to the top of the next hill on this roller coaster of a life that I'm living.
Riding in the passenger seat,
Gina :)
My official leave date will probably be September 3rd. I will let you know for sure as soon as I get my ticket bought because we are still looking for the best deal....pray for favor with the airlines because I would really love my ticket to be under $2,000.
As I've been thinking over this last weekend, which was filled with amazing God moments and confirming words from Him about my call to Africa, I realize that I have no words to describe how I'm feeling right now. Grateful doesn't even begin to explain to you how I have been feeling toward the Lord. A few months back, my Pastor spoke from a scripture passage in 2 Samuel 7 and when I started to ponder my current situation, this passage came to mind and I want to share it with you. This passage is King David's prayer after the prophet Nathan prophesied over him concerning God's promises to King David about his kingdom.
"Who am I, O Sovereign LORD, and what is my family, that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, O Sovereign LORD, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign LORD?" 2 Samuel 7:18-19
So I started thinking, yeah.....Who am I? Who am I that God would call me to do this amazing thing for Him? I am just a sheltered girl from a small town in western Pennsylvania. I never really had street smarts. I was a nerd and a band geek that attended theater school. I could never make up my mind what activities I wanted to be involved in while in school so I tried a little of everything. I went off to college convinced I wanted to be a chef but was unaware of what I would have to go through to make it. I spent 3 and a half years making really unhealthy decisions for myself and then moved to California, like a crazy person, chasing a dream that I wasn't even sure would work out.
Who am I, God? Is this your usual way of dealing with man? That you would take a broken young girl and make her new again? But not only that....that you would make her new AND call her not only into ministry full-time, but send her out on to the mission field to serve You in a spiritually dark place? That You would confirm over and over again through others that she is called to Africa and that there are children waiting for her specifically? God, how can this be? Who am I that You would have brought me this far AND have spoken to me about my future?
I can't wrap my mind around it, but I'm humbled to think that through it all, He is going to use me in a mighty way. He is going to take the dirty rags from my past and turn them in to bright white linen handkerchiefs for my future. I'll tell you one thing, I can't wait to see what He is going to show me when I get to the top of the next hill on this roller coaster of a life that I'm living.
Riding in the passenger seat,
Gina :)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
