encouraging article

a cool article about Matt Chandler and his recent battle with a brain tumor.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35086396/ns/health-cancer//

lots of life happenings

I have so much to say...in the past week, my grandmother has been diagnosed with breast cancer, the Lord has opened doors for a trip to Haiti, and I have experienced the power of the body of Christ in a new and profound way.

I feel like I need to make a book of all of the emails and phone calls I've gotten in the past week of people promising to pray and support me through my grandmother's battle with this cancer and my somewhat spontaneous trip to Haiti...it's been incredible the amount of support that has flooded in in such a short amount of time and the way that I have felt engulfed by the love of Jesus through the community that He has given me.

this morning at my mom's church (www.savannahchristian.com), the sermon was about international missions and how the Lord uses us to cover the earth with His glory...this church is passionate about what God is doing overseas and its members have their hands in countless missions around the world...it's so encouraging to hear the truths throughout Acts about God's heart for missions and His plan to use us to further His kingdom "to the ends of the earth." Quite timely considering I'm 6 days away from embarking on what I'm sure will be one of the most memorable 2 weeks of my life thus far..

I'm going to Haiti in 6 days. Hopital Sacre Coeur (that's French for Sacred Heart Hospital) in a town called Milot in the North of Haiti. this is a video about the founding and the day-to-day operations of the hospital under normal circumstances...I'm sure life will look a little different in the aftermath of the earthquake..

Hôpital Sacré Coeur from Crudem Foundation on Vimeo.

God has made it clear that He wants me in Haiti for 2 weeks, so I'm going. and I can't wait to see what He has planned for our time there! I pray that He is glorified in a mighty way through our interactions with people and our worship of Him...pray for us!

loving my camera.

i love my camera. and i love stealing people's children and playing with them. and i love community.

today

life aspirations:
1. spend time with Jesus
2. exercise
3. take my dog to the dog park
4. read


at prayer this morning someone told me I sounded very John Piper-ish. I'm not sure what she meant by that but, since he is a godly man who is passionate about the sovereignty of God in all things and the idea that God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him, that might be one of the greatest compliments I've ever gotten. I pray that I would even begin to have an impact for the kingdom like his and that I would internalize and live out of Truth and a deep-seated trust of a steadfast, faithful God the way that he does.

today was relationally wonderful. those of you who know me, are probably wondering "oh gosh, how many people did she manage to hang out with today?" ha! I babysat Merritt and Ian this morning which included a walk with Alison and time chatting with Sarah. Then, I went to lunch with Katie which was encouraging and refreshing as always. Then, I drove to Cary where I hung out with Ms. Darcie and learned a new game called "Dominion." Then, I went to the Jacksons where I ate pizza with the boys, played for a couple hours, and snuggled with Camille (check out the pics on the last post). and post bedtime, Olivia and I got such sweet time to talk and just know more of each other. it was such a blessing...I am continually amazed at the people that God gives me and I'm overwhelmed with joy because of it!

more of my sweet kids..

oh, Josh..

Jordan, the little artist

sweet, sweet Camille

I love the families the Lord has blessed me with...I'm so thankful..

haiti

so, for the past 24 hours, I've been researching ways to get to Haiti. I never thought that I had a heart for disaster relief until 2 days ago when the Lord just really put Haiti on my heart and I started to pray. Since then, I have just felt the Lord calling me to find a way to go. I don't know what I can do to help but I'm committed to exploring the options and being open to do what it takes to get there. It's been a long time since the Lord has laid something so heavily on my heart. So, pray for that...that He would open doors and that I would listen to Him..

I'm going to visit camp on Sunday...I can't wait! you know how sometimes you just get that feeling, when you haven't been for a while and you just need a camp fix...well, if you're camp family, you know what I mean :)

tomorrow is going to be a reading day...I'm gonna read, eat lunch with Amy, read some more, and then possibly play frisbee golf! sounds like a great day..

I know I already mentioned this, but my heart is so burdened for Haiti...I can't even make it through one blog post without thinking about it and praying for the people there, the relief effort, and that God would make Himself known and heal the land...God is a healer (I have it written on my ankle) and He loves to heal all kinds of things, hearts, bodies, cultures, relationships, lands, nations...I don't know how He's gonna do it, but I know He can...and I pray that He lets us put our hands in...

pray with me. a lot.

a change in Perspective?

tonight, I started Perspectives...it's a 15 week course on missions and the way that God is establishing His kingdom throughout the world...it is going to be AWESOME! I'm already challenged and I've only been to one class...I did kind of think at multiple different times tonight..."Lord, what are you going to call me to as a result of this class?"...because I know He's not a God that teaches us things and broadens our world views for us to sit at home and think about it.

I'm sure I'll be writing about what I'm learning...tonight, the theme was how God's heart is for missions from the beginning of Genesis to the end of Revelation and He loves to let us in on it.

"God has a wonderful plan to sum up all things under His Son as Lord and to glorify His name among the nations for all ages to come. And, He loves you enough to give you a strategic place in it." -David Bryant

chew on that for a few minutes.

I'm challenged to pray. a lot.

I don't see my best friends every day but there's something about one of them being in another country that makes me miss them more. I was telling a friend today, though, that it's pretty amazing how many nations have been impacted by my group of friends...brothers and sisters that I know on a heart level are sharing the gospel all over the world and that is great news!

praise the Lord that He is the one who accomplishes these things...to Him be the glory!