Blessed Assurance

I cannot say enough about how divine this trip has been. Traveling across 11 states, talking to passionate college students and seeing my teammates from Cambodia has been a graceful act of God. This is a very exciting time for YouthHOPE and the NMSI team.  God is sending people to the harvest field.  

The past month I have been reading through Jeremiah, a prophet of the Old Testament who was called to be God’s voice of truth to the tribes of Israel in his early twenties.  I continue to relate with Jeremiah, and how inadequate he felt every second of his ministry.  However, time and time again, God uses Jeremiah to reach his people, regardless of how insufficient he felt.  

A few days ago I read a verse that seemed to pop out of the page at me…

“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” – Jeremiah 29:7

City after city and town after town… traveling far from home... Katie and I have had so many opportunities to do just this… “to seek the welfare of the city” and “to pray to the Lord on its behalf.” Last week as I sat in church, the minister talked about how we are exiles and sojourners in a foreign land.  WE ARE PART OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.  Through Christ we are called to live a life how he did.  We are sent by God to be in this world but not of it!!

Though we may not all be called "somewhere," I can guarantee you that each one of us is sent by Jesus to make disciples of all nations.  I am not just called to serve, I am called to be a servant of the King of Kings.  Knowing that I am sent by the Master keeps me always on my knees praying to him, asking him to do his will in my life. Part of being a servant is to seek the welfare of those around you.  In talking with college students, I have the incredible task of plugging them into the desires that he Lord has placed on their heart, seeking the Lord's welfare for them.  Incredible!


Be a sent people, a people of the kingdom of light!  This the a blessed assurance!! 

8 states (2,173 miles)

8 states down and 3 to go.  I can hardly believe that Katie and I are in the home stretch of our adventure across the western half of the United States.  We have been to 10 different colleges and have 3 more to go.  

God continues to bring me to my knees again and again in response to the ways he has provided workers for the harvest field.  Last week we were in Upland, Indiana at Taylor University.  We spent the whole week investing in college students, encouraging them to pursue the desires of their hearts.  Katie and I stayed in the dorms with a group of amazing girls. So, needless to say, there were some late nights full of great conversations and moments of great discipleship.  Those nights were followed by early mornings with many cups of coffee.  I learned so much through the gracious and loving hearts of these awesome college girls.  

That weekend we drove to Cincinnati to see our friends who went with Katie to Africa this summer.  We stayed with our friend Laney for the next 4 days.  We had the opportunity to see the ministries our friend Drew was involved in and celebrate answered prayers with both of them.  It was great to look back at the summer and see how God was molding and changing our lives since then.  Such an unexpected blessing that God put in our path.  :)

Yesterday we left at 6:30 a.m. and drove to Kentucky Christian University (KCU).  As soon as we got there my front passenger side tire blew!!!!  It was such an incredible blessing that we were in a safe location to come have a tow truck pick up my car and tow my car "Bonnie" to the local tire shop.  God turned what could have been a bad situation into good.  I road in the cab with the tow truck driver and we had a great conversation about God and missions.   The tire company gave us a great deal on the tire, and told us that it was there way of "helping us out in God's mission" and I was back to KCU by 11:00 a.m.! Needless to say, we had one of the best recruiting days we have had so far.  It reminded me of what I had just read in Jeremiah:

The Lord will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter says you will understand it clearly. (Jeremiah 23:20)

Now we are at Johnson University in Knoxville, TN.  We talked in a class this morning and have 3 classes tomorrow set aside for us to speak in.  

God has been teaching me a lot lately about the importance of discipleship and the value of good friendship.  I hope to have time later this week to write a blog on exactly what he has been teaching me through his word.  Love you all so very much!!! Katie and I are so thankful for your support and prayers.