T-minus 6 days

Hey there bloggies! Today starts the 6 day countdown until my departure for Bible College...

CrAzY!!!!!!!!

I have fasted and prayed to see if this is God's will for me, and the answer was YES, I should go. So, I'm going! I don't know anyone out there, (except for 2 family members I have not met about an hour away in either direction) and I don't know my roomies, my classes, my schedule, nothing.

*yikes*

But I know that God will use this time for me to grow in Him, and learn new things, including His will for my life!! I'm constantly reminded during this preparation to leave that God reveals His will to us like a lantern, a.k.a NOT a flashlight!! We only get one step at a time :) Patience is something I am learning, and learning fast.

(was that ironic? I can't really decide)

Anyways, I am looking forward to sharing my experiences with you all as I journey, and I will blog lots while I'm out there about the stuff I'm learning, the people I'm meeting, the things I'm doing, the places I'm going, the food I'm eating, and the clothes I'm wearing (duh, I had to include fashion somewhere!).

Prayers would be GREATLY appreciated as I prepare to leave my home town and the people I have known for my entire life to go someplace totally alien. Thank you because I know you will pray!❤

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Luke

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

2 Timothy 2:1-3

You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. 2 And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

This really spoke to me in these 2 concepts:

• The Lord privileged to be able to serve Him & others. 
• The grace God gave us, we have to show to others

              ~ Especially on the job site, grace is very much the key to keeping peace with fellow workers. 

We must endure hardship, it's with Christ and for others. 

Don't let Satan get into your mind during these hardships. 

*endure hardship and be ready to preach the Word*

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Travis

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

Colossians 3:23-25;  4:2-6*


And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ. But he who does wrong will be repaid for what he has done, and there is no partiality.


*Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always bewith grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.

This really spoke to me in these 4 concepts:

• We don't always have control over our situations but whatever we do, do it heartily to the Lord. 
• Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Speak what God puts in your heart, not what you put there. 
• Hesitation in speaking the Gospel could result in tragedy for the other person. We might be the only people who ever tells them about the Good News. 
• Make every conversation meaningful! Take it as an opportunity to plant a seed. 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Justin

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

1 Corinthians 2:1-5


And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.


This really spoke to me in these 3 concepts: 

• We have to allow the Spirit to work through us, or we will be doing it on our own. 
• We didn't come to New Jersey (or wherever you go) with persuasive words, we came to do a good work. Though we may not see the fruit, God will (vs 4) 
• If you think you're at the top of your game, who can teach you anything?? Don't think of yourself too highly!! 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Tom

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).

Luke 6:27-36

“But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. To him who strikes you on the onecheek, offer the other also. And from him who takes away your cloak, do not withhold yourtunic either. Give to everyone who asks of you. And from him who takes away your goods do not ask them back. And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

“But if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive back, what credit is that to you? For even sinners lend to sinners to receive as much back. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful

This really spoke to me in these 4 concepts:

• We often want to fight back and let our flesh rule but Jesus didn't do that.
• (vs 30) God blesses us everyday, how could we not give back blessings? 
• We have to tell those we love the absolute truth about the Gospel.  Here's the challenge: God called us to love everyone, right? 
• (vs 35) He is KIND to the unthankful! 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Trip Devos: Storm

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple). 


Luke 10:25-37

And behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”26 He said to him, “What is written in the law? What is your reading of it?”27 So he answered and said, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’[a] and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’
28 And He said to him, “You have answered rightly; do this and you will live.”29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”30 Then Jesus answered and said: “A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 On the next day, when he departed,[c] he took out two denarii, gavethem to the innkeeper, and said to him, ‘Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.’ 36 So which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?”

37 And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.”

Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”




This really spoke to me in these 4 concepts:

• We are called to be neighbors to people, and show mercy & love. 
• Though the Samaritan was a reject among society, he had compassion. 
• Don't get so "busy" that you walk on by. 
• The thieves well represent the world. It strips us, beats us, and leaves us for dead. Why do we still try to dabble in it??? 

Think on it! 


God bless & blog soon

Trip Devos: My Dad!

(these posts are simply taken from my notes written during the missions trip I went on. Short & simple).




Matthew 5:13-16

You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

This really spoke to me in these 2 concepts:

• We have to allow the aroma of Christ to be our smell. When we are out and about serving, we want to smell like Christ and not like ourselves.  Represent well. 
• We have the opportunity to take care of people in the emotional/spiritual part of their lives, NOT just the physical aspect. 

Think on it! 

God bless, and blog soon

Calvary Chapel Relief Work

Hey everyone, I know it's been awhile since I've posted but that's because...... I WENT ON MY FIRST MISSION TRIP!!!   That's right, 11 people and I from my home church followed God's leading to New Jersey, where Super Storm Sandy destroyed hundreds of people's homes last October.
   We had an awesome time serving the Lord, growing closer to each other, and more importantly growing closer to our Savior!

  Days 1-3 consisted of fully insulating, cleaning, and re-flooring a fellow believers home which had been destroyed.
   Day 4 consisted of the opposite: we tore out EVERYTHING from a house...sheetrock, insulation, floorboards, tile, bathroom...they had it, we gutted it.   It was sad to see, honestly. Especially since they weren't saved.      Until later.... :)

IT WAS SO COOL!!!!!  The homeowners accepted Christ as their Lord and Savior after witnessing how our teams worked together, loved God, loved each other, and just blessed them by helping them.
How awesome is that? Please pray for Edward and Nancy, and welcome them to the Kingdom of Heaven. :) I can't stop smiling and praising Jesus!!!   I had the privilege to hand Nancy a Bible, and that was so special. The look in her eyes made the biting cold, the dirty messes, the terrible smells, and the exhaustion all worth it.  God is good all the time huh?


Over the next few days I'm going to be posting the things God taught me as we did devotions as a group every day. I hope you learn from them as much as I did.

Sorry if this post is a tad bit scattered but I get so excited thinking about what happened this past week and my thoughts get all jumbled....haha I hope you can decode everything enough to see the joy filling my life from this trip.


God bless and blog soon