This past week was different from any of our weeks before this. The boys were serving over the mountain with one group while Heather and I stayed home most of the week. We spent a couple days with a youth group doing day camp, window washing, and similar projects. I worked at Pardue Mobile Home Park, a different type of location from what I've been serving in. Up to this point I've served in resort areas where the children are all on vacation, but the mobile home park is low income children of this area, exactly where my heart and passion is. I was told several weeks ago there was the potential of doing some nutrition related things in this mobile home park, so I was excited to get to serve there this past week and get my face in the community to hopefully begin to build some trust in the people there if there should be an opportunity to work with them in that capacity. I get to return there this week as well!
God had some things He wanted to teach me this week. It started Tuesday night with our team Bible study. Keith talked about not being hesitant; be willing to give it all up to go big for Jesus. I've been wrestling with this, because I desperately want to do that, to say yes to Him, do whatever He asks, and not walk away from Him after He tells me to sell all my possessions with my head hung low. But I'm not exactly sure what that looks like or where I go from here, from this summer. On Wednesday, Heather and I got to go over the mountain, meet the group over there, and spend the night in a hiker hostel called the Blueberry Patch owned by this wonderful couple Gary and Lennie. Lennie has so much joy all over her face. It was very inspiring to me. I would love to have that kind of confidence, joy, and love of Jesus pouring so obviously out of me onto all the people I come in contact with. And she had much wisdom to share as well. I liked when she said, "You just have to look at life like an adventure. When you're on adventure, you never get upset. You just laugh about the problems, and find a way through." What a great attitude. No wonder joy overflows from her. On Saturday in my quiet time, I read about not having a divided heart. Psalm 86:11 says, "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name." To quote Beth Moore, "we'll never be men and women after God's own heart with half-hearted devotion. A heart wholly devoted to God is a heart like His." I also heard some really great songs by a group called According to John this weekend talking about how we as God's people need to be so in love with Him others can see it written all over us, and how we shouldn't hold anything back from Him; not our dreams, not our plans. He's writing the story and it will turn out so much better if we release the pen to Him. I've decided I want to be God's girl over and above anything else, and so now I just wait patiently and listen for His direction. Maybe someday I can be like Ms. Lennie with so much joy and wisdom to share.
The week ahead should be interesting. We have 120 youth here for Youth on Mission. My prayer is for God to move in a big way in this county this week. We're going to be spread out all over the place, with the potential to impact thousands of lives through our carnival's tomorrow and day camps and servant ministry projects the rest of the week. Please be in prayer for this week that God will be glorified, seeds will be planted and watered, everyone will have the energy they need, each person will be focused, and that we will get to see God move.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Speechless and in awe
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak
I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
This was the first song I heard on my way to work one day this week right after receiving some really interesting news, and described how I was feeling perfectly. You see, this week was supposed to be one of our most relaxed weeks, and instead it started off with a bang, the same way that last week ended. Last week ended with sad news from back home and a circumstance at work I could have done with out, of which I believe will serve its own purpose, if only to endear the Damron's to me even more. With the news from home, it was hard this week, knowing my family could use my help, and I wasn't there to give it. This week has given me much to think about and taught me some things about myself as well. Our ministry this week was with a family group. With this group, Colton, Matt, and I led a daycamp. As much as I enjoyed getting to know this family and working with them, through my time with them, I learned some important lessons about myself. There was one incident in particular this week that upset me a little, mostly with myself for not being capable of being disciplinarian/firm enough. From this, I learned again this is a weakness of mine that I would like to work on this summer.
In addition to these things, I received some exciting job opportunities this week to consider for the fall, all the while knowing I have a job and family to return home to. I'm not sure where all these developments are going to lead me to, but I'm now standing at a place with many choices in the road, and faced with the decision of which one to choose...an extremely tough decision for sure. So if you can all be praying for what God would have me to do I would appreciate that a great deal. I'm not worried, because God always sees fit to give me a word from Him just when I most need it, and I've seen His hand all over the place this week. I know it's all in His hands, and just in case I had any doubts, on Wednesday I read this right in the midst of learning all the options available to me for the future (based on Jeremiah 29:11-13): "Do you love Christ? Do you long to please Him with all your heart? Then remember this: God's delays aren't God's denials. He has you in a holding pattern for His holy purpose. God is preparing something wonderful for you. He doesn't want you to settle for something less than the optimum for your life and work" (Taken from Adrian Rodgers). I feel as if perhaps I'm starting to come out of the holding pattern, and God is beginning to show me what that "something wonderful" is that He has planned for me. In addition, my dear friend asked me a very pointed question this week. She said, "Do you serve a small God, Joanna?" Such a great reminder! No, I most certainly don't. All these things serve to remind me not to worry, God's got it all in control. And although the future after this summer is fuzzier than ever all of a sudden, I know it's going to be far better than I can even ask or imagine.
And the funny thing is it's okay
The last thing I need is to be heard
But to hear what You would say
[CHORUS]
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
Word of God speak
I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice
[REPEAT CHORUS 2x]
I'm finding myself at a loss for words
And the funny thing is it's okay
This was the first song I heard on my way to work one day this week right after receiving some really interesting news, and described how I was feeling perfectly. You see, this week was supposed to be one of our most relaxed weeks, and instead it started off with a bang, the same way that last week ended. Last week ended with sad news from back home and a circumstance at work I could have done with out, of which I believe will serve its own purpose, if only to endear the Damron's to me even more. With the news from home, it was hard this week, knowing my family could use my help, and I wasn't there to give it. This week has given me much to think about and taught me some things about myself as well. Our ministry this week was with a family group. With this group, Colton, Matt, and I led a daycamp. As much as I enjoyed getting to know this family and working with them, through my time with them, I learned some important lessons about myself. There was one incident in particular this week that upset me a little, mostly with myself for not being capable of being disciplinarian/firm enough. From this, I learned again this is a weakness of mine that I would like to work on this summer.
In addition to these things, I received some exciting job opportunities this week to consider for the fall, all the while knowing I have a job and family to return home to. I'm not sure where all these developments are going to lead me to, but I'm now standing at a place with many choices in the road, and faced with the decision of which one to choose...an extremely tough decision for sure. So if you can all be praying for what God would have me to do I would appreciate that a great deal. I'm not worried, because God always sees fit to give me a word from Him just when I most need it, and I've seen His hand all over the place this week. I know it's all in His hands, and just in case I had any doubts, on Wednesday I read this right in the midst of learning all the options available to me for the future (based on Jeremiah 29:11-13): "Do you love Christ? Do you long to please Him with all your heart? Then remember this: God's delays aren't God's denials. He has you in a holding pattern for His holy purpose. God is preparing something wonderful for you. He doesn't want you to settle for something less than the optimum for your life and work" (Taken from Adrian Rodgers). I feel as if perhaps I'm starting to come out of the holding pattern, and God is beginning to show me what that "something wonderful" is that He has planned for me. In addition, my dear friend asked me a very pointed question this week. She said, "Do you serve a small God, Joanna?" Such a great reminder! No, I most certainly don't. All these things serve to remind me not to worry, God's got it all in control. And although the future after this summer is fuzzier than ever all of a sudden, I know it's going to be far better than I can even ask or imagine.
Friday, June 17, 2011
What if we loved like Jesus, running to the ones that need us?
God has been showing me in the last week how to look at things through His eyes, and I'm starting to find a heart that looks upon the people around me in America that makes me want to get on my knees in prayer for so many things. My team mates and I listened to a sermon on Anguish by Pastor David Wilkerson. The mindset is just so different from the way we do things, but I realized I don't want to just be concerned for the people around me. I want to put some action and prayer behind those concerns. This was all sparked by those crazy kids from Dawson Street who could go from sandwich hugging after river clean up to make sure I was good and wet on to an awesome time of worship later that evening and who then surrounded me with so much love when it was time to say good-bye.
This week has been interesting as well as my team and I led our own day camp, and getting to see God answer prayer through allowing plans to flow smoothly together and bringing us children to share with. Also this week, it has been neat to see, in the little time I got to spend with the youth group from Friendship Baptist, how willing they are to share the gospel. They're not afraid, just like Joshua 1:9 tells us not to be. And through their dramas, I was reminded again how important it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, especially with their signing to the song from Third Day about God giving rest for the weary, hope for the hopeless, love for the broken heart, mercy and healing, He'll meet us wherever we are. I don't know what all this means for my future, but as God spoke to me in quiet time this week from Exodus 13 reminding how often I complain/worry about my circumstances, not understanding what is going on behind the scenes, when all the while God's hand of mercy and grace is protecting me and guiding me. So I'm trying to be thankful for delays and waiting, and trying to trust Him for His timing, all the while keeping focus to serve as I go.
This whole experience has been such a blessing. It's interesting how you think you go to do missions to serve others and end up being so blessed beyond measure in the process.
Continue to pray for us as we reach out each week. Lives are being touched and changed through the work God is doing. I pray that God will use my team to impact Helen, GA in such a way that it will never be the same.
This week has been interesting as well as my team and I led our own day camp, and getting to see God answer prayer through allowing plans to flow smoothly together and bringing us children to share with. Also this week, it has been neat to see, in the little time I got to spend with the youth group from Friendship Baptist, how willing they are to share the gospel. They're not afraid, just like Joshua 1:9 tells us not to be. And through their dramas, I was reminded again how important it is to be the hands and feet of Jesus, especially with their signing to the song from Third Day about God giving rest for the weary, hope for the hopeless, love for the broken heart, mercy and healing, He'll meet us wherever we are. I don't know what all this means for my future, but as God spoke to me in quiet time this week from Exodus 13 reminding how often I complain/worry about my circumstances, not understanding what is going on behind the scenes, when all the while God's hand of mercy and grace is protecting me and guiding me. So I'm trying to be thankful for delays and waiting, and trying to trust Him for His timing, all the while keeping focus to serve as I go.
This whole experience has been such a blessing. It's interesting how you think you go to do missions to serve others and end up being so blessed beyond measure in the process.
Continue to pray for us as we reach out each week. Lives are being touched and changed through the work God is doing. I pray that God will use my team to impact Helen, GA in such a way that it will never be the same.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Because of His Love
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Saturday, June 4, 2011
Work while it's day
Ok, so some of ya'll requested a blog, so I thought I'd give it a try. (And turns out this is going to be the best way for me to communicate, because cell service is real sketchy for me.)Where to begin...? So much has happened in the last two weeks.
My adventures began early Monday morning May 23 as Mom and Dad in one car, and I in another set out for them to lead me down to Toccoa, GA for orientation. After about 12 hours, we finally made it to the conference center late. As the drive kept going on and on, I began to wonder if were ever going to make it there and if I was even doing the right thing by coming. I've just finished reading the book Radical by David Platt, and I've felt convicted that I need to go, and I need to share Jesus. I need to stop doing what is easy and comfortable. I felt really certain God was calling me to come, yet suddenly I was filled with doubt, because Satan is the father of lies, and as humans we're prone to listen to them. However, once I finally arrived and began to listen to the speaker talk about removing distractions and serving God, and after we were released for the night to go to our rooms and I began to get to know my teammate and roommate, Heather, I began to feel reassured I was where I was supposed to be. The next day, I had a chance to get to know my teammates even more, and with the bond that was growing already, I began to believe Colton, Matthew, Heather, and I were going to make a great team. I could sense this was all by the hand of God with much prayer going into this summer in advance on behalf of each of my teammates, and by Keith and Stephanie, our supervisors (both of whom are just as wonderful as my team). In addition, God chose to already start getting me out of my comfort zone by helping lead worship our last morning there. Along with that, I got to meet many of the other summer missionaries who are serving all over GA this summer, and I really enjoyed that, because it allowed me to see the work they will get to do and the impact we can have together on the state of GA this summer. They also gave some interesting stats about GA that I found intriguing: something like GA has a population of about 9 million people with about 4 million living in Atlanta alone. All of this just impressed upon me how God wants to impact this state this summer.
After orientation ended Wed, my team and I made the trip to Helen, GA where I am serving for the summer. We began our own team orientation for the next few days after arrival. The first day, Heather and I had our first experience of the types of things you think of when you're being a summer missionary. I went to open up the freezer door, and looked down to find the back end of a rat hanging out underneath it. Fortunately it was already dead, and Colton was such a good sport and carried it outside for us...but it left us with this fantastic stink for several days. Saturday we did our first outreach at a BBQ festival. Our task was to watch the jump houses and talk with the people there. Saturday was also my first day working at Damron's gift shop. I will be working there four evenings a week as a cashier. I've really enjoyed getting to know the family, and I've also enjoyed talking with the customers. I'm so thankful God has placed me at this shop this summer, and the family atmosphere is so similar to working at My Daddy's Cheesecake, I felt comfortable right away.
There's so much more to share, but I'll leave it with that for now. I'm so excited about the opportunities to come, and we have a packed week ahead.
Going with God each step of the way.
My adventures began early Monday morning May 23 as Mom and Dad in one car, and I in another set out for them to lead me down to Toccoa, GA for orientation. After about 12 hours, we finally made it to the conference center late. As the drive kept going on and on, I began to wonder if were ever going to make it there and if I was even doing the right thing by coming. I've just finished reading the book Radical by David Platt, and I've felt convicted that I need to go, and I need to share Jesus. I need to stop doing what is easy and comfortable. I felt really certain God was calling me to come, yet suddenly I was filled with doubt, because Satan is the father of lies, and as humans we're prone to listen to them. However, once I finally arrived and began to listen to the speaker talk about removing distractions and serving God, and after we were released for the night to go to our rooms and I began to get to know my teammate and roommate, Heather, I began to feel reassured I was where I was supposed to be. The next day, I had a chance to get to know my teammates even more, and with the bond that was growing already, I began to believe Colton, Matthew, Heather, and I were going to make a great team. I could sense this was all by the hand of God with much prayer going into this summer in advance on behalf of each of my teammates, and by Keith and Stephanie, our supervisors (both of whom are just as wonderful as my team). In addition, God chose to already start getting me out of my comfort zone by helping lead worship our last morning there. Along with that, I got to meet many of the other summer missionaries who are serving all over GA this summer, and I really enjoyed that, because it allowed me to see the work they will get to do and the impact we can have together on the state of GA this summer. They also gave some interesting stats about GA that I found intriguing: something like GA has a population of about 9 million people with about 4 million living in Atlanta alone. All of this just impressed upon me how God wants to impact this state this summer.
After orientation ended Wed, my team and I made the trip to Helen, GA where I am serving for the summer. We began our own team orientation for the next few days after arrival. The first day, Heather and I had our first experience of the types of things you think of when you're being a summer missionary. I went to open up the freezer door, and looked down to find the back end of a rat hanging out underneath it. Fortunately it was already dead, and Colton was such a good sport and carried it outside for us...but it left us with this fantastic stink for several days. Saturday we did our first outreach at a BBQ festival. Our task was to watch the jump houses and talk with the people there. Saturday was also my first day working at Damron's gift shop. I will be working there four evenings a week as a cashier. I've really enjoyed getting to know the family, and I've also enjoyed talking with the customers. I'm so thankful God has placed me at this shop this summer, and the family atmosphere is so similar to working at My Daddy's Cheesecake, I felt comfortable right away.
There's so much more to share, but I'll leave it with that for now. I'm so excited about the opportunities to come, and we have a packed week ahead.
Going with God each step of the way.
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