Pilot

Here begins the chronicles of my greatest adventure; the rest of my life. As I gain clarity and discern what each next step is I hope that you will come along side me in prayer. God has a definite purpose and plan for me and as I stumble along the road less traveled, I have the comforting thought that I know my end goal: to glorify God. As I fix my eyes on that, I know He'll direct the means. I long to be a woman of reckless abandon for Christ, a woman who gives Him her greatest treasure, her whole heart. As we discussed theology, a friend gave me the best advice, when it came down to it, the goal is to love God most. So simple. That's what I need to focus on. "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." -John Piper. If my goal is to glorify Him, the first step is to find all of my satisfaction in Him, to love Him above all else. This is my prayer as of late.
As I prepare to depart on my mission/vision trip to France I realized how crucial every day is. I need to be using my time wisely to prepare. I want to go steeped in prayer and with a heart that is after the Lord's. So before I even leave I will be sharing my struggles, my pains, my prayer needs, as well as the victories. I will also be writing in France so you can pray for Elise and me very specifically.
Some of you have walked this last year in step with me and know all about this trip and the possibilities for my future, but some haven't so here's a little back story. Two years ago I was a completely broken person. God had become secondary, if that, in my life. Being a Christian was like a shiny necklace I wore. I had made poor decisions that had resulted in marrying a man that not only couldn't care less about honoring God, but had emotionally abused me for years. Two years ago when the physical violence started, I left. I share this so you can understand the immense healing power of God, so that He can be glorified. I share this so that you can know that in and of myself I become sad and self centered. I share this so that you understand my heart for women who are oppressed and abused, for the brokenhearted, the captives. God redeems us. He changes us, not so that we are a better version of ourselves, but a new creation. He gives purpose to our pain and that is so healing. For a year after I left I struggled with thoughts of worthlessness. I still felt the pain of being starved for weeks at a time. I still could hear the lies he would tell me. The only way to heal was to fill my mind with truth. God had a plan! He laid it on my heart to memorize a lot of scripture. I began and filled my mind with it. I did away with idle time in my head. Light dispels darkness. Through His word He is healing me. He now has work for me to do. I am an earthen vessel. I am cracked, and plain, and not glorious, but that is how it is so apparent that it is God's power, not my own. His grace is sufficient. His power is made perfect in my weakness. I now know that He designed this vessel for a life of missions. I want to share how great He is! I want people to know how He can heal! I no longer wish I could take back my past, He has redeemed me, I now look for how it can uniquely glorify Him!
Now the question is where is He sending me? Is it to France? I know it is for two weeks this July. I am going with one of my best friends, Elise with Greater Europe Mission (GEM). We will be ministering to Muslims in the city of Lille. My heart aches for the women. I am excited beyond belief to see what God does and how He moves! I am also pursuing the option to move to Paris with GEM for 1-3 years with an artist ministry. I am praying to get confirmation for that on this trip! And after that 1-3 years who knows? Perhaps I will be a missionary in France forever. Or perhaps God will call me to the Middle East, or to somewhere I haven't even thought of yet. I would love your prayers for Elise and me as we prepare and as we are over there! God is moving in Lille and I can't wait to continue to see and share what He's doing!!