In 4 days my husband and I will
be going on a life-changing experience with 7 other GlobalX team members. We’ve
been meeting together for months to prepare for the trip and to say we are
excited would be an understatement. Our destination is Skopje, Macedonia. Our
mission is to volunteer alongside a North Point Ministry Partner Church in
Macedonia as we serve the staff and children at an orphanage called “25th of
May”.
This is my second year going
to the orphanage and my husband’s third year. It’s just like what Andy has said,
“Your life will be changed when you go on a GlobalX trip.” For us it was
exactly that. A piece of our hearts has been left there every time…we’re going
back to leave a little more.
Through our excitement there is
also a very practical side of preparing for the trip for this mom of 3 boys. Lists,
lists and more lists! I have a list for
my sister, who is caring for the boys, with details about school, meals, baseball
schedule and phone numbers. I have a list for my boys with chores they can help
Aunt Elizabeth with while we’re gone…they earn money for each task, so they are
pumped! I have a long list of tasks to do before I leave. Finally, I have a
packing list of clothes, toiletries, gifts for the orphans, and much more. My
brain is full of details!
Sometimes in the pile of
lists I’m creating I forget to prepare the most important thing. The message
this Sunday was a great reminder of what needs to be the first item on my task
and packing lists. For a detail oriented person like me it was perfect timing
to hear this verse, and it is the verse I am going to memorize:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, cloth yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
In the next 4 days I want my
children to see me dressed in the character of Christ. When I run up and hug the
children at the orphanage I want them to see me clothed with the heart of
Christ. When I sit down to breakfast with our GlobalX team I want them to
experience the attributes of God flowing out of me. This is my prayer.
I would so appreciate it if
you could pray for our team, especially May 5th-14th. If you want to follow our
daily journey you can check out teammacedonia2013.blogspot.com.
Proverbs 24:3,4 (NASB)
ReplyDeleteBy wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; and by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.
This verse and I have traveled together before, but it's been a long time since I have given it intentional focus - as I approach another birthday, my thoughts are turned toward the whole of my life and the kind of "house" I want God to build in me….I have the best foundation, Jesus Christ, and I want everything built upon Him to reflect the same excellence and quality.
Praying for you Teresa...that your requests will be answered. Also for peace and protection as you trust your boys will be loved and cared for in your absence. As a mother of three grown sons...there isn't enough preparation that can be done that will ever take away that "feeling" as you travel without your family. But do it anyway! It's always a surprise what God has planned. Peace is what I pray for you to have in your heart as you go on this journey.
ReplyDeleteApril 15th I missed my scripture installment...but in the spirit of travel humor...this is what I should have posted...
Hebrews 13:24. Greet all your leaders and all God's people. Those from Italy send you their greetings.
This also reminds me that when we were in Italy we were greeted so warmly...and each tour guide we had in each city we visited...somehow shared the gospel with us as we walked through church after church...and museums...and ruins...and had paintings interpreted...all displaying the bible from beginning to end...it amazed me to think how many millions of tourists travel to Italy each year and hear these same tour guides explaining "history" to the world...and yet sharing the story of Jesus...over and over! It was so amazing!
Today is May 1st...so for this scripture choice today I have landed on an old prayer...short and simple...Fear of man leave me, Peace of God fill me! amen! This comes from Galatians 1:10
Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Philippians 2:13
ReplyDelete"It is God working in you to give you the desire and the ability to do what pleases Him."
This verse reminds me that it's God who has been working in my heart to make me willing to do things I need to do, but maybe didn't want to do. Decisions I'm making that He's given me the ability to make and are pleasing to Him. Freeing me of my "rights" to my things, my life, my future. He owns it all (including me!) and has a plan....I really have no rights at all. So hard to live out sometimes!
Donna Vonfeldt
Psalm 150
ReplyDeletePraise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty expanse. Praise Him for His mighty deeds; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.
It is easy for me to take my eyes off of God's greatness - and so, I thought it would be good to get this one front and center.
Lamentations 3:21-25
ReplyDelete"This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'Therefore I have hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him."
This passage of Scripture is framed in my parents' house, and as I was there this week I realized how much I needed this reminder! No matter what I go through, there is hope in the Lord - hope because of Him. I can trust Him to be faithful and compassionate every day!
Hebrew 13:15 (NLT) "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name."
ReplyDeleteI'm at a point in my life where I have to walk each day through faith not knowing what the next step is. During this time, God is teaching me so much and one of those things is to choose to praise Him even when I don't feel like it or think that I can.
"For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome."
ReplyDeleteJeremiah 29:11
Just makes me happy to know that the Lord cares for you and me! And he has a "plan," and it is good, and I can trust in Him completely.