wordspread

"It wasn't what I expected."  __________________ But, I've grown more than I probably would have otherwise. You know how you have to plow a field and rip it up into lots and lots of pieces before you can plant it? Have you ever felt like what you're going through is like a plow on the field of your life? Yep. That feeling. You need the plow, you need the seeds, and you need the rain if you ever want to see growth. Trust the gardener. His name is Jesus.  __________________ "I thank you, Lord, for giving me roses, while I'm learning to praise you for the thorns." - You Are Good , Promise II Album  __________________

"Instead, you ought to say, "if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that." -James 4:15 __________________ The past week has been a constant reminder that I cannot make my own plans. It has been a week of needing to be flexible. At almost every turn, I felt as if I had been stuck between a rock and a hard place. I had to make some difficult choices. I had to give up what I had planned, what I wanted, and where I thought I was going. I had to hold to my convictions, stand up for what I believe in, and trust God to further His kingdom through all the difficult moments. I suppose, unknowingly, my previous post on " letting go " was preparing me to really have to do just that: let go of every aspect of my plan.  I planned  to be traveling to Washington DC with my Dad earlier this week, to meet my Kenya-bound missionary team. I planned  to be putting lots of Bibles in my checked bag (thanks to some amazing friends and family who gave me Bibles to bring

The fall is such a beautiful season, full of vibrant colors and brisk air. The colorful leaves are an amazing reminder of so many truths. One reminder in particular stands out to me this morning: In the fall, the trees are "letting go" of the leaves, and only at this point do the leaves turn into a stunning array of fall colors. It is a fantastic reminder of how there is beauty in surrender (see my  previous post  for more on this topic!).  __________________ "Where I live, autumn is an incredibly beautiful time of year because trees illustrate how beautiful things can be if they let go of them, speaking of the leaves. The beauty [...] is magnified when we let go of our will and our independence and choose to gel with the life of team ministry." - Jack Hempfling, Before You Go __________________ Our lives are, in fact, a lot like the life of the tree in the fall. We must surrender, or "let go" of our "leaves," allowing God to turn our lives into

A dog on a leash. It sees something it wants and runs toward it. The leash gradually tightens... and all of a sudden, the dog is quite effectively reminded of the boundaries to which it belongs. Finding itself upside down, on the ground, and still very connected to its leash, the dog catches its breath. Yet, the dog makes this mistake over and over. You would think it would learn one of these times, right!?  Sometimes, my heart feels like that dog on its leash. I run to the limitations of my heart, only to find that having a leash is actually a very good thing. The leash is there to keep me from harm - to keep my life from being hit by a car, from getting lost, etc. Even when the reminder hurts, every time I overstep my limits I am reminded that freedom starts within constraint. I must learn to be content within the limitations of my freedom, because it is only in that limitation that true freedom can be found.  __________________ "Freedom is not so much the absence of restriction

It was the spring of 2020, and my entire world was changed. Perhaps you can relate to that statement? As college students, we had just been sent home from campus to finish off our semester entirely online. It was a stark contrast from being on spring break orchestra tour with over 40 individuals... and then all of a sudden, to see none of those friends for months. My prayer life was admittedly struggling, though I was still attempting to pursue God in the midst of the crazy. My "rhythm" no longer existed, and I was working hard to remain thankful. Yet, it was during this time that God gave me the most amazing reminder that prayer MATTERS.  Every year, the University of Northwestern does a week called the "week of prayer and service." It consists of a 24/7 prayer chain, service projects, and other outreach opportunities. The outreach projects looked a little different that spring with being online, but I decided I had nothing better to do than sign up for a slot of t

Just "getting my feet wet" turned from taking one college class into graduating nursing school two and a half years earlier than I expected to. When you have the opportunity to wet your feet, do it. You never know where God will lead you when you take a step of faith. Sometimes, getting your feet wet is what will actually make it so you're standing on dry ground. Let me explain: In Joshua 3:8 - 4:24, we find the story about when God held back the waters of the Jordan river. God told the priests to put their feet in that river. They had to take action; they had to do something. Would they obey or would they stand still? God was ready to move. Yet, they had to first obey a simple command: " get your feet wet ."  At first it seems like something small and insignificant that these men simply were being asked to put their feet in the river. Yet, the passage makes a point to say that at this particular time of the year, the Jordan river "overflows all of its ban

Aboard an airplane, bound for any destination, the words "prepare the cabin for departure" are heard overhead. You buckle your seatbelt. Take a deep breath. You look out the window. You place your belongings out of the way, removing clutter from the surrounding area. You prepare yourself for the beautifully exhilarating, jolting moment where you will find yourself suddenly airborne. Similarly, in life we experience seasons of preparation. Imagine yourself as the cabin of the airplane. How do you need to intentionally prepare your heart for what is inevitably coming "next" in your life? What clutter do you need to remove from your life to be ready to clearly embrace the next season? Are there safety measures you need to take before you go? Look out the window to see where you are; to see how far you've come, and to familiarize yourself with the current weather. So often we look to the future without being thankful for the past, and without recognizing the present

In every season, there's a story... ...and everyone has a story worth sharing.  This is part of mine.  Lord-willing, I'm going to Kenya! For about two weeks, beginning on December 27th, my team of about 25 individuals will be partnering with a local orphanage in Kijabe, Kenya.  While there, we will serve the local community, partnering with missionaries and organizations who are in Kenya long-term, with the primary goal of sharing the gospel - the good news of the love of Jesus! I want YOU to be a part of my trip in two ways:       1. Pray! Pray for me, for my team, and that God would be glorified in all things.      2. Help me fill a suitcase with Bibles to bring to Kenya! #spreadtheword If you have an extra minute, take some time to pray. Join me in the mission field of life on your knees. The kitchen table, your living room, your couch, your car.... these are all places in the mission field. No one place is better than another, and no calling is higher than another, because

Emotions are like flowers. They grow, bloom, flourish, and fade.  Emotions must be taken care of carefully, just like flowers. Emotions are not inherently sinful. Yet, emotions, when they are at their height, bring you into a state of vulnerability: physically and spiritually. Emotions lead to action, and therefore, must be recognized as a critical part of your life and health to keep in check. Every new emotion you experience is an invitation into a new place in the heart of God. But also, every emotion you experience is a unique opportunity for the devil to play his hand in your life. Emotions tempt you to act out of your feelings rather than your faith. Faith lasts. Feelings don't.  Every emotion, therefore, should first be processed in prayer.  Part of living a life "worthy of the calling you have received" (Ephesians 4) is keeping in tune with your emotions. As you learn to be more in tune with your emotions, you will learn to be more in tune with the heart of your h