lilli 29:11

New Things

2012-01-07T22:44:00.000-08:00

I love trying new things! Getting out of the same old, same old and trying something new helps me to get a new perspective on life, find talents I never knew God gave me, and is just plain fun! Thinking back on 2011 reveals a LOT of new things for me! Some of the new things I remember are:

Moving out of my family's house for the first time

Starting nursing school (specifically doing new things like giving shots and IVs...Eeek!)

Making new friends

Re-learning to ride a bike :)

Making my own Halloween costume and going to a costume party

Joining a new church

Trying coffee (not a fan!)

volunteering at Ronald McDonald House

becoming the Disater Relief Director for Iowa Association of Nurses

trying lots of new recipes! (most recently was cinnamon glazed almonds--yummy!)

Since I love trying new things so much, I thought I'd make a list of the things I want to try in 2012. (By the way, I have noticed that most of my blog posts consist of lists...I will try to better at posting more than just lists in 2012 :) )

Be able to do 15 real push-ups and see the muscles in my arms!

Learn to cook one new, healthy recipe a week

Go to another country...I'm getting restless from not travelling!

Sew a quilt

and many more exciting things!

2011

2012-01-01T22:59:00.000-08:00

Thought it was about time I wrote on this thing again :) It's only been...ehh about 5 months give or take! In church today the pastor was talking about a passage in Psalms (I can't remember the verse, aghh!) when Moses is praying to God that His people would a new perspective on the challenges to come and a new passion for God because of all the things He had already done for them. The pastor encouraged us to make a list of all the things that God did in our lives in the past year, in order to gain new perspective and passion. So, here goes! (in no particular order)
1. I was accepted into the school of my dreams- U of I College of Nursing.
2. My nursing class is full of amazing, kind, fun students who quickly became some of my close friends and who helped me (mostly) retain my sanity during tough weeks.
3. He placed me in an amazing community of believers who are just as passionate about reaching the nations for Jesus as me.
4. He taught me how to pray.
5. He gave me people to minister to and to be ministered by.
6. My housing situation worked out beautifully in His timing and I have 5 new friends because of it.
7. I have been blessed in numerous ways by each of His beautiful daughters I am blessed to live with.
8. He blessed me with a close relationship with my family, even after moving to Iowa City.
9. He continues to work in my relationship with Bryant as we learn how to be a Godly couple on mission together.
10. All of my physical and financial needs are bountifully met.
11. We found an awesome home church where God is moving.
12. Great house church that is a huge blessing

And for some of the lessons He taught me...

13. I will not always be the best, but that is okay as long as I do MY best
14. Sometimes God is the only thing we can rely on and He does not fail us
15. The Holy Spirit moves when you allow Him to
16. God has big plans for our lives and does NOT let little things like tests or classes get in the way of that

That's all I have for now, but I'm sure there are more! Hopefully to be continued... what are some of your blessings/lessons of 2011?

I'm backkkk!

2011-09-15T15:09:00.000-07:00

Hi-ya bloggy folks! I'm back! Long time, no...type? There's been a lot of changes and craziness going on in the last 6 weeks. I don't even know where to begin...how about letting you in on the 10 Best things here in IC? (My mom always taught me if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all, so we'll stick with just the best things! ;) )

Here goes...TOP 10 Best Things! (In no particular order....drum roll please....)
1. Amazing opportunities to meet Christians with a heart for the world, like me! I feel like everyone here speaks my "language"
2. Ghurtie's Frozen Yogurt!
3. Awesome restaurants to try out (there's Indian on every block!)
4. Interesting classes
5. Meeting new people
6. Being able to get something to eat/go to WalMart/etc. at any time of the day or night (and it's not a 30 minute drive!)
7. Cute little shops
8. Tons of thrift stores!
9. Lots of fun parks, bike trails, etc.
10. Finding a great church, getting plugged in right away,and finding God's purpose for me here!

I hope your school year is starting off well. When you're having one of "those" days, when everything seems dreary, try making a list of the top reasons why the place God has you right now is great! It really does change your view and makes you a little more thankful for the ways He's blessing you. So, what are some of the great things going on right now for you?! Let me know!

On learning lessons...

2011-07-26T20:18:00.000-07:00

I feel like I deserted my blog. I was doing so well with blogging...and then I disappeared. The last few weeks have been crazyyy. It's like I have so many things I could talk about, that I don't even know where to start. I am tired (and lazy!) so I think I will just fill you in on a few of the things I've learned this summer.
*God is good ALL the time.
*Putting on sunblock after being in the sun for a few hours...is counter-productive.
*Amish people can have Mastercards and wear New Balance shoes (what is this?! haha)
*It is OKAY to be honest with God and bold in prayer.
*I learned every muscle, bone, and organ system in the human body...
*Dissecting a cat is a lot easier if you don't look at it's face when you cut it open.
*(Borrowed from church service) Silence can be deadly in relationships with God and others.
*I learned how to really pray.
*The best way to make a table you are painting shiny is to roll of the paint and brush over with a regular paint brush.
*Sometimes you don't realize how important a person is to you (or you are to them) until you are leaving.
*Missing opportunities from God really stinks.
*But He forgives us.
*When people leave messages on your home phone- they can't hear you talking, even if you're in the same room! Crazy! ;)

Freebies?!?

2011-07-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

Hey blog peeps! ;)
I am currently cleaning out my room and getting rid of lotssss of stuff. So in the spirit of reusing and thriftiness, I was thinking about giving away some freebies from the back of my closet! But, I need to know...are you up for that?! No comments...no freebies :) Let me know what you think! Details to come soon...

Inspiration

2011-07-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! :)
I believe when I reinvented this blog I promised to post more about the DIY projects I have been attempting lately. I love, love being creative and I think that comes from my mom and dad ( ). They are both creative and love redoing old things and old homes! I have loved growing up watching them re-create spaces, bringing in a feeling of home and style at the same time! After all these years, they have finally motivated me to try some of my own projects. What have I been working on, you ask? Well...
* jewelry organization "centers"--made from an old frame and some drawer pulls, and an antique rake
*pillows--lots and lots of throw pillows!
*shelves for pictures on my walls
*re-invented a vintage table and chairs
*redecorated my room
I have lots more projects up my sleeve! Pictures soon to come of all my work so far! (And of course I'll give you tips on how I did these projects for so CHEAP! and how to do it yourself...) For now, happy Wednesday and happy decorating!

Things I Love

2011-07-11T20:46:00.000-07:00

I saw this post idea on www.littlelucylu.com (great blog by the way!) and thought I'd give it a try. We all need some fun and some of the things we love on Mondays, don't we?! So... in no particular order, here are some of the things I love (besides the obvious things of my God, my amazing family, and Bryant)
-New car smell
-Really good, dark chocolate
-Travelling
-Playing with kids
-Reading a great book
-Smell of tanning lotion/coconut
-Frozen hot chocolate
-New cultures
-Being creative
-New school supplies
-Getting a great deal
-Bright colors
-Worship music
-Indian food
-Summer dresses
-Flowers, especially tulips and daisies!
-Making lists and checking things off
-The feeling when you wake up before the alarm and get extra time to sleep
-Thrift, vintage, and consignment stores
-Learning new things
Now, I've done my part...so I want to hear what some of YOUR favorite things are! I looked at my statistics, and I have 30-40 people consistently reading this blog, from every continent in the world. Know what that means? I should hear what 30-40 people's favorite things are! :)

Home Sweet HomeS

2011-07-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

This is the house I will be calling home starting in the middle of August. I am really excited about how God provided exactly what I needed at the perfect time. It is in my price range, a large house, and close to campus. I will be living with four other girls. Most importantly-two are nurses, one works at the church I plan to go to (www.parkviewchurch.org), and one works for a mission organization I was hoping to get involved with. They all love people, love Jesus, and are super neat girls! How cool is our God?! What a blessing.

This is the living room of the house that I will always call home. I am really excited about how God provided exactly what I needed at the perfect time. It is a beautiful house, in a small town, and has a living room that is perfect for family game nights. I live with my two younger brothers and my parents. Andy is a quiet, kind brother, Pete is outgoing and fun loving, Mom is the woman I want to be when I grow up, and Dad would do anything for his family. They all love people, love Jesus, and are a super neat family! How cool is our God?! What a blessing.

Summer

2011-07-06T19:18:00.000-07:00

What has my summer consisted of so far?
Lake Vermilion. Laying out. Reading. Homework. Class. Work. Bike riding. Smiling. Laughing. Playing cards. Fishing. Getting excited to move. Being sad to move. Crying. Bittersweet-ness. Iowa City. DIY projects. Iced tea. Ice cream. Grilling out. Playing with kids. Loving people. Learning.

Wishing riding a bike "was just like riding a bike"

2011-06-26T17:07:00.001-07:00

How cute is that bike?!? I have been wanting a bike to ride around campus, and this morning my parents surprised me with a new Iowa tee shirt and that adorable Cruiser bike! The only problem? I am terrible at riding a bike...(I didn't learn to ride one til I was about 9 and got a concussion in the process! haha!) It's been so long, and I don't remember how to ride it...I wish riding a bike was "just like riding a bike."

University of Iowa!

2011-06-24T18:49:00.000-07:00

Well, I have decided! In 2 months I will be moving to Iowa City! SO excited for this new adventure :)

Decisions.

2011-06-24T16:21:00.000-07:00

Decisions. I hate making decisions. Absolutely HATE it. It has been a struggle my whole life because I am always afraid of disappointment. In the morning it sometimes takes me an HOUR to decide what to wear. And, (no joke!) sometimes I will pack two lunches just in case I don't like the first thing I chose once 12oclock rolls around. It's ridiculous. And today I have to make a big decision. You know just a week ago when I posted all those things about going to Allen College, about how great it would be, and how excited I was? Well, that was before I opened a letter from the University of Iowa College of Nursing, to find that I was accepted to one of the hardest to get in to colleges in the country. Now- don't get me wrong, I'm super excited to be accepted and think it's a big honor! But...now I have to decide what I am going to do. In all honesty, I'm kind of mad at God. I thought I knew for sure what I was supposed to do, and now I have no idea. So, if you don't mind I am going to make a pros list for both colleges...
Iowa:
*college experience
*living in an apartment
*new adventures
*great program
*neat missions group to be a part of
*less expensive
*big city
*lots of new friends
*best hospitals and clinics in the area

Allen:
*closer to home
*stay at Orchard Hill Church
*not have to leave friends/family
*keep working with mission programs
*smaller school
*in my comfort zone

I don't know what to do. I think that God is telling me that either way I go, He will bless it, but I need to start to make my own decisions. Lord, help me! :) The name of this blog (29:11) is in reference to Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future." I am trying to remember that promise as I pray and think through this big decision. If you don't mind, maybe you could shoot up a prayer for me today,too? I'd really appreciate it!

On reading the classics...

2011-06-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

My dad has started reading the classics lately, and consequently motivated me to read some of the classic romance novels. So, yesterday I went to Barnes and Noble to pick out a few (they have buy two, get one free classics! :) ). I felt so dignified as I brought Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, and Wuthering Heights to the cash register. Like, I am a real reader...I don't read those silly little books that people try to pass off as true "literature". Now, some of my favorite books are Little Women and Gone With the Wind...BUT (shhhh don't tell anyone my big secret!)
for the most part I love funny, cute books, the kind that you know exactly what will happen as soon as you start reading them, but you read it anyway because it's fun. So, here's to broadening horizons and trying to enjoy books that are very different from what I normally read (and feeling very uppity doing it!) What are you going to read this summer?

Happy First Day of Summer!

2011-06-21T05:23:00.000-07:00

Today is the first official day of summer! Unfortunately, I am spending it going to class, work, my other job, and studying...but I only have 3 days of class left and then 2 full months to enjoy all the things I love about summertime! My favorite things about summer (in no particular order) are...
1. Flip flops :)

2. Reading lotssss of books

3. The LAKE!

4. Popsicles

5. Walks at night around town

6. Noooo homework

7. Laying out

8. Movies under the Moon

Hope you have a beautiful first day of summer! What are some of your favorite things??

Nursing School!

2011-06-16T20:53:00.001-07:00

I'm accepted to NURSING SCHOOL!!! And I'm SOOOO excited! :) I will be going to Allen College of Nursing in January 2012. What will I be doing until then, you ask? I'm going to be taking some classes at the community college I currently attend ( that will count off my program at Allen) and hopefully working as a CNA! What is so great about Allen???
1. It is where God has called me! He truly answered prayers and brought me to Allen!
2. It is in the neighborhood of Waterloo that is the most poverty stricken, has problems with drugs, gangs,etc- and I already have a huge heart for those people and volunteer down there all the time!
3. They have a GREAT program, affiliated with Allen Hospital.
4. It's a small campus, with great staff/facutly. One of the admissions advisors and a teacher, lead a Bible study with homeless women- that I also volunteer with! So cool!
5. There are lots of opportunities to work in free clinics and go on mission trips.
Wanna check out where I'll be? Go to: www.allencollege.edu to see pics and more!

On broken promises...

2011-06-14T18:09:00.000-07:00

Well, blogging family, I have yet again deserted my blog and broken my promise of "blogging every week!". You know, when I started this blog I had great intentions. I thought I would blog almost every day, would post all sorts of pictures and videos of the *amazing* and interesting things going on in my life, and say so many thought provoking things, I would practically change the world one blog post at a time! Well...that obviously didn't happen. You know, I think I put too much pressure on myself and this silly little blog. Sometimes the pictures of my life are rather uninteresting and mundane...and I really don't have anything world-changing to say. So, I am reinventing this blog. From now on, I am going to blog about things I love like my family and friends, God, mission work, getting great deals at local thrift stores, food/clothes/home design, and many other frivolous things. I'm going to have fun with this blog, and hope you do too! And maybe, just maybe, once in a blue moon, I will say something that brightens your day or changes one person's world in a little way. So, here's to life, love, and the pursuit of a great deal! Cheers.

(Very) Thankful Thursday!

2010-11-25T04:50:00.000-08:00

I have been extremely blessed this past year! I am excited (and thankful!) for a day to spend with family, eating good food, and remembering all the ways God has blessed us. A few of the things I am thankful for are...

*Mom and Dad who are always supportive and loving (even when I'm still living at home...changing my mind about college 1000 times... :) )

*My brothers- Andy: is my friend, teaches me what it is to be humble, serves everyone before himself, and is a young man of God Pete: makes everyone around him happy, makes me laugh all the time, and teaches me to "not be such a spaz" (haha!)

*Bryant-he's my best friend, the person who I can tell anything to, and loves me no matter what

*Church

*Extended family

*Opportunities and freedom to serve Jesus and His people

*New friends, experiences, and a new job

I hope today finds you thankful for the blessings that God has given you!

Life as I know it...

2010-10-18T12:10:00.000-07:00

My life right now is so good and I feel amazingly blessed for all the ways God is working. I really, really intend to do a better job at blogging, but who knows how well that will go... A few things going on in my life right now:
*School- guess what? I changed my mind and am going into nursing! Crazy, stressful, good change! I'm doing pre-reqs at Hawkeye right now and then not sure where I'll be in the fall.
*I was able to speak at a human trafficking awareness event at UNI. It was really good and I feel like through all the "Freedom Week" events, God really opened peoples' eyes and broke our hearts for what breaks His. I can't wait to see how He will work through the Cedar Valley to bring change to the world.
*I am praying and thinking about starting a Bible Study at Hawkeye. I have been getting more involved in campus ministry and it has been awesome. But, I feel like we need more opportunities for Hawkeye students to do outreach. So, I am planning a human trafficking awareness event there and possibly starting a "Justice and Jesus" Bible study. Please pray that I would have vision and guidance to know exactly where He wants me to go with this.
* I am going to Orchard Hill Church and LOVE it! God brought me back to this church for a reason and it has been amazing. I have been going to the young adults' Sunday School and the "11:01 service" (for college students). I am amazed at all the ways He has brought people into my life to be an encouragement and a friend in such a short amount of time.
*I am going to SAN FRANNNN for a spring break mission trip! Can you tell i'm already excited??? we will be working with Youth With a Mission. I am excited to learn more about their "Because Justice Matters" mission. I can't wait to see how they are working in the red-light areas of San Fran and what God is doing.
*God has blessed me with an amazing serving opportunity lately. This summer, a few of us from OHC, went to a park on the East Side of Waterloo every Wednesday. We were able to build relationships with kids who often do not have a positive role model at home. Now, I have also been able to partner with a church down there through OHC, help serve at Picnic in the Park, and many other things. A few nights ago I was able to help with Child Care for an event at a local school. A couple and a few other people, started an organization to provide college educations for 17 African American boys. They have family meetings 4 times a year (that's why I was babysitting), mentors for all the boys, college visits, and help in school. It is an amazing project that has the capacity to change a generation of young people. Lastly, God has given me the opportunity to work with the Youth Art Team (). We have about 20 K-12 kids that we are teaching about loving others and serving through their gifts and talents.

Life is so good!

2010-06-16T22:46:00.001-07:00

yet again i log into blog and must begin with an apology. it has been about a month since my last post, but i promise i'm going to try to do better! well, it just so happens to be a thursday again and as i'm feeling kinda bogged down/stressed i think it would be good to list off some things i'm thankful for.
1. the sun came out today after many days of rain!
2. i'm thankful for sore muscles- "Boot Camp" workout class is exhausting, but as my mom reminded me, i should be thankful i am able to run/jump/exercise as many people are not.
3. i am thankful, yet again, for bryant. he's my best friend, the person i can tell anything to, and constantly challenges and encourages me.
4. ladies' Bible study-started up again this week and it is a great way to spend time in prayer and the Word. soooo good.
5. popsicles-delicious and great in the hot weather! :)
6. my dad- as father's day is this sunday, here are a few of the reasons i am so grateful for my dad: he is a man of God and a great example, constantly puts our family first, servant's heart, he loves my mom and is an example of a Christian dad/father to my brothers, has been there for me through everything, is always there to listen/help.

listing just a few of the things i am thankful for really helps put everything in perspective. suddenly the tiring day at work, lots of homework, and the busy schedule aren't such a big deal. God is the Big Deal. i need to do a much better job of living with my focus set on Him, instead of the little details of life. i need to stop being such a perfectionist. Thank goodness for Grace.

thankful

2010-05-13T14:21:00.000-07:00

so, it would seem i am quite possibly the world's worst blogger. but...as it's thursday, i'll let you know some things i'm feeling thankful for.

*a fun night out with my small group girls...and great mexican food!
*amazing tyrone wells music that gets me through boring study halls :)
*a mom and close friend who love me, give good advice, and tell me when i just need to get it together
*a boyfriend who loves me no matter what
*the freedom we experience in the states
*antrea (a girl i met in cambodia)started college a few weeks ago, because of our amazing God and His people's generosity
*all the blessings and amazing opportunities God has given me-excited to see what these next few years will bring!

on another note...for those of you who read this, and don't yet know, i finally decided on college plans. after lots of praying (for about 3 years!!), i finally listened to what God had been saying all along. i am going to be staying here, finishing up my A.A. at hawkeye community college and transferring to UNI in January. i'm going to major in Health Promotions-with an emphasis on women's health. i never thought this would be what i would do, but it's amazing how, when we follow God's plans instead of our own, it's so much better than we can imagine. i'm so excited to start! with my degree, i'll be able to educate women on healthy lifestyles, pre-natal skills, and how to take care of young children. also, we'll learn how to set up health education programs in low-income and cross-cultural settings. it's gonna be awesome! my passion (as well as Bryant's) is to live and work among Muslim people in the middle east. there are immense health-care needs in afghanistan and pakistan, especially for women. i hope through my degree i'll be able to help with practical needs, as well as show these women the love of our Father. to prepare we're going to be praying a lot (!), reading the Bible and Qu'ran (Islam's holy book), and learning Pashto. but, i realize that our plans, are nothing compared to His and if He wants us to do something different, I will have to be okay with that too. it has been hard remembering that each day is a gift and that i need to use it to glorify Him, because i'm so ready and excited for the next stage of my life.

thursday

2010-04-14T21:50:00.000-07:00

well...it's been a while since i blogged. but, it's pretty much thursday, so i'll do another "thankful thursday." i'm thankful for...
1. a much needed night at big house and small group.
2. amazing sisters in Christ in my small group.
3. a day off of school.
4. dad picking up maid-rites in m'town :)
5. mom working so hard on graduation stuff even though she's really busy.
6. beautiful weather!
7. a few little girls at the daycare who gave me big hugs and brightened up my day.
8. safety.
9. perspectives conference.
10. an amazing best friend. and an even more amazing Best Friend (JC)
i really should put pics up...but i am not feeling overly ambitious tonight! haha. so perhaps next time. Blessed to be a Blessing, lilli

Thankful Thursdays

2010-03-17T21:30:00.000-07:00

a lady i know blogs and was telling me about "thankful thursdays." each thursday she tries to blog about things she's thankful for. i thought it was a great idea and a cool way to see how faithful God is in the big and little things. so, i'm going to try it out! (even though it won't officially be thursday for another 29 minutes)

1. i am thankful spring has finally come to iowa.
2. i am thankful for my job at the daycare and all the kids i get to work with.
3. i am thankful for bryant.
4. i am thankful for a mom who makes cooked carrots and jello cake because she knows we love them.
5. i am thankful for how God has made His plans for us perfectly clear within the last two weeks. (i'll blog more about this soon!)
6. i am thankful for my aunt pat--the most Godly, humble woman i know.
7. i am thankful for God's presence in the busyness of life.

try to think of 5 things you're thankful for today.

"spread love everywhere you go. let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." --mother teresa

Good Morning, Sunshine

2010-03-10T10:49:00.000-08:00

i hate (!) getting up in the morning. it has been even harder the past few weeks because i have been staying up later, and later each night. this morning though, takes the cake for one of the worst mornings ever. andy came into my bedroom when i was half awake and said, "lilli! what are you doing? it's 8:10!" (keep in mind we have to leave for school by 8:20) so, i jumped out of bed, thinking "if i can get ready in 20 mins. i'll only be a few mins. late." but...i had forgotten that i didn't have a car. i was supposed to ask someone to pick us up because the jeep's in the shop...but i didn't. so- i got ready in 10 minutes, and then proceeded to run to school with by backpack, 2 bags, and a winter coat. IN THE RAIN. (andy rode his moped.)

there's always a silver lining though right?
1. it makes a pretty funny story.
2. my first hour teacher is really nice and didn't count me tardy.
3. if the morning is really bad, you know the day can only get better!
4. i remembered to grab my lunch, so i got to have girl scout cookies and quesadillas for lunch.

crazy things like this happen to me all the time...who says God doesn't have a sense of humor? i hope that through seeing the bright side to funny situations and having a good attitude, people can see the Light in me!i hope that your day started out much better than mine, and we both finish it out well!

i pray...

2010-02-27T22:26:00.001-08:00

*there never comes a day that my heart doesn't cry out for the girls i met and saw in cambodia and the girls like them all around the world.
*they always know how much they are loved and i that i pray for them daily.
*that i'm able to do my part in fighting for them, here.
*i can tell stories and open up my heart to people enough to help them understand.
*God will continue to work through RH and their staff.
*perpatrators would come to justice and come to the Lord. nothing changes until the men change and the governments change.
*i don't become complacent but continue to fight unitl the last girl is freed.
*our brothers in Christ will be strong against all temptation.
*each day my love gets a little bit closer to what God's love looks like.

"To believe in a child is to believe in the future. Through their apirations they will save the world. With their combined knowledge the turbulent seas of hate & injustice will be changed. They will supply humanity with music & beauty it has never known. They will endure. To these ends I pledge my life's work." -Henry James

weird...

2010-02-21T21:46:00.000-08:00

it's almost midnight and i'm not tired at all. my body still isn't used to the time change. last night i stayed up until 3:30...i'm dreading going back to school tomorrow. don't feel like i can explain what God did or how hard the trip was. praying for Godly wisdom and clarity of thought. though it was hard, there was much good too. favorite memory-dance party with Rapha girls and seeing them worship God after all they've been through. i feel like my blogs have been random and don't quite make sense lately. kinda the way my thoughts are right now :) still trying to process everything. "i saw what i saw" by sara groves was played during one of our devos and has become my song for cambodia. check it out.

home.

2010-02-20T20:23:00.000-08:00

i'm home from cambodia. it was overwhelming and heartbreaking. i'm not sure i can fully process or understand what happened yet. the hurt i saw and emptiness that pervades that corner of the world is hard to put into words. i reacted differently than i thought i would and the trip was heavier than i could have ever expected. but i saw God at work in the lives of Rapha girls. i saw His light in the staff and missionaries there. and i am on fire to fight for His daughters. the injustice of human trafficking that i was so passionate before--now has names, faces, dreams, and desires. i've loved, hugged, talked to, and played with these girls. they're not just Rapha girls now, they're MY girls. they kept telling us to promise not to forget them, but what they don't know is, i was changed by them more than they could have been changed by me and i could never forget them. i'll post more about what we did, as well as some pictures in a few days. i miss cambodia already, but know that this is only the beginning. now that i know and love those girls, it's my responsibility to start fighting for them.

Psalm 10
1 [a]Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?

2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.

3 He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.

4 In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

5 His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.

6 He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble."

7 His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.

8 He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.

9 He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.

10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.

11 He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."

12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.

13 Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?

14 But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.

15 Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.

16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.

17 You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,

18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

cambodia!

2010-02-07T10:28:00.001-08:00

we leave in a mere 15 hours for cambodia! i can't believe how GOD has worked in such miraculous ways to make this dream a reality. here's a few ways i have already seen Him at work:
*both my youth minister and i were accepted for the trip
*HE provided the finances needed through my job, other work opportunities, and an outpouring of generosity and love from His people
*prayer support from more people than i even realized
*donations of washcloths, soap, and other necessities for the girls from people who want to show Jesus' love across the ocean
*a peaceful and anxiety-free week leading up to our trip
*amazing leaders who have a heart for the broken and encouraging emails from them
*parents who are excited for this opportunity and trust that God will keep us safe
*a burning desire in my heart to make Him known and to help stop the injustice of human trafficking

i am so excited to see how God will continue to work in and through me during and after this trip. He is doing amazing work to free these girls from their bondage and restore them to a new life in Him.

prayer requests- your prayers make more of an impact than you could ever know. a few things to pray for: safety in travels, health (a few members of the team are sick), unity of our team, open hearts and minds for our team, open hearts of the girls, prayers for people currently in the sex trade, and for the workers at rapha house.

thank you so much for your support, love, and encouragement- GOD's people have surrounded us and shown us His love more than we ever could have expected.

i will blog when we get home in two weeks about all the ways God works! it's going to be amazing, eye-opening, and heart-breaking. In HIM, lilli

"the LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." --pslam 34:18

we too, must simply wait.

2010-01-29T17:14:00.000-08:00

i'm up to genesis chapter 20. it's interesting how reading all the stories together makes you see God's plan unfold right in front of your eyes. i've read/heard many of the stories up to this point, but they have so much more meaning when they're read in order. i love seeing more of what God's heart for the nations looks like. i used to wonder why it seemed like God in the OT only cared about saving the jews and not the gentiles. but, since doing more study and taking Perspectives i have come to see that God's "chosen people" weren't better than the others. the were blessed...to BE a blessing. one of my favorite Bible verses is in genesis.

"1 The LORD had said to Abram, 'Leave your country, your people and your father's household and go to the land I will show you.
2 "I will make you into a great nation
and I will bless you;
I will make your name great,
and you will be a blessing.

3 I will bless those who bless you,
and whoever curses you I will curse;
and all peoples on earth
will be blessed through you.'" Genesis 12:1-3

GOD called abram, he obeyed, GOD blessed Abram, all the world was blessed through Him. GOD calls us, if we obey-HE will bless us, all the world MUST be blessed through us!

i've also been learning a lot from Sarah. she had been waiting all her life to have a child. but she was old and barren, so instead of trusting that God would do as He promised, she had Abram sleep with her servant and she became pregnant. if only they had waited for God's timing, the outcome would've been amazing. God still worked and His will was done, but everything would've been much better had they waited on God.
my Bible has a commentary on the bottom of the pages, and one statement that really stood out to me was, "Sometimes, we too, must simply wait." Just. Wait.

i've been having a hard time waiting for lots of things coming up. waiting to see where God will lead me next year. waiting for Bryant to get home. waiting to go to Cambodia. waiting for God's direction. sometimes it's hard to have joy and peace through the waiting. We too, must simply WAIT.

i've learned time and again that God's timing is perfect, ours is not: dominican republic trip that was cancelled. relationship with bryant. trip to cambodia. building Christian friendships. but, it's still hard to trust that God's timing is perfect. why is this? i don't know. i just don't know.

all i know is that right now, i'm called to wait patiently. to love God and others no matter what. and to be blessed to be a blessing.

"I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord" --john waller. while i'm waiting.

i pray today that while i'm waiting, i will serve, love, and worship Him.

week in review

2010-01-23T22:00:00.001-08:00

i'm up to Genesis 15 right now, and learning alot! i will do a post about what i have learned soon, but am just doing a quick update right now. one big thing i learned though is that God fulfills promises, but not always the way we expect. i suppose this is something i always knew, but it's good to have a reminder!

this week i was busy! have been working a lot at the daycare. lots of homework for my classes at hawkeye, but i'm loving my world religions class. it's really interesting. last night, mom and i went to a craft night which was a lot of fun. she did some knitting with a friend. i learned to crochet and i scrapbooked with some girls in my small group. this morning, mom and i had a spa day. it was a great surprise from dad! and tonight, some of my friends and i went to Chuck E. Cheese's! we had fun acting like little kids again, and two of the girls are foreign exchange students so they had never been there before.

it has been a great week. i will blog more later and put up pics!

new year's

2010-01-08T09:15:00.000-08:00

i am a terrible blogger. i admit it. but i have made a resolution-i am going to read the whole Bible this year and i will blog about what God is teaching me. i need the accountability and maybe you will have insight to share on what i'm reading. i got a bit of a headstart and read luke in december. yesterday i started genesis.

Genesis 1-4

gen. 1:1-2 "in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters." how great is God that he could capture my heart from the very first verse of the Bible! i have heard these verses many times, but never stopped to really think about what they mean. the God that i worship, pray to, sometimes ignore and blame, thank, am blessed by, sin against, is the God that created the heavens and the earth. His Spirit hovered over all the seas of the world. stop and think about that for a second. His Spirit was over all the earth. that's a beautiful, amazing, unfathomable power. He created the world and everything in it, yet He loves you and me.

not only did God create the world, He made the plants, animals, and finally human. gen. 1:27 "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." adam and eve were given rule over all the earth, they were blessed with a spouse in each other, and had a perfect relationship with God. until they sinned and fell short of the Glory. they were tempted to eat and so they ate. God said not to, but the temptation of wisdom and knowledge was too great. they ruined their relationship with the King and were banished from Paradise. how many times have i "eaten the fruit?" all the times when i know God's direction, guiding, and commands-yet still choose sin. i fall into temptation time and again, even though i remember vividly the consequences. i break my relationship with Him further by hiding sin just as adam and eve hid from God in the garden.

yet God poured out mercy and love on us because he created us and loves us more than we can imagine. He sent His Son to save us from sin, to right our broken relationship with Him. how amazing is the GOD we serve!

other stuff going on:
*today marks the 1 month count-down to Cambodia! please keep the girls and staff of Rapha House in your prayers.
*my last semester of high school starts monday.
*i've been leading a small group of middle school girls, and it's great teaching and learning from them.
*perspectives-a great missions class, starts next week.

i hope and pray each day we all wake up to realize how God has blessed us and how we might bless others.

New Blog!

2009-10-19T18:29:00.000-07:00

i decided to start a blog separate from our family's so i could write about what's going on with me and also so that i can keep it up to date when i leave for college, etc. i'm really excited about what God has been doing lately in my life and i have an awesome GOD Story!

so, i've been praying and really hoping to be able to go on a mission trip to cambodia this february. i'd be going to rapha house, which is an organization that buys girls and women out of the sex trade and human trafficking, and then teaches them a new trade and about the redeeming love of Jesus Christ. cambodia is one of the largest countries for human trafficking because of the poverty and the corruption there. i really felt that GOD was leading me to go on this trip because mission work is my passion, and especially working with children. so, i sent in my application packet and was so excited because my youth minister (who i'm going with) was accepted. but, she talked to the lady at rapha house and they weren't sure if i was going to be able to go because of the limited number of spots. and i was really worried about that, and also about raising enough support. so, i was pretty frustrated with God and it became more about me, and less about Him. i was complaining to Him, instead of seeing that He is in control and knows exactly the right timing for everything. i just kept praying , "GOD please let me get to go on this trip. i don't understand why this wouldn't be good..." but then i realized, i wasn't praying the right thing and didn't have the right intentions. so, i was really humbled because i realized that GOD is in control and i needed to refocus on the fact that this trip is for His glory. after i realized this, i really dug into the Word and just prayed a lot. my heart truly changed, i knew that i wanted to go on this trip, but if God said no, i'd be okay with that. the very next morning, i found out that i was accepted for the trip! and, the support money for the first deadline just started to fall into place. i was so excited and also really humbled when i saw how GOD provides what we need, when we need it. not before, not after. that also applies to the lesson i needed to learn, about stepping aside and letting God take over.

God really is so good. I hope this blog can be a place where I can write about how I see Him at work in my life and the lives of people around me.

Jesus Loves You!