Faith Comes By Hearing

A friend introduced me to MemVerse some months ago, and it has been quite and encouragement and help to me in memorizing God's Word. This morning God gave me the wonderful idea of memorizing not only in English, but also in French! I need the practice, and what a sweet way to do it! At the moment I'm working on Colossians 3 in English and since I have already memorized Philippians 2 in English, I'm going to start working on it in French.

Free Audio Bible is going to be a great help in this endevour! You should check out how many languages they have translated the Bible in and listen to some of them! It's a great tool for missionaries working with people who can't read or don't have their language written down yet. All they need is a little MP3 player, headphones and batteries and there is their Bible! Praise God for the work He's doing through Audio Bible!

Free Audio Bible Download | Faith Comes By Hearing

You Will Be Eaten by Cannibals: John Piper on John Paton

This was one of the first biographies I ever heard John Piper speak on- and what a life!
I had read John Paton's autobiography when I was young, but the words were older and different than what I was used to and there were very few pictures, so as a 12 year old I didn't get much out of the 300 page book.

I listened to this when I was 19 and was struck at how I missed so much of this man's life when I read the book! I encourage you to listen to this man's life. Put this on as you're answering emails, doing laundry, instead of watching TV, anything!

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You're listening toYou Will Be Eaten by Cannibals! Lessons from the Life of John G. Paton

Waiting When I Want to Move

Something I stole from Spurgeon that hit pretty hard when I read it the other day.

In this ever busy, up-n-at-'em, get-it-done life I rarely see people slow down- I've even heard people say they hate not having anything to do. I've been there. Feeling like my worth was in what I accomplished and not in who I was in Christ. I felt like if I slowed down I would become useless. Ha! What a lie.

So, if you have ever felt that way- even in the tiniest little inkling- you should read what Spurgeon wrote.

Even if you've never felt that way, you should still read it because it's Spurgeon :)

Ps 27:14 "Wait for the LORD; be strong and let your heart take courage! Wait for the LORD!"

It may seem an easy thing to wait, but it is one of the postures which a Christian soldier learns not without years of teaching. Marching and quick-marching are much easier to God's warriors than standing still. There are hours of perplexity when the most willing spirit, anxiously desirous to serve the Lord, knows not what part to take.

Then what shall it do? Vex itself by despair? Fly back in cowardice, turn to the right hand in fear, or rush forward in presumption? No, but simply wait. Wait in prayer, however. Call upon God, and spread the case before him; tell Him your difficulty, and plead his promise of aid. In dilemmas between one duty and another, it is sweet to be humble as a child, and wait with simplicity of soul upon the Lord. It is sure to be well with us when we feel and know our own folly, and are heartily willing to be guided by the will of God. But wait in faith. Express your unstaggering confidence in Him; for unfaithful, untrusting waiting is but an insult to the Lord.

Believe that if He keep you tarrying even till midnight, yet He will come at the right time; the vision shall come and shall not tarry. Wait in quiet patience, not rebelling because you are under the affliction, but blessing your God for it. Never murmur against the second cause, as the children of Israel did against Moses; never wish you could go back to the world again, but accept the case as it is, and put it as it stands, simply and with your whole heart, without any self-will, into the hand of your covenant God, saying, "Now, Lord, not my will, but thine be done. I know not what to do; I am brought to extremities, but I will wait until thou shalt cleave the floods, or drive back my foes. I will wait, if thou keep me many a day, for my heart is fixed upon thee alone, O God, and my spirit waiteth for thee in the full conviction that thou wilt yet be my joy and my salvation, my refuge and my strong tower."

~Spurgeon

The Thing That I Hate Most...

Speaking in front of people.

Truly.

Ok, maybe not hate, but greatly dislike.

I would love to have someone else go to churches, Sunday schools, and/or youth groups and speak for me, letting people know what's up. I would love for God to just drop the financial support in my lap. I would love to have it my way... but what does it say in James? I'm sure we can all quote it from Awana:

"Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be
perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

God wouldn't have me speak if it weren't to make me more like Him, if it weren't to show me my weakness and magnify His strength, if it weren't His perfect plan. So I speak and I watch Him work- knowing that the testing of my faith produces steadfastness (which is something that I will always be needing!). Every time God humbles me. I critique myself, thinking, "I should have said it that way!" or "I forgot to mention that!" and God gently reminds me that I'm a work in progress and that I need to "do my best, pray that it's blest, and He'll take care of the rest".

Thanks Keith Green for that reminder :D

Updated Packing List

Many of you have help check things off this list and it is much appreciated!!! Thank God for the friends and family He has given me :D
If you remember the previous list, it was a decent length, but with some help much of it has been checked off! These items remain un-obtained. Pretty much the medicines and a few random things.

Medicines:
I would love to have a stash of all of these- at least until I get to know the meds here!

• Muscle Rub, IcyHot, whatever
• Anti-itch medication
• Triple antibiotic ointment
• multi-vitamins
• water purification tablets
• Insect repellent

Holidays (Especially Christmas):
This is going to be one of the hardest times for me.

• A mixed CD of your favorite Christmas songs… I’ll think of you as I listen to it J

Miscellaneous Items:
To me, this is all the really fun stuff! Or at least the Multi-tool is...

• Multi tool
• Flashlight
• Batteries
• Mosquito Net
• Cement screws for hanging things on the cement walls
• Small basic tool kit – screwdriver, slip-joint pliers (to change gas bottle)

Small Blessings

I was in San Diego yesterday doing a Symposium for some people at Shadow Mountain Community Church. Since I've spent 2 1/2 years there for college and worked for SMCC, I had many people to catch up with and give hugs to.

Dinner was supplied by SMCC and they bought my favorite Ali Baba's! I was able to inform people as to what's going on with me and Cameroon, what I will be doing there, when I hope to be there, and how they can help. The night raised over $300! Praise the Lord!

But of all the gifts I received from people, my favorite one was from a previous Awana girl. Angela's about 7 and when she walked into the room that night, right after giving me a ginormous bear-hug, she handed me a plastic gold coin.

"What's this for, dear?" I asked.

"It's John 3:16! I figured you could take it with you, Miss Kreersee (how she says my name) and when other people asked you what it is you can tell them about Jesus!"

I sure hope I get to do just that :)

A few of us after dinner

There is Strength in Weakness

My church- my precious, tiny, church family- is so dear to me! They threw me an 'Outfitting Shower' yesterday- the goal to bring up finances for the flight, visa, or any other things of that such. There was a table set up with 3x5 cards, markers, and a box for people to write notes, draw pictures, or whatever they want to do. All these cards where then placed in the box and I will read them on my flight to Cameroon. Another table had information about the school I'm going to, previous newsletters, and yet another table filled with goodies. Twas a good time of fellowship :)

And from about 25 people there was $750 raised!!!

From such a small group look at what God can do!