Not that I'm really wrestling with doubt today, but I am standing in a place (18 days from moving away from this place I've always known) where the TRUTH MATTERS. His word is everything to me, and literally the bread of LIFE- It's what empowers me to walk forward and when I ponder the hugeness of the truth I grow my roots deep into the confidence that comes only for Someone bigger than myself. It's good to be the recipient of the revealed Word specifically to me, His precious daughter, for each moment if I will simply LISTEN.

Tom Skinner, who was chaplain of the Washington Redskins said this,

“I spent a long time trying to come to grips with my doubts, when suddenly I realized, I had better come to grips with what I believe. I have since moved from the agony of questions that I can’t answer, to the reality of answers that I cannot escape. And it’s a great relief.”

This really connects with me as I am passionate about answering the hard questions, but there comes a point where you MUST exercise faith! You WON'T experience the benefits of our faith if you don't genuinely exercise it! Regardless of how you feel or what your circumstances appear to be, we must cast ourself in faith on the reality of God's unfailing love and character. Doubt happens, but thank goodness God gives us His WORD to rely on! I like what Tim Keller says in his book The Reason for God: "A person's faith can collapse almost overnight if she has failed over the years to listen patiently to her own doubts, which should only be discarded after long reflections." The enemy would have us stuff the doubts, be shamed by them, or ignore them but then we're at risk for collapse. It's important to examine our doubts, to be open and wrestle together as a community with the tough questions, that we will reap the benefits of faith. It may not always say what we want it to say, but it's amazing when we rely on it, the supernatural change in heart attitude that comes about thanks to the power of His word. This is NOT mind over matter. This is of God- something that we can consistently have is we just place our faith in Him, and it's the TRUTH that will set us free, and that's found in His word!

I heard the above quote on our local radio station and it is an amazing story of a man walking through suffering. This is a man who had extensive training and was a pastor with a terrible disease which took him to the point of not wanting to even pray, yet it was the TEXT that lifted Him up: the living powerful Word of God. It's alive, and it counsels us into truth and godly perspective.

Last night my mom and I were given a special gift: women, young and old, showed up to encourage and bless us both and send me out to Hong Kong. We were given cards from them all with blessings and verses on them, we were prayed over, and we left as different people, encouraged and blessed beyond what we could ever ask or imagine. And when it gets hard, mom or I can take that ring of cards and read the verses written on them to be infused with strength and endurance once again. What a beautiful picture of the body, emboldened with prayer and God's loving words to us through His loving people: stronger than steel! I pray His word is life for you today and if you do doubt that you will turn to His infallible word to life you up. Do not despair- He has provided a way for you today!

Here's the bread--the sustenance-- for the day:
1 Thessalonians 2:
¹³And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

If you've receive Him, bank on it, it's at work, changing and shaping you for His glory.

We (Grace Campus Ministries) don't want to be a program but a MOVEMENT. Having a program is not sustainable, but the ripples from a movement cannot be contained. (Think about waves, dropping a rock in the middle of a pond, etc...) That is why I can truly relate to the video on the blog link below... this little article really spurs me on. I like Sivers' first statement about a movement...

http://sivers.org/dance-lessons




(thanks to taylor brooks for posting this article)

I'm thankful to Jesus for the little things lately:

-Extra time at home with the family- dinners together, an upcoming vacation together.
-Extra chances to pray, be prayed over, and share hearts when the days here are dwindling.
-Extra energy to make these days count.
-Extra special time at the beach with old roommates. There's just something about them that does the heart good. It's good to be known and good to just be together.


He has truly orchestrated intentional time with so many of the important people in my life, which makes leaving a little easier and harder, all at the same time. Babies are being born just in time, get-togethers are happening, and boxes are being packed... just in time. Not too early, not too late. I have learned to wait on the pace and step of the Father since HE is orchestrating my life and to that I surrender.

We decided to move to Hong Kong this past fall, and since then we have stayed busy, but at the heart of it we are WAITING-- eagerly anticipating the unfolding of a work of God that has intersected our lives. It's easy to get ahead of ourselves, yet I am FREE from manufacturing "what's next" when I am simply following Him (not just that "plan" I have in mind). Experiencing this freedom also hinges on what we want most, what our ultimate goal in life is, and if you're walking with Him maybe you've seen shadows, or a foggy mirror-view of what's to come, but this** is what we're ushering in. (**HIS KINGDOM!) The work-in-the-meantime comes with following Him unquestioningly. There are tasks He's asking me to do along the way and it happens as abiding happens, otherwise I am lost (having no purpose or direction).

No, it's not easy, but there are definitely no regrets to "forsaking all and following Him" and I am able to live free as I walk in His will, one step at a time, the best I know how, as His daughter. I don't know it all, I DEFINITELY don't have it all together, but I know He's good and He sees the whole big picture at once. My life and your life are woven into that picture for the glory of our magnificent God. He sees all of time at once, with Christ as the center of it all and says this is good.

That's enough for me today. My portion for this moment. Not yesterday, not tomorrow, but here in the present. With Him.

^{Luke 12:28}"But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith! ²⁹"And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying. ³⁰"For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things. ³¹"But seek **His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.

³²"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you **the kingdom. ³³"Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys. ³⁴"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

There's a plan in motion where God wins and all is made right. It's the plan of God for redemption and restoration that we may truly know what love is and partake in the feast- the best days upon days that we could ever ever begin to imagine... And it starts now when we treasure Him most... It's the little things that truly point us to the big, significant MAIN thing...

What does it look like for YOU to simply follow Jesus today? As children of God who are unique it's going to look unique for ALL of us, Hallelujah!

Well, I'm off to buy some prune juice and wrinkle cream...

I woke up with an excitement but also about every emotion you can feel when I saw "June 1" on my phone.

What does one do when she has 30 days before she leaves to move her life to another country?
1. Feels like the wind was knocked out of her
2. Recovers somewhat by the grace of God, but the soreness is still there to reminder her of her need for God. (The thorn if her flesh? I think so... for today at least!)
3. Stands on the promise of one of my lift verses in 2 Peter:

³His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, ⁴by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

That sinful desire being my flesh begging me to be in control, to be "as God" as the enemy first deceived Adam and Eve, and in my humanity, my believing that it's all on my shoulders. Sooo... next step...
4. REPENT REPENT! (She tells herself- CHANGE YOUR MIND! Don't believe this subtle lie!) GOD is in control. Of course this isn't the first time she's tried to take things into her own hands (search "control" on this blog and I'm sure you'll find many examples!)
5. Believe this: 1 Timothy 6:

¹¹But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. ¹³ I charge you in the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, ¹⁴to keep the commandment unstained and free from reproach until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, ¹⁵which he will display at the proper time—he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, ¹⁶ who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.

6. Fight the good fight by doing that which He has called me to do... I was asked on a mission application what the role of the gospel is in my life and i'll just paste that here:
In these days I am believing the gospel to walk through sadness in moving away (Lord, give me the grace to walk through this valley with you) and the diligence to prepare by raising support, packing, planning, and praying for what's to come (Lord, I repent of my laziness, the temptation to bow down to overwhelming tasks, and say that no weapon that is fashioned against me will succeed. I joyfully receive the grace to accomplish that which you've called me to and trust you to empower me to do it in a manner which glorifies you). This is what the gospel looks like in my present life as He uses it to make me more like Jesus.
7. She prays.
8. She "be's."
9. She thinks. A lot. About all the possibilities of everything and then does #4-6 again.
10. She waits. In eager expectation for what God's going to do in HK and around the world.

Hope today finds you a little sore, aware of your humanity, but making room for Him to work in and through you. That's what it looks like for me today and whether you are moving or not, whether you're going or staying HE IS WORKING ALL AROUND AND IN YOU AND ME!

Rejoicing-

In my own strength, I am a solution-finder and a "fixer" if you will. I am going to figure it out (I think that's why I love Algebra or Chemistry- there's always a definite answer). At the same time, and as much comfort and satisfaction the "sure thing" brings, it's nothing compared to utterly and totally trusting Him. My fear is that in my own striving and trusting myself, I'll miss the chance to truly rely, depend, and abide on the One to gives real Life. I have to rightly view myself as the one in need and Him as the need-meeter and I'll let the article that encouraged me to this point say the rest of this thought:

“Because,” as Schaeffer explains, “the world is hard, and confronting it without God’s power is an overwhelming prospect.”

...It is shocking to see how far the world is willing to go today — to throw over every moral restraint and to embrace every form of perversion. It was an example of the kind of thing that would often move Schaeffer to tears, in his compassion for the tragic “lostness” of man apart from the Christ.

But there is another related tragedy, as Schaeffer pointed out, that is perhaps even greater — that is, the tendency of Christians to fail to understand the utter lostness of the world and instead to embrace the world’s methods for doing the work of the Lord. Thus Schaeffer wrote, “The real problem is this: the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, individually or corporately, tending to do the Lord’s work in the power of the flesh rather than the Spirit. The central problem is always in the midst of the people of God, not in the circumstances surrounding them.” “If we do not want to waste our lives,” Schaeffer continued, “then we must understand the importance of having a humble, quiet heart and the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Schaeffer’s following summary paragraph has been especially important (and convicting) to me — and something that I pray will always be foundational to the work we do at Crossway. “Is it not amazing,” Schaeffer writes, “though we know the power of the Holy Spirit can be ours, we still ape the world’s wisdom, trust its form of publicity, its noise, and imitate its ways in manipulating men! If we try to influence the world by using its methods, we are doing the Lord’s work in the flesh. . . . The key question is this: as we work for God in this fallen world, what are we trusting in? To trust in particular methods is to copy the world and to remove ourselves from the tremendous promise that we have something different — the power of the Holy Spirit rather than the power of human technique.”

THAT'S MY PRAYER TODAY!

Lord, will you by your grace come upon me so that even the smallest things in my life will be evidence of your Spirit at work in and through me? I want to rely solely on YOU. I want to look different than the world and as I trust you I want your fruit to be so clearly evident in my life! Empower me by your Word speaking over and into my life. Holy Spirit I desperately need your supernatural power- your transforming grace- to carry out your kingdom work in all that I do and say. Be present Lord and Be glorified in my life. May I never turn to my flesh, but place my faith in you- the One who is able.

full text of Schaeffer's article here.

It's amazing how beholding God and His Word releases grace into my life to stand whole and complete in Him... and it's definitely an active choice I must make. It seems there is a dying process going on as I release what I know everyday life to be so that He may start a new life for me when I move to Hong Kong. Death is sad, it's experiencing a loss, it is painful, but I am encouraged by these words that I shared with the girls in the Romans Bible study. Thankful for His grace enabling me to walk through this...

Hey Precious girls!
Just want you to know I am thinking about you as you have your finals. You all are my heart and I hope you know how much I treasure each of you. Today I am walking through a "testing" time as well, just in a different way :) What I know today is that He gives us grace -supernatural power- to transform our minds, thus transforming our attitudes and our emotions as we walk through tests. Don't miss Him in your studies. Draw from HIS life today!

The temptation will often be to live from your own strength, but here's what the Word says:
2 Cor 15:56The sting of death is sin,(remember Rom 14-anything not from faith is sin?) and the power of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

2 Cor 6:1 Working together with him, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain. 2For he says, "In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

He is working out your salvation through testing! Will you trust His unfailing abundant resources (daughter) or your own? (orphan)

He wants to rescue you THROUGH the week (as opposed to snatching you out of it or removing the obstacle). You are going to find victory walking right through it, empowered by HIs spirit!

He's faithful... I am thanking Him, for this is how we enter His gates (Ps 100:4).

Psalm 100 (The Message)

A Thanksgiving Psalm

Psalm 100 (Amplified Bible)

A Psalm of thanksgiving and for the thank offering.

¹MAKE A joyful noise to the Lord, all you lands!

²Serve the Lord with gladness! Come before His presence with singing!

³Know (perceive, recognize, and understand with approval) that the Lord is God! It is He Who has made us, not we ourselves [and we are His]! We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.^A)">(A)

⁴Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and a thank offering and into His courts with praise! Be thankful and say so to Him, bless and affectionately praise His name!

⁵For the Lord is good; His mercy and loving-kindness are everlasting, His faithfulness and truth endure to all generations.

Jesus, you are everything.

I was encouraged by a friend of mind to think about expectations of what it will be like when I get to Hong Kong. Do I expect people to keep up with me? What will I do if it doesn't happen like I envision? How I will deal with the distance and maintaining the relationships I have now?

All are important questions to think about, but I am encouraged that maybe the technology we have these days frees more people up to go. We studied the history the Church as a staff team and needless to say, we have come a long way. No longer do we have to write letters to make plans and wait for responses a few weeks later. Neither do we have to ride on a boat for 4-6 months to cross the ocean! (Thank you Lord!) The means are readily available and for this I am thankful.

I hope to be more consistent on this blog- knowing that we may not be able to communicate all the time in "real time" but still know each others lives thanks to the technology we have to share life through satellites, wires, and screens.


Here's a fun video of how we have already been using this technology and I hope it will encourage you to keep up with me! This is a team meeting we had a while back where Mary Reading was in Dallas and Maik was in Hong Kong and we still shared and prayed together... (if you want to know more about these team members check out our website.)





All this to say, everyone needs to download skype and become bloggers too... I look forward to journeying with you all in this way. I can't wait to share about His faithfulness in the days to come. I have much to share as my time here is flying by! I cannot belive it's almost time to go!

Praying for these opportunities... to be an "Isaiah"...
(thanks to North American Mission Board for the Video)

...our new website...
you get to see some great pictures and learn a little more about our venture to Hong Kong...

http://www.gracecampus.net/

(make sure you have flash on your computer!)

Here are some excerpts from some articles I've read recently (thanks to the Desiring God blog).
I am so excited to be a part of what God is doing in China and cannot wait to see what doors He opens for us to serve Him. I am overjoyed in anticipating what we're stepping into: a forward moving Kingdom, of which we are a part becuase of Christ! Praying for more to know the Life that comes from Him alone...

¹ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³ All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. ⁴ In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1

Jesus in China

"We [had been] taught not to learn from God, that God is a fake," said Wang Qingying, a 37-year-old member of Jin's church who grew up the daughter of a Communist Party member. "After I started to believe, I realized that everything that happens is a part of God's design.

Great Leap Forward

In April 2007, 70 leaders of the urban house-church movement gathered in Wenzhou to discuss their common identity and challenges.

The Hong Kong–based missions agency Asian Outreach, and particularly its former president David Wang, have taught many of these new urban leaders. At their conference last year, the leaders identified seven core values:

• Practice "kingdom first." They acknowledge and work with other churches in each city and across China. Urban Christians, like most Chinese believers, are intentionally nondenominational.

• Be "Bible based." Theologically, they are conservative and evangelical.

• Believe in the "five-fold ministries." They acknowledge the roles of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers as spelled out in Ephesians 4:11.

• Equip the saints. Rather than relying on the emergence of charismatic leaders, they follow a mentoring model to disciple people.

• Receive the "abundant life." While rejecting the prosperity gospel, they believe God can bless Christians materially, and that blessing can be used to influence others to build the kingdom.

• Desire to "establish the church." They are missionary, including a strong desire to take the gospel "back to Jerusalem."

• Seek "to bless the society." They are newly engaged in social ministry.

DesiringGod Blog

While many challenges still exist for Christians in China, God is growing his church and bringing about a major missionary movement through it. The Chinese church is poised to play a significant role in future missionary endeavors. Some of China’s Christian leaders have a vision to carry the gospel “Back to Jerusalem” through some of the most gospel-resistant lands which lie between China and Israel.

Despite this increasing interest in spreading the gospel, the one consistent thing that we have learned from our partners working in China is that there is a significant need for God-centered, Christ-exalting resources and teaching.

Please pray that God would provide all the teachers and material that the Chinese church needs to continue growing. And pray that Christ would be the fuel and sustainer of this amazing missionary calling he has given to the Chinese church as he seeks to gather worshipers from all the peoples of the earth.

I haven't blogged as I intended for many reasons, but know that the Lord is doing much and has much to say to us all. Below is a note I sent to my Romans Bible study girls group. Every Monday night I never cease to be amazed and how the Lord meets us there and transforms our little community of women by His powerful Word... His grace is unfathomable and I am a humbled recipient. The fact that He rescued me continues to floor me. These days of "heart journey" towards a huge physical journey could possibly more difficult than getting on that plane, yet I wouldn't trade them for anything. There are roughly 6 weeks lefts to GraceCampus Auburn as we know it, but confidence rises up in knowing that there's a remnant staying in Auburn committed to living by grace for the glory of God... He truly is not finished in Auburn...

Lord may these days be consecrated to you for this purpose: to know you and to draw all men to yourself...

As this Spring Break is upon us, my thoughts turn to you all often. I hope and pray that this week you will find delight in the things all around you-the GIFTS that He places in people, environments, situations to stir your heart- for the purpose of knowing God intimately and bringing glory to Him.

Today I made the choice to not be critical or even analytical, but to intentionally seek out qualities to delight in, to be thankful for, and to worship God about. This lifts my spirit in a way that only God can do. I want to cultivate worship in every corner of my life and be a blessing to others. I want Him to fill the places that need His presence where I have been idle minded. I want to step out and expect Him to be there (He promises He will! Isaiah 43) and in the places that are lacking or even rebellious towards the presence of God to feel His heart beat for those places. I want temporal things in which I find delight to increase my affections for Him all the more, because every good and perfect gift comes from Him. (James 1:16-18) That which brings pleasure and sense-invigoration is HIS IDEA. He CREATED pleasure and He fashioned our physical senses and felt emotions, for His glory.

The question is, do I stop at finding pleasure in the "thing" or do I let it stir my heart towards worshiping HIM?

I find that life is lacking if I don't take that latter step. Thankfully there are many, many things to delight in, which reveals His pursuit of us even more. If I see life as anything less, I miss the relationship in it. It's not the delicious meal, a long awaited message or the deep conversation in and of itself that the soul craves (this will NEVER satisfy), but it's Him who made those things. Those are simply the open doors to encountering the Living God- the Person of all Joy, excitement, adventure, and infinitely more.

Unfathomable, unsearchable, uncontained, intentional.

He is capable of stirring in the tiniest things. He is not in the earthquake, or the fire, but the gentle whisper (1 Kings 19), but where we least expect it. Tune your eyes and ears to the Spirit around you. I pray you discover more than enough of these gifts in your week. He's calling you to Himself through the reflections of His true character in our daily lives in unexpected places. I hope that through you the hopeless and hurting world sees a God who loves them and who strategically places moments and people in their lives to show them that they are valuable to Him, ultimately pointing to the ONE moment in time where He gave HIS life for us. Like we talked about in our Romans 8 time- WHAT MORE COULD HE DO TO DEMONSTRATE HIS LOVE FOR US??!! You all are messengers of reconciliation- good news that CHRIST, in His death and resurrection, HAS MADE EVERYTHING RIGHT between GOD and MAN!

I hope you find time in this week to be still with Him. I acknowledge a holy fear of the One who has set this universe into motion and could stop it at any second. He is real and He LOVES you!

When I think of you, my heart grows and grows... and it causes me to worship Him as I consider the fact that He allows me to be a part of your lives... I am humbled, thankful, and blessed beyond words.

What we're about:
OUR GOALS:
TO GLORIFY CHRIST BY:
-To grow more in love with Him by being intentional to receive His love.
-To meditate on Scripture in such a way that life change happens by the impact of the GOSPEL in our lives.
-To facilitate community that expands the kingdom because it is a movement rooted in living out the GOSPEL. Rom 1:11-12
-To carry out these things by the GRACE of God through a dependent relationship on Him.

I want to be so serioius about the gospel- a radical follower of Jesus! We will never have it perfect until Jesus returns and we are free from the presence of sin, but I hope our Monday nights together and the ripples that come from it will push us towards Christ- the One and only One we can center our lives around. May He be glorified more today than yesterday.

what are you about?

This is another Hudson Taylor quote that reminds me how it's all about Him. Forever. In everything.

Nothing brings me greater purpose that this truth.

Lord make this my reality:
Jeremiah 9:

23Thus says the Lord: Let not the wise and skillful person glory and boast in his wisdom and skill; let not the mighty and powerful person glory and boast in his strength and power; let not the person who is rich [in physical gratification and earthly wealth] glory and boast in his [temporal satisfactions and earthly] riches;

24But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me [personally and practically, directly discerning and recognizing My character], that I am the Lord, Who practices loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth, for in these things I delight, says the Lord.

Randy Pope says that a simple definition of glory is satisfaction... I will stretch that to completeness. Wholeness. This "glory" leads to our living as He designed us to be. We were made to be found in Him- only then can we rest.

He has recently peeled away my anxious doubting heart by piercing it with His Word, and for that I am thankful. I am thankful for His calling me by name (Isaiah 43) and pursuing my heart even when I think I want nothing to do with it... When I am faithless, He's faithful (2 Timothy 2).

"Found" Hillsong
Amazing love,
now what else shall I need
Your name brings life,
it's more than the air I breathe


Verse 2:
My world has changed,
when Your life You gave for me
My purpose found
and all that You want for me


PreChorus 1:

And I've found myself in You, Lord
And I've found myself in You


PreChorus 2:

And I've found myself in You, Jesus
And I've found myself in You, Lord


Chorus:

So take me to a place
where I can see You face to face
and all I wanna do, all I wanna do
is worship You
So take me to a place
where I can see You face to face
and all I wanna do, all I wanna do
is worship You

Hudson Taylor said this quote when telling about how he felt after a difficult decision he made. It really resonated with me in my decision making process. I know that God is our Father who is perfect and good. He has our best interests at heart. He is faithful to lead us where we need to be. He does not withold His direction from us but it always on time. His voice is the ONE voice that brings peace. The minute that I listen and yield to what others are telling me, I begin to doubt and worry. The most important voice in these days when the journey I'm on doesn't make sense is HIS. Hearing His acceptance of me, just as I am, frees me up. When people look at me as if its the last time they'll see me or that I am crazy to move across the world, I sense in my heart His voice reminding me that He is in control and HE is the one calling me, not those around me. God's voice is better than any. He is speaking and we hear Him better than we think but we have also become experts at talking ourselves out of doing what He speaks to our hearts to do: I too am guilty. "Spend more time with me." "Ask that lady how she's doing- I know you don't know her but just ask." "Give that person some money, who are you to say he won't use it for food." There are so many things we hear the voice of God telling us. His voice matters most-- even more than our own. All we need to do is say "yes" and He does the rest.

My ability to walk forward (as opposed to sitting still, stagnant, afraid to move) with the Yes of faith comes from the pleasure and the strength and joy found in the presence of Christ. Just because I'm walking forward doesn't mean I've reached the destination (I'm on a journey, remember?)- but it does mean that I am free. Free to live life, and free because I walk in the life of Christ. His life in me is real life. His life enables me to do things I didn't think possible. His "Yes" becomes mine, and looking into His loving face in faith released the power of His Spirit in me to

When it comes time to take another turn, I am confident that my Father will take my hand and guide me there.

John 15:9"Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you;

abide in My love.

10"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father's commandments and abide in His love. 11"These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.

Well... It has been quite a while since I have blogged but after some attempts at changing the look and trying to think and evaluate what has just happened this semester, I think this will be a great way to do just that.

This is the first time I have actually changed the look of the blog since I got it in 2005... Yes my very first blog, which I started right after I graduated from Auburn and moved to Charlotte, NC for the summer. I participated in a life-changing internship at Grace Life International, a pastoral counseling ministry. This time was incredible. Nothing compares to you being away for 9 weeks to be mentored and just focus on Jesus and have no other distractions. This was such a tool of Father to shape me for what was to come. It was life changing and prepared me for the next chapter: "The Real World" in Birmingham, AL.

I am blessed to be a part of the body there, be fed the gospel of grace which only reinforced what I had spend studying in the summer, find great friends and live life as a young single. (haha) I still consider those such rich days where the Lord took what I had learned that summer and asked me to live them out in this great community. I also worked at a Bone Marrow Transplant unit at UAB hospital. This challenging job shaped me, payed the bills AND allowed me 4 days a week (I worked 3 12 hour shifts) outside of that to enjoy and love people. I wouldn't trade those days for anything. God used that year to prepare me for where I am now- working with Auburn college students- and where he is preparing to move me out of (I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!)

When you look back over your life do you see how He has orchestrated what has happened in the past to prepare and shape you for what's next? The more I look back the more I find guidance for what's next. Look at Esther's life- Chapter 4:14- when Mordecai told her that her position she was in could be "for a time such as this." Our times are not too different- there are overwhelming numbers of people in our families, communities, and this world in bondage. They don't know or understand the gospel and they need Christ to intervene, so that they can be all He created them to be: worshippers of Him. This is our highest destiny--what we were made for! Anything less is empty and leaves us searching. I even find myself in this place: Lord what is my purpose? What am I doing here? It is then that I come back to worshipping and delighting in Him more than anything. THEN He shows me the next step and THEN He brings clarity. He has done this time and time again. When I begin to love the plan and focus on the agenda more than fixing my eyes on Jesus, I have missed it. Waiting for the next page to turn, I see what's ahead to prepare for Hong Kong and at the same time have NO idea. I can't wait to see how God writes this chapter. Until that page turns, this chapter is still in proces, but I am dreaming of what's to come.

My prayer is that the world knows the enduring greatness of God in the person of Christ and that it glorifies Him- He is TRULY the answer to every questions. There is NO ONE like Him!

Lord awaken hearts to your love. Use us to testify to it that they may have "eternal life, that they know you the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent."

Here's a great blog to check out and overlaps with my life: the blog of my boss and friend Matt Dean. I encourage you to read and hear what the Lord might say to you through him. He is very transparent as He shares about the journey for His family to Hong Kong and more. I hope to post on here very soon as well- with my thoughts from this journey as well. Just when I think things will slow down I'm blown away by how fast the days fly by. Just know that things are good. God is best. More to come...

Check out http://www.mattdean.blogspot.com

My Dear Friends-

I have something very important to share with you all, and I hate that it's through an email. Please know if I could be sitting with each of you, face to face, and sharing with you, that's the way I would have it. However, as much as we tried to protect that so you could hear on a personal level we ended up sharing this with our ministry as a whole last night and some of you know already.

First of all, thank you so much for investing in this ministry and my life through your words, finances, and encouragement. I have been a part of Grace Campus over the past, well, almost 9 years-- first as a student and then as staff. I am humbled to see all that God has done in me and through this ministry to change and influence lives for the kingdom. We have seen many come to Christ, grow as leaders, and answer the call on their lives for full time ministry, but more than that we have seen the glory of God in our midst. I stand in awe of HIM more today than when I first started.

After praying about this for more than a year, my boss, Matt Dean, and his wife April sensed a clear calling to move their family to Hong Kong, China. They shared this burden with me this summer, when I returned from Uganda, and immediately I sensed a peace and excitement about what God had for this ministry in Hong Kong and began to pray about what my part would be. (read more on their blog) I knew that this was something so much bigger than us that God would have to orchestrate it all- the details of what, why, how, when, and where. I began to pray and seek Him on these specifics for my life.

After sharing this burden and vision for ministry to university students in Hong Kong with the Grace Campus board of directors, church pastors, family, and staff team, we have made the decision to re-plant this ministry and our lives in Hong Kong. Our board of directors has given their approval and blessing, and we will establish Grace Campus Hong Kong in the summer of 2009.

Right now in Auburn, we are in conversation with several local church leaders regarding how we can be unified in this process as we continue to love and serve Auburn students by connecting them to the church. There is still a great sense of momentum on Auburn's campus. We are humbled to be a part of what He is doing here. I will maintain the relationships in ministry I have formed here until time to go to Hong Kong.

October 10-20, our staff team went to Hong Kong where we established multiple ministry partnerships, visited college campuses, made connections with several local churches, and volunteered with Passion's World Tour by the grace of God. What a humbling experience every conversation, connection and experience was! I left this vision trip anxious to be back in the place and the ministry that I feel He has been shaping in me to do. I know I am not the same because of what God has done in me over the last few months.

Here are the facts that motivate us to go: Hong Kong is uniquely positioned as a gateway city to mainland China. In Hong Kong, more than 100,000 university students across multiple campuses in live and study; about 20% of those students are from mainland China. Less than 5% of the 7.3 million people living in Hong Kong profess faith in Jesus.









For the most part, collegiate ministry is overlooked by the local Church in HK, but we believe this is one of the most strategic times to influence men and women as they determine their values and future direction. With great joy, we want to serve the Church by influencing the next generation to know and love Jesus Christ.

On November 20th, we will share the story at Encounter of how God has worked in our lives, and our process of walking into this next season of life together. This will be the next-to-last Encounter ever and I would LOVE to see you there hear the story He is writing before our very eyes- it's a story of Himself and His heart for His people. Knowing that His "light will shine when all else fades, never ending [His] glory goes beyond all fame." Jesus is the goal. He is worth everything. I am fully compelled and convinced that this is what He would have me to do, and this is what it looks like in my life to wholeheartedly follow my Jesus. I want to be a small part of what God's doing is Asia!

I covet your prayers and continued support, and I pray He gives you more of Himself in these days!

Held together by Him,
Katie

I would be blessed to hear your thoughts (you can respond to this email) and for you to pray towards these things:
-Comforting and challenging our students
-Preparing for this new Ministry and all that entails: learning the language, training, raising finances
-Praying against the fears that come along with it
-My personal commitment to go, that God would continue to burden me for the sake of vision- what it looks like to minister to college women in Hong Kong
-Richness in the Word, that He would shape me to look more like Himself- Some key scriptures: Romans 10, Luke 14:25-35 -

I am sad i havent been more consistent on here, but we have hardly
stopped the whole time here and our apt doesn't have Internet. I'm
actually writing this thru my iphone on email so bear with me!!

I can't explain all that has been happening these past few days. Our
time here will soon be done but I don't think I'll be able to get over
this growing burden for the students here that don't know the grace
God gives us that is life-changing. I can't believe my ears when I
hear the stories of how He is moving His people to accomplish
something bigger than us. I hope you will join us in lifting up the
students here. For those of you that have been to a passion event
recently you maybe familiar with their opening video that proclaims
the greatness of Jesus. I get chills and want to shout each time I see
it because I become overwhelmed by His greatness. (I think you can
check it out on Passion's myspace page.) I know the jist of the
message and how it proclaims Jesus is ALIVE and then to see it on the
screen in Chinese characters to proclaim His kingdom reality over His
people here brought me to tears. The spirit of desperation as we cried
out to God singing "remember your people, your children, your promise,
O God" and declaring His grace is enough broke my heart even more as I
too pleaded with the remnant of believers here to God to fulfill His
promise to redeem His people. Indescribable. I hope you will go to the
268blog.com and check it out. I can truly say the harvest is plenty
here and the workers are few. Let's ask the Lord of the harvest to
move us to where He could use each of us the best. God is moving and I
do not want to miss it.

Sent from my iPhone

After a LONG 24-30 hours of travelling we finally arrived in Hong Kong about 1000 at night. We took the train into the city and arrived at the Grand Blossom house where we have a little apartment to stay in. It's in the Hung Hom area of the city. The rooms are tiny but cozy. There are 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms... but enough boring details.

We got up the next morning and visited IECC where we heard a great message on Song of Solomon, ran into some old friends (a guy from Auburn and a lady who works w/ the staff of the english teaching trips that I've been on the past 2 summers) and are just trusting that He is placing people around us to be a part of our little story in God's amazing one. I am so humbled to be here and walking around in this city. I am typing this from a very familiar coffee shop, Pacific Coffee, in Festival Walk. (a ri-dic-a-lous-ly large mall). This is where we hung out often the past 2 summers. It feels strangely comfortable, even home-ish, to be here. I really love this place and all that is here. My heart is longing to see this place have more worshippers of Him. I know a few, but relative to the huge population, it's still only a few. Still He is moving and I am desperate to be a part of it.

Passion is this thursday. Please think of us as we seek to serve the people here. Pray that He would bring people to Himself and that they would see the hugeness of God. What we do know is that those who are in the church are often shallow and wavering in their faith. Pray people would show up and experience the reality of Him. Pray that I would also experience the reality of Him. I see my need for Him every moment. Even though I am glad to be here I know a place or a person will never do for me what my God does for me. I hope we all will see that HE is the adventure. Yes, I am on one right now. It is still overwhelming/surreal that we are here in HK, right in the middle of the semester, but even more so, HE REMAINS THE ADVENTURE. HE is what's exciting and seeing His hand all over this place is what keeps me going.

Can't wait to see what He has next... He is a good father who gives good gifts... ultimately Himself. Praise be to Him who sits on the throne and reigns over all and is in all.