In HIS hands.

Sometimes things aren't ideal or exactly how we want them to be. Here are some verses that have been an encouragement to me in the past, that never fail to raise my spirit in any situation. Let His word speak to you...

"The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all of your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths." -Proverbs 3:5-6

"Consider the lilies of the field, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you even Solomon in all of his glory was not arrayed like one of these." -Matthew 628-29

"Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it."
-Luke 17:33

I think these verses challenge us to ask ourselves why we should worry about what we ultimately have no control over anyway?

Checklist

+ taste some kim chee
+ shots
+ plane ticket
+ passport
+ extra undies
+ backpack
+ last minute paperwork

check, check, check...

What is the first thing you do when you know you will be in South Korea for the entire summer? Get ready to go! But how do I spiritually prepare myself when I feel so small in light of God's big picture? This is the question I have been grappling with most over these last few weeks before I leave. I know the Sunday School answer: I am just the vessel doing the work of the Lord. I guess I've just struggled with truly grasping this concept that I am so well aware of in my mind. If I get everything on my list all checked off, yet fail to be spiritually prepared for this journey, what chance do I stand at really being prepared for what God has in store for this summer?

My "A-HA!" moment came when I was reading about the acts of the original apostles. No matter how inadequate I am, what matters is if they can see HIM through me.

"Now when they saw the BOLDNESS of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus." -Acts 4:13

SEVENTEEN little days.

AAAAHHHH! Where has the time gone?!?! Although I have only 17 short days left to prepare for my trip to South Korea, I believe the adventure has already begun.

This week has been very helpful in getting me into the right mindset. A close friend of mine, who is very experienced in international summer mission trips, met with me and a couple of other students who are also looking forward to summers of ministry. We met in the wee hours of the morning... 8 am (crazy I know!) ...to go over some of the basic spiritual principals of ministry and other things like team unity and seeing others with God's eyes. We talked about the four seasons of ministry... Ploughing--Sowing--Reaping--Harvesting ...

We also did some prayer walking around the college campus, which I was surprised to find somewhat of a challenge. I really felt challenged to see others through the eyes of Christ. It made me wonder how my actions would change if I were to be in a continual state of prayer.

I never cease to be amazed by the personal growth I experience when serving the Lord. It's like I get back so much more than what I ever give...