Saturday, June 14, 2014

Car Wash - June 14 (Trip 1)

What an INCREDIBLE day at the car wash. Thanks so much to the Fundraising Team who put this together and a very special thanks to Jordan and Victoria who led the way! Great job! The students and leaders who participated really put their heart and soul into this day and I am so grateful for all the hard work! Finally, a GREAT BIG THANK-YOU to each person who came by and supported our efforts with a kind word and very generous donations...you guys rock (we really do appreciate each one of you)!

Now just sit back, relax, and enjoy a 2 minute slide show of this car wash extravaganza!

 

Wednesday, June 11, 2014

You Say...God says...

People,

We aren't just counting down to the car wash anymore! This is real- the mission trip is coming and it's coming up fast.

As the deadline for all things deodorant, finances and (ugh) swimsuits approaches, know you're not doing this alone. In Vernon, Molly and Ellie's posts, they talk about preparing your heart for the trip as well as lining your suitcases with summer sweat and sun essentials.

God has been with us and for us since the beginning of time.

Who is to say He isn't with us now, in the beginning stages of the trip? He is!

Here are some verses that I screenshot(ted?) from a Pinterest post that I can take absolutely no credit for finding, but can admit to reading and re-reading this afternoon...it's that good.

And you may be all like, "Yo, school's out for the summer!" 

Well, dawg, I encourage you to read these and let them sink in before embarking on the plane ride for a nine day concrete and steel beam ministry.

God has given us an entire book full of amazing things- some common sense, some simple truths, some down right terrifying dreams or murderous acts that leave me checking the cover to make sure I'm still reading the same book- and in it, is the best advice, stories, dreams and such that we will ever find in this life.

For free! Well, free once you purchase one from a bookstore or Heavenly Dove closest to you. Ha!


Before I became a Christian, my heart was judged by feelings.

If I felt good that day, I "had a good heart" and was more prone to do good things because I felt loved.
If I felt terrible about myself- insecurities and general weight of the world stuff- then I thought love had abandoned me and I would never give or receive love ever.

But feelings aren't what shows the state of your heart.
Feelings aren't the basis for your heart's capacity to love and be loved, to show love and receive it.

Love can only be the meter of your heart if you understand that love is not a feeling...it's a gift that God gives us (and yes, that IS for free and not sold in bookstores).

Part of His love for us in His word and we reciprocate by diving into it with gratitude for it's presence in our lives- freely given.

The other part of His love was in the death and resurrection of His only son and we reciprocate by accepting that gift of love and letting Him who IS LOVE into our hearts.

To have a heart prepared to give and receive love, you must be able to accept and act on these two things.

Get ready, set, GO!!!

 In His love,

 Jos








Sunday, June 1, 2014

Simple Faith in a Complex Place


So, faith. It’s an small word with an enormous impact. And from all the enormity, there’s a book that states it is necessary to take all of it, the entire belief in our God, and view it as a child. 
         Meredith is seven years old and extremely close to my heart. And, as I was stretching my fundraising options to their maximum, in comes Meredith with a little wad of money, not from her parents, but pulled from the piggy bank sitting in the corner of her room. And as she held it out in her hands, it was possible to see the twinkle in her eyes as she knew she was doing something good. Meredith has no idea what we are going to do, see, and impact in Merida. She simply had faith that God was going to use her money to help us.
          As these last few weeks before we are depart on our journey, there will be stress and distraction. The last of our money will come trickling in. And we will struggle to keep our suitcases under 50 pounds. Just remember that we're going on a trip that wouldn't work unless God was in charge. Remember that your faith in God is only as complex as you make it to be. And we need look no further than Waumba or UpStreet to see child-like faith, simple faith, in full pull.
Less than 50 days left!