To My Supporters

Dear Supporters,

Thank you for your amazing contributions of prayer, time, encouragement, finances and smiles these last three years. My life has truly been changed through my focus being directed towards the Lord’s faithfulness. Thank you for saying yes to the Lord when He’s invited you to pray for me, visit, pray for Cairo, send money, take me out to dinner, love me well, etc. etc. etc. The multitude of blessings I’ve received have been unexpected and life giving. Thank you.

As of the end of August, I will no longer be on staff with Two Rivers Ministries, retiring my title of “Missionary” for the time being. Titles sometimes lend a hand to pride,  right? 🙂 The Lord is up to something and as of right now Two Rivers Ministries may be retiring, in the sense of an organization, anyway. Of course that will only happen if God says it is. Either way, the Lord is not going to stop pursuing the people of Cairo and all of us (supporters, readers, past and present staff, believers in Cairo) will likely never stop praying for or loving the people of Cairo. May He receive His glory!

I will continue to live in Cairo, at least that’s my plan. God knows I love this place and these children and I’m grateful I don’t feel prompted to move at this time. It looks as though I will either be on an unemployed vacation as of September 1st, selling my jewelry full time (voicedesigns.etsy.com) or back in the marketplace, where I haven’t stepped foot for years. Whatever the Lord chooses, I am not career focused. That’s been the change that’s happened since I’ve moved here: I’ve watched the Lord provide for my every need, transform my ambitions and teach me to rest. I no longer desire a career or feel driven to accomplish anything. I simply desire to rest in the presence of the Lord and follow Him in whatever adventure He has for us daily. It’s a beautiful thing. He has shared with me that this next season of my life is not so much about what I do, but is about walking into my identity as a spiritual mother. Whew, new unknowns! If the Lord says the same, I will continue to update what the Lord is up to in Cairo on this blog.

I also have some other wonderful news: I’ve got a boyfriend! 🙂 About six months ago I was matched with Jordan on EHarmony (yeah, I know, I didn’t see it coming either). He’s a wonderful man, truly a blessing. He made the move from the Chicago burbs to Cairo three weeks ago and we’ve gone from living 6 hours apart to 19 blocks apart. 🙂 He’s a big part of this new season with the Lord and a very fun, joy filled addition to my life. If you’d like more details, please feel free to laugh your way through our blog: happilyunexpected.wordpress.com

So, thank you. Thank you for walking with Jesus and me on the most enjoyable adventure of my life. Thank you for serving Him by serving me. Thank you for teaching me about humility. Thank you for praying, as the fruit of your prayers are eternal change in my life and the lives of the people of Cairo. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

 Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

Fearless Healing

I am 100% certain that Father God loves to bring healing to His children. He’s shown us by raising His Son’s dead body from the grave and if that isn’t proof enough, check the life of anyone that has been saved by grace. Believers are inevitably healed from wounds of their past, from physical ailments, from anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and from other things that are not their Heavenly portion. No, Christians aren’t perfect, but if they are walking with God you had better believe they carry joy and an intimate understanding of God’s deep love of healing His children.

God’s dialoging with me about my own inner healing at the moment. Lot’s of stuff He leads me to receive healing from is scary to process through at first. Receiving healing and revelation often times requires me to admit the lies the enemy has told me as I offer them to God.  I’ve usually chosen to block many of the lies from my mind for fear of them being true. I feel shameful, trapped and drowning when fearing that lies are actually Truth. But here’s the best part: they never are. Those lies that cause me to see myself as anyone other than a shell Jesus lives in are a load of crap and totally not true! The Amplified version of John 4:18 says, “There is no fear in love [dread does not exist], but full-grown (complete, perfect) love turns fear out of doors and expels every trace of terror! For fear brings with it the thought of punishment, and [so] he who is afraid has not reached the full maturity of love [is not yet grown into love’s complete perfection].” Perfect love casts out fear. Where God’s love exists in fullness fear does not, for it can’t. When we understand who we are in Christ, there is nothing to be afraid of.

One day recently I asked the Lord how to survive being bombarded with lies while I am alone. My roommate recently moved out, which means more of my time at home is spent without another person around to insure my sanity and value, and in this “alone time” I tend to listen to more lies. The Lord told me to worship. So, when I’m feeling sad, believing lies or struggling in any way I begin to worship. No, it’s not always easy to get into the mode of worship when I feel worthless, unworthy, dirty, etc., but none of those things are true about me and my identity has nothing to do with my feelings; if the enemy can keep me feeling like I deserve to be separated from God, I will believe I truly am. But, believing I’m separated from God will not make me separated in any way. All the enemy can do is lie, not actually create separation in any way. What a blessing praising Jesus has been!  As I worship Him I’m reminded of who I truly am-righteous, pure, holy and pleasing in His sight. I’m given revelation that nothing can separate me from His love. I become engulfed in understanding of how precious I am to Him and how wonderful He is. My focus shifts from me to God and I praise Him like that’s what I was created to do…because it is. God is healing me from old wounds and scars as I worship Him. What a beautiful, effortless romance this is.