A link to my other blog
www.livejournal.com/users/laurza
Detailing a bit more of my journey so far...
Thursday, 27 September 2012
Sunday, 23 September 2012
4 days to go
So I'm sitting in my room with only 4 days to go until I leave Northern Ireland and will be setting foot on African soil for the first time in my life. I haven't even been home from Asia 3 weeks and so this is a bit of an adventure! But one I'm very excited about. As the weeks have passed I've shifted from feeling apprehensive and a little bit numb, and am increasingly gaining expectation for what lies ahead. New friendships, new experiences. I am so blessed at how much God has given me, the opportunities I have had.
More soon... :)
More soon... :)
Saturday, 15 September 2012
the road ahead
Jesus said, “There is no greater love than to lay down your life for your friends.” John 15:13
Rewind 2 months, where I found myself in Hong Kong looking at this scripture for the third time in 16 hours. Deep breath and a question - 'Papa, what are You trying to say?'. God doesn't usually speak to me so overtly; He doesn't usually use this method to get my attention. He certainly had it by the fourth time I encountered this scripture, and I knew then that He was beginning to turn the wheels on something. I just didn't know what. I wrote the following about 6 weeks ago:
It is incredible. Ok, so mostly I am writing because again God is faithful to His word and His promises. I received a prophecy about Cambodia a few months prior. I'll be honest; my biggest fears about Cambodia were giant spiders and scary toilets. Oh flesh! Ha ha I do not even joke! However, I found this kinda random because Cambodia wasn't in the plan at all. Until God had His way, and I found myself in Phnom Penh late last Friday evening. During my time in Phnom Penh I feel God has revealed more to me than I ever expected. The opportunity to visit an incredible ministry and spend time at their new base getting to know this team of laid down lovers in prayer, worship and fellowship. Seeing the sacrifice made in order to advance the kingdom of God is one that makes my heart cry out "yes, God. Take all of me and more". Because it is befitting for the glory of the one who laid down His life in order to redeem little old me.
God has shown me this year the importance of dreams. He has revealed that He does indeed fulfil my hope and vision. I dared not even pray for such an opportunity to travel, and yet He placed it into my hands and said "go". Before coming, I believe my heart awoke to the depths of darkness that prevail in this corner of the earth, and I remember many days thinking about the travesties awaiting. I look and see how much I wondered. And God brought me right into His heart. Took me to the broken women, into the dark places, the hard places. He has told me five times now that greater love requires a life laid down, and so the next step awaits. I cannot wait to see what this will bring.
Rewind 2 months, where I found myself in Hong Kong looking at this scripture for the third time in 16 hours. Deep breath and a question - 'Papa, what are You trying to say?'. God doesn't usually speak to me so overtly; He doesn't usually use this method to get my attention. He certainly had it by the fourth time I encountered this scripture, and I knew then that He was beginning to turn the wheels on something. I just didn't know what. I wrote the following about 6 weeks ago:
It is incredible. Ok, so mostly I am writing because again God is faithful to His word and His promises. I received a prophecy about Cambodia a few months prior. I'll be honest; my biggest fears about Cambodia were giant spiders and scary toilets. Oh flesh! Ha ha I do not even joke! However, I found this kinda random because Cambodia wasn't in the plan at all. Until God had His way, and I found myself in Phnom Penh late last Friday evening. During my time in Phnom Penh I feel God has revealed more to me than I ever expected. The opportunity to visit an incredible ministry and spend time at their new base getting to know this team of laid down lovers in prayer, worship and fellowship. Seeing the sacrifice made in order to advance the kingdom of God is one that makes my heart cry out "yes, God. Take all of me and more". Because it is befitting for the glory of the one who laid down His life in order to redeem little old me.
God has shown me this year the importance of dreams. He has revealed that He does indeed fulfil my hope and vision. I dared not even pray for such an opportunity to travel, and yet He placed it into my hands and said "go". Before coming, I believe my heart awoke to the depths of darkness that prevail in this corner of the earth, and I remember many days thinking about the travesties awaiting. I look and see how much I wondered. And God brought me right into His heart. Took me to the broken women, into the dark places, the hard places. He has told me five times now that greater love requires a life laid down, and so the next step awaits. I cannot wait to see what this will bring.
At 2am one hot, stuffy night in a hotel room in PP, I woke up and couldn't sleep. He speaks during the strangest moments, in the strangest places and at the most inconvenient times :) So I found myself applying to this school, simultaneously thinking that if I even got accepted it would be a miracle. An even greater miracle if I'd actually get to Africa. The funny thing was, on the link to the online form the same scripture featured. And that was the last time He showed me it. I guess because He'd shown me the final destination, for now. So I guess that is the story so far, from then until now. It has been difficult at times of course as I encounter fear about what may be out there. Sometimes I get mad because I think I had no choice in the matter, and laying everything down can be painful. But I get over that and remember that He is good, and that He is safe. That faith in God is always a step into the light.
So hopefully I can update this blog on what is happening during my time in Africa. I would love to hear from my readers so feel welcome to share here also. It's gonna be a mighty adventure!
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