The Video I Made to Describe My Journey for Next Year and the People of Mali, West Africa
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Are you willing to be radical for Him?
I was just sitting on the bus, minding my own business. Then suddenly a guy stands up and says "Hey, I know you guys don't know me and this is kinda random..."
-- I thought for sure OH ME. I'm going to die. He's going to shoot us all over something that happened in his personal life. Honestly, those are the thoughts running through my head at lighting speed at the time. --
Then he starts to cry, to sob. He says GOD has been on his heart all morning, and He just wants to share with everyone how great He is!!
:))
Could it get any better?!
He goes on to say, GOD is more than what most churches proclaim Him to be (a LOT of churches are missing it, as we all know), and that GOD is so much more than what society makes Him out to be. He is not like the crazy guy calling out things to you in the center of campus [**On my campus, every now and then there comes along a crazy wanna be preacher guy who stands in the middle of campus - yelling out to random people who pass by him obscene things such as they are not going to Heaven, or they are living an immoral lifestyle, etc. I have been so angry with these crazy people before. I don't understand how they can judge someone like that. That is definitely not how Jesus got people's attention, if you know what I mean.]
The guy on the bus went on to say that what you do for GOD do it wholeheartedly! I was crying by this point. I couldn't believe how this one guy, at this time, on this exact bus, decided to obey his convictions and preach to a bus full of college kids. A bus full of college kids who looked at him like he was nuts. WOW. It was an amazing bus ride to be sure!
Afterwards, I went over to him while people were piling off the bus and sat beside him. He was sobbing, his face in his hands. I told Him by no means was that random. I told him how I was going to Mali, and how what He said spoke to me. I said thank you for not being afraid to do what you just did.
You never know who GOD is going to use or how He will get your attention. He got mine today.
I cannot be afraid to speak up in uncomfortable situations. I cannot shy away from mentioning His love to acquaintances, friends, and family. I cannot be scared to follow my convictions, even if it means a dozen or so funny looks on faces. GOD uses the willing and the radical. Are you willing to be radical for Him?
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39
To love GOD with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind requires that you sacrifice everything, that you surrender your life to Him. Being radical for Jesus is what it's all about! If you didn't know the love of GOD and His Son Jesus wouldn't you want someone to tell you about it? Think about that.
It's more than just a comfort issue. It's someone's eternity we're speaking about.
** I'm speaking to myself here too :))
Monday, March 29, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
I've got you.
And I look to him and smile, knowing that my Father is holding me.
["Give me a revelation,
Show me what to do
Cause I’ve been tryin’ to find my way,
I haven’t got a clue
Tell me should I stay here,
Or do I need to move
Give me a revelation
I’ve got nothing without You
I don’t know where I can turn
Tell me when will I learn
Won’t You show me where I need to go
Oh oh
Let me follow Your lead,
I know that it’s the only way that I can get back home"
"Revelation" Third Day]
Friday, March 26, 2010
I've come to the decision not to do a paypal or chipin account right now. I know some of you want to give that way, but I'm just doing the old fashioned snail mail way for now.
To all of you who have contacted me, thank you SO much!
Completely humbled.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Crazy Love - A Place Called Simplicity
Linny's http://aplacecalledsimplicity.blogspot.com/2010/03/crazy-love.html , entitled Crazy Love, is awesome. Go read it!
My name is Natali. I do tithe and I do attend church. In my church I do children's church, keep the nursery and babysit the choir kids during adult choir practice. I just love kids, so anything with kids I'm up for :)) My need is great. It's HUGE! I am moving to Africa in January of next year, Mali to be exact, for 8 or so months as a missions endeavor (I'm still praying about exactly how long GOD wants me there). You're right. You guessed it! There is a LOT of expenses that will have to be paid. Right now, with the eight months as an example, the total amount of money that I am in need of is $7200. That includes the airfare ($1600) and a rough estimate of monthly ($700/month)expenses for the duration of my stay.
But GOD has called me to Mali and I'm going. I know that I know that I KNOW that GOD will provide. I have NO doubt that He will. GOD has shown me over and over and OVER again how faithful He is. So I'm just waiting for the miracles to begin :))
My email is ngw1103@ecu.edu.
please pray for my Grandmother
Please pray with me that the surgeon would see the need to take precaution and go on earlier with the surgery rather than later. In the area where I live a man had an inflamed gallbladder and it turned into gangrene rather quickly (a couple of days).
Better yet, pray that GOD would heal her and dissolve every last stone & the pain associated with it :))
Dear GOD, You see the need of my Mammy, and I pray that you would surround her with a peace that passes all understanding and help her to be pain free from this gallbladder issue. You are my Healer. And I truly believe that! I have seen Your mighty hand in work, and I know that You move mountains! Amen.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
On and On by Chasen
Some say there’s no hope at all
But I know Your love is strong, it goes on and on and on and on
Rise up when it gets us down
It’ll be the voice in a blaring crowd
Because we know Your love will lead us home
It goes on and on and on and on…
I tried my way
It always ends up being a mistake
But You’re right when You say
That You set the time for the plans You make
I never thought that I could ever learn to let it go
Somehow its better when I follow in the paths You show
So I’m here I’m waiting
Cause I believe
"On and On" Chasen
** I know, three posts in one day. lol.
a GOD moment :))
Let me explain the backstory before I go any further. On Monday, I was talking to a person in one of my classes, telling them what I was doing after graduation [GOING TO MALI!!! :))] and they asked me a question I've been trying to avoid myself.
"Aren't you scared of the rebels and things like that surrounding Mali in other nations?"
To be totally honest, which I wasn't that day with the person I was speaking with, I am afraid of that. BUT, I know that the GOD who told me to do this will be right by my side the entire way, so in a way I'm not. And just so you guys know, the area I'm moving to is safe & free religion.
But it's been in the back of my mind on the back burner for the last couple of days.
Okay, back to what happened today...
I turned over the slip of paper that I found on my windshield, and it said,
"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your GOD goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6
What an amazing GOD moment! Can I just say that He is for you, today! Every day!! When He tells you to do something, be sure that He won't leave you hanging. He is right there with you. He goes before you to prepare the way, as a verse right after the one above (Deut. 31:8a - "The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you...").
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
I would go to the ends of the earth for You...
"To the Ends of the Earth" -- Hillsong United.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Sunday, March 21, 2010
haha, i love this kid :))
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
GOD is good...
"That's why, when I heard of the solid trust you have in the Master Jesus and your outpouring of love to all the Christians, I couldn't stop thanking GOD for you - every time I prayed, I'd think of you and give thanks. But I do more than thank, I ask - ask the GOD of our Master, Jesus Christ, the GOD of glory - to make you intelligent and discerning in knowing him personally, your eyes focused and clear, so that you can see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for Christians, oh, the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust Him - endless energy, boundless strength!
All this energy issues from Christ: GOD raised Him from death and set Him on a throne in deep Heaven, in charge of running the universe, everything from galaxies to governments, no name and no power exempt from His rule. And not just for the time being, but forever. He is in charge o f it all, has the final word on everything. At the center of all this, Christ rules the church. The church, you see, is not peripheral to the world; the world is peripheral to the church. The church is Christ's body, in which He speaks and acts, by which He fills everything with His presence."
Ephesians 1:15-23
Is GOD not awesome?!
It's amazing how when we pray GOD brings verses into our lives, reassuring us of what He is already doing :)) Yes, I'm still praying about how long GOD is telling me to be in Mali. Right now I KNOW that He is saying 6 months +. It isn't really until 6 months that I rely on Him for my college loans. And isn't that what He has told me to do. So yeah, GOD is amazing!! :))
I just feel as though I should say to you guys, TRUST HIM. No matter what it is that He is telling you to do, TRUST HIM. It may seem overwhelming to you, but TRUST HIM. It is through Him - not you - that you will find the strength to do it. TRUST HIM.
"One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, with the people crowding around him and listening to the word of God, he saw at the water's edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, "Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch."
Simon answered, "Master, we've worked hard all night and haven't caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets."
When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break." Luke 5:1-6
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
I'm mesmerized by your sweet little faces...
We will be Your hands , we will be Your feet
We will run this race for the least of these
In the darkest place, we will be your light
-- "Solution" Hillsong United
Sunday, March 14, 2010
words from a daughter to her Father
You amaze me more and more every day.
Your daughter
p.s. Please don't stop preparing my heart for January. All I can do is cling to YOU in all of this. I am so hopeless and helpless without YOU leading me. Thank YOU, Father, for allowing me to take YOUR hand after I refused SO many times before...
Friday, March 12, 2010
What a wonderful feeling!!
Thank you Jesus, for loving me SO much that You persisted just for me. You could've given up on me. I know I would have if I were You. But You didn't.
"I wonder what life would be like if we let Jesus live through you and me..." What Life Would Be Like -- Big Daddy Weave
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
"Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done." Philippians 4:6
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Totally Taken In Tuesday
I'm totally taken in by their beauty.
... by their smiles.
... and by their hope in times of having little.
GOD, thank You for taking over me so that I could finally humble myself before You and say YES! to what you've been whispering to me for years. I've fought missions ever since the sixth grade when I knew I was called. Thanks for looking past the stubborn girl, and seeing what I could be in time. Thank you for being patient, Lord. I'm so humbled by the fact that You kept whispering. That You were patient. You never gave up. From the bottom of my heart, thank You...
I tried to run
I tried to fight You
But I'm done
I'm giving up
I've learned to trust You, Your love
Now I'm singing...
Can You take over?
Take over
Can You take over me?
I've been here over and over again
Here on my knees
I'm only closer and closer
To where I wanna be
When You take over, take over
Can You take over me?
I tried before
To let go
And I just hold on more
Amazing Lord
I need the strength to let go
And be Yours
So now I'm singing...
Can You take over?
Take over
Can You take over me?
I've been here over and over again
Here on my knees
I'm only closer and closer
To where I wanna be
When You take over, take over
Can You take over me?
I surrender all I have
And I surrender all I am
As I remember what You've done to set me free
I just want to sing...
Can You take over?
Take over
Can You take over me?
I've been here over and over again
Here on my knees
I'm only closer and closer
To where I wanna be
When You take over, take over
Can You take over me?
Can You take over?
Take over
Can You take over me?
I've been here over and over again
Here on my knees
I'm only closer and closer
To where I wanna be
When You take over, take over
Can You take over me?
Take over me
Take over me
"Take Over" by Aaron Shust
"And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. So Jonah arose, and went unto Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceeding great city of three days' journey." Jonah 3:1-3
Monday, March 8, 2010
You're perfect, completely all I need, GOD...
And I know that GOD is using Mali to draw me closer to Him. And it's wonderful! GOD has a way of asking you to take a leap of faith for His glory, so that He can show you that everything you believe in has to be grounded in Him. EVERYTHING. Your trust, your faith, your hope, even your life. I have to believe that GOD has plans to prosper me, and not to harm me, like the verse says in Jeremiah 29:11. Wonderful and amazing are the times when you know that GOD has control. Giving all you have to give is NOT easy, but it's well worth it :))
Hear my heart lord as I cry out to you
Hear my prayer lord and carry me thru
In your mercy in the promise you made
Be my strength lord when my strength fades away
Cuz when I am weak your strength is complete
It’s perfect
Completely all I need
Sufficient for me
Your grace and peace are perfect
Completely all I need
You’re all that I need
In my weakness I’m finding your strength
In my sorrow a gentle embrace
Thru the seasons of laughter or pain
You are listening
When I call out your name
I’ll find you when I seek
I’ll look for you with all of my heart
And I’ll find you when I’m weak
Cuz you are strong
Hear my heart lord as I cry out to you
Hear my prayer lord and carry my thru
Carry me thru
"Sufficient" by Adie Camp
Sunday, March 7, 2010
What an awesome GOD we serve!!!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
walk on the water - britt nicole
It's staring back at you
Another wave of doubt
Will it pull you under
You wonder
What if I'm overtaken
What if I never make it
What if no one's there?
Will you hear my prayer?
When you take that first step
Into the unknown
You know that He won't let you go
So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to alter you
You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes in you
You can walk on the water too
So get out
and let your fear fall to the ground
No time to waste
Don't wait
Don't you turn around and miss out
Everything you were made for
I know you're not sure
So you play it safe
Try to run away
If you take that first step
Into the unknown
He won't let you go
(Step Out)
Even when a storm hits
(Step Out)
Even when you're broken
(Step Out)
Even when your heart is telling you, telling you to give up
(Step Out)
When your hope is stolen
(Step Out)
You can't see where you're going
You don't have to be afraid
So what are you waiting for?
:))
The issue of doubt really hits home for me. I was very tearful a few minutes ago (having to deal with the first two posts today). GOD never fails, people. NEVER.
I went to His Word again, seeking refuge from the bombardment of Satan's tactic of doubt. GOD showed me a verse (I was so joyful I forgot to see where it was at, so I don't have a scripture reference to share this time) that basically said that He was going to stop Pharoah's sword from hurting me.
Okay, I believe You now, GOD. :))
Why did I ever doubt?
GOD is SO good!
Clarifying the last post.
Jesus, I pray that Satan stops discouraging me. I am all YOUR's, Jesus.
* I wasn't sure if perhaps the last post sounded bad, so I just wanted to clarify my thoughts.
Doubt
I don't know why doubt was creeping up in my heart. But I do know it is only from Satan. And like normal humans I started to hear it. This past week I have been reading my Bible more. That is a BIG step for me. I don't know about you, but it seems when I want to read my Bible I don't have time or something else comes up. But I've really tried this past week to read GOD's word each day and spend devotional time with Him. His sheep know His voice.
Have you ever opened up the Bible and said, GOD speak to me? I once heard someone say that you always need to pray before you read the Bible, so that GOD can help you discern what He is saying.
Well, today I opened up the Bible and there was a verse that was very discouraging to me. I prayed and told Satan to stop it. He is trying SO hard to discourage me. SO hard. He is trying so hard that He is even using my careful attention to GOD's word in a way to pull me in. BUT he's not going to do it. But then I prayed, asking GOD to show me what He wanted me to see. I prayed to be able to discern what GOD was saying to me. And when I opened up the Bible, I saw, "1 Samuel 17:26, GO, and the Lord be with you." WOW. What a word from GOD. A few minutes later (haha, please don't think I'm crazy, but I felt GOD telling me to not be afraid to open up His word again and look with discernment from Him) and it opened up to 2 Samuel 14:7, "And may the Lord your GOD be with you". WOW again...
I take it that GOD is reinstating exactly what He has told me a couple of months ago, last weekend, and a few minutes earlier.
What I've shown you, GO! - word from GOD.
It is SO beautiful to me how in each instance GOD has used the same words.
#1 When GOD spoke to me in an audible voice it was, "WHAT I've SHOWN YOU, GO!"
#2 When the lady prophesied to me last weekend she said "What GOD has shown you, He is going to make a way"
# 3 1 Sam. 17:26 "GO, and the Lord be with you."
and #4 2 Sam. 14:7 "And may the Lord your GOD be with you."
Will you pray with me that Satan stops bombarding me with discouraging thoughts? Because I know that GOD is doing something mighty with what He has spoken to me. And Satan is in overdrive right now, trying to stop it.
Thanks, love you guys!
Friday, March 5, 2010
'Til I see YOU...
That overcame the cross and grave to find my soul
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You
With all I am I'll live to see Your kingdom come
And in my heart I pray You'd let Your will be done
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in You
I will live to love You
I will live to bring You praise
I will live a child in awe of You
You are the voice that calls the universe to be
You are the whisper in my heart that speaks to me
And 'til I see You face to face and grace amazing takes me home
I'll trust in you
You alone are God of all
You alone are worthy Lord
And with all I am my soul will bless Your name
" 'Til I see YOU" by Hillsong United