A look back, part 1...stirring

I started keeping a journal sometime at the beginning of this year to take with me to China. I began to write down all the things that confirmed my going to Maria's for the days when I begin to wonder what in the world I am doing half-way around the world (...and I am certain those days will come).  I wont bore you with every single detail, but over the next few posts would like to share just a few of the things that the Lord used to confirm His calling. Hope it encourages you as much as it does me to look back...

Phil. 1:6 "And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue His work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns."

I Peter 4:19 "...and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you."

Isaiah 31:15 "Your own ears will hear Him. Right behind you a voice will say, "This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left."

In September my pastor began a series in the book of Nehemiah. The overall theme of the series was "there's something bigger in your life than what's going on in your life; God has prepared things for you to do and He is working to shape your heart to see them." (Eph. 2:10). At the same time, I began reading the book Radical by David Platt, and was really challenged by the way He presented the biblical concept of radical obedience. At this time, I began praying that if God did want me to spend some time overseas, that He would begin to open doors and show me what that might look like in my life. At that time I had no idea where or when, I just knew the answer was yes and that I would have to trust Him to unravel the details in His perfect time.

Matt. 9:38 "The harvest is great, but the workers are few. So pray to the Lord who is in charge of the harvest; ask Him to send more workers into His fields."

One day in November I went to talk with my pastor, Eric, and Adam, our worship leader. I shared with them the desire the Lord had put in my heart to step out in obedience to His calling to "go" wherever He opened the door for me to do so. Adam's first response was "I'm not surprised," which coming from someone who knows me well and has known me for several years, really confirmed that it wasnt just some sporadic thing I had decided one day out of the blue.Following my time with them, I spent some time online looking at some different ministries and sending organizations...and became slightly overwhelmed...

Phil. 4:6-7 "Do not worry about anything, instead pray about everything. Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."

Prov. 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do and He will show you which path to take."

Psalm 37:4-5 "Take delight in the Lord and He will give you your heart's desires. Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you."