Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Florida to Siberia Part 2

Okay allow me to back up just a little. As I mentioned I grew up in beautiful sunny St.Pete, Florida. This paradise was my home...


I grew up in a wonderful Christian home and was raised in church. Church was not an option in my house. I am thankful for a father and mother who knew the importance of raising a family in church. So you may wonder why I didn't accept Christ as my Savior sooner in life. 


Like a lot of people I have met over the years, I had made a profession of faith when I was five years old. But growing up I always doubted if I truly did accept Christ. When I was sixteen years old, the Holy Spirit convicted me at a youth activity about my need of repentance and salvation.  I understood then that salvation was more than saying "I'm sorry for my sins and Jesus forgive me." It was a repentance - a turning from- my old ways and sin nature and desiring to do what was right ( and doing it!). From that day on I was determined to do what was right with God's help. It was the best decision I have ever made! 


Okay back to arriving at Heartland Baptist Bible College...


Oklahoma, where the wind goes sweeping through the plains. And that's about all there is there- plains and red dirt. Just kidding ( a little). 


So I left my beaches and sunshine to go to college in the great state of Oklahoma. As I had mentioned before I was hesitant to go to college right away. I wanted to build my career and then transfer out to Oklahoma and go to college. But I went when the Lord told me to. And guess what? Shortly after I arrived in OKC, Starbucks nationally raised the pay for all supervisors in the company. Who would have ever thought that would happen? Not I! It was reassuring to see that even in my finances the Lord was going to take care of me. This was the first time I saw the Lord bless me for stepping out on faith and trusting Him. 



And of course a few years later, the Lord brought this handsome young man my way. And now we are on our way to start deputation to be missionaries in Siberia, Russia.           ( Such a humbling thing, that the Lord would use me in such a way.) God is so good to us.


I can look back at that time before college, where I made the decision to do what God wanted, when He wanted, the way He wanted and see how the Lord blessed. Time after time as I trust Him, sometimes not knowing what is next, the Lord always has taken care of me and blessed me beyond what I can imagine. 


Now I look forward to the next step of faith, because I have the confidence that the Lord will take care of me. His will for my life is much more exciting than anything I could have tried to do on my own. And now when things come my way that are unexpected instead of worry, I trust Him (sometimes I worry then I trust :) ) . I am excited that God would care so much for me. And I know He wants that for all of His children. 


"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord." Isaiah 55:8


If you are having trouble trusting God with something whether small or big, trust Him. His ways are perfect. God only wants what is best for us. Hold his hand through it all and He promises to take care of you. 


"Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusted in thee. Trust ye in the LORD forever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength." Isaiah 26:3,4

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Florida to Siberia

How does one go from the sunshine state to one of the coldest parts of the world? 


Living by faith- that's how! Living by faith is the most exciting adventure a person could live; and I am blessed to be living this life.

"For we walk by faith not by sight." II Corinthians 5:7
(The most simple yet the most difficult verse in the Bible.)

Life is full of choices. Choices to do right and choices to do wrong. To choose the straight and narrow road or the wide road. On February 26, 2005, I chose Christ as my Saviour, and that was the best decision  of my life. I would like to say, I jumped right in and gave my whole life to Christ at that time, but I didn't. I wanted to, but secretly I held on to a small part of my heart out of fear.

In fall of 2005, I was faced with another decision, to attend Bible college in Oklahoma City or to pursue a career. I knew the Lord had called me to attend Heartland Baptist Bible College, but again fear crept into my heart. I knew Satan was working hard to again get me off track. He knew he could no longer have my soul but at the very least he would try to get my will. I went to my favorite place one night, the beach, and sat and prayed. That night I surrendered and gave the Lord another small part of my heart that I was holding back.

Little did I know some of the greatest days of my life were ahead. A life of peace and true joy that can only come from living your life for God. If I would have known then what I know now, I would have given my all to Christ years ago and holding nothing back! I am thankful we have a patient God who deals with each of His children in their own time. Check out my next post to find out what happens when I arrived at Heartland.