You have called me higher

Each and every day is a new lesson and a new adventure. I am overwhelmed at how much there is to learn, but I am so excited to learn more. I know that I can never ever learn everything- that is the HUGENESS of our God. It is so exciting and I am so incredibly blessed to be surrounded by the people that are here. This is family. We learn together and we cry together. I know that when I cannot hold myself up, they will hold me. I know when I am joyful, they will laugh with me.This fellowship is better than anything I could have imagined. I have so many edifying, God-given friendships and I am so unbelievably grateful to God for bringing each one of the people here at this time. He has hand chosen us- my God is purposeful and deliberate. Blessed.

The past two months God has revealed and changed more in me than I can ever write down. Over and over He has shown me who He really is. I am so thankful that He is not who I think or say He is. He is not trapped in my box or in any way defined by me. He simply is. My God is "I am." He always has been, He is now, and He forever will be. He's God of the universe, my Perfect Father, my best friend, and worthy of praise. He is to be feared & He is to be loved.

Last week I was reading in my quiet time about Jesus feeding the 5,000. That same day in class, our speaker talked about this story in a way I had never heard it. In the Bible, there are no detailed descriptions of the boy that came with these five loaves and fish. As far as we know, he was just a typical little boy. He came expecting a normal day. He probably woke up feeling the same as any other day. I imagine him being alone with a little backpack, ready for a cute typical little boy adventure- but that's just me :) All it took was for him to be willing- to trust. It doesn't say he gave some and kept a little bit for himself because he was hungry. It doesn't say he hid a little bit in his pockets for safe keeping. He gave it all to Jesus. He gave believing that Jesus would provide and multiply the little he had. He placed everything he had in his hands into the hands of The Saviour- and what he gave became more than enough. Jesus took the little bit he thought was small and insignificant, and blessed thousands with it. All this boy did was be willing. That's all God asks of us.

That same day I felt God tugging at my heart to place all that's in my hands into His and watch it become more than enough. I may be small, I may not think I have anything to give, & I may think my hands are empty. God sees through the crowd into my heart and into my hands. He won't relent until He has it all. I'm excited to see what Jesus will do through the bits of things I have taken out of my hands and placed in His. My God does miracles. I am learning daily that it's not about what you give; it's about the attitude of your heart. It's an exciting place to be.

I think my biggest revelation has been realizing that me and Jesus are doing this life together. I talked about this in my last blog. I think it's funny to think I used to stress and worry about "missing God's will" or "choosing the wrong path". We make God's will entirely too complicated. I somehow thought God needed me to accomplish something for Him on earth during my life. As if God needs me, right?! I need Him- not the other way around. If God wanted to do something, He could do it. He doesn't 'need' me to do anything for Him. Nothing I could do would ever make God love me more or love me less. Walking daily with Jesus is the only way to life. He loves me, and without that love, I am nothing. There are enough people playing it safe. I believe we were created for faith, for adventure, and for living on the edge. Our life on earth is only a second in eternity. We were not called to live boring lives- we were made to be radical.  If we take Jesus seriously, if we believe everything He has said, we will see the world change. Keeping our eyes fixed on Him.

At the very start of Jeremiah, he says to God in chapter 1 verse 6, "Oh, God. I really don't know how to speak well enough for that. I am too young." and God replies, "Don't ever say I am too young. Go to whomever I send you and say whatever I tell you. I am there with you."
This is our call, too. Let's go.

We are called to go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Love God, love your neighbor. Care for the widow and the orphan. Love. He said we would do greater things than He did. I am not going to wait for someone else to do what God has called me to do myself. Imagine if we started taking Jesus seriously. I want to give it all I have- running in reckless abandon toward my Creator. This is life. There is no life outside of Him.

"God, I want to know your heart. I want what you want. In my weakness, you are stronger. You must become greater and I must become less. Thank you that you are love- love that can move the mountains, but knows me by name. Let your joy be my strength. In Jesus name, amen."

What are you waiting for?

A typical child laughs about 240 times a day. A typical adult laughs about 15-20 times a day. God created children with a faith much bigger than most adults. They trust, believe, and find joy in the simple things. There should never ever be a reason for that to be broken or stolen. Somewhere along the way we have lost our laughter. The time of childhood is so important in any life. This is where we develop the way we think; this is when we dream; this is when we laugh more than any other time in life.

Each year, sex trafficking victimizes 2.2 million children. That's four children every minute. A child prostitute can serve up to 1,500 clients per year. 78% of child prostitutes will acquire an STD and over 90% of children rescued from brothels are affected by HIV. 8 in 12 child prostitutes will have an abortion. This is not okay. These children are REAL. They have purpose; they have value. No one on this earth has the authority to give a price to anyone. No one should ever be bought or sold. These children, as everyone on this earth, have been made in the image of God. And we are equal, the pimp trafficking children, me sitting here writing this, the clients, the child being trafficked, and you reading this.

These children need someone to stand up for them. It's time for change. It's starts with you and me. Whoever you may be. Tell someone. Pray. Research. Write a letter to the government of a country dealing with these issues. It may be in your own backyard. Open your eyes to see it. It's everywhere.

Human trafficking is a cycle. Hurt people will hurt people. One of the beautiful qualities of our God is that He is into taking broken people and turning them into something beautiful. He wants to take out the roots of human trafficking that have so deeply invaded our world. Be a part of it. They are trapped, they are hopeless, and they need Jesus. There are more slaves in our world today than any other time in our history. Speak up for those who cannot speak up for themselves.

"People were created to be loved, and things were created to be used. This world is in chaos because things are being loved and people are being used."

What would Jesus do?

He got down and sat in the dirt beside the broken adultress. He loved on the prostitutes. He said in Matthew 19:14, "Let the children come to me." He loved. He accepted them with open arms. My God is love. He was a voice for the voiceless and He was never afraid of letting someone else's dirt get on Himself. He defended. He moved. We are called to live like Him, so it's time to take action. This is the world we live in, too.

God's heart is broken for these people. Is yours?

Now, you may choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you didn't know.

     

"You can go through your DTS, or your DTS can go through you."

Can't believe we're in week seven! Almost the two month point!! Over half way through lecture phase. Just a little more time before outreach and I know it's going to fly!

The past three weeks have been unbelievable! Unbelievably busy & unbelievably incredible. Our speaker for week 4 was Stephanie Murillo and she taught us about the Fear of The Lord. During the week, God spoke lots! One morning we spent at the beach just resting and spending time with God and He brought me to Romans 8. He spoke directly to my heart and I found so much peace. We talked about God's character and what it really means to fear the Lord.

The next week we had Kay Charlotte. She talked about Identity in Christ. I think that was my favourite week of the school so far We talked about the things that hold us from being the people God created us to be and what holds us from seeing ourselves the way God sees us. We talked about pride, being vulnerable, and how important dealing with the past is. We talked about forgiveness and the effects the lack of forgiveness has on us. She spoke life into us and for me, God brought so much freedom through her. Praise God that His yolk is easy and His burden is light. On Friday that week, we went to a cemetery. Sounds weird- I know. When we first arrived Kay Charlotte told us that God has spoken to her to share Romans 8 with us. The very same passage that God spoke to my heart one week before. We spent time there sitting and talking with God. Verse 10 says, "But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness." Being in a cemetery really gives you a solid visual of being dead to yourself- it's probably the best visual there could be! When Jesus said, "Take up your cross and follow me" he meant it to be a one way trip- dying to yourself and living in reckless abandon because of what is ALREADY finished. All things are possible with Him.

Last week, week 6, our theme was Destiny and Calling. Life is about walking hand in hand with Jesus Christ. When you're in that kind of relationship with Him, you're right in the middle of God's will. God didn't create us to accomplish His will, He made us for relationship with Him. The end. We don't ever need to stress about missing God's will or being in the wrong place. If we are where ever we are WITH Jesus and our eyes on Him, we are where we need to be. There is always going to be choices and decisions we need to make in life, but if God has an opinion or a dream for you, He will make it clear to you. He'll bring it around again if you miss it the first time :) We need to be wanting Jesus more than we want to know the future. The secret to discovering our destiny is living with our eyes fixed on Jesus, running towards Him daily. Jesus loves me, because He loves me. I didn't do anything to deserve that love, nor could I ever. 

She explained, "If you had children and all day everyday they were running around- cleaning the house, making you food, making you coffee, working all day, giving you money, and building you big beautiful buildings - and because of that at the end of the day they were always exhausted, would that make you happy? No. All you would want for them- your very own children- would be to slow down, take time, sit down, and talk with you. Share their heart. Be close." This is the kind of relationship God wants with us.

I don't serve Him to BE loved by Him,

I serve Jesus because I AM loved by Him.

So, to say the very least- I won't ever be the same :) Life is good. The sun is hot, ministries are awesome, and the joy of the Lord is my strength. 

This past weekend we got to finally go visit NPH which was awesome. Loved seeing everyone there.

Fransisco and Junior, some of my NPH babies.

Some of my favourite ladies! Last week the beautiful girl in the blue dress left us after two months of mission building here. She's super and we miss her. Love you Caedy!

Beach day with my sisters :) 

Early morning sunrises at the beach appreciating God's creation.

My boy Junior.

Anyways, outreach is coming up really fast! Only one month left! We're really trying to fund raise and we're lacking a lot of money. So if you want to help, please let me know! But our God is Jehovah Jirah and He will provide. He wouldn't have called us to these two countries if He wasn't going to help us get there!

Love you all<3 Hugs from the DR to home. God bless,

Mairi MacP.