LOVE

When I go to write a blog post, I always wonder what people want to know who are reading it.  Do they want to know about my everyday life?  What exactly is going on in Haiti?  What am I doing?  Who do I talk to and hang out with?  When I write a post, it is usually always about what the Lord is teaching and what He is doing.  I am an ordinary person, doing ordinary things, for an extraordinary God.  He had and still has a calling on my life.  I simply raised my hands and said, “Yes, God.  Send me!” He has a call on every life here on Earth.  What is your Call?  What does the Lord want to do with you? Have you asked Him?

At the 1^st of the year, Pastor Craig from LifeChurch spoke about 1 word God wants you to focus on this year and what scripture He wants you to live for this year.  I thought all my new year’s resolutions fail- so of course I will see what God wants for me in this new year because unlike my new year’s resolutions HE NEVER FAILS. I was praying for about 2 days or so and the Lord simply said LOVE.  Cool, so you want me to “Love You (the Lord my God) with all my heart, with all my soul, and with my entire mind; and to love my neighbor as myself” (Matthew 22:37).  He said that is the greatest commandment and of course I want you to follow my command.  That is not your scripture for the year.  I continued to pray about the verse He wanted me to focus on.  God was not going to leave me hanging without my verse because “He never leaves us nor forsakes us!” With the most gentle loving words He said, “For Christ’s LOVE compels us” 2 Corinthians 5:14. 

“For Christ’s LOVE compels us.”   

Because of Christ’s love, I was brought out of darkness and into a marvelous life.  Because of Christ’s love, I see everyone as my neighbor.  Because of Christ’s love, I want every person to experience this love. 

We are dead but this love brings life.  “For Christ’s love compels us, that we are convinced that One died for ALL; therefore, ALL have died” 2 Corinthians 5:14.  I have tried to love out of my own strength.  I did it today and totally failed.  I went next door to my sweet neighbors who are so poor yet rich in love.  Sometimes it is uncomfortable because mwen pa pale Kreole byen/ I don’t speak Creole well. However, Christ’s love calls me to go over there.  Help the boy who has a horrible cut from a moto accident.  Hold the child who doesn’t get held.  Live, laugh, love, and learn from them.  I love to go over there- they teach me so much and bring me so much joy!  When I go on my own strength or from my love, I can’t do it.  I freeze.  I can’t speak.  I can’t love. I get annoyed. I get frustrated.   Then, I surrender- I declare I am dead but alive in Christ and His love compels me. 

In order for Christ’s love to compel me, I must first be filled with His love.  I am the bride of Christ.  This is something my mind does not understand, yet I will keep pursuing Him and His Love because when I pursue Him, He pursues me ever more! 

What is your word?  What is your scripture?  What is your call?

The Call

How many times has the Lord called me to do something and I let fear stop me?  Fear of losing friends.  Fear of not having money.  Fear of never getting married.  Fear of not having a job.  Fear of the uncomfortable.  Fear of the unknown.  Fear of rejection.  How many times has He called me and I obediently walked into the Call?  I feared breaking up with my boyfriend but had to follow His call.  I feared leaving my family but had to trust He would provide.  I feared leaving my friends and possibly not having friends but once again I trust Him.  He calls us to high places, we must obey.  The first part of the great commission is, “Go!”.  Go step out of boat and onto the water, Peter.  Go lead the people out of exile and in to the promise land, Moses.  Go divide the land and be a leader, Joshua.

God told me I was going to Go to a third world country after I got my Masters.  I didn’t know where, but I knew I was supposed to be with African Americans (so immediately I thought cool Africa!).  Then the Lord told me, “Haiti”.  I walked obediently into His call- He told me to commit a year but I knew in my heart it was going to be longer.  I am praying for what next year looks like.  God has opened the doors for me to being the team coordinator for the Tugwells with Outside the Bowl/ Titus Task.  Is there fear behind that? UMMM absolutely!  God wants me to plan trips for Americans to come and serve Haiti.  I have to find translators, transportation, housing, finances, and places and people to serve in Haiti.  I cast all my worries on Him.  Satan would love for me to walk in fear and say no and that I can’t do it.  Truth is… I can’t do it!  Christ Can!  “He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world” 1 John 4:4.

I am praying about His Call on my life.  I know it is in Haiti.  The Lord also says to take care of widows and orphans.  I have a dear friend who is a widow with 5 beautiful girls who I absolutely love with all of my heart.  They live right next door to me and have the greatest patience with my Creole and our form of communication.  My friend knows how much I love her girls.  One lady asked me if I had any kids and I said no.  Immediately, my friend Odet turned around and said,” Oh, Heather. Pa Vre.  W gen cinc timouns! Heather. Not true.  You have 5 kids” referring to her 5 girls who I do love so much and would do anything for those girls.  She is a widow, who has 5 girls, and no job.  I am seeking the Lord about what to do to find her a job because I love those girls so much and her!  What Call does the Lord have for me with Odet?  He says to take care of the widow.  How can I take care of her? 

Your call could easily be for 1 person because the Lord cares about the 1 lost son.  Your call could be quitting your job to start something new.  Your call could be forgiving someone who you could never forgive.  Your call is from the Lord.  Your call is that one lost person who desperately needs a Savior.  What does He want you to do?  Do not let fear get in the way.  Because “His perfect love drives out all fear” 1 John 4:18     

4 years ago

"Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed' says the Lord who has compassion on you." Isaiah 54:10


4 years ago today- January 12, 2010 around 4:45 God shook Haiti for about 30 seconds.  Being here today has touched my life tremendously.  With a day of destruction the Lord brought unity within this country, people fell to their knees to God, and a land that was dedicated to Satan became dedicated to the One True King.  Even with destruction- "God works for the good of those who love Him!" So many people here lost loved ones. They saw death all around them but God chose them to live.  God chooses us to live daily for Him.  It is not an accident you are living on Earth and breathing right now.  There is a purpose- He has a purpose for you.  He can take away our life in a moment.  He is powerful, He is just, He is mighty, He is the God of this city and of the World! 


At church today I got to hear about people's testimonies about where they were on that day, what had happened, what they experienced.  All of their stories focused on God's goodness, faithfulness, and He was there through it ALL!  The people in Haiti woke up 4 years ago today thinking it was another normal day; however, God said that it was time to get His people to hear Him.  He is changing this country and the world!  halleluiah.  He is a good Papa who loves and cares for us so much.  I pray right now that you can experience the compassion and love He has for you.


"They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11


"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
  

my feet may fail

As my time is getting closer to leaving my family, my heart gets sad.  I was in my car thinking about leaving and saying goodbye; immediately tears started streaming down my face I was already seeking His comfort but the tears just made it more clear I needed more of Him!  I was listening to 100.9 KXOJ (Christian radio station in Tulsa) and I said, "Lord you can use the next song to tell me that I am doing the right thing.  Papa, please show me that I am doing the right thing by leaving my family and friends." Then, He played the song Oceans by Hillsong United:

You called me out upon the water, the great unknown, my feet may fail.  There I find you in the mystery, oceans deep, my faith will stand.  Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the waters wherever you may call me.  Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander, and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior.   

God has used this song to speak truth into my life about Haiti.  It brings so much comfort to me when I think about uncomfortable times there.  In the moment the song came on, the tears fell harder because we serve such a good Father who loves us more than I can imagine! Being faithful in small things, He will allow us to be faithful in big things.

In addition to all of this, I read Sarah Young's Jesus Calling.  I haven't read it in a while but this morning my mom had it sitting on the counter and the Lord told me to read it today.  I thought it would be great to share because it is built on so much truth!

You can achieve the victorious life through living in deep dependence on Me.  People don't associate victory with success: not falling or stumbling, not making mistakes.  But those who are successful in their own strength tend to go their own way, forgetting about Me.  It is through problems and failure, weakness and neediness, that you learn to rely on Me.
True dependence is not simply asking Me to bless what you have decided to do.  It is coming to Me with an open mind and heart, inviting Me to plant My desires within you.  I may infuse within you a dream that seems far beyond your reach.  You know that in yourself you cannot achieve such a goal.  Thus begins your journey and profound reliance on Me.  It is faithwalk, taken one step at a time, leaning on Me as much as you need.  This is not a path of continual success bu of multiple failures.  However, each failure is followed by growth, nourished by increased reliance on Me.

It is okay that my feet fail.  The Lord says we will fail, everyday!  Run back to Him, let Him carry you when your oceans deep.  In Him you can do anything, you can walk on the oceans!

Psalm 34:17-18                             2 Corinthians 5:7                         Joshua 1:8

God never said it would be easy.

I believe that so often when we think of following Jesus, we think of how easy life will be.  That everything I have planned will go exactly how I want it.  Life will be the most wonderful experience and God will just bless me and all my dreams.  Right because it says "For I know the plans I have for you' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'".  His plan is obviously my plan! Right?! Well, have you ever read the verse that follows that one?  "Then you will call upon ME and come and pray to ME.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with ALL your heart (just some of my heart? just a little bit of my heart? NO ALL).  I will be found by you (he wants to be found by you- He wants you to search for Him and only Him) and will bring you back from captivity.  I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile." That sounds a lot more like His plan than my plan.  What else does He say about what life looks like following Jesus?

"I consider the present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us". Romans 8:18

Present sufferings-- there will be suffering because of following Jesus, there will be suffering because we are living in a dark world, there will be suffering because we are not in Heaven with our Father.

"Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me." Matthew 5:11

Jesus tells us that people will insult you.  People will persecute you.  Life will be hard, but guess what He has overcome the World!

As I was thinking about leaving home, saying good bye to my family, saying bye to friends- I asked God, "Am I doing the right thing?  Lord, I am sad, I don't want to leave.  I want to be with my family, I want to be planning my best friend's wedding with her, I am tired of saying good bye. I can get a teaching job here."  God responded immediately back to me, "I never said life would be easy, I said life is hard, filled with hardships, trials, and persecution.  John the Baptist was beheaded for proclaiming My truth.  Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."  I consider everything loss for the sake of Christ.  He has given me so much comfort in knowing Haiti is exactly where He wants me even though I do get sad and life is hard there.  He called me out upon the waters.  I long to look on the face of the one that I love and long to stay in His presence.  Haiti right now is His presence for me.  He told us life would be hard, and following Jesus is even harder.  Yet, it is not hard because my heart is no longer fixed on things of this Earth but on Heaven- on things above. 

"Praise be to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!  In his great mercy, he has given us a new life into a living hope through the ressurection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an heritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade- kept in heaven for you". 1 Peter 1:3-4