Beloved.

 

 

 

The first time I ever heard this song ["My Beloved" by Kari Job] was my first day of my summer internship at Sonrise Mountain Ranch in Colorado. The other intern, Kaylan, had it playing in her car while we were driving down the mountain into town, and it brought me to tears. That summer I really started to grasp and feel how much God really loved me and that he not only notices us, but I learned how important our lives are to Him and how deep he cares for each of us. Such a beautiful, sweet song about God's love for us.

 

 

J e s u s .

This morning Christy and I loaded our cars with our high school girls and headed downtown to go to help feed the hungry. We made breakfast casseroles, flipped pancakes, and were blessed to be able to serve tons of fruit! They don't always get to have fruit available, but this week we had bananas, pears, apples and watermelon. This particular place has food, a clinic, an art table, piano, clothes AND showers. Every person gets to take a nice shower and then come and get breakfast. Some really great men and women came through the line and showed so much gratitude and some were extremely hilarious and would burst through the door and sing or yell "rock on!" and run out as fast as he came in. One man in particular came through the line, looked up and smiled, and I had to take a step back because he looks so similar to Jesus. I know doing this I come into contact with a large number of men who have beards and longer hair, but this man really looked like what I've always thought Jesus to look like. I've done this for years and this is the first time this has happened. It sounds weird I'm sure. I wondered what if Jesus was really there in the line and what that would be like.I'm  glad I felt that way and was taken back by it because It reminded me this morning that everyone we serve IS serving Him. What immediately came to mind was in Matthew:

³¹ “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. ³³ He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

It was such a wonderful reminder that whatever we do for the least of these brothers and sisters of his, we do for him. It speaks of God's desire for us to care for others and it's Him we are loving and serving. I think this passage is so beautiful. Whatever you do, do for God's glory. Serve those from the love that overflows out of the Love of Jesus. We must care for His children. When we reach out to someone who needs it, our hand is God's hand in that moment.

A soul at rest

I have been studying what it means to be a woman of simplicity. God is showing me what it means to live simply in devotion to God and is giving me a soul at rest through trusting my heavenly father's loving hands. I'm learning how to take off my heavy yoke, lay it at His feet and put on his light and joyful one. It's a blessing to sit in quietness with God, to hear him and be heard. Life has seemed quite busy this past year with struggles, triumphs, miracles, and I'm thankful that God's grace filled it all. What I've loved most recently is the peace that covers everything more than ever before. With trusting God comes a strange inner peace that engulfs all things. I love psalm 131 and the picture it paints of a man who has chosen to have a peace deeply rooted in his soul. 

"My heart is not proud, O Lord,

my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul;

like a weaned child with its mother,

like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord

both now and forevermore." Psalm 131

"His heart is not lifted up; his eyes do not look enviously and hungrily to the heights beyond him; he does not dwell in anxious, wearisome thought on matters which are best left alone; he concentrates his sympathies and his energies on that which demands his attention, and which is productive of good to himself and those around him; he is perfectly contented to be just what God has made him, to go where his Master sends him, to do what is placed in his hands to do. He is so far from thinking of himself essential to the prosperity of the Church and the redemption of the world, that he hopefully, and even confidently, leaves that in the care of the Supreme." E.R. Conder and W. Clarkson

Love

Hannah

Someday my Friend....

I think these lyrics are so sweet

One day you'll feel the sun
Warming your callused skin
The ropes will come undone
No more wars left to win

Someday my dearest friend
Someday though I don't know when
Oooo you will live in peace.

Your battered heart will soar
Your wounds turned into wings
No one will keep the score
You wouldn't care anyway

Someday my dearest friend
Someday though I don't know when
Oooo you will live in peace.

May you see redemption
On this side of heaven
May you see redemption
On this side of heaven
May you see redemption
On this side of heaven
My friend

Someday my dearest friend
Someday though I don't know when
Oooo you will live

Someday my dearest friend
Someday though I don't know when
Oooo you will live in peace

God's Power

God is very faithful and wonderful whether we recognize it or not. The truth is that most of the time we don't. We see His faithfulness in the obvious blessings through the things we see as "good". The things we desire and then receive because they line up with His will... it's easy to see those things as blessings. But God is continually working behind the scenes of all things...both things that we see as good and bad, things unknown to us. Its' like the way a person can give praise because of sunshine, but the reality is that there's a terrible drought...or complain because of the rain even though it's really giving back life to our land, and renewing our water supply.  I see God's goodness many times in hindsight. I don't always know what's going on, but looking back I can sometimes realize why he's done this or that and how it's working for His plan...and that plan is different for every single person, each one beautiful and unique. Sometimes I feel like God gave us fingerprints to remind us that no one is the same and no one's path and purpose is exactly the same. Even identical twins have differing fingerprints. So many times we look at our path and then another's and begin to compare, and I'm happily realizing there is absolutely no sense to it. Each person comes from a one of a kind background, family, heritage, culture, beliefs and all of those things are so special and to be valued. I am looking around me and seeing my friends and loved ones deciding to continue on with school, getting married (tis the season!), having babies or getting engaged...and I am getting on a boat thousand of miles away from home. To me this is feels normal because I've wanted to serve with Mercy Ships for so long. It has been this crazy desire for such a long time that it seems normal, but then it hits me that I am really doing this so I can go and serve and be a part of a greater purpose that loves people in tangible ways, the way Jesus loved us so well. I was thinking about all of this and how its fantastic but crazy to be on a SHIP on a different continent for months, and then look at my hands and it's grooves and prints and realize this is all a part of a plan that God wonderfully made for me to be a part of. Sometimes I look at my hands and  feel small and that the world is so huge and wonder how I could ever make even a small dent. But it's God who made them. And it's God who works through them. and that fact alone holds endless and immeasurable power.

God's power has shown up just through raising support for this. Before I applied to go on Mercy Ships, I was worried about fundraising and if I would be able to get enough money to go or not. All it was was fear and distrust that had no right to be there. The lord showed me verse after verse to trust. I was reading and seeing all of this and felt something I couldn't really explain. It was as if the Lord was saying "Hannah, not only will I provide for you, but you won't have to sent out a single fundraising letter..." This struck me as a little strange because my funding mark was a whopping $0.00 at that point. But I stuck with it, didn't mail any letters out and decided to have a fundraiser sale and relied on others spreading the word about this trip. The generosity poured in from loved ones and unexpected places, and I feel so blessed that the Lord has provided more than I ever expected. What was so wonderful about this is how deeply meaningful he made every small thing. It wasn't just a garage sale, but a coming together of loved ones. My mom, aunt, and grandmother came in town to help. My neighbors brought over their extra things, made baked goods, and were my cheerleaders for the day. I was surrounded by furniture, food, clothes, etc, but to me i was surrounded my so much love. We had so much stuff and only had to have our sale for two days because everything sold. I am so thankful to everyone who came to help, donated their stuff, their time and cheered me on. I am forever grateful. God is a big big God.

All my lovely Helpers! 

From streams in the desert - Oct 23

"Not one word has failed of all the good promises he gave. (1 Kings 8:56)

Someday we will understand that God has a reason behind every no He gives us through the course of our lives. Yet even in this life, He always makes it up to us. When God's people are worried and concerned that their prayers are not being answered, how often we have seen Him working to answer them in a far greater way! Occasionally we catch a glimpse of this, but the complete revelation of it will not be seen until later.

If God says yes to our prayer, dear heart,
And the sunlight is golden, the sky is blue,
While the smooth road beckons to me and you,
And songbirds are singing as on we go,
Pausing to pick the flowers at our feet,
Stopping to drink of the streams that we meet,
Happy, more happy, our journey will grow,
If God says yes to our prayer, dear heart.

If God says no to our prayer, dear heart,
And the clouds hang heavy and dull and gray;
If the rough rocks hinder and block the way,
While the sharp winds pierce us and sting with cold;
Yet, dear, there is home at the journey's end,
And these are the trials the Father does send
To draw us as sheep to His Heavenly fold,
If God says no to our prayer, dear heart."

If we only had the faith not to rush into things but to "be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him" - waiting for His full explanation that will not be revealed until Jesus Christ comes again! When has God ever taken anything from a person without restoring it many times over? Yet what are we to think if He does not immediately restore what has been taken? Is today His only day to Work? Does he have any concerns beyond this little world of ours? Can He still work beyond our death or does the door of the grave open to nothing but infinite darkness and eternal silence? Even if we confine our thinking to this life, it is true that God never touches the heart with a trial without intending to bestow a great gift of compassionate blessing.

Who has the glory?

A few months ago, my friend and I went to go feed the hungry and homeless downtown at a place called "Church Under Bridge". We had gone there before, but this specific time I decided we should make sandwiches. I emailed our friend who works there saying "I love cooking in mass quantities! Can I make 200 sandwiches!?" I've seen it done quickly at the normal place I helped at every weekend and figured it would go by quickly...boy was I wrong. My friend Colin came over that day early in the morning and we didn't finish until after 4pm! We had so much fun making them and it was so worth it. When we got there, we had more than enough. It happened to be a slow night, because it was the beginning of the month, so every person took a few to save for later. Even after that we still had some left. So we drove around the streets outside the facility looking for more homeless who might want something to eat. Some people have dogs and carts and don't come get food because they worry they will be taken if they don't guard them. So we spotted a few people under a dark bridge, so of course Colin being Colin, immediately hopped the curb and drove straight to them. We rolled down the windows and He asked the men if they wanted some sandwiches. They came over quickly and took them telling us thank you and praise God. What struck me the most was one man who looked quite old, with very dark skin, and barely spoken English. When we pulled up and gave him the sandwiches, he paused looked right at us and pointed up to the heavens and I remember hearing Jesus come from his lips, and we nodded in agreeance. He then whipped out a harmonica from his pocket and began to play what sounded like amazing grace on his harmonica followed by another slow and beautiful song. It was so beautiful, and it felt like time stood still in that moment. What made the most impact was that they knew we were doing what we were doing because of the Love of Jesus. That is the goal. Not to do good deeds and do kind things for our own glory, but to radiate Jesus in those things that GOD gets glory not ourselves.

 I hope that in all that I do, people bypass me and just see God and HIS love for them.  We are just the vessels, the carriers of the Love. We are His body going out into the world loving people. That is such a privilege and honor.

A week or so ago our pastor spoke on "Why do you do what you do? Who gets the glory? You or God?" This message was simple and wonderful and is such a great reminder of checking our reasons of why we do anything and everything. I hope that in all things I do, God is the one who is being glorified and not myself, and my reasons are for His purposes, not my own. If we do things for our own glory, it's worthless. If our lives are motivated by making Jesus' love known and the love of God through His son and by being the the body of Christ, then it's worth everything. Jesus is worth our whole lives and all of our dedication.

Someone I admire a lot is my Chiropractor. He is undeniably a Christian man, and glorifies God. He posts verses on his sign outside for people driving by, has Christian music playing inside, has prayed for our family, and most importantly shows how much he cares. He always makes my whole family laugh (we laugh at just about everything so maybe that's given), and asks questions that make me think. He most definitely glorifies God and it's evident by his love in the way he interacts with his patients. 

We can glorify God in the big and the small. Sometimes people ask themselves if they can glorify God doing a menial job, task or situation, and they doubt they can. I have asked myself that, and the Lord has shown me that the answer is Yes. Always. There is no menial task in God's purposeful eyes. We ask ourselves if we can glorify God in a situation, but maybe we should be asking the question in a different way..."Can I show love in this situation?" ..When we love, we radiate Him..because God is Love itself. Our answer will be yes. 


John 13:34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 Corinthians 10:31
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

1 John 4:8
 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.


A man Spoke at a Graduation ceremony recently and his speech went Viral. It's about being kind to others and ultimately loving one another. I saw an interview with him on the news this morning. The following words are bits and pieces of his speech that I pulled out the parts I especially liked and a few words I got from his interview today...

"Kindness, it turns out, is hard.. – We get our butts kicked by real life, and people come to our defense, and help us, and we learn that we’re not separate, and don’t want to be.  We see people near and dear to us dropping away, and are gradually convinced that maybe we too will drop away. ..And so, a prediction, and my heartfelt wish for you: as you get older, your self will diminish and you will grow in love.  YOU will gradually be replaced by LOVE… Still, accomplishment is unreliable.  “Succeeding,” whatever that might mean to you, is hard, and the need to do so constantly renews itself (success is like a mountain that keeps growing ahead of you as you hike it), and there’s the very real danger that “succeeding” will take up your whole life, while the big questions go untended...Since, according to me, your life is going to be a gradual process of becoming kinder and more loving: Hurry up.  Speed it along.  Start right now.  There’s a confusion in each of us, a sickness, really: selfishness.  But there’s also a cure.  So be a good and proactive and even somewhat desperate patient on your own behalf – seek out the most efficacious anti-selfishness medicines, energetically, for the rest of your life. …Do all the other things, the ambitious things – but as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness.  Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. [(my own paraphrasing>Don’t betray the best part of yourself, the part that loves, forgives, protects, defends and offers this selfless kindness to others.] That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality – your soul, if you will – is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place.  Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, and share its fruits tirelessly. And at the end of your life,  I hope you will say: It has been so wonderful." 

Love 
Han.

Peculiar Glory

Some artists I really love, named Shane and Shane,  posted this video and I had to share...This video brought me to tears. "Though you Slay me" by Shane & Shane Feat. John Piper

.
..Don't look to what is seen. It is not meaningless. It's working for you an eternal weight of glory. Therefore do not lose heart but take these truths and day by day focus on them. Preach them to yourself every morning. Get alone with god and preach his word into your mind until your heart sings with confidence that you are new and cared for...

Mercy Ships

It's here! This is the link to my personal support page!

To Donate, please follow the Link Below:

http://mercyships-us.donorpages.com/crewmates/HannahCheney/

(This Video is a Trailer for Mercy Ships' Upcoming documentary "The Surgery Ship" [late 2013])

If you know me, then you know I've been obsessed with Mercy Ships for years. Mercy Ships is an organization that offers FREE surgeries and health care to the world's poorest nations. They do this by bringing their ship, the Africa Mercy, to the Congo (currently) or a country along the western coast of Africa and dock for months at a time. They have performed thousands of life changing surgeries to those who would otherwise not get it. These surgeries (tumor removal, cateract surgery, cleft lip, and much more) allow the beautiful patients to return to society where they were previously rejected and have a better quality life. While there, they also have land based areas that help to equip and train the local people, making an impact long after they're gone. The crew members partner/volunteers with places like clinics and orphanages while they aren't working on the ship. Mercy Ships does this all because of JESUS and use his model as the example of bringing healing and hope to the forgotten poor. To operate their mission and keep it going they need people to support by both donating and by going and being God's hands and feet. I want to be those hands and feet. To do so, I must raise $6000. This is for my plane flights, $630 per month in crew fees, and living expenses while there. I will be working, selling my things and fundraising to be able to raise this! I know that God will provide loving people to donate toward His purposes just like He has before. I want to love Him and serve Him. I am so passionate about mercy ships, and I want to take part in what they are doing. I've always said "I will scrub floors on that boat...I just want to be a part of it!!". I feel so blessed it's finally happening. People come from many different countries to serve on the Africa Mercy Ship. I have been accepted to do so as the hospitality hostess, (in short)greeting all incoming crew and guests, along with many other responsibilities. We will be working onboard the ship, but getting off the ship in our free time for church every week and volunteer opportunities that we can sign up for. We are also able to "adopt a patient" and spend time with them during their recovery. These are just a few things I've heard, and I am so excited for what the Lord has in store during my stay. I will be going on this adventure by myself for months, and am more than excited. 3 years ago I wouldn't have done something like this. I knew about mercy ships and had the desire, but with who I was then, I wouldn't have gone/wasn't quite ready. So Jesus has taken me to this point by baby steps. Although I have been impatient at times, I am thankful the Lord has taken me by this pace. His way is right. I am so excited to serve and be a part of this mission and this community. Every single person is important in carrying out this mercy mission, from the kitchen staff and photographers, to nurses and surgeons, everyone is vital and important to God's work. [1 Corinthian 12:4-6 :There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.] ...This ship is a true example of that. These past few years the Lord has shown me that fulfilled life comes from giving of oneself. Great Joy always follows. I don't know what the rest of my future holds. And that's okay. A few months ago I didn't know I'd be serving in the Congo. I don't know what I will be doing one year from today, or five years from now. But one thing is certain. I will follow Jesus for the rest of my life. This is just a stepping stone to the beautiful life ahead. Thank you for your love and support. 

Love
Hannah


Here is a link to a short video about Mercy Ships :
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqw_729Vz24

Before and After
Jacklynn's cleft lip surgery

Visit Mercyships.org for more info. They also have a Facebook!

.....Love.....

I have a friend who is by far the kindest person I have ever met. The thing that stood out the most when I first met him was his genuine kindness and how well he loved people around him. I have learned so much from his life. I have learned that (although he is so talented) it doesn't matter how many accomplishments you check off your list, how talented you are or what approval you get. He taught me that value does not come from awards or deeds. What truly matters is that you LOVE people. He's loved me and others with words of encouragement, offers grace repeatedly, forgives immediately, with acts of kindness, and in the way he communicates. This is a lesson I am continuing to learn, and so glad I've had an example of what that looks like. The bible says that if we speak god's word with power,  have faith that moves mountains, give everything to the poor, and are the world's greatest evangelist and speak with eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love. we are nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.  If we do all these acts of good but don't love, our spirits are bankrupt. This is so powerful to me and makes me want to love people so much more and better than I do. My friend put it into perspective about being kind to others the other day using Job 31:15, which says " Did not he who made me in the womb make them? Did not the same one form us both within our mothers?"..saying in the passage that, servant or master, God made them both. This also means, sinner, saint, friend, enemy, family, and strangers are to be loved. We are all connected by the same God who made us. We are to love even when it is of no benefit to ourselves  or when it is difficult. We are Christ's, and he did that for us. While we were STILL sinners, He died for us. Love doesn't keep score, or keep record of wrongs, but love simply LOVES with no hidden agenda or expectation of gaining something. This is a lesson I pray I will continue to learn.

Love never gives up.

Love cares more for others than for self.

Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.

Love doesn’t strut,

Doesn’t have a swelled head,

Doesn’t force itself on others,

Isn’t always “me first,”

Doesn’t fly off the handle,

Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,

Doesn’t revel when others grovel,

Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,

Puts up with anything,

Trusts God always,

Always looks for the best,

Never looks back,

But keeps going to the end.

'8-10 Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled.

11 When I was an infant at my mother’s breast, I gurgled and cooed like any infant. When I grew up, I left those infant ways for good.

12 We don’t yet see things clearly. We’re squinting in a fog, peering through a mist. But it won’t be long before the weather clears and the sun shines bright! We’ll see it all then, see it all as clearly as God sees us, knowing him directly just as he knows us!

13 But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love.

Love

Hannah

Remember your Blessings

I am so excited about serving in the Congo, and am so blessed to be going. But, for some reason this morning, I woke up worried about funding and raising enough money to go or somehow coming up short. (I need funding for roundtrip flights, and it's 630 per month to live, along with other additional personal expenses) I went downstairs for my morning routine of coffee and reading. This morning I read through some of Nehemiah.

Nehemiah 4:14 says, "Then as I looked over the situation, I called together the nobles and the rest of the people and said to them, "Don't be afraid of the enemy! Remember the Lord, who is great and glorious, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes!" The situation Nehemiah was talking about was vastly different and far more severe than my small hypothetical worry. But this showed me to glance at my situation/worry, and to not be afraid, because my GOD is GREAT and GLORIOUS. Also, it says REMEMBER. This immediately caused me to remember when GOD provided before (both the opportunity and funds) on my previous mission trips.

Here is what I remember God did before. I have had a heart for missions both here and overseas. [I believe we are a missionary no matter where we are. We are Christ's and we are to share His love near and far] . I desired to go on my first mission trip and sought out trips, but for some reason it just wasn't happening. So 2011 after a final failed attempt to go on a trip with my friend to Africa, and not getting any responses from the leader who was extremely busy, I gave up. I prayed "Lord I know you've put this desire in my heart. I am tired of chasing things that aren't your will.. So if you want me to go on a mission, send someone to ask me to go with them."..I prayed that prayer one time. I knew it was a little far-fetched but I prayed in Faith. Three days later I was downtown feeding the homeless under a bridge, and a Volunteer who I always saw there but didn't really know asked me to "come over here" beside a van and said "Hey Hannah, do you have an inchin' to go on a mission trip" ...Yes... "Do you have an inchin' to go to Africa?!" ...YES! ...and he continues to say "Well I lived there for ten years and want to take a trip...etc etc...I'll plan the trip around your schedule...etc."...Prayer answered. So I wrote my letters and sure enough God provided....not just for Kenya, but  provided enough funds and the exact amount I needed to go to Romania 3 months later where I was asked to join a team whom I'd worked for in Colorado the previous summer. God Provided and He will again.

I am working, cleaning out my closets, getting rid of my stuff to sell, redoing furniture, and have a bunch of things my sweet sister-in-law surprised me with the other day for me to sell. We HAVE to starve our fear/worry and FEED OUR FAITH...All day, I've been intentionally remembering all of the ways God has cared for me and provided for me.  So today again...of course God proves to me I shouldn't worry but instead Trust. I wasn't feeling well and left work a little early to come to my parent's house before the high school service tonight and rest. Our dear friend and neighbor Jackie came over and brought a bowl of her soup just because she's sweet and loves cooking (and boy do we love it). I walked up to the door to say hi, and she all of a sudden looks at me and goes "We're gonna get you to Africa baby!!!" I didn't even know she knew I was going yet, but she and my mom talk all the time so she of course already heard the news. My mom had told her earlier about me wanting to have a fundraiser garage sale. Little did I know that my sweet neighbors had been brainstorming for me, and had recruited her friends/children to gather their unwanted things for my sale, telling me the things they were going to bake to sell, and countless other things and ideas she told me about to help get me to Africa. I feel like I can't explain fully how shocked and touched I was to hear this good news and how I had been so unaware just an hour prior of all the love and support I have received. I was in tears at the love I feel from friends, family, and my Heavenly Father.


Even looking back at posts I've made, I am seeing how much the Lord is teaching me repeatedly to trust and obey him. Each day has new opportunities we can either trust God with or worry about. Trust is a daily thing that we have to give to God. I have learned that I must not only trust, but trust JOYFULLY and in thankfulness ahead of time of what God can and will do. I have learned that if He wants me there, he will get me there. He can do all things. Let us remember the LORD who is Great and Glorious.

Philippians 4:6-7:  Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

Ephesian 3:20:  Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

 

2 Thessalonians 3:16:  Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.

 

 

 

 Love,

Han

 

Send forth your truth and your light,

let them guide me;

 let them bring me to your holy mountain,

to the place where you dwell.

 

You are my JOY and my DELIGHT.

I will sing your praises.

I will trust you GOD.

Keeper of my heart and my strong tower.

Beautiful Life

I hope I'm not misunderstood, but something I've learned is that a relationship [a deep, life affecting relationship] with Jesus is bitter sweet. With Christ I have gained everything. But many times I've had to give up things I've desired in my stronger desire for the Lord and His Peace. These past two years have been the best and most challenging of my 23 young years. I've had to cancel a dream of a life of serving in missions for a year with a best friend, let go of plans and hopes, find closure,  and given up my idols that I found my worth in. In the last two weeks, because of an overwhelming feeling in my spirit, I've had to give up my sweet boyfriend who became my best friend, who was a walking example of what it was to be JOYFUL and thankful no matter the circumstance. In the past week I've been accepted into taking part in an organization that will be doing life changing mission work in the Congo(Africa), forfitting American life, my friends and family, and embark on a journey completely alone for months. Many of these things have been hard this past year or two, and although some of these things have felt like loss at first, I feel I have gained so much more and am consumed by God's peace. I have gained a knowledge that my identity is not in things, friendships,works or education. That life does go on after heartbreak of any kind and healing can come. That lost dreams aren't failures, but a redirecting by the One True Guide who is a lamp to our sometimes scared and shaky feet. That God's delays are not no, but YES in His time and His version, not our plan of how things should go. I've learned that obedience to my God isn't a loss at all, but an eternal gain. I have learned that God will guide me regardless, even when I doubt myself, or feel like I might have heard Him wrong and worry. Even though I'm shaky, He is constant and strong and will forever be worthy of my trust and dedication. My God loves me [and you] more than we could ever even try to love Him back. He is worthy of all of our life, love and thankfulness. Life and all it entails is bittersweet, but the sweet is so much sweeter with Jesus. Life is so so beautiful. TRUST. TRUST. TRUST. :o]

Fulfilled

One thing I know is God desires obedience. As we walk with Him, we start to desire the same. Our eyes, hearts, and minds will gradually line up with His. I have believed in God and His protection over my life since I was a little girl. But it was until a few years ago that I truly gave my life over, was baptized in Jesus’ Name and starting running to Him with my whole heart. With that surrender came the desire to be obedient to Honor the Lord in all I do, whether that be joyfully (or sometimes being a little nervous). God has called me to obedience in bigger ways lately. God has been showing me through His word to trust Him with my whole heart. So I have done so even though I can’t see the whole picture and peace has filled my heart more and more each day.

Another truth I know and have experienced is that Blessing follows obedience. God wants us to be obedient and to radiate Him. God wants us to find fulfillment in Him. We most radiate God when we are most fulfilled/satisfied in Him.  God made His commandments not for us to just aimlessly follow a list but to give us a fuller, deeper life. When we follow His commands and don’t get trapped in the death and complications that Sin brings, we are naturally going to be blessed. By no means do we not have trouble beyond our control sometimes. But when we are obedient we bring in and allow more life and fullness, because living free from the chains of sin and living the way God desires will naturally do so. I have seen this in my own life and family’s life.

With obedience comes peace. Many times, it has taken my obedience first and then the peace and assurance comes. Sometimes I’d rather have a known promise and THEN be obedient because the promise is obvious and SEEN. But what good is that really in our growth? God wants be to be obedient and grow by FAITH. Faith is being obedient and believing even when things are UNSEEN and trusting that God has you in the palm of His hands. God is teaching me more and more about obedience (and sometimes making me realize my own stubbornness, all the while softening my heart and growing my faith).

Because of my obedience to the spirit He’s given me, I can say that today I am in His Peace and His rest.

Job 36:11 If they hear and serve Him, They shall end their days in prosperity, And their years in pleasures.

Psalm 119:10 With all my heart I have sought Thee; Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.

Romans 8:5-6 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.

I love this from Hosea. If we are disobedient/Sin, we can come back to Him and he will restore. Here is a call to repentance: Hosea 6...

“Come, let us return to the Lord.

He has torn us to pieces;

    now he will heal us.

He has injured us;

    now he will bandage our wounds.

2 

In just a short time he will restore us,

    so that we may live in his presence.

3 

Oh, that we might know the Lord!

    Let us press on to know him.

He will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn

    or the coming of rains in early spring.”

-Han

His...

You may or may not always see the purpose in the steps you are taking as you are taking them in your life, but be assured that they do matter in the kingdom of God. Don't let anyone make you feel unimportant or irrelevant in your daily life, because, just like yours, their perspective is sometimes flawed. God says that he will work everything together for our good and His glory. So in everything you do, do it for Him. No matter what. Sometimes I wonder what the things I'm doing will lead to, how they could possibly bring glory to God or what impact they will have on my future. Most of the time I don't have an answer during that step, but looking back I remember seemingly irrelavent things that turned out for my good and His glory, and I am so thankful for those small steps of obedience that turned into very important, relevant memories. We can't isolate an event in our life, for everything is deeply interwoven and connected. We must take in every step and stage of life, because it will most certainly be gone one day. Each stepping stone is important and is a lesson. If I don't see it, I will pray that God opens my eyes and heart to show me how to make the most of it and do it with all my heart. We must not pass through the moment with groaning and complaining but with Thanksgiving to God even before we see their fruits. Sometimes the Truth is drowned our by our feelings over the situation, and it clowds our vision of the blessings even when they are right in front of us. So many of us feel doubtful that what we are doing matters or has an impact. The truth is that it does and it can. God is a God who is alive and dwelling in our hearts and lives daily. He is mindful of us and cares deeply for us. We belong to him and are HIS. You are important. You are thought about. You are deeply LOVED.

 

WHEN YOU DOUBT, REMEMBER TO WHOM YOU BELONG.

"You know when I sit and when I rise;

you perceive my thoughts from afar.

You discern my going out and my lying down;

you are familiar with all my ways.

Before a word is on my tongue

you, Lord, know it completely.

You hem me in behind and before

and you lay your hand upon me."

Isaiah 43:1

But now, this is what the Lord says—

he who created you, Jacob,

he who formed you, Israel:

“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;

I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

...

"All we see is a large stone, but we have no idea it covers the source of a spring."

The Same God.

¹⁴ The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ¹⁵ “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”

¹⁶ They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”

¹⁷ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.

²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”

²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

I know there is much more meaning here that what I've found today, but what my heart sees today is God's provision and the need for us to trust Him. What I love is the normalcy the disciples and their incredible way of being ordinary. Like us, the disciples have seen many blessings, miracles, and provision, yet still seem to forget that Jesus could do anything. Why do we forget Who God Is so easily? To me, this seems kind of unimaginable considering all the Things Jesus has done so far. They had literally PHYSICALLY BEEN WITH JESUS. But like us, they forgot. So Jesus Reminded them. I think what is so important about the Lord and trusting Him is that we remind ourselves of what He's done in our lives. I can take a look at my life and look at how the Lord weaved so many things together for His purposes, answered my prayers, and gave me provision in unexpected ways. The important thing is to never forget. We must remind ourselves often of what the Lord has done. When we tell others what the Lord had done in our lives, it not only is a testimony for them to hear of God's works, but it's a reminder for ourselves of what He can do when our hearts forget. When I doubt, God whispers, "Do you not understand? Look at the things I have done in your life. Those things were my doing, and I will do more. I will never leave you nor forsake you. Stay hopeful."  The Lord Desires for us to have faith and believe. The next chapter (Mark 9) a man with a sick son in need of healing says to Jesus... "Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.”

“What do you mean, ‘If I can’?” Jesus asked.“Anything is possible if a person believes.” May today bring BELIEF OF WHO GOD IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN. May we look back and remember what God has done. We must intentionally remind ourselves that He is the God who has worked in our lives, and the God who has healed , saved, and fed the thousands with what seemed like an unfathomable idea considering the small amount of food. He can do all things. Stay full of Hope and Faith. He is the same God yesterday, today and forever.