blooming seeds

Right now I should be studying for my economics exam tomorrow, but I just had to write another entry! So much has happened this week and while I'm not exactly sure who reads this, I still want to let people know!

First off I must share with you that I am no longer in dire need of raising money for this summer!! Praise God!!! I know it is only by Him and His grace that it all came in! (And RIGHT in time, too!)

This week I've just been realizing how much people in my life have in fact, impacted my life! People and things from WAY back when that are still affecting my life now! More specifically, the people at my old church. It's been nearly four years since we left, but it seems like a lifetime! I recently put pictures up on facebook from prom. I was pleasantly surprised to see a comment from my old youth pastor! She jokingly said I wasn't old enough to be going to prom, but it brought back a flood of memories and faces flashed through my mind of people I haven't thought about in years. We exchanged a view messages and when I told her my plans for the summer it made me think of the very first mission trips I went on...with her. It donned on my that the Lord used her to plant a seed in my heart for missions and doing things for others.

Ms. Anita planted a seed in my heart for children and soon I'll be going and getting my degree in elementary education! And there's a song we used to sing during church ALL the time. It was probably my favorite although I had no idea why at the time. I haven't heard it in years and years, and even when I stumbled across the chords I forgot how the tune actually went. It quickly came back to me. And now I realize why it was and is my favorite song.

They say everything happens for a reason and I completely believe that statement to be true. Sometimes it takes years to find out why. Sometimes it takes decades. And sometimes, it takes a lifetime. It's crazy for me to see now how the Lord was working in my heart before I even believed in Him. It's ancient work brought home for me. And now I pray that for Japan.

He is calling the Japanese to Him. He is drawing them near to His heart. They don't know Him, but He knows them. He loves them. Pray for them. Pray that the Lord will prepare their hearts. Pray for the people we will meet this summer. Pray for divine appointments. Jami and Heather leave in a week. The team leaves a month after that. The journeymen have been there for 1+ years. The missionaries have given their lives to reach these people. Pray for them. Pray for their strength physically and spiritually.

When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.
Ephesians 3:14-19


I, the Lord of sea and sky
I have heard my people cry
All who dwell in dark and sin
My hand will save:

I who made the stars and night
I will make the darkness bright
Who will bear my light to them?
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I the Lord of snow and rain,
I have borne my people's pain,
I have wept for love of them,
They turn away...

I will break their hearts of stone
Fill their hearts with love alone
I will speak my word to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart

I, the Lord of wind and flame
I will tend the poor and lame
I will set a feast for them
My hand will save:

Finest bread I will provide
Till their hearts be satisfied
I will give my life to them
Whom shall I send?

Here I am Lord
Is it I Lord?
I have heard you calling in the night
I will go Lord
If you lead me
I will hold your people in my heart