I am not called to a place - I am simply called.

I was born to be a missionary. That fact has scared me, invigorated me, amazed me, made me feel unworthy, pushed me to resent it but it is still the same fact. I am born to be a missionary. In reality, All followers of Jesus are asked to tell the world of His glory. But I sat down on the floor at camp and asked Jesus to tell me what he had for my life and he told me to be a missionary in Africa. I have had dreams and visions - on numerous occasions, confirmations, and miracles all happen to show me his promise for my life. At the moment, this past year or so, I have resented that fact because I wanted to live my own life, my own way without any type of thing sitting on top of my head telling me where to go or what to do. But that is slowly changing. As I get nearer and nearer to the holy of holies, my heart is changed.

Recently, I have had the desire to go overseas on a mission trip - and please believe I will go on the next one I can but I have also realized that God has indeed called me to Africa and all over the world but he hasn't necessarily called me to just that place. Me going to Africa will happen in due time, but while I am living out my life, I am simply called. Called to his people. I should be living a life of servant hood all the time simply because he taught me how. Simply because he does that for me. I should be doing "home" missions because that is where I am at. And I really really wanna get that. I should be doing something more than helping at my church because my heart wont let me rest until I am helping. My job is all about helping and serving, and my down time is nice but I wanna take up something else.

I will go overseas when God sees it necessary - I can always accept a job teaching and jump into a culture like that or just go. I dont know the details and I don't think i need to right now. God has taught me that I need to live in the now while planning for the future. And NOW I wanna find somewhere to serve - maybe the soup kitchen or I dunno. But it makes me excited - very very excited. I need to get myself 100% on track with God so he can lead me properly and I stop getting in the way. My life was birthed with missions and servant hood written on the top of my head and My heart WANTS to help people. I am not writing to say everyone should do this because this is my heart I am writing about right now. But I do think that we should all tell people about the saving Grace of Jesus Christ because why wouldn't Followers of Jesus want to tell other people about the reason their lives were given meaning?

xx - his beloved

Erased

I am currently listening to a song - one that I have listened to many times before. It's a song that takes me places. It's really simple and lacks in the lyric department but the musical aspect is wonderful. I like to dance to this song. I imagine myself walking through the woods alone and dancing the wonderful gypsy/hippieness out of me. I think the reason I like this song is because it sounds flowy. It has motion like the waves or movement like the air. Thats how I want my life to be. I desire my life to be ever moving, flowing like the wind or water. I don't regret past mistakes because I have learned so much from them - I don't regret past relationships because I have been changed by them (hopefully they have been changed for the better by myself too) - I don't regret going to school because it's changed me. Change. I used to be scared of it - now I am learning to embrace and accept it.

Change is the back on which we must ride. Nothing ever stays the same except memories and photographs. Why should we expect people, places, places we have visited - even board games to stay the same? I just bought the game of life (one of my favorites) and It has all these new rules and extra cards - it was like i had to relearn the rules again. Inside I immediately wanted to just not play because I liked the old one better - but I just learned the new rules and had a really fun time (losing, mind you) playing the game. Change. wind. waves. this song. Why do we try to remain stagnant in who we are? Must we always be learning, growing, accomplishing? I want to. I want new options - new choices - new adventures. I don't want to settle down and remain the same.

A few years ago, I used to wish that I had never done anything bad. That I could be this virginal flower of good. But I am glad that I have accepted myself. Learned from the bad and learned how to be good on my own choice. I am glad that I haven't attempted to erase things from my life. Of course I am referring to my choices and life lessons - I do believe that erasing the Poisonous things are healthy, but learning from the memories.

I mean - I really really love being alive. I Love being in awe of Jesus and watching sunsets, I love flowers and the wind. the ocean amazes me and I love being on top of a mountain. I love catching snow on my tongue and hearing babies laugh. I love wishing on wishflowers and playing in the water. I love when the rain kisses my cheek and then the cherry blossoms fly during the spring in washington. I have traveled only briefly but I love how intricate other cultures are and seeing all the amazing things I love here happen in another country. I love how Jesus changes lives and If this is just earth I cannot wait until I experience heaven. The thing is, is I see every bad thing that has happened as something better than it was. that is why I can never regret it. Would I go back and change things? possibly - but it would change me. Will I do it different if given the opportunity? I really hope so, and if not the next time - the time after that. Because life is all about living. and making mistakes is the best teacher, maybe not the first time but definitly eventually.

Jesus died for my sins. he died for my mistakes, all those times when I screwed up - his grace was big enough to save me from myself. When the sin inside me pulls me from him - that is the only time I am happy to have things erased from my life. Funny thing about sin though - the debt goes away but the memory remains. I can still learn from it and change my habits. Funny thing about Jesus is - he loves me regardless. its one of the best parts of this life thing. Is that he walks with me through it.

--his beloved

Laments

Sunday was definitely a day of frusterations. Every minute, I felt like I needed to shove my emotions down further so I could deal with something. It's good practice but I hate doing it. I hate when I want to cry and I have to suck it up. It's the spoiled girl's lament. It wasn't really just one thing either. It was many things. Many things I keep in my heart that hurt. I mourn the loss of a very good friend of mine, she is lost herself as well which makes my heart mourn worse. It's bad taste to post her business online but I am very intimately connected to her and I feel as if my heart breaks on a daily basis for her. It was something I was thinking about before I went to church.
I felt like I needed to put on a brave face for church because I hate when people ask me what's wrong before I've had a chance to figure it out myself. I feel silly. I also don't like when people ask me what's wrong. I've become so secluded with my heart that I almost get defensive when people ask. I had to keep shoving all day and by the end of it, (youth group) I had to break down - why? because the song I played for my mom's slide show was played. I haven't cried much about her for awhile. I think i'm doing alright missing her, it just feels like a dream now - or an old childhood memory that cannot be changed or taken from me. part of me but not. It isn't until I think about her not seeing my first child or annoying me while i plan my wedding that I remember that she is no longer a living breathing part of my life. oh, and when i hear that song. it just makes me so sad that she is gone. but I can't change it. Death is so final, and to anyone who would care to know - saying you'll see them in heaven is the suckiest piece of sympathy you could give. why? because we know that and it still doesnt help - not until the grieving is more under control. well, i think so anyways.

It's days like sunday that make me want to give up the ghost and find myself in Jesus's arms. All I wanted was to sleep and I just wanted his peace which he so faithfully gives. Always. Jesus is so so so consistent. always there. Always loving. never turning his back on me, no matter where my ups and downs go. he is really my hero. so honorable and sweet. I really look up to him and what he stood up for. yeah, he's my hero. and no matter how horrible my laments, he takes them onto himself because heros can hold that kind of weight. He is so big to me.

--His beloved.

alot has happened in a month

Korea, is still a dream in my heart but i doubt I will be going any time soon. I like to rush away to new adventures. I like to run away. I like to hide myself in the new. But I think this time, I need to stay and face the music. Stay and live life a little bit. just be. On one hand I am anxious - I really want to do something and go go go and complete the mission in my life. ON the other hand, I keep hearing that I need to learn to be still and rest. I need to learn how to be. just be. and I dont know how yet. But today - glorious day, I think i'm figuring something out about myself. Faith- although similar to many other people's faiths, must be found by myself. I have spent the last year and half pulling away from everything and starting from the ground up. I have just taken the time to embrace myself, my flaws, my quirks and love myself. God, It's so hard to love myself. I don't know why, It might be because I have spent most of my life hating myself. I am learning to find my own faith. My own truth - in accordance to his truth (whether i'd like to agree or not) and I am learning to have my own opinion on things, my own outlook. I am finding me, and while I find myself, my faith- i find Jesus.

Today, I cried out to him while staring at one of the most breathtaking sunsets I've ever seen, I was confused about my feelings for Jesus. I have many questions, many things I will never understand that I always demand answers for but I never doubt him. I dont know him because he is so big but I know his sweetness. I dont understand his logic sometimes but I trust that he is big enough and kind enough to lead me. I guess today I realized that I was falling in love with him (agaian)? I dont know if I ever really fell in love with him. No, I loved him. I knew his love. I know his love. BUt I always looked at him as the nice guy who looked out for me when i screwed up. Who was obligated to love me and I would never be able to stop that. Today however, I realized that I admire him. I respect him. I want to talk to him, i want to hear him, dance with him, be in his presence - know him more. I never really felt like that. I mean I did, but - its very confusing trying to write it all out. something inside me has changed. I used to love jesus one way, and now it's deeper, different, on a whole new level of understanding or passion.

That is why I think I am falling in love with him. REALLY falling in love with him. HIM. Not the nice guy who takes care of me.

this post is a bit confusing. I suppose what I am trying to say is that I have found peace where I am at and have found peace finding my salvation thorugh suffering and tears or whatever we're supposed to be finding it with. It's not about rules and regulations anymore. It isn't about how good I can be. My relationship with Jesus and my faith are about him now. Loving Jesus. and please dont mistake me. I still think all the rules and stuff are important, I still think I should learn to curb my tounge and read my bible and pray. But it's with a different kind of motivation now. Its not so im good. Its because when you are in love with someone, you do things to please the other person, and I want to please Jesus, I just want to stop being such a - religious stick in the mud. I want this beautiful life that accompanies Jesus. I want balance. and he is showing me I can have it. and its beautiful.

jackie

doors are opening, wheels are turning and I am going..

Going.. Going.. TOO FAST for my comfort!! I have successfully applied for my year of teaching in Korea and I couldn't be more scared. I have a thousand things running through my mind as to what I need to get done, what documents need to be received and mailed out. Will I get it all in, Do they want me to come? Can I bring my cat? (silly I know). Can I reduce the amount of stuff I own to two bags and one box? I wanted to leave in October. That would give me just enough time to mosey along at my own pace. But my Korean Job placement advisor, Johnny is trying everything to get me there by September... AHHH!!!

I am going crazy. It's terrifying. I am unsure and uncomfortable. I hate feeling unsure. But all the doors are opening, and I haven't heard a No from the big guy upstairs yet.. Thats a positive sign. So now I need to think about selling my car? a storage shed for the nice bed I bought? should I sell everything? How freeing would that be. to only own what I can carry. see what I mean? its amazing that I sleep!

I got offered a legitimate Job. A real job. at an academy in Seoul, where the owner is a Christian and her husband is a minister. I'd be able to find a church like *that*. Talking all this out with God doesn't seem to help too much. It's just a jumble in my mind and I wish I could sort it out but no matter how many lists I write, how much I try to organize.. It's still new and scary.. but also a little exhilarating.

I mean.. I'M GOING TO KOREA!! its like my dream and the things I've told people are coming true. What God told me is coming true. its scary but exciting and stressful but its moving and wonderful. I just need to continue to try putting my trust in God instead of myself. Which has become a day to day operation that I fail on a day to day basis. Hopefully, I'll get it. I'm tired of complaining about not trusting him. Now is the time for forward movement. Now is the time to really TRY and trust him. It's just not how I expected it. -- But is it ever?

--Jackie

Praise God for his faithfulness... and not mine.

I am... inconsistent. I dont know how to go steady for one speed. I go fast then really slow. I cannot find balance. In my christian walk, I follow the patter in much the same way. I am good, and strong - full of passion and faith -- for awhile... then i cascade into slow and sticky for another long while. I don't like that I cannot attain balance. I do not like when I waste my time. But as it is-- I am wasting just that, time. I do not know how to trust God either. In the times when I am going strong, I still cannot trust him. But something inside me broke last sunday at church. I really just need to stop whining about not being able to trust him and learn how. Really learn how.
SO.
SUnday afternoon, I raised my hands and committed my week into his hands. Today is tuesday. And I've already failed miserably. I prayed about going to Korea, to teach english. I know inside my heart that that is the next step for me. I just have alot of peace about it. But things haven't been coming along very well, so I prayed about it in church on sunday with my lovely friend, tori and wonderful woman, mrs. Pam. I also prayed about my car (its having heart trouble) Yesterday, I tried putting money into my bank account and because its an outside check and I didn't have enough to cover it - they placed a 3 day hold on it. I got SO upset I just took my receipt and rode my bike home, crying. I was really upset. I ranted and raved to God about how he wants me to trust him and he has the ability to fix such things and he wouldnt. I literally acted like a foul mouthed two year old. I threw the biggest dumb fit ever. The next day - I take things into my own hands only to find out that I have just enough money to get the diagnostic test done today (which is what I wanted) and All the paper work is cleared for Korea - so I need only apply.

Thank you Jesus for being strong enough to endure my horrible behavior, my lack of trust and my pride filled sorry. He is so consistent. so faithful. So at the right speed at the right time, all the time. And I didn't trust him but he STILL came through for me. All praise to him, cuz i did nothing but whine. thank you Jesus for being my savior, my strong and beautiful savior. --ALways faithful.

_your beloved

You are the light, The light of the world.. Let me shine you, Lord

We are the people of God

The sons and the daughters of love

forgiven, restored, and redeemed

We're living our lives to the praise of our King

We are the ones who will shine

His light in the darkness of night

the hopeless, the broken, the poor -

They will be hopeless and broken no more

You are the Light, The light of the world

and we shine you, Lord

You are the Light, The light of the world

Let ME shine you, Lord

We shine like stars in the universe

Proclaiming the hope of Our God

to the sons and daughters of all the earth

-- We shine you, Lord

To the ones who are weary

the burdened and suffering

We shine you Lord

(let me shine you, Lord)

I have been praying. I have been receiving answers. - I want my passion back. I want to live for other people again. its quite lonely when I am focusing on myself. I want to be a missionary and I think I wanna do it soon. Papa Ron, from Uganda, helped ignite my passion but more specifically - restore some faith to my heart. Sometimes, I feel like my prayers fall on deaf ears and that makes me frustrated. I understand how easy it is to just give up praying when that happens. And I had - but Papa Ron spoke life into me again. I love life. and to be completely honest, the reason for living is outside me. C.S lewis said that if we cannot fill the desires of the world the only other logical reasoning would be that we are not of this world. It is only reasonable to need the one who created us. Its like trying to work a machine without the manual - you'll get some of it working but you'll never know the full potential unless we read the manual. I truly believe that God is our manual. Doing it sans God is so so much harder. Its so exhausting. If I were to put a picture to how i've felt this past year and a half it would be thirsty. Walking through a desert land, dying of thirst. Its like my explorer. I realized that I hadn't changed the oil in 15,600 miles. Which apparently is really bad, haha. But once I got it changed, it ran - so quietly, so happy, not so rough - it wasn't thirsty anymore. I want to get an oil change. its been a couple thousand miles too long.

As soon as I am no longer thirsty and getting my information from the one who so lovingly created me, I can finally have enough energy to help those like me. to SHINE his love. Because thats what a thirsty world needs.

--Jackie