All I Cannot See

"All that I have seen readies me to trust the Creator for all that I cannot see," writes Ralph Waldo Emerson. Trusting in the unseen--a difficult concept to sincerely apply to one's life. I have seen the mighty hand of God intercede many times, yet I still doubt and frequently pray, "Lord, help me overcome my unbelief!" At times only I know the gut-wrenching feelings within and the Devil's wicked lies.

Within the past year I have been testing Matthew 7:7-8 which says, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." One day I read it and thought, "God can only answer my prayers as far as my belief in His ability to do so!" Sitting alone with my Bible in my hands, I stared at those words and wondered how much more God would do if I took Him seriously at His word. "Okay Lord, Here I'm going to start taking You at Your word more seriously."

It is one thing to journal privately about the things the Lord has done in my life, but of what encouragement or value can that be to others? This blog is begins a public record and testimony of the mighty hand of God at work in my life. I hope that you, the reader, will pray for me as I'm on this exciting journey.

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Cheng du, China: To Go or not to Go?

Months before every summer I go through the same process of asking God to reveal His will for me in what to do that summer. Months before this summer of 2008 I have been asking and asking, "Lord, where do you want me to go?" It is a most confusing thing because first I thought about Thailand (which was where I was born), then I thought of working at an orphanage in Haiti, but all the while China would not leave my heart.

It seemed the China idea came together. I was going to stay with a beautiful Christian couple there in Cheng du, study Chinese with a tutor 15 hrs a week, build relationships with English speaking University students, and hopefully learn from a couple who owns a Christian coffee shop there. But the wife of the couple I was to stay with got hit by a car and they decided to come back for the summer (which I am glad for because I think it will be nice for them to spend time with their families). After this I thought about working at an orphange in Taiwan, but I prayed, "Dear Father close the doors if You don't want me to go,"and the next day I recieved a phone call that they didn't need me for this summer. So now I am back to plan zero. But I think this is good because God sees the whole realm of things.

I am praying that the doors will open to China, and I am excited to post when they do.

May the peace of God fill your heart on this day He has given you!