Cold Showers, Bugs, and Jesus

Ok so quick update I made it safely to Maylaybalay city. Manila is still near and very dear to my heart but the quiet peaceful countryside here in Mindinao is grow nearer to my heart each day I spend here. I love that you can here crickets and animals and not traffic and chaos. There are so many neat kids and people we have had an opportunities to meet here as well. One thing I must say though is I DO NOT LIKE BUGS (and does this place have an abundance of them). The weather here is also much cooler than Manila raining almost every afternoon. The cooler weather does make not having hot water in the showers a bit less tolerable than in Manila ( think the pacific ocean in the winter). All in all God has great plans and potential for the property we are staying on and for the children's home that is still under construction. This place is more campy which I love as well. I will have tons of stories and will be sure to share them when I get home.... speaking of that ...... I will be home this Saturday evening ..... How the time flew. Love you all!!!!!!!!! See you when I get home.

A Quick Update

It has been a little over a week since arriving here in Manila. The humidity is still a bit draining but we all have acclimated pretty well to the weather over here. It is just a matter of dealing with constantly being sticky and wet. So much has been done since we have arrived both spiritually and physically that it is hard to believe that it was all done in such a short time. The past few days we have been going out to a squatter area about 40 mins. away that burnt down and left 500 + families without their homes.... we have been bringing them water, food, clothes, and whatever else we could find that would help hold some families over. Going out to the burn site with all the families and seeing first hand the devastation that was caused by this fire was overwhelming at best. The sights and sounds were all very dreary especially since it was raining as well.... but most of the people seemed in high spirits with thankful attitudes and warm smiles. Also for the last few days we have been helping out a Flipino friend whose name is Emily with her homeless children feeding ministry in the early evenings. That has been a huge blessing for the entire team. Not only do we get to fill these children's stomachs we also get to fill their minds and hearts with the truth and love that is presented in the Bible. We get to put on Bible themed skits and share testimonies that are then translated into tagalog by Emily. During the time we also get to sing songs and play games with the children ( they catch on so quickly). Their favorite song is "father Abraham" and they love playing simon says. Today Me, Rachel, and Corrie got to plant some shrubs that will help when the rainy season comes ..... then Me, Cherish , and Heather began some painting on the Ministry center next door to where we are staying. We are all getting ready to go to Emily's one last time this evening. So thanks for your continued prayers
Some Prayer Request
~ for the 500+ families that were displaced by the fire
~ for Emily's ministry for the homeless children
~ for continued team strength both mentally and physically

Magandang Tanghali...... Good Afternoon

Our first day here was a really long day. We got to the house and were able to settle in .... but Jeff wanted us to keep moving so that jet lag would not set in so we went over and played with the kids for a while and then went on a tour of the community around the house. There was so much poverty it was heartbreaking at times I felt like crying. The people are so happy and content to be in whatever junk and scraps they can find to build their houses out of. So after a couple hour walking tour of the community and the different buildings that KIM has in the community(which were all erected by short term teams like ourselves) we went back to the house and had dinner (which was delicious ) One of our team members birthday was yesterday so Jeff treated us all to Starbucks and a huge chocolate cake. Then it was bedtime for us. We woke up the morning around 7:30 to have breakfast and start our day in the community helping a woman build a more substantial house. Little did we know that meant the world's worst/slick hill ever and about 600 cinder block and about 40 bags of cement(weighing 90 pounds each) that needed to be toted down this hill. We were all exhausted but toted it all down there in about 3 hours. Then we came back and had lunch (Flipino women are amazing cooks). After lunch some of the team went back to haul gravel and sand in bags as well. All this and it is only 3 in the afternoon. So all in all we are all healthy and happy but very tired. Pictures coming soon! Love you all continue to pray for us!

We made it

We made it safely and with out incident to Hong Kong and now it is a short layover here and then a quick 2 hour flight to Manila thanks for all your prayers. Here are a few pictures at the airport

Sidney and Rachel


Me, Joe , Trevor, Justin , Charlie, and Corrie

the view is beautiful from the huge window out to the misty moutians behind the tarmac

Me and Sarah tired from long flight!

Well got to go my computer is dying so I send my love back to you all and well update as soon as I can.
Love,
Jessica

Never To Dwell Again

Jeremiah 42:22
"Now therefore know for a certainty that you shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence in the place where you desire to go to live"

So many times we will desire to go back and dwell in our Egypt. We long for the days that sin ruled our being. In the end this desire to dwell in the place we have been freed from will slowly kill us

We have been delivered from Egypt may we never desire to go back least that desire bring us to ruin. It is a certain death there are no ifs.... ands.... or buts about it.

We need to live like we have been set free. When the Lord warns us and sends His Word to bring us truth and salvation heading that Word is a must. Back to Egypt we shall never go

Pressing On

I just got back from accountability group at the Mooney's house. I had such a wonderful time sharing our weeks and encouraging one another on towards our goals of developing spiritual disciplines. I would have to say that I have grown so much in my appreciation for God's word and have been able to see a consistent growth in my daily time in His word. I realize that even though I see progress that does not mean that I stop there I must continue to press on to greater and greater goals. Every time we get together we share what our goals are. Mine for the next couple weeks are:
1. Memorize the rest of James Chapter 2
2. Develop a more consistent and intentional prayer time and not so much of a pray when I think about it prayer life.

So thanks to all the lovely norco ladies and others who are pushing towards the goal of knowing and loving Christ more!

Strength in Weakness

Today my mind is a little uneasy. I left the team meeting for our trip to the Philippines feeling really heavy. I think the reality of the fact that I am going to the Philippines this summer is setting in and I am excited but at the same time kind of unnerved. You never really understand the amount of spiritual preparation it takes to go on a missions trip until you are in the midst of the planning and training. I now the the Lord is good and He is ultimately in control over all aspects of this trip, but I feel for some reason inadequate (Not that I don't think God can use me because I know He can). It is more of a submitting to God's will and being humbled that is happening. I am completely inadequate and unworthy of what He has entrusted me with and that is the ability to be a vessel and messenger of His truth. I know that it is by His grace and mercy alone that I am able to go with boldness and confidence and show His love to those I may come in contact with. I want to be intentional in my time over in the Philippines with Christ as my sole focus and desire. I want to have His plan and purpose of salvation in mind ; at the same time it is easy to become complacent and not really be intentional in what I do . Why is this? Ok so I think that is enough rambling for the night. I hope that those who read this would keep me in their prayers over the next few months as I prepare to go over and work with Kids International Ministry in the Philippines this summer.
Here are some things you can pray for:

• Financial Plans and fund raising
  

• That I would be spending time daily in prayer and the word intentionally preparing for this trip

• That I would budget my time wisely as to best serve and be a part of the team that is going

• That I would begin to grow a deep and lasting affection for the Filipino People

• Mental , physical and spiritual strength now and during the trip

I would covet any and all prayers. This is a verse my friend gave me when I was telling her how insufficient I felt for this task and it brought me great comfort

2 Corinthians 12:9
"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. "

God's grace is the only thing that makes me sufficient to do the work of the kingdom. I take great pleasure in knowing that in my weakness Christ's power is set on display and all the glory to Him belong because of nothing I did but His power in me.

Thoughts

I have decided that I need to start blogging again. I think it is something that will help keep me accountable to learn and hash out the things I am learning in God's word. For now I am just going to share a few verses that impacted me today

Proverbs 19:21
"Many are the plans in the mind of a man,but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand"

We can get so wrapped up in making plans for the future and even just planning what the next step we need to take in our lives is that we forget the one whose sovereign purpose for our life stands eternally. We are so fickle and scatter brained that we can change our minds as often as we change our clothes. It is so refreshing to know that our God is not like us in that way. God's counsel and purpose are steadfast and unchanging.

Proverbs 19:27
"cease to hear instruction, my son, and YOU WILL STRAY from the words of knowledge

My pastor kind of touched on this topic a while back but it has really stuck with me. Just the fact that when you stop listening to and seeking after wisdom you by default are following folly and foolishness. You are either moving forward and seeking the things of God (wise and righteous things) or you are in reverse seeking and following foolishness. There is no neutral position to take when seeking after the things of God and when you don't seek wisdom YOU WILL STRAY. Such a powerful and convicting message from the word. I know I don't always seek wisdom and to realize that means I am pursuing foolishness over wisdom at that time is very convicting

Any thoughts?

One Way?

Someone sent me this video and I thought it would be good to pass on. I know that the Bible talks about people who will come and spread false teaching to mass amounts of people and it is happening all over the world. What is really scary it is being done over the television. Be praying that the ONE TRUE GOD reveals Himself to Oprah. Pray that instead of defaming His name and His son she would turn to praising it and proclaim the TRUE GOSPEL in which Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

What Now?

Wow with graduation around the corner and still not having a clue what I am going to do after graduation life is crazy. I know that I still have two class next spring, but other than that I have no clue. The one thing I am sure of is the fact that my God will provide and lead me where He wants me. For right now I want to focus on possibly doing missions and settle into the thought of life after college (however scary that thought may be). I was blessed the other day to go with my friend and her two kids to a day of pampering. I had a blast and after went to the beach and celebrated a couple birthdays. I love the beach! I love the smell, the sand, the friends, and of course worshipping under the stars !!!!!!!! what more could you ask for! So over all life has been blessed just pray for guidance and wisdom as graduation and a new arena of life approaches. Thanks!

Streams of Living Water

God is so gracious and merciful that He offers us the living water of eternal life, yet time and time again we turn and take for ourselves broken cisterns full of stagnet, rancid, and dead water. So many times we turn to what the world offers us and will partake of that instead of the fresh living water that Christ offers. The living water that Christ offers is ever satisfying and eternal. I think the problem lies in the fact that we do not see the value of the living water and what Christ offers us. We do not see what the world offers us as only temporary but as what we need to satisfy us in the moment. We partake and later we remain thristy and unsatisfied because ultimately nothing this world or life can offer will ever satisfy us the way Christ (the provider of living water) will. The amazing thing to me is that no matter how many times we chose not to turn to Christ for our satisfaction, yet turn to our own broken cisterns, His streams of living water are never ceasing they are always there to revive us when needed. So may Christ's streams of mercies be never ceasing and lead to songs of loudest priase.

"Whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thrist. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountian of water sprining up into everlasting life" John 4:14

“ For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water." Jeremiah 2:13

"O LORD, the hope of Israel, All who forsake You shall be ashamed. “ Those who depart from Me Shall be written in the earth, Because they have forsaken the LORD, The fountain of living waters" Jeremiah 17:13

"for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.” Revelation 7:17

Accidental Picture

I was at school the other day and realized I had brought my camera with me, so I started taking some random pictures. As me and my friend where on our way to church I was just testing to see if my camera was efficient at taking picture of things while moving. I stuck my camera out the window to take a random picture of anything and this is what came out. I thought it was a pretty cool picture. Anyways I thought I would share it with you all. Hope everyone is having a blessed day!

Trust

Why is trust so hard to build back up but so easy to tear down? I have been thinking about this over the past couple days. I think there is a great truth to this. I have seen so many friendships and relationships fall apart because of the difficulty of building a trusting relationship back up. Any who that was just a random thought for the day what do you think?

Roles of Husbands and Wives

I was listening to a sermon by John Piper and he gave these definitions of headship and submission and how they tie into the role of husbands and wives. What are your ideas or opinions?

• Headship is the divine calling of a husband to take primary responsibility for Christ-like servant leadership, protection, and provision in the home.
• Submission is the divine calling of a wife to honor and affirm her husband's leadership and help carry it through according to her gifts.

The Heavens Declare

WOW this is amazing my teacher shared his favorite picture in class . It is his favorite because it reminded him of how big God is. This is known as a nebula or a begining of a planet or a star. This particular one is the eagle nebula. The photo was taken by the hubble telescope. This particular nebula is around 3,000 - 5,000 lightyears in the active star formation area of the nebula. A Lightyear is about 5,878,625,373,183.61 miles so just multiply this number by about 5,000 and that is how large this nebula is. The thing is this is just one of the billion or more of these early forming stars and planets. The heavens truly do declare the glory of God

Ps 8:3-43

When I consider your heavens,the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars,which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him,the son of man that you care for him?

Ps 136:6-9

who spread out the earth upon the waters,His love endures forever. 7 who made the great lights--His love endures forever. 8 the sun to govern the day,His love endures forever. 9 the moon and stars to govern the night;His love endures forever.

Isa 40:22-26

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,and its people are like grasshoppers.He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 23 He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing. 24 No sooner are they planted,no sooner are they sown,no sooner do they take root in the ground,than he blows on them and they wither,and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff. 25 "To whom will you compare me?Or who is my equal?" says the Holy One. 26 Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:Who created all these?He who brings out the starry host one by one,and calls them each by name.Because of his great power and mighty strength,not one of them is missing.

Shadows of Our Hearts

Ok well here is my step into the blogging world. I was just going to post some thoughts I had about Psalm 139. I love this Psalm it is so refreshing. God knows us deeply and intimately as stated through a major portion of the chapter. This is such a comforting, yet at the same time terrifying thought. On one hand Christ knows and can satisfy us completely. He knows our passions and our desires even our needs and fills them. On the other hand He knows how unfaithful and dirty we really are in our hearts. He sees our hearts and the things that are distracting us from seeking Him. He sees and knows the deepest darkest areas of our hearts(areas we probably don't even know that well). If this does not cause some sense of aching in your heart even a sense of fear I don't know what will. Well here comes the refreshing part even though He knows all the deep shadows of the heart He still works on our heart to remove and bring light to those dark areas. He continues to work on our hearts and to remove the impurities from our hearts. He still calls us His wonderful and marvelous creation. Man God is amazing. I was reminded of a song my friend wrote when reading this Psalm. May the refining of our hearts never be done. It is a daily and ongoing process.

Sweet Alchemy

I've gone through this world

Tarnished and worn.

These scars go deep Lord,

My heart is torn.

Do you recognize me and

Can you refine me through...

Sweet alchemy in the refiner's fire.

Burn away and purify me,

Burn away, oh Lord I need

Sweet, sweet alchemy

Lord let the dross

Of sin melt away

Until Your reflection

Is all that remains.

I've tasted and seen

You make me clean through…

Sweet alchemy in the refiner's fire.

Burn away and purify me,

Burn away, oh Lord I need

Sweet, sweet alchemy.

Vessel of clay

To vessel of gold.

Vessel of mercy

Holding truth of old,

Plucked from the mire and

Put through the fire of...

Sweet alchemy in the refiner's fire

Burn away and purify me,

Burn away, oh Lord I need

Sweet alchemy in the refiner's fire

Burn away and purify me,

Burn away, oh Lord I need

Sweet, sweet alchemy.

Sweet alchemy.