Family Missions Trip

I am so excited to be going on our first family missions trip! Let me tell you how awesome God is and how this all came about!

In a previous post I shared about how God has used the death of one of his beloved servants, Derek Loux, to open my heart to the many needs of the orphan. During the time, where my heart was stirred and felt as though it was being pulled in so many directions I prayed for God to show me how we(Bob and I) could be a part of helping in some small way. My heart was overflowing with a desire to help with children with special needs. But, how? when? What does this look like in my already "busy" life. Bob and I prayed about how God could somehow use us in this unique way.

Two weeks later, our boys were baptized and we were sitting at the luncheon. Our friends, Becky and Todd were sitting with us and Becky asked if we were thinking about going on the family missions trip this summer. I said to her that I didn't know anything about it and didn't even know they were offering one. I then asked her to tell me about it.

She replied with, "there is a family missions trip planned for all members of your family to go to a camp to minister to other families who have children or adults with special needs."  You must realize that our church hasn't to my recollection, ever had a special needs missions trip and yet this year was!  I cried, and then began to share with Becky why I was so touched.

Ephesians 5:1-2

Be Imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

I was so humbled by God's love for me. I mean, what I felt at that moment was almost a tangible hug from my all-powerful, loving Heavenly Father. God orchestrated this whole process. He softened my heart towards the needs of those who need help and just want to be loved, then stirred within me a desire to help in some small way and then provided a way that my entire family could be involved and minister and be ministered to. How AWESOME is He! The Creator of the Universe did this and he does this over and over again to remind us just how much He loves us.

He cares for me...a very imperfect, prideful, sinner who desires to glorify Him despite all of my many weaknesses. I wonder... how many times do I not whole-heartedly seek Him? How many times have I missed out on similar situations because of not surrendering my plans to Him? How many times have I been prompted to pray about something but let it fall by the wayside?

I am so thankful that he does not give up on me! I am so glad that He pursues me even when I am blinded by my own inadequacies.

Oh how I pray that my heart would align with what He wants me to be concerned about and for.

I am so thankful that the Lord uses us regardless of "not having it altogether". I pray that I would be a open vessel that would reflect His love and His power to those who need to see it.

This summer we will go on our trip.  Please join us in praying for this trip and that we would give the families a much needed break. I know, that we will be the ones that end up being ministered to. I am so thankful that our family has this privilege to go and I pray that this would impact each one of us in a very real way.

Phillipians 2:2-11

Do nothing out of selfish ambitions or vain conceit but in humility consider others better than yourselves.

Each of you should not look only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

Who, being in very nature God,

did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

but made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself

and became obedient to death

even death on a cross!

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him that name that is above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

What is God stirring in your hearts? How has he showed up in the big and little things in your life?