Saturday, May 12, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
At the Beginning...again
Well friends, here we are at the beginning again and God has been at work!
While God has closed the door on a missions trip to Scotland, he had opened the door to another area of ministry -- England.
While God has closed the door on a missions trip to Scotland, he had opened the door to another area of ministry -- England.
Eyes
on the Prize: England 2012
Here
is an overview of the trip. Fourteen of us will be traveling to Luton, England
to assist missionaries Stand and Paula Boelman in various ministries at
Fellowship Baptist Church as well as to visit Portsmouth, the possible location
of Glen and Tammi Galbraith’s next ministry. Our team will have many opportunities
to serve Christ through making contact with local families, Holiday Bible Club,
Evangelistic Meetings, and various church ministries.
The dates for this trip
are the same. We will be leaving the United States on Thursday, July 19th
and will return Wednesday, August 1st. In regard to travel, I
recently received my Passport in the mail, which is a blessing because it
arrived in a relatively short amount of time.
The price for this trip
is also the same. Here I would like to give a “sacrifice of praise” to my
Father. Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God will supply every need of yours
according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” This promise has taken on
new meaning in the last few months. Through the working of the Holy Spirit in
the lives of people, God has provided enough so that all that is needed is about $500 for this trip! He has been so gracious to provide in the most unexpected ways! I want to give another gift of thanks to those who are contributing by donating their cans. While this may seem like an insignificant form of giving, about $215 worth has been from Can money. (That's about 4300 cans and bottles!) The
deadline for the final amount of money has been set for April 30, 2012. I look
forward to how He will continue to provide.
We have also received our assignments as to what area of ministry we will be serving. I have the privilege to co-lead the game time for the Holiday Bible Club. Additionally, we will get to serve in regular Sunday services during the two Sundays we are in England. I am personally looking forward to worshiping beside believers in another "culture." One thing God has been reminding me, especially since Missions Conference here at Faith, is the truth of His Immutability. We poor humans are bound by space and time, but our Awesome God is NOT! He is the same God in England AND in America. This may sound simplistic but I can't seem to wrap my mind around it!
Thank you all for your prayers! I will continue to post updates through the summer as we get closer to our trip in July.
“I thank Him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus
our
Lord, because He judged me faithful,
appointing me to His service.”
I
Timothy 1:12
Complete in Christ,
Tiffany
Monday, February 27, 2012
Hold All Things Loosely
Hello again Friends,
Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that God causes all things to
work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according
to His purpose.”
Last
Friday, February 24, it was announced that the summer mission trip to Scotland
was cancelled due to unforeseen problems. While the exact details were not
shared, Pastor Galbraith and his church in Aberdeen, Scotland will not be able
to receive us.
I remember standing there, in our group and waiting for something more...why didn't it hurt? Why were my eyes so dry? Why wasn't I....sad? I pondered my reaction as I walked back to my dorm room. I mused over all the lessons God had taught me. He taught me to trust, even when my Flesh told me to doubt. He taught me to pray, even when my Flesh told me He wasn't listening. He taught me to have confidence in His provision, even when my Flesh told me it would never come. But now, there was only silence. Not that loud silence, where the cold winds of life howl through an empty mind. No, this was a peaceful silence that spoke of the greatness of an Infinite God. It was a quite confidence that comes only from being in the hollow of my Father's hand. God's grace had led me here, and my heart overflowed with thanksgiving that He would love me enough to teach me these lessons!
When I got back to my dorm, I explained it to my friend. In an attempt to explain it to her, a picture flashed in my mind. All this time, I had committed to serving God on HIS mission trip. He graciously "appointed me to his service" and placed the privilege in my hand. My fingers never coiled around it or squeezed it in fear of losing it, because the trip was never mine. Rather, in gratefulness and by his grace I kept my fingers relaxed, always remembering who it was that "judged me faithful." Now that it was gone, my hand never had to "release" anything. That, my friends, was NOT my doing, but Christ through me.This word picture reminded me of a quote I once heard in a sermon, "Hold All Things Loosely."
Although the trip has been cancelled, I am SO thankful that God allowed me to learn all these lessons from the last few months. I would never, EVER exchange them for anything in the world!
"Hold All Things Loosely"
~I Timothy 1:12~
"I thank Him who has given me strength,
Christ Jesus our Lord,
because He judged me faithful, appointing me to His service."
So...Here we are at the beginning again! (Exciting isn't it?) The director of BMM stated very clearly that they want to find each of us team members places to serve this summer. While the door to Scotland has closed, a whole world of opportunities has expanded before me. Right now, I have suspended all raising support until I have a clear idea of where God wants me to go this summer. Thank you ALL for your generous support and prayers during the last few months! God has used it for His Glory!
Please pray for me fervently over the next few weeks as I seek God's will for my summer. There are a few viable options and I am seeking godly counsel from those more experienced than I in this area of missions.
I will keep you all updated as things develop. Until then, "May the God of Peace be with you all!"
Humbled by His Grace,
Tiffany
Friday, February 17, 2012
My Sacrifice of Praise
A lot had happened since last December. I'm going to try to recap what God has been doing.
January
Week 2
Starting school again in January was great. I loved to be back into my old routine, but I knew I was running out of time to get "extra" things done, like prayer letters, prayer cards, and blog posts. I had the "to do list" in the back of my head and the will to get it done, but time always seemed to get away from me. With each passing day, I grew more anxious wondering how I would ever get those letters out.
Week 3
Finally, one day I had a break between classes so I called my sister and asked her if she would help me get addresses to send out prayer letters. She said she would. Together we brainstormed of people to send letters to but before she hung up, she asked me a question:
"Why don't I just work on them for you."
"What?" I wondered if I had heard right.
"Why don't I print your letter and send out the envelopes, that way you don't have to worry about it."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
After we pinned down a few minor details and I bubbled with MUCH gratitude, we hung up. The rest of the day, I pondered my sister's sacrifice. How wonderful it was for her to help! I am so grateful! It was not until later that the thought hit me:
She's not doing it for me, she's doing it for our Father.
How gracious it was of my heavenly Father to direct my thoughts back to Him. Not only is He the God of the Universe, He is the God of Scotland, this missions trip and all the details. He is my sister's Loving Father. He is my Loving Father. He can and will use His willing vessels to accomplish His perfect will.
Reflecting on this later, I wrote in my Scotland Journal:
"Daily God, by His grace, allows me to learn about how to trust Him. I cannot doubt him.
I do worry about the money that is due in fifteen days, but He has provided for me this far
Who am I, frail woman, to doubt the LIVING God? I look forward to seeing the ways He
will provide."
And provide He did!
A few days later, Mr. Lounsbrough sent an email out to the team saying the deadline had been moved from February 15 to February 29. I realized again that God is MUCH bigger than I give Him credit. I expected Him to provide in one way, then He, the infinite God, completely surprised my finite mind. The extra time God provided has been yet another way He proved His faithfulness.
Week 4
One morning while reading I Timothy, I was still really struggling with anxiety and doubt about the trip, but as I read, the Holy Spirit reached up, pulled my nose down into my Bible and said "Look at this!"
"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord
because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service."
~ I Timothy 1:12
"Wow!" I thought. As I pondered this verse, the depth of it rolled over me like waves of the sea. I knew there were many applications I could draw from this verse.
1. My strength to do ANYTHING before, during, or after this missions trip will be from
my Savior and Lord, Jesus. So why should I worry?
2. "He judged me faithful" that means there was NOTHING I did to deserve serving Him
my Lord in Scotland. In fact, in the beginning I was being unfaithful.
3. My Lord also "appointed me to his service" If I have no strength but His, and He chose
me to serve Him although He already knew I didn't deserve it, how could I respond in
in ANY other way except GRATITUDE?
This verse is pinned to my desk so whenever I want to give in to my flesh and roll in the mud of anxiety or worry, I read this verse and remember that THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME. It's about Him.
February
Week 2
One day after chapel, my roommate and I were sitting in my dorm when I confessed that I was discouraged about how slow funds were coming in and how fast the deadline was again approaching. Laura, my dear sweet encourager, said she would commit to pray that God would provide $300 that week. I thanked her graciously, then turned back to my flesh I continued to worry. As the week rolled on, I forgot about her promise and my sinful response until Sunday night when I got a text from my dad. It read like this:
"Hey Tiff, $460 dollars came in today for your Scotland trip!"
Elated, I showed Laura the text. We loudly "sang praises" to the Lord in our dorm room, but suddenly she stopped.
"God answered my prayer."
"What?" I said.
"My prayer! I prayed this week that He would send you $300, and He sent you even more than that!"
A breath caught in my throat. Covering my face with my hands, I fought back tears as something like "the weight of God's glory" came crushing into my fragile reality. In that moment, I also imagined that this "Muller Moment" could only come from One source. How could I have been so narrow minded? I prayed my thanksgiving to my Father that night. Once again, His loving kindness and faithfulness was made evident in my life.
Week 3
This week, I have had time to reflect over the last two months and ponder God's awesome power. I am humbled by the ways that He has worked in my life!
Support:
Right now, I estimate that God has provided 66% (estimated) of the amount for the first deadline. I look forward to seeing the ways God is going to provide!
Prayer Requests
1. Thank God for what He has done in my life! (Because there is nothing I did to deserve it!)
2. Pray that God would stretch me and grow me into the image of His Son.
3. Pray a few of my teammates by name:
Autumn J.
Tim N.
Nick A.
Rachel H.
Ask God to grow their faith and prepare their hearts for His service. (I am going to try to get the full list up later)
4. Pray for the unbelievers in Scotland. We do not know who God will bring, but we want to share the gospel with them!
Thanks for reading this "sacrifice of praise"! I can't wait to tell you more about the LIVING God I serve and they ways He is working in my life!
Complete in Christ,
Tiffany
~I Timothy 1:12~
January
Week 2
Starting school again in January was great. I loved to be back into my old routine, but I knew I was running out of time to get "extra" things done, like prayer letters, prayer cards, and blog posts. I had the "to do list" in the back of my head and the will to get it done, but time always seemed to get away from me. With each passing day, I grew more anxious wondering how I would ever get those letters out.
Week 3
Finally, one day I had a break between classes so I called my sister and asked her if she would help me get addresses to send out prayer letters. She said she would. Together we brainstormed of people to send letters to but before she hung up, she asked me a question:
"Why don't I just work on them for you."
"What?" I wondered if I had heard right.
"Why don't I print your letter and send out the envelopes, that way you don't have to worry about it."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
After we pinned down a few minor details and I bubbled with MUCH gratitude, we hung up. The rest of the day, I pondered my sister's sacrifice. How wonderful it was for her to help! I am so grateful! It was not until later that the thought hit me:
She's not doing it for me, she's doing it for our Father.
How gracious it was of my heavenly Father to direct my thoughts back to Him. Not only is He the God of the Universe, He is the God of Scotland, this missions trip and all the details. He is my sister's Loving Father. He is my Loving Father. He can and will use His willing vessels to accomplish His perfect will.
Reflecting on this later, I wrote in my Scotland Journal:
"Daily God, by His grace, allows me to learn about how to trust Him. I cannot doubt him.
I do worry about the money that is due in fifteen days, but He has provided for me this far
Who am I, frail woman, to doubt the LIVING God? I look forward to seeing the ways He
will provide."
And provide He did!
A few days later, Mr. Lounsbrough sent an email out to the team saying the deadline had been moved from February 15 to February 29. I realized again that God is MUCH bigger than I give Him credit. I expected Him to provide in one way, then He, the infinite God, completely surprised my finite mind. The extra time God provided has been yet another way He proved His faithfulness.
Week 4
One morning while reading I Timothy, I was still really struggling with anxiety and doubt about the trip, but as I read, the Holy Spirit reached up, pulled my nose down into my Bible and said "Look at this!"
"I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord
because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service."
~ I Timothy 1:12
"Wow!" I thought. As I pondered this verse, the depth of it rolled over me like waves of the sea. I knew there were many applications I could draw from this verse.
1. My strength to do ANYTHING before, during, or after this missions trip will be from
my Savior and Lord, Jesus. So why should I worry?
2. "He judged me faithful" that means there was NOTHING I did to deserve serving Him
my Lord in Scotland. In fact, in the beginning I was being unfaithful.
3. My Lord also "appointed me to his service" If I have no strength but His, and He chose
me to serve Him although He already knew I didn't deserve it, how could I respond in
in ANY other way except GRATITUDE?
This verse is pinned to my desk so whenever I want to give in to my flesh and roll in the mud of anxiety or worry, I read this verse and remember that THIS IS NOT ABOUT ME. It's about Him.
February
Week 2
One day after chapel, my roommate and I were sitting in my dorm when I confessed that I was discouraged about how slow funds were coming in and how fast the deadline was again approaching. Laura, my dear sweet encourager, said she would commit to pray that God would provide $300 that week. I thanked her graciously, then turned back to my flesh I continued to worry. As the week rolled on, I forgot about her promise and my sinful response until Sunday night when I got a text from my dad. It read like this:
"Hey Tiff, $460 dollars came in today for your Scotland trip!"
Elated, I showed Laura the text. We loudly "sang praises" to the Lord in our dorm room, but suddenly she stopped.
"God answered my prayer."
"What?" I said.
"My prayer! I prayed this week that He would send you $300, and He sent you even more than that!"
A breath caught in my throat. Covering my face with my hands, I fought back tears as something like "the weight of God's glory" came crushing into my fragile reality. In that moment, I also imagined that this "Muller Moment" could only come from One source. How could I have been so narrow minded? I prayed my thanksgiving to my Father that night. Once again, His loving kindness and faithfulness was made evident in my life.
Week 3
This week, I have had time to reflect over the last two months and ponder God's awesome power. I am humbled by the ways that He has worked in my life!
Support:
Right now, I estimate that God has provided 66% (estimated) of the amount for the first deadline. I look forward to seeing the ways God is going to provide!
Prayer Requests
1. Thank God for what He has done in my life! (Because there is nothing I did to deserve it!)
2. Pray that God would stretch me and grow me into the image of His Son.
3. Pray a few of my teammates by name:
Autumn J.
Tim N.
Nick A.
Rachel H.
Ask God to grow their faith and prepare their hearts for His service. (I am going to try to get the full list up later)
4. Pray for the unbelievers in Scotland. We do not know who God will bring, but we want to share the gospel with them!
Thanks for reading this "sacrifice of praise"! I can't wait to tell you more about the LIVING God I serve and they ways He is working in my life!
Complete in Christ,
Tiffany
~I Timothy 1:12~
Sunday, December 11, 2011
How It All Began
Hello Friends~
I began this blog with the purpose of bringing glory to my Heavenly Father by writing about the events between now and the missions trip He's sending me on. I'd like to tell you about how it all began...
This semester at Faith Baptist Bible College, a new missions trip was presented to the student body. A team of 25 people would travel to Scotland the last two weeks in July to help serve in a local church in Aberdeen. The group would serve along side Pastor Galbraith and his family. It would be the opportunity of a life time. While I expressed my interest and my name was put on a list, I had no hope of making the team. How could I, a college freshman with NO missions experience qualify for something like this? But God had other plans....
A few weeks later, Pastor Galbraith came to campus to speak in chapel as well as present the missions trip in further detail. These meetings were important, yet I chose not to go because of the mountain of homework I had. In retrospect, not going was a foolish choice. But God had other plans...
After the advice of my roommate, I emailed the Missions director who was heading up the application submissions for the trip and expressed to him that I WAS still interested in going on this trip and apologized for missing the meeting. He sent me a link to the application. After filling out the papers and sending it back to him, I committed the whole thing to God. I told my Father that if He wanted me to go, He was going to have to send me, because if it was based on the way I had been handling the situation, I didn't deserve to go. But God had other plans...
After I put it all in my Fathers hands, the whole thing slipped my mind. School crowded every empty space in my mind until that Saturday morning when I checked my email. I had to read the email 4 times before I finally grasped its meaning. The opening went something like this:
"Greetings to the 2012 Scotland Team,
Congratulations! If you are receiving this email, you have made the team!..."
By the fifth time through, it finally sunk in - God was sending me to Scotland.
I still can't get over the providence of my Father in this situation. The whole thing is humbling and exciting at the same time.
Now some details. Once I made the team, our Missions director gave us the specific details for the trip.
(This is our temporary logo for the trip)
Our team-about 22 of us- will be going to Aberdineshire, Scotland from July18 to August 1, 2012 with the intended purpose of serving in various ministries in the Westhill Baptist Church in Westhill, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. We will be helping with Holiday Bible Club (I think this is the UK version of VBS), Family Fun Nights, and in our spare time, experiencing Scotland. Throughout this time, we will hopefully have opportunities to minister to the Believers and share the Gospel with the lost. Personally, my heart is already with the children. (On of the first things I remember thinking about this trip when it was presented was "I wonder what Scottish children are like...") The last three days we will spend in London sight seeing.
The total cost for the trip will be just under $3,000. A recent blessing concerning the price is that we will NOT have to pay for Visa's for this trip, which would have kept the price around $3,000. God is already paying for the trip. (Isn't He so good?) The first half of the amount, $1,500, will go toward our plane tickets which will be due February 15, 2012. The rest will cover food, van rental, lodging, etc and will be due April 15th. This may sound crazy, but when I saw the price for this trip, I started grinning like a fool. Not because I knew I could get the money, but rather because I knew my God was going to pay for it. This "strange" perspective came after reading about the prayer life of George Muller and the ways that God provided for him. I was excited to have a huge mountain looming before me so that I could take it to my Father and wait for him to provide. Jehovah-Jireh!!
So friends, we have come to the end of the beginning...
The only thing that I ask is this: Pray for us.
Pray that God will provide in HIS timing and that our faith might be increased because of His perfect will. It will be exciting to see how He uses this in our lives to change us into His image.
Between now and next summer, I intend to post updates on how God is providing as well as facts about Scottish people, history, etc.
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14 ESV)
(Aberdeen is the little point just south of Peterhead, the blunt peninsula that points to the North Sea)
The total cost for the trip will be just under $3,000. A recent blessing concerning the price is that we will NOT have to pay for Visa's for this trip, which would have kept the price around $3,000. God is already paying for the trip. (Isn't He so good?) The first half of the amount, $1,500, will go toward our plane tickets which will be due February 15, 2012. The rest will cover food, van rental, lodging, etc and will be due April 15th. This may sound crazy, but when I saw the price for this trip, I started grinning like a fool. Not because I knew I could get the money, but rather because I knew my God was going to pay for it. This "strange" perspective came after reading about the prayer life of George Muller and the ways that God provided for him. I was excited to have a huge mountain looming before me so that I could take it to my Father and wait for him to provide. Jehovah-Jireh!!
So friends, we have come to the end of the beginning...
The only thing that I ask is this: Pray for us.
Pray that God will provide in HIS timing and that our faith might be increased because of His perfect will. It will be exciting to see how He uses this in our lives to change us into His image.
Between now and next summer, I intend to post updates on how God is providing as well as facts about Scottish people, history, etc.
"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14 ESV)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)