Need...

"We were built to meet a need." (Jennie Allen). 

For the past few months this quote has always been on my heart and mind. I recently read Restless by Jennie Allen and am currently in a study with some great ladies through the book. After reading the book I spent a lot of time just praying through what it means to meet a need. 

Everywhere you look there are so many needs. Lets face it folks, people are hurting and they are not sure how to explain it or how to get help. I know this, because there are many days I feel this way. Days when I wake up and just don't know how to focus. It is on those days that I have a choice, myself or God. When I choose myself, let me tell you the rest of the day is gloomy and not fun. When I choose God, the day is filled with purpose and joy. Being that I know this, you would think I would always choose God when my mind is filled with doubt, but honestly that doesn't always happen. Sometimes I just can't overcome the doubt and I choose me. Lately that has been the case. Lately I have struggled with purpose and passion. This has led me back to the quote from jennie Allen. 

The root of the word passion is suffering. As Allen says, "God often leads us to passions through suffering experienced or perceived." The thing that keeps you up at night and makes your heart race, could be there because of something you have faced in your life. Coming to terms with this, helps on days when the doubts over take your mind and instead of choosing God, you choose yourself. Allen says, "You long to give the world what you failed to receive. But passions are also born out of observing suffering." 

For me when I think about what makes my heart race and keeps me up at night is seeing worth in people. I want everyone to know that they have worth, that they are priceless. I desire for people to see themselves the way God sees them, "fearfully and wonderfully made" (Psalm 139:14). Friends the creator of the universe, stood before the world before it was created and already knew our name. As he created everything, he took time to say it was good, (Genesis 1) but when he created man he said "it was very good." Everything around you friend is good, but you, YOU are VERY good. You were created to radiate the goodness of our God. You were created for relationship and to know those around you. You were created to BE in relationship with our Abba daddy. He gave up everything so that you could experience life with Him. When I my mind is overwhelmed with me I turn to these scriptures...

John 1:12 I am God’s child.
John 15:15 As a disciple, I am a friend of Jesus Christ.
Romans 5:1 I have been justified.
1 Corinthians 6:17 I am united with the Lord, and I am one with Him in spirit.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 I have been bought with a price and I belong to God.
1 Corinthians 12:27 I am a member of Christ’s body.
Ephesians 1:3-8 I have been chosen by God and adopted as His child.
Colossians 1:13-14 I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins.
Colossians 2:9-10 I am complete in Christ.
Hebrews 4:14-16 I have direct access to the throne of grace through Jesus Christ.

Today, take some time and go through each of these verses and feel loved. Find your worth in the  One who created you priceless. Your were built to fulfill a need. I feel that my need is to speak worth in to people's lives. You need to know that you were made to know God to love God. Because of this you cannot do anything without God's presence and strength. He is the One who uses you to fulfill the needs around. As Allen says, "We cannot love. We cannot know God. We cannot know ourselves. We cannot change. We cannot bleed for others. We cannot move without God's Spirit moving in and through us to accomplish his purpose. We are not left as orphans to figure all this out. He is with us." 

Friends we were meant to fulfill a need. Now,  go and do something. Do not waste your life and time on choosing yourself. Choose God today!!!!

A Beautiful Race

Saturday was one of those days when I need to pinch myself and take a deep breath. God is so good. A few months ago I was contact by a race company in Michigan to host a 5K run benefiting BG in Michigan. There have been multiple other 5Ks in California and Vancouver, so I knew it was a good thing to do. I quickly formed a planning team and while I was still in Lesotho they began the process of putting everything together. Let me tell you, the planning team was amazing. Putting on a 5K is way more than what I thought it would be. This team gathered sponsors, insurance, promoted and ran the event with class and honor. It could not have happened without them.

As last week unfolded and everyday something had to be done for the event, I was becoming more and more excited to see what the day would bring. Friday night I couldn't sleep because my head was racing with 5K excitement. The morning proved to be way more than just a 5K run.

It was a time for friends to reunite and catch up.
It was a time for people to serve by handing out water, snacks, awards and registration.
It was a time for people to meet, who had only heard about one another, but never met.
It was a time for churches, businesses, and individuals to give of themselves.
It was a time of laughter...lots of laughter.
It was a time of cheering on people who you didn't know, but had a connection to because of a run.
It was a time to be blown away by God's goodness.
It was a time to unite and show hope to children and staff that you may have never met.
It was a time to acknowledge a problem and do something about it.
It was a time to run, run for children who don't know what it means to have people see their worth.
It was a time to CELEBRATE, God's faithfulness and redemptive plan.

As the morning went on, I felt my smile getting bigger and bigger. With each car load of people that poured into the parking lot, I saw hope; with each volunteer that gave of their time, so this event could happen, I saw love; and with each runner who pushed themselves up a huge hill (twice) I saw endurance and strength.

I was humbled by Saturday. Humbled by people. humbled by a race, humbled by the job that I have. At the race was a former BG child who has been adopted to a family in Grand Rapids. My heart was overwhelmed when at the end of the race she picked weeds and wild flowers and handed them to the runners. She is a normal 5 year old girl who did what she knew to do, and she did it with joy! The whole day was a day of joy. Everyone gave of themselves in a way that pointed to our wonderful Savior and acknowledged His love and acceptance.

For those who were apart of the event, thank you. The amount of money that was raised will do great things for Beautiful Gate and its precious children.

Get ready for next year folks. We will lace up are shoes on August 15, 2015 and do it all again!!!!