El Salvador: Above the Clouds

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills. Psalm 147:8

The Quarter On The Wall

We sat on concrete blocks and talked all day while the others were working. I guess that's how we roll :) We shared stories and encouraged each other to walk with God more. To trust Him more. To believe Him more. A year ago I met Eli and today she is such a dear friend.

Once she told me a story about her youngest brother, Andrew. They were leaving a restaurant and the waitress proudly proclaimed that she didn't believe in God. Andrew turned around and looked the woman in the eye. Filled with compassion, he told her about what God had done for him... for her... how God had provided His Son as an atonement for his sin. Only he said it in kid words.

He pulled a quarter out of his pocket and told the woman that he was going to ask God to hold the quarter on the wall. He put the quarter up to the wall and as he removed his finger he shared the gospel with her. When he had said what God wanted him to say, he touched the quarter and it fell into his hand.

I remember the day Eli told me the story. Because I picked up every rock and held it to the wall of a nearby home hoping that it would stay in place. Not to test God, but to see something amazing like that. Something crazy. I remember how I tried to cast the doubt out of my mind, but I couldn't. And each time the rock fell to the ground.

I forgot about that story until today. Andrew was holding something shiny in his hand. a quarter. Joy filled my heart as I remembered the story and I asked Andrew to hold it up to the wall. He removed his finger and the quarter remained on the wall. My heart flooded with emotion and I praised the Lord with all that is within me. And then I said, "Who holds the quarter on the wall, Andrew?"

"The Lord holds the quarter on the wall."

Monday Matters: Angie Wright

It's a rare thing when a teacher can connect with students. And I mean really connect. The kind of class where every student feels like they could really be vulnerable and challenged. Angie is like that. 

She cares about her students and she wants to see them seek the Lord. She wants them to be passionate about what He has called them to do and she wants them to walk in power, love and a sound mind. Because this is the life we have in Him. A full life.

So grab a drink and enjoy a few words from Angie today :)

love it!

GOGEOUS!!!!

Angie, thank you for loving the Lord and for challenging me to seek Him in His Word. You have truly blessed my life and I am so thankful for you!

I love, love, LOVE my job!  Teaching at SBU is a true joy for so many reasons, but one of the main reasons I love it so much is because of students like Jordan.  It is amazing to have students who love and serve the Lord!  Jordan, I love how you use your gifts and talents for His glory!  I loved having you in class and am excited to see His plans for you! :)

Challenges… we all have them… and we can choose to face them confidently in our Savior’s strength and direction or we can choose to grumble about them and try to take them on ourselves.  My choice is the first one… to face them with peace and wisdom that can only come from my Savior {And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7}.  Now let’s be real… this is easier said than done.  But through practicing His presence and allowing him to control our lives, it is definitely possible.

What type of challenges have you faced this year?  We face challenges daily – and yes, some are more major than others.  

My biggest challenge the past year has been centered around working on my PhD.  I worry a lot.  I didn’t realize how much I worry {and how worthless it is} until I led a Bible study with a group of my female students called Calm My Anxious Heart by Linda Dillow.  I HIGHLY recommend this book/study!  

The craziest thing is that when I started thinking about what I worry about in life {PhD, work, family, etc.}, I realized that most of it never happens or already happened.  So I started asking myself: Why worry about things that might not even happen and why worry/dwell on things that are in the past?!  The answer: I shouldn’t and am going to strive not to from now on {Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6}.  

God has worked in me tremendously this past year.  Through His Word, prayer, Calm My Anxious Heart, and my parents, He is teaching me to be content.  Notice I used the word teaching – it doesn’t come over night.  He is teaching me that contentment is a choice…

Aren’t those great?  I want to choose to see stars not mud. :)

My parents are by far the biggest spiritual mentors in my life.  Their love for God, each other, me, and others is amazing and unlike anything I have ever seen.  A couple of weeks ago, I was really anxious about a few things.  My dad sent me this text {he knew exactly what I needed to be reminded of}…

I am so thankful for my heavenly Father and my earthly parents.  I am excited to see what God has planned for me now.  I am trying to live in the now and to live with an eternal perspective.  I don’t want to live with the mindset “after my PhD”.  If I choose to live in milestones, I will miss what God has for me now.

There are two final things I want to share with you all from Calm My Anxious Heart.  I have these photos saved on my phone and read them constantly.

Isn't that amazing?  

---being content in how He chose to make me---

¹³ For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Psalm 139:13-16 

I also love this “prescription for contentment”…

We can have contentment, but only in Him.  It is not always easy to deny our flesh, but true peace comes from living by the Spirit. I am so thankful for His peace and love.

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Romans 8:5-6 

Thanks again, Jordan for having me on your blog and photographing me!  It was so much fun.  Blessings!

Monday Matters: Jenna Renae

I opened my windows this morning to let the cool air flow through my house and I listened to the birds singing from the trees. I sipped on my frappe and read as the silence surrounded me... "And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me." - 2 Corinthians 12:9

My mother-in-law prayed this verse for me as I was preparing for El Salvador. And God has spoken to me through this verse in ways that I can't really describe. Because there are so many times that I think my weakness is too much... too much for Him to overcome. And this beautiful Word of His calls out that lie in my life. And because of who He is, I can live life fully. && He is powerful in my weaknesses. He is powerful in my life.

God has challenged me to dream... to look into the depths of my heart and understand what I long for. && He has challenged me to ask this question of others. Because it's good for us to dream... and to let Him be very big in our lives.

Jenna wants to change the world. && as she continues on this journey she wants to touch the lives of children who don't have very much. When I asked her what she wanted to do with our camera time she said that she wanted to do a shoot that would inspire people to buy a pair of Toms. And I smiled. Because Jenna is really beautiful.

You can head on over to the TOMS website to order a pair of shoes (click HERE).

"because you may be giving a pair of shoes to a child who has never had shoes before." -Jenna

Missouri Engagement: Nick + Cat

There was a time when Nick and Cat were just friends. At least until they realized that this friendship was growing into something different... something entirely unexpected. They began to pray about whether a relationship was something that God wanted for them and since that time He has created something beautiful to behold.

Nick and Cat serve a youth group (where he proposed HERE) and they plan on continuing this ministry whole-heartedly during their marriage. These two encourage each other and push each other more and more toward Christ as they seek Him in everything. They would love to visit El Salvador, South Dakota (serving the Oglala Lakota) and eventually do a short term mission in Africa. 

I look through these images and it melts my heart. Because you can see how much they love each other and how love just flows from their lives. Nick and Cat, I am so blessed by you both and thankful to have you in my life! 

Check out their website HERE!

Cat, you are incredibly gorgeous!

ahhhhh! I LOVE this!

so lovely.

(insert whistle here) 

so sweet!

Seriously Cat? You are gorgeous. SOOOO GORGEOUS!!!

so very lovely.

CHECK OUT THEIR WEBSITE HERE, HERE & HERE!