One Month Away!

Hello! =)

It's crazy to think that I will be leaving for Costa Rica in one month. Especially considering I first started praying about this trip about 5 months ago. Then it was only a hope and a prayer, now it is a reality; my reality. As the days go by, I am getting more and more excited (as you probably can imagine). But I have been tempted to doubt that I will have the money in time to pay for my trip cost. In times of doubting, I need to remember who my God is. That He is a good God and He will provide for and equip me for what He has called me to. So I choose instead to believe the truth, rather than the doubts that try to creep in and cause me to worry about whether or not I will have enough money in time. This is one of the things that you can be praying about. =)

Over the past few months it has been some what of a struggle for me to be disciplined in reading my  Bible and spending time with God. But God continues to call us to Himself which I am very thankful for. Through encouragement from friends and other things, God has been speaking to me, teaching me and growing me and I have found it easier and easier to sit down and make time for Hm. Please pray that I will continue to do so and that I will become more disciplined in this area. 

One of the things that He has been rooting into my heart is that I am safe and secure in His arms. A verse that emphasizes this is Deuteronomy 33:12, "May the beloved of the Lord dwell in the security by Him, who shields him all the day, and he dwells between His shoulders." This verse really resonated with my heart because we (as His children) are His beloved, therefore I have security in Him. Which means no matter my circumstances, no matter if I feel hurt or lost or abandoned or broken, He is always there for me. He will always love me with an undying love. He also shields me, as the verse says, and I dwell between His shoulders. I love the last line, because what comes to mind is a shepherd carrying his little lost lamb across his shoulders, taking the little lamb back home. And the safest place that little lost lamb could be is on the shoulders of his protector. This is a beautiful image of how our Daddy takes care of us. And it speaks straight to my heart: I have a place. I am safe and secure in my Daddy's arms.

As a final prayer request, please pray that my heart will be open to what God wants to teach me. Please pray that He will be strengthening and equipping me for what He will have me doing on my trip. 

Thanks for reading and thanks for your prayers!!