God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever

I am currently going through a Bible study called Inheritance by Beth Moore. I have loved this study because it has awakened a joy in me in regards to the brilliance of my God.  Even though I have yet to find a job, leave in a week for Wisconsin, not knowing what will happen when i return in August, I am thankful.  Beth did this in a session and I felt like I needed to do the same. I just wanted to be able to voice the reasons why my God is everything to me, truly He is my portion. I don't know what you are going through, but I think everyone needs to take a step back and realize what God has done and who He is - it brings calm to the storm.

I am thankful that God fights for me - Exodus 14:13-14

I am thankful that when I'm in my darkest dark - I hear him say I love you and I want to do something awesome through you -  Isaiah 43: 10, 61:1, and Colossians 1:28-29

I am thankful that He can sympathize - Hebrews 4:15-16

I am thankful that He knows my heart better than anyone else - Psalm 139:13-14

I am thankful that he gave me a passion for U.S. History and a burden for England, only God can be that halarious - Jeremiah 29:11

I am thankful that He is my portion and I am His prize - Psalm 73:26

I am thankful that He knows the man I will marry and knows that we will do ministry together - Hebrews 3:4,

Colossians 1:28-29

I am thankful that he is jealous for me - Exodus 34:14

I am thankful that God ordains certain situations for his glory (i.e. how i ended up with a heart for England) -

Ephesians 1:11-12

I am thankful that he is consistent - Joshua 1:9

I am thankful that He never gets tired of me - my questions, my moans, and my human self pity - Matthew 11:28-30

I am thankful that He knows exactly what i need - Philippians 4:19

I am thankful that He doesn't forget where I am at - Jeremiah 31:10-14, Proverbs 2:1-6, 3:5-6

When the idea of jobs, finding my purpose, and patiently waiting for an open door, is so overwhelming - I remember who He is, that I am so small, that He is so big, and He is in control.  Romans 8:24-25

Hope is a hard word: my thoughts through the storm

Writing this entry has been on my mind for the past few days, and I thought I might as well give in and write what I’m thinking – maybe it can help someone who is also in a “storm” situation.

 For those who don’t know my recent story, I yet again fell into the realm of: I have it all figured out. Everything was “working out” for me, I had no complaints. When I was in England leading a UMHB team, God brought healing to my recent brokenness, and grew my passion to move there permanently – there was even a possible opportunity to work at a school in an area I really wanted to do ministry in…. But God. ..

See I’ve always loved that part of scripture – you know, when something is going one way, and then it says: But God, and then you know something is about to happen! The storm commences. Within a week, I was back to square one. I fought through questioning my calling to England, questioning my passion for teaching, and was quite depressed. I was watching things unfold nicely for pretty much every friend I have, and I just didn’t and still don’t understand why things weren’t/aren’t working out when I am SO willing to go and do anything. But God…

God is still speaking – He is the only one that knows my heart, and gave me a desire to live in England, teach, and proclaim who He is. God is still there – literally the only thing I am clinging to and relying upon. God is still sovereign – His plan will happen, even if there is a period of waiting. So in the wait time, when I’m completely unsure of literally everything, and I’m living hour to hour, I’m learning what it means to hope.

From My Utmost for His Highest:

“Are you prepared to abandon entirely and let go? The test of abandonment is in refusing to say – Well what about this?”

“He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in Gods hands.”

“The knowledge that God has loved me to the uttermost will send me forth into the world to love in the same way.”

“There may be any number of things dark to your understanding, but they do not come in between your heart and God.”

“When Gods needs in us have been met, he will open the way for us to realize His needs elsewhere.”

“Launch all on God, go out on the great swelling tide of his purpose, and you will get your eyes open. If you believe in Jesus, you are not spend all your time in the smooth waters…you have to get out through the harbor bar into the great deeps of God and begin to know for yourself, begin to have spiritual discernment.”

I am literally launching all on God, abandoning everything, and waiting patiently for Him to move. I’m thankful that He understands: Romans 8:24-26.

See you soon Middlesbrough

Sunday update:
My team attended MCC Central and I absolutely love it there! I love that you can feel the spirit move, that it's more about what God is speaking and doing than structure, and true worship is on the top of the list.  Ste Mac talked on Philippians and having a humble attitude like Christ.  We finished with tea and coffee and lunch at our host homes.  We then went to Redcar to get a lemon top and Saltburn to play cricket on the beach - it was a great time of fellowship with our beautiful friends!  Then Prayer meeting at 7 which was life changing for some of my teammates - God broke some things in their lives, words were shared, and attitudes changed for the good.  We prayed for various ministries, and then they asked me to go into the middle and they prayed over me and my current situation. I'm so confident and at peace that I am meant to be in Middlesbrough, and i'm thankful for those who prayed over me about finding a job there - Jesus in your timing!!!!!  We finished the night at the yellow rose as per tradition. It was AMAZING!!!! Michael led another man to Christ called Sam, who is James' brother.  I am amazed at the opportunities God has presented this last week, and i'm thankful for people like Michael who act upon them.

This last week has been draining emotionally, spiritually, and physically, but i am so in awe of what God did in and through my team.  I'm thankful for the opportunities to talk to people, prayer walk, and teach in Archibald. I'm thankful to have served my friends at MCC once again, and thankful for the way they blessed and served us.  Please continue to pray for MCC and the people who will be following through with what our team did, etc, and for open doors for me to return to work in Middlesbrough.
As for what is next - only God knows.... and i'm content with that!

Texas Chili, Line Dancing, and more of who Jesus is proclaimed in Middlesbrough!

Here is a catch up from Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.


On Thursday my team got to work with Christians Against Poverty. We cleaned a ladies house and garden who has a child in Archibald, and got to practically live out the gospel. Andrew, Ryan, and myself delivered 20 Bibles to Year 6 students at Archibald. When we walked into the assembly to hand them out to those that asked, one girl named Courtney, just lighted up - you could tell that she was so excited to get something that will hopefully become so precious to her.  Please pray that she begins reading it, and learning more about who Jesus is.  Also, a muslim student, Zerish, took one as well so please pray that God would touch her heart through His written word.  We then went to Freda and Steve's, where we cleaned their yard and listened to their story of how CAP helped them come to know Jesus. I absolutely love Freda and her story!!!!


On the night we led a Texan theme night for the Ignite kids with trivia, accent contest, line dancing, and texas chili!!! It was a great turn out and although the night didn't go as planned - it went exactly as it should have.


Friday has probably been the longest day of the trip for me.  We cleaned gardens, etc, in Whinneybanks on the morning. It was mostly jobs for a few people, so most of us spent a lot of it sitting around waiting to get the next assignment. Then we heard Nigel and Jane's story of how they got the house on Whinneybanks and moved to the north by faith, trusting God's finances and timing - they are such an inspiration in my life and current situation. We then had an afternoon event with the Methodist church in Whinneybanks with a bouncy castle, food, and face painting. I definitly think it was great for the community and although we had some discipline issues, we also had great conversations!!!  I'm thankful for Jane, Nigel, Johnny, and Beths heart for the area and passion to show kids and adults that there is something/someone to live for!!  We then prayer walked in Coulby Newham which is an area that is unreached by MCC, and where Kings Academy resides. We just prayed into the idea of starting something in that area, and I really felt that God is going to do massive things in the lives of the kids there.

Friday, although exhausting, was very exciting because Mike who I spoke of in a previous post made a commitment to Christ!!!!! Michael, on Trey's team, was able to meet with him and lead him to Christ - PRAISE THE LORD!!!!  God really does move mountains!

Saturday was free time for my team.  I had a meeting with a friend of mine on the board of directors for Kings Academy, a Christian run secondary school in Middlesbrough.  I will be writing a letter about the possibility of me coming on to teach in that school.  Please be praying that God's will and timing will come to fruition, and that I will be willing and prepared to go where He leads.  We also climbed Roseberry Topping, which in my estimation is a mountain, but is a hill in England.  You can see the whole of the Tees Valley, and rest in God's beautiful creation.  We then went to Darlington and prayed over Sue, Al, and Tracie, who want to see God do big things in that area.  They are currently doing a series on Marc Driscolls, Vintage Jesus, so please pray there is fruit from that!

I realize it was long, but God is amazing - and truly change lives of our teams and the people we come in contact with!

Your perfect love is casting out fear

Today was our last day in Archibald schools.  There were 11 Texans and 2 year 6 classes.  We discussed Jonah, and a few shared their stories, we sang Every move I make and You never let go, and ended the day with baseball and Texas art.  During the day we had great conversations with teachers, students, and will be delivering 20 Bibles to very interested kids tomorrow!!! God was really moving today, and everyones stories and conversations were so purposeful and powerful. Please continue to pray for the year 6 students at Archibald - that their curiosity will manifest into a great understanding of who Jesus is and what He did for them.

Next we took everyone to Nando's, an awesome chicken place, to eat.  It was then lifegroup time.  Myself, Trey, and Michael went to Journey's at James and Joyce's.  Joyce became a Christian just before I left in January and is now facilitating an intro to Christianity course for her friends.  We had amazing conversation and there are three guys who are VERY close to taking that step of faith into following Jesus!!!!! Praise the Lord!!! One had a question about coincidences so I was able to share how in my life - England couldn't have just happened. I'm not the one who would have said yeah i'll move to another country, but God's put that on my heart - it's not a coincidence, and it is such an example of how real my God is.  Another guy had a struggle with the fear of death, and Michael was able to share about how he dealt with the same thing in the past, and God took that away.  Praise the Lord for divine appointments!!!

Tomorrow we have an event for Ignite kids so please be praying for it!

Archibald Day 1: My God is Mighty to Save

Hello friends! Today has been AMAZING!!! It was our first day in Archibald, and my first day back since I left in January. We started the day with a team prayer time, and then we got to school and introduced ourselves to the Year 6 class.  Today we brought along Joseph, Trey's son and a part of his team, who did a great job at sharing the love of Christ, his testimony, and how school is in Texas... by the way - Joseph is just a year older than the students we taught today - God really used him!!!  We sang Every Move I Make and Mighty To Save led by Hayley and Ryan (great musical talent in these two).  It was awesome to see non Christian students and teachers singing at the top of their lungs about the saving grace of Jesus - this always blows me away.  Heather then told a story with an activity on the Parable of the Lost Coin, and Alex came up after to share his story of how Jesus became real to him.  We then split up into 6 groups and rotated sharing our faith, asking questions about both stories shared, and showing them pictures from Texas.  Some questions from today: Who inspired you to become a Christian, Did you always think you would believe in Jesus, Do you think that Jesus is the only divine one or a prophet of Allah, What do you think about the death penalty... all from 11 year olds - God was so moving in their minds. I was so impressed by the depth of their questions, and we all ended up sharing our testimony in front of class during question time.  After a break we showed them a map of Texas and talked about our culture, and they each asked great questions regarding that theme. Then lunch time, and playing outside doing wake up shake up (dance time after lunch).  On the afternoon Andrew taught them how to play baseball and so everyone got out there and had a blast!!!  After school we ran the BLAST kids club that Helen Clark and myself started back in September.  We had about 12 kids, and everyone pitched in to do games and then I taught on David and Goliath.

One thing God brought to mind today which I never have really shared, is that He is the one that has never given up on me.  Most of these kids come from difficult situations, where friends, parents, etc. come and go - and I'm so thankful that I was able to relate to them on that level and telling them that Jesus is the one that will never leave or give up on them.  He's created each of them for an awesome purpose - so please join with me in praying for the Year 6 students at Archibald Primary School that they will continue to ask deep questions and find their purpose in life. 

Our next day in the school is Wednesday - we will be hitting the gospel hard as we are discussing Religion in America- prayers appreciated!!!

We then leafleted Whinneybanks for a community event on Friday and seeing if anyone needed their garden cleaned on Friday morning - please be praying for this event!

Until next time!

Hebrews 10:23

Today was amazing!!!! My team worshipped at Acklam this morning, and Jaclynn and I led the kids work. Heather gave a testimony about what we did in Acklam yesterday, and I gave a testimony on God's faithfulness. As most know, my home is Middlesbrough, so these last four months have been very difficult. Along with leading a team, getting a job to pay for gas, and getting to know a guy who challenged me more than he'll ever know is a true testimony to God's faithfulness during this trying time. Hebrews 10:23 says: "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." This is true at all times.

We then ate with loads of MCC friends at The Star, and cleared out loads of rubbish in the church building. Then the girls went to a CAP (Christians Against Poverty) Pamper night where - 3 PEOPLE ACCEPTED CHRIST FOR THE FIRST TIME!!!!!!!! Praise the Lord!!!! It was a great night of fellowship, tea, and cakes! The guys had a curry night with some male CAP clients where the gospel was presented from Andrew and Nigel from MCC.

What a great night!!! Please pray for energy tomorrow as we go into the schools, and Trey's team does yard work with CAP.

Greater things have yet to come, and Greater things are still to be done in this city!!"