Leaping in Faith

My Life Verses: 
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. 
-Psalms 16:11
Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
-James 1:27

As God has directed my heart towards missions in India over the last three years, and as I read in the Bible about what it means to be a disciple, and how disciples were asked to go out...I knew that He was asking me to go on a journey without having everything figured out beforehand. 

Here are some verses that have helped shaped me in the process: 

He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. 
-Luke 9:3

“If anyone comes to me and does not hate father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters—yes, even their own life—such a person cannot be my disciple. And whoever does not carry their cross and follow me cannot be my disciple." 
-Luke 14:26

"In the same way, those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples." 
-Luke 14:33

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” 
-Matthew 19:21

Then Jesus came to them(His disciples) and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” 
-Matthew 28:18-20


I have been praying for the last three years about God's timing to go to India for mission work, and after a couple opportunities didn't pan out, I began praying that someone would ask me to go, and that would be how I would know it was God's timing. That happened a few months back, when a long-term friend that I reconnected with asked me, "why don't you come here and stay with me for a while?" I knew my answer, and have been preparing for my trip ever since.

God has prepared me in so many ways, and fashioned my heart for the work he has prepared in advance for me to do...which I cannot even be totally aware of until I get there. It will not be easy at times, but I believe there will be great joy in the full surrender of my life for His cause. He has been faithful to answer specific prayers up to this point, and I know His Will will be done. He will protect me, provide for me, heal me, and anoint me for the purpose He has for me there. I hope to learn and grow spiritually, but most of all love people the way Jesus has loved me.

It is my deepest desire to pass along the love which I have come to know from my heavenly Father to those that do not know it, and to be found faithful in carrying out the mission that is placed on me as a follower of Jesus Christ. I seek to live out Jesus' teachings to the best of my ability, whether I am in the U.S. or elsewhere, with help from the Holy Spirit. I know that I am really nothing but a vessel of his power and love, and hope to willingly lay down my life every day, so that He may display himself through the cracks of my brokenness. And that is all that I have, Christ in me. So much of the world does not know love, much less a love like Jesus taught us to give, by giving up his perfect life on the cross to pay the price for our sins, so that we could be reconciled to the Father and have eternal life in heaven. 

Because I am completely open to the work God has for me in India, I am also open to the time He would have me stay there. I am shooting for 6 months, but I could be back in 2 months, or stay forever. 

I am asking for prayer as I continue to prepare until early November when I leave, as well as the time I am there. I would love for you to follow my blog as I will post regular updates on what God is doing. I have resolved to go there trusting God for everything, even for finances. My trip is paid for as far as plane tickets and basic needs, which he most definitely provided for, and I will not need much in addition; however, I would love the opportunity to feed the hungry and clothe the naked as scripture tells us to. This is where you come in! Please consider donating to my trip using the buttons to the right. You can give one time or monthly. I am looking for 20 people that will support the work God wants to do through me with $5/month while I am there. I have 3 people committed so far with a total of $55/month! Thank you all for joining in this work with me through prayer or financial contributions! I believe we have been given much, so much is expected of us. As I prepare for my trip, I ponder just what I have been given that I can freely give back to the world...I'm not sure I can fully understand what exactly that is until I am there and God reveals the exact needs He has equipped me(us) to meet. I will post more later about my thoughts on missions, and more of the details that have led me up to this decision. There is OH SO MUCH that God has shown me about this next chapter with a few visions and desires he has put in my heart of what my "mission" will be, but I will wait on the right time to share everything...

"From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more." Luke 12:48

"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me." Matthew 25:35,36

"Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will never fail, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys." Luke 12:33

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:19-21

Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21
Peter replied, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.” Acts 2:38,39