Thankfulness 10.28.14

87. Handwritten letters in the mail! In an age of the internet and typed words I treasure my friends who take the time to write with pen and paper all the more

88. heavy duty cough syrup 

89. the community and encouragement found in #fireworkpeople

89. fall leaves all around

90. pumpkin patches and apple picking with the cutest nephew ever

91. unseasonably warm October Mondays

92. sweater weather and giving away the ones I never really wore anyways

93. the clarity that only comes with prayer, journaling, and the word

94. finding the perfect print for a friend

95. knowing the no matter what happens, God is still faithful

96. coconut creamer that you can only find in the large sizes

97. fleeces and flannels 

98. painting the porch and the uninterrupted time it gives me to think 

99. coffee in the morning and tea in the evening

100. hugs from little people who you just met

101. joy that is always found in the middle of frustration and disappointment

102. unexpected messages full of words that hit my heart in just the right place

103. knowing that I have an amazing group of supporters behind me every step of the way

Come back next week for a special November thankfulness link up and giveaway!!!!

Two Hands

"Just marvel at the good two hands can bring the world." -Hannah Brencher

Two hands. We all (well the vast majority of us) have two hands. Just two hands. I don't know how many times two hand have seemed so ineffective for the task at hands. Moms want more hands to do chores and care for their children. Teachers want more than two hands to grade papers and write lessons plans. Students want more than two hands to do homework and take notes. Yet, no matter what you do, you are still left with just two hands.

That leads to the question of what you are going to do with those two hands. How are YOU going to choose to use them?

We are limited by our two hands. We can only carry in so many groceries from the car (even though I'll always try to carry more!) We can usually only do one task, be it writing or cooking, at the same time. And on top of that we only have on dominate hand, making it more difficult to so many tasks (fingernail paining I'm looking at you!)

It's so easy to be focused on the limitations that are placed on us. The limitations that make life harder or more inconvenient.

But what can you do with just two hands?

You can hold an orphaned child and rock them to sleep

You can make a pot of soup for the mother who struggles to feed her children

You can write a letter of encouragement to a friend

You can share your story with the world

You can cook dinner for your family

You can study the Bible

You can paint a homeless shelter or help build a habitat house

You can read to your little brother or sister

You can hug your mother or father

You can plant flowers to make others smile

With just two hands you can make a difference.

Yes, two hands are a limitation, but they are a beautiful limitation, because they allow us to focus on the task at hand.

Two by Two two hands can change the world

How will you use your two hands? Let me know in the comments!

#fireworkpeople is a beautiful community of people who are using their two hands to change the world! we would LOVE to have you join us!

I need Jesus

Everyday I need this reminder

I don't need to understand

I don't need to have more followers, more friends

I don't need more success

I don't need my own house

I don't need relationships

I don't need to be perfect

All I ever need is JESUS

print by Lara Casey Shop

Support Raising Isn't for Wimps

Right now I am deep in the world of support raising. It's a world I've entered before, and now more than ever I'm learning that it isn't for wimps.

• Support raising requires asking people to come alongside you and believe in your vision
• Support raising is putting yourself on the line
• Support raising is setting yourself up for possible rejection
• Support raising is entering the land of the unknown
• Support raising is going against the worlds idea of success
• Support raising can be seen as selling yourself

Yet, I've learned support raising really is a huge honor

You are able to continue a long line of people of God who were supported by others to do His work. In the Old Testament the Levites were set apart to do the Lords work, and God provided for them through the tithes and offerings of the Israelites.  God promises that He is their portion and inheritance and that they could trust in Him to provide all the needed (Numbers 18:20). Throughout the Bible there are countless examples of how people set apart for Gods work were supported by Gods people.

"If it were wrong to be supported by the personal gifts of others, Jesus Christ would not have allowed it in His own ministry. If Jesus became vulnerable enough to be supported by others, you and I must be willing to as well." -Scott Morton (via The God Ask) 

Jesus, our ultimate example shows us that is it perfectly ok to be supported by others, and if we are not ok with this, are we really following His example?

Having a support team is a huge blessing. You have a group of people who are behind you and are invested in the work that you are doing. These are people who will pray for you and celebrate each victory. By choosing to support raise you are choosing to allow people a chance to partner in Gods work throughout the world. You are allowing people to be a part of the Great Commission by sending you, which is just as important as the going, as one couldn't happen without the other.

Support raising requires faith, it requires confidence. If you approach support raising questioning if you'll raise the money, you never will. But, if you have faith that you will be fully funded, you will. "We never utter the weak phrase, 'If I raise my support,' but only the strong and faith-filled, 'when I raise it.' (The God Ask. The weak and wimpy say if, the strong and faith-filled say when. And that is why support raising isn't for wimps!

I have taken the leap and am full of faith that God will provide the supporters I need to serve Him in China. I have chosen to believe in Gods perfect plan and not to listen to the lies the world tries to tell me. I feel privileged to be set apart for this call and look forward to the huge responsibility God has given me to steward His resources well.

Do you believe this?

Do you believe God wants to use you as part of His plan to reach the nations?

Would you join me by becoming part of my support team? 

*If you want to know more about Biblical Support raising I can't recommend The God Ask by Steve Shadrach enough!

Influence Meet Up!

I am so excited that it's Influence week! This weekend was so refreshing for me last year and I know this year won't disappoint!

First, I have to share God's goodness, because it's all because of Him I get to go again! Because I am in support raising mode I'm focused on spending as little money as possible, so the ticket to Influence seemed to be completely out of reach. Yet, there was so much of me that really really wanted to go. As I was praying about it I told God that He would need to make it possible if He wanted me to go, and I left it at that. The next week I was scheduled to sub for the whole week (pretty much unheard of for the beginning of school!) which would more than pay for the ticket! So, God is good and I know He has something awesome in store for me this weekend!

A little about me: 

I'm 27, single, and living with my parents (it's not as bad as it sounds!) I'm super passionate about orphan awareness and love China, which is why I am preparing to go serve at a foster home in China starting this fall! So, I'm busily support raising and preparing for that! I love reading, cooking, the great outdoors, and really love long conversations over coffee! I'm a major introvert who is constantly amazed by the community of God! I may freeze in huge groups, but thrive in small group conversation.

What I'm excited about:

First, Lara Casey! Her talk really convicted me last year and has impacted this past year in huge ways! She has so much wisdom and grace and I can't wait to soak it up again! Also, last year I didn't know a single soul who would be attending! (crazy for a mega introvert!) I'm so excited to be attending with some great friends this year and to meet new ones!

What I can't leave home without:

Journal and pens are huge! And not just any pens will do! Pilot precise v5 if I'm feeling black or lePens if I want a little color in my life! Also, chapstick, a water bottle, and boldness!

Excited to see you there!!!

DIY Passport pictures

Passport pictures are so expensive! 6-10 dollars for 6 little 2x2 pictures, no thank you! I recently had to renew my passport and obviously didn't want to pay so much for my pictures, so I came up with a simple solution. (and you have so much more control over which picture is used!)

1. Take your picture. Make sure it is in a well lit area and in front of a white background. I used a pull down blind in my living room with the rest of the windows wide open. 

2. Edit your picture using the editing software of your choice, I use lightroom. Do not crop!

3. Load your picture onto the convenient website the government has provided for us! 

4. Click on start photo tool and crop your photo to the required settings. Save cropped photo

5. Open cropped photo in paint (or similar program)

6. Add approximately 1/3 white space at the bottom of the picture, save

7. Load newly cropped picture with white space to a photo printer of your choice (I used Walgreens)

8. Choose wallet sized photos (2x3)

9. Print your photos, trim the white space, and you are left with 2x2 passport pictures for a fraction of the cost!

I'm going back to China!!!!

Over the past several years I have had amazing opportunities to serve God throughout the world. God has led me on so many adventures both internationally and domestically and has really ignited several passions in my heart. As many of you know, once I set foot in China I immediately fell in love with it, and my heart was continually captured through my experiences there.  While teaching and serving at orphanages in Mexico, South Africa, Swaziland, and China I fell in love with the children and found it to be such a privilege to care for those the world has forgotten.

Those experiences and passions have led me to my next journey, serving at New Day Foster Home outside of Beijing, China. New Day truly serves the least of these. Their core mission is to provide life-saving surgeries and a loving home to orphans with special needs. They believe that every child deserves a healthy start and to know the love of family. I am so excited to partner with them to continue to make this a reality for the children they provide a home for.

While at New Day I will specifically be partnering with the preschool program. At the age of 2 all of the children who are medically able attend a bilingual preschool during the week. Using my special education background I will be able to add new dimensions and try new things as well as working with the children one on one performing evaluations and providing extra support and instruction. This makes me so excited as it really encompasses so many of my passions!

I hope to leave by the end of October. In order for this to happen I will need to raise start up and monthly support and obtain a visa from China. Your prayers in these endeavors are so appreciated!

As things progress I will be posting more ways that you can be involved, but the first way is through t shirt! I will be selling shirts to help with my start up and visa costs. 

Click here to place an order!