Care Free...What Does That Mean?

"When was the last time you were care free?" As I was enjoying some sunshine on Monday afternoon this question interrupted my thoughts. As a trio of birds flew over head I pondered the question. Every day, from the moment we awake till our heads hit the pillow, we are faced with questions, concerns and challenges.
"What will I wear?"
"What kind of weather will there be today?"
"What will I eat today?"
"How will I get to work/school?"
"How will I pay the bills? Where is the money coming from?"
"What does that person think of me?"
"Where will I find the time do get x, y and z finished?"
"Did ____ remember to do ___?"

These and many more are questions we face every day. How can we possibly keep up? I have often heard little children used as an example to portray a lifestyle that seems care free. But, even children have concerns though some may seem trivial in comparison with what we worry over as young people and adults. However, in a sense isn't most worry just trivial?

"Look at the birds. They don't plant or harvest or store food in barns, for your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you far more valuable to him than they are? Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?" Matthew 6:26-27 (emphasis mine)
"Trust in the LORD with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take." Proverbs 3:5-6

God tells us over and over again throughout the Bible that we have no need to worry. He promises that if we turn to Him for help and guidance that an answer/solution will come. From the beginning of time He has never failed to keep a promise. Yet, often times I need a daily reminder of His faithfulness. He is God. He knows what is taking place. He knows the desires of my heart. He cares. And He has it all under control.

How many times must I be reminded to trust? How many times must I surrender control? When can I stop asking questions and worrying? When time is no longer valid, I will still need to be reminded to trust and to surrender. I can keep asking questions, He's given me permission but under a specific guideline. The guideline involves quitting worry. For when I trust and let God handle the situation, before I even reach the end of my rope, I can stop worrying. He's got it. God is God. And my God is good!

So breathe, trust and let go. Learn what it means to be care free.

"What Are You Afraid Of?"

Jon's question is one that I have been wrestling with for the past few weeks. You see, since I arrived here in Perth back in October one of my desires for my time here was to be able to take part in staffing a six month Discipleship Training School run on base. I wasn't sure if it would ever take place, because I knew that God had called me to serve the base during my two year commitment. Was staffing a school meant to be part of this time of service?

Within two weeks of being on base I was discovering that there were a lot more schools running year round than what I was previously aware of. As a matter of fact we have about seventeen DTSs, over twenty second-level schools, and over twenty ministries running around base as well. On top of that we have new schools starting up seemingly every other month so we just keep growing, haha! All of the training programs are divided into four different quarters, but one that caught my attention from the start was the Four-Wheel Drive Adventure (4WD) DTS.
The 4WD DTS runs in both the January and the July quarters. As you may have guessed they use four-wheel drive vehicles to go out where others are not able to travel. One of the areas we travel too frequently is the Kimberly region in northern Western Australia where many aboriginal people live. For more information you can check out the website here!

I have been praying about being a part of staffing this July 4WD school since November, but was not able to meet with the leader of the school till a few weeks ago. He told me of the challenges awaiting me if I said yes, but also welcomed me to join the team. My mind was reeling. I went to God questioning if this opportunity could truly be mine. His sole response was, "what are you afraid of? Go for it!"

I can so easily look ahead with expectancy, yet when the time finally arrives to make a decision I begin to doubt and question. God is so good and so faithful in His guidance. I am so thankful for a Father that I can turn to without fear knowing that He will ease my doubt. I still have many questions, but the answers will come I just need to keep trusting.

I am staffing a six month school that begins in roughly five weeks. At the moment there are four staff and I am the only girl. We have twenty students, twelve girls and eight guys. Oh, and since this is a four-wheel drive DTS that means I need to learn to drive on the wrong side of the road! Many challenges and adventures lie ahead. I don't feel prepared whatsoever, but I am excited!

Will you join me in this upcoming journey? It's going to be a wild and crazy ride!

"My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast! I will sing and make melody!" Psalms 57:7 ESV

"Be strong and courageous! D not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

"Let Us Run..."

"Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." - Hebrews 12:1b

"Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." - Hebrews 10:36

Over the past few weeks I have discovered something new about myself, I am task-oriented. I enjoy knowing what to do, how to do it, and usually I appreciate having someone to walk me through the process. However, I also enjoy having days when there is nothing on the agenda and I can just relax, read a book, spend time with friends or watch a movie. Typically at the end of a relaxing day, I'm ready to do something.

Making lunch on Friday

This is not necessarily a weakness. This is not really a strength either. This desire or even need to have something to do or work towards is almost like having a travel bug. You just want to get up and go!

I'm learning patience and endurance. Whether it is during the crazy days when there is too much to do and not enough time, so you end up eating lunch standing in the kitchen trying to have a moment of silence. Whether it is during the quiet days when washing kitchen towels, cleaning rags, and bedding is your sole task. Patience is something of a life lesson from what I hear and experience. Endurance...well that seems to require patience so they go hand in hand, don't you agree?

Sometimes I lose sight of the value in the simplest of day to day tasks. Laundry, making a coffee, cleaning a room, baking a birthday cake, helping cook a meal. These tasks are so often taken for granted that I can forget how essential they can be.

When I joined staff in October 2015 it was with a desire to serve the base location and the people in that area. Service is a beautiful act that can be a form of worship to God and also a way in which to honour others. Lately, I've caught myself viewing the ministry I do on base as just a daily routine instead of as an act of worship. That's not how I want to live. It is not why I came here. I came because I was called to make a difference through serving, to reach out to the people here, and to help build up the sense of community.
This is my purpose. This is my act of worship. This is how I will endure any obstacles thrown at me. God is my anchor, my refuge, my Lord, my Saviour, and my Heavenly Father. He is worthy of my worship, in the craziness and the quiet. Even more so when I least feel like it.
So I will run to Him, for He cares for me.

A New Year

   This Christmas and New Year's season was... different. I celebrated Christmas day with 500 people from all around the world, though it started off in my house having breakfast and opening stockings with my house-mates. Then on New Year's eve it was a normal work day before gathering a bunch of friends for a small party at my house where we played games, had a dance party, and swapped stories before going off to watch the fireworks.
   For New Year's day I opted for a day off. I spent the majority of the day reading, puttering around an empty house, and enjoying the quiet. As the evening approached and I contemplated some of the events that had taken place in 2015, I wanted company. I sat on a swing set and came upon the realization that I missed my family. I missed how we celebrated the holidays together and all of our little traditions, such as watching the Muppet's Christmas Carol and eating cheese fondue. I missed them for the way we interact together and how each one of us are so different. I missed them because they were my family.
   We may be spread between four nations, but we manage. I love them all! Thank you Jesus for blessing me with such a great family. :)

For Such A Time As This

     As I was sitting in the living room/lounge doing my quiet time, verses began to stick out at me. Now, I've been reading through 1 Chronicles for my morning devotions of late, which isn't exactly one of the most exciting books in the Bible (from my point of view). Yet, there are some rather surprising stories in there amongst all the numbers and ancestral records. I was reading one such story about David and his desire to build a dwelling for God, for at this time the Ark of the Covenant was sheltered by a simple tent.

    God speaks to David through the prophet Nathan concerning this desire to build a dwelling place, and gives some amazing promises to David. Yet, something more stood out to me. In 1 Chronicles 17:7-8, David is reminded of his background as a shepherd and of how God raised him up as a leader over the nation of Israel. Isn't that amazing?!?!

   "I took you from tending sheep in the pasture and selected you to be the leader of my people Israel." (verse 7, emphasis added) These two phrases, "I took you from..." "I selected you to be...", drew my attention. It wasn't just David's story anymore. This now became my story. God took me from a life that held few strong, healthy relationships, a life of constantly trying to please, depression, and being a pretender. He gave me a life full of amazing friendships, brought me to a place of joy and peace in Him, and has blessed me so richly in an identity that is all my own. He made me to be myself, and He thinks that is beautiful. Taken from my past and brought into a bright future full of possibilities as I walk in His presence!
   In verse 8 it starts of saying, "I have been with you wherever you have gone..." Then in verse 22, "You chose (me) to be your very own...and you, O LORD, became (my) God." God was always there, He is still here, and He promises to continue to be with us wherever we go. He chose me! He chose you! Isn't that amazing? Isn't God good?

Where has God taken you from? Who has He selected you to be? What role have you been given?

   
No matter your background, I believe God has amazing plans in store for each person. We just need to be ready to say yes, no matter how outlandish it may seem at the time. I ended up in Perth, Australia serving with YWAM! Who knows where you will go! :)

Jumping In With Both Feet

I now live in a BIG city

As I walked through the doors of the YWAM Perth campus conversations, the clatter of forks and plates, the scooting of chairs, and the general chaos of a dining room filled with roughly 300 people eating lunch confronted me. "Amy, what did you just sign up for?" Was the main question running through my head my first full day back in Australia. Now nearly two weeks later, I'm still searching for the full answer to my question, but I'm beginning to piece together some details.

Day 2 - Thursday, October 1st:
I was sitting with about three other people during a time of intercession when I heard a familiar voice whisper in my ear. "Jump in with both feet." Say, what now? "Jump in with both feet. Don't be timid and stand on the sidelines, join in. Trust me to take care of you each step of the way, and immerse yourself in this new life." That was God's answer when I was struggling to embrace this new season of life. A simple piece of advice can sometimes go a long way.

Present Day:
It is currently Sunday on the Australian side of the world and spring is in full force. After over a year away I'm back in this beautiful nation that has become a second (third? fourth? I have too many...) home to me. Now only two weeks into life at YWAM Perth so much has taken place! Last Sunday we had 170 students join us to be split into ten schools running this quarter. Our base has now grown to roughly 500 people and being a part of the Hospitality /Hospo team keeps me very busy!

Hospo:
So what do I do?
Well, as a ministry we are in charge of staff birthdays (which is nearly every day with 300 people), Friday lunches, any baking for events taking place around base, rooms assigned to our guest speakers, housekeeping laundry, running a small cafe in our main building, and helping to ensure things on the base run smoothly. All of this is split up between six people, including myself, and we do it for the purpose of serving those around us that we might be a testimony of God's love.

In some ways my life really does not sound that eventful, but trust me when I say that it keeps me busy! Tomorrow is also my first official day of class with the Ministry Development School! I'm so excited for a new opportunity to grow in God and learn how to lead others into His loving arms.

If you have any questions, feel free to ask away! I would love to hear about what is taking place in your life.

Blessings,
Amy

In A Matter of Hours

A year ago I was sitting in a small house in Central Asia asking God what He was calling me to next. It's taken a whole year to get to this point, and now my suitcase is packed. In a matter of hours my whole life is going to change....

Will this be my reality?

Two years ago I embarked on what I thought would be a six month trip to Australia and surrounding nations. I was going to learn more about God, grow my personal faith, and discover more about myself as a person. Six months turned into a year of learning, growing, stretching, and ultimately releasing my past, present, and future into God's hands. Lots of changes have taken place in my life since I first set out two years ago with the questions "Who am I?" and "Who is God?" Yet, this may be one of the biggest changes thus far.

I'm moving. You probably already knew that, but for me it's still sinking in. I'm moving for two years. To the date I have not been away from family for more than roughly six or seven months. My destination is Australia. The land of kangaroos and koalas. The country full of poisonous anything and everything. The nation that gave me a deep love for my Saviour, other nations, and missions.

Now as the minutes tick by the time is approaching for me to set out for Perth, Australia. There I will be on staff at Youth With A Mission's ministry location. Taking part in a leadership school, participating in worship and prayer times, learning how to bring the Gospel to the nations and those around me, are only a few of the things I will be doing. So stay tuned!

Perth, here I come!