What is your legacy?

This week has been difficult, as I am trying to get many things done for school, and more. It's hard, but I must remember to take one day at a time. Tomorrow I do have a german test, that I am extremely nervous about, it will be beneficial, but can also be discouraging at the same time.

Father is doing many things here, he is definitely working in the lives of a few close friends I have here. It's exciting to see students who are truly seeking truth, and the answers. My hope is that I am able to speak truth into their lives, that Father uses me and the other believers around me to encourage and lift up and show truth to them.

I also got an email from S in HB (hamburg). The family is doing well there, but many changes are happening- not big changes, but ones that are essential and important. Amazing opportunities are arising, and I'm excited to see what Father is doing in that area.


So many times it is easy to allow ourselves to feel weak and weary, especially when we have physical illnesses, and emotional pains. It is difficult to look to Father and so many times we even question him, but looking at the bigger picture and the answered prayer I have seen this week, He excites me.

I ask you to continue to join with me in prayer over what Father is doing now, where you are.

The sing song chirps of the neighborhood birds filled the air, as the crisp weather blew the sound of leaves rustling against each other to her ear. It sounded like two seasons mixed together: Fall and Spring, yet it did not feel as such. Sitting on the bench in front of her dorm, she began to swing her legs back and forth as she was young.

She thought of the night before, the conversation, the confusion in her heart, the tears she cried. It was a simple conversation; conversation regarding philosophy, beliefs, and the latest German homework.

However, it was the aspect of being silent that hurt her heart. Why did he not let her speak or give her opinion? It probably was a good thing, because putting her thoughts into comprehensive spoken words is usually a challenge for her; she probably would have only made things worse.

Finding herself with her eyes closed and imagining the days of swings and laughing, she discovered she was becoming lost in nostalgia, perhaps so she could avoid the present.

If only she had the right words. She had the knowledge, she had the faith, but somewhere a long the line her faith became a matter of simply knowing and believing, and serving; rather than knowing much about the “non-essential” aspects of her faith. Perhaps, the non-essential aspects to her are the essential aspects to others. In this sense, she needs to be ready in more ways than one – to give reason for the hope she has. After all, this was her heart’s cry.

Jesus, in spite of his busy calender, never failed to keep in mind His prime directive - to seek and save those who are lost. (Luke 19:10). In the midst of his busyness, He took the time to lift up His eyes and see the multitudes. The Bible goes on to say, "And seeing the multitudes, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and downcast like sheep without a shephard."

When I get busy, I tend to forget the most imprtant reason why I'm here- my prime directive: to make more and better disciples. (Matt 23:18-20)! In fact, unlike Jesus, the busier I become, the more I lose compassion for the lost. It doesn't take much for the multitudes to become more of a stumbling block to impede my effectiveness rather than a reason for becoming effective....A long line is an obstacle rather than an opportunity.

The truth is, compassion cannot be something pushed on us from obligation, it is something that comes out from within. In fact, the world "compassion" used of Jesus in this passage literally means "bowels" - it is something you feel in your gut....

I cannot accept that if we love Jesus we will be able to sit back and sunbathe while millions all arounds us drown. I believe that the reason we don't feel compassion is that we don't really see the multitudes are indeed drowning.

-Niel Cole; Cultivating a Life for God

As many know, this past semester I have spent in San Angelo, Texas studying German and Journalism. This next semester will be spent doing the same, and I look forward to it, as I am preparing for my studies abroad. Father has presented me many opportunities in relationships with believers and nonbelievers -- opportunities that allow me to seek after him more and more in striving to understand and know him better, and opportunities in which my heart for him and for his people continually grows. My prayer is that He continually breaks me and humbles me and allows me to see those as he sees them. After much prayer this past semester, I have come to the decision to spend not only the school year (october through august) in Hannover, but to spend the summer in Hamburg Germany with some wonderful people who live there. Father is providing me great opportunity to learn about him, to reach the nations, and to live a prayerful life, while being poured into and pouring out at the same time.

Soon you will see on this site answers to the following questions:
Why Overseas?
Why Germany?
Why Hamburg/Hannover?
Why Go at all?
How can I pray?
How can I support?
How can I go?

I plan to spend this semester researching many different things that Father will hopefully help use to prepare my heart for this journey here in Texas and also overseas. I am hoping to use this site to keep you guys updated about the upcoming year and also the process of getting to Germany. (For example: I may meet with a German student in San Angelo to discuss the German perception of God/Religion and the differeciation between the two - if one at all) I am also thankful to Reach Garland, who is helping me tremendously in this process.
(www.reachgarland.com)