Preparing my heart and mind...

So Satan is still on steroids trying to rock my world. I REFUSE to let him win this one. This morning when I was talking to God I asked "What is it you want me to get from this?" (unspoken situation) He said "I am trying to prepare you to yearn to be in Honduras." I udnerstand now. I am excited but as I have shared before I am very nervous and apprehensive. God is using a situation to make me want to be away from everything for a while - to yearn to not have telephones and text messages, Facebook and television. I am craving to be away and that is good. I am trying to listen to him and trust him in all situations.

running on faith,
Lee

I have been really emotional today...don't know why...could be that I am too tired, too busy, ran out of time to do anything productive...who knows. Our baccalaureate service was today at church. So hard to believe these babies are graduating. At the end of service our worship leader, Kevin Kilpatrick, had the seniors come up to the front. Then, he had everyone who sings on praise team join him...then the congregation. We sang Revelation Song and it was amazing to have those voices so close together - blending as one to sing praises to our God. Kevin told his graduating daughter, KK, during the sermon that he wanted her to sing the lead...she has an amazing voice and just stepped right in there and did an awesome job. Tonight I got an email from my oldest and dearest friend in the world, Lisa. She just returned from her first weeklong mission trip. God truly used her to spread his word and spoke to her. I am so thankful for her, her heart and her love for our God. Have a great week everyone.

running on faith,
Lee

worrying about the little things

It hit me today that 3 weeks from today I will have arrived on foreign soil for the first time in my almost 49 years. It made me dizzy to think about all the things I have to do in 21 days and made my heart beat a little faster with excitement and apprehension. I have been worrying about little things like how will Izzy (our shih tsu) do without Ellen for two weeks? will Jeff eat right? can he get his laundry done? how will he get along without us? We will miss him so much but I can only imagine how he will feel coming into an empty, quiet house every night - Ellen and I are anything BUT quiet! Satan has been working overtime but right now I am winning the game 2-1. Just gotta keep asking God to go before me every day. I am so blessed to have this opportunity - 2010 has truly been a banner year thus far...ran my first full marathon, going on a mission trip for the first time ever, got a passport - I may even train for another marathon, who knows? I do know that I am a very blessed woman - I have a husband who loves me and makes me laugh, an incredible daughter who I love more than the grains on sand in the ocean and I most importantly I am a redeemed daughter of the King of Kings. Praise Him, Praise Him, Jesus our Blessed Redeemer.

running on faith -

22 days until we leave for Honduras. I can't believe it. We have talked about it, raised money for it, dreamed about it, prayed about it and now here we are so close. We had a dinner last Saturday at the Dorris' house to have questions and answers. The kids who have been had so much good advice and information and great stories to tell. Those of us who have not been were so attentive and soaking it all up. One thing that has meant so much to me is how supportive everyone has been. All my running buddies, school buddies, family and church family want to help in any way they can and it is so appreciated and I am humbled at the way we have been showered with monetary gifts. So, to all of you, a heartfelt thank you! Satan continues to try to wear me down - stress over school for me and Ellen, things to do, my house is a mess, etc..I will not let him rob me of my joy! Last Thursday night I watched a video from a link that Mark Connell (our friend who lives in Honduras and runs TORCH Missions) put on Facebook. It was about 20 minutes long and was real footage from The Dump in Honduras. The Dump is just what it says it is but people live there. I saw pictures of small, dirty children filling torn plastic bags with plastic bottles to resell. Women gathering around a dump truck of garbage as it dumped its load to look for food to eat, clothes to wear, things they could sell. I saw men, women and children competing with buzzards flying over head for food. As I sat on my couch in my comfortable home - clean, belly full and my comfy bed waiting for me, I realized that I am so not prepared to go to Honduras. I have seen a lot of things in my almost 49 years on this earth but nothing compared to this - in movies and on TV sure, but not face to face in real life. I am praying that God will continue to prick my heart and make me stronger physically, spiritually and emotionally so that I can do the work he has for me to the best of my ability.

Until next time - I am

running on faith,
Lee