The Great Adventures

The summer has come and gone as we said our farewells to the final Mission Adventures team last weekend. It was an incredible week with them, and I will not forget it. Each student was challenged in one way or another to step out of their comfort zones, take a step of faith, and share Jesus with the people of the city. I can say that I am proud of each and every one of these students as I witnessed them sharing with the lost and hurting people of San Diego.

There were several activities my co-leaders and I did with the team. The students created signs to display in SeaPort Village. The purpose of the sign was to encourage people, make them stop and think, and also to start up a conversation with those walking by. Many did stop by and ask what the sign was about, and that gave the students the open opportunity to share their faith. The students also had a chance to make a lunch and share with a homeless person. We also took the teams down to Feeding America SD and labled 1500 cans for the needy. Each evening, we helped out with a VBS at a local church. On the final night of VBS I was asked to share about YWAM, and our mission. After the week long team left, a weekend team came and served with us. We did similar activities with them. I also was able to go to Mt. Soledad ("Prayer Mountain," is what YWAM calls it,) with this team. We took the team there to pray over the city of San Diego, and the seven spheres of influence. On top of the mountain is a huge cross pointing up to the sky. It really gave me that reminder of Who is over this city, nation, and world. We had a time of singing on the grass area, and as the students were singing I observed the people around us. We had a family stop and join us and sang with us. It was awesome! For both teams, I shared about the issues of poverty, hunger, and human trafficking in the city. I have done a lot of studying on those issues in this city. It is something that many of us don't realize that happens so much in the states but it certainly does. Each night the teams wrote down the names of the people they talked to and they filled several pages.

It was certainly an amazing week, and this summer really was a great adventure for us. This past week I was able to participate in mostly everything. God gave me a lot of strength to do so. Now as I sit here, I am reflecting on all that had happened this summer. God's call on my life to come back to San Diego and start urban ministry became a reality. There have certainly been quite a few battles along the way, and even though I'm not through the battles, I am fighting them with His strength. As I continue to walk forward, God has a lot He wants me to do and learn, and as I continue on ministering in the streets, I trust that God will be my guide and His name will be glorified through it all.

Running the Race

Have you ever ran in a race? Maybe you have back in grade school during track and field days, or maybe you were on the track team in high school. If so, do you remember the feeling of having the crowd in the stands cheer for you as you ran by? As you were running, and your heart was pounding, maybe you felt like you couldn't run another step. Maybe you were like me who wasn't the fastest runner on the track, and dreaded track and field day each year, or as my school called it "green and gold day." But what really got me motivated was the crowd. They would be cheering for me to keep running. Many times members of my family were there and that made me feel good about myself.

There is something about having an audience cheering you on as you run a race isn't there? In life we are running a race. One that God has marked out for us. Though it isn't a literal one, it is still one with many hurdles along the way. Some are high hurdles and very hard to leap over. Many times during the race I'm on I get really tired and weary. I feel like I can't run another step. God reminds me that He is cheering me on, not only that but there is a whole heavenly crowd cheering me on. God is also running by my side, and carrying me through. As I am running the race that God has marked out for me, God gives me the reminder of all the heroes of faith cheering for me. Jesus is my number one cheerleader. Though it is very hard, and painful I can keep going because I have God on my side helping me along the way.

Do you feel like you can't run the race anymore? Maybe you feel like you're defeated, worn, or just tired of the struggles in life. Maybe you feel like you don't have what it takes to run the race God has marked for you. If God marked the race out for you, He will give you the strength to run it. Though it may be hard, and painful, God promises that HE won't leave your side. You can keep running with His strength.

On Eagle's Wings

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of weak. Even youths grow tired and weary and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:29-31

This is a great promise to live by. It is during times like these especially when I can use that reminder. God has given me the strength I have needed each day, and has blessed me with many wonderful people running by my side. In times like now, when I feel worn, and weary, I am reminded of what God has done through me, and what He has yet to do in me and why He has called me here.

Lately I've been thinking a lot. I've been thinking, because physically I haven't had very much strength and I've been feeling like I haven't really been having much of a purpose. Tonight, as I've been resting for a while, I thought well maybe somehow through my hard times I can still be a blessing to someone else. I want other people to realize how much God loves them. That is why I do what I do. Though I may not be physically able to be out there on the field, that doesn't mean I still can't be soaring on wings like eagles. Through my pain I still want to be a blessing to someone. I want to still be the hands and feet of Jesus. I think that is what God is asking me to do.

I want to encourage others to keep their eyes on Jesus even when it does hurt. I want to let you know that it is okay to cry, and tell Jesus how you feel. Jesus doesn't expect you to be some iron robot that can handle anything and everything, He actually wants to to be open with Him, and tell Him what is on your heart. He's your friend. So dear friends what you go through, know that you are not alone. Remember that you are soaring on wings like eagles, because Jesus is carrying you through. Believe me when I tell you this. Maybe you are not physically hurting right now, but you know someone who is, pass this word on to them. Tell them to keep looking up to the face of Jesus. Tell them to cling to Him. If they do not know who He is, just keep encouraging them. Let me know how I can pray for you.

Father, even though I am unable to be physically out there on the streets sharing Your love, I thank you that I can still share Your love in other ways. God I thank you for the blessings of friendships and prayer warriors. Lord, I admit it is painful right now. But you have been so faithful, and I thank you for giving me the strength each day. I pray that you do the same for those who are in need of it around the world today. Lord, you are Lord of all the world and no matter what goes on Your hands will always be holding us all. Thank you for giving us the strength and power, and enabling us to soar on wings like eagles when we place our hope in You. May we find rest and shelter under Your wings, and always remember that You love us more than we can ever imagine. May I never stop lving for you God, no matter what. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Like the Waves of the Ocean

Last night I was lying awake for a long time... not nearly as long as the night before but it was a little different last night. At night the pain increases and even with a pain killer I can't manage to close my weary eyes and fall asleep. I put my headphones in my ears and decided to listen to some music. I thought just maybe that would help me. As the music was playing I had the perfect picture of me walking along my favorite place. The beach on Coronado Island, where I usually go to clear my head and have that moment with God in His creation. As I was listening to the music I was taken back to the place where I sat on the rocks watching the waves crash against them and the sun gleaming marvelously on the water. My mind was totally in tuned to the worship music and the visualization of me on the beach. The pain didn't seem to be bothering me as much. All that mattered was I was laying in the hands of my Savior. It was a beautiful moment. God gave me a visualization of how powerful He really is. His power is beyond my comprehension but the waves crashing perfectly along the rocks was a reminder for me. His power is like the waves of an ocean. It can sweep you up before you have a chance to swim away. It can take you to another destination, and it can give you the ride of your life.


God's power is a mighty one, that's for sure. God has the healing power beyond what doctors can do. I know that He also has ultimate comfort during the hard times. It is through His comfort and His power that I can move on. I can walk the journey onward with Him.

Right now it is definitely hard. I can't say that it isn't or I'd be lying. There are days when the pain becomes brutal, and there are days when I can say it's not so bad I can tolerate it. But after this week of staying in the hospital, and hearing about the numorous prayers going up on my behalf, and knowing how many people love me and care about me, I think, how blessed I am to belong to God's wonderful family. Today I was able to go to church for the first time in about a month. How awesome was that to be back. The service hit home for me. It was a beautiful service and a message about the power of prayer. I won't go into the whole message here, but let's just say God is moving, and His power is definitely released through us.


I know that I can continue with His strength. I look forward to the day I will meet Jesus face to face when I walk through the gates to my eternal destiny, and when Jesus says to me, "Welcome home my child, well done my good and faithful servant." What a glorious day that will be. But until that day I want to continue to run the race with perseverance and keeping my eyes fixed upon Him. Even in pain I never want to stop living my life for Him, and Going to where He has called me to go.

When the Storms Arise

Well, some storms have come again and set before me is a choice. I can either continue to walk forward and with God's help rise above the storms, or I can say I'm tired of the storms and the feeling of defeat time and time again. I can say the pain is too big, the waves are too high for me it'll be easier to walk away now while I still can. But I know that if I say the words "I give up," I am letting the enemy win. I don't want to give the enemy a foothold here. I want to continue to walk forward, and I want to be all who God has called me to be.


Right now, I have to be honest. It is hard. I don't understand why when everything was going so well, a curve ball has come, and it seems as though all has crumbled before me. I may never know why sometimes things go the way that they do. But I don't think that is what is important, I don't need to know why. I believe that God wants me to just keep my eyes up, and though the pain may rise, God will rise higher. God has been with me through the storms in the past, and He promises that He always will be. With that promise, I can walk forward. God is all that I need, and He is my healer. It may seem that there is a thorn in my flesh that hasn't gone away. But even if God decides to never take that thorn away, it isn't going to stop me from living my life for Him.



There is nothing that can happen to me that will make me turn the other way. No matter how painful it may be, I still want to serve my King with all that I have. God wants me to be a missionary, He wants me to share Jesus through the streets, and He wants me to be a follower in His steps and pick up the cross and follow Him. Jesus knows what I am going through, He suffered everything that I suffer from and even more, all for love. When I hurt, Jesus hurts, He shares my pain. But Jesus says, "Cast all your anxiety on Me, because I care for you." ( 1 Peter 5:7) I can feel God's hands upon me. Through the pain and tear filled eyes, I can see His face, I can feel Him leading me through.


I Thank God For The Mountains, and I Thank Him For The Valleys, I Thank Him For The Storms He Brought Me Through. For If I'd Never Had A Problem, I Wouldn't Know God Could Solve Them, I'd Never Know What Faith In God Could Do.


So with that, my choice is made. I've chosen to follow my Lord through it all. I will walk through this storm, and I know that God will lead me through to the otherside. I will live my life for Him, and will serve Him everyday for the rest of my life, and look forward to the day that I will be with Him for all eternity.