God's best

Last year one of my professors gave me a few biographies. One of them is on Hudson Taylor. I've only gotten through the first few chapters of the book and it has def been challenging.

Hudson Taylor's life is full of trust and faith in Jesus. Something I read that really challenged me about his life is that he was always seeking out God's best.

"But the outstanding thing about Hudson Taylor's early experience was that he could not be satisfied with anything less than the best, God's best--the real and constant enjoyment of His presence" (20).

This forced me to think about what it is that I daily seek. Am I seeking His presence? Last night I visited a small group. One of the things we discussed was what it means to live a rich and full life. I think Hudson Taylor had it right; seeking God's best--His presence.

Reading about Hudson and his drive to seek God's presence made me examine my own life, and I asked myself if that is what I am doing. Do I seek Jesus presence daily or do I convince myself today doesn't matter because I'm not in Ecuador yet? Luckily I have great friends who remind me that right now does matter =)

bumps in the road

These past few weeks have been really hard. Here it is October and I'm only about 2% in my funding. As many of you reading this know I want to be in Ecuador sometime in January. Because my perspective is so tiny I get discouraged when I think about the percentage of funds I still need. Our God is a great and wonderful God though. Last week my aunt was in for a few days. I got the pleasure of seeing her just before she flew back to Georgia. In those few moments I told her how discouraged I felt looking at all the facts and the reality of my situation. She reminded me that even though it’s October and I’m 2% supported our God is bigger and time is no concern of His.

Last week I also got the chance to catch up with a very good friend of mine. She told me how Jesus is using her transparency to challenge others in the small groups she is involved with. As I drove home that night and even as I sit here and write this it challenges me. My whole thrust in this blog isn’t to have you pity me, but to pray for me. Preparing to go is hard. It has been especially hard knowing my dad doesn’t want to see me go nor does he understand why I’m going. Satan has really used that and my lack of financial support to discourage me. Yet as I said earlier our God, Jesus, is a great God and He has sent great encouragement and challenge through my family and friends.

This week Jesus reminded me of a verse that has slowly won my heart.

Genesis 16:13

—Hagar named the Lord who spoke to her, “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “Here I have seen one who sees me!”—

Jesus see’s me even though I feel discouraged and alone in this journey to Ecuador!