We hope not in what is seen....

So married Liz has trouble sitting down to blog. Maybe we can work on that. :)

This has been such an interesting season. I love being married. It's by far the coolest thing ever (outside of Jesus). I'm thrilled being married - every moment of it.

...but...

That doesn't mean there haven't been challenges. I can not find a job. Maybe I should re-frame that. I can not find the right job. If I walked into McDonalds or Walmart, even a flower shop or retail store, I'm quite sure I could find SOMETHING. But I haven't found the job I'm looking for. Since we've moved to Atlanta I've been looking for a job in the counseling field - one that will allow me to get my LPC for Georgia (licensed professional counselor - means that I'm legit and can bill my services to insurance companies, among other things - an important element in my field). But I can not find one. It's not even a matter of being turned down again and again. There have only been a small handful of job openings I've found that will even take on a non-licensed counselor. And of those, no one is hiring me.

Now, I'm a hard worker, I've got great references, and pretty decent work experience/skills, but all these things are not getting me a job. Not even interviews. I've only had one. And then they never called me back. It has been easy for me to get frustrated, even get my feelings hurt about this, and feel like I'm doing something wrong. Maybe I'm in the wrong field. Maybe I should be looking for different types of jobs. Maybe we shouldn't have moved here. After all, I get job offers in Tennessee. These are the types of statements that roll through my head.

...and yet...

I know He called us to move here, specifically. I know He led me to a graduate counseling program. I know He gave me the skill-set that lends me to being a therapist. I know these things because I know the voice of my Father. I know what it sounds like when He speaks something. This is something He's "called" me to do.

Dan has had consistent work and we're not in a desperate situation for me to immediately find something. I have to continue to put my hope not in what is seen - the lack of job, lack of savings we are building, job market and global economy - and instead fix my gaze on what is unseen and eternal - the Lord knows the plans He has for me, He will direct my path, His ways are not my ways, they are for good and not for harm to give me a hope and a future.

There is some reason I haven't found the job I'm searching for. Maybe it is just to make me lean more on my Father. Maybe He's just wanting to give me time to take care of my husband or have a season of rest. I don't know what is reason is, but at the end of it all, I know He's got me. I may have to remind myself that everyday...but I'm getting it. Slowly. He's got me and He's enough for me.

And that's really all I need to know.

Season of Learning: Reading List

Married life has brought on a new phase - a phase of rest and learning. This has been quite in contrast to the last phase I was in and I am trying to enjoy and soak up all that I can during this time, knowing it will only last for a season. God is so good though, always faithful, and He provides us with just what we need whenever we need it.

So my husband and I really like to read. And we love to learn. And we love to worship. So between the two of us, we have quite a collection of books and worship music. And we are busy devouring each others books, since our collection has doubled due to marriage, and we are also busy adding more during this season we have to read and learn from the Lord. I'm just so happy to have time to read again, after grad school and then 2 years of missions. So I want to share with you some of the titles and musicians we love and think you should check out. Some of these books are pretty well-known, and others are not so much. Same with the music. The Lord has really been drawing us to intimacy with Him, and a deeper understanding of His love and how that effects the way we live our lives for Him, so much of these reflect that theme.

Here's some of my recommendations:

"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. If you haven't heard of him, you are in for a treat. Look him up online. He pastored a large church in CA called Cornerstone and there are tons of his podcasts available to listen to online. And they are really good. He also wrote a second book - "Forgotten God" that Dan read (I haven't read it yet) and says is also good.

"Irresistible Revolution" by Shane Claiborne. Amazing, and life changing book, written somewhat autobiographical about his stories. This guy was challenged to take the Bible seriously and it has taken him to Iraq, India and the slums of Philly, living in community and loving like Jesus. You really have to read this. It will change you. And if you like it, he's written a few others - "Jesus for President" and "Follow Me to Freedom".

"Heavenly Man" by Brother Yun. This is the true story of a Chinese Believer who basically lead the underground church in China. His story took place during our lifetime, which just blows me away. It is another must read.

"The Missions Addiction: Capturing God's Passion for the World" by David Shilbey really helps to answer why we should be doing overseas missions. Very inspiring. I read this while at Global Infusion.

If you like Biographies/autobiographies, I really recommend reading Reinhard Bonnke's book. He is an evangelist to Africa primarily, and has seen millions of people accept Christ. No joke. He holds crusades with more than 1 million people coming in a night. He's got some crazy God stories. He just came out with a new autobiography called "Living a Life of Fire", but there's a smaller book of his stories too called "Even Greater." I think any of his books would be good, though.

Oral Roberts' book, "Expect a Miracle" is another great autobiography, and dear to my heart since I went to ORU. He's such an anointed healing evangelist.

Someone a bit heavier, but really good is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. He was a martyr during Nazi Germany and wrote extensively on the Christian faith. I would put him in the category of C.S. Lewis. We have "Cost of Discipleship" but I also saw a new biography about him "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy" that I want to get.

Hungry for revival? Read "Jesus Culture" by Banning Liebscher. This tells the story of Jesus Culture, a ministry birthed out of Bethel Church in Redding, CA. Bethel and Jesus Culture have some really amazing musicians and worship leaders as well. This was the conference Dan and I went to in July. Check out Jesus Culture Band, Kim Walker, Chris Quilala, Brian and Jenn Johnson, and Bethel Live for some really incredible praise and worship.

I know there are a ton of other good books out there, but these are some of my favorites. I'm always looking for more though, so let me know some of your favorites. I'm not too into fiction - I prefer biographies to fiction, and love books that teach me something, I guess you would classify them "Christian Living."
Happy reading. :)

Lessons from the Fava

So I'm sitting here in my new apartment with my new husband, and am just having all these God things hit me while, of all things, I write wedding thank you notes. Now what kind of deep thoughts could that be bringing up, you might think?
Well, I'll tell you.
I just got done writing a note to one of my faithful missions supporters. This couple, above all others, gave faithfully every single month for 2 full years that I was with Global Infusion. As the person sitting on the receiving end of that support, that is a huge deal. And when you have someone who gives that faithfully, not only does it strenghten your trust in God and allow you to breathe a little easier each month, knowing that at least one check will be faithfully coming your way, it also adds up. This couple made such an impact on my ability to stay with Global Infusion as long as I did, and prepared the way for me to do things like go to Thailand and stay for six months, allowing me to meet Dan, and leading me to be where I am right now, sitting on this new couch with this new apartment, new ring on my finger and new man by my side for life. How do you put that into a thank you note? I guess that's why I'm here now typing this out instead of just crying into that envelope.
It leads me to ask a lot of questions. How many people have been effected in that way because of my obedience? Not only that, but also by my my faithfulness? Obedience, well that I can say that I do pretty good with... at least some of the time... Faithfulness? Yikes, that one is a little harder. I hope that there are some. I'm sure there must be...at least one, maybe?
So let's not just focus on the past, but turn this into a challenge for the future... Who am I going to make that kind of impact on through my future obedience and faithfulness alone? I want it to be many! Being on this side of it, I want to be that person to as many other people as I can!
I've wrapped up the official "missionary" role for the time being (I say official, because we are all always called to be missionaries), so now that I'm not the one living on full-time support, who's life will I impact for eternity? Whose life will you impact for eternity? I hope for your sake, as well as mine, that it will be many.

The Value of $10

Some of you may have already read my facebook statuses asking for $10 towards Global Infusion, but you might be wondering what will $10 do? I have worked here at Global Infusion, a foreign missions organization for almost 2 years now. We plan missions trips for groups all around the world and we handle ALL of the administration and planning to make those trips happen. We do not take a single penny to cover our administrative costs from the trips. That's right. I work here for free, becuase I believe in what we are doing. That's why I need you. Your $10 one time gift allows me to live here at the GI campus. It helps me buy food and put gas in my car. It pays for my upcoming trip to Guatemala March 21-29 where I (along with my fiance) will be taking a group of 8 from a church in Colorado into the mountains to distribute food and share Christ. Your $10 allows for the distribution of food to those Guatemalians starving in the mountains. It helps us send out literally hundreds of people this summer on nearly 10 different trips to countries like Egypt, Thailand, Ghana, Ukraine, China, and Guatemala, where hundreds and thousands will be encountered by these GI missions teams and have an opportunity to experience the love of God. That is the value of your $10. What other $10 you spend has that kind of effect? Can you give?

Donate now at www.globalinfusion.org and specify my name in your donation to help me raise the support I need for my last 3 months here. Your $10 gift can change countless lives. Thank you!

Asking, Seeking, Knocking

"Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8 (Amplified Version)

I don't like to ask for help. I have an independent spirit - I don't know, maybe part of being an only child. So this last year and a half has been hard on me. I've always had a job, always worked, always attempted to take care of myself. But when I came to live at Global Infusion and do missions full-time, I gave those things up. Even though I've worked a little bit here and there to supplement, the majority of my living has been dependent on others to financially support what I am doing. And it has been hard to live like that. Part of it is that I don't want to bother or inconvenience anyone. I know the state of the economy right now and that many people are having to cut back financially. I don't want to feel like a burden. Another big part of it is just pride, though. I want to be able to do it by myself. I know I have the ability to provide for myself and I would rather do that then rely on others (or the Lord) to take care of me.

Since I returned from Thailand, financial support has dropped significantly. I have a couple consistent supporters, for whom I am extremely greatful, but not enough to live on. I have bills coming up that I don't have the money to pay. And it's nothing extravagant. It's just the bare expenses of food, gas, car insurance. I've been throwing around the idea of trying to fit in another part-time job, but there just aren't enough hours in the day. And again, that's me trying to take care of things on my own without asking for help. I walked into church last night, after really debating if I should go or not, and the pastor spoke on the verse written above. He posed the question that maybe this verse isn't only talking about our prayer requests that we make of God. Perhaps this is a challenge of community - that we are to ask those around us when we are in need for help and give them the chance to help us out. I started crying as he spoke, knowing that I was trying again to avoid that level of vulnerability and avoid asking of others.

I know that I am doing the Lord's work and that He has called me here for this season. I know that as believers, there is a Great Commission mandate on our lives. One of my missionary friends (Sarah) challenged me that it is a privilege for others to support me to do missions because it allows them to fulfill their Great Commission mandate, something that the Bible makes very clear we are all supposed to do. I struggle to think like that though, and instead often end up feeling like a burden just always looking for handouts. I'm trying to see it differently and to change my thinking.

The bottom line is that I need your help. I think I have a hundred dollars to my name, and $600 of expenses each month. I still need to raise about $600 for the Guatemala trip next month, too. I'm only gonna be here for 4 more months, so all together that's $3000 I need to raise. Can you help? Any amount you can give will truly be a blessing. No amount is too small. If 100 people read this and each gave $30 that would take care of it. You can give through Global Infusion (www.globalinfusion.org) to support my rent and trip costs, or you can give to me individually and help me cover food, insurance and gas. Both are needed and both are equally important. If you aren't able to give, you still can help. Pray for me, and pass this along to someone you know who can help. Each person can do something.

Will you help me?

I'M ENGAGED!!!!

So the big news of the holidays for me was that over the Christmas holidays, Dan asked me to marry him...I said yes, of course! :) So we are engaged!!!!

I spent a wonderful 6 weeks or so in FL, catching up on rest, seeing family and friends and after Christmas - wedding planning as well!

I'm now back in Tennessee, where I will be staying until the wedding in June. I am helping out at Global Infusion as much as possible, while also working some on the side to pay the bills. Dan and I are planning to go with a team to Guatemala for a week in March, and we plan to stay involved with missions as much as possible when we are married, although at least initially it won't be our full time focus. We want to take a year or so to just concentrate on being married --- and enjoy being in the same state together!

So that is the most current update. If you would like to continue to financially support me through Global Infusion, that is definitely appreciated as I will be here the next few months and need to raise the money for the March Guatemala trip. Gifts can be sent to GI at:
4422 Timberlake Dr.
Louisville, TN 37777
And be sure to put my name in the memo. :)

I'll keep ya posted!