In HIS timing...

The March Kenya trip has been cancelled. While I'm disappointed, I know God has a reason! I will now be going May 23 -June 1. The money still needs to be raised, but I have more time to do it now. Your continued prayers are appreciated.

The time is drawing near...

The first payment for my trip has been sent in and paid for. The rest of the money must be turned in by January 14th. Thank you so much to everyone who has helped out including those who have committed to pray for my group. I wouldn't be able to go on this amazing journey without you.Thank you.

Over halfway there!!!

Halfway there!  I couldn't do this without you guys.  Thank you so much!  Please continue to keep me, the group I'm traveling with, and the people of Segera in your prayers. 

And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 4:19

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.- Philippians 1:6

Jesus Knows How You Feel

I came across this in my Bible Study this morning. I hope it encourages you.

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. ~ Hebrews 4:14-16

Jesus Knows How You Feel

Remember when you were so tired that all you wanted to do was sleep, and instead your baby with an ear infection woke up every time you tried to lay her down?  When you wanted to get some extra tasks done at the office, and fell farther behind?  When you looked forward to the leisurely Saturday filled with college football, and ended up fixing the garage door? 

Know this about God whom you worship: Jesus came down to our world, and he knows how you feel. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses.”  Jesus was willing to deal with the poison, the sin of this world, so that he could win you for an eternity of heaven.  He willingly lifted up and carried your sins to the cross.  Suspended between heaven and earth he felt the white-hot anger of his Father for your sins.  Filled with life—because he had no sin and paid for yours—he rose from the dead bringing with him your unconditional forgiveness.

Rejection?  He knew it.  Temptation?  He felt it.  Loneliness?  He experienced it.  Death?  He tasted it.  Stress?  He could write the book on it.  When you tell God you’ve reached your limit, he knows what you mean.  When your palms sweat at the impossible deadline, when your plans are interrupted by people who have other plans, he nods in sympathy.  There is something extraordinarily comforting in knowing that Jesus is like you in every way, just that he had no sin.  It brings calm to the most frayed nerves, the most frenzied and frazzled days. 

So use this Bible truth!  When you hurt, go to Jesus with confidence.  He will help you in your time of need.  Jesus knows how you feel.

Thankful for Love

I can already tell I'm not going to do to do so great at blogging everyday.  There are more important things... like living life.  I'm going to do the best I can though.

Day 2:  I'm thankful for my wonderful husband. I'm not perfect by any stretch of the imagination but he loves me anyway. We've spent a decade together and hope we have at least a century more. I love you, Ben!

Day 3: Today I am thankful for my parents. I am blessed to have parents who love me so much they CHOSE me. :) I am also thankful for my foster mom, Janelle. Without her, I never would have met my parents. I love all 3 of you!

We are all blessed so much more than we deserve.  Take some time today to think about all the wonderful people in your life.  Make time to call them and tell them you love them.  So often I forget that I'm not promised tomorrow.  A new challenge to myself is to live everyday as if it is my last. 

I'm thankful for you.

Each day in November I am going to try to blog SOMETHING.  If nothing else, I plan on listing one thing I am thankful for. 

Day 1: 
     I am thankful for YOU, the person reading this right now.  You were designed by God on purpose and  with a purpose. 

¹³ You (God) made all the delicate, inner parts of my body

    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

                             Psalm 139:13-16

Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. ~ Phillipians 1:3

Party Party Party

The online Thirty-One party that was held for my missions trip fund has now ended.  Thank you to everyone who made a purchase and in turn donated to helping the lives of others in Kenya.  You are all very special to me.  Thank you Elizabeth Bordeaux for hosting this and donating all of your proceeds towards me.  You are such a sweet friend and I love you. 

The Scentsy party is still going and will be open until December 15th.  Any orders you place will be immediately processed and mailed to you. 

The Velata party is still going as well.  Once you click on this link, you will need to click on "Join Now" beside "Christy to Kenya". 

The proceeds from these two parties are being donated to my missions trip fund by my friend, Catherine Highley.  Thank you so much, Catherine.  I am blessed to have amazing friends and family in my life. 

Willing?

I wish I had the gift of eloquent writing.  I don't.  In fact, I had to look that word up to make sure I was using it correctly.  :)  So please bear with me.  I hope this isn't too hard to follow. 

It's been over 6 months since I first felt God calling me to go to Kenya.  It happened when our church showed a video from one of the previous trips.  I got chill bumps during the video and started to cry.  I wasn't exactly sure why I was crying except that my heart was breaking for these people and I wanted to help in any way I could.  That night I laid in bed for hours unable to sleep and unable to get the faces shown on the video out of my mind.  I knew then that God was calling me to go.  I came up with many reason I couldn't go and God came up with even more why I should.  I got up around 3 that morning and had a personal bible study/prayer time.  I guess technically 11-3 was also a 'quiet time' with God.  I then got up and went online to send in my paperwork for the missions trip.  I knew that I had done all I could at the time and that I had obeyed God.  Fast forward several months...

September 5th, 2012 I received an email letting me know I was selected to go on the March Missions trip (our church will be going on 6 trips to Kenya this year).  I was SO EXCITED... it didn't take long for me to allow myself to forget about the prior 'argument' I'd given God about this trip.  Or the fact that God had already won said argument.  I had doubts. I had fears.  There are many uncertainties regarding any trip of this nature or really any trip at all.  "How will I raise the money?",  "How will this affect my health", "Am I strong enough for this?", "What will family/friends think?"  The list goes on and on. The two biggest questions for me were regarding my health and raising the money.  When I went with our youth to Daytona this summer, I had a really bad episode of edema.  I was particularly worried about this especially with the long flight to and from Kenya.

September  7th (isn't it amazing how quickly God addresses our concerns sometimes?) our small group bible study was titled  Next & Now. ~  What can we do now to to get to what is next?  Immediately I knew God was going to speak to me through this lesson.  I did not realize how clearly.  The very last verse we read that night was Deuteronomy 8:4.

Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years.

Okay, God.  Got it.  Loud and clear.  Thank you.  I mean, come on.  He couldn't have simplified it much more for little old doubting me, could he?  The issue of raising the funds has been of concern to many.  I posted about it earlier, here.  I've simply turned it over to the Lord. 

There are some who think what I am doing doesn't make sense,  some who think it is impossible, and some who think both.  I read the below in Kisses from Katie by Katie Davis.  You should read it.

I marveled with God at the "impossible" things that happen in my life.  And I realized, when have you ever read a story of God's great work that made a lot of sense, a story that didn't seem a little over the top, a little impossible?  Not often.  Radical, extraordinary love just doesn't make sense in a fallen world; that doesn't mean it can't happen.  But it is the very nature of God.   

Moses parted the Red Sea, and I bet people thought, "No way this is happening!"  Noah spent 120 years building an ark and I bet people thought he was crazy.  Joshua went to Jericho, God told him to march around the city once each day for six days and seven times on the seventh day with seven priests blowing trumpets made of rams' horns.  I bet Joshua didn't think that made much sense.  I bet Abraham didn't think it made a whole lot of sense when God asked him to kill the son through whom he had promised to send nations.  Jesus told his disciples to pass out five loaves of bread and two fishes to over five thousand people and I bet they looked at Him like He was crazy!  Later, Jesus told Peter to walk to Him on the water through a storm and I know that Peter was afraid. 

We read these stories and think they are awesome examples of God's amazing power and love and yet sometimes we don't really believe they could still be possible.  We think that maybe Moses, Abraham, Joshua, Noah, or the disciples had something we don't.  But I don't think that is true; God is the same yesterday, today, and always.  And we are all created in His image.  This means that all these impossible things could just as easily happen for us too!  Radical, different, extraordinary. . . They still exist!

Here is the thing:  I want big things from God.  We want big things from God and then think it's strange when he asks us to build an ark, or feed five thousand, or march around a building for seven days with seven priests blowing trumpets made from rams' horns.  I am asking for big things from God...  I serve the God who used Moses, a murderer, to part the Red Sea; a God who let Peter, who would deny Him, walk on water.  A God who looks at me, in all my fallen weakness and says, "You can do the impossible."

I'm not a doctor, a teacher, or a preacher. I'm not a writer, a great photographer, or bilingual.

I am a daughter of the King who has been called to be the hands and feet of Jesus.  I can love anyone.  In any language.  And I am willing.  

Photograph by Christina Morrison

Even through the storm... It is well with my soul.

Due to some unexpected circumstances I have not yet written the last post I talked about,  It is coming... and within the next couple/few days. 

We all go through difficult circumstances... yes, even Christians.   Admitting we are sinners, thanking God for sending his son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins, asking Him to be Lord of our lives, and promising to live for Him the best we know how doesn't keep us 'safe'  from going through hard times.  It's very hard to do sometimes, especially in the midst of a storm, but we need to remember that God is God & God is good - regardless of what situation we are facing.  The storm clouds of life may be so thick around you that it's hard to see or think about anything else.  It won't rain forever.  Try to find the beauty in the midst of your storm.  I was reminded of this earlier this week when there had been a storm and I walked outside to find a beautiful rainbow.  At the time I didn't realize how much I needed to see that rainbow, how much I needed to be reminded of God's promise  -

When I send clouds over the earth, the rainbow will appear in the clouds - Genesis 9:14

God is good. Not because He delivers us FROM our circumstances, but because He walks with us THROUGH them.  I pray for all of us who may be going through hard times.  Your pain is real, it's raw, and it cuts to the core.

No matter what circumstances overtake us may we be able to say...

When peace like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say,
It is well, it is well with my soul.

Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ hath regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul!

It is well ... with my soul!
It is well, it is well, with my soul.

What would you do?

Today I came across a blog that my pastor, Perry Noble, wrote in 2009.  It really made me think and I wanted to share with all you.  Here's a part of what he said.  If you want to see the whole story, which includes how he came about planting our church, you can find it here.

SO…what about you…what would YOU be willing to attempt for God if you KNEW you could not fail?

If the answer isn’t, “what I am doing right now” then I would say you need to do some serious praying and rearranging.

You see…life is SHORT…our days are numbered…and God didn’t put us on this planet to screw around…but rather to MAKE A DIFFERENCE by USING what HE has given us to advance HIS Kingdom and MAKE HIM FAMOUS!

Too many of us are held captive by fear…but remember He is THE MOST HIGH GOD!!!  Never let fear trump the potential God has placed in you!

Too many of us are held captive by the unknown…but remember HE KNOWS!  Besides…if we have EVERY answer to every question then what He is commanding us to do would not require faith on our part…and where would the fun be in that?!?!?!

Too many of us are held captive by people who say “it” can’t be done…but if you will look at who is saying that “it” you will discover that they aren’t actually doing anything except for trying to hold back the people God is letting loose to do ministry.

Too many of us are held captive by critics…but if you will notice Jesus was criticized…and, if you are not experiencing some opposition then that means the enemy is pleased with you…not exactly the calling our lives should fulfill!!!

What would you be willing to attempt for God if you KNEW you could not fail?
You’ve GOT to beg Him for revelation on this…and when He gives you the Word…you’ve GOT to act.  God doesn’t reveal Himself to us so that we can CONSIDER IT…but rather so that we will be CONSUMED by it and OBEY HIS VOICE!

BTW…if the thing that you would attempt scares you to death…if you have had sleepless nights thinking about it…if you KNOW that failure is a sure thing unless HE gets involved…then you should probably make a move…SOON!  (Like…maybe even RIGHT NOW!!!)

SO…what would you be willing to attempt for God if you knew you could not fail? 

Please feel free to comment in the comments section below - I'd love some feedback, encouragement, or even just confirmation that someone is reading.  :)   My next post will be about the moment I knew God was calling me to minister to the people of Kenya and the several times that calling has been reaffirmed.

Trusting Him...

God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Many people doubt my ability to raise the money for this missions trip. I can't, but my God can & WILL!  I am so encouraged!    I know without a doubt that this is His calling for me and  I feel blessed to have this opportunity. 

Will you please pray that God will break my heart for what I see and experience in Kenya and that I'll be able to be the hands and feet of Jesus?  That the people I meet will be able to experience God's unconditional love through me?   I would greatly appreciate it. 
 

I pray that through this whole process eyes will be opened to see God's faithfulness and HE will get ALL the glory.  


*Photography by Christina Morrison

The beginning

Thank you for coming by my site!  I'm so excited to have the opportunity to do missions work in Kenya in March and so thankful to have friends, family, and even strangers help me raise the money to do so!

Right now I have a  Thirty-one fundraiser going on.  My good friend, Elizabeth is a consultant for thirty-one and is donating the money that would be hers from these orders to help fund my trip to Kenya.  If you are interested in looking at or buying some products, you can go to Thirty-one fundraiser for Kenya click on my parties on the right hand side and then choose shop now beside Christy Page's fundraiser.  Make sure you are beside my name when you click shop now.  If you aren't, the proceeds won't go towards my trip. 

There are also two other "parties" going on right now being thrown by my friend, Catherine.  She is a consultant for Scentsy & Velata.  She writes : "Please consider supporting her by purchasing products from  Scentsy for Kenya OR Velata for Kenya .  100% of all profits from Scentsy and Velata sales purchased under the parties "Christy For Kenya" will be donated directly to Christy to help fund her mission trip.  All products will ship directly to you, immediately after purchase." 

Christmas is quickly approaching and between these 3 companies, you are SURE to find a perfect gift for the ladies in your life. 

If you aren't interested in the fundraisers but would like to help you can donate via paypal using the button below.  PayPal is a secure site.  If you don't have a PayPal account you can still donate using your credit/debit card.  There is a small link on the left/bottom of the page. 

Thank you so much for your prayers!