"I Want To Go Where God Leads."

As October 24th slowly came to an end and before October 25th started, I was writing down things that I wanted to accomplish in my 27th year. There was one thing that would sum up everything on the list. That was, "I want to go where God leads." In a little over a month, I will be boarding a plane and heading back to Ghana indefinitely. Just yesterday someone asked me how it is there. My response was, "I love it. For me it gives life a different meaning. It's not always easy but the good outweighs the bad." Here's the thing. This isn't my first time going to Ghana but sometimes it sure does feel like it. Feeling anxious, overwhelmed, a little fear, joy and anticipation have all showed their face over the course of my preparation. In all, I'm grateful. I know that if I have God and I'm following His lead then He will surely provide. His strength is made perfect through my weakness. More often than not God places people in unusual situations so it's clear who gets the glory- Him.

LIVE INTENTIONAL

I recently watched a movie called Mary and Martha, which just might be one of my favorites now. The movie is about two mothers, from two different walks of life who randomly meet after the deaths of their only sons to malaria. After meeting and learning each others story they began to work together to raise awareness for this disease. A disease that kills close to one million people per year, most of them being children under the age of five. While this blog isn't about malaria, it is a call to action. To think of yourself less. To do something for someone else who may not have the means to do for themselves.

Check out this clip from the movie Hilary Swank in HBO Films' "Mary and Martha" (Disclaimer: Please excuse the language :] ).  After such a loss, it's not easy returning to normal and not doing something intentional. For me, the transition into "normal" life after returning from Ghana the past few trips haven't been all that easy. When something or someone captures your heart it's not easy to walk away and act like it doesn't exist. You live intentional by responding to the tug on your heart. Those tugs can sometimes be very uncomfortable and uneasy but God will give you peace. The craziest thing you can do is nothing. Can you change the world? No. But you can impact one person that can impact another person and together we can go where God leads and make a greater impact.

- GO Where God Leads & Live Intentional! -

"I'm more afraid of what my silence to the world would communicate about God, rather than fearing that people misunderstand the truth of God." - Canon via Desiring God

Don't Be a Dead Peg

"Here's another way to put it: you're here to be light, bringing out the God - colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand - shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven." - Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG)

When you go to see a movie and the movie is crazyyy, off the hook. You're guaranteed to go and find anyone you can, just to brag on how good the movie is and suggest they go a see it. When your friends see you cross up your opponent on the basketball court it's definitely going be something to talk about. The same goes with sharing Jesus with others, but to properly get the message across to others it must be something personal to you first. When it's personal and something you're passionate about then it makes it easier to talk about with others.

Beautiful Are The Feet!

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  

                                              - James 1: 27 

Since I've returned from Ghana at the end of June I've had a lot of time to myself. Time to debrief from the three months I spent there, what I experienced, learned and think about the question I got from almost everyone upon my return, "What next?" Honestly, at the time I couldn't tell you. I  gave everyone the same answer, "I'm going to connect with some more organizations that work with orphans and vulnerable children and see where God leads me." Not that it wasn't true but it was more so something to hold me over until I was positive on what I reaaaaally wanted to do. Leaving Ghana after three months was a bittersweet moment for me and it still is because Ghana holds a very special place in my heart along with my kiddies that I miss so much (read about my Bittersweet return here).

Be The Best YOU

Person: Because I was always so jealous of your hair. It was long and perfect.

Me: Don't be jealous because just like that it's gone.

A Bittersweet Return

American and Ghanaian Flags flying at the Volta Lake Hotel

I'm not sure if leaving Ghana was the bittersweet part or returning back to the states was, I would lean more on the side of leaving Ghana was. If I had to explain the past three months of my life I wouldn't know where to begin because there are so many words that I could use. If I had to choose one though it would be FRUITFUL. Why Fruitful? I believe fruitful fully embodies all my feelings in one word. To be fruitful is to be productive, fertile and produce fruit. This trip for me has been fruitful in more ways than one and I know that seeds that have been planted will produce great fruit. It's only the beginning, I've only touched the tip of the iceberg. 

Confession: The TRUTH About Me

"I am really not that brave, I am not really that strong, and I am not doing anything spectacular. I am just doing what God called me to do as a follower of Him." 
- Katie founder of Amazima 

"Wherever you Go, Go with all your HEART!"

What are you willing to let go in order to be obedient to God and pursue purpose? For some time now, this is a question I've wrestled with. Am I willing to forget about what I want to pursue purpose and at what cost? In making the decision to leave school in my junior year of completing a Bachelor in Bioscience, there were many things I had to take into consideration. The thought of being close to finishing, letting my parents down, thoughts of failing and a host of other things ran through my mind. One of the biggest things I had to deal with was doubting God and how He would provide for me. I was so focused on what I wanted to do and not what God has been telling me to do. Focused on attending to what others wanted and not what God wanted.