Going Beyond A Day Of Thankfulness

   It's Thanksgiving Day...Today almost feels like just another ordinary day. There's no hustle and bustle. I'm not waking up to my moms homemade breakfast then frantically getting ready hoping to finish before the Thanksgiving Day Parade comes on (which never happens). There's no last minute things to throw in the oven before heading off to my aunts for lunch. There's no coming home from lunch and taking that ever so important Thanksgiving Day nap in order to regain some much needed energy for Thanksgiving dinner at my grandparents. There's no excitement in knowing that I will get to spend the day with almost my entire family.
   There is however, an excitement in knowing that I am exactly where God wants me for this season. This past month has been pretty hard for me. With the holidays approaching and just various other things I really began to miss home, my friends and family. As I was preparing a devotion for a ladies event God laid on my heart the idea of being thankful for my season, not just the great things that have happened but also the hard things that have happened in my season.
                               1 Thessalonians 5:18, "Give thanks in all circumstances;"
   Today may not be the Thanksgiving I'm used to, but I do get to spend it with some great friends. And I do have so many things to be thankful for, just to name a few...for the calling God has placed on my life, for my amazing family that supports me, great friends here in Germany and back home, the people that back and support what God has called me to, and the awesome church that I get to be apart of here. God truly has blessed me!
   So, my challenge to you...to go beyond just a day of thankfulness. Find things daily to be thankful for. Don't focus on the negative, instead find one thing to be thankful for and focus on that. Because I chose to do this my hard season has now become more of a season of thankfulness.
Happy Thanksgiving!

How Far Will You Go?

As I set here in my little apartment I'm overwhelmed by how much God has blessed me! He opened the doors for me to come to Germany to be part of SMCC as their Children's Pastor, helped me raise my missions budget in 7 months, and has let this be a smooth transition. I'm also reminded of a song that was kind of a starting point for this whole journey. Last year I attended a service at one of the youth camps and there they sang the song Oceans.  As I sang the lyrics:

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand
And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now
So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

Immediately my spirit was stirred. This wasn't just a song I was singing, but my prayer. I knew God was calling me out upon the waters, the great unknown where feet may fail. He was asking how far will you go? He was calling me back into missions. During the months leading up to my departure I knew the Spirit was leading me where my trust was without borders and through it my faith was made stronger. 

I actually just read another blog title Stop Singing Oceans. In it she talks about how we shouldn't sing it if we don't actually mean what we are singing, and she's so right. God will take you deeper than your feet could ever wander and let you walk upon the waters. I knew God was going to stretch me more than I could ever imagine and that scared me, but at the same time it exhilarated me. Because with the stretching comes grace, stronger faith, knowing that God won't fail you, and rest in God's embrace.

So I ask...How far will you go? Are you willing to let this be your prayer?

What if...

This post is a little different from the rest...I've decided to share a journal entry from the beginning of this year (also the beginning of this exciting journey), so you can see how far God has brought me. So, here's me being super transparent.

January 6th, 2014
Today has been a struggle. I'm still struggling with that stupid fear about my budget and not to mention the fear of me speaking in churches. Today sheer panic took over me, Matt (the missionary I will be working with) contacted me about scheduling a time to skype. My first thought was I just want to hide. What if I can't raise the money in time? Do I have what it takes? Can I manage to talk to a large crowd? What if I can't...what a failure I will be. What will everyone think of me if I can't do it...will they think I don't have enough faith or that I don't have what it takes. Why would God call me to this if I'm just going to fail? I'm already giving into the fight. I'm letting myself get beat up before the fight has even started. I won't be trampled on. I will not allow these thoughts to take root and cause me to fear. God will give me boldness to speak! He will give me the words to say and put a message in my heart! He will provide! I will quit feeling defeated! I can do this...but only with God. He goes before me to prepare the way.

As I type this it brings tears to my eyes. How could I have allowed myself to be gripped by such fear? Honestly, we all do it. God calls us to do something big, something outside of our comfort zones, and at first we are so excited about it and we're ready to charge on full steam ahead. Then those silly "what if's" come into play. Something I learned from one of Steven Furtick's messages is answering a "what if" with an "even if" what if I fail at this...well even if I fail I'm still the same girl. The same girl who desperately wants to fulfill God's call on her life, who loves God and loves people, who wants to make a difference for the kingdom of God. So, I decided to fight this fear with the only weapon I knew could win...the Word of God. I do believe God is going to bring all the money in on time -Philippians 4:19- (I only have $1013 of my monthly budget left to raise and $5563 of my cash budget left to raise...it's soooo close to being complete!) I have to be there before August and I personally believe God can make it happen to where I leave the end of June or first of July. I do believe that I have what it takes...because I have Jesus in me - Philippians 4:13. I can speak to large crowds because it's God who speaks through me - Luke 12:12. Now did I get a little nervous before speaking...umm YES, but after the first couple of times I changed from being nervous to being excited to share what God had laid on my heart. I will no longer let fear and anxiety of failing take control - Philippians 4:6-7.
Do I still have fleeting thoughts of fear? Yes, but that's all they are fleeting thoughts. They are no longer allowed to take root and become destructive.  The only way I fail is by giving up, and that's not going to happen.

You can become a monthly partner or simply do a one time donation online at https://giving.ag.org. From there enter in Shea Fryer and you'll be good to go.

Also, check out www.smcchurch.net that way you can see what you're money is going towards and also get more info on the amazing church that I will be a part of.

To Obey or Disobey?

So, does anyone else have a problem with obeying commands the first time they hear them, or is it just me? Easy, simple commands I have no problem obeying right away, but those hard commands that require us to get a little uncomfortable that's another story. The silly thing is the Bible is full of stories of obedience and how God blesses those who obey, and yet I still struggle with this. Over the past month and a half God has be challenging me with a command, and I knew full well that God would pour out blessings if I would just obey. But here's the thing it had to do with money (which I have little of) and a commitment (yikes!), so I kept putting it off. I am very protective of my money and monthly commitments just scare me, I love to be in complete control of my money. At this point you are realizing that I'm a little bit of a control freak that has commitment issues...we all have our issues, and I'm working through mine. So, after wrestling around with this I finally gave in...I obeyed (it only took a month a half). God had been challenging me to partner with another missionary and start giving a monthly donation. How can I expect people to partner with me monthly if I can't even do what I'm asking them to do? Was it hard? Yes, like I typed above I have issues. Did it stretch my faith? Of course! Anytime we step out of our comfort zones it takes faith to believe God will provide. Was is worth it? Definitely! The peace that followed was so amazing. Was the Bible right, did blessings follow my obedience? YES! Since then I have had complete strangers sign up to be monthly givers to my mission. I've had additional pastor's ask that I come and speak at their churches. God has blessed each effort of mine in raising missions funds.

So, are you like me? Are you a control freak that has commitment issues? If so, maybe it's time you allowed God to stretch you. In the first part of Proverbs 22:9 it says, "He who is generous will be blessed..." Here's a chance for you to be generous and know that God will bless you for it.

You can become a monthly partner or simply do a one time donation online at https://giving.ag.org. From there enter in Shea Fryer and you'll be good to go.

Also, check out www.smcchurch.net that way you can see what you're money is going towards and also get more info on the amazing church that I will be a part of.

Just Checking In

So I just thought I'd post a little update on how things are going. I attended Pre-Feild Orientation a little over a week ago...and oh my goodness was it amazing! It provided me with that second wind that I was in desperate need of. It was great meeting new friends that I share a common goal and purpose with. It was a week full of training for the mission field and meeting and hearing other missionaries stories (which I loved...I love hearing how God has brought people to where they are today).
Saturday I got to be a part of an outreach that Hebrew's Ministry and Grand Assembly put on in Arcadia. They allowed me to set up a booth to sale my scarves to raise money for my move to Germany (I raised $206...AMAZING!). The best part was getting to talk to a couple a girls about ministry. One young girl told me how she felt called to be a missionary...it made my heart very happy! It was a nice little reminder of why I do what I do.
This Sunday I get to speak at my first service! I'm so excited to get to share my heart with them and the word that God has placed on my heart for them.
Financially I have raised $550 of the $3,537 monthly commitment budget and $4,061 of the $25,300 cash donation budget. My goal is still to leave in June and I believe that God can and will meet this financial need.
The team is growing almost daily with prayer and financial partners. I would ask that you would consider joining the team, too. I'm well aware that I can't do this on my own, and honestly I don't want to. Just like the church is made up of a body, so is missions. It takes multiple people to make things happen.

You can donate online at https://giving.ag.org from there enter in Shea Fryer and you'll be good to go.

If you would like more info on the church I will be working at in Stuttgart, Germany check out www.smcchurch.net.

Believing In Promises

As my support money has started coming in I find myself reading over specific verses for reassurance. Hebrews 6:13, 17-18 (MSG) says, "When God made his promise to Abraham, he backed it to the hilt, putting his own reputation on the line...When God wanted to guarantee his promises he gave his word, a rock-solid guarantee - God can't break his word. And because his word cannot change the promise is likewise unchangeable." I don't know about you, but that gets me super excited! God has used two different people to speak to me about this missions trip and my funds coming in and on time. It's so reassuring to read those verses and know that God's word is true and that it doesn't change. So, on the days that I'm wondering how in the world are all the funds going to come in and before June, I can lean in to the promise that God spoke to me and know that it's all going to work out and come together.

What are some areas in your life that you could apply these verses to? Don't forget the promises God has given you, even if you've been waiting years to see them happen. Lean in to God's word and don't give up!

And I Helped!

As you read the title I'm sure you're thinking of the Shake n Bake commercial where the little kid says "and I helped!" As I read it, it makes me think of the calling that God has on my life. My passion is to help where I'm needed, basically a call of availability. I love assisting ministers whether in a church here in the states or in another country. I have been asked to fill a huge need by becoming the Children's Pastor at Stuttgart Military Community Church. I will be leaving this June to fulfill a year long commitment as a Missionary Associate there in Stuttgart, Germany. I couldn't be more excited! One thing I have learned, though is that it's going to take a team of people who will say "and I helped!" a team to partner with me in prayer and in financial help. Together we will be able to minister to military children who might not know what it's like to have a home church. We will have the opportunity to build a spiritual foundation that they will grow on. In a world that can change in an instant, we will be able to teach them about our God who is always with them even through the changes. It doesn't stop there, we have the chance to tell them about our God who loves unconditionally, who provides for every need, and who cares about every detail of our life. But I need a team, will you join the team and join us in saying "and I helped!"

You can donate online at https://giving.ag.org from there enter in Shea Fryer and you'll be good to go.

If you would like more info on the church I will be working at in Stuttgart, Germany check out www.smcchurch.net.