With my 17th birthday coming up, I want to take a while and reflect on what being 16 years old is like for me, and some of the highlights.
It was very scary at first, for two reasons. Reason number one is because as a young girl (and even still), I enjoyed watching Sound of Music. Retaining none of the history, not much of the plot, drama, characters, or inspiration at the age of about 9, the one thing I understood was the scene where the mail delivery boy, Ralph, visits Leasle and both are so in love. One of the repetitive lines in the song they sing is, "I am 16, going on 17," and also stood out to me. As such, I had got it into my head that 16 was supposed to be a deeply romantic age. Well, that's not exactly how it's been turning out! It was God's grace that showed me first to save not only my purity, but also the fullness of my love only for the man I marry, if God so plans. Rather than a year of careless dating, this has been a year of careful conduct. To tell the truth, I am very happy to be nearly at the end of being 16 years old just to get over perhaps a small fraction of hormones jumping off the charts and the increasing obsession that was cemented this year, but completely absent the rest of my life: fashion.
The second reason I was so afraid to turn 16 was because I was terrified at the thought of having my first birthday with Trent being dead. The scary thought of growing older without my closest in age brother right on my heels into the land of teenagers was creeping in my mind. I was being pushed farther from my brother. But I am reminded of something my Mom told me that was very true and, well, weird, "Don't worry about forgetting the details (about Trent) here: you will have an eternity in Heaven to get to know him again." How true! Lately, eternity is seeming to take forever to start. But once is starts, it will never stop. To think of it logically, would I obsess about worrying about the smallest detail of remembering my brother if I knew I would be apart for a while, but see him again in a few weeks? God has carried me through all of the tough and painful grief every single step of the way. I cannot explain it too well, but it seems like even at the worst points of not understanding why it must hurt this deep, feeling like I'm losing the battle, and like I'm all alone, I constantly have this heart-knowledge that God is right here, even though he may feel a hundred miles away. Sometimes the mental picture comes to mind of my crying literally in God's mighty hands (his Sovereignty), and seeing my hot tears fall into the creases of his fingers, bottling them up. Yes, grieving will be worth it, and it is not unbearable through him who gives me strength (Phillipians 4:13).
A few highlights of the year have been these: attending a two week leadership training camp, serving as a co-counselor in a Bible camp, writing two children's books (which I really do plan to write about!) signing up for a missions project next summer, and preparing for a half-homemade Christmas. My family decided to make half the gifts we give each other and buy the other half. I would tell you what I made and how, and even add pictures, but my family sometimes reads my blog and I can't have them snooping!
God has really grown me in my faith this year too. I am realizing the depth of my sin more, and the glory and majesty of Jesus my Savior more too. Being emotional was not a big part of my past, it took a lot to make me cry. But now with Trent's death, the tiniest thing sets me off. I am glad of it though: God has, in a way, increased my compassion through it. Sanctification is tougher the farther you get! You also get a bigger glimpse of God's glory through it.
I started with sharing of the wanting to be 16 years old, and now here are major thoughts on being 17. First, I am a little afraid of being 17. It is the last birthday anyone gets as a kid, and oh, I loved my childhood! Great family, good friends, beautiful memories. 17 is near the last age of transitioning into a young lady, and is a little sad. But there is also joy. Cooking, making soap with Mom, and even doing dishes have been so enjoyable this year, and even more so at the thought that maybe one day I, too, will be a mother. I am very excited about becoming a mature young lady for God, and seeing what he will do in my life for the fame of his name and the good of his people, as he promised.
Sunday, December 23, 2012
Monday, December 10, 2012
Hearts and Money
In John 21:1-4, we are told about a widow who gave generously to further the kingdom of God. Generously? When I think of the word, I think of entering my grandmother's house and hearing my cute little brother ask sweetly, "Grandma, do you think we could maybe have some candy?" To which comes the reply, "Oh, go ahead, take whatever you want, sweetie!" My brothers suddenly become deathly hungry, and as I see their overflowing handfuls trying to catch the two pieces falling back into the container, hoping to not let Mom see from the corner of her eye, I think: generosity. When I stand at Vacation Bible school in the beginning of fall and listen to the director who announces every year, "A generous person has offered to match whatever money we can raise this week!" Pretty sure we are going to raise at least a few hundred dollars, I think: generosity.
Perhaps the reason I think of these actions as generosity, which is rightly so, but think not much of the putting into the offering plate of $5 is that my heart, probably like those of the on-lookers in the scene in the Bible, is warped by sight and considers the handful rather than the heartful. The scene starts, "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury." (John 21:1) A more modern idea might include a thick fold of hundred dollar bills, but in this case, because of the comment Jesus made, it would seem that the hundred dollar bills were not folded, but laid out, facing the "audience", and dropped in one by one. Eyes would have gotten bigger, "He gave $XXX!" "She gave $XXX!" But the oohing and the ahhing was almost sure to come to a gasp when a poor widow weaved through the confused givers and gathered up the courage to drop in two very small copper coins. John 21:2, "He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins." What was she thinking? Wasn't she embarrassed to put in only two tiny little pieces of copper, probably not much more valuable than dirt? Why did she even bother? What good would they do for God's kingdom?
On the other hand, what could that widow have bought with those two coins? Though they weren't much, they were something: it was hard for widows to earn any money in this time period, and she could have bought something, though small, that would have meant the world to her: perhaps a bit of food, perhaps a scrap of cloth, or maybe even a few hours of shelter. But she refused her last material dependency, because she valued God as higher than the world.
Jesus' voice was heard saying (John 21:3-4), "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
But Jesus, didn't you see the last person's big cash? Did she slip in something big while I was looking at the temple decorations? They disciples did comment, by the way, in the very next verse (4) about the temple adornments. The thing that I think people of that day and I know people of this day didn't see was the giver that God loves: the cheerful giver. He didn't say the wealthy giver, nor the abundant giver, but the cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). God's standards did and does not measure by the handful, but the heartful. This woman gave from her heart.
I mention this passage and these thoughts because a few days ago, I was telling a little boy an answer to his question about why I baked over two hundred cookies, which was for a fund-raiser for the Peru missions project. I worded it, "So that I can go to Peru and tell people about Jesus." At once he responded that he wanted to give me his one dollar. I was a bit shocked and didn't want to come across as if I was asking for money, so I tried to explain, but he said, "No, really, I want to give you my dollar! I have it in the van just outside. I was going to buy something at the store, but you need it more than I do."
What could that little boy have bought with that one dollar? It is not very easy for such a young boy to earn money in these days. He could have bought something, though small, that would have meant the world to him: a bouncy ball, a big lolly pop, a glow stick, a little car, you know: the things little boys' eyes go gaga for! But he refused, I believe his world, for the sake of telling others about Jesus. Looking into this little boy's face, I saw perfectly: generosity. This little boy, like the poor widow, gave out of his heart, and will be rewarded eternally for it! God had done a supernatural miracle in his heart and gave him eyes to see the true value: God. Eternity. The kingdom to come. This little boy's heart was not the only one that was impacted hugely: God changed my focus. God has provided what I have needed and more for my first few deadlines of fund-raising, but I was focused on the big, scary dollar number that had to be met.
But God, out of his grace, showed me what mattered more than I already had and more than what I need to have: the heart of boy who gave to God his only dollar.
Perhaps the reason I think of these actions as generosity, which is rightly so, but think not much of the putting into the offering plate of $5 is that my heart, probably like those of the on-lookers in the scene in the Bible, is warped by sight and considers the handful rather than the heartful. The scene starts, "As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury." (John 21:1) A more modern idea might include a thick fold of hundred dollar bills, but in this case, because of the comment Jesus made, it would seem that the hundred dollar bills were not folded, but laid out, facing the "audience", and dropped in one by one. Eyes would have gotten bigger, "He gave $XXX!" "She gave $XXX!" But the oohing and the ahhing was almost sure to come to a gasp when a poor widow weaved through the confused givers and gathered up the courage to drop in two very small copper coins. John 21:2, "He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins." What was she thinking? Wasn't she embarrassed to put in only two tiny little pieces of copper, probably not much more valuable than dirt? Why did she even bother? What good would they do for God's kingdom?
On the other hand, what could that widow have bought with those two coins? Though they weren't much, they were something: it was hard for widows to earn any money in this time period, and she could have bought something, though small, that would have meant the world to her: perhaps a bit of food, perhaps a scrap of cloth, or maybe even a few hours of shelter. But she refused her last material dependency, because she valued God as higher than the world.
Jesus' voice was heard saying (John 21:3-4), "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
But Jesus, didn't you see the last person's big cash? Did she slip in something big while I was looking at the temple decorations? They disciples did comment, by the way, in the very next verse (4) about the temple adornments. The thing that I think people of that day and I know people of this day didn't see was the giver that God loves: the cheerful giver. He didn't say the wealthy giver, nor the abundant giver, but the cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). God's standards did and does not measure by the handful, but the heartful. This woman gave from her heart.
I mention this passage and these thoughts because a few days ago, I was telling a little boy an answer to his question about why I baked over two hundred cookies, which was for a fund-raiser for the Peru missions project. I worded it, "So that I can go to Peru and tell people about Jesus." At once he responded that he wanted to give me his one dollar. I was a bit shocked and didn't want to come across as if I was asking for money, so I tried to explain, but he said, "No, really, I want to give you my dollar! I have it in the van just outside. I was going to buy something at the store, but you need it more than I do."
What could that little boy have bought with that one dollar? It is not very easy for such a young boy to earn money in these days. He could have bought something, though small, that would have meant the world to him: a bouncy ball, a big lolly pop, a glow stick, a little car, you know: the things little boys' eyes go gaga for! But he refused, I believe his world, for the sake of telling others about Jesus. Looking into this little boy's face, I saw perfectly: generosity. This little boy, like the poor widow, gave out of his heart, and will be rewarded eternally for it! God had done a supernatural miracle in his heart and gave him eyes to see the true value: God. Eternity. The kingdom to come. This little boy's heart was not the only one that was impacted hugely: God changed my focus. God has provided what I have needed and more for my first few deadlines of fund-raising, but I was focused on the big, scary dollar number that had to be met.
But God, out of his grace, showed me what mattered more than I already had and more than what I need to have: the heart of boy who gave to God his only dollar.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Why I Hope in God Through Teenage Grief
Just
when I thought I was in control and life seemed
Through the days of tear-stained grief, we lift up our eyes to God and trust in his Word, knowing that he disciplines his sons he loves. Passing up the temporary, sin-tainted pleasures of this world and this life, we strive on toward the goal to finish the race and store up eternal Heavenly rewards that God promised. God comforts me, his redeemed child, according to his promise to comfort his children as a mother comforts her child. As Jesus causes my heart to trust him, I can say, sometimes literally through the tears, “Oh death, where is thy sting?” For Jesus has already overcome the world!
easy,
God woke me up to the reality of the consequences
of
sin.
When
Eve took that first bite from the fruit in the
garden
of Eden, she acted upon her rebellious motive,
“My
reasoning must be better than God's command!”
Choosing
to lean upon your own understanding
instead
of trusting in God with all your heart always leads
to
devastating punishment, some of it immediate, and some
long-term:
death and separation from God in hell.
I
had never personally tasted the horror of death before the day my
little brother died. Sure, I heard of the older person who died that
was a grandparent of a friend's cousin's mom, or something of the
sort. I knew that death struck hard and pain marked the way of grief.
Natural disasters killed even children, but they never touched me. I
was in my own little safe world, far away from death's sting. It was
easy to trust in a God who did not let anything bad happen to me.
But
as Jesus promised his disciples, in this world I did have trouble. On
February 18, 2011, God took my 12-year-old brother Trent home in a
skiing accident. On that cold, icy night, I knew the power that sin
held over this world. Seeing Trent's stiff, yellow body emptied of
his spirit lying on a helpless hospital bed struck my heart with the
seriousness of sin and the holiness of God. God is this holy, he is
so important and set apart from us that one offense as an expression
from a dirty, rebellious heart must be justly punished by eternal
suffering, forever away from the presence of God.
Literally
seeing and touching my brother's dead body, who had days ago walked
by my side, excited over yet another aspect of Star Wars, teased me
over how much my future husband would love my new earrings, and stood
in awe of God with me – seeing him lay limp and drained of his
spirit made me realize how holy God is, and that all sin directly or
indirectly leads to death.
Now
I must complete the verse I mentioned earlier: John 16:33, “I have
told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this
world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the
world.”
The
God-breathed Scripture teaches again and again that our God is in
complete control and planned absolutely everything for his glory
first and foremost. He chose to allow Adam and Eve to disobey him and
sin in the Garden of Eden to fulfill an even better plan: to redeem
(buy back) his people. As slaves to sin in offense to the Holy God, we
deserve his wrath forever. But in his grace to glorify his name, God
sent Jesus to die a shameful death on the cross to pour out his blood
in an act of paying the debt of those he chose from a sinful people
to glorify his Father.
Out
of his great mercy, God chose to draw Trent near to him and believe
in Jesus for his salvation, thus saving him! Because God saved him,
Trent is now in Heaven with him as he promised. God himself has given
us hope in his promises in his Word:
“Keep
your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you
have, because God has said, “Never will I leave you; never will I
forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5.
“Brothers,
we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep (die),
or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that
Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with
Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord's
own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till
the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have
fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with
a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet
call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we
who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them
in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the
Lord forever. Therefore encourage each other with these words.” 1
Thessalonians 4:13-18.
Through the days of tear-stained grief, we lift up our eyes to God and trust in his Word, knowing that he disciplines his sons he loves. Passing up the temporary, sin-tainted pleasures of this world and this life, we strive on toward the goal to finish the race and store up eternal Heavenly rewards that God promised. God comforts me, his redeemed child, according to his promise to comfort his children as a mother comforts her child. As Jesus causes my heart to trust him, I can say, sometimes literally through the tears, “Oh death, where is thy sting?” For Jesus has already overcome the world!
Throughout
this process, our family has been constantly asking many people a
question I want to challenge you with. If you died tonight and faced
God, would he sentence you to Heaven or hell? Why? How can you be
sure?
Friday, November 30, 2012
Adjusted Support Letter
Here is an adjusted version of my support letter. Please understand that these minor changes have been made to be Internet-smart and not give out dates, names, etc.
Beginning my junior year in high school has made some big changes in my life. After turning 16, and now nearly 17 years old, the future seems pressingly closer and God has given me wisdom on an excellent career to pursue: becoming a wife and mother after God's heart. As my eyes and ears are being awakened more and more to the Bible, Jesus' command to be his hands and feet, given 2,000 years ago, has become significant and a calling to me specifically these last few years of my life. My calling as a woman to be a helper/companion and nurture the next generation has taken wing, and God has graciously provided many opportunities to use my gifts in various places such as volunteering at Bible camp, vacation Bible school, writing children's books, and babysitting.
For God's glory,
Alexis
Chaplain
Ministries International
Mission Project— Peru
2013
Dear
Blog Friends,
Beginning my junior year in high school has made some big changes in my life. After turning 16, and now nearly 17 years old, the future seems pressingly closer and God has given me wisdom on an excellent career to pursue: becoming a wife and mother after God's heart. As my eyes and ears are being awakened more and more to the Bible, Jesus' command to be his hands and feet, given 2,000 years ago, has become significant and a calling to me specifically these last few years of my life. My calling as a woman to be a helper/companion and nurture the next generation has taken wing, and God has graciously provided many opportunities to use my gifts in various places such as volunteering at Bible camp, vacation Bible school, writing children's books, and babysitting.
After
my 12-year-old brother Trent died on a skiing accident in 2010, God
has awakened me to the reality of eternity and the closeness of it.
Separately added after this post is a more detailed story about this great event in my life. One of the chances that God has given me to
be a witness to the gospel of my Savior, Jesus Christ, is a
short-term mission trip to Peru coming up next summer organized by
Chaplain Ministries. The plan is to act as ambassadors of our God to
victims of an earthquake in 2007, which left devastation still
unchecked today. Our team of six seeks to glorify God by being a
light to the world, and in so doing cause his children to grow closer
to him and trust him more, as well as strengthen our own faith.
Possibilities of specific work we will be doing in Peru will be
helping in orphanages, building and fixing structures, and
volunteering in vacation Bible school. Only after much prayer and
consideration did I commit to join this mission team, and it is still
amazing to me how God worked out the details for me to join even
through the slim chances!
The
needs my team and I have are two specifically: prayer! We need
faithful prayer partners from God who will commit to praying for us at least
once a week, asking God to work in the lives of the people we will be
witnessing to, each of the members of the team for growth in faith
and help to minister to others, and the long-term missionaries in
Peru. And our other need: financial partners. I am trusting God to
provide my financial needs of $3,000. As Paul encouraged in
Philippians 4:15-17, he hoped for others to give to further the
gospel for their sake of rich Heavenly rewards from God
their Father. I look forward to both the prayer and financial
partners whom God will provide to further his kingdom, assist me in
bringing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ abroad, and receive
blessings in the next life themselves! Would you prayerfully consider
partnering with me for the sake of God's eternal glory?
For God's glory,
Alexis
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
To Peru and Back
One of the few things I nearly promised myself while writing the first post in my blog was that I would not mention anything about my planned first short-term mission trip.
To back up a bit, I want to confess: I have half wanted to start up a blog for years now, but the real push came when my Mom suggested I start a missions blog to keep my prayer and financial partners updated. She suggested I call it, "To Peru and Back," but because of the reason I am about to explain, the name of this post is all I can offer. Though this is the reason I pressured myself to start a blog, God impressed on me that the purpose of this blog is to record God's greatness and the little services he has granted and chosen me to do.
So now that that is cleared up, I want to share with you about the project. I was sitting in cookie time at my church with my friends, talking about all sorts of things. Then another friend sat by us and started telling me about this mission trip a few of the kids her youth group was going on. She was animated and more excited than I have ever seen her -- save when we were seven and I told her our apple trees carried super sour green apples -- and going on and on about the opportunities to serve in Peru with children, churches, women my age, etc. I was thrilled. Not the "oh, that's good for you" thrilled, but I was seriously interested in joining the team. When she told me, "Lexi, you should come with us!" I was just about ready to grab a sweatshirt and fly to another continent with her.
Of course, being under 18 years old and needing my parents' permission to go on an airplane and be with people I didn't know presents a great opportunity to remind me that God is in control of my future, and he is my Master and the Lord of my life, not me. The time that my friend mentioned this trip was a week before the deadline of signing up to be part of the team, and presented only a matter of days to make a life-changing decision.
While I was nearly mentally packed and boarding the plane (even though the mission trip is next summer), my parents bothered to breathe again and shared a few concerns. Lexi, traveling is expensive, this would require all your money from now until then and more. Lexi, your friend's youth group is a few hours' drive away, and attending meetings would be difficult. Lexi, have you prayed about this?
So we all prayed: my Dad, my Mom, and me. Together, separate, and in between. I asked God a for two specific signs to show whether or not he wants me to go. #1: That my friend herself would be going, because at the time her parents were still indefinite. #2: That I would read in the Bible about missionaries in the book I was currently reading, John. Well, during that week I read several passages in John along my daily Bible reading about Jesus sending out missionaries, and a verse specifically where he is telling his disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers (missionaries in the context). That next Sunday, on the deadline, my friend told me her parents were letting her go and her paperwork was in.
Because I just got the paperwork and needed help from my youth pastor, I ran later than the deadline and didn't get my paperwork on time. Hoping they would accept it late, I finished it a few weeks later due to crazy business, forgetting to email, and well, life. But how great of God! Because our team is small, the window of opportunity to sign up was a little wider than first intended, and somehow, God chose me to be a part of the Peru Mission Project in summer 2013, and made a narrow way for me to get in!
I will write more details later, but for now, this is the current mission project I am looking at. What is yours?
To back up a bit, I want to confess: I have half wanted to start up a blog for years now, but the real push came when my Mom suggested I start a missions blog to keep my prayer and financial partners updated. She suggested I call it, "To Peru and Back," but because of the reason I am about to explain, the name of this post is all I can offer. Though this is the reason I pressured myself to start a blog, God impressed on me that the purpose of this blog is to record God's greatness and the little services he has granted and chosen me to do.
So now that that is cleared up, I want to share with you about the project. I was sitting in cookie time at my church with my friends, talking about all sorts of things. Then another friend sat by us and started telling me about this mission trip a few of the kids her youth group was going on. She was animated and more excited than I have ever seen her -- save when we were seven and I told her our apple trees carried super sour green apples -- and going on and on about the opportunities to serve in Peru with children, churches, women my age, etc. I was thrilled. Not the "oh, that's good for you" thrilled, but I was seriously interested in joining the team. When she told me, "Lexi, you should come with us!" I was just about ready to grab a sweatshirt and fly to another continent with her.
Of course, being under 18 years old and needing my parents' permission to go on an airplane and be with people I didn't know presents a great opportunity to remind me that God is in control of my future, and he is my Master and the Lord of my life, not me. The time that my friend mentioned this trip was a week before the deadline of signing up to be part of the team, and presented only a matter of days to make a life-changing decision.
While I was nearly mentally packed and boarding the plane (even though the mission trip is next summer), my parents bothered to breathe again and shared a few concerns. Lexi, traveling is expensive, this would require all your money from now until then and more. Lexi, your friend's youth group is a few hours' drive away, and attending meetings would be difficult. Lexi, have you prayed about this?
So we all prayed: my Dad, my Mom, and me. Together, separate, and in between. I asked God a for two specific signs to show whether or not he wants me to go. #1: That my friend herself would be going, because at the time her parents were still indefinite. #2: That I would read in the Bible about missionaries in the book I was currently reading, John. Well, during that week I read several passages in John along my daily Bible reading about Jesus sending out missionaries, and a verse specifically where he is telling his disciples to pray that the Lord of the harvest will send out workers (missionaries in the context). That next Sunday, on the deadline, my friend told me her parents were letting her go and her paperwork was in.
Because I just got the paperwork and needed help from my youth pastor, I ran later than the deadline and didn't get my paperwork on time. Hoping they would accept it late, I finished it a few weeks later due to crazy business, forgetting to email, and well, life. But how great of God! Because our team is small, the window of opportunity to sign up was a little wider than first intended, and somehow, God chose me to be a part of the Peru Mission Project in summer 2013, and made a narrow way for me to get in!
I will write more details later, but for now, this is the current mission project I am looking at. What is yours?
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Meet This Princess
My name is Alexis, and I am nearing my 17th birthday in December. You might ask a person like me why I claim to be a princess after seeing I am not wearing designer clothes, dainty tiaras, or scores of silken yards. I am the princess of a kingdom that this world does not know, and I myself did not know until King Jesus himself saved me from the kingdom of sin and wrath I used to dwell in. My Father's kingdom is not here, and neither are my treasures. For today, I am a pilgrim princess passing through the enemy's territory, on my way home. This place used to be what I called home, where sin runs rampant and hearts are turned away from God, but now I belong to a new kingdom, a new Father, and the God of this universe.
A few of my favorite occupations are attending Sunday school, fictional writing (which I plan to post about later), journaling, playing and composing music, drawing, and drinking tea on cold and quiet days.
Our family consists of two parents who are still in love after twenty odd years, three brothers, and one little sister. Having a big family is very difficult at times and involves a lot of work and energy, both emotionally and physically. But there is not a day in my life that I would ever trade my big family for a small family. The homespun, joyful memories of family and hobby-farming are dear to my heart.
This blog is named Princess Missions because, as God's own daughter, I wish to record all the different missions he has called me to. My ultimate mission is to glorify God in a womanly way by becoming a wife and a stay-at-home-mother and so influence the next generation for my Savior.
But after my graduation, and before I meet my prince, if that is God's plan for me, I want to waste no time in glorifying God through singleness: going on short term missions projects in the act of a sprint before God calls me elsewhere. A few of the specific organizations I am presently considering are WYAM, Operation Christmas Child, and different Bible camps. While many high school graduates are headed off to a college, sometimes without a second thought, I desire to invest my life in learning and studying at home between missions for my dream job: a wife and a mother. Not very common? Not on the list of colleges or job opportunities? You should see some of the reactions I get at presenting this idea!
Still, this will all be worth it in the kingdom and life to come. Like a worker striving at his job because he knows the rewards, I seek to invest much in the next life by sacrificing much in this life. Will you join me?
A few of my favorite occupations are attending Sunday school, fictional writing (which I plan to post about later), journaling, playing and composing music, drawing, and drinking tea on cold and quiet days.
Our family consists of two parents who are still in love after twenty odd years, three brothers, and one little sister. Having a big family is very difficult at times and involves a lot of work and energy, both emotionally and physically. But there is not a day in my life that I would ever trade my big family for a small family. The homespun, joyful memories of family and hobby-farming are dear to my heart.
This blog is named Princess Missions because, as God's own daughter, I wish to record all the different missions he has called me to. My ultimate mission is to glorify God in a womanly way by becoming a wife and a stay-at-home-mother and so influence the next generation for my Savior.
But after my graduation, and before I meet my prince, if that is God's plan for me, I want to waste no time in glorifying God through singleness: going on short term missions projects in the act of a sprint before God calls me elsewhere. A few of the specific organizations I am presently considering are WYAM, Operation Christmas Child, and different Bible camps. While many high school graduates are headed off to a college, sometimes without a second thought, I desire to invest my life in learning and studying at home between missions for my dream job: a wife and a mother. Not very common? Not on the list of colleges or job opportunities? You should see some of the reactions I get at presenting this idea!
Still, this will all be worth it in the kingdom and life to come. Like a worker striving at his job because he knows the rewards, I seek to invest much in the next life by sacrificing much in this life. Will you join me?
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