He Created in Me a Heart for Missions

The Tree of Life in Mirebalais, Haiti

James 1:27 NLT says, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

Let's just set the record straight…I am not a “low maintenance” kinda girl, I may be simple, but not low maintenance. I like hair dryers, make up, and girl stuff. I don’t like to camp, I don’t like to rough it and my idea of a mission trip is one that I took almost seven years ago when a group of fifty women got on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. We went to the Bahamas for the weekend to do a little mission work at an orphanage in the area. That, sweet sisters, is my kinda mission trip.

So why it that I am all of the sudden is is it that missions are right in front of my face. Oh I have a heart for missions, I really do. I love it, know the difference in makes in people’s lives, and have seen the impact first hand. My husband has been to Cuba twice, to Guatemala twice and to Haiti six times. Over the last year, my oldest son (he is 17) has been to Haiti twice and my youngest (he is 15) has been to Guatemala. We are a family that has a heart for missions…but would I ever pack up my life and move into the mission field? That it another whole story.

Over the last few years, my husband has thrown this idea out to me and every time I shoot it straight down. Ok, I try to be nice about it, but I just cannot see myself (at this point in my life) living in the mission field, I'm just being straight up honest with you.

Then, as God would have it, yesterday we went to lunch with a family right here in our little world of South Florida that is getting ready to do that very thing. They are regular, everyday people who have felt the call to live on the mission field. The family of four is in the process of selling everything they own and after Thanksgiving they will be moving to Burkina Faso with their two teenage daughters.

I sat in awe of them as we ate lunch together. I asked question after question and sat in stunned silence for a minute while I processed it all.

How?
Why?
When did they know?
Did they always know?

Then I started to think about what that would look like for my family. Could God really be calling us to the mission field? I honestly do not know. I know that we have a heart for missions, but is that to tell the world about the importance of getting involved in missions (we partner with a few local and foreign missions at our church and as a family) or is to actually physically go there ourselves.

I wish there was a cut and dry answer to that…but for right now though I know that if it is His will for our family, then He’s going to make that very clear to us…in His time.

One thing He has been showing me is that for now my part is to be a voice for missions and to tell the world about the importance of getting involved. As of right this very moment this is where I am…I’m sharing the stories from the trips my family has been on and processing through their stories to pick out the lessons that God has been showing us through them.

In my work at our church, I lead the Kids and Womens Ministries. Part of this “being a voice about missions” is also to talk about local missions (those in our backyard) and foreign missions (through our partnerships with Compassion and GCA) to those He brings into my world.

Teaching families how they can get involved right this very minute. Doing projects with the kids to send to the kids in Guatemala and Haiti and through that, He opens the door for more people to see and hear about the work that needs to be done all over the world.

Does that mean I may end up in the mission field? I have no idea, but it does scare the beejeebers out of me to even think about.

Until then I’m going to keep doing my part. It is crazy to think that a girl from small town Kentucky would marry a boy from small town Alabama and that they would live in South Florida and have an opportunity to go to Cuba, Haiti and Guatemala on missions trips. On top of that, that their kids would have a heart for missions...well, that is just about the craziest, most incredible thing. Put all that together and then to watch what God does with it all is quite an adventure.

I don’t know where you are right now, but I do know this… One person can make a difference...who knows, He may even create in YOU a heart for missions too!

Godly Gals ~ Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith ~ Karen Hossink "I Just Want to be With You"

I Just Want to be With You
By: Karen Hossink

As the deer pants for streams of water, so mu soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? Psalm 42:1-2

It was an ordinary afternoon, and I was doing ordinary things, when God put an extraordinary desire in my heart.

Matthew had come into the house with his head hanging low. He had gotten into trouble and he knew discipline was to follow. We talked about the situation for a moment and I told him to go take a time out. While Matthew does not typically skip and whistle on his way to the couch for time out, he does usually go. But not on this day.

Instead, he stood at my feet crying, his arms raised up toward me. With some combination of crying and yelling, Matthew said over and over, “I just want to be with you! I just want to be with you!” The desperation in his voice rather took me by surprise.

He had just been outside playing and having a good time with his friends. It would make sense to me if he begged to go back out and play. I understood he was not wild about being sent to the couch for time out, but why the intensity of desire to be with me? Surely I am not as interesting as other kids, bugs or bikes are. But Matthew kept repeating, “I just want to be with you!”

As I observed my little boy that afternoon, the desperation in his voice made me wish to have the same kind of longing for God. I wished to have a hunger in my heart which cries out to God, “I just want to be with You!”

O, for my greatest desire to be His presence. I want to come to the point in my life when nothing here on earth is as alluring to me as the presence of God. It seems crazy but sometimes I desire the stuff of earth so much, I lose sight of God. Sometimes I forget how amazing it is to be with Him.

On occasion I have been places where the presence of God is undeniable. While attending various women’s conferences, Christian concerts, and Sunday morning worship services, I have known without a doubt the Spirit of God was among us. Those moments were glorious, and I wished they would never end. I would like to think I had a little taste of heaven.

It is easy to long for God in those circumstances, but I know He is just as present in the ordinary circumstances of everyday life. God is with me and He is powerful when I am doing laundry. He is present when I am strolling down the aisles of the grocery store, and when I am picking my kids up at school. Even when I am scrubbing the bath tub and cleaning the toilet, God is close to me and I can enjoy His presence.

Before I sent him off to the couch, I bent down to pick up Matthew. He was comforted in my embrace. Standing there with my little boy’s arms wrapped tightly around my neck, I thought about having such an intense desire for God. I longed to yearn for Him desperately. As I held Matthew and thanked God for giving him to me, I marveled at the lesson He had just taught me. Then I thanked Him that He loves for me to just want to be with Him.

Your Turn: Do you have an overwhelming desire to be in God’s presence? Can you imagine yourself as a child calling out to Him, “I just want to be with You!” Read Psalm 42:1-2 and visualize a thirsty deer panting for water.

Is that picture an accurate depiction of your desire for God? If so, spend quiet time simply resting in and enjoying His presence right now. If not, pray and ask Him to build that desire in you.

Write down Psalm 42:1-2 on a piece of paper and carry it in your pocket today. He wants you to desire Him desperately and I believe He will answer your sincere prayer.

Karen Hossink is a wife, mother, speaker and author. She blogs at Surviving Motherhood about the struggles, joys and hilarity of motherhood – and the goodness and faithfulness of God, who carries her through each moment.

As for other resources, here's a link to the book page on Karen’s website:
http://irritablemother.com/books_for_moms.htm
and to Karen’s blog: http://surviving-motherhood.blogspot.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Karen, what a beautiful picture of God teaching, leading, guiding and loving on us even in the everyday, ordinary tasks of life. Yes, to have that deep desire for Him and only Him...what a great thing to wish and hope for.

Thank you so much girl for sharing a little piece of your heart today. It was such a sweet pleasure getting to meet you a few weeks ago...I can't wait to see what God does with our new friendship!

Each week we hear from "Real Women, Real Life, Real Faith" in action...now it's your turn.

Have you been thinking about sending something in for this series?

Send me an email at melsworldministry {at} gmail {dot} com and I'll send you a copy of the submission guidelines. It's just a first step...take it and let's see what God does with it!

I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Praise & Coffee the Magazine - Fall 2011 Issue

Praise & Coffee the Magazine
Fall 2011

Have you had a chance to read it yet?

What are you waiting for?

The entire issue is about CHANGE!

It is 68 pages packed full of articles, book reviews, interviews, fashion, recipes, Praise & Coffee Nights info, and so.much.more.

Here's a little bit of what's inside...

Praise & Coffee Talks
- Leader Interviews
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- Praise & Coffee Runs

Features
- Seasons Change
- The story behind {w}hole by Lisa Whittle
- God Never Wastes Our Pain
- What You Might Not Know About Halloween
- Walking Through Honduras
- A Forgiveness Story
- Invited In-Finding Contentment

In Every Issue
- From the Editor
- Fashion Cafe with Big Mama
- Things We Love!
- Praise & Coffee Cooks
- Encouragement for Today with Ronel
- For Caffeinated Moms Like You
- Lessons From Lauren

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