Seasons

So I know that there is still several months and an entire semester between now and my flight to Tokyo, but I just can't help but feel this anticipation and excitement for what Father is doing and will do. This past semester was tough, one of the toughest seasons of my life, but my Savior was close the whole time. He taught me so much that He will use in Japan, and in life in general. He had to teach me brokenness for me to learn how to be made whole in Him. I had to feel pain to learn perseverance and experience true joy. I could go on and on. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 really came alive to me. For everything there is a season, a time plant and a time to pluck up what is planted. I learned that sometimes even though He is the One that planted a seed in your life, He will pluck it up and start all over for something new. As the Lord told Baruch in Jeremiah 45:4, "...Behold, what I have built I am breaking down, and what I have planted I am plucking up-that is the whole land". I know my afflictions were only light ones compared to deadly persecution, or even the surpassing greatness of knowing our Lord, but I felt like God was breaking down what He had built in my life. At the time I didn't think it was worth it, but Father reminded me that my life is not about me, it is about Him and His glory. Becoming like Christ is a process, it's not instantaneous. It takes multiple breaking down and rebuilding seasons for us to let go of living life for ourselves and abandon our lives completely to Christ. I know that I still have a looong way to go, and I don't think the breaking down season is completely over, but I'm ready for what's next. Now more than ever before.

I am a big fan of Switchfoot and their new song "Hello Hurricane". It talks about facing a storm head on because no matter what happens, God and His love aren't going anywhere. I prayed that God would help me learn what it meant to count it all as loss compared to Him (Phil. 3:7-10). I wanted to live my life for Christ and count death as gain. He gave me a taste. Even though He didn't have to, He proved His faithfulness and strength to comfort and heal. I'm ready to go out and fight the fight He has in front of me. I'm ready for what's next. There is a lot that goes into preparing for a trip like the one Father is leading me to this summer. I know it will be hard, but I cannot wait to see what He is going to do. He is awakening people all over the world to the beauty of His grace. Japan may be spiritually dark, but it is God's. Like the people in Isaiah 65, He is ready to be sought by those who were not looking for Him. How wonderful is that? God wants all people to know Him, the earth if full of His glory to prove it. I'm getting pumped just thinking about it. He is so mighty and sovereign, yet He still chooses to use our sinful, selfish little selves.

As things start gearing up for the summer, please be in prayer for the missionaries, interns, and volunteers who will be in Tokyo. I'm so stinking excited to pray for my fellow interns and see what Father has for each one of us. Please pray for unity during the summer right off the bat. Please pray that God would provide financially, and that we wouldn't worry about it. Please pray that God would prepare our hearts, and that we would be obedient in what that might me. Thank y'all so much for praying, it means so much. Getting ready for awesome things to happen. I can just feel it, God is going to do awesome things all over His earth in 2010!

"Sisters, brother, thieves and lovers,
Come uncover eternity.
Turn your faces from finite places
Heaven's grace will set you free"

-Phil Wickham "The Time is Now" (my new most favorite song, you should check it out. :) )