The Day After Tomorrow

Well, the day after tomorrow, I'll no longer be in the continent of America.

South Africa here we come!

Political, Social, and Religious history all under one umbrella, South Africa. From the Aids Epidemic to Apartheid, this trip seems life changing. Though my family travels abroad to Ghana almost every year, Southern Africa, is a place that I'm only familiar with because of videos/movies, what I've heard and the news.

People like Nelson Mandela and the famous Robben Island where he was imprisoned are just a few of the historical places we will visit during our journey.

I'm really excited to see the kinds of things that God is going to do on this missions trip. Not only is it a learning experience but we will get to see the power of God manifested first hand. This is one of those trip that you don't leave 'changed,' because change is not permanent and takes years, rather you leave TRANSFORMED! Because that is just how God works.

The purpose of our trip is to allow God to work in our lives through the personal enrichment that comes from this type of Impact Summer Project and Missions trip. Second, we will be with other college students around the nation ministering in Cape Town, South Africa and Khayelitscha, a black township. And third, we will be volunteering in an AIDs orphanage, Beautiful Gate Ministries (pictured to the right).

"When Hitler attacked the Jews I was not a Jew, therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the Catholics, I was not a Catholic, and therefore, I was not concerned. And when Hitler attacked the unions and the industrialists, I was not a member of the unions and I was not concerned. Then, Hitler attacked me and the Protestant church - and there was nobody left to be concerned."
-Martin Niemeller, "Congressional Record", 1968

While reading, I found this quote and it amazed me how we brush off things because they don't affect us. It testifies to the face that when we ignore problems because they don't directly affect us, sooner or later, it catches up. Instead of standing by and feeling sorry for a nation, why not HELP, why not share the life changing GOSPEL with someone who is hurting. Who else can heal hearts, mend broken hearts, and give you eternal life?

This trip is going to be more than amazing. It seems as though the devil has tried to do everything to stop this group from coming together to bear witness to Christ's name in the Republic of South Africa. There are testimonies upon testimonies of how things didn't look like they were going to work out, but GOD IS FAITHFUL.

I will try my best to post pictures and prayer requests of the project. To all my ministry supporters and partners, THANK YOU! For those who have given financially, prayed for the project, or even offered words of wisdom and encouragement, I thank you, and pray that God bless you exceedingly, abundantly above all that you have given to me and sowed into this ministry.

...only the things that we do for Christ will last!

Getting Ready for South Africa!

IMPACT SUMMER PROJECT 2006: ONE SOUTH AFRICA

One Body
New Perspective
Everlasting Life

So I'm currently in preparation to go to South Africa for the month of July. July 3rd to August 3rd. I'm so excited. So many things have tried to stop me from going on this trip. Court dates, money, applications, other stuff, that I know that God has planned GREAT things in South Africa.

We will be working and ministering in black townships, volunteering in an AIDs Orphanage, and working closely with the students at the University of Cape Town. Geez, I can't wait. Practical discipleship and evangelism at its finest!

Introducing the 2006 ONE Team... I love 'em!

I'll try to keep you guys updated on our progress in South Africa as the time and opportunities allow. They may not be long entries, but something to show you how God is manifesting himself in South Africa. I'll also try to put up prayer requests and praise reports as they arise. So keep updated!!! And to all those ministry supporters, thank you for sowing a seed into this ministry.

Learning to Adapt

Learning to Adapt!

Joseph had a dream that he was going to be large and in charge. He had a dream that God was going to give him an uncanny thing that nobody in his family had. He had a dream that he was going to do great exploits for God that nobody in his family had ever seen. Whenever you are anointed by God, it will seem strange and foreign, because nobody in your family has what you are about to receive. As a matter of fact, your own family will be your first line of attack; they're so used to being cookie cutter and middle of the road, and don't know how to handle a dreamer. But praise God for some Joseph's who say they don't want a mediocre blessing, they ask God to do something unique in their lives.

He had a dream, and his family threw him in a pit. But he learned how to adapt and adjust in the pit. He adapted in the pit because he said "this don't look like my promise. I’m in here but this is not what God told me I was going to be." If you’re in a pit experience say “this does not match my promise.” When you get in that hooptie and you know God has greater things in store for you. There’s no reason for you to be depressed, just drive it, keep it clean, vacuum it out, take the clothes out of the trunk. Pick up the McDonalds fries off the back seat, and say “this is just temporary, but I gotta guard it while it’s mine.”

He’s thrown in t he pit, and after that he’s thrown in the prison. When he’s thrown in the prison, he has got to adapt again. You know he’s adapted, because many of us when we are in bondage, we get bitter. But you’ll notice that when Joseph is in prison, he makes friends. You’ll know that you have an adaptive mentality and attitude when you can be nice to people when you don’t like where you are. But aren’t you glad that trouble don’t’ last always. You gotta psych yourself out, saying “where you are you not gonna be there long,”

You need to tell all your haters, “I may not drive like you, dress like you, or have the money that you got, but I thank God that I’m paid for. I’ve been bought with a price. And the Lord told me that I don’t need clothes to be the bomb, money to signify who I am, and I don’t need a title to have authority, but every morning that I wake up, I adapt to my environment!

He gets into the palace and he doesn’t have to adapt. When you get into your rightful place, you don’t need orientation. When you get into the area where God needs you to be, you don’t need to read a handbook. That’s why when you get into God’s house; you don’t need anyone to show you how to worship, because that is where you belong.

Jesus learned how to adapt. Jesus is the Greatest Adapter, because He knows that He is the King. Not only the King of Righteousness, and the King of Justice, but the King of ALL. That is why the adversaries could not deter Him. They put a crown of thorns on his head trying to make fun of him. But Jesus said keep it on me, because if I’m gonna wear this crown, I want you to understand that this crown is getting ready to be traded in for something else. When people attack you, they are just setting you up for the next blow up!

Where you are is not where you are going to stay. But if you are going to be there for a season, you might as well adapt until God elevates you to the next level. Your call to adapt is to take in the environment without the environment taking you. The Christ in me and you is stronger than your circumstance.

My challenge for you today is to learn to adapt!

God is Testing your Faith

Like Abraham, God is testing our faith at times. Abraham exercised faith before he reached the point of being tried. He's all these things to us.....

Master

Savior

Ruler

Redeemer

Shelter

Provider

Deliverer

Healer

Father

Jesus

"I gave up a lifetime for eternity"

How amazing is that? Eternity, whoa! God continues to show me more of who he is everyday. everyday he continues to show me more of who he is, more characteristics. The above to name a few. I have a testimony... Well, I have a lot of testimonies, but to share one: raising support to go to South Africa, has been such a faith walk. Trusting and believing that God is going to make a way, has been rough but at the same time, shows me that God is able to do exceedingly, abundantly, and above all that I could ask for.

With less than 2 weeks, about 10 days left to go to South Africa, I had not even raised half the money. I needed about $2,400, and I needed God to do something. I guess I needed to put my dream to rest, even though I knew that God had called me to do this. Physically, it didn't look like I was going. And I became disappointed and a little depressed.

Well with over 80 letters for support sent out, follow ups, and no responses, I felt like I had exhausted all my resource's. But, God will surpass you! I fasted for about a week and started seeking God. My perspective changed, and all of a sudden, during the fast, a teacher gave $500. I had to take a praise break! And just over the last week, God has been faithful, people that I never thought would give, are calling and asking how they can contribute. People that said they will give are giving more than promised. God is amazing!

Look at what God can do when we take him out of the box. There is nothing too hard for God. I dare you to not get upset and depressed, I dare you to challenge God to meet your need. God is able to meet your needs according to his riches and Glory. When we read that verse, many times we neglect that needs is plural! He can do whatever you need him to do and then some!

Everyday...

In the past couple of days, God has really just been bringing me back. It's been a couple of weeks, I think I got to the point where I was just going through routine. Which is horrible, I do admit. And that's what it came to for me, being able to admit that I've fallen short, and I continue to fall short. The key was being able to say God, "I give it all to You, for without Him I am nothing!" I heard this guy say "My Worship Is My Lifestyle?" Whoa, It blew my mind! You hear it all the time, but sincerely, its life changing.

"You are the Joy of My Desire"- Lisa McClendon, Live at the House of Blues
"Joy of my desire! All consuming fire, Lord of Glory, Rose of Sharon, so Great and Sweet. You are now my Peace. Comforter and Friend, Wonderful, So Beautiful You are to me! I worship You in spirit and in truth! Lord, I worship you in spirit and in truth. There will never be a friend as dear and as close to me as You."

Maybe sometimes we underestimate the goodness and GRACE of God. Sometimes we neglect it after we've been doing our thing for a while that it is only because of Grace that we are still standing. Its like denying the power of the blood, it makes a relationship into a religion. And many don't understand that. If you don't acknowledge the blood, then what do you have left. It is because of the BLOOD that we are redeemed, washed, and set apart.

I'm falling in love again, and I love it. I love not knowing what the next step is, the fact that I can just lean on Him. It's a relationship that requires trust. And I tell you that He has never failed me yet. Have you ever danced with someone, and just felt safe in their arms, felt like you were dancing on a cloud? It's like being engulfed to the point where it's just me and Him. And I love it!

My God, I don't know what I've gotten myself into, but when I think of my decision to take heed to the calling of God, and follow Him, I have no regrets, none at all.

Well I gotta run, work tomorrow calls my name....

When Your Faith Needs Strengthening...

Yo Yo Yo... lol. You know sometimes, it doesn't matter how long you've been doin the walk. Sometimes, your faith needs a little strengthening. I got to the point where I was crying all the time, and all I needed was someone to talk to, someone to pray with and for me, because I couldn't even pray for myself. Last night was the night. Maybe I've been like this for the last week or so.

But I praise God for putting so many wonderful people around me. Sometimes its the person you'd least expect to help you move beyond your barriers and obstacles in life. (So thank you for being there.) It's at the times when you can't express yourself that your brothers and sisters in Christ come and speak life into you! It's amazing. As the body of Christ, we are God's hands and feet, and it is our job to make sure the rest of the body is functioning...

Psalm 77 says:
7"Will the Lord cast off for ever? And will He be favorable no more?
8Is His mercy clean gone for ever? Doth His promise fail for evermore?
9Hath God forgotten to be gracious? Hath He in anger shut up His tender mercies?" Selah
10And I said, "This is my infirmity, but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High."
11I will remember the works of the LORD; surely I will remember Thy wonders of old. Over the past two year, I've met so many wonderful people, and it's crazy how God sets things up.

During the times when we feel like there's nothing going for us, I think we shoud remember God's love and grace for us. The Bible says His mercy endureth forever!

I may not know what I want to do with the rest off my life, but what I do know is that God is truly awesome, and I'm willing to give everything up to follow Him wherever he may take me.

I know I was off on a far tangent on this one, but there's a testimony here. Sometimes we just have to wait on God in expectancy of what He's going to do. As the time for South Africa, I'll share what I really mean. But for now, Trust God and lean not on your own understanding, because it just won't make sense. But trust me on this one, God will suprise you, if you let Him do Him!

Identity and Dismay

The more I feel like I step into my calling, the more I lose my identity. I guess that's the point, huh? To forget who you are and take on the mind of Christ.

It is somehow unsettling to feel your life slipping through the cracks of your hand. What do I do. Absolutely Nothing. Let God be God? Well ofcourse. In this stage of my life, God is moving some things around, I can only hope and pray to find rest in it.

Much Love and In His Service,
Char B.

Yeah I Blog, That's Me...

Yeah I blog, that's me. I been looking for something to do with my time, that's me. I love to write, I love to learn; yeah, that's me! It is really crazy sometimes what we can teach ourselves to do over the course of a summer. Now that makes everything worthwhile!

A little about me: Well there ain't much to say. I mean, I have a lot to say. I talk alot, yeah that's me! I love living and have dedicated my life to see the Gospel spread across language barriers, watter barrieres, and across this world. We are in dire need of it. I guess this tells you alot about who I am, I am a woman of faith, yeah, that's me. I believe in the Trinity. I believe in the life transforming power of Jesus Chrsit, and I believe that God has the power to do anything.

Well, I'm preparing to go to South Africa with the IMPACT Movement this summer, and am more than excited! Can't wait to see my team, evangelize on that campus, and invest time in those kids at the AIDS orphanage.