Encouragement for all of us from Nikki...

My friend Nikki commented on my last blog, "Whispers." I thought what she said was so encouraging that I thought I'd share it with you (in case you don't read the comments).

Sweet Sister-Thanks so much for sharing your heart about this. Sometimes I feel like if I could get my husband (or some other human) to tell me, "It's going to be O.K." that I would feel a zillion times better. Well, my friend, it's going to be O.K. You're going to make it. Your heart and head are going to line up with your reality. Our God is too good not to let it.

I went to Beth Moore's live simulcast (from Southeast actually)this weekend and she said three things that were profound to me that I will share here b/c they may encourage someone else's heart as well.

The first is: She gave a shout out to all of her missionary sisters (that's you!) and cited Mark 10:29-31 says (w/ my emphasis), "I tell you the truth," Jesus replied, "no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or field for me and the gospel will fail to receive A HUNDRED TIMES AS MUCH IN THIS PRESENT AGE (homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and field - and with them, persecution) and in the age to come, eternal life. But many who are first will be last, and the last first."God promises you, my missionary friend, that He will revisit His blessing upon you a hundred-fold (!) as well as in THIS PRESENT AGE (!). We're not talking treasures in heaven. We're talking the here and now. Your obedience will be rewarded in this present age. His Word is good. I can promise it.

The second is: When I am anxious or fearful, it tips the Enemy off that I am not fully surrendered and fully bowing my knee to what the Lord has called me to do. When the fear creeps in, I am reminded that I AM fully submitted to (or at least I need to get my heart there and fast) what God is calling me to and I will not believe lies that tell me otherwise.

The third is: She said, "When you see Him face to face, you will wish you had dreamed bigger." The task before any of us in church planting seems so daunting. It's pull-the-covers-over-your-head, I-think-I-want-to-throw-up kind of overwhelming some days. For me, this quote made me think, "Gosh, instead of being overwhelmed, I will dream bigger b/c this thing that seems too big to God really is not and He wants to do so much more (Eph. 3:20). It reminds me of the Scripture in Habakkuk 1:5 that says, "Look at the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." Bring it, God! We can't wait to be utterly amazed! In fact, we are already! Hang in there, my sweet sister, and navigate these waters with your head up. They are not rushing over you. You are overcoming!

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