A friend reminded me recently "Michelle, God is doing MORE in you than THROUGH you right now. Yes, He is doing amazing things around you & using you to do great things for Him, BUT He is doing a miraculous work IN you!" **Thank you, Israel, for your insight, encouragement, & for challenging me** :)
It is MUCH easier for me to blog about an event & updates on changed lives of the imprisoned youth & gang youth on the streets. There have been several events in the past few days that i could write 2-3 blogs on. I had the privilege of being in contact with almost 200 teens in the last few days (inside prison & on the streets).It is MORE difficult to fully express what exactly God is doing INSIDE me. And i don't want to neglect sharing about the most important aspect of my life...my relationship with my Creator, Savior, LORD, Best Friend, Redeemer..the list goes on. He is at work: The beautiful contruction & remodeling of my heart & thoughts.....
I thought that living out of a backpack while traveling/serving around the world with 65+ people & living in 10 foreign countries was going to be the PEAK of my adventures in life. Although it was the BEST year of my life, so far....i believe that the ADVENTURE has only just begun.This has all been preparation. God has gigantic plans for my life, & i am giddy like a 5yr old on Christmas Eve. Not just physical adventures of meeting people, walking down new streets & seeing communities change for the glory of the LORD...but adventures of my HEART.
Philippians 1:6 "...being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
God doesn't abandon the construction site of our hearts...He is constantly purifying our hearts, like silver through the fire. The # of completion in the Bible is 7. I find it ironic that there are 7 steps to the process of refining silver! Now....God will never abandon the construction site, but many times we put up road blocks & interefere/delay it.He does the work in our hearts, but we need to be open & have a humble heart for Him to be able to mold it & shape it.
Psalm 66:10 "For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver."
James 4:10 "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up."
Change He has done in me lately: I honestly can't put it into words!! I am struggling right now for accurate words to fully express what's going on in me. I know for sure He has allowed my heart to be completely SHATTERED for the struggling men, women, teens & children of the lovely city of Santa Ana. Just like a bullet penetrated this glass & shattered it, so has He done with my heart...
COMPASSION. Compassion compels & requires action. Just like LOVE is a verb= An ACTION.I can't walk past people in need anymore without at least stopping to pray for them or helping out with a physical need if i have the resources/time to. Usually we do, but we choose not to, for whatever reasons: fear, selfishness, greed, "too busy"...etc. God has WRECKED my heart, i can no longer pass them by. Feeling sorry isn't enough anymore.
Don't get me wrong, i can't FIX their problems & poverty & be their Savior. That is why i point them to the One who can save their soul & also rescue them. He delivers those who cry for help & He sees EVERY tear that falls. When Jesus walked the Earth, He had compasison on people & SHOWED it with His actions. This is just a small % of what He is doing in my life, on a greater scale than ever before.
CAUTION: This blog is NOT written to brag about me. I am not worthy of that & never will be. My Daddy in Heaven gets the credit & glory. He is worthy of the praise & miraculous TRANSFORMATION in my life. Studying His Word on a deeper level lately has been washing my thoughts & heart of the garbage the world dumps on it.
My faith's growng stronger every day. His boldness in me is increasing, like a lion. I am not the same as i was yesterday. I'm more hungry for Him, less hungry for the empty things of this world. My soul thirsts for Him like a parched deer searching for water in the desert. I find my REST in Him & my PEACE & JOY. I have found CONTENTMENT. COMPLETE SATISFACTION. At 32 yrs old, i never thought i would be back living with my parents in Fountain Valley where i grew up. Not married, no kids of my own.(But i am thankful to have that provision of a roof over my head & to spend time with my family whom i love & am so grateful for.And even though i don't have my own kids, i have plenty of kids/teens i am looking after/mentoring) AND working/serving fulltime w/gang members/prisoners...without getting PAID!!! haha God has a great sense of humor. Please pray that i can soon move out and pay for rent in Santa Ana. (Please prayerfully consider partnering up with what God is doing in these communities by sponsoring me monthly!! Donation info is on the righthand side ------->>)
If we are COMFORTABLE, it is very possible that our very comfort is what is delaying His construction......
**thanks for reading & for your support....& the journey continues... Love, Michelle**
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