Bring praise no matter what

The Lord is still Lord no matter what we are going through, struggling with, or trying to figure out.  No matter what, we give praise to our Father in Heaven for He is our everything when we need everything.  This song blesses me.  Be blessed.

my Anthem re-raised

I had the privilege about a week ago to attend Cornerstone Church’s campus ministry, VFC, retreat called ANTHEM.  While I was nervous about engaging in an inclusive setting with new people for an entire weekend, my God quickly revealed to me that I was supposed to be there!

We worshipped, we listened to God’s word through the hearts and mouths of 2 fantastic men of God, and even beyond that, we encountered Our Father, Our Provider, and Our Savior.  While basking in the Lord’s reminder of his Grace in my life, I was also reminded of the “promises” I had made to the Lord. Promises that have been broken, lost, distorted, and immeasurably unattainable.  This reality was sobering to say the least, but it provided a window that I hadn’t looked through in a long time.  Through that window I saw all they ways I had deceived myself, been deceived by the enemy, and how I had made some unfavorable decisions and judgments. BUT Also through that window, I saw where the Lord in His Grace and Mercy, protected me in these desperate times even when I wasn’t aware of how desperate they were.

God illustrated to me his un-relenting love through my time at ANTHEM. I am thankful to my friend who ushered me to come and to my dad who so graciously provided the means to attend.  God uses people to bless people for sure.

Now, my ANTHEM has been raised again.  The ANTHEM of God’s grace and mercy in my life even when I don’t want it or don’t “need” it.

What is your ANTHEM?

UPDATED!

Greetings,

It has been a while since I posted but I am back! New posts to follow soon! Many blessings to you all in this fall season.

You Cannot Weary His Love

~ This excerpt is taken from my Favorite Devotional Book called  Come Away My Beloved by: Frances J. Roberts

      She writes from the view of our loving Heavenly Father and I am daily encouraged by the prayers she writes and the words the Lord has given her for us. Be Blessed.

 

     He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving but believing.”  John 20:27

    Life your eyes, and look upon Me. For though you have forgotten Me, I have not forgotten you. While you have busied yourselves with your daily occupations, I have STILL been occupied with you. When your mind has been captured by the affairs of life, My thoughts have been of YOU. 

    My little children, you cannot weary My love. You may grieve My heart, but My love is changeless, infinite. I long for you to turn to Me. My hands are full of blessings that I desire to give you. I long to hear your voice. You speak much with others–O speak to Me! I have so much to tell you.

    I am not a remote power. I am an intimate person, even as yourself. Have you forgotten that I made you in My own image and likeness? It is not that I am as you, but you are like Me. Do not let material and physical elements destroy your comprehension of Me as a person. 

   “Touch Me and handle Me,” I told Thomas (see John 20:27). To you I say: Cast yourself upon Me; pour your love out to Me. You will discover that I am as tangible to you as I was to Thomas. Reach forth your hand, and lay it upon My broken heart. Yes, take hold of My nail-pierced hand. Now, can you still doubt My love?

A song for my heart

**PLEASE READ THE WORDS TO THIS SONG AND THEN LISTEN TO IT AND WORSHIP. BE BLESSED

YOUR LOVE NEVER FAILS
By: Chris McClarney

Verse 1:
Nothing can separate
Even if I ran away
Your love never fails
I know I still make mistakes, but
You have new mercy for me everyday
Your love never fails
Chorus:
You stay the same through the ages
Your love never changes
There may be pain in the night
But joy comes in the morning
And when the oceans rage
I don’t have to be afraid
Because I know that you love me
And your love never fails
Verse 2:
The wind is strong and the water’s deep, but
I’m not alone here in these open seas
Cause your love never fails
The chasm was far too wide
I never thought I’d reach the other side
But your love never fails
Bridge:
You make all things, work together for my good
**LED BY JESUS CULTURE:

>>>THIS SONG HAS MINISTERED TO ME ALOT THESE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS AND I HOPE IT ENCOURAGES YOU AS WELL!! HIS LOVE NEVER FAILS AND FOR THAT I AM SO VERY GRATEFUL!

<3 ABBY

A note to Mom

Mom,

Dad and I are doing great. I think dad is ready to see some animals for sure!! No sickness here yet! Thank the Lord. We MISS you and LOVE you all. Tell Bradley we will try to get a picture of a giraffe for him! haha. Dad has been super slammed with prayer and prep these past couple days but I know he loves and misses you all as well. Maybe I can get him to email later you later..who knows. LOVE YOU

Abby

I say hey you say Jambo. HEY………….

Jambo from Tanzania!!

It is Saturday almost noon here in Dar and it is a gloriously hot hot day! I am pretty much used to no AC (except I have it in my room sometimes). Anyway, the sun is always shining here and that is just great.
I was supposed to be off childcare duty today but it seems I have grown attached and keep checking in on every team that is with the kids. Abby #2 and I both are somewhat finding everyone else slightly less capable than us to take care of them. haha. Oh well. This morning was kinda overcast so those on duty, Wayne, Arthur, and Abby #2, took the kids outside and guess what? Mr. Wayne as he is referred to broke out the LADY BUG kite!!! haha. It was great. He is a pro and the kids absolutely LOVED flying a kite with Mr. Wayne. Don’t worry I got a picture. It will be good for advertising for the next prophetic conference

Today is day 2 for listening prayer. I was excited to hear from dad that he was going to bring Matthew Kangar from Liberia on his prayer team this afternoon. Matthew and his wife Marthalene know the power of prayer and were insistent on being involved. VERY COOL. From what I have heard so far, the prayer times have gone very well and the Lord has been working in the hearts of many and wiping out the weariness that rests in so many of these missionaries’ hearts. God is good for it is His nature!

** Please keep our team in your prayers as we wrap up the conference here tonight and in the morning. We will leave Dar tomorrow about 10 am our time to head to wherever it is that our safari will begin. So travel mercies would be great! haha Did I tell you they drive on the left side of the road here?? Yup.

A couple of health status notes:
1) Keep Mark in your prayers because his stomach has been bothering him since last night. He is ok but uncomfortable I am sure.
2) It seems I have been burned pretty bad by the sun here below the equator from our boat ride yesterday. We are trying to find aloe but with no such luck. Wayne said I could get sun poisoning but let’s just pray that away ok! ha. I am fine just a bit uncomfortable. I hope its better by tomorrow for the Safari!

Asante sana for your prayers! They are felt and greatly appreciated!

Blessings!
Abby

P.S. I am not sure I will have internet at the Safari so I will try to blog once more and possibly for the last time until I return.

Birds Chirp and My Hair Curls…

Greetings from Tanzania where all is hot!

It is about 10:00am here and I am about to go serve in childcare so I will be brief.
Last night at dinner Abby #2 and I were able to chat with a gal from Austin, TX who is currently serving in the mountains of Sudan. As we talked with her and heard her story, we soon realized how lonely she was especially being the ONLY woman and the ONLY westerner in this particular village of 200 people or so. I was actually surprised to find that Reach Global approved such an arrangement but that is none of my business… Anyway, this upper 20 somethin year old woman is living in this village among a tribe who does not speak english. Everyday, by herself, she goes through the narratives of the bible with all who come and she also leads some women in a devotional kind of study. She is also helping the pastors in the community learn english. She is working so very hard and she has only been there a month of her contracted 1 year plan. She loves Sudan but Abby and I sensed an emptiness from lack of community and communication with others like her. Her name is Colleen so please keep her in your prayers.
Another thing Abby and I have noticed is that the nationals here are very quick to relate with our team and share their story, but the missionaries/reach global staff are slightly more reserved and would rather talk to others like them. I guess I can’t blame them because how much could we really understand about their daily struggles while serving in a third world country?? Just an observation…
Worship continues to go very well. Rick is doing a fabulous job! JP is my new and second younger brother… he even nags Abby and I some .. haha.
I better go… the children are calling me!

Asante sana (thank you very much in Swahili) for all your prayers!

Everyone is well here and having a great time.

***Prayer times are starting this afternoon. Keep our teams in your prayers as they minister to many here that are weary.

LOVES

Abby

T.I.A.

Hello all!

A running theme throughout our trip thus far is what Les Johnston likes to call “TIA.” This stands for “This Is Africa.” What is planned and what happens usually do not align together in most cases. (those who know my dad know this is stretching him) haha. For example, at Quiet Waters yesterday, the worship team and sound team needed to get in the door by 7:45 for sound check before the MTG began at 8am. Well, long story short the door was locked and the only key to the room was with the manager of the hotel who was at his home somewhere here in Dar… So we waited and waited… I think QW started at 8:35ish… oh well. TIA… It was a great day anyway.
Regarding FOOD:

I am enjoying alot of starch this week. You can bank on potatoes at every meal. Definitely rice at lunch and dinner. Bean are also a favorite here. At breakfast, they serve what is similar to “baked beans” and I enjoy those. The beans have been my only protein really because I can’t handle the texture and bone of the “chicken.” Definitions of food are different here than in the USA. What we call cake and what they call cake is a matter of flour and baking soda I am not starving at all. My dad is managing to eat the “chicken” and potatoes and beans. So he is not starving either. I love all the fresh fruit here and the fresh mango juices are AWESOME! I have felt great since I got here and have had NO “belly” problems.

We had some free time today so we payed 13,000 shillings each to take a boat ride to a “gilligan” like island and swim. I have officially been in the Indian Ocean! YAY! We left promptly at 2:45pm only 45 min past our planned departure. The water was crystal clear like the caribbean and it felt amazing. I got burned but that’s ok. Abby #2 and I took lots of pictures!

Well, it is almost dinner time here and I could probably bet millions of dollars on what we are going to have God is good and I am loving my time here in Africa. Thank you for your prayers!

Love
Abby

P.S. For those of you who know him… Arthur changed a stinky diaper today!

On being here in Tanzania….

Hello all!!

I am FINALLY able to blog. Internet is very spotty here and time to blog is even more spotty. I have now been on the continent of Africa for 3ish days. First impression? I love this place.
God has been faithful. It has been a joy to meet new people, from the states and nationals from different countries here in Africa. I was able to sit and chat with a couple from Liberia for over an hour on Monday night and lucky for me they spoke very good english. I have three invites already to visit Rwanda, Liberia, and Uganda. WOW! I may not finish school and just move here… JK. Anyway, Matthew and Marthilene from Liberia have such a heart for their country and believe in the strong power of prayer. They kept asking me about prayer and wanted to share their own experiences with God’s faithfulness.
The weather here is humidity on steroids to say the least. It is not the rainy season though we were privileged to experience rainy season rains yesterday! haha. Arthur got soaked!
Today was what we call “Quiet Waters,” a time when we drop our agendas and ask the Lord what He wants to do. We had a great time of ministering from the Lord. Probably my favorite time today was when we invited some of the nationals from various countries in Africa to lead us in “African” worship. It was the bomb.com! They know how to worship man o man. I could worship with them everyday!
I am so blessed to be here!

A couple prayer requests:

– Childcare has proved difficult in addition to our varying roles. So that our creativity would be maximized and our rest would last throughout the day.
- I am starting to become concerned about returning to school. I don’t want to be distracted while I am here but at the same time I need to acknowledge the inevitable.

Thank you so much!

I will try to blog again soon!