So during my 4 months at home I've not only been working but fund raising on the side. At the beginning when I sent my first newsletter out in May of this year. I was not doubtful that I would receieve all my funds but was ready to be pleasantly surprised when I did in fact receive all of my funds. I knew that God was big and powerful enough and that if He wanted me to go on internship...then I would go and have no problem raising the needed money. Well after months of newsletters, speaking engagements and prayers sent up. I am over joyed to say that I am at 100% and even more so! The Lord has provided so faithfully and abundantly. At times I was nervous and doubted but then I remembered who was in control and didn't worry anymore. I had a strong sense that it would all be o.k and my worrying about it would do no good. I'm so excited!
The plane tickets are bought and the money is all there. I am actually going to be flying out for Kenya Africa on January 16th! I am actually going! This is reality right here. It's just amazing looking back on the journey that has lead me to this time in my life. I can't wait to see what the Lord has for me in the future.
Please continue to pray for me and my team as we all spend our last Christmas with our family in the States. I know it's going to be hard for everyone to say goodbye. :) Thanks!
Love, Abby
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Looking into the eyes of a Child...
So during my four months home I've enjoyed many things but my favorite thing is being able to spend time with my 11 nieces and nephews and watch them grow up. I'm amazed how fast time goes and how the years past by. It feels like just yesterday that my 8 year old twin niece and nephew were born and I held them in my arms. After being gone for a whole year at BCOM I came back with a new perspective and a deeper understanding of how important my choices, attitudes and words impact a young child. Each time I spend time with my nieces or nephews I realize how much they look up to me and are watching what I do.A couple of Sunday's ago I was driving in the car with my oldest niece and my parents. We were on our way to church where I was scheduled to speak to share my plans and to seek support. While we were driving along my niece looked at me and said, " I wish we could be sisters." I have always been a favorite of this niece and since she was a baby she always wanted me above anyone else. Later on she asked me about why I was going to Africa and where it was and how long and what it'd be like. Then she said, " Aunt Abby...I want to grow up to be just like you someday!" It touched my heart and I just wanted to cry. I said I hoped she'd grow up to love God even more than I did. Through the rest of the car ride I just prayed to God that I would be a godly example to my nieces and nephews. That I would be someone who that when they did look up to me as an example tha
t it would point them to Christ.Later in that day I received a call from one of my teammates. She told me how her younger siblings were in Keepers of the faith and she spoke to the kids and shared what she was going to be doing. Each child decided to pick one of us Kenya team people and pray for them. One little girl picked me and wanted to pray for me. She told my teammate that she wanted to 'grow up to be just like me!' I was so touched that this unknown little girl would see a picture and hear about me and want to be like me.
Going over the weekends events I really felt like God was showing me what a huge example and impact my choices in life make on those younger than me. It truly does matter what I do with my life. We have a responsiblity to be godly examples to the next generation. To point the way to Christ, to live lives totally devoted to Him...to be recklessly abandoned in our love for Christ in the hopes that their love will exceed and outdo ours. I pray for this generation that they may grow in love and in the wisdom of God. I pray for our generation that we will rise up and take responsi
bility and take leadership and be mature godly people who will show the way for the little eyes looking up at us...Jesus loves the little children....He said let them come to me. I urge you to be an example to the little people around you wherever you are. The choices and the decisions you make matter. The sacrifices and the commitments that you make for God matter and will impact and lead the next generation. Lift Christ high in your lives and love him extravagantly so that the world may see...and so the little eyes may watch and learn and grow.
*Leaning on my Beloved*
Abby
(9/27/09, 11:25pm)
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
Which Road Will You Take? Standing at the edge of three paths...
Tonight while I was running...yes it's the same night that I listened to that song, it's been a really good day. I was on my last round and I suddenly stopped at the end of my driveway...
I looked to my left and I looked to my right, both were roads leading to different destinations. Then I looked forward where my house sat at the end of my long driveway illuminated by the night light.
I considered...the straight? Left? Right? Which way to go?
Either way I knew I was going to have to run to move down that road and that it'd be a long and hard last few steps since I'd already come gone so far.
My thoughts raced through my head as I pondered...connecting my present life and the choices I make and are going to be making into this dark summer nights run.
On my left: "Abby this is your life, this is your home...your friends (hypothetically speaking) are here. Join them in living a fulfilled life (in the worlds eyes) marriage or boyfriend, education, work, money, beauty. Stay here don't go far away...you can be happy being normal. It's your home you are comfortable here you know what's ahead of you. No surprises, no fear of the unknown, no immediate failure. Just stay..be content here."
On my Right: "Abby this represents your family your home. If you go far away, if you follow Christ, if you let Him lead you there's no turning back. You'll have to give them up. You're going to miss out on your nieces and nephews lives..your brothers marriage your sisters pregnancies and the birth of new little ones. How can you do it? How can you leave all that you love for something that is unseen? You must be crazy! You can't do it! Don't you love them? You're going to miss it all...everything you've known will never be the same if you follow the path God is leading you down. Run this way Abby! At this point I teared up...I was facing the reality even though it was all in my head that I would miss my family and their future if I recklessly clung to the Cross. But then...
I looked Straight: In front of me I saw a light and half of my house. I could see the end and it was light... I felt/heard the Lord say, "Will you chose Me? Abby come away with me. I knew that if I started down this road it would hurt. Going to Kenya is just the beginning, I feel of my journey to leaning on my Beloved. It's just the start. This road doesn't seem to be the smartest but Abby I'm here with you. I know it hurts to leave your family and friends behind but oh my child it's worth the prize and reward in the end...follow me."
I started to run...faster and faster down the road hearing 'it's going to be hard really hard but hold onto me, hold on to me Abby don't let go..run run run...hold onto me and you will reach your destination. It's going to hurt but I am with you...RUN!
So I ran..closer to the light and my home...when I reached the end I felt peace and joy because I knew I had chosen the right path.
---It's weird how this all happened, it was mostly in my head and yet it wasn't. I've constantly been praying for Kenya and my teammates and have recently realized the cost of choosing a life of a Missionary. God is birthing in me deeper love for Him along the way. I'm seeing that God doesn't need me to go to Africa..He wants me to go to Africa for Him. For me to join in what He's doing there. Understand that He's going to do it whether or not I go, He isn't dependent on us weak humans; But He chooses to invite us to share in his work in the nations so that we might share in his suffering and also share in his glory. Praise God.
So even though the road ahead is dark and uncharted, I see a light at the end because Christ is ' the light of my salvation and the stronghold of my life...whom shall I fear, what can men do to me!' (PSALM 27:1, paraphrased)
I will be 'Strong and Courageous..I will not dismay because the Lord my God is with me WHEREVER I go'..even the desert of Kenya, Africa. (Joshua 1:9, Paraphrased)
I looked to my left and I looked to my right, both were roads leading to different destinations. Then I looked forward where my house sat at the end of my long driveway illuminated by the night light.
I considered...the straight? Left? Right? Which way to go?
Either way I knew I was going to have to run to move down that road and that it'd be a long and hard last few steps since I'd already come gone so far.
My thoughts raced through my head as I pondered...connecting my present life and the choices I make and are going to be making into this dark summer nights run.
On my left: "Abby this is your life, this is your home...your friends (hypothetically speaking) are here. Join them in living a fulfilled life (in the worlds eyes) marriage or boyfriend, education, work, money, beauty. Stay here don't go far away...you can be happy being normal. It's your home you are comfortable here you know what's ahead of you. No surprises, no fear of the unknown, no immediate failure. Just stay..be content here."
On my Right: "Abby this represents your family your home. If you go far away, if you follow Christ, if you let Him lead you there's no turning back. You'll have to give them up. You're going to miss out on your nieces and nephews lives..your brothers marriage your sisters pregnancies and the birth of new little ones. How can you do it? How can you leave all that you love for something that is unseen? You must be crazy! You can't do it! Don't you love them? You're going to miss it all...everything you've known will never be the same if you follow the path God is leading you down. Run this way Abby! At this point I teared up...I was facing the reality even though it was all in my head that I would miss my family and their future if I recklessly clung to the Cross. But then...
I looked Straight: In front of me I saw a light and half of my house. I could see the end and it was light... I felt/heard the Lord say, "Will you chose Me? Abby come away with me. I knew that if I started down this road it would hurt. Going to Kenya is just the beginning, I feel of my journey to leaning on my Beloved. It's just the start. This road doesn't seem to be the smartest but Abby I'm here with you. I know it hurts to leave your family and friends behind but oh my child it's worth the prize and reward in the end...follow me."
I started to run...faster and faster down the road hearing 'it's going to be hard really hard but hold onto me, hold on to me Abby don't let go..run run run...hold onto me and you will reach your destination. It's going to hurt but I am with you...RUN!
So I ran..closer to the light and my home...when I reached the end I felt peace and joy because I knew I had chosen the right path.
---It's weird how this all happened, it was mostly in my head and yet it wasn't. I've constantly been praying for Kenya and my teammates and have recently realized the cost of choosing a life of a Missionary. God is birthing in me deeper love for Him along the way. I'm seeing that God doesn't need me to go to Africa..He wants me to go to Africa for Him. For me to join in what He's doing there. Understand that He's going to do it whether or not I go, He isn't dependent on us weak humans; But He chooses to invite us to share in his work in the nations so that we might share in his suffering and also share in his glory. Praise God.
So even though the road ahead is dark and uncharted, I see a light at the end because Christ is ' the light of my salvation and the stronghold of my life...whom shall I fear, what can men do to me!' (PSALM 27:1, paraphrased)
I will be 'Strong and Courageous..I will not dismay because the Lord my God is with me WHEREVER I go'..even the desert of Kenya, Africa. (Joshua 1:9, Paraphrased)
Abby Johnson~ (posted 8/26/09, 1:30am)
"Before the throne of God aboveI have a strong, a perfect plea:
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair, And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,Risen Son of God!
Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!
One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God"
Shane and Shane: "Before the Throne of God"
While I was running tonight I listened to this song and just jumped with joy! We have such a mighty and wonderful Father. I hope you enjoy the lyrics and let them sink deep, meditate on what Christ did for you and how much it cost Him.
A great High Priest, whose name is Love,Who ever lives and pleads for me.
My name is graven on his hands,
My name is written on his heart;I know that while in heaven he stands
No tongue can bid me thence depart
No tongue can bid me thence depart.
When Satan tempts me to despair, And tells me of the guilt within,
Upward I look, and see him there
Who made an end of all my sin.
Because a sinless Savior died,
My sinful soul is counted free;
For God, the Just, is satisfied
To look on Him and pardon me
To look on Him and pardon me
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Praise the One,Risen Son of God!
Behold him there, the risen Lamb
My perfect, spotless righteousness,
The great unchangeable I AM,
The King of glory and of grace!
One in himself, I cannot die
My soul is purchased by his blood
My life is hid with Christ on high,
With Christ, my Savior and my God
With Christ, my Savior and my God"
Shane and Shane: "Before the Throne of God"
While I was running tonight I listened to this song and just jumped with joy! We have such a mighty and wonderful Father. I hope you enjoy the lyrics and let them sink deep, meditate on what Christ did for you and how much it cost Him.
Monday, August 24, 2009
Thought Behind the Name...
Throughout the past couple of weeks God has been putting the Song of Solomon on my heart and in my head. During our last week at Bethany College of Missions our last class was taught by Nita Stiener on the Song of Solomon. Through this God opened my eyes to the beauty of His Son and to the extravagant love that He has for me. I began to see Jesus as a Bridegroom and the Church as His beloved Bride; even more personally to see myself as the Beloved and Cherished daughter of God.
My heart thrills at the thought and I find myself falling more in love with Jesus every time I read it. The Lord has revealed even more to me about this Love Song that I will talk about later in my blog.
I'm new at this so forgive me of any mistakes and oddities.
I encourage you if you haven't read the Song of Solomon to open your Bible today and ask the Holy Spirit to encounter you and reveal the love of God to you. Begin the Journey to see yourself as God sees you. We're all on a journey with God. He loves us, disciples us, sheilds and protects us...I know that the end of all the challenges I go through, His vision for me is that I might bloosom and come out of the desert as one who is Leaning on Her Beloved.
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on her Beloved?"
Song of Solomon 8:5
*Big thank you to Stephen Corbett for helping me come up with the title!*
My heart thrills at the thought and I find myself falling more in love with Jesus every time I read it. The Lord has revealed even more to me about this Love Song that I will talk about later in my blog.
I'm new at this so forgive me of any mistakes and oddities.
I encourage you if you haven't read the Song of Solomon to open your Bible today and ask the Holy Spirit to encounter you and reveal the love of God to you. Begin the Journey to see yourself as God sees you. We're all on a journey with God. He loves us, disciples us, sheilds and protects us...I know that the end of all the challenges I go through, His vision for me is that I might bloosom and come out of the desert as one who is Leaning on Her Beloved.
"Who is this coming up from the wilderness,
leaning on her Beloved?"
Song of Solomon 8:5
*Big thank you to Stephen Corbett for helping me come up with the title!*
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