The Five Major

Wow, can I just say I am so glad this semester is over. I feel like God was dealing with me in so many other areas that school was on the back-burner. But by the grace of God, I got through, and actually did pretty well. So to close up this semester I thought I'd share the five major things God taught me this semester apart from school. 


Here it goes:


1. We can do nothing apart from Christ. 
I cannot change someone, save someone, or make their life better, only God can. A few times this semester I found myself in a situation where I knew God had put someone in my life to reach for Christ, but I often found myself trying to make things happen out of my own power or guilt tripping myself when things didn't progress the way I would have liked them to (that brings us to #2). In all these situations I found myself in the position where all I could do is let go of the control I was trying to have and just be there ready for when God wanted to use me. 


John 15:4-5 "Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me. Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing."


2. We are on God's time, not ours. 
I'm the type of person who likes to know what's going on and when. But God definitely does not work that way. The friend I'm still talking to that I would have liked to take those next steps 2 months ago. The bad habit I would have liked to kick 4 months ago. The urge to go back to Haiti now! In all these things, I've learned God is in control, especially when it comes to timing. He knows so much more than I ever will and He sees the whole picture of all of our lives. So the smartest thing to do (even though its hard) is to trust in Him that things will happen when He has decided, in their prime time.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 "Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end."


3. God intended for us to do life together. 
God never meant us to go through life keeping our struggles and trials to ourselves and suffering in silence. He didn't intend for what He's doing in our lives to be kept secret either. It is vital that we are plugged into a group of believers that can support us in times of need, speak Truth into our lives, and slap us when we are about to do something stupid. You will be surprised how many other people end up getting set free when you open up and download. It's great to pray for each other, but Jesus didn't just sit around and pray for His disciples, He did life with them. He got up in their junk, called them out when needed, and built them up in Truth and love. 


Hebrews 10:24-25 "Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near."


4. We are in desperate need of God's grace everyday at every moment.
 As many times as I've failed this semester, said the wrong thing, did the wrong thing, or didn't do anything, I've learned that I am in absolute desperate need of God's grace at every moment. We are by nature sinners and will continue to sin day in and day out until we meet Jesus face to face. But PRASIE GOD that His mercies are new each day, that His grace is poured out in ABUNDANCE day in and day out. Don't get me wrong, this grace is not an excuse to sin, but a perpetual motion that guides us back to the cross of Christ, where we see the high cost of sin.


Lamentations 3:22-23 "Because of the Lord's faithful love we do not perish, for His mercies never end. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness!"


5. We are blessed beyond belief and that should result in gratitude and praise.
God has absolutely poured out so many blessings in my life. First off, I'm alive which means He's not done with me yet. He not only provides the necessities of life, but above and beyond. Going to Haiti this semester definitely turned my whole world upside down on this subject. I realized that even as a 19 year old, I have more than about half the world does. For example, I have a car with heat and air and even music. Half the people in the world don't have heat or air in their homes, or electricity or a home at all if you want to be honest. God has blessed us abundantly, but we should never allow this to lead us into the feeling that we are entitled to it all. Every blessing God pours out should return to Him in praise and thanksgiving, and also in service to others. Because if you want to talk about entitlement and what we deserve, well I don't think you want to go there. Because what we deserve is a life separated from God, a life in hell. We deserve the wrath and judgement of God. We don't even deserve to be alive!


Ephesians 3:20-21: "Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever."

Rooted

It's that time of year again. The cold weather, the stress of the end of the semester, exams, papers, the hectic holiday shopping all call for a burn out sooner or later. For many Christians it's the time of compromise. I can gain an extra hour of study time (or sleep) instead of reading my Bible. I can get the extra hours at work if I miss small group. The list goes on and I think we can all say we've been there. What I've been realizing though is that we don't have time not to. We don't have time not to read our Bible, for it's what directs us in life. We don't have time not to pray, for this is how our hearts mold to God's will. We don't have time not to gather together to grow in community, for God didn't call us to do life alone.


I've also come to realize that this isn't so much a time problem as it is a heart problem. The second part of Romans 11:16 says "if the root is holy, so are the branches." Our root is our heart. Jesus has given us a heart transplant and we have to take the responsibility to keep our hearts rooted in Him. Just as this verse says, if our root is holy, that is if our hearts are pure in Christ, so are the branches, everything that flows from our hearts. So you see, its not a time problem, its a root problem. If we keep our hearts focused on Him and keep Him in the center of our heart, everything that flows from it will be kept holy as well. We'll think twice in those moments of compromise, we'll think twice about being quick to get agitated and annoyed, and we wont be as likely to end up in a burn out.


It's that stressful time of year, but remember we don't have time not to keep our hearts rooted. Let all else flow from that be holy and pleasing to Him who is the root of all things. 

Not One Left Behind

I have learned that my expectations are too small, even insulting to God, if I may say myself. God blew my mind at the 1st Annual Orphan Care Coffee House this past Thursday. This event was a fundraising coffee house to raise money for Canaan Christian Community and the Clopton Family who is adopting a child from Ghana. It was also a major push to bring about awareness of the orphan problem worldwide and to provide opportunities to get involved.

 I was put in charge of running the Canaan section for the night, which I was more than happy to take on! I love talking about what God is doing there! But more particular that night I was given the opportunity to step out in faith with a vision that God had given me; to love on the kids of Canaan and provide Christ-like examples and relationships to them, even if from a distance. After about two months in prayer and working out logistical issues, it was game time.

I had all 40 of the older kid's pictures and 40 commitment cards in hope that people would commit to pray and connect with a child at Canaan. I'm not going to lie, I had no clue what the out turn was going to be. I was scared that not even one child would get picked. But that quickly got disproved. As the night went on, more and more people made decisions to commit to a child. I saw the number of pictures on the table get smaller and smaller by the hour. 

It was 11pm, the closing time of the coffee house, and I still had 8 Canaan kids left. I started panicking and praying, "Lord, don't let one child be left! These are Your precious and chosen children!" As people left, four of the eight had people commit to them. We started breaking down and packing up, but for some reason I could not put those 4 pictures that we're left away. And as always God kept telling me, "trust me". I can't even begin to tell you how many times I debated it in my head, "Let's call it a night..", "No! None of them is being left!", and back and forth, back and forth.

By around 11:15pm all but one was left. I turned around to grab the rest of my stuff to call it a night and sure enough God provided. A girl came running over, "Are there still any Canaan children left!? I want to pray for and write to one!" I honestly had to hold back tears, but I definitely didn't hold back my excitement. Good thing that didn't scare her off!

So here I am, Sunday night, reflecting on God's awesome and unexplainable faithfulness. His ability to see us through in any and every aspect of our lives is truly amazing. My memory verse this week, was right on point for this occasion (of course, God always works it out like that!). Psalm 37:5 says "Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him and He will act." 

And boy did He act!

Kid's pictures

Getting to talk about what God is doing at Canaan!

A Faithful God

It was a FAITHFUL God who didn't give up on a FAITHLESS Adam and Eve even after they disobeyed Him and rebelled against Him. 

It was a FAITHFUL God who found a faithful man named Noah when the entire human race was FAITHLESS and turned away from Him, but He chose to preserve humanity because He loved humanity and was a FAITHFUL God. 

It was a FAITHFUL God who found a FAITHLESS man named Abraham and chose and called him and out of him brought about a nation that outnumbered the starts.

It was a FAITHFUL God who raised up a  man named Joseph and allowed him to be betrayed by his brothers, thrown into prison so that he could eventually be brought out of prison and preserve the nation of Israel and Egypt in a time of famine.

It was a FAITHFUL God who found a man named Moses to bring His people out of cruel Egyptian bondage and slavery. 

It was a FAITHFUL God who raised up a new leader named Joshua when the FAITHLESS generation refused to enter the promised land and died off in the wilderness and FAITHFULLY brought them into a land called Canaan. 

It was a FAITHFUL God who raised up judges to deliver the people of Israel through the centuries as they sinned against Him and did what was right in their own eyes but FAITHFULLY when they cried to Him, He heard them and delivered them.

It was a FAITHFUL God who raised up a faithful shepherd boy named David who nobody else was even considering was next in line for the kingship to replace a FAITHLESS king named Saul to lead His FAITHLESS people of Israel into the FAITHFUL promises of God.

It was a FAITHFUL God who out of that lineage of King David brought the FAITHFUL One, Jesus Christ, to rescues His people from their sins.

It was a FAITHFUL God who reached down in compassion and love exactly one year ago today and saved me from myself.

It was a FAITHFUL God who took my broken life, broken heart, and broken dream and brought about peace, hope, and joy.

It was a FAITHFUL God who two days later sovereignly placed me at the church with a faithful pastor who told me that God wasn't done with me yet and that He could and would do immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine.

It was a FAITHFUL God who used my FAITHLESS past to speak Truth into peoples lives, bring encouragement in times of despair, and the message of hope and redemption in Christ.

It was a FAITHFUL God who led me to leave my dream school, who FAITHFULLY led me away from that idol and into His plan of so much more.

It was a FAITHFUL God who led me to seminary to show me that I was not at all normal and that He had called me and grown me in such a unique way.

It was a FAITHFUL God who stood by my side in times of stripping and suffering and who is FAITHFULLY seeing me through in the process of sanctification.

It was a FAITHFUL God who not only calls me a daughter, but allows me to participate in advancing His Kingdom and making Jesus known.

It was a FAITHFUL God who led me to Haiti a little more than a month ago and through that is continually laying out the strategy of achieving His plan and purposes for my life.

It is a FAITHFUL God who stands by me day in and day out.

 A FAITHFUL God who loves me in my mess. 

A FAITHFUL God who comforts me in my sorrow. 

A FAITHFUL God who forgives my mistakes. 

A FAITHFUL God who calls me to something bigger. 

A FAITHFUL God who continues to blow my mind with His grace and mercy. 

A FAITHFUL God who I put all my hope and trust in. 

A FAITHFUL God I will follow, even if it leads to the cross. 

He is FAITHFUL. 

He has always seen me through. He is my rock, my life, my everything.

One year has blown my mind. God keeps saying "You think that was crazy, you just wait."

Buckle up and hold on tight because here comes round two.

Reflections from Haiti

Everything looks the same, yet none of it actually is the same anymore. I walk the sidewalks of campus and I see the same landscape as always, yet in my mind I see the dirt and ruble of the streets of Haiti. I see kids riding their bikes around campus, yet in my mind I see the kids of Canaan playing with a dilapidated soccer ball. It has been almost a month since returning from Haiti and I still cannot say that I have fully processed it. I question if I will ever fully process what God did in my heart and life that week. While I know that God still has much to do in my heart from Haiti, I do know that in just these short weeks He has shown me and grown me more than I could have ever expected. Before leaving, I knew that God was going to use this trip as a growing point in my life, but I could have never imagined something to this extent. I never imaged He would do something so great in my heart that it continues to stay with me day by day and even moment by moment.

God first and foremost grew my ability to love in a way I never even thought possible. I absolutely fell in love with each and every child of Canaan. While I thought it would be us coming to show these kids what love is, it ended up being these kids showing me what love is. Their ability to love complete strangers continues to remind me to this day of the kind of love Jesus showed to people in the Bible. As each day passed my love for them grew more and more by each second. I cannot remember loving anyone like I love these kids. I honestly want to say that my love for them is as close to unconditional as our human condition allows. There was no judgment in this love, no selfish motives, no jealously or pride, just pure overflowing love. Coming back to the States opened my eyes to see how blessed these kids are to know and have that kind of love. I realized that our society is incredibly rampant with prejudice love. This realization continues to challenge me to “love like I loved in Haiti.”

This leads me into one of the biggest things God taught me and continues to remind me of everyday. I struggled so much during the week, feeling like I didn’t even have enough love to give. I wanted to love them so much more, for the rest of my entire life. Yet, I felt like I didn’t have any more love to possibly give. This is when God brought me to such a greater understanding of Himself. I was right; I couldn’t love them to the fullest, because only God can love them to the fullest. I struggled with leaving these kids in so much need, yet God kept telling me, “I am the only One who can provide for them in every need.” I struggled with letting them go, leaving them, yet God kept reminding me, “you may leave them, but I never will.” In every aspect that I leave deficient, God completes. While it is our job to be light to this world and to show Christ through our lives, it is God who will complete all things and who will fully fulfill every one of our lives.

God taught me so many lessons about life while in Haiti. The one that hit the hardest hit the second day we got home in the oddest way. While washing dishes, the baby seal on the Dawn dish soap bottle caught my eye like never before. In that moment God unleashed a whole dissertation through a baby seal and some dish soap. I realized how careless and apathetic we, especially in American society, are for other humans. We are willing to throw millions of dollars to help baby seals and wildlife while so many people are dying of starvation and preventable diseases all over the world. Our pets in America eat better than about half of the world’s human beings. Don’t get me wrong, I love animals and think that we should be good stewards of creation and what God has provided. But I must say that our priorities are insanely out of balance. In Genesis chapters one and five we see that we, as human beings, are made in the “image” and “likeness” of God! What kind of extraordinary value does that place on us?! Shouldn’t that push us to risk it all for the sake of others? Shouldn’t it challenge us to put our efforts and blessings into helping our brothers and sisters across the world? This single dish soap dissertation has changed my entire outlook on life. It has challenged and provoked me to pour out every ounce of my life for the sake of God’s people, just as Christ did for us.

God continues to use my experiences in Haiti to teach me so much every day. Just recently, He has been continuing to show me the power of the Body, joined as nations, unified in prayer and worship of our Savior. I got news a few weeks ago about a little baby boy, Chevy, that stole my heart in Haiti. He was fighting for his life and the people of Canaan were in an urgent rush to get him help, as we all know is twice as hard to do in Haiti. My heart broke, and my urgency to help little Chevy was in overdrive. I had no clue what to do; my heart was in Haiti, yet I was in America. The only thing I could think to do was pray. I left my dorm room on a mission, to gather any and everyone to pray for this baby. That night was only the start of a huge lesson of God’s power to move and unify the nations. During the past two weeks of following update by update, I have seen hundreds, literally hundreds, here at Southeastern, my friends from all over, and people I barely even know stand together in prayer for baby Chevy and the people of Canaan. I can’t remember any other time I have seen more prayer meetings go down, any other time I have seen broke college kids pull together and give generously for the sake of someone they didn’t even know, or any other time I have seen the urgency and unity of the Body from all over stand together asking God for the impossible. It has absolutely blown my mind and continues to this very second. What a mighty God we have. A God that is not bound my borders, languages, or cultures; a God that unites all under Him.

There is so much that I could go on to say, so many things God continues to teach me. I am so grateful for the opportunity to have gone on this trip, to see a team so unified for the sake of outpouring Christ’s love on a community, to see how incredibly spiritually rich these people with so little are, and to see the nations come together as one. I can only imagine what God has in store for me next as a result of what happened in Haiti. Lord willing, I will soon return to retain my heart that was left in Haiti from the start, even though it will probably end up staying there again.

Haiti Journal: Return to the States

Oct.10, 2010

The first day back in America. Everything seems the same, yet none of it’s the same anymore. Seeing what we have in light of what so many don’t. it is really challenging me to be a better steward of what God has given me. Simple things like clean water in a matter of seconds, where as in Haiti it would take hours to fill one bucket through a drip filtration system, and only less than 1% of the population even have that. Things like paved roads and transportation, where as in Haiti the majority of people have to walk miles and hours on end up and down mountains, most having no shoes, just to get water that isn’t even clean. I’ve been struggling, I really have. How can I come back to show much when so many have so little? I want to go back so bad, right now. But God has been speaking and I know I will go back, when and for how long I have no clue, but I do know that right now I am here, back in America. So what am I going to do with what God has taught me and allowed me to experience? How will my life change? How can I use every single thing from this week for His glory in the states? Being grateful first and foremost, being a better steward obviously. But how can I live my life in a way that reflects what I have learned and more importantly reflects the story God wrote in my life this week? I haven’t felt like talking much to anyone. Should I? Or should I just start living my life in a way that speaks for itself? I walk outside and everything seems the same, yet in mind all I see are the dirt and ruble. I pass some kids riding their bikes, yet in my mind I see my kids back in Haiti playing with rocks or trash. The simplicity, the contentment of those with so little. How can I bring that glimpse of heaven God showed me in Haiti here?

Polo playing in the rocks.

Home truly is where the heart is

and I definitely left mine in Haiti.

Haiti Journal: Day 5

Oct. 8, 2010

I’m so broken yet so overjoyed all at the same time. My heart yearns for these kids like nothing I have never felt before. I want them to know how much they are loved, not only by me, but most of all by Jesus. We got to take the kids to the beach today. It was absolutely amazing and they had such a blast! I realized how blessed these kids at Canaan actually are. After hiking though the villages this morning I really do see that these kids are extremely blessed in Haiti terms. They have food, water, shelter, are able to attend school, and just enjoy a day at the beach. I don’t know how I’m going to adjust back in the States. God, would you use this brokenness to start a rival back home. Something, anything. And would you move people to advance the Gospel here in Haiti. I have such a heart for these people, such a heart to love in so many greater ways because of this experience. I thank You and praise You for that. Would I never forget the work you did in my heart and others this week and would you help me to use it daily for the Gospel and advancing Your Kingdom. I really did learn how to love about as close to unconditionally as I think humanly possible this week. I have such a greater appreciation for the blessings God has given to me. The simplest things like regular cars with seats or access to transportation in general, a sink that allows me to have access to clean water in seconds, and so many other things. These Haitians have to work so hard for every aspect of survival. God, I just thank you so much for this opportunity. Would you use every aspect for Your glory. Don’t let any go to waste.

I trained up some skilled sand castle builders.

 

Some of the team and kids taking a break.

Haiti Journal: Day 4

Oct. 7, 2010

I can’t believe we only have one full day left. Ronnie and I finished the admin office. It looks a million times better and will now hopefully be able to function well and fast. I got to spend some real quality time with the girls today. I love them all so much and I see just how much they long to be loved, to have someone always ready to give a hug or even acknowledge them. They told me once again how much they didn’t want me to go. They said they were going to cry when I left. I think I’m definitely going to beat them in that category. I asked Seth, our leader, if I could write them and he said yes, so I am really hoping that I actually will be able to that they will be able to write back. I also learned there is a group coming down during Spring Break, I think. I’m definitely going to look into that. These kids deserve so much more than just a week to be loved on. We got pretty much all of the painting done at the new clinic and it is looking awesome! While we were down there painting tonight we got to stop and just admire the Milky Way. Yes, you can actually see the Milky Way! There are so many stars down here. Its almost like there are more stars than there is darkness. Wouldn’t it be awesome if we would be like that to the world! We also got to see the sunset over the long stretches of ocean. It’s absolutely breathtaking. I love how the simplest moments mean so much. I love how life is so simple here. These people truly are blessed and a lot richer than we will ever be in so many ways. To not be consumed in material items and the hustle and bustle of a success drive society. I would die for people in America to spend just one day here in a place where there is so little, where you have to put hours of work into getting anything done. I pray that these kids would grow up to be world changers. To fall so in love with Jesus that the overflow can’t be contained. That it would spread through this community, this country, and the world. 

Pray for Baby Chevy

Just got news that one of my kids in Haiti is very very sick. He has numerous doctors on him currently but is getting progressively worse. Please pray RIGHT NOW, gather everyone you know and pray pray pray. Thank you! 

From Kendall: Please pray for Chibleson (Chevy) he is very sick and we are having to put him on an I.V...we're not sure what he has but we have four nurses and a doctor working on him right now. Just pray pleeeaaase.

From Elsie: Pray for Chevy! He got sick last night and is getting progressively worse. Vomits everything, fever, too dehydrated for IVs, getting lethargic. Pray the last sublingual medicine will kick in so he can start keeping down fluids. Tomorrow he goes for more tests.

Robby and Chevy

Me and Chevy

Haiti Journal: Day 3

Oct. 6, 2010

I didn’t get to spend as much time with the kids today but we got a TON of work done. Me and two other teammates, Ronnie and Steve, cleaned out and half way organized the admin part of the school.  I am hoping that this task will benefit the school in a mighty way. One of the teachers said that some of the kids just sit there without anything to do because they can’t find neither next PACES (the workbooks they use as curriculum). I also got to help paint the new medical clinic. It is such an addiction and is going to be such a blessing to this whole community. So today was definitely a lesson in being a servant. A humbled and willing servant, being willing to jump in at any task at any moment and give it your all. We got to see the sunset over the ocean. It is absolutely a testimony to God’s beautiful hand. I hate that pictures and video can never do the real view justice. I really go to know some people on the team a lot better today and it is so exciting to see so many willing servants. This team is definitely shinning God’s light into a dark world. I shared an amazing moment with a little baby girl today. I am apparently a pro at putting babies to sleep because she was out in 2 minutes solid. These kids are so adorable and the moments spent with them are even more precious! It is still so hard for me to see these kids as orphans. I feel like we’re at camp or something. But then I get back to our room and it hits me. These kids don’t get to leave. Most of these kids don’t have moms and dads or family. These kids will probably NEVER see our side of the world, will never see things we see every single day. It’s going to be hard to go home. I want to love these kids more than anyone or anything I’ve ever loved. Haiti is seriously a glimpse of heaven and I can’t begin to wrap my mind around it. It is a glimpse of absolute faith, unity, and love. Watching these pastors and Haitians worship is truly a blessing to my own heart. Seeing the extent of joy these people have and just imagining how much God has worked in their lives blows me away. That God moves through borders, languages, and cultures truly shows just how awesome and mighty our God is. He is truly MIGHT TO SAVE. 

Haitian sunset

So precious! She was knocked out cold.

Haiti Journal: Day 2

Oct. 5, 2010

I have lost my heart to these kids, straight up. Their ability to love absolute complete strangers truly reminds me of the kind of love Jesus showed to people in the Bible. The school here absolutely blew my mind! I was totally not expecting it to be so nice and structured, and above and beyond so focused on Christ. I think these kids have more Scripture memorized than most kids in America have even read. I taught some kids how to multiply two digit numbers today. It’s funny how we take for granted all the little “tricks” and catchy sayings or songs we learn in America to help us with things like this. It was so awesome teaching them some of these tricks; to see these kids actually getting it and seeing something that was once a struggle suddenly turn into a joyful success. My heart breaks and overflows all at once when I look at these kids. I want to love them to the fullest every single day for the rest of my life. Even thinking about leaving them here and the chance of never seeing them again is almost unbearable.  One of my girls today, Chama, was already begging me not to go, and its only day two! Yesterday she was telling me about how she didn’t have any brothers or sisters. I looked right at her and told her, “Yes you do! I am your sister!” One of my teammates, Andrew, was near us and he became her brother as well. Today she would ask where her brother was or call for me, her sister, to go play or swing with her. I think I have lifted more weight in picking up kids today than I have ever lifted combined in my entire life. It was well worth it though. There is nothing more I would rather do than help these kids swing on money bars, catch them out of the slides, or swing them around in the air. I wish I could capture these moments and replay them forever. We worshiped with all the kids, the 40 Haitian pastors here for training, and all the staff tonight. It truly was a glimpse of heaven seeing and hearing these people pouring out their hearts in worship in their own language and expressions. I get chill bumps every time. I can’t even put into words the feeling of seeing the Body unite like this, even us being only a 150 or so strong. God is flipping my world upside down and I have no idea where or what it’s going to lead to. 

Pictures of the school

My sister, Chama

Haiti Journal: Day 1

The trip to Haiti was absolutely amazing! It has rocked my world in so many ways. I know that many people are wanting to hear all about it, but right now I feel so overwhelmed with processing what happened this week and seeking the next steps that I haven't been very talkative. So I've decided to post my journal entries from this past week on my blog. They will be coming either everyday or every other, so stay tuned. Please keep in prayer the people of Haiti and also myself and the process of God laying out what the next steps are in my life as a result of the work in Haiti. I love you all.

Oct. 4, 2010

First day and soon to be first night in Haiti. It was an early start this morning at 3am and although it’s only about 9pm it feels and looks like it is well into the night. The orphanage is absolutely amazing. After the drive through Port-au-Prince and surrounding villages, this place really does seem like heaven on earth compared to the tragedy we passed. There were mountains full of tent after tent. The mountains were practically all blue and white, the color of all the crammed tents that covered every square inch. It was so surreal. It was like what you were seeing wasn’t even registering or couldn’t even begin to register in your brain. To even try to imagine the amount of struggle and hardship these people face every single day is practically impossible. They have been posted up in “tent cities” ever since the earthquake, almost a year ago. They wander by day, leaving their tents because of the unbearable heat, but having nowhere to go during the day because everything is gone. I cannot even begin to try to grasp it. I guess you can say that I’m still in culture shock. These kids here at Canaan Orphanage are amazing! They are shy at first but within minutes they will be hand in hand with you pulling you off for a game of soccer. I cannot even begin to express the feelings and joy it brings to see them smile and hear them laugh. These are kids that have seen nothing but rejection. Their parents don’t want them or either can’t take care of them. Many don’t even have parents, some due to the earthquake. Yet in just these small moments to see them filled with so much joy, with not a care in the world or a hurt in sight, it truly is like seeing a glimpse of heaven. I haven’t cried yet like I expected. I think because in so many ways I see how these people are so much richer than we will ever be. They know what real faith is; trusting that God will provide even in so much devastation, even in times that look like there is no hope to ever get back up again. I see God moving in so many ways here and it excites me. While I know that He has yet to even begin to bring about His exceeding glory in this nation, I can’t hold back in shouting for joy for those little sparks of a coming revival.  God is uniting His people under Him in a might way, as one, all nations, all people.  God, would you open my eyes and help me to grow in faith like the people of Haiti. Help me to trust You even in the utter worst of times.

Tent cities in Port-au-Prince

Off to Haiti

Tomorrow morning bright and early me and a team of 40 others will make our way to Canaan Orphanage. The orphanage, located in Montrouis, Haiti, is home to over 100 children. We have 7 different teams (medical, dental, work, kitchen, kids, media, and pastoral team) that will make up this trip. I think one of the most exciting things is our pastoral team who will be training 30 pastors from the poorest parts of Haiti in theology and biblical studies. What an awesome way for the Gospel to continue to go forth in a bigger and better way. I am on the kids team and will have the honor of tutoring some of the kids in the morning and running games and activities for them the rest of the day. We even have a beach trip planned for them on Friday, that means no school for them! I'm so excited to spoil these kids, even if its just for a week. 

I would like to thank all my Elevators and other sponsors. You guys absolutely amaze me and God has already used you to do a mighty work in my heart. Your generosity is about to change lives this week! I'm excited to share in this experience with you and be sure you keep a lookout for pictures! I love you all. 

I cannot even begin to imagine all the ways God is going to move this week. What an extraordinary privilege it is to not only be a child of God, but to be able to participate in advancing the Kingdom, especially in places of such devastation like Haiti. Let us never forget that Christ is worthy of our everything. Every ounce of our lives. And let us not forget about the billions of people who are so much less fortunate than us. Those who don't even have food, clean drinking water, or shelter. Those who have lost everything, including their families and even their hope. Let our overflow of God's grace fill these people's lives to the extreme, in our communities and across the world. 

Haiti - Canaan Orphanage Malnutrition Initative from andrew hudson on Vimeo.

One of the few ways God is using Canaan. 

Stay the Course

Recently I've been traveling on a lot of highways and freeways. Trips home, to conferences, and even to work I've found myself in the midst of such fast paced people. I have to admit I like to get where I'm going fast as well. I'm not a big fan of driving. I use to be straight out scared of changing lanes, but now I find myself doing it more often. And let me tell you I just love when you change lanes excepting to get around some slow cars and then the lane you change into ends up getting passed by the lane you were just in. It makes me feel pretty retarded and I wonder if the cars I passed for all of 3 seconds are thinking, "All that hustle for nothing, kid needs some patience."


After this happened to me time after time it finally just hit me, I'd probably do better just staying in my lane, staying the course, instead of all this back and forth rat race stuff. And then, as always, God spoke. (Sorry I know thats an abrupt transition, but just stick with me.)


If we would just stay the course and quit changing lanes in following God and His plans for our life, we would probably save ourselves a lot of time and effort. So many times I find myself so set on what I know God has spoken for me to do but within a few weeks its dwindled down and just added to the list of things I know I'm suppose to do. I get so distracted by getting off course, by letting other things take priority over the main thing I should be focusing on. Or brace yourself for this one, letting other people talk me down or out of what God sovereignly spoke.


1st Corinthians 15:58 says "Stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted." The Bible says don't let anything get you off course, don't let anything move you from the course God has you on. Life gets complicated, trust me I know. But in those times when so many other concerns are arising and pushing us to change lanes, stand strong and stay the course no matter how hard it is. He promises us that our work in Him is never wasted. So do what Jesus told you to do, not what other people are suggesting! Stay in His lane, not the worlds, not the lane of distractions or opinions.


Stay the course! Stay in His lane and His alone.

Relentless Pursuit

Lately I feel that God has been hitting on the same subject over and over again. This post is going to be pretty straight forward because I know that I need to set some things straight. About a month ago I was extremely convicted and knew that God had given me a message to speak into the people around me. Due to some things going on in my life I felt that I didn't have the right to speak this to the people God had called me to speak it to. A month later here I am, in one of the biggest spiritual funks I have ever been in and I know exactly why. Delayed disobedience is direct disobedience. I know that if I would have just stepped out of my comfort zone and trusted that He would use what He told me to say exactly how He wanted a lot of negative things that have happened lately would not have happened. So first and foremost I would like to apologize to you all, especially my Lolley girls. 

Romans 13:11-14 says "It is now time for you to wake up from your sleep, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is almost finished, and the day is almost here. So we should stop doing things that belong to darkness and take up the weapons used for fighting in the light. Let us live in a right way, like people who belong to the day. We should no have wild parties or get drunk. There should be no sexual sins of any kind, no fighting or jealousy. But clothe yourself with the Lord Jesus Christ and forget about satisfying your sinful self."

God broke me completely through this passage. The simple fact is we do not know when Jesus is coming back. He could come in five minutes, tomorrow, a year, or 100 years. Because we don't know, we should live our lives so on fire for God as if He were coming back in minutes. We do not have time to waste. There are too many helpless and hurting, lost and broken people. Jesus paid a cost too high for us to waste time and make excuses for not making His name known! 

Every single moment of our lives should present the Gospel, should shout Jesus boldly and loudly! EVERY. SINGLE. SECOND. Period, no excuses. I am preaching to myself just as much as anyone else when I say this. If we truly believe the Gospel, if we truly know the value of eternity, we need to get serious, we need to urgent. That crap that is coming out of my mouth and your mouth, nailed Jesus to the cross. If a lost person came into our dorm could he/she know there was something uniquely different by how we present ourselves or by our conversations? Is every single action, every single word coming out of our mouth glorifying Christ? If it's not, which I think is where a lot of us are, including myself, I think we need to take a step back and realize the high calling of Jesus Christ in our lives. He demands radical obedience at every waking moment. He demands us to take the hard roads, to have the hard conversations, to step out of our comfort zones. He demands and DESERVES every single ounce of our lives!!! Please get this. We do not have time to waste if Jesus could come back in seconds. That person you walked by is now on an eternal road separated from Jesus Christ because he was passed by. The girl that you hears you gossip is now eternally confused about how a so called Christian really lives their life and now has confirmed what apparent little different He makes just from those few words of trash. This is not a hate fest. I am just as guilty, if not more. 

This has to stop RIGHT NOW. I am asking you, begging you, to join me in keeping each other accountable. Your relationship problems can wait, your social life can wait, your friendship drama can wait, THE GOSPEL CANNOT.

We should be in such a relentless pursuit of Christ that all the shouts and lures from from world are only blurs.  We are on mission at every single second. The most important and highest mission we should ever imagine. Lets get busy.

Lord, may we NEVER get complacent in our lives. May we NEVER get comfortable because we know that You sure as heck were not comfortable on the cross. Lord, I truly believe that if this generation would cling to you in such a radical way and would strip ourselves of every single thing that does not glorify You, I truly believe that we could see the world, every single person, come back to You. Call me crazy, I am choosing to trust, I am choosing to believe that my God is a God of the impossible. 

Please, join me. He cannot wait. 

Coming to Pass

This week and especially this weekend has absolutely blown my mind. God has been moving in an incredible way. I am humbled, grateful, and inspired. Several things came to pass this week and I can't withhold from sharing them with you all! I feel like it has been a continual cycle of unending blessings this week. God is so faithful, so persistent. If you are trusting in God to bring something to pass, continue to keep trusting Him. He will fulfill His promises! Always.

First off, God confirmed and laid down some solid vision in my life earlier on this week. I have a pretty good picture of His purpose for my life and the specific people group I am called to reach.  As I look back I see how God spoke this so many times into my life, but for some reason I just kept on questioning. I'm extremely excited and grateful God slapped in my face and woke me up to realize what was right in front of me. I have fully committed my life to reaching these people for the glory of God. Unless God stops me dead in my tracks I will recklessly abandon all to see these people have life in Christ. 

Something I am extremely thankful for this week was finding out that one of my friends has found true life in Christ. Her life is turning around and she is finding joy in Christ alone. She has recently plugged into a community group and I am so thankful she has people surrounding her that can speak Truth into her life! God will continue to come through for you!

We released our new album Kingdom Come this weekend. We gave out somewhere around 8,000 FREE copies (I think). It officially release on iTunes on Tuesday and 100% of proceeds are going to Samaritans Purse for a project called Turn on the Tap. It supplies water filtration system to people in Uganda that do not have access to clean water. As we celebrated how God has moved in our church this weekend, I absolutely broke. I'm so humbled to be a part of such a great move of God. He is using Elevation to reach this city, this state, churches worldwide, and even to the ends of the earth in places like Uganda.

I got to catch up with a friend from VMI last night and found out some news worth shouting about. I brought her to Elevation numerous times this summer and God used it to absolutely change her life and set her on fire. She recently shared some of Pastor Steven's Sun Stand Still stuff to the chaplain there. He got so pumped out and told her to send it out to everyone. People's lives are getting rocked by the message of audacious faith. Praying for a revival at VMI! Can't wait to see God blow that place up for His glory!

Today I got to hang out with my homeless friend, Richard (you can read about him here). I haven't seen him around in a while and found out today that he has been in the hospital with pneumonia. He is back on his feet and even has a job interview on Tuesday!

I am so unworthy to be apart of advancing the Kingdom in such a way of all of this, yet God is so loving to allow us to participate in an incredible journey with Him. I couldn't imagine using every ounce of me for anything better than making Jesus known. Sometimes it's hard to trust God when everything around you is falling apart. But know that things will come to pass in His time! Isaiah 55:11 says "So shall My word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to Me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Cling to that Truth with everything you have! We serve a BIG God that is capable of bringing to pass in the unthinkable and the impossible.