When Life Gives You Lemons [And You Hate Lemonade]

{By Hailey Sadler}
Your parents warn you about it from an early age.

You get the inkling that it might actually be true, when certain things happen – like your sibling getting way better stuff on Christmas or your friend landing the main part in the play, even though your audition was [objectively, of course] far better.

Then you grow up [some]; reality hits and it hits hard. There’s someone you love. And they die. There’s something you want really, really badly and work like a maniac for. And you don’t get it. You fail. Someone who lied and cheated wins in your place. There’s a dream you have. And it fades away, far out of your reach. There’s something you prayed for with all your heart. And it doesn’t happen. Life isn't fair.

Why?? I can honestly say that I do not know. You can shake your fist in the face of heaven or you can lie on the ground in broken subjection, crying out for a reason; you can become bitter, cynical, and decide it’s not worth loving, trying, dreaming, or praying when confronted with the bald fact that so much in life is wrong and messed up and unjust. For no apparent reason. Sometimes it seems as if that is what bothers us most. We cry out for a why, a reason in the face of the pointless pain, a thread of purpose interwoven throughout the appalling unfairness of it all. We can bear it, as long as we can believe there is a master plan behind it all, making it somehow worthwhile.

That is the other option. You can trust.

It’s not exactly something I am naturally good at. If it tells you anything, I was the child who would not stand up on the picnic table and fall backwards into the scrawny arms of her Sunday School class. Just not going to do that, sorry. It is still hard – I want reasons, I want logic, I want some sort of guarantee that I won’t be hurt if I trust [that I won’t end up with my back on the ground and my Sunday school group chorusing, “oops!”]… which defeats the purpose of trusting, I guess. But what we have to realize is, trust is not about who we are. It’s about who God is. Trust your life on who He is,  and along the way you will find that He takes away the frustration and disappointment and in its place, gives peace. Illogical, unreasonable peace that passes all understanding.

Choosing to trust is more of a journey than a destination. I know because I am still on my own journey, a journey to reconcile the two undeniable facts I see around me:

That life is terribly, terribly unfair.

 And God is terribly, terribly good.

Things don’t always make sense, and to my mind, grasping for logic, that can be hard to accept. But God is good. And someday, when the veil of mortality and constraints of time and place are torn away, and we get to glimpse this world and these lives from His vantage point,  we will suddenly be able to comprehend the reconciliation of those to facts and see how perfect His purpose was all along.

Until then, trust. You don’t have to understand it all. It won’t all make sense. But that’s ok. If you knew every reason why, it would no longer be trusting. ;)

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Treasures in the Desert

{By Samantha Roose}

Recently, I have been reading “Hinds Feet on High Places.”  It’s a story of lame little Much-Afraid’s journey of faith in the Shepherd.  Shepherd has promised to take her to the High Places and on the way give her the feet of a deer.  After traveling several days the path turns, taking Much-Afraid down into a desert dashing her hopes—Shepherd had promised to take her to the High Places!  Exploring this book, yet again, I have found many similarities to my own journey with my Lord and Shepherd. 


The Lord has been revealing to me how much of my identity I find in having control (which is, I’m afraid, quite a bit).  Faithfully and gently, He has been bringing me to a spot of humble surrender, trust and reliance to Him.  It's hard because, like Much-Afraid, I feel that God is taking me down into a desert valley when He had promised that He would take me up.  I cannot see how this scorching plain with a few random and awkward pyramids is taking me to the promised place.  I can't see the end of this desolate and uncomfortable path.  Everything within me wants to run up the precipice despite the jagged impossibilities.  My heart cries and I wonder how long I can continue to look this way. 

It's then that He takes my hand and promises that this is not contradicting His promise in the slightest way.  How could someone as faithful as He go back on His word?  No, it is merely a postponement to teach me what I would otherwise be ignorant of forever.  Although my heart shrinks from this indefinite postponement, something within me breaks and I hear myself saying, "I will follow you, Shepherd, you have every right to choose the way that I should go no matter how backwards it seems." 

So we descend.  At first I cannot believe that I am actually, of my own free will, allowing myself to be taken so far away from my greatest dream and desire--the one hope I have clung to for so many years.  Suddenly I realize that we have entered the desert and I am surprise at our speed.  But I should not have been; it cannot be any less when I am relying on my Savior, who knows the way so well.

Once in the desert He leads me to the looming pyramids.  I follow Him inside grateful for His strong reassuring presence.  First He shows me where the wheat is prepared for making bread.  Each grain is bruised and beaten.  However, I find that they are not beaten forever.  As I watch more closely I am surprised to find that each variety of grain is ground in different methods according to its purpose.  Turning to me my Lord says, "in the same way you will not endure hardship and beatings forever, only for a time so that you can fulfill My highest purpose for your life.  And, just as each grain is ground in its own way so your beatings are not random, but specific because I know the things you need to be prepared for."

Entering another room my eyes fall upon a potter.  In his hands is a lump of clay.  I watch him cut it, knead it and finally shape it.  But as I am transfixed on the clever transformation I notice that the, now clay vessel was molded according to the potters desires, not the clay's whims.  "Can I not do with you as this potter does to this clay?"  My Lord asks placing His strong hand on my shoulder.  "Am I not as skilled as this craftsmen?" 

Gently leaning against His side I nod.  Words cannot express my welling emotions and swirling thoughts.  Besides, if I open my mouth I am likely to cry and who knows when I will be able to regain my composure.

My tour is not completed yet.  Opening the door for me, my Lord leads me into a large glowing room illuminated by a furnace.  Here gold is purified and dross is removed, but that is not all.  As I watch, crusty rough and seemingly invaluable stones are thrust into the scorching flames.  Awestruck I find that they are removed as sparkling precious gems, flashing as though they had received the fire into their souls.  How my heart pounds to be like those ugly rocks, transformed by intense fire. 

Interrupting my thoughts I hear His voice, "this is where I purify and prepare My rarest and most precious jewels."  And He leads me out.

Our pace is slow and thoughtful.  There is nothing to break the silence between us except the wind which stirs up and occasional flurry of sand as proof of its existence. Still I cannot see a horizon or any promise that this desert detour will somehow lead me to the hoped for promise, but my heart has become peaceful and content here.  I cannot endure indefinite postponement, beatings and bruising, cuttings and kneading, chiseling and fire unless there is hope for something better.  Surprisingly, that is the exact mystery which my Lord has revealed to me in this desolate desert—my heart is ready to follow.

My Lord enters the tent and I linger outside.  Although ready to follow my heart is still a swirl of emotions and thoughts as vast and tumultuous as a stormy sea.  Walking around the tent I catch the slightest glimpse of a color.  As I kneel I feel the warm sand scatter beneath me creating perfectly shaped cups for my knees.  Brightly and courageously stands a single flower.  I marvel at her willingness to live in such a place where there is no assurance of the next rain, yet she cheerfully stands confident that the One who planted her here will provide whatever she needs in due time. 

Acceptance with Joy is her name.  Sitting back on my heels I sigh and look up to the sky.  Tears travel down my face and a gentle breeze hits plays with my hair.  Can I not be as this flower, Acceptance with Joy?  Who am I to think that my Savior, my Shepherd and my Lord does not know what He is doing.  If the flower can bloom so joyfully and faithfully with no hope of rain, can I not delight in this desert while walking through it with my Shepherd?   Resolving to become Acceptance with Joy, I bend forward and take in the scent of this rare flower which has given me so much hope, etching its memory in my mind.

Ducking beneath the flaps of the tent I glimpse my Lord sitting but looking as if He had been watching and waiting for me.  I sit down close to Him amongst His pile blankets and pillows.  Meekly I begin, placing my hand on His great big one and looking up into His face, "I will trust You my Lord.  I will follow You.  Lead me where You would have me go as long as You choose.  I love You and trust You." 

My eyes begin to glisten as I let go of MY hopes and MY dreams.  I do love and trust Him.  Smiling feebly I finish, "I am Your handmaiden, Acceptance with Joy."

Gently, He reaches out and pulls my head to lie on His shoulder.  All is quiet for a time.  Then in His still small voice He spoke words I will never forget, "The trust in your eyes is the most beautiful thing on earth.  Beholding the trust in your eyes is more beautiful and precious to me than the loveliness of many queens."

I am unsure of what has happened since that time which is probably due to the fact that I am still in the desert and have yet to journey out of it.  But this I know: it is not nearly as desolate now as when I first entered.  Although the desert valley may appear ugly and foreboding to many, it has become a treasure chest to me.  I love being grown and changed by my Lord even when it hurts, because I am confident and secure in the fact that He IS faithful and will not give me more than I can handle.            

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Living is What Matters: A Journal Entry

{by Rachel Roose}

The sound of geese honking resounded in my ears as I leaned back in my chair meditating on Luke chapter twenty-one.

...Flipping to a blank page in my journal I began to write:

O Lord, I really enjoy listening to Your geese honking outside.  They make me happy! Dear Jesus, I loved the verses 14-15, & 19: ¹⁴ But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. ¹⁵ For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. ¹⁹ By standing firm you will gain life.

I will work hard not to worry but to trust You, to depend on You to fill me with wisdom for alone I am helpless, I am nothing but with You I can stand firm. Your wit far surpasses that of anyones deepest imagination. Your wisdom is not to be grasped. Your thoughts are profound and Your words a precious to me. I love You. By Your strength I will stand firm and by Your wisdom I will gain life.

Then I felt Him say: Rachel My daughter, this truth is so good. I’m so glad to hear you repeating it. Remember it is much easier to say than to do, you may know it but it is living it that matters. So be on your guard, always be ready, never let Me out of the front of your mind. Rachel, My strength and truth can arm you even today. I know you do not see anyone coming to persecute you, but through the simple things like when one of your younger siblings really irritates you. Pray to Me I will give you the right answer- this will save you from many quarrels and fill your home with much more joy and peace.

Rachel Roose is homeschooled along with her 7 brothers and 3 sisters.  She is passionate about one day serving the Lord by opening her arms to orphans.  Whether teaching dance, painting, running with her sister and mom, or preparing for the future, her aim is to encourage others to experience a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. 

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The Time of Your Life Or, Bossy Tourist Syndrome

{by Samantha Roose}
It’s been almost two weeks.  And again Philippians 4:4-5 is put on my heart.  Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 

I’ve been telling the Lord that I will rejoice and asking Him to make me more gentle toward my sisters, but still, every morning as I write prayers to my Lord and Savior this verse faithfully pops into my mind and I feel compelled to write it down.   So this morning I asked…

Lord how do you want me to rejoice?

And He told me…

“I want you to be SO happy that I am here that you let go and sit back for the ride.  I want you to enjoy and laugh and delight in life!

Relax and ENJOY life while I steer and maneuver for you.  There’s so much I want to show you along the way if you’ll let me.  You’re being like a bossy tourist. You have things you want to see and accomplish and a timeline.  This is an adventure of your life time and you don’t want to miss a thing but you don’t know what’s best to see or the way to go.  I, on the other hand, know the land inside and out.  I know more history tid-bits than any other tour guide.  Better yet, I know what will interest you most, what you will appreciate later down the road and what you want to see.  And of course, I know your timelines better than you.  In fact, I’ve been planning this trip from beginning to end since before you were born.  I even know the best places to eat and relax along the way.

So let Me lead.  Just as you knew where people should go when they came to visit you in Germany but they were always set on seeing Neuschwanstein, so I know all the best places.”

Five years ago my family and I lived in Germany for 5 year (this was one of the blessings resulting from my father’s 23 year long career of protecting my rights and the rights of the American people!).  We often had friends come and visit us and of course they wanted to see the legendary castle which inspired the Disney palace.  Touring this magnificent castle was an ALL day affair which entailed a  five hour drive there AND back, climbing a mountain, walking across the highest bridge I have ever seen (scared me to DEATH!) and of course a tour of the palace itself and a neighboring palace where the young prince grew up.  Finally we would arrive home late and exhausted.

I can recall many a night discussing with my sisters how much better we could have used that time.  Not that we didn’t enjoy the luxurious palace, truth be known it’s now one of our fondest memories from Germany, but we knew there were more valuable things to see like salt mines, Joan of Arc’s home, medieval fests, volksmarches (translated: people walk)...  We knew there were more valuable things to do with our time and that would probably be enjoyed more by everyone.

Using this example, which was very tangible for me, the Lord was teaching me that I was being like our guests—not rude but knowing what we want to see and not willing to see what is truly valuable or necessary. So, instead of enjoying the tour I choose He’s been begging me, each morning, for several weeks to rejoice in the tour He has for me—on His timeline!

Since this particular morning it has been a journey learning to let Him be my tour guide on His timeline and taking His routes.  I’m by no means a master tourist but I’m learning and looking forward to what God has to show me as I let Him lead!

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A Time to Chill

{by Hailey Sadler}

Well hello again.

It’s been a while, my dear readers. And if it feels like a while to you since anything’s happened on here, believe me it feels even longer to me because for most of that time I was without my baby uh, computer. :)

After my computer failed me [well, to be honest, it wasn’t entirely its fault… ] I had a choice. I could either panic, freak out, and become desperately depressed or just shrug and see how the ride goes. So what did I choose to do? Panic, freak out, and become desperately depressed of course. However, it was for an admirably short period time, because when it sank in how wholly beyond my control the situation was [besides calling the repair store an average of twice a day] I decided on the just-go-for-the-ride attitude.

I recommend that approach.

It is pretty obvious that there’s a lot in life we can’t control. Geniuses that we are, though, we can’t seem to fully comprehend this and expend extravagant amounts of energy, effort, and emotion on circumstances and events beyond the scope of our power. Sometimes this energy and anxiety expending habit is productive and positive. But sometimes… we just need to chill.

Now, I’m not saying don’t be a fabulous forward thinking, initiative taking, go-getter or anything positive and admirable like that. [Please, be my guest.] It’s just that I think sometimes we can benefit from prying our clenched, white-knuckled fingers off the steering wheel and kicking back in the passenger seat for a little while. Just seeing how the ride goes. Where it takes us.

My favorite rollercoaster at Busch Gardens, if I could decide on a favorite rollercoaster, would probably be the Griffin, where you hang facedown, suspended over 200’ in the air for several long seconds before the 90-degree drop. It’s such a cool moment, hanging there. You’re strapped in. You can’t go anywhere [even though your sister may be screaming at you to help get her out of here]. And you’re about to go on a wild ride. To quote Rapunzel from Tangled, “Struggling is pointless.” [Yes, I’ve seen that movie about twice per little sister I have.] So why not just walk the journey out and see where it takes you? There’s freedom in letting go of your grasping desire to micromanage and finding security in knowing God is at the controls [which is infinitely more comforting than the teenager who looks like it might be his first time running this thing] so you can just hang on for the ride.

Yes, there are times when mapping out the future, and frantically poring over the map to find where your next turn is in this mess of directions, is the way to go. We've all done it; sometimes it needs to be done. But on occasion, the most productive course of action is putting your feet up on the dashboard and cranking up some Johnny Cash. [...Or whatever you listen to if you aren’t enlightened enough to swear blind devotion to the Man in Black]. It's handing over to God the directions, the map, the wheel, the course, the whole nine yards, and saying "I'm game. Take me where You will."

Sometimes, for all our good intentions, we need to just relax. And enjoy the ride.

At least, that’s my opinion.

What do you think?

~Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, Bible in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming, "WOO HOO what a ride!" ~ 

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Decision Making and the Will of God {Part 1}

{by Katrina Rebsch}

Decisions, decisions.  Life is full of them.  Big ones and little ones.  What should I eat for breakfast today?  What dress should I buy for my grandparents’ anniversary banquet?  What extra-curricular activities should I pursue in school this year?  What should I do after graduation?  Should I go to college?  If so, where?  What should I study?  Should I look into other higher-education alternatives?  Should I go on a missions trip?  What about marriage?  How will I know when the right guy comes along?  In the meantime, should I get a job?  What about ministry? 

I think it’s safe to assume that those of you reading this blog want to live according to the will of God and make the right decisions in your life...as in decisions that are pleasing to the Lord and in accord with His plan.  But of course, the big question is, “How do I know the will of God...for me?”  After all, while there are commandments in the Bible to obey and principles around which to structure our lives in a general sense, there’s no book of II Decisions in which it says, “Thou shalt pursue a degree in social work via correspondence after which point thou shalt minister in Cambodia amongst AIDS victims.”  Sometimes I think we all wish there was such a book in Scripture! :) 

Obviously, God’s plan for each individual’s life is as unique as the person.  (Ephesians 2:10)  The question thus remains, how do we find out that plan and live accordingly?

Well, I certainly don’t have all the answers nor do I have a 3-step process for discovering the will of God for your life.  But I have learned some helpful practices and principles over the past decade that I would like to pass on in hopes that they might serve as a guide for you when it comes to making wise decisions in the pursuit of God’s will for your lives.

First of all, let’s lay some groundwork for this discussion.

Ephesians 5:17 says, “Be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.”  Please note, that is not a suggestion, but a command we are given to obey.  Thus we can draw the conclusion that it is possible to know God’s will, or He would not have commanded us to do so!

If you do a concordance search of the phrase, ‘the will of God,’ in Scripture, this is what you will find His will includes for all believers:

-  Our deliverance from sin and this present evil world through Jesus Christ (Galatians 1:4)

-  Our sanctification and abstinence from immorality (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

-  That we would give thanks in everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

-  Our submission to earthly authorities (thus putting to silence the ignorance of foolish men - 1 Peter 2:13-15)

-  Our suffering for well-doing versus evil-doing (1 Peter 3:17)

I like to call these The Will of God Basics.  And of course, there are many more!  Anytime we read an instruction or a command in the Bible, we know it’s the will of God.  But what about the will of God specifics?  Like decisions about college, degrees, ministries, and marriage?  Colossians 1:9 contains a very big clue.  Paul said, “[We] do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding...” 

Did you catch that?  I know it’s probably not earth-shattering news, but a key to understanding God’s specific will is prayer. 

Remember Jesus’ words?  “Ask and it shall be given you; seek and ye shall find; knock and it shall be opened unto you.  For everyone that asketh receiveth, and he that seeketh findeth, and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-8)  These are promises we can depend on! 

The Bible makes it clear in many, many places that when we seek the Lord, He will reveal Himself!  When we lack wisdom and ask it of Him, He will give it!  When we desire to know His will, He will show us!

Let me say it again: Prayer is foundational.

So, let’s say you’re approaching the completion of your accelerated distance learning degree.  In a few short weeks, you’ll hold a BA in English.  You’re excited to be done with your studies, but you’re wondering what should come next?  You’ve started praying about it.  You’re asking God for His leading.  But most of the time, God doesn’t write the answer in the sky.  So now what?  How do you know when He’s actually answering your prayer?

This is where I would like to introduce what I call my “Decision Making Filter.”    Whenever I am faced with a major decision or in pursuit of the next step of God’s plan for my life (which is often, considering that He usually only leads me 6-9 months at a time!), I run the decision I need to make through this filter.  It has saved me from rash and impulsive decisions, provided protection through checks and balances, and helped me time and again to “prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

**********

Check back for Part 2 and learn about Katrina's 'Decision Making Filter' next!

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Usefully Inadequate

{by Samantha Roose}

Recently, God has opened the door for me to be able to mentor two other high school girls, who are being homeschooled— dream come true.  I’ve always wanted to be in women’s ministry and have tried to wait patiently for the Lord’s timing, but now that the moment’s “arrived” I feel completely inadequate.

I mentioned my feelings of inability to a friend of mine who is currently a missionary in Belize with her family.  Encouraged by her advice I wanted to share it with you, too:

“I'm glad that God has given you the opportunity to mentor [these young women]. I know it feels hard, but let me give you a bit of advice, as both your friend and a missionary: Don't overstress things. You may feel inadequate or unprepared, but think about Esther. She had to have been scared to approach the king like that, but God did an incredible work through her. He used the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. And, what about Mary? How prepared can a teenager be to give birth to the Son of God!!! As if the teen years aren't emotional enough! :) So don't worry. God WILL equip you to do everything He wants you to do. I know it feels stressful, hard, new, etc., but don't let that get you down. Relax, follow God's lead, laugh a little...you don't have to be God. He's already in you, and He will work through you.”

My dear friend and sister in Christ, knows that I have the tendency to stress about EVERYTHING.  (Laughing and smiling more is also something I am working on.)  Graciously, she reminded me that stressing was NOT part of God’s intentions in allowing me to encourage His daughters.  Rather, it was to use me in my inadequacies.  My very imperfections and lack of knowledge are the exact tools that He wishes to put to use!  And, in those weaknesses He is glorified.

And, I’m so glad I don’t have to be God— I don’t think I could do it very well.  His timing IS perfect after all!

Samantha Roose is the eldest daughter of Ft. Roose, a homeschooling family of 11 children, as well as a dancer, tri-athlete, author, and harpist.  Her favorite hobbies are dancing, eating healthy, exercising, cooking and talking with her best friends—her sisters.  She is passionate about glorifying her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in EVERYTHING that she does. 

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The Plans I Have for You: One Girl's Story of Trust, Change, and Choices

{by Rebekah Kimminau}

I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. 

 A year ago, I thought I had my future all figured out. I was going to graduate high school, and then head straight off to a 3 month long nanny school in Ohio. From there I was going to nanny overseas, or for some rich and famous person. Then I would meet my husband, fall in love, and have the large family I had always dreamed about. I was sure this was the plan God had for me. I was excited. Just the thought of my future exhilarated me. I knew what was going to happen, and I was happy.

Yet really, I wasn’t as happy as I thought. Each time I would tell someone of my plans, I would get this little twinge at my heart. Looking back, I am sure it was God speaking to me. And at the time, I was pretty sure it was Him. But I just kept pushing God down, away from my plans. After all they were MY plans, for MY future. I had a passions for what I wanted to do. How could God ever make me think that it wasn’t right? For months and months I pushed down the feelings. I felt Him telling me that nanny school was not where He wanted me to go. But I just kept on with my life. Tried not to give the feelings a second thought. And actually, I did a pretty good job. Until October of 2010.

I was at an all girl’s retreat down in Georgia. All week I had been praying for peace and wisdom about my future. Yet I had gotten neither (or at least so I thought). It was the second to last night and one of the women was giving a talk about how God changed her plans in life. We had had an amazing worship time that night, and I felt really close to God, ready and willing to hear all He wanted to say. As the woman started talking, I felt God talking through her. I listened intently to her story, and all the while was like “Oh, that’s nice, I wonder if God will ever change my plans.” Sure enough, about 5 minutes later, I heard God saying loud and clear that I was not going to go to nanny school. That wasn’t His plan for me. I was crushed, defeated. That had been my hope, my dream, my future. And it had all been ripped away from me in a matter of minutes. I felt lost. But over the rest of her talk, as I came to reckon with myself that God had a plan, one far better then mine, I started to question again. If nannying wasn’t where God wanted me, where did He?

I continued to ask myself just that after I left the retreat and for the next few weeks. I found things hard enough having to come home and tell everyone I knew that I was no longer going to nanny school. But I also had to tell them that I had no idea what I was going to do now. It was a hard few weeks. I was praying and crying out to God because I did not understand why He had done this. I was hurt, I was upset, I was mad that He had changed my perfect plans. Alll the while I knew I had brought this upon myself. If only I had not ignored those feeling from the God in the first place, I probably wouldn’t have gone through all of this pain. But life is full of “if only’s” and we can’t go back and change a single one. But I could do it right the next time. (Or at least try.) 

Over the next few months, my mom really helped me be at peace. I felt God telling me to wait. And though that was very, very hard for an extremely type A person like me, I wanted to listen to Him. I knew His plan was the best, and so I waited. And what I got in return for trusting Him was extraordinary. He gave me immeasurable peace over the next few months. I really didn’t research any career. I worked hard at school and continued on with my daily life.

Finally, God told me what He wanted me to do. I don't remember an exact date or time, I just remember feeling complete peace over a career I was considering. Then over and over things kept pointing towards that career. (The career by the way, is nursing.) as I started to talk to people and explore nursing, I felt God telling me to get a two-year nursing degree, though everyone I asked told me to get a 4 year. This time around, I was ready to listen to God. As of right now I am actively looking into two-year colleges. I am at peace with God, and with my future. If God should decide to tell me to go down a different path, I am more then happy to follow His leading. 

Though the last year of my life has come with many challenges, I would not change any of it. God brought me through trials, and taught me what it means to trust Him fully with not only the small decisions, but also the big ones. God knows the plans He has for me, and they are plans to prosper, and not to harm me, plans to give me a hope and a future [Jer 29:11]. I am 100% sure of that.

About Rebekah: I am a 17 year old girl who, strives everyday to live for the Lord. I don’t always live in Him, but I try. I have been home schooled all of my life, and I am an Air Force Brat. I have move 9 times in my life. I am the oldest of four, and I absolutely adore my family. I have had a passion for babies and children ever since I was little, and I spend most of my time babysitting. I currently live in the DC area.

What is your story? How has trusting the Lord been a factor in your decision of what to do after high school or college?

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Learning to Give Thanks at the Waters of Marah {Part 1}

{by Katrina Rebsch}

“My journey to a new land, a new people, and a new ministry is underway!  As I write this, we are somewhere over the ocean with Santa Cruz as our destination, to be reached in approximately six hours, and Cochabamba soon after that.

As I venture into the unknown, I am grateful to know at least one thing quite clearly: this journey is the will of God and He is with me!  What joy there is in knowing this truth.  I am comforted to know that it shall sustain me during the hard moments and difficult days.”

So reads the first entry in my new journal with the blue butterfly gracing its cover.  It is dated June 30.  Two months have now passed since I penned those words at 30,000 feet above the earth.  Two months more full of those “hard moments and difficult days” than I ever could have imagined as I ventured forth to live a dream. 


When God first touched my heart over the plight of the orphan, the poor, the oppressed, and the abandoned, I was sitting in the upstairs study of Eric and Leslie Ludy’s home, participating in a weekend girls’ conference.  The inspiring messages we heard were rich with God’s Word and stirred me to the very depths of my soul.  I remember watching video clips of precious children all over the world who were being exploited, sold into slavery, abandoned to the streets. 143 million of them were orphans.  All of them were in need of hope, love, the redemptive power of the Gospel. 

The challenge was issued.  Was I willing to go to them?  To be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the least of these who shared my world?  Could I give up comforts and conveniences to meet the needs of those who otherwise would be scrounging in the dumpsters, sleeping in the sewers, and sniffing glue in order to survive?  I said yes.

Missionary service was not a new concept.  I had first surrendered to the idea when I was 16, and since that time, had followed God’s leading both to foreign countries as well destinations in my own homeland where doors of ministry had been opened.  Missions conferences at church and missionary biographies did much to shape my thinking, giving me a heart for the world and a desire to devote my life to knowing Christ and making Him known.

After hearing about God’s heart for the fatherless and the very real orphan crisis in our world, after being presented with the challenge to demonstrate “true and undefiled religion” according to James 1:27, I quietly crept out of the Ludy’s upstairs study during a time of personal prayer and reflection and made for the porch swing.  It was nighttime.  The crickets chirped and the fresh mountain air seemed heavy with the perfume of the Holy Spirit’s presence.  As I rocked back and forth on the swing, I penned my renewed devotion to the “poured out life.”  How could I not give everything I had and was to the service of the One who had given everything for me?

That weekend proved to be another milestone in my adventure with Jesus.  I returned home to the busyness of life; correspondence Bible college, girls’ discipleship ministries, piano lessons, volunteer work at a crisis pregnancy center, service at home and church.  But I couldn’t forget about the 143 million orphans and abandoned children that lived out there somewhere, sharing my world and waiting for a Christ-follower to come rescue them...  In my spare time, I researched ministries on the internet that reached out to such children.  Such a huge, world-wide need...how to help?  Where to serve?  What to do?

A couple of years passed.  I worked on staff at the pregnancy center, saved money, finished my degree, and attended a one-year missionary language school to learn Spanish, continually striving to know Christ and make Him known along the way, to encourage and disciple young women in the Lord - a real passion - and all the while wondering what the future held and when another passion would be realized: the plight of the orphan.

Then, through a series of events that can only be described as the working of God, a door was opened, and on June 30, I departed the United States for a six-month sojourn in the land of Bolivia to live and work at a children’s home ministry for former street kids and abandoned babies.

Within three days time, however, the dream experience I had so looked forward to living seemed to crumble under the weight of disillusionment, discouragement, and despondency.  I was left holding the pieces and feeling completely overwhelmed.  Lack of sanitation, safety concerns, unruly children, homesickness, disorder, chaos, filth, hardships... Despite my resolutions not to have any expectations, things were so different than what I had expected!

I had no joy, no hope, no desire to remain. 

By nature, I am not a quitter.  I thrive on stepping up to challenges and seeing them through to a victorious end.  For the first time, however, I found myself wanting to quit immediately.  I felt certain I was the wrong person for the job, that this kind of ministry was not for me, that God should find somebody else for the work and send me on the next plane back to America.  After all, I hadn’t signed up for all this!  I had signed up for... the poured out life.

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