Where Will God Have Me Go In My Lifetime?

International missions is one area that for most folks seems to be the hardest to embrace. Whether it's because of the cost financially, fear of crossing cultures, anxiety about eating "weird" food...have you tasted some of the food we eat?!? C'mon...deep fried twinkies!!! Yuck! Well, I have to admit, I have not "embraced" a deep fried twinkie...and I don't plan on it either. And that's not really the point I'm trying to make. The truth is that we have some pretty weird customs and traditions right here in Clovis California and so to limit ourselves by fear of the unknown is really a loss for us and what God can do through each one of us.

So, ask yourself the question: Where will God have me go in my lifetime?

• Prayerfully seek His voice and listen to His "still small voice"
• Learn what you can about world missions
• Go to the various websites, google a country, pray for an unreached people group
• Get a passport
• Just get started

The International Mission Board is the missions organization that we often partner with when traveling overseas. They have recently put together a podcast which can be a great way to learn about all they are doing and thus some of the many opportunities before us!

Hmmm, where in the world is God sending me?!? I need to go hang out with Him...until next time...peace!

Hangin' Out With God

Last Friday I spent some time with God during my "Solitude Day". I thoroughly enjoyed hangin' out with God, reading the Word, chilling and talking with him, singing and basically spending time contemplating about what he had to say. I love slowing down to read God's word and hear his still small voice...I'm not always clear about what he tells me but I usually am inspired by the Spirit.

Something I usually do during my daily quiet time is read My Daily Bread to get me started. The title of Friday's devotion was "Forgetting God". Basically it was about going through the day and forgetting about God. I have to admit that I all too often get caught up in the busyness of life and lose sight of God's hand in my life. Seems strange since I'm in ministry but it's the truth. Even though I'm busy about doing my Father's business...or so I tell myself, I forget to recognize His hand in it all! I thank God that he is patient with me! :-)

My Solitude Day is a welcome break for my busy life. It's like a drink of cold water on a hot day in the desert! Wait a minute, I don't think I've ever been in a desert-especially on a hot day! :-) Oh well, you get the picture...during my solitude time, God quenches my spirit when I need it most. This is what my Solitude Day has become and thus it's a high priority in my schedule. I encourage you to schedule a Solitude Day soon!

May your thirsty soul be quenched by God!

Solitude

It's been a crazy busy week! Thank God I get to spend some time with Him on Friday! I have a goal of spending a day with God once a month. It's planned and scheduled in my calendar and the only way it can change is if I move it within the week before or the week after...and so far that has worked about 90% of the time. Now...this does not mean that I'm able to spend the whole day with Him but it is a goal. Sometimes it takes me a couple of hours to settle down and avoid any distractions...this can be tough since I think I may have a little "A.D.D." and then when I do spend time...I set goals...but last time...like I said..."A.D.D."! Anyway...I'll share in next weeks blog about my solitude time with God. Until then...peace!

A New Year...A New Day

Last year I tried hard to have an "attitude of gratitude" towards life and everyday stuff. It's funny because I set that goal before exepriencing the toughest year of ministry thus far! God's funny...isn't he?!? As I look back on the year, I am realizing that in fact, it probably was the most fruitful as far as people experiencing God "on mission" which is pretty cool! So I have to wonder, was God just pruning me this last year...hmmm, I don't know for sure but I do know that He wants me to be more like Jesus everyday. So I will continue to remind myself this year to keep hold of that "attitude of gratitude" in everything...realizing that it's all for and about God. In that, I can rest assured that His will is first and foremost. I look forward to what 2007 holds for me!

Mica Mirides

Happy New Year! Hope your holidays were great! I had a chance to share God's blessings with my family this past Christmas in a very practical way. I felt it was and continues to be my "personal missions"...I believe some in my family got a glimpse of who God is...and that's pretty cool! Yeah God!

Missions continues to be a passion of mine and so when someone in our church goes global...I get pretty excited. Well, for the first time ever in our churchs' history we have one of own embarking upon a 2 year journey to Africa. Mica Mirides has been attending Clovis Hills since she was 9 years old and now as a 22 year old - she has accepted the call of God to serve in Africa. Anyone who knows Mica, knows she is wise beyond her years and in fact, she has a long-term vision of the ministry for Africa. As a teacher and a lover of children...it is her desire to minister to orphans and widows. I look forward to sending many short-term teams to join her and serve in Africa. Mica will be commissioned on Sunday, January7th during both services at Clovis Hills. Hope you can join us!