Costa Rica Mission Trip

 

I love when we get to see God's will play out in our lives.  The Lord began a work in Brett and I before we ever even knew each other, and now, many years later; so many things are making sense!

We desire to see followers of Christ live out the great commission.  Through many prayers we have started the process to start a non-profit that will give us a platform to give those seeking to serve, an opportunity to do so in capacities that may not otherwise be available to them!

One way we are doing that is through low-cost mission trips.  In May 2015 we are leading a group of 14 (children, teens, & adults) to San Jose, Costa Rica for a week long mission trip.

Please pray for our team, Mission of Hope Ministries, and most of all, the people who we will come in contact with!

A more specific way to pray for us, is financial provisions. 

 If you want to support us financially; for a $20 donation we will send you the T-shirt shown above!  I can ship the shirt anywhere in the United States.  Donations can be made by check or paypal!

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!!!

Country Spotlight: Pray for Costa Rica

 

Costa Rica : Rich Coast

- The "riches" of Costa Rica attract many to the country in hopes of escaping poverty and making a better life for themselves, only to sink even further into poverty

-Pray for the ministries of Costa Rica, both domestic and foreign, that their work continues to impact the country in the name of Jesus

-Pray for the people we will come in contact with May 2015 when we lead a group of 14 on a mission trip to San Jose.  Lift our team up in prayer, for most of our group, this will be their very first mission trip!  Pray for Mission of Hope ministries, the group we will be serving with while in Costa Rica.

Pura Vida en Cristo: Because true "pure life" can come only through Christ!

Restore My Soul

Recently Brett challenged his teen class to memorize Psalm 23.  On New Years Eve, he asked them to remember and share something God did for them in 2014.  Before each one shared he had them read the 23 Psalm aloud, since they were all suppose to be studying and memorizing the passage.  

 

As I sat there and listened to 15 teenagers read aloud the very powerful passage I became more and more emotional!  My heart and mind broke down each verse and what it meant to me, especially over this last year...

 

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

 

The end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 was a hard lesson on letting go and allowing the Lord to truly be my shepherd.  I could go on for days about how lost I am without Him and how going my own way always ends in Him finding me and bringing back to a place of "safety" under His rod and staff.  There is nothing I need or want outside of the goodness and mercy of the Lord.

 

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

 

Despite where I may want to wander or stray off to, He is so good to bring me to a place of rest and peace, the beginning of 2014 was just that as he took me from all distractions and into a place of truly being still in His presence.

 

He leads me beside still waters.

 

Daily I thirst for something more than this world; the hectic, crazy, evil, torturous world.  The Lord has taught me to listen and seek out His voice, and He will give me the purest, living water; Himself.  Jesus is the still, peaceful, quenching, living water our souls long for.

  

He restores my soul.

He leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

 

 Restoration means to return something back to its original state/design.  I have never been perfect, but that is what God created me to be, and sin took that away.  Everyday God is repairing a piece of my soul and bringing me one step closer to, not my own, but His righteousness.  Not that I may boast, but that I may do my part to spread His name and cause to every soul in need.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

for you are with me;

your rod and your staff,

they comfort me.

 

 This year definitely had its challenges.  Through them all God has not changed, He has kept every promise.  His deity, omnipresence, and Word are my backbone.  I shall not fear!

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil;

 

The Lord's power prevails and His anointing prevents the enemy from disturbing His perfect hospitality, that I may enjoy the goodness of my Lord.

 

my cup overflows.

 

2014 was most definitely a year of blessings.  The desires of my heart have been abundantly given and I pray that they only increase my service to the Lord.  That they may aid as facilitators to what He asks of me!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord

forever.

 

Through it all, I long for forever, the emotions of home overwhelm me.  His grace is sufficient for me.  His unending love is my cornerstone. In Christ alone, I have hope for 2015!!!

Many were my plans...

Reflecting and Remembering...

2014 was one of few years that were for the most part all planned out.  I knew where I was going to be and pretty much what I would be doing every month of the year.  However, it turned out to be the most surprising spontaneous years of my life.  

God is alive...

Our God is alive and working.  Although He is never changing, He is in the business of changing lives.  I love the way he molds and works us into who He designed us to be.

Here is a very short timeline of 2014...

Jan: I left for the World Race, expecting to return in November.

March: God impressed upon me to bless someone in His name and He led me home for a week for my sisters wedding, where no one was expecting me.  While home, Brett purposed that we become a force of one for the kingdom of God.

April: God's voice and guidance for the future became loud and clear to me,  I returned to the United States, Brett met my flight in California and on April 30th, Brett and I got married.

May: The first week of May we drove across the southwestern united states, exploring new territory new to both of us on our way home.

June: In June we spent three weeks with young souls at church camp and made a fast weekend trip to Texas where Brett officiated his first wedding.

July: We drove a van of teenagers to South Carolina for a week of serving the people of Hilton Head Island.

Sept: Something God has laid on both of our hearts began to tangibly manifest as we started making preparations to lead a mission trip to Costa Rica

This winter we experienced a little bit of a schedule slow down and I pray we use it to remember all the wonderful, unexpected blessings of the year!

Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand. Proverbs 19:21

Giver of Good Gifts - Guest Blogger

 When I read the latest Compassion Blogger assignment I immediately thought of my dear friend and fellow blogger Katie, from Walking in Unity!  I won't spoil why but read on to find out!


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God Is Good!

                  

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above......... (James 1:17)

    Please allow me to share a little of what is going on in my life as you are reading this now. I have a husband, two girls, work a full time job and currently entering into my second semester of Nursing School! - Yes a little exhausted! -But God is good!

Romans 8:28 - "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose."

    Over the years “I” have tried to go to nursing school several times, but life seem to get in the way. But I know now that God opened the door to this opportunity at exactly the right time. His time!

Proverbs 3:6 "In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

    Being His daughter, I smile after seeing his hand work in my life and so many others around me. I know without a doubt at the age of 33 that I am where God has called me to be. After trying on my own through the years to find my place, my way, I surrendered to God and His timing and although very exhausted, less pay and little time for sleep, He has given peace and strength I have not known before.

    This all being said let now share something special to my heart. One Saturday night, tired and in debate if I really wanted to go, I went ahead and attended our church’s Ladies Auxiliary Christmas party. This is a dinner where we fellowship, have devotion and “Secret Sisters” exchange gifts.

As I opened my gift not knowing who was or is my Secret Sister. I soon realize I know it must be a dear sister that knows my heart. She must know how I love the Lord, have a heart for mission (although God has yet to open that door for me) and my heart to be a nurse, to be able to care and love others, that I may have care and compassion from God to help those hurting and in need. I pray I may help those physically, emotionally and spiritually as God allows me to do so.

So you must be wondering by now what was inside my gift?

A precious homemade gift card.

And As I open it, it says……………..

                                                                          
“In your name………….. 5 kids are protected”

With pictures from Compassion of children receiving medical care.

   

Five children are receiving medical care needed and provided by Compassion International due to a simple $20.00 given as a gift in my name by my precious “Secret Sister."  Not only did my secret sister give to missions for me but she gave to something so very dear to my heart. 5 children that are so loved by my Father will receive care from parasites, will receive protection from Malaria, and will receive care for an illness or an injury.

This is a gift, a good gift, one that is so simple but so powerful, that 5 children can be reached and through those 5 a difference can and will be made!

Mother Teresa once said…….

“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”

    I pray those 5 children touched by Compassion will be the start of many ripples.

I may not be able to travel across the waters to care for those in need, although my prayer is for God to use me and my nursing skills for His purpose and to someday cross those waters and serve Him by caring for His children. But that will be in His timing too.

 Though this gift I not only have been touched but all those I share this with and those of you that read this, I pray you will be touched and I encourage you to pray for those who give and those who receive the gift. 

1 Peter 4:10 "As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

    Remember this Christmas what the true gift of Christmas really is! Jesus, He came to love, care, heal, die and save each one us. That is the best Gift!

Acts 20:35 - "I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

By: Katie Presser

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Please remember the Giver of the perfect gifts this holiday season. Please visit the Compassion catalog to see how you can help make a difference in some body's life.

 

On a mission

Over a year ago when I felt the Lord calling me to the World Race I couldn't make sense of it. Like most things the Lord asks of us, it seemed crazy and most of all didn't fit into what I thought His calling on my life was.

As the race began, I only became more sure of what I already thought my role was going to be in the Kingdom; to be a support to my youth pastor husband and work with the youth. So how did international missions come into all of this? Or maybe I was wrong about what I thought my path would look like? I knew that we are all called to a mission field, but what was God wanting to show me in that specific season?

When had I started preparing for the world race I realized that our small community had a big heart for missions. Over the months of my world race journey I realized there were very few local and affordable options for most people to get involved. During the race, as I witnessed the possibilities of what ministry could look like, (and some of what it isn't) I realized that He was showing me what He wanted me to take back to our small church and community.

Four months into the world race, in Costa Rica, my eyes and heart began to open up to what the Lord was speaking to me. When I told Brett one day on the phone he practically began screaming, God had been speaking to him about the same thing! God wanted us to open a door...

After hearing what sounded like the Lord screaming, GET TO WORK, I returned home, got some business out of the way... :)

and we got straight to work.

The first 6 months we were married we spent more time away from home then we were at home. (really we counted it all up!) We had church camps, mission trips, conferences, and many other youth trips that have kept us very busy! However, we have not forgotten what God -not so gently- laid on our hearts. Although Brett's youth ministry is our first priority, we are currently in the process of forming a non-profit organization and we are so excited to lead our first mission trip to Costa Rica in May 2015. (crazy how we are going back to where it became so clear to me what God was trying to show us! Fun Fact: Costa Rica is also where Brett took his first mission trip!) AIN'T GOD GOOD!

We cannot wait to see all the ways God will use this to bless His people and further His kingdom!

Once God convinced me the world race was part of His plan, I thought I knew what 2014 would look like, But He is so good to keep us paying attention. I could not have planned it better myself, isn't that the way it always works!? Our Father in Heaven will always show us that trusting Him and His plan for us is far better than we could ever imagine!

Thank you for all your love & support,

Brett & Kylee Morris

A Hopeless Fool

This weekend I had the opportunity to worship with 4000 other women! It is truly amazing to hear the Lord praised among so many voices! 

In the middle of the service I had the thought, "how do people get through life without the hope freely offered!?"

I immediately was reminded of my own life, before I had hope... My mind was flooded with the grim thoughts and circumstances that once controlled my life.

" we were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slave to various passions and pleasures, passing my days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another..."

I could not be more grateful for the love that found and saved me, I did nothing to deserve or earn it, I only accepted it.

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness.."

He paid my debts, and because of his love and desire for me I became a new creation!

"...but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior..."

I now have hope of eternity with the Father and Savior

"...so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life."  -Titus 3:3-7