Here's to Knocking on Doors, Surprises, and God Being Good. (also, some news about spending some time in Philadelphia with a missions organization!)

At the beginning of this year I got the sense from God that there would be some surprises coming my way this year, without any clarification if those would be seemingly "good" surprises or "bad" surprises, in my heart I said a very hesitant okay...

You may wonder why I put "good" and "bad" in quotations and it is because as I drove out to Athens this morning to take a group of friends some breakfast who had celebrated a friends engagement the night before I began to reflect on where I have been the last few years. I can honestly say that some of the most heartbreaking seasons, the "why's" that have haunted me, the people that have moved in and out of my life that at times have been so painful it feels physical, have in hindsight, been something I have thanked the Father for. It doesn't mean my "why's" have been answered or that I look back and understand everything, it doesn't mean that all the goodbyes I have said that I am happy about, but that I look back and somehow look around and am so deeply grateful that God doesn't operate by what I determine as "good" or "bad". There are so many things that in the moment I called bad; dreams dashed, hopes crushed, the changing of seasons that left me teary eyed and confused. I stomped, and cried, begged, yelled, fumed, at God, with God. I look back on them, thankful that God isn't prone to smiting people these days and that He loves and understands me and them. More often than not though, I look back and am grateful that everything played out exactly as it did. Gods good being so much higher and deeper and just more "knowing" than mine.

One of the bigger surprises that is on my plate right now is that I am heading out to Philadelphia at the end of June to spend a week bringing the love and hope of Jesus to people. I am not exactly sure of details yet and will continue to update you as I find out. I was rather surprised when I felt a nudge to check into the passport trips that Adventures in Missions does, and even more surprised when something about Philadelphia just "stuck". I was poking around on their website and in their short term missions page and when I came across their week long trip to Philadelphia I couldn't shake the urge to apply. God has been recently speaking to me about knocking on doors and seeing what happens and so I did, I applied and was accepted! I have been immensely blessed already by a few unexpected people in my life wanting to support me in this adventure, requesting letters as I need to raise about $800 to go. I am very excited and curious as to what this trip holds for me and for the people in Philadelphia and would love a support base that is not only financial but prayer warriors to back me up, so please let me know if you would like a letter once I pen one out.

Another surprise is that I have recently made plans to go to Colorado for my birthday! Camping and hiking are two of my favorite hobbies and I am going to go out for a visit with one of my dear friends Laura and we are going to go to all of the beautiful places we can find and do all the adventurous things (read: trouble) we can do. I am so excited and just am blown away at these surprises and can't wait to see what the rest of the year has in store!

Laura and I
I am thankful for this life that I live and the people that I get to call friends and loved ones. Thank you for making this journey so sweet. There's not enough money in this world that could make me feel more rich than I do because I get to share life with you all!

so much love,
Destiny

Comments

Melissa said…
Girl, you had better send the Cortez fam a letter! Do I even need to ask? :)
March 17, 2014 at 12:23 AM
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