Things of New

Here’s the journey God has taken me on for the last few months…and for some reason I don’t think He’s finished yet. ;)

It started as I began praying for an upcoming spring break mission trip to Mexico.

3/2/08 I felt God lead me to pray for new things. I didn’t know if that meant new things for the people in Mexico, new things for the team or new things for me…I guess it turned out to be all of the above. So my prayer was just that God would do new things. Isaiah 43:18: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”

3/16 The very day that we arrived in Mexico, the leader of our group tells us that our plans have changed. We won’t be going to the original village that we had planned to work in but instead we’ll be doing a new thing, something that had never been done before. So we helped with a VBS in Santa Maria, a new place they had not worked in before.

3/17 The next morning, we were just sitting around when I noticed some of the girls had created collage-like coverings for their journals. I was looking at them all, and couldn’t believe it when one of them had “all things new” written repeatedly on her journal. She proceeded to tell me that that was the theme God had given her for the year- all things new! Yeah, I was like WOW too!

3/18 It wasn’t only the words new things but also some very new things occurred. In the village of Santa Maria, five people became believers as a result of the work done there. And one night God did a new work in some of our own hearts, drawing us closer to Him and providing new friends for this journey of sanctification. One of my closest friends was even called into the ministry (which was a very different and new direction for him as a career choice).

3/19 As I shared my story of new things with the group, God continued to confirm to me that that was what He was about for this trip. The trip itself had definitely been a new thing in lots of other different ways as well…

3/23 I walked away from that mission trip, thinking- Wow! God has done some awesome and new things. That was cool. But new things had only begun…When I shared the story of my trip with my best friend she gave me some wonderful words of wisdom: Not only does God want to do new things around me--He wants to make me new! Take this to heart, even if you read no further. That is what God is all about - making us anew and anew, until we become just like Him! He doesn’t want to simply show up and do awesome things in our life-He longs to show up and change us until we are brand new!

3/30 In Sunday School the following week we took some time to share about our spring break trips. So I told a short version of the story of new things you just read.
Apparently God had been speaking the same things to some other folks. Kirsten Callahan says, “it’s cool you said that because as I was just praying before SS God prompted me to pray for new things…that He would do new things in this college ministry”. Tim Johnson also shared that God had been showing him a lot about new seasons/things, “the winter has pasted and the springtime has come”.
After SS Carlie shares a verse with me, that has kinda become a promise for me - Isaiah 48:6: “You have heard; now see all this; and will you not declare it? From this time forth I announce to you new things, hidden things that you have not known.”

4/2 The next Wednesday evening I was walking with my mom to take my little sister to choir. The children’s ministry had just put up and new bulletin board that said “He makes all things new!” whoa!

4/10 In a meeting with my boss at school and she tells the group of us that she believes God has us on the verge of something very new and different in our lives. She shared several verses with us, and this is an all time favorite, Isaiah 30:21: “And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” when you turn to the right or to the left.”

4/13 Pastor Jett preached on “New Wine for New Wineskins”, talking about living under the Spirit’s power and not our own flesh.

4/20 During the prayer time, Pastor Jett said something along the lines of how God desires to do new and fresh things in our lives. How we are to be consumed by Jesus…

4/25 In a discussion with a friend, I learned that #8 is the number of new beginnings in Hebrew. 2008 is the year of new beginnings.

5/7 I had been reading through Beth Moore’s bible study on David for a few months and on this particular day she was discussing a passage where the people were being punished for their rebellion (2 Samuel 21:1-9). Beth goes on to say, “Rebellion inevitably leads to famine in our relationship with God. A new beginning is as close as the fresh smell of rain.”
Later that night in church a friend that I had shared all this with comes to me. “God is teaching me new things too!” After we talked for a minute she shares Joshua 3:5 with me. Later when I read the passage, verse 4 stuck out to me as well. Joshua 3:4-5: “Yet there shall be a distance between you and it, about 2,000 cubits in length. Do not come near it, in order that you may know the way shall go, for you have not passed this way before.” Then Joshua said to the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you.”

5/8 When I shared this whole story with two co-workers it was amazing to hear that God was doing new things in their lives as well. Gigi told me about getting a new job, that she wanted to make sure that it was the Lord’s will. God showed her that had been 7 months since she stopped her last job and that it would be exactly 8 months that she would begin her new job (7 is the number of completion and 8 is the number of new beginnings). It was incredible to see how God was teaching us the same truths and we would have never known had we not begun sharing what God was doing in us (Is. 48:6). Don’t miss out on being encouraged by not talking about the things of God with other believers!

5/13 The great thing about working in a Christian environment is how easy it is to hear from God. Before work at C’paws we generally have a staff prayer. Today Brett was praying, lifting up the prayer requests and the restaurant and then he prayed that God would give us all new attitudes. I just smiled. It was a small reference but God used it to remind me of all He had done and wanted to continue doing.

5/15? Text from Carlie (All things new theme for year), Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.” Not only did I want God to do new things but I want to search out and find the hidden things of God.

5/18 After discussing new ministry opportunities and teams for the college group, Kristy asked me to help lead a college girls Bible study. We began praying about which book or study to use, wanting to do something that was specific to becoming a woman of God, and we were truly desiring God to completely confirm which we were to do. I went to the Christian bookstore, sat down with a stack of 6 plus books and began reading the back covers. I got excited when I read “Having a Mary Spirit” because, not only was it applicable and what we were looking for, but here’s a snippet of what the back says, “{This book} directs your gaze past your own shortcomings to the God who stands ready, willing, and able to make a new woman out of you.” It goes on to talk about inviting Christ into the hidden places of your heart… Then God confirmed it in Kristy too! I’m really excited about this study, place pray that God will make all of us new and more like Him this summer!

5/27 Ezekial 36:26: “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.”

6/8 In college Sunday School, Kevin was sharing about the things God had been teaching him on the Senior Road Trip. His entire “lesson” was amazing but then he shared Joshua 3:4-5 in reference to the college ministry. I’m SO excited about the new things that God in going to do specifically through that ministry!

So here I am today, enthused and ecstatic, not only because God has done great things but because God is doing new things!! And we’ve still got half of 2008 left! =)