Peace Through Prayer: "The Lord blesses his people with peace." Psalm 29:11

Recently, Brandon and I have felt a tug on our hearts to go on a mission trip and just recently an opportunity has presented itself. With that being said, we are now officially announcing our plans to travel to Africa this summer with a group of eight other people from our church. Below, is an excerpt from the letter that we are sending out to start raising prayer and financial support.

"We are calling this a journey because it is so much more than a trip to Africa. God has already begun working on our hearts and preparing us. He is already growing our faith and will be using this experience to show his Love to the people in the village we will be working with, but also, and just as important, giving Brandon and I a perspective we have never had before, in a way that we have never seen.

Most of you know that Brandon and I are loyal Aggies from Texas A&M University. When asked by “outsiders” about Aggieland, Aggies have a saying, “From the outside looking in, you can’t understand it. From the inside looking out, you can’t explain it.” I think this saying will more than apply to our situation in Malawi. This is why it is important to both of us that we experience this together, as a couple.

Our church is asking us to pray about asking friends and family for financial support as a love offering to the church. Frankly, this is the hardest part of the mission trip for us--to ask friends and family to contribute to the trip. Yet, we want to honor our church's request and give you the opportunity to participate in this mission trip based on how the Lord leads you."

This is the part I constantly find myself second guessing. I am worrying more than I should about something that I know God is in control of. I say all of this only so I can share the peace that I feel like God has recently given me. On March 2nd, I read in my Grace for the Moment One Year Bible about Peace Through Prayer. In the introduction for that day's reading, it stated that worry comes from the Greek word that means "to divide the mind." Isn't that funny since anxiety also splits us right down the middle. Rather than take away tomorrow's trouble, worry voids today's strength.

But today I say no more! I am not going to let Satan get a hold of me or my thoughts. Instead I am going to follow the advice of Paul in Philippians 4:6 and 7.

"Do not worry about anything, but PRAY and ask God for everything you need, always give thanks. And God's peace, which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."(NCV)

Thank you Lord for giving us your word to cling to at all times! I know you are preparing the way for our team as we enter this journey and you will continue to provide all along the way.