They Chose Me

I just wanted to write a little post about these two amazing people. Because they are a huge part of who I am today. God has used them in so many ways to bring me to where I am at in life, in relationships, in my walk with Christ.... God bringing them into my life was nothing short of a miracle. I haven't known them for a long time but because of the time we have spent together sometimes it feels like forever. In the time I've known them I went from being very withdrawn and distrusting after some life circumstances, I was scared to death to love for fear of being rejected once again. They have always been patient, loving, gentle and kind. Reminding me over and over and over again for the eight millionth time that they love me. You can see the love that flows between them for each other and for Jesus. The love that overflows to their kids and to others. The beautiful picture of Christ's love they represent by choosing a crazy bunch of kids who needed a home, adopting them as sons and daughters and loving them as their own. They haven't done anything big by the worlds standards but it's all the little things that make them heroes in my eyes. It's the things like being sent to work with homemade chocolate chip cookies, and story time by the campfire, dinner with the family around the table, hugs that mean "I really care", all the nights they spent listening and holding me while my heart is breaking, encouraging me to follow Christ, there are so many little things that I could never list them all. But the thing that makes me love them the most is because they looked at me, a teenager who didn't want to live, they believed in me, they loved me when I couldn't love myself and they saw something in me worth investing in. They chose me to love, to be part of an amazing family. I don't know what they saw but I am ever thankful and blessed to have them as parents, mentors, friends, teachers and role models. They are supportive and encouraging. They have been there every step of the way, never backing out when things got tough, never too busy when I need to sit and talk or cry or simply have somebody be there. No matter where I go in this world, in this life, in struggles or victories I always know that I have a safe place, a family, a home to come back to when I need it. As hard as it is to leave them to go into other parts of the world to do God's work I know I have their support and love with me every step of the way and it makes me even more grateful for the time I get to spend with them. I treasure every moment, I never want to forget a single one. This is a story I love to tell, because it's not really about Ken and Elli at all. It's about what God does through us for other people to bring them closer to him. It's a testimony of God's greatness and one I am glad to be able to share. All because one spring day I was given a hug and told that I was loved. <3 ~Kriss

Who will go? Will you?

So when I was called to go on mission to Peru this past summer I knew that would be the first of many mission trips. It turns out next year I will be serving at an orphanage in Uganda for a month. Still working out the details on who I'm going with etc but getting it narrowed down and hopefully have an answer in the next couple weeks. I am thankful for the amazing support of my adoptive parents who have been really awesome in encouraging my walk with Christ. I want to ask you all for prayers as this is another big step of faith for me, a lot of details to be worked out and money to be raised and I am a little nervous about being away from my family for a whole month. But I know that my strength comes from God and that with him I can do anything. I am so very grateful and blessed to be able to serve among our brothers and sisters in other countries, spreading the gospel and kingdom of Christ. I also want to encourage you all to pray about where God might want to send you. Please be in prayer, he will use the willing heart. Can't wait to see how God will use this for his plan. And how it will help my walk of faith grow. I am so excited! ~Kriss

A Friend Is A Beautiful Thing

Shalyn - A Child of God

A true friend is a gift from God and rare to find. In the short time I have gotten to know this girl and watch her grow I have seen a girl with a beautiful heart, a love deep down that cares about others, someone who is always there to help. She is quick to lift others up and give an encouraging word. I am very blessed to have met her and to be able to do life together with her. Thinking of her puts a smile on my face and I am so excited for all the new life experiences that I will get to go through with her. I have to say I'm really proud of this girl for the direction in life she is taking and for her steps in following Christ Jesus. I love you Shay and you are a very beautiful young woman from the inside out. I couldn't be more proud of you if you were my own sister. God connects hearts together and wherever our lives take us whether near or far apart, you will always have a place in mine. Thank you for your friendship, thank you for being you. Never let anybody convince you to be anything less
then the special, unique, amazing person God created you to be! You rock!
                                                                                             
                                                          Your sister in Jesus Christ ~ Kriss

Should Safety be an Issue?

So within my recent declaration of the fact that I feel God is leading me to go to Uganda next summer and spend some time serving and ministering to and alongside an orphanage down there I have already had many people asking me questions. Please feel free to ask them. Here is my answer and thoughts to one of the most popular questions I receive. The question goes something along the lines of this.

 

Uganda? Is it safe?

Africa is where the Ebola virus is. It's not safe.

Why go to Africa? Why not a safer place?

Do you really want to risk exposing yourself to an Ebola epidemic?

Ebola is a deadly disease. What if you brought it back to America?

 

Here is my answer. First of all... I'm not sure that Uganda is any less safe than anywhere else. It's all in what you believe to be danger. I look at it this way. I am a daughter of the One True King. I am a servant following my Master's calling. He is telling me to go to Uganda. The issue of whether or not it it "safe" has nothing to do with it. The question is am I going to obey the calling of God. And my answer is yes. Will I pray for protection. Sure I will and I will ask others to pray with me. Let me make a couple points here which is why I think safety should never be an issue of whether or not to follow God's leading.

Let's take Jesus for example, when he came to do the Father's will here on earth did he inquire about whether it was safe or not? When he was faced with the ones who beat him, who tortured him and put him on the cross... did he back out? No. He carried through with the Father's plan so we could be redeemed from our sin. It's his blood and life that he gave so we could be bought back from the path of destruction and adopted into the family of God. He took upon our sin so we could be covered in his righteousness. He never considered if it was safe. Can I or we do any less for him? I think not. 

 

I questioned myself about this when I left for Peru. Even if I knew at this point that I would leave for another country, to follow God's calling, and run into some unforeseen circumstance and die before returning home would I still go? It's a kind of scary thought sometimes but one I believe we must think upon. After some thought and soul searching my answer was "Yes. and I pray to God that in any circumstance that my answer would not waver" To die doing God's work, serving him would be an honor. 

 

I know many ask this or have concerns because they love me and I fully understand that. I have yet for one of my near, and dear ones to travel out of the country into some foreign land and pray when the time comes nothing I do or say will hold them back and that I will leave their lives in God's capable hands. I trust my life in His hands, whether I live or die, I will be with Christ Jesus, and wherever I may be I pray I will always serve him to the depths of my being. So there is my thought on the safety of Uganda. God would not send me where he did not want me to go. I shall not question his judgement or plan on where he sends me. ~Kriss

Serving God: A Bruden or a Blessing?

Do you consider it a burden or a blessing? During my devotion time over the past few days I have been humbled about the thought of how grateful we should be to be honored to serve God. Here in this world we would consider it a privilege to be able to work and serve someone with such authority, love, power and greatness. Do we feel the same about the one true King? I think about this as we are going to be continuing what has hopefully been our own personal worship with God by gathering together with other believers this evening. Some will be preaching, others will be leading singing, running sound and lyric slides, setting up tables, preparing food, transporting people to the building we meet at, putting out signs, getting ready for children's church, greeting people, caring for the kids in nursery.... the list goes on. Why do you serve? I will leave that between you and God.

But if we do not realize to the full extent how much we should be grateful and honored that our Father in heaven allows us to serve him and be included in his plan.. until we really get this we do not receive the entire blessing. No matter what you do serving God, with your church or in daily life, we should feel it a great honor to be allowed to serve and do it with joy and passion for the One we are doing it for. So as you serve today remember, serving is a blessing, not a burden. We all need to remember this sometimes. Have a blessed Sunday! Glory to the Father in the highest! ~Kriss #PrayerDevotion #ServingGod