Friday, March 27, 2009

4 more days!!

Guys, we leave and board the big bird for the other side of the world in just 4 days!! Crazy. We are all sooooooo excited! Please pray along with us and for us on this amazing journey. If you want to receive prayer requests during our time there, please email me at shala.nolan@gmail.com, because we will not be posting specific requests on this site.
thanks so much for joining with us on this trip!
With His love for the nations,
Shala

Sunday, March 8, 2009

Trippin'

Trippin’

Oh, I love to travel, to trip it, to live it!
Amazing places, inspiring people, and life-changing experiences
He loves every individual, family, and nation
And in them He’s moving to bring them to the author of all creation
Whether home or abroad, we take His Word and love with us
He allows us to be a part of His plan and His purpose

Going out where my control cannot be feigned
It’s a painful, yet healing surgery on my heart and my brain
I only pray it’s affect does not wane.

I enjoy the food, smells, sights, and sounds
Everything different, all around
When I sit down of food to partake
Sometimes I don’t recognize what’s on the plate
So, to God I pray, “I know you’re there.
My mind, mouth, and stomach please prepare.”
“It’s not wrong, it’s just different,” I often repeat
When astonished by scenes I wish to change or delete.



I want so badly not to waste the time I’m given
To listen to people, and soak up every minute
But, oh the jet lag - - in the day, I’m dizzily tired
Yet, in wee morning hours, dizzily wired.

Time and my body are not in harmony
Here the stage is set, for God to live and breathe in me
Through a sacrifice of continual praise and abandon
Surrendering my rights, my power, my strength to the great I Am.

These combinations of everything in my world being changed
Give Him astounding freedom to Reign
Such small things that at home, I can do, if I choose
Have now become hills and mountains, unfit for my shoes
It’s both necessary and convenient to let Him carry me
After all that’s one major reason this trip came to be

Seeing and speaking with people who have so little we can see
Less resources, less freedom, and less opportunity
Being sure of what is hoped for and certain of what is not seen
They believe, and they pray with a faith that is keen
I’m left to examine my trust in God and His Word
Dared not to just hear but to do what I’ve heard


His Word becomes solid under my feet
When I walk in faith with each challenge I meet
Some trials spring forth from unexpected places
From people I love who join me in these faith races
In the battle that rages, we’re sometimes caught unaware
And other times, we choose the flesh we can wear
It’s essential to remember that this side of heaven
Perfection is absent, we’re all saints who still sin
Keeping our eyes on Jesus and looking through His
All feelings, our doubts, and insecurities vanish
With brothers and sisters, whatever occurs, one thing can be certain
If we let Him, He’ll weave us together and grow us in Him
It’s His love in us that triumphs and reveals
To all those around us, how His love really feels.

While here in a land whose King is not the Lord
It’s paramount that we fight with the shield and the sword
Often I see more clearly the war that is raging
I’m compelled to kneel down and do battle through praying
Here God’s most powerful work is done
And here we see that the battle is won.
I know and love Him so much more
When I am forced to bow down to the floor
Understanding of Him and of His mysteries is received
Compelled by love to face the nasty residue of flesh to which I cling
I get to see Him up close as I am emptied
And He fills me to use me as His hands, mouth, and feet

Why do I love trips God calls me to travel?
He seems to accomplish 10 times the sanctifying in the battle
He brings Himself glory that blinds me with brightness
And when I come out I’m more conformed to His likeness
As for my affection and friendship with my Father, and Savior
It flourishes and it’s transformed forever
Because of all this, in the dark times that will most definitely come
There’s a bounty of standing stones to which I hold on.

Friday, March 6, 2009

Reality of Heaven

I was innocently driving down the road yesterday morning, when a song came on the radio.  I was immediately struck by the 'Reality of Heaven'.  Does that ever happen to you?  When you are taken to a place almost outside of yourself and your circumstances.  I was overwhelmed with great joy and huge sadness all at the same time.  The song that was playing was 'There Will Be A Day' by Jeremy Camp and the lyrics were 'We will see Jesus face to face'.  And I began to cry thinking about the reality that we WILL get to see Jesus - My Face to His beautiful Face.  This is our reality as Christians.  One day there will be 'no more tears, no more pain, and no more fear'.  And that He, Jesus, will wipe away all our tears and bring us everlasting joy and comfort.  I cried also because in this Life we will have trouble and uncertainty, but we do have hope.  We can HAVE JOY.  Real joy and peace that nothing this world brings us can take away. 

 

And one day we will get to sit with Jesus the lover of our souls.  The Reality is,  Heaven is REAL and through Jesus we do have hope and joy. 

 

Rest with me today in the 'REALITY OF HEAVEN'!