Crossing the finish line

At this point I'm so mentally and emotionally exhausted that I can hardly think of what to say, but I suppose all that needs to be said is PRAISE GOD! I have reached full monthly support... a day before my deadline. I will write more thoughts in a few days and tell you just how much of a miracle this really was, but for now I just wanted to let everyone know the good news. Thank you for all of your prayers and support during this process. Please don't forget to praise the Lord for his awesome provision for me and my ministry with Cru. May all the glory be to the Lord for his wonderful love towards us!

Psalm 115:1

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be the glory because of your love and faithfulness."

The sunset driving home the other day.
So beautiful!

Thank You

Because of you people all around the world get to hear the good news of Jesus. Thank you for investing in eternity and allowing me to do a job I love. Please check out this short 2 minute video that expresses my gratitude and shows all you've been a part of by giving and praying for Cru.

With love,
Melissa

Cru thanks you - CLICK HERE to watch the video

Give me Jesus

My friends, it's an understatement to say that God has been so good to me. This season of raising support to work with Cru full time has had its ups and downs. I kept telling the Lord and those around me that at the end of this process I wanted to be able to say, "even when... Yet, I will." You're probably thinking, "what does that mean?" I will explain, I promise. A book that surprised me recently was Habakkuk. It's not a book of the Bible I read frequently, but it hit me in a fresh way this summer.


Habakkuk 3:17-19 says, "Even though, the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, YET I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights."


Ah! There is so much in this that has rang true over and over this summer. These are the main things the Lord has taught me:


1) God is good no matter what my circumstances are. His character doesn't change and he always gives good gifts. So if I'm waiting for weeks, not seeing any support come in, that is good of the Lord. Sometimes it's really hard to see it that way, but I know that he is working and he is completely trustworthy, even in a time of waiting.


2) Even though... even when... even if... No matter what my circumstances are I should rejoice in the Lord. Because what I said in #1 is true that means there is always cause to rejoice in the Lord. On top of all that he is "the God of my salvation." How often I forget the beautiful gifts of grace and mercy. That's enough for unshakable joy and constant celebration. 


3) Down in the notes of my study Bible it said something about Habakkuk that I want to be true of me: "Habakkuk's feelings were not controlled by the events around him but by faith in God's ability to give him strength." Whew! Wouldn't life be grand if we lived that way constantly? If I really believed what was true about God I think my feelings and actions would be much different. 


4) Finally, in these verses you get to see the real prize: Jesus. Habakkuk was joyful in the Lord even when the things around him weren't going so great. The prize, the treasure wasn't a plentiful harvest or abundant wealth. It was Jesus. So many times this summer I've been looking to the end goal of being at full support. I look at that as being this ultimate, awesome thing I strive towards. But why when the real prize is easily in reach do I grasp at mere rags?  This thought struck me all over again when at church we sang that wonderful song, "Give me Jesus." I included it below in case you've never heard it. Definitely take a listen. 


At the end of the summer no matter how much of my support comes in I want to say, "even when... Yet, I will." I want to rejoice in the God of my salvation. And I want to know, down to my core, that Jesus far surpasses any joy this world has to offer. Praying that we all will be able to say with a sincere heart, "give me Jesus" and be completely satisfied.

Remember how I said at the beginning God has been so good to me? Well this week he brought in $525 of monthly support. That's amazing! Please pray for me as I ask the Lord to provide $778 of monthly support by August 1st so I can be on campus full-time next year. I know he is beyond capable.

July Newsletter

FRESH BREAD

When I was a student the wonderful woman who led our senior girls Bible study had a special time called fresh bread. We would share with each other what the Lord had been doing in our lives and what he had been teaching us: anything “fresh” he was doing. She usually baked fresh bread for these special days hence the name and a fun double meaning. I’m titling this section fresh bread and throughout the year will be sharing the fresh things God is doing in my heart. Unfortunately I can’t send you all homemade, freshly baked bread but I wish I could!

Here’s what’s been on my heart lately: It’s been such a fun summer. Spending some good quality time with my  family has been a blast. It’s also been really cool to see God provide funds for my ministry, but most days the process is really hard. Questions of “will God provide full funding for me?” and “how am I going to get $1,500 of monthly support by August 1st (just a month away)?” constantly run through my head. I believe with all my heart that God is good, that he loves me, that he wants only good for me. Sometimes though I let my emotions get the better of me.

A verse I’ve been clinging to during this time is  Exodus 16:17-18 in which the     Israelites were gathering Manna in the wilderness. It says, “The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.” I knew the Lord wanted me to really hear this when I randomly (not so random in God’s plan) ran in to an old friend from high school. She reminded me that of the Lord’s prayer: “give us this day our daily  bread.” And she is so right! Today I have everything I need and come August 1st  I’m confident the Lord will give me just as much as I need. I’m learning to rejoice and praise the Lord for providing for me today. He truly has blown me away by the amount of support he has brought in already. So if you pray for me this month will you just start off by praising Him for what’s he’s already done? He is beyond worthy of it!

Celebrating my Dad's birthday!

One of my favorite summer activities: catching fish with my Dad!

FROM CAMPUS

Tai was one of the 6 students from Missouri State that went on summer project to Cote d’Ivoire. They’ll be  heading home in a few days. Here is what Tai had to say about the experience:

“I have shared the gospel with people numerous times, but three days ago, while sharing it with a student in Bouaké, after a lengthy and weighty conversation, he became convinced that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone, and accepted the offer of a covenant relationship for him by our God, our Father, who is now also his. Aside from my own conversion, Vincent’s is the first that I ever witnessed where I was active in sharing the Gospel. Rejoice with me because my heart is SO encouraged!”

Jody, a member of the handball team at MSU and a leader of our athlete’s Bible study, spent the first part of her summer in Sweden on summer project. Jody blogged a few weeks ago after a Swedish girl named Elia accepted Christ:

“I am so encouraged… it is so humbling and it all is truly from the Lord. God is working here in Sweden! Our work here was of eternal value. Praise the Lord for his sovereignty! Be encouraged that Elia will have everlasting life with us in heaven!”

WAYS YOU CAN PRAY

· Praise the Lord for the ways He’s already provided funding for me.

· Pray for $1,500 in monthly support by August 1st.

· Pray that God would prepare the hearts of students I’ll be meeting on campus next year.

Our New Addition

Happy birthday America! Hope you all are having a wonderful day celebrating our freedom and this amazing country we live in.

On another note... I'd like to announce that Pickles (the dog we've been fostering from Dogs for the Deaf) has officially flunked out of the program. Only 1 in 4 dogs make it so before you scoff think about those odds! I'm so very happy to say that my parents decided to keep her. So little miss Pickles is now a Gmur. Woot woot!

Here she is snoozing in my bed. It's going to break my heart to say goodbye to her in August.