6 days...

Six days from this very moment I will be on a plane headed to Africa. Whoa.

I just got back from a wonderful family vacation to Taos, New Mexico. I enjoyed amazing food, great times with family, and the cool night air. The entire 13 hour car drive home, my mom and I listened to Chuck Swindoll's "David" series (thanks, Danie!!!). What phenomenal teaching...

No matter how busy I am, my heart can't stop fluttering at the thought of Zambia.

I don't know if it's fear, anxiety, or excitement... it's probably a mixture of all three. I just have to remember: God did not give me a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love, and sound judgment (2 Tim 1:7).

I want to tell you a story about Kachinga, the doctor I will be following in Lusaka. He met my parents a few months ago during a CURE international conference. They had lunch together and spoke of the amazing things Kachinga has witnessed in his lifetime. In Africa and other places in the world, witch doctors are rampant. One day, Kachinga was speaking to a specific witch doctor who professed and practiced witchcraft and black magic. This man told Kachinga, "I am an extremely powerful person. I can strike anyone dead-- anyone I want-- just by looking at them" to which Kachinga replied, "I tell you in truth, you cannot touch me for I have the blood of Christ on my soul." The witch doctor then looked at Kachinga after a brief pause and said "You're right. I cannot touch you."

I am going to an area that probably has more spiritual warfare than I have felt in my entire life. I hope you will continue to pray for me... for my focus on God. I don't want to have any crutch on this world, I want to lean on the spirit of God alone. My wonderful cousin, Natalie, has suggested I listen to a series of lectures on spiritual warfare by Mark Driscoll, and I encourage you to do the same. No matter where you and I are, whether it is in Southlake or the dirt roads of Lusaka, the Lord and the devil are waging war for your thoughts, decisions, and soul. Everyone will benefit from this series. Click here.

Lord, I come to You now asking for You to prepare my heart and soul for what I will experience in Africa. I have no idea what to expect, however I trust you to continue to lead me. Thank You, Father, for Your presence. Thank You for the blessings you have bestowed on my life. Thank You for a place to call "home" and a bed to sleep in. I pray for those who don't have these blessings tonight. Please be with them. Comfort them. Father, I pray that You will let my heart ache for what makes Your heart ache... let me be like David in the Bible. Let me be a woman after Your own heart. I pray for every person reading this blog. I pray You will reveal your heart to them... give them the courage and humility to bow at Your feet and follow Your path. You have told us that narrow is the path and the gate to righteousness... please continue to lead us through this gate and when we are overwhelmed and stressed, please give us the motivation to persevere in our relationship with You. Thank You for Your love... thank You for Your forgiveness. Use me in any way You see fit and remove any distractions from my path.