This. Is. Real. Life.

 no joke...

This. Is. Real. Life.

 i've packed up my things, and moved to Winchester, Virginia to serve as the children's minister for a new church plant (click it... it'll open in a new window) that will be launching this September 16th. As for now, i have no job to help supplement my income, but i am faithful and have been quite diligently searching.

AND BASICALLY... everyone's first or second question to me the past three days has been...

How are you feeling?

Honestly? i feel uncomfortable. Just flat out uncomfortable. i moved in to the Osbournes' house on Saturday... Saturday night i slept like a baby... (for about every twenty minutes..lol.. at which point i would wake up and realize it's still night time... dagnabbit). Sunday morning i said goodbye to my mom, who went back to Philippi feeling a lot more relaxed and relieved having seen Winchester and reconnecting with the Osbournes again. Watching her leave honestly was a little difficult because it meant that there's no turning back now. haha... This. Was. Real. 

Traveling to the Church @ Martinsburg (the church commissioning us) for their Sunday service was incredible. Shay spoke about missions and church planting, and there were a few folks that spoke about the recent mission trips they had been on. Listening to them brought me comfort as i could relate to some of the feelings they had experienced. And so to answer the question...just keep reading...

Worship.

 

Wow. Just wow. It was as if God had placed all the right songs on the leader's heart... as if God Himself was telling me EXACTLY what i needed to hear... and through it i was able to confirm that this--((right here, right now))-- is truly exactly where God has placed me, and where He needs me. i am humbled that He would choose me... but oh so blessed to be the chosen one. i felt so close to Christ... i felt as if i were holding His hand... singing to Him the praises He so loftily deserves. And along came the tears... not of sadness or anxiety; but sheer awe of God's glory. ((Is this REAL? Am i really here? Is this really happening...?.... YES) So how am i feeling? i feel blessed. i feel humbled. i feel uncomfortable. i feel excited. For one of the first times in my life, i feel as though i have made a decision that i did not even make. That God made. i feel as though i am answering the call He has placed in my heart, and i am eagerly anticipating the lessons He will teach me- and the growing i will do over the next few weeks... even months. Even though i have tried,  i feel as though these words, that no words, can truly even begin to describe how i am feeling...

One of the songs on Sunday basically talked about the fact that Jesus gave His life for mine, and so now i am giving mine to Him.

How incredible it was to sing that.  Jesus died... so that i can live eternally... it almost makes too much sense that now i will die to my life, to serve God on His earth.

Fred Hammond sings a song...

~I counted up the cost--it's more than fair
Even right down to the cross that I must bear
You gave Your life to me, So I'll give mine to You
Without Your power, I just could not make it
All of my life's struggle, wouldn't be able to take it 
My desire is to please You, that's what I do~

Tomorrow my work will begin at 8:00 am.  Shay will begin laying out what will be happening for the next few weeks, as well as the work that i will need to begin doing.

So how can you help?

Pray. Just pray.

Pray for the Church at Winchester.

Pray for the families that have committed to the calling God has placed on their hearts. (i met them today, one word... AMAZING). 

Pray that the hearts of the lost in Winchester will begin to soften.

Pray for me. Pray that God continues to work in my heart and ministry. Pray for focus and determination. 

Just. Pray.

With love in Christ,
-k

 ^1-2The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It's our handle on what we can't see. The act of faith is what distinguished our ancestors, set them above the crowd. (Hebrews 11:1)