Freedom from Bondage

The theme for this week is Freedom from Bondage... The Lord led me to Mark 5 and Joshua 5. They are RANDOM passages. Mark 5 is about pigs that were possessed, and Joshua 5 is mostly about circumcision. BUT the main message is that the Lord delivers you into freedom from bondage. Its really cool for me because I feel like I have so much bondage from my past, and just with believing lies, and with patience. But the Lord makes us free from it. How amazing. It was also cool that HE led me there.

We had another little graduate last week, Rachel "Frenzy". SHE is awesome. I really do miss her!! Our house is dwindling down quickly... we'll probably have 4 more gone in about 6 weeks. WOW! It is so weird to think that things change so fast.

This past weekend was family weekend, and it was a combination of good and hard. I had the opportunity to have meals with the parents of the girls in my room. It was so fun to learn more about them, and to see where the kids come from. It was awesome. "Becca" 's mom and I truly connected. I promised to pray for her during this extremely hard time, and she promised to pray for me as well. HOW amazing that a parent would actually say that to me. It was wonderful. The other two meals were great as well, but not nearly as good as the first one. But it was a hard weekend too. Emotions were high, and there were lots of frustrations. Our newest little was acting out because she didnt get to have the same time with her parents the rest of the kids got to since she is so new. It was heartbreaking looking her parents in the eyes knowing that they have no control, and that I AM the authority of their daughter. Incredible really. AH so difficult.

As I look forward to September, I still have nothing planned. Its a bit scary, but Im trying to handle it. I have a few applications out right now. They are both like Shelterwood. One is the Julian Youth Academy in California, and the other is New Horizons Youth Ministry and has two locations, Indiana and the Dominican Republic. I spoke to New Horizons a few days ago, and they were sending my application to the D.R. for them to review! Incredible. I should hear back in a few days, I hope. I feel stuck sometimes because there are so many things I want to do, but cant really do anything for a little bit. Its also nerve-racking and unsettling. I dont like not having a plan. But at least Im trying. Lord, I pray that you open doors for me to walk through. I also pray that you close doors so that I may see what you still have waiting for me. I pray that your will will become alive.

Things I need prayer for:

1. Financial Provision, God hasnt let me down yet.

2. Doors to open and doors to shut.

3. My sanity for my room.

4. Weight loss to continue at a steady pace! Weigh ins are on Wednesdays.

5. That my time with the Lord grow, and that I hunger for Him MORE.

Frenzy and I at her graduation!