“I will commit myself to you forever; I will commit myself to you in righteousness and justice, in steadfast love and tender compassion. I will commit myself to you in faithfulness.” -God to Isreal in Hosea 2:19-20

As the days go by I think about the kind of woman I want to be.... in every area of my life. How do I want to be as a friend? neighbor? wife? daughter? sister? Do I just want to be this average person who is alive but doesn't live? Or do I really want to be something that sticks out, not only because of my skin color :), but because I am different. I am different because I am anchored in love. The love of God. The unfailing, perfect, pleasing, steadfast love of God....forever. God promised the Isrealites that, and I genuinelly believe he has promised me his love forever. God will commit himself to me in every way that He can.... will I commit myself to him in every way that I can?

I found a magazine that a group left and I was flipping through the pages and I was so excited to find out what was going on back in the states, and I saw all of these advertisements for different products (hair, make up, house, etc) and I just thought to myself... I am making it PERFECTLY fine without any of this.... and I havent even thought of it. Guys, Americans are soooo spoiled. Don't get me wrong, I dont think there is anything wrong with buying things for yourself. I really don't. I just want us all to ask ourselves if we are giving of ourselves too. Are we pouring out the love and blessings Christ has given us? Do we look into the eyes of orphans and give, or walk away? Do you pass the offering plate because you just can't afford to put your 10% in but go out to lunch afterwards? Do you feel a tug in your heart to do work for the Lord but deny him because you have better plans for your life? I know that I have done all the above, but not anymore. Because I want my heart to be anchored in love.

All of the missionaries here are reading a book titled "Radical" by David Platt. I started reading because I wondered why they all were so in love with it..... I am going to write a part that I read that has absolutely changed my view on following Christ.

      "In Matthew 13, Jesus tells his disciples, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." I love this picture. Imagine walking in a field and stumbling upon a treasure that is more valuable than anything else you could work for or find in this life. It is more valuable than all you have now or will ever have in the future. You look around and notice that no one else realizes the treaure is here, so you cover it up quickly and walk away, pretending you haven't seen anything. You go into town and begin to sell off all your possessions to have enough money to buy that field. The world thinks you're crazy. 'What are you thinking?' your friends and family ask you. You tell them, 'I'm buying that field over there.' They look at you in disbelief. 'That's a ridiculous investment. Why are you giving away everything you have?' You respond, 'I have a hunch,'and you smile to yourself and walk away. You smile because you KNOW. You know that in the end you are not really giving away anything at all. Instead you are gaining. Yes, you are abandoning everything you have, but you are also gaining more than you could have in any other way. So with joy--with joy!--you sell it all, you abandon it all. Why? Because you have found something worth losing everything else for. "

Oh friends, how beautiful is that? It's not this sad thing to lose everything you have-- your house, your clothes, your make up, your comfort, your money, your dinners, your nice cars-- its a joy! You have found something better! Lay it all aside, because you can't follow him with it all. He is calling you to sell it all because you have found something greater! Something that last! If you deny him that you turn away eternal riches! And not only if you don't follow him are you turning down eternal riches for yourself, but for others that you are too selfish to tell about the love of God.

I know that last sentence sounds harsh, but it's true. We aren't the only ones who suffer when we deny God the opportunity to use us, the kingdom of God does, and all those who have yet to experience his love, mercy and grace.

May your heart be anchored in the love of God, may your life be forever changed by a love that is so much bigger than this world has to offer. May you see the treasure you have in Christ, and go sell everything.

In Christ Alone,

Kendra