Alleluia!!!!!

Praise the Lord! I am still in awe as i look back and think upon the great work He has done. Today, the missions committee meeting finally came. The last meeting lasted 3 hours. I didn't think it could go much longer than that... Today, it lasted 4. I thoroughly enjoyed this meeting though. As i mentioned before, i had to present the Japan trip today. I didn't put much work into getting the presentation ready. Decided to write out the answers to all the questions i had been asked, not look at them again, and improvise during the meeting without reading from the notes the entire time. I figured i'd let the Lord guide me in what needed to be said rather than a speech written out 8 hours in advance... Long story short, i feel called to go to Japan this summer. It's going to be a very expensive trip. It will last 2 weeks and may very well cost as much as my 2 month long trip to Africa did. I have to pay $3000. After wiping out savings and exhausting my Christmas money fund, and diligently saving these next few months, i should have close to $1000. I feel that it is God's will for me to go and i know that he will provide the rest if that is true. I've already seen him open doors in places that i wouldn't expect. He's given me a love for people, taught me how to talk to strangers, made me bold for the sake of Christ, made his word the center of my life, given me the strength to stand for the truth when no one else in the crowd will, taught me how to teach, made me a leader, given me the words to speak when i have none, taught me to obey and trust him, increased my faith, taught me that his grace truly is sufficient for me in all circumstances and began to teach me the meaning of contentment, and most importantly of all, increased my love for him. I've seen that when you follow after God, all other things will fall into place. As i write these things, there is an expression of joy and happiness on my face. Imagine what it sounded like when i spoke these words and more to the missions committee. Praise God that i truly am not who i used to be. As i shared in that room, people sat in awe and amazement. The old Stacy is gone and the new has come. As i was speaking, they thought of the Stacy that they used to know, the shy, quiet one that always felt she had so little to offer. I could go into so much more detail of the girl they thought of as they heard me, but it is very early in the morning and i probably aught not The difference now is that i have began to see the value of Christ. He is the greatest and most valuable asset anyone could ever have. He is my fortress, my provider, the lifter of my head, my shepherd, the king and maker of the entire universe, my master, my lord, my Father, my friend when i am friendless, my rock and my salvation! When you have him, there is no greater. I have nothing of more value that i could share with anyone on the face of this planet. I will say, whether they decide to grant my request in helping to support me in going to Japan this summer or not, i am so happy! God was glorified today! He has done a great work in my life and it was wonderful for some of the members of my church to be able to see it as well. I don't believe this verse to be taken out of context or i wouldn't use it. Here it is anyway: "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~Romans 8:28 It's awesome to catch a glimpse of that every now and then when you look back. I can see bits and pieces of why God placed me in the family, church, high school, college, town and circle of friends that he did. I've seen why he gave me some of the gifts he did, i have seen random encounters with people lead to friendships, i have seen my heart turn to and draw nearer to him. I have seen him turn every experience of my past (all things) into good. Praise his name! While we were in that room, a few had tears in their eyes as they met the new me that God had made. In no way do i say these things to put myself on a pedestal. May the maker of this vessel be praised! To God be the glory, great things he has done!