The Unexpected

This morning I put the finishing touches on a lesson I was writing for children's Sunday School at my church.  We've been in a series on Hebrews 11 called "Faith Heroes" and this week's lesson is on Joshua, the walls of Jericho, and Rahab.  The emphasis is on how God uses unlikely people in unexpected ways.  Little did I know how prophetic that lesson would be...
I received an unexpected message this afternoon from a friend who I don't get to see much of any more.  Melody and I just don't seem to travel in the same circles any more, yet she had heard about Brooke's mission trip and wanted to help.  She sells Mary Kay Cosmetics and has offered to give Brooke 25% of proceeds for all orders placed in her name this weekend!  WOW!!!  Here's the link if you want to help in this way.  Just put Brooke's name in the message portion of the order.  www.marykay.com/MMMorris
In order for it to help Brooke, you must place your order between Saturday (4/30) at 6:00 a.m. and Sunday (5/1) at midnight.


Plane tickets were officially booked yesterday, so this is perfect timing!
I got right on the ball making evites to send to almost everyone on my email address list and post on facebook.
I just love how the body of Christ works!  Melody and I may not get to see each other much these days, but there is still unity in spirit.  She and her family have served as overseas missionaries, so missions are near and dear to her heart.  We are beyond thankful to her for thinking of Brooke and for coming up with such a great plan!  I mean, shoppers don't even have to leave the comfort of their homes and with Mother's Day, graduation, teacher gifts, etc. around the corner, what a wonderful gift make-up would be!


Once again God is showing us He is Provider and He uses unlikely people in unexpected ways to accomplish His purposes.


Thanks, Melody for loving The One and loving the one...

God's Funds are Limitless!

Soaring gas prices have caused airline tickets to increase quite dramatically, so the Mozambique trip is going to cost way more than originally planned for.  Please agree with us in prayer, believing God will fund this trip with His limitless supply of resources.

If you'd like to be a part of loving THE ONE and loving the one through Brooke, Ed, and Kay, and the rest of the Mozambique team with We Will Go, we welcome and so appreciate your gifts.

Brooke is making and selling Aprons and Art for Africa to raise funds.  If you live in the middle Tennessee area and would like to place an order, please contact me at jshperry@comcast.net

Aprons for Africa style 1

Aprons for Africa style 2

Aprons for Africa style 3

Aprons for Africa style 4

Aprons for Africa style 5

Art for Africa I can do all things...

Art for Africa Love & Music

Art for Africa LOVE

Art for Africa PEACE

If you don't wish to order aprons or art, or you're not local, but would still like to contribute, please visit the We Will Go link to the right for the address where you can send your tax deductible donation.  Please designate for Brooke Perry's Mozambique trip or anyone else on the team.

Thanks ever so much and rest assured that He will bless your generosity many times over!

Thanks for loving The One and loving the one in this way!

The Possibility of More

This past Sunday we had the privilege of seeing Heidi Baker speak at Grace Center, a local church here in Franklin, TN.  The doors opened at 7:30 a.m. for the first service, which began at 8:30 a.m.  Several of our friends, Brooke, and I were in line at 6:30 a.m.!  When the pastor introduced Heidi, he posed the question:  What is it about this woman that causes people to arrive at 6:30 in the morning and wait in line?  What is the draw?  Then he answered by saying that Heidi represents the possibility of more!  We waited in line, not because we are part of some fan club where we place a person on a pedestal, but because Jesus so radiates from her, we want to be as close as possible to Him in her.  The Bible talks of crowds pressing in to get close to Jesus.  There is just something about someone who carries His glory that draws those who are hungry for more to come closer.  I for one am no longer content to nibble on crumbs being tossed at the sidelines.  I want to FEAST on His goodness!


Now had we arrived 5 minutes before it began, would we have met Jesus?  Probably so, since He is always with us.  We just have to open our eyes to see Him.  However, the physical act of arriving early (at least for me personally) is a picture of my hunger for more of HIM.  More of HIS miracles.  More of HIS joy.  More of HIS peace.  More of HIS provision.  More of HIS manifest presence.  More, more, more...I believe that there are things we do in the natural that are pictures of the spiritual (the greater reality), such as lifting our hands when we praise Him.  Can I praise Him without lifting my hands?  Of course, but there is some sort of release within me that occurs when I do the physical act of lifting my hands.


When the woman with the issue of blood sought Jesus for healing, could she have simply stood at the back of the crowd and waited for Him to pass by?  Would she have still received the healing?  Perhaps, but there was something about putting feet to her faith.  The faith was inside her, but she chose to ACT upon it by pressing through the crowds to touch the hem of His robe.  She just wasn't content to sit on the sidelines.  She saw in Jesus the possibility of more.  More than a life of illness and hopelessness.  More than a life of doctor after doctor telling her the same story over and over.  The possibility of more is what drew her closer to Him.


Hebrews chapter 11 is known as the Hall of Faith, because it lists faith heroes throughout scripture.  They are listed as examples to those who have come after them.  Each was an ordinary person who God used in extraordinary ways.  Heidi describes herself as a little woman in the dirt...an ordinary person who God has used in extraordinary ways.  I think she is a modern day faith hero, setting an example for those of us who are hungry for more.  People line up early to see a favorite actor, musician, or athlete who they consider a hero.  I can think of nothing more heroic than giving up a life of luxury to go sit with the poor, give hope to an orphan, or healing to the dying...in other words to shine the Light of Jesus in the darkness.  Children of light are drawn to the Light.  He called us out of darkness into His marvelous light!  His light and love radiate forth from this "little woman in the dirt" in such a beautiful way, one can't help but be compelled nearer.  


Before she got up to speak, a video was shown of Iris Ministries.  I sat there with Brooke on one side and Ed & Kay in front of me and just cried throughout the whole thing.  Ed & Kay reached back and touched Brooke's knee as they all watched together, knowing in 3 months they will be right smack-dab in the middle of these precious people, loving them and receiving love from them.  I was overwhelmed as I watched the video, knowing God has such wonderful things in store for Brooke, and knowing she gets to go with 2 people I love so dearly and trust with such a precious treasure as my daughter.  All I could do was weep.


Brooke, Ed, and Kay have been drawn to Mozambique by the possibility of more.  They no longer wish to simply read about the ways He is moving there, they want to draw closer and experience His power for themselves.  They are saying yes to more!  They are saying yes to loving The One and loving the one.

Bosom Friends & Kindred Spirits

One of my favorite literary characters, Anne Shirley described her relationship with Diana as "bosom friends" and "kindred spirits". There are a few folks in my life who I would describe in that way.  One such person is Karen. I'll never forget when we found out we were moving from Mississippi back to Texas.  As excited as I was to be moving back to where our family lived, I was equally sad to be leaving our church and especially my dear friend Karen. The day the decision was made official was a Wednesday and Karen and I had already been crying our eyes out. We went to prayer meeting that night and the pastor spoke on the close friendship of David and Jonathan, calling them kindred spirits.  It was as if he had known all along just what she and I needed to hear that night.  The pastor may not have known, but HE certainly did!  In Ephesians 4:1, Paul describes this type of relationship as having unity in the spirit.  You know, the type of relationship where your hearts are united by your mutual affection for Jesus. Perhaps you have both experienced His presence in similar ways or you have walked a similar faith journey.  Regardless of how much time passes between visits, you just pick up where you left off last.  That's exactly how it is with Karen and me. We are truly kindred spirits.


In previous posts, Brooke and I have mentioned Voice of the Apostles which we attended in October.  It was there that a new friend, Mary quite literally "popped" into our lives!  She is a student with Global School of Supernatural Ministries and God used her to deliver messages to some of us ladies (and one of our men!) which seemed to come straight from The Father's heart.  We sat with mouths gaping open as she spoke words over us which were so on target, we were astonished that she had never met any of us before!  After this amazing encounter, she just kept popping up out of nowhere!  Out of thousands of attendees, God just kept putting us in one another's paths.  All I can do upon remembering this is shake my head in awe of my God and how He works among His children.


As soon as we returned from VOA, we looked up Mary on facebook and have been messaging back and forth ever since.  We were stunned to learn that she had never moved in the Spirit to that degree before!  She spoke with such confidence and authority, we thought surely she must do this sort of thing all the time!  Learning this made the things she said even more amazing!  We were pleasantly surprised in February to receive a package in the mail from her filled with cards for each one of us ladies she had met at VOA.  She had taken each of our names before the Lord and written down what He showed her for each one of us.  The words and pictures He gave her were uncannily accurate for each of us. As we opened these precious "valentines from God" we could feel God's presence surrounding us and His love pour into us.  Beautiful!


We were thrilled to receive a message from Mary that she had chosen to spend her spring break with us! She and another sweet friend, Lisa drove all the way down from upstate NY to spend time with us.  As it has turned out, Lisa (who we now consider OUR friend too) drove back by herself, because God has not yet released Mary to go!  She is staying here with us at least until April 10 and we couldn't be more honored that she is here.  I mean while most people her age would choose the beach for spring break, she chose us!  Wow!  What a blessing to have her here and she has assured us that we are a blessing to her too.  


It "just so happens" that the afternoon we met Mary was also the day Heidi Baker rocked our world with her simple message to Love The ONE and love the one.  Mary lives this out so well and we are honored to have her as a bosom friend and kindred spirit.

Waiting

Waiting..... Waiting.... Waiting....

If you can't already tell, my mind is already in Mozambique. I don't even know what's going on around me very much because my mind is already there. haha!

I am so excited that I am actually going. It is all working out perfectly.

I got my passport in the mail today, so everything seems complete now!

The other day, I was really just talking to God and saying "why can't I just be there already? Why do I have to wait and it take so long and everything?!" Right after I asked this, I was listening to the radio and a song came on called "While I'm Waiting" by John Waller.

The lyrics in the Chorus are "I will move ahead, bold and confident. Taking every step in obedience. While I'm waiting, I will serve you. While I'm waiting, I will worship. While I'm waiting I will not faint, I'll be running the race, even while I wait."

These lyrics really spoke to me. It was like God was saying "even though you are so ready to go, I need you here and focused on what my plans are for you while you are waiting to go. Still serve me and focus on me, while you are waiting."

Cool, huh? I LOVE it when He does stuff like this. Amazing.

That's the next prayer for me, I think. Still staying excited and prepared for the trip, but not losing sight of what God wants for me here while I'm waiting to go.

123

I added Brooke's trip to my email calendar today and noticed on the event countdown that it's 123 days away. 1...2...3...Prophetic? Perhaps...


I think of a child getting ready to do just about anything, but the particular picture I have in my head is a child getting ready to jump really high...how they count down in a sing-song voice...1...2...3...GO!!! and they jump as high as their little legs will take them!


GO - such a small word with such big meaning! Many years ago, Kay was awakened in the night to a voice saying "Go and tell".  Little did she know that all these years He has been preparing her for this trip. 1...she has been the one sending her daughters on mission trips...2...she received prophetic words in October creating a desire to go to Mozambique...3...she has received numerous confirmations...now all these years later, she will indeed finally get to go and tell!


GO - the color green...Ed wasn't sure if he would be able to take off work enough to go with Kay and Brooke on this trip, though in his heart he desperately wanted to go.  1...his boss has cleared it for him to take off the amount of time required...2...he too received prophetic words about going to Mozambique...3...God gave him a beautiful vision with the color green, which he knew meant go...now he gets to do just that!


GO - If you've read any of the previous entries, you've seen how Brooke has been called to go!


GO - Then a scribe came and said to Him, "Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go." Matthew 8:19
"And as you go, preach, saying, 'The kingdom of heaven is at hand.' Matthew 10:7
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19
And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Mark 16:15


Can't you just hear these three kids of the King as they hold hands and say 1...2...3...GO!!! and up they jump as high as they can...then their Daddy lifts them up even higher than they ever dreamed possible!


Ready? 1...2...3.................


GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Love The ONE and love the one!

The Excitement Builds!

This weekend Brooke and I rode with Ed and Kay (the couple from our church going to Mozambique with Brooke) to Jackson, MS to meet with the folks from We Will Go Ministries (see link to right) about the trip.  I rode along, because I couldn't pass up an opportunity to see my dear friend, Karen who lives in Brandon, a suburb of Jackson. David and Amy Lancaster head up We Will Go.  When our family lived in Brandon back in the 90's, we were in the same couple's Sunday School class.  This was back when we were all having babies.  Little did I know way back when that one of my babies would be traveling to another continent with  this amazing couple.  It felt surreal to sit in Peace House (part of We Will Go ministries) Saturday evening and hear David, Amy, and their children tell some of the experiences in Mozambique.  This scripture fits so perfectly what we are now experiencing:  

Isaiah 25:1 NAS

[Song of Praise for God's Favor] O LORD, You are my God ; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name ; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

Saturday afternoon we visited the House of Prayer in Jackson, where Brooke had the honor of singing on the worship team with Karen's daughters. Sunday we visited a church called Hope Fellowship in Brandon. While there, we were introduced to a lovely young lady named Emily, who has been to Mozambique.  In fact, she attended the Harvest School at Iris Ministries.  She shared some of her miraculous experiences while there, including raising someone from the dead!  Glory to God!  

Needless to say, Brooke, Ed, and Kay are now totally PUMPED about this trip!  I am excited for them and will be holding down the intercessory prayer fort from here the whole time they are gone.  Much still must be attended to here in the next few months as they prepare to leave.

Pray for provision of funds for Ed and Kay's portion of the trip.  Pray for easy access to malaria medication (we had an issue with this when getting Bradley ready for his trip to Malawi a couple years ago). Pray for rest and no stress for all.  Pray God's continued blessings and favor on We Will Go Ministries.  David and Amy are TRUE faith heroes!

They are wonderful examples of people who truly live out loving The ONE and loving the one in Jackson, MS and around the world.