When the dust settles...finding peace and fulfillment

*Five Minute Friday ~ Find*

 

For the past few months I've felt as if I'm moving about in a cloud of dust waiting to see what is beyond the temporary confusion. I'm trying to balance so many things and found myself adjusting to newness in many areas of life. 

• new relationship
• new roommate
• new internship
• new fellowship of believers

As if that isn't enough, summer is also *without a doubt* the busiest time of year for me! 

So thank you for your patience. I'm grateful for the allowance of time to sort out all the changes occurring. And I think I'm finally ready to share what is going on inside me. 

To my faithful readers: I know I have yet to give an update on my trip to Uganda and I will share a brief recap for now. I'm finding that there is so much more to process, countless lessons to learn and many stories that are yet to be told, so stick with me and they will come in time. 

The last time I wrote, I was preparing for an epic adventure. Being able to finally go to Uganda was a dream fulfilled. A dream that flickered many times and nearly died.  

But God is FAITHFUL and ALWAYS honors His promises.

I find that statement so encouraging. It brings life, gives me hope and spurs me to keep going. In the midst of the frenetic pace I feel I must maintain, it gives me permission to be still and know. My Father is in control and will arrange the details as he sees fit. I need not worry, doubt, or fear in any circumstance. What unexplainable peace that brings!  

As I venture toward the future and all it holds, I can reach up and cling tightly to His hand, trusting with childlike faith that He will guide my steps.

 

 And I've found that in my own strength I will 

• doubt His promises
• struggle to connect
• fear failure
• be anxious about the future

So I must choose that which is proven, and remember the source of my strength.

"I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service..."

1 Timothy 1:12

(NASB) 

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Starting a New Adventure

Dear Family and Friends,

Greetings from colorful Colorado! I’ve been here for almost four years now and it is exciting to see what God has for me here. Currently I’m working in a pediatric clinic as a certified medical assistant and I’m daily learning something new while doing what I love – working with people and making a difference!

I’m also involved in my church, participate in a local community choir, fellowship with other young adults through a weekly Bible study and have been taking classes through Colorado Christian University in order to pursue my nursing degree. While at CCU, I connected with one of my professors through common interests and goals.

She is the co-founder of an organization in Eastern Uganda that serves to educate and empower widows and orphans infected or affected by HIV/Aids. (http://loverowan.org/). I have the incredible opportunity to spend two weeks in Uganda with ROWAN on a volunteer trip this summer!

I will be using my abilities with music, teaching children, counseling and medical knowledge as I seek to serve wherever I am needed. My team is made up of young adult women and we will be going to various villages for home visits in order to assess needs so they can be met. This organization strives to make every widow a leader and every orphan a loved child, and their motto is “Hope never disappoints.”

This trip will also serve as a survey trip to determine whether God might see fit to bring me back more permanently in the future. This country and these people have been in my heart and on my mind for the past few years and I sense that God will take me far away from everything and everyone I know…and I’m excited to see where that will lead.

Please pray with me as I prepare and consider if you would like to be involved in this adventure. My trip costs are minimal—only $3,000 total and I have already raised a quarter of that amount. I’ve included the link to my donation page below, or checks can be mailed to:

ROWAN

PO Box 1055

Acton, CA 93510

(Be sure to include “Liz Kliewer mission” on subject line)

https://www.denarionline.com/DonorServices/TEMPLATEPAGE.ASPX?COMP_REF=_rowan%20%20%20%20&SID=a0tp2fhafhhfug1zjx4ouose&CONTENT=QUICK_DONATE&DS_GO_REF=076F8E54C8

When your dreams come true...

You guys, this is really happening! For the past week I've been in shock, thinking "this can't be true" and now I'm over-the-moon excited that it is materializing and things are falling into place. My journey has begun and I'm eagerly awaiting what is next.

{photo credit}

I've submitted my application, mailed the check for the initial deposit, received my first donation and purchased travel insurance. My pastor wants me to share this opportunity with the rest of my church, my parents are on board and I have so much support from friends, family and co-workers!

Even though I've prayed for this for so long, I doubted that it would happen. But God wanted to do things in His time so He would receive all the glory. There is no way I can take credit for any of this, because humanly speaking it is impossible. 

My heart is overflowing with joy and I cannot wait to spend two amazing weeks in Uganda this summer.

(I promise -- details are coming soon!)

~Liz

God is good all the time: Five Minute Friday

This opportunity?

He dropped it in my lap -- and told me to chase it.
I've known for awhile I'm supposed to pursue this, 
but the timing was unclear.
I'll be honest, I doubted if it would even happen.

But God wanted to stretch my faith.

He wants to give good gifts and fulfill dreams, 
but He does it in His way and His time. 

So that, when it happens -- He gets the glory 

Psalm 37:4 says to "delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

 

Does this mean I'll get everything I want? 
Hardly, but I firmly believe God places desires 
in the hearts of His children 
with the intention of satisfying them in His perfect time. 
And I'm so excited that one of those dreams may be coming true at long last!


It seemed impossible, illogical even.

But there it was just the same.

I might be going to Uganda this summer!
Words cannot begin to express my excitement about this possibility.
For so long now I have prayed for this and God is answering those prayers in a big way.
I cannot wait to see what good things He has in store for me!
 

Pray with me, friends. 

Pray that His will is done.
That I am content and willing to wait on Him.
That I will praise Him even if this doesn't work out.
That I know He is good, no matter what happens.

~Liz
stay tuned for more details...

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In His Presence -- There is Peace

Five minute Friday: Gather 

 Psalm 143:8-12

"Let me hear in the morning of Your steadfast love,
for in You I trust.
Make me know the way I should go,
for to You I lift up my soul.

 Deliver me from my enemies, O LORD!
I have fled to You for refuge.

Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God!
Let your good Spirit lead me
on level ground!

For Your name’s sake, O LORD, 

preserve my life!
In Your righteousness bring my soul out of trouble!

And in Your steadfast love 

You will cut off my enemies,
and You will destroy all the adversaries of my soul,
for I am Your servant."

(ESV)

He gathers me close and whispers He loves me. That gentle message crowds out the lies that I’m not enough; that I have to be perfect or whole or stronger. He can and wants to use me in my brokenness. He promises to bring healing.

 {source}

Skip down a few verses – He promises to defeat the adversaries of my soul. To satisfy as only He can, to bring light and love and joy where there was once darkness, hate and sorrow. He gathers those insecurities and replaces them with peace and contentment.

I don’t know what is next or what order I’m supposed to do these things He has laid on my heart. But I don’t have to know the future to realize where my destiny lies. I just need to stay close beside Him, to gather my burdens and lay them at His feet.

~Liz

Beauty from Brokenness

I'm still reeling from all that has occurred in the past few days. Much of it was unexpected, some of it I knew was coming, but all of the circumstances elicited a strong emotional response from me. I'm often told that my biggest strength is also my greatest weakness, and I tend to agree. I care too much sometimes. Now, before you draw conclusions on what that really means, let me explain. 

For as long as I can remember I have always had a compassionate heart and been sensitive to the needs and struggles of others around me. But so many times I will internalize that pain as if somehow I can make it go away or make it better. As a result, I stumble and fall beneath these burdens that I was never meant to carry alone. 

I hate seeing loved ones who are hurting, but trying to take that all on by myself helps no one. Time and time again, my loving Father reminds me to bring my sorrows to His throne and leave them there. No matter how hard I might try, I am incapable of changing someone's heart. Fortunately, that is not my calling; I'm never expected to accomplish a task not assigned to me in the first place.

None of the events that I encountered this week were a surprise to God though. He graciously filled me and prepared me to deal with some difficult stuff. Had I not been broken completely earlier this week, I would have fallen apart. Even now I am a bit fragile, but have peace and contentment regarding the situations He has placed me in for now.

Do I understand the purpose of these circumstances fully? Hardly. But I know God has a purpose for everything and I am clinging to that promise. He can redeem anyone, turn around the worst of situations and bring glory to His name while providing healing for hurting souls. He weaves His beautiful story of redemption through our broken lives, and prepares us for future ministry in doing so.