Remaining, Abiding, and Following

...It was 930 in the morning. She sat with her coffee in hand, bible in front of her and silence all around. Dealing with the emotional roller coaster her life seemed to be the last year, she began to pray before she started her morning bible study. As she prayed she said the same words she'd been repeating the last 10 weeks. She felt the tug, but deep inside she was honestly hoping there would be a different answer. She hoped God would close the door and show her the next step in her journey as a single, childless, young woman.

She opened her eyes and began to read, "A Wrong Pattern. I hear so many people say something like this: "Lord, I will proceed in this direction. Close the door if it is not Your will. This approach isn't found in Scripture." Out loud she replied, "Henry Blackaby, you SUCK!"....

Yes, this girl was me and yes, I did say those words out loud. Over the last 4 years I have repeated many times that I, at some point in my life, would like to do missionary work in another country for at least a year of my life. This summer I had the opportunity to travel back to Ethiopia, Africa for the second time. This trip not only broke me down but started this exciting journey for my future. I fought the idea of moving to Africa (I prayed continuously that God would close the door if that's not where he wanted me) even though it was so heavy on my heart. I had in my mind that this was just another "mountain top experience". It wasn't until I read those words from Henry Blackaby in his book Experiencing God, that I realized God doesn't lay desires upon your heart for you to ask him to take them away. When he calls you to something, you are to go. He calls us to remain in him, abide in him, and follow him.

And that my friends and family, is exactly what I'm doing. I'm remaining, abiding, and following the call of Christ. March 2012 I, Amber Hook, will be moving to Ethiopia, Africa for a year. I will have the amazing opportunity to be a missionary and love on the poorest of the poor. I will have the chance to live outside of my comfort zone and learn to have faith in God like I never have before. As I go through this journey I want to be able to share my stories with the people in my life. I want to be able to look back and read how God worked and how he continues to work. After all I am, just a girl experiencing God.