We all need people🙏

So I started this blog like 6 years ago after our youngest son Kyler went to be with Jesus. I have recently been feeling pulled back to it more and more and now here I am. I'm not a great speaker or writer, I'm not elegant with all my words. But, God has given me a voice!! He has given me life! He has given me a story!! We all have one. It's the tool God gave us to use for Him once He owns our hearts❤️

My story is one of life and joy but also one of complete and utter devastation. One of overcoming, rebuilding, but most importantly, redemption.

God has given me a huge heart for missions, hence Missions for Jesus :)) I am a nurse and God has allowed me to use my skills for His glory by becoming involved in medical missions. I have been blessed twice in Africa and now have the opportunity to go to Isreal and Jordan next month. We will be setting up a clinic and treating Syrian refugees. Meeting those physical needs and opening the door to their heartstrings speak LIFE!!

This past Sunday the message was about the body-PEOPLE. I tend to be slightly shy and revert inward (God is working on that) so plugging in or asking for help isn't always easy for me. But there was one thing that really hit home with me and so it made its way to the margins of my bible

       Some things God wants to do in YOU requires OTHER people!!

  

The reason I'm here: I need help. Last month I submitted to the call once again to GO. They were in need of another nurse and this trip had been on my heart since January. God swung doors wide open and I thought I had my trip paid for. But sometimes God changes direction and that's ok. I have been earnestly praying and stressing over how this is going to be able to work. How I'm going to pay for this trip. I had budgeted all this year and made reservations for an anniversary trip to Jamaica in Feb so my savings had all went to that before I even knew I would be going to serve. I have been working 50hr weeks and will continue to do so till I leave but on Sunday God spoke to me, telling me I can not do this alone. Things didn't work out with funding like I had planned because He wants the BODY. Things arnt always meant to be easy and were not meant to bear them on our own. Something a precious friend of mine had once told me when I was preparing for a previous trip is that God calls us all in different ways. Not everyone is called to literally go around the world. Some are called to pray and some are called to give and send. She said that if I tried to do it on my own I would be denying her the opportunity to submit in a way God was calling her as a sender. The cost of the trip is $3800. I still need a lot of help with this but I have faith God will provide. He always does!!

It's such a humbling thing (slightly imbarassing) to have to reach out for help but I think that's what he intended the body for, to be used to support one another. So here I am...asking for prayer as this trip is getting really close and support financially. Nothing is to small and God knows our hearts so thank you in advance. There is a donate button at the very bottom of this blog page where u can donate through PayPal or if u would rather do check or money order for you donation my address is 12640 Fm 314N Brownsboro Tx 75756. Faith in action❤️🙏🌏

Sweetly Broken

It has been quit some time since my last post. However, God continues to work in my heart and with a new ferocity. At this very moment our small group and myself along with my husband and our 2 boy are returning from a heart changing experience in Guatemala. We went to serve at an orphanage that will be opening for special needs and HIV positive children. Village of Hope is also building a home in honor or our sweet Kyler that will house and bless beautiful orphans while teaching and showing them the love of Christ. What a humbling experience. I have seen poverty each time I visited Africa but that doesn't change the severity of the needs we encountered. Having my husband and boys by my side...how great to watch my 11 year old son, by his own decision, hand over his shoes to a family in need. God is working in all of our hearts and the call to each and every born again Christian is the same...share Jesus with the world!!! We had the opportunity to do a VBS, deliver food to what is considered a home, but by American standards it is just a few prices of tin and cement blocks. We taught English and played soccer with children who didn't own a pair of shoes. Some of our team served a family who's 3 year old son fell in a fire 3 months ago and has an infection in his intestines. This boy is in desperate need of meds and surgery and will have to wait 3 more month for a surgeon to arrive. In the meantime they are just trying to keep this young boy alive. Another family has 3 girls, one with cerebral palsy and a mother who is blind. The father walks 30 miles one way barefooted to work for $2.80. That will not even cover the price of a bus ticket to bring him home. This family is also being evicted from there home, or tin covering. The children are covered in dirt, can not and have never been to school. The food program outreach of the orphanage can feed one family for a week for $15 but still there are thousands or even millions dying of starvation. God has blessed us so that we can bless others. God never intended for these people to be starving...he called us to help and we are not answering that call the way he intended. People, children are homeless and cold at nights while we snuggle in our beds warm from a heater and plenty of blankets. Let us remember what God has called us to do. Through Gods help we could really change or have a huge impact on this world...sharing the love of Christ with them by meeting their physical needs and opening the door to their hearts. God is doing mighty things in the hearts of our team..in my family and I am so excited to see what he has planned for us. We have surrendered...we are HIS...

If you would like to donate to this orphanage and the wonderful things they are doing in the name of The Lord go to...
     Www.lifesongfororphans.com/Guatemala

Please keep the people who are on the ground there at VOH as well as all over the world serving others in the name of Jesus in your prayers!

BUILDING THE BLOCKS...: That is my prayer for every child...

BUILDING THE BLOCKS...: That is my prayer for every child...

Romans 10:13-14
For,"Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? How can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? How can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Luke 10:2
" The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send workers into His harvest field."



Last year I was given an amazing opportunity and privilege to travel to Angola on a medical mission trip. I have been changed by God forever as a result of that trip. I was humbled beyond belief. I was and am blessed with such a great family of believers and a support system who were right beside me through it all. Many people were involved and there with me on that trip as we meet physical needs of people and opened the door to their hearts and filled it with the Good News of JESUS!! Thank you again to those who answered the call by finances, prayer and time. Thank you to the ones who helped to call for Lane and Bryson while I was gone. The time has come and the call is present for me to once again offer my body as a living sacrifice holy and pleasing to HIM. This is huge, it is not something that I can do alone, therefore, this is me reaching out for help.

God has placed a burden on my heart for those around the world who do not know Him. We should all have that burden. We are Gods only plan to share His word and save the lost...there is no plan B. I am not perfect by any means but God didn't save me when I was perfect. He saved me when I was very very lost. He pulled me out of the darkest hole I have and hope to ever know. He has taught me of His sovereignty and His love. I know that there will never be a mountain to big for my God to move or use. God used my son Kylers life and death to change my life. I am dedicated to not letting that be for nothing!! Many peoples lives have been changed by God through my son and I am not going to let that stop. When I have the opportunity to travel across the world and reach a people who have never had the chance to know God...my son is there sharing Jesus to them through me.

I do not like asking for help. Whether it be at work, home or financial assistance I just feel bad... So I fully intended on funding this trip on my own. However, I have a wonderful friend who has been right by my side and we have grown in Christ together who so kindly enlightened me that i was robbing her and everyone else. She reminded me of what it talks about in 3 John 5-8, For they have gone out for the sake of the name, accepting nothing from the Gentiles. Therefore we ought to support people like these, that we may be fellow workers for the truth. She told me that God has called her to send and that by paying my own way I was not giving her or anyone else the opportunity to be fellow workers of the truth. So I would like to give you an opportunity to be involved, to partner with me and send Jesus and medical treatment across the world!! God has blessed us by placing us in one of the wealthiest nations! Around 90% of the world lives off of less that $2 a day...what will we do with the blessing that God has given us. Anything that you can give $5 or $500 will be put towards travel and also supplies, toys and coloring books for the children. I ask for all of your prayers for my family while I will be gone, its not easy to leave your husband and children, or for them to loose you for 2 weeks but I mainly would ask for prayers for the people who we will encounter that God will prepare their hearts for the Good News that will be coming their way. Our trip is set for July 22- Aug 1st. It will take 2 days travel each way.

If you would like to be a fellow worker of the truth you can send to below address and your donation will be tax deductible.

Union Hill Baptist Church Missions Fund
c/o Ashley Kirby
15866 FM 3204
Brownsboro, TX. 75756

(you may also use the donate button is you wish)
　
Thank you for taking the time to read and get involved, and for allowing me to not stop the work God is doing in my life through all the trials I have overcome by faith in Him, grace and mercy and helping to spread that faith around the world!!

                        NOW LETS FOLLOW THE CALL!!

Africa*

First of all i want to thank all of the people who made this trip possible, there are soooo many i couldnt even begin to list them but you know who you are and thank you from the bottom of my heart....you were in africa too!





        After 2 whole days of traveling we finally arrived in Luanda Angola Africa. I think there are 2 words that describe how this trip made me feel...blessed and humbled. It is amazing how little they have and yet they are soooo happy. The children there are awesome! They are so loving and well behaved and thankful...much more than ours are!!

We traveled to differant villages to attend services, but my favorite was seeing the smiles on these little faces of Gods children and showing His love to them...even if it was just stickers...they were soooo happy!! But look at this little girl on the far rt side so covered in dirt...how miserable would that be...but she was happy and she is loved

They dance and sing and laugh, everyone is much happier there. We have more convinience here and much more stuff but really i think they could almost be better off than we are...in the sence that they accept Jesus so readily...they want a purpose and they dont have all this "stuff" standing in thier way! We had some pretty amazing young inturpreters that were totally sold out to God and it was great hearing them dream and plan to move to america and go to college and then come back and totally reform their country...they have so much passion!

We had an awesome group of people that went with us. I am so thankful that God knows what He is doing in everything because i could not have asked for a better group. We all fit together so perfectly. And i have new friends that will last forever!!!

I will most definantly be going back...for these amazing children and the blessing that they had on me!!                                    

                                 
 We were also blessed with the oppurtunity to go to Paris during our travel there and back and it is beautiful!! 

                            Notre Dame

              The most amazing ice cream ever!!!

              The Louve Art Musem where the Mona Lisa is

         Had 90$ ham sandwhiches and coffee at the Louve

                        The Arch of Triumph

             My beautiful new friends...Eileen and Heather :))

It was an amazing unforgetable experience that everyone should be able to do...to feel like you are right where God wants you right in the middle of the other side of the world and sharing His love...AWESOME!! They made us all dresses and shirts out of there UEBA material, which is kinda like the BMA. On this material there are 2 scriptures;

John 14:6   Jesus told him " I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me."

Psalms 133:1  How wonderful it is, how pleasant, when brothers live together in harmony!

At one time the interpreters where singing a song in portugees and Eileen was singing in spanish and I was singing in english and it just reminded me of how awesome it is going to be when we are all in Heaven worshiping God in all differant lauguages...its going to be beyond beautiful! Thank you again for this life changing experience that was moved me even more to give my entire life over to Him.

UpdAte**

God continues to work in my life each and every day. This past weekend marked 2yrs since our sweet baby Kyler went to live with Jesus. God has blessed me with amazing strength and given me a little understanding. I cling to Romans 8:28-30 where God promises everything is for good! Some days its a little harder to see, but when you take the time to squint through the fog its there. We like to get away for moments like this. Sitting at hm with an ideal mind is...dangerous to say the least! So we took this weekend and headed to Dallas with Lane and Bryson. We visited the Ft Worth Science Museum, Dallas Raceway drag strip ( lots of fun and cheap!!) and we also hit up the Galleria for some duds and ice skating...the kids favorite! There were some tough moments of course...I try to have them alone...late at nt...when everyone else is asleep...and this time...i was comforted by my best friend at the exact time that i needed her. God is so faithful and even uses those around us to meet our needs. We just have to hold to Gods promise and strive to make those hard times work for Good!

Africa is getting closer!! Very excited! I have been so blessed and God has meet so many needs that i had for going. I put my faith in Him to send me...and as of now i have 2150 almost to my goal of 2400!! Thank you all so much who have helped in so many ways and to all of you who are going to help with my kiddos...thanks in advance for making this possible...

My little blessings*

Just want to say what a blessing the wonderful Moms are that i am constantly surrounded by are!! We have so many children in our circle that God has blessed us with, may we always remember how much of a gracious gift they are to us....expecially 10 yrs down the rd lol!!

I was able to spend the day with my wonderful, supportive husband who is and will always be the love of my life. It is also because of him that I am a mother today of 3 beautiful boys!! Thanks babe...

We packed up and headed to an Air show at the Air Force Base in Barksdale today for an amazing show!! Just a few of the things we saw....

 Learning about all the buttons...which one is for the bombs!!! lol

The Swamp Fox

 inside one of the big bombers

 Awesome air show, this will def be an anual event

Cooling off in the cargo plane

This however was the highlight of my day!!

I loved watching my boys hug each other...unscripted, just because!! Bryson told Lane he was the best brother ever lol, which he is one of the most loving kids you will ever see!! And then getting in the car Bryson said thank you so much for bringing us here!! Totally worth it!! I am sooo thankful for all that God has blessed me with! He does give and take away though, so cherrish every moment of every blessing! And may my eyes be open to see the blessings in everything!

A special Happy Mothers Day to my mom :)) and a happy first to my Sister!!!

His Grace is Sufficient

I have had a wonderful week thanks be to God!! Celebrating Jesus's resurection last sund, going to a proverbs 31 lunchin with my mom and best friend, and ladies diner at church last nt. I have heard 2 amazing stories of a life changed, from depths so deep...like my own or deeper. As these women stood and spoke Gods grace that we don't deserve was shinning around them, like God smiling!! We deserve the cross, the punishement for what we do and DON'T do!!! But Jesus loved us and became the Lamb!! How awesome!! That's mercy...I know there are many still in those depths rt now and please hold on!! God is faithful, turn to Him, give Him ur burden. Tell ur friends ur supporters ur church family what ur needs are. They will never be able to truly help as long as there are secrets!!! Get involved in a small group, its amazing!!! Stay as deep into Him as u can, looking, seaching, desperate to find the good that He promises and then WHEN u do....use it!!! Please God help me to always use it!!!

*AmaZed

Isn't it cool how God just keeps getting greater and greater??

I am so amazed at some of the things He shows me in prayer and in my walk with Him. He is forever faithful.

You know that little voice inside your head that we think is our concious...nope, thats the Holy Spirit speaking to us!! DONT ignore it...i have and its a horrible feeling...being terrified and standing in front of a crowded church as i spoke about what God was doing in my life...that fear was better than the shame you feel when you know your supposed to do something and dont.

I have been praying for God to open doors so that I will be able to help and witness to those in need, and He came through... when we do our part and meet Him half way, just by putting some effort into it, you will be amaZed at how fast and how exact He comes through with His part!

So many people proclaim to be saved but there was never any "life change". So are they really saved?? Or did they just buy there collision insurance and keep driving a corvett at 150mph the wrong way down a one way street. Some may go on living the same way maybe even worse, endulging in our sinful desires...being selfish and wanting what we want when we want it...I have been there but i will never go back!!!  I am determined not to wonder about my salvation and do my part in Gods will for my life and so should each and every one of you. When I arrive before the King I want to have my shipping insurance, express mail stamp, extra postage and all my documents perfect and ready in hand to present to him as my gift...example lol.

I have lost my son and i know that God understands my pain but i will never be able to understand how He must have felt, SENDING His Son to die for those who hated Him.

If we truly are saved then show some respect and live like it

Luke 9:23 "If anyone should come after me he must deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow Me."

{Grace & Mercy}

My family and I recently visited a beach in Georgia. It was quiet and peaceful, none of the "rat race" stress. Just God. We woke up early one morning and made our way to one of the beaches to watch the sun rise. As the bight orange rays broke over the ocean and filled the sky I was reminded of how awesome God is. How he made such beautiful places, flowers, wonderful smells and giving us the pleasures of food that melts in your mouth. These are not things that God "needed" He gave them to us out of love*.  He wants us to be happy and know that not only will he meet our needs but surpass them!!

I am so thankful for the grace that God has given me. The blessings that i do not at all deserve. He is so mercyfull that all we have to do is confess our failures and the God that made the sunrise is faithful to forgive us.

We have been given the Great Commission (Math 28:16-20) by the authority in Jesus on heaven and earth to go and make disciples of all nations, teaching them to obey everything that He has commanded, when all the while He is standing by our side giving us the strength and comfort to accomplish ALL things!! We are not to just make believers but disciples...the journey doesnt end at acceptance.

The way that we live our life shows our thankfulness of what God has done for us! In Eph 4:1-6 He speaks of this and of the virtues that we will or "should" posses as a biproduct of our faith in Jesus...
        Humility: judge ourselves in accordance with the measure of faith God has given us. Also to offer ourselves entirly to God for His work and glory out of thankfullness and love for the God who is fill of mercy. (Romans 12)
       Gentleness: Pastor Trevor used this ex. that you wouldnt consider a tiny dog "gentle" if it is easy with children, but if it were a great dane which had the ability to do great harm,and could reframe from that through control...thats being gentle. In the same aspect, many men consider gentleness and sometimes love to be a weakness. It is however totally the opposite! A big, strong man who shows gentleness by being in control of himself and disiplined enough to deny human desires...that shows more POWER and awesomeness than a man who is "weak" and cannot contol himself. So never be afraid to allow God to make you gentle and loving because by that you bear witness of true strength.
        Patience: excepting Gods plan and waiting patiently through it all without complaining
        Love: bearing with one another, through ALL things in love* 

So take the time to examine ourselves and see how we are living up to what God is calling, no... commanding that we do for Him. And if we love our God as much as we say we do we should be willing and able to allow him to change us and make us usable so that we can be used! You never know who is watching when you deside to edulge yourself or what situation they may be going through, but that can ruin your witness with that person forever...and they may never again have anyone in thier life that will lead them to the Lord so they will suffer in hell forever! I am NOT willing to have that on my sholders as I go before the King! I will stive daily to show my love to God by showing His love others!
What are you doing for HIM?? 
                                                                                                                                       
Have raised almost $900 so far towards the Angola trip!! God is faithful and will provide the means to make His work possible :))