sacrifice

"I never made a sacrifice," said Hudson Taylor in later years, looking back over a life in which that element was certainly not lacking. But what he said was true, for the compensations were so real and lasting that he came to see that giving up is inevitably receiving, when one is dealing heart to heart with God... The sacrifice was great, but the reward far greater.
"Unspeakable joy [he tells us] all day long and every day, was my happy experience. God, even my God, was a living bright reality, and all I had to do was joyful service."
-Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret, Dr. and Mrs. Howard Taylor

supremacy and sovereignty

su·preme1 /səˈprim, sʊ-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[suh-preem, soo-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective

1.	highest in rank or authority; paramount; sovereign; chief.

2.	of the highest quality, degree, character, importance, etc.: supreme courage.

3.	greatest, utmost, or extreme: supreme disgust.

4.	last or final; ultimate.

sov·er·eign /ˈsɒvrɪn, ˈsɒvərɪn, ˈsʌv-/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[sov-rin, sov-er-in, suhv-] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation –noun

1.	a monarch; a king, queen, or other supreme ruler.

2.	a person who has sovereign power or authority.

3.	a group or body of persons or a state having sovereign authority.

4.	a gold coin of the United Kingdom, equal to one pound sterling: went out of circulation after 1914.

–adjective

5.	belonging to or characteristic of a sovereign or sovereignty; royal.

6.	having supreme rank, power, or authority.

7.	supreme; preeminent; indisputable: a sovereign right.

8.	greatest in degree; utmost or extreme.

9.	being above all others in character, importance, excellence, etc.

10.	efficacious; potent: a sovereign remedy.

God is supreme and God is sovereign. I am pondering what this means. I know after thinking about it for years, it has brought me peace. Peace because I know that I am not in control. Peace because I realize that salvation is not in my hands. Not that this stops me from evangelizing, but gives me peace in it.

It's too late for me to be thinking so deep. Today I made homemade oatmeal chocolate chip cookies from a really neat cookbook called The Great Country Inns of America Cookbook. As random as it is, I think my next project is to make some lentil soup.

Anyway, I decided to make the cookies to give to my neighbors. I want to literally be a good neighbor, but I don't think I have been. So the plan is to write sweet notes with my name and cell # on it in case they ever need any thing--with cookies attached. Someone recently did that to my grandma, and her being a single widow, was really blessed by that. I hope it blesses my neighbors, even more so, I hope I actually complete this project and deliver it to them. If I run out of cookies I can always make some chocolate covered pretzels which is really easy. I think I like to cook at heart.

Well, I think I have about 45 minutes of work for Campus Harvest Missions to do, plus dishes, before I go to sleep. I am afraid I will sleep in tomorrow. I can't, and I really hope I don't. I don't have good sleep patters, but I really enjoy staying up late doing things. That can prove to be unfortunate, especially when I accidentally sleep in.

Lindsay got in town tonight! Wahoo! I'm really excited to spend some time with her. She is such a great friend. I think she just gets me which is so refreshing. She not only gets me, but she loves me and even more so she loves Jesus.

There is someone I know who can give the most sincere compliments and when they give them to me I am so blessed by them. They are usually complimenting me on being compassionate and feminine. I like that. Thank you for that person, Lord. Please encourage and bless them.

Okay. I think I could get used to this blogging thing. I know it's not to interesting to the reader, but it is pretty therapeutic. Anyways, if you see this, pray for me.

Love*

smells

So, I believe my dad is cooking something downstairs...why? because I smell it. It isn't really an appetizing smell though :/. I wouldn't tell him that, but...yeah.

Anyways, not much to say. Thought I would share this link with you that my dad sent me today under the subject line, "Crime Never Pays!". Haha.

let's try this again...

So, although Sandra is the only one who reads this, I think I am going to try this blogging thing again. My fear is that I wont be entertaining enough to the reader. I don't think this post will be a good one to start off with especially since my goal is to entertain the reader (Sandra).

Well, today I came upstairs to my room and lo and behold...I found my cute little Pitbull (yes she is cute) eating my Grandma's slipper. This really stinks because 1.These are her special Tweety Bird slippers she got from Goodwill 2.She wears them EVERY morning. 3.She has been asking for them back since she let me borrow them for the Christmas show at church a week ago 4.They now have a hole inside them. 5.She is going to be so mad! Well anyway, I took the injured Tweety slipper downstairs and showed it to my dad. He said he would sew it tomorrow, but she'd still be able to notice! Oh well, I will just have to deal with her wrath. I mean what could I have done? (Given her the slippers back a week ago, put them in a higher place, closed my door so Sadie the Pitbull couldn't get in.)

Well, I know this is not cool, but I really want to do one of these survey things and this is my blog, so what the heck?


So---I'm trying to find the quiz I was going to do, but my internet is down. Why? I have no clue. I guess I can ramble on for a little bit. My brother and I got out portraits taken at the mall and bought frames for them for our family. The pictures turned out really nice. I would definitely go to this place again. I think the last time my family had portraits taken was probably over 10 years ago when my parents were together and we went to a Presbyterian church. Hmm. Random thought. I guess the church was doing it's directory or something and gave everyone the option of also buying portraits. That would be really cool if my church did that. I did a horrible job at hiding the portraits--I didn't really even hide them and looking at some context clues, I think my dad may have seen the bag. Hopefully, but not likely, he didn't think anything of it. I think it will be a pleasant surprise for my parents and grandmas.

Well, it's after 2am and I'm not really tired, but I better go to bed. I wish I could wake up in the morning and make my brother some oatmeal, but I don't really see myself waking up to my alarm, unfortunately.

On a scale of 1-10, how was this for a blog entry, Sandra? (And please don't say 10!!!)

----

Okay, the internet is back up, it's 2:24am, and yes! I am going to do this survey:

One of Those Things

Two names you go by:

1. Lindsay

2. LiLi, pronounced Lee Lee (The Fishers and Katye Rone)

2b. Wee Wee (Emmitt)

2c. Lindsay Ba-gee (Mercy)

Two things you are wearing right now:

1. Some crazy leopard socks my non-Tweetie-Bird-slipper-wearing Grandma gave me. (I call her Mom Mom.)

2. An old Abercrombie and Fitch shirt from middle school!

Two of your favorite things to do:

1. Take a nap with my dogs and lots of blankets.

2. Be around kids and babies.

Two things you want very badly at the moment:

1. The ability to easily wake up in the morning, or anytime.

2. To have my teeth and face clean with out actually brushing or ProActive-ing.

Two people who will fill this out:

1.

2.

Two things you did last night:

1. Attempted to fall asleep by the fireplace with my brother.

2. Was unsuccessful in that.

Two things you ate today

1. Panera's Orchard Harvest salad!! w/pears and dried cherries, mmmmm!

2. Chocolate covered pretzels I made myself!

Two people you last talked to:

1. Dad

2. Brother

(and my dogs)

Two things you're doing tomorrow:

1. Going to a Christmas party where I will be bringing the chocolate covered pretzels I made tonight.

2. Working--missions admin, GHHS outreach

Longest trips taken

1. (in the US)- Tampa, FL (6 weeks)

2. Panama and Thailand (1 month)

Your favorite holidays:

1. Christmas!

2. Thanksgiving

both of these I think are becoming more and more enjoyable as I get older and will continue to be more enjoyable as our family grows---when my brother and I get married...to other people. haha

Two favorite beverages:

1. Sweet TEA!

2. Americanos

from edinburgh to port-au-prince

This summer was great. I really felt like I was a vessel to be used by God to minister to people here, in Scotland, and in Haiti. (And fortunately---ministered to).

My trip to Scotland was awesome, I really knew that it would be. Before going I had so much excitement and anticipation at the opportunity to go and at what God was going to do. I made a few great and key relationships with some girls and I can see how God is beginning to slowly plow the soil of their hearts. That's sort of how Scotland works. Our motto there was they must belong before they believe. They needed to know that they could trust us before they cared what we had to say. That, at times, was frustrating, but in a good way, I believe, because instead of rushing through things, it taught me to do all things in love. It caused me to check myself and my motivations. Anything I do, if it is not done in love, is meaningless. Thank you to God, who loves Scotland, for teaching me that seeds don't always grow as soon as they hit the soil. Thank you for teaching me to love patiently. Thank you for showing me what you can do when I trust you even when its scary. Thank you for breaking my heart for your people.

Haiti dug deeper the well of compassion inside of me. Such poverty and corruption in the government was heartbreaking. To see such wide-eyed people, eager to learn and grow...but a government not willing to help, is very sad. Children end up selling mangoes for a fraction of a penny on the street instead of going to school. The government's own police system doesn't get paid enough to support their family (so they kidnap foreigners for ransom) while the UN workers live a life of luxury, yet never even learn the language of the nation they are "serving". It's sad how for some people, in Haiti or anywhere, your family status determines your future. (Think about the caste systems.) Thank you to God, who loves Haiti, for teaching me to walk by faith and not by sight. Thank you for giving me hope for the hopeless. Thank you for teaching me that little children can lead people to the Lord and lay hands on the sick for them to be healed. Thank you for breaking my heart for your people.

trust

random thoughts

The only scary part about leaving the country for me would be the feeling I get that I can't be there for me family or friends back home if "something happens". As soon as I get dropped off at the airport and step onto the plane, I no longer have my cell phone or car or whatever else I would need to rush to them or watch out for them. Is this because I am the oldest child? I don't know. Anyway, I realize that I can and should trust in God. I want to be like this woman in Proberbs 31, "strength and dignity are her clothing and she smiles at the future". Not be afraid of it.

Hallelujah! I give it to You, Lord.

In other news, God is soooooooooooooooo cool. I am not sure why in the world I get surprised when I pray for something and it happens, but I do. Thank you Jesus for what you are doing.


Sorry for the vagueness!

I got a wisdom tooth pulled today. It still freaks me out. I can show you it :).

Goodnight...

TWO days until Scotland....

Scotland is only a week away! That is pretty exciting. Today was great and it really confirmed many things in my heart. God's will for me is to raise support and minister full-time. That is exciting! That is really, all I've ever wanted to do (besides being a lawyer, artist, judge, and many other random things in elementary school).

Anyway, praise God that He does just leave us hanging, but confirms what He has told us through the Word and other people.

While in Scotland, I am really believing for God to
1.use me to mentor others on our team and to help them "step out" and grow spiritually and grow more and become more intimate with the Lord and 2.use me to minister to many different "types" of people--that they would be saved and specifically healed of many different heart issues (more specifically, Agnes' [an 18? year old Scottish/Danish girl that I led to the Lord and has been seriously serving God since] friends and school mates.

Please keep these things in your prayers. Also, please feel free to email me. i will have email in Scotland. lindsaymcgee@gmail.com

Bless you on every side!
Lindsay

Scotland update email.

Dear family and friends,

I hope you are encouraged to know that your prayers are being answered and God is (still, as always) faithful! I want to share with you something that has been encouraging me throughout this process of trusting God to provide for my Scotland trip.

It’s kind of like a father telling his 10 year old son, “we’re going to Grandma’s house!” and the young boy worrying about how he is going to afford his plane ticket to see Grandma. That’s ridiculous. The father is telling him that he is going. It’s pretty obvious that he is going to provide. To be worried would be very silly. [Thank you for this analogy, Melissa!]

After 6 mission trips, I still have to make a choice (over and over) to have faith. God IS still faithful. He never changed. I hope this encourages you to have faith that whatever God calls you to, he will provide for. To worry would be silly. Completely trusting God seems risky, but it’s the safest place we can be.

Matthew 7:7-11 says, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! “

I leave in only ten days and I only have a few hundred dollars left to raise. Needless to say I am so excited. I am praying that God moves and has His way in Edinburgh and with our team.

Thank you so much for all of your prayers and financial support. Thank you for being a part of God’s work in my life and in Scotland. I pray God would bless you in every way and you would take the “risk” of completely trusting in Him.

God bless you!

Lindsay

PRAYER.

I want to be a woman of prayer. I want to be a woman that God can "rely" on to wake up early to pray and to stay up late praying. I want to be one who prays throughout the day. I want to be one who believes what she prays and prays big prayers that require "great faith". I want to be woken up in the night with God given burdens and pray (not just fall back to sleep). I want to take the Word seriously and pray what it says.

...I am a work in process! =o)
(much process)