Twenty Three and Restless

Twenty-three.

I told a few people that I thoroughly expected to arise this morning to discover a face filled with wrinkles and a head of gray hairs, to match my now elderly stage of life.

Obviously, it didn't work that way.

But I did celebrate a wonderful birthday in Ecuador. And I realized that I have spent all of my twenties in South America.

I said that I would be celebrating my birthday all month this year. What that really entails is considering everything special, unusual, or exciting that happens in October to be specifically for my birthday. (Whether that is the case or not is IRRELEVANT.) So yesterday I had a "birthday pedicure" and tomorrow I am going out "for my birthday." Like I said, the fact that these events would take place whether it were my birthday or not just doesn't matter!

After awaking this morning and seeing there were still no wrinkles or grays to be found, I received a cinnamon roll from Shirley for breakfast, candle and all! Then I made myself a Starbucks Pumpkin Spice VIA (courtesy of Tyler and Amy Liebelt).

I had a fairly relaxing day, even treating myself to Oreos with Peanut Butter (courtesy of Rachel Kuhn!).

Tonight, I was taken out to dinner with the missionaries, and had a little party after, with delicious cake and ice cream!

I end the day feeling extremely blessed and spoiled.

And this afternoon, I began to listen to a playlist from my iTunes titled, "October"-- a playlist I created two years ago. Birthdays tend to make one nostalgic... It's funny how much has changed, and how much hasn't.

Because the first song of the playlist is Audrey Assad's, "Restless."

"And I'm restless, I'm restless until I rest in you, 'til I rest in you. 

Still my heart, hold me close 

Let me hear, a still small voice 

Let it grow, let it riseInto a shout, into a cry. 

And I'm restless, I'm restless until I rest in you, 'til I rest in you 

I wanna rest in you oh God."

And on this day I celebrate twenty-three years on this precious earth, that is how I feel.

"If our deepest desires cannot be satisfied in this world, then we must be made for another."

I know that the deepest desires of my heart are only truly satisfied in Kingdom Come. I am yearning for a Savior, longing for the day when all things are made new. When we finally reach the peak of what it means to know God, and exist in His presence.

I hope to have many more happy birthdays in this earth, but all the best moments of this life are only a shadow of what is to come. And I want to keep that in perspective as I really do develop wrinkles someday, and see so much more change in this life. I am restless until I rest with the Liberating King.

But thank you for helping make this birthday special.

Grace and peace,
Cailyn

Mobilizing Ecuador Doesn't Get Sweeter Than This

It is raining INCREDIBLY hard right now, probably the hardest rain storm I've seen in a very long time.

And I'm listening to Katie Herzig's song, "Sweeter Than This." 

And my life is pretty sweet right now. Besides the fact that I am not a big fan of rain, I am loving my life in Quito!

Rachel Kuhn spent four full days with me in Ecuador for a time of mobilization training.

And now the rain mixes with hail, making so much noise as it hits the roof, windows, and pavement. 

The thunder and hail are distracting as I attempt to put into words what the Lord has been doing these days in Ecuador.

And really, all words of the english language--or spanish for that matter-- are inadequate to describe the things God is putting into motion for his glory.

This is in Riobamba, where we have three candidates. It's okay if you're jealous.

I have now had meetings with six very strong 40/40 candidates. During one of my meetings with Rachel and three potential candidates on Monday, the passion was just bubbling out of the three young Ecuadorians.

Remember how I told you that right now, there are young people in South America with a call to serve the Lord as missionaries, but really have no opportunity to go? Well it is my job to give them the opportunity to fulfill their call to missions.

And I am incredibly blessed to have the opportunity to do that! And they are willingly responding to God's call on their lives.

So pray for these young people as they begin the application process. And pray that God will provide fifteen Ecuadorians who have answered the call by March 2013. Pray also that God would provide their funding.

Can't Comprehend

Take a minute to soak in these lyrics...

May we all fall more in love with the Almighty Liberating King today.

"Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty.
The whole earth is full of His glory."

**********

I can't comprehend your infinitely beautiful and perfect love
Oh I've dreamed dreams of majesty as brilliant as a billion stars
But they're never bright enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I will sing a song for you my God with everything I have in me
But it's never loud enough after all

You are Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

Heaven and earth are full, full of your glory, glory
My soul it overflows full of your glory, your glory
Oh blessed is he who reigns, full of your glory, your glory
My cup, it can't contain all of your glory, your glory
Hosanna we are found after all you are

Holy
Oh Holy
Holy, Holy, Holy

I can't comprehend
You're infinitely beautiful

First Love

Revelation 2:1-5

2 I know your deeds, your hard work and your perseverance. I know that you cannot tolerate wicked men, that you have tested those who claim to be apostles but are not, and have found them false. 3 You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary.
4 Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.

“You have forsaken your first love.”

The church in Ephesus was praised for “hard work and perseverance.”

You can do all kinds of work FOR God, but neglect to love Him, have a relationship with Him, and do it all BECAUSE of Him.

That’s pretty dangerous.

Especially for someone like me… You see, I am all to prone to being a workaholic. I like to be the Fix-It Girl, the girl with all the answers, the girl who gets stuff done.

And if I’m not careful, I end up making THAT my identity, instead of finding my identity in my First Love, Jesus Christ.

I love doing ministry. I have been on the mission field in South America for two and a half years, and I love my life. I don’t regret the decisions I’ve made that have brought me here, and I wouldn’t trade this life for anything.

BUT

I love DOING ministry so much that it is easy for me to neglect my First Love. I can get up in the morning and spend my days in evangelism and discipleship, without actually spending any time with my Savior and LORD. I can “persevere and endure hardships,” but I must repent of this: leaving my First Love.

There is a delicate balance here. Because we must LOVE the Lord, whether He chooses to use us or not. We must LOVE the Lord, whether He chooses to bless us or not. We must LOVE the Lord and live to bring glory to HIS name, even if our names are forgotten.

I don’t want to forsake my First Love. I want to care a whole lot more about His name than my own. I want to persevere, not for my own glory, but for His Kingdom.