Promises

We all make promises. And, because we are human, we have all broken a promise. When one is broken, how does it make you feel? Letdown? Upset? Hurt? Maybe even bitter?

There was a time in my life where I felt like promise after promise, which had been made to me, had been broken. I think that is why (actually, I know that is why) breaking promises is now a pet peeve of mine. I remember exactly how those broken promises made me feel. I try to go to great lengths never to make a promise I cannot keep. If I do break one, I find myself profusely apologizing as something has happened beyond my control.

A.W. Tozer once said, "What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us." There are a handful of words or phrases that immediately come to my mind about our Heavenly Father, but one that jumps out at me is faithful. Our Abba Father speaks promise after promise over our lives, and He is faithful and true to bring them into fulfillment. It may take years for some of these promises to come to pass; we may have to wait like Abraham did (Genesis 17), but they will never return void (Isaiah 55:11).

When I think about specific promises the Father has spoken over my life, I sometimes become anxious. But then I think of Abraham, who waited 25 years for his promise to come to fulfillment. Twenty-five years. That's a decent amount of time! I am pretty sure during that time of waiting, Abraham did a lot of questioning. "Did I not hear God?" "Did I believe in vain?" "Did I take a wrong turn?" Finally, at the age of 100, God decided it was time to fulfill His original promise to Abraham and give him a son through his wife, Sarah.

When we are waiting on a promise, there is a sequence we tend to follow: promise –> excitement –> waiting –> doubting –> testing –> refining –> reinforcement and –> eventual fulfillment. Abraham experienced this same sequence as, I believe, we all do. The beautiful thing is that while we are going through the waiting, doubting, testing, and refining, our Heavenly Father is right there with us every step of the way.

So, what promises are you waiting for? What promises are you holding on to that the Father has spoken over your life? Do not lose heart because all of His promises are "yes" and "amen" (2 Corinthians 1:20).

*This is currently one of my repeat songs: Yes and Amen by Housefires

Praises, Blessings & Updates:

• Several months ago, I mentioned that the Dream Centre in South Africa ran out of space and needed to expand/move to a second location. Well, through generous donors, the expansion is 100% funded!! Through relationships that have been built, a local primary school is partnering with Extreme Response by providing this extra space for the Dream Centre! We have been permitted to build on their property, and they have given us access to a classroom until the project is complete. How cool is that?! It is genuinely through relationships and the Lord's favor that this move is possible. Thirty kids are dreaming big through this program, and because of this expansion, more can join them in 2019.

• We are officially breaking ground on the water project for BELWOP in Kenya!! It is now in its last stages of completion. Twenty-eight precious kids will no longer have to worry if they will have enough water for cooking, washing, and bathing. Thank you, everyone, for your generous donations as this project has now become a reality.

• I was able to attend a few anti-trafficking awareness events in Atlanta in preparation for the Super Bowl. This opportunity provided me with more networking connections, both locally and internationally. It was a neat time to see so many local ministries and organizations coming together to take a stand against trafficking.

• For my 35th birthday, I am taking a road trip down to Florida to visit two close friends who have relocated there from California! I am super excited to spend some time with them and their families. (The last time I saw one of these lovely ladies was two years ago for my 33rd birthday.)

• I am planning a trip out to California -- San Diego, Santa Cruz, Fairfield, Chico, and Humboldt -- in late May/early June. (Dates may change to June/July depending on work.) I hope to see as many of you as possible and share some fantastic life-changing stories with you all :)

• If you're on Facebook and we aren't "friends," add me! I also have a private group on FB called Go Therefore, where I share weekly updates, photos, and prayer requests about what is taking place in the three regions that Extreme Response works in. Due to the group's privacy, I have to add you but send me a message, and I'd be more than happy to!

Things to PRAY for:

• We are in the process of starting an Independent Living Program (ILP) at our Children's Home in Manila. Five of the boys are almost of age (once they reach 18, they are "aged out" per the DSWD), so we are starting to prepare them for their next steps in life. It is an exciting time, but it needs to be covered in prayer! Pray for the boys and the staff as plans are made and training is set in place.

• Please keep our Regional Directors and their wives in your prayers. They are having our annual directors meetings in Cape Town, South Africa, this year. Pray for traveling mercies and protection over their families and programs while they are gone.