Until the whole world hears

This weekend David and I are leading worship for the orientation and commissioning services for Go Now Missions in Dallas. This is the same organization that sent me on 3 summer mission trips around the world and David on one. Our journeys with Go Now are a huge part of our story as a couple so we love being able to be a part of the organization after our college years.

It was when I was flying home from my first overseas mission experience in northern Germany in 2005 that I felt a strong calling towards leading worship and being involved in ministry beyond regular church attendance. Two years later I spent an entire summer in the mountains of Montana as a worship leader for a small church. Now, eight years after that first calling I have the awesome opportunity to lead worship with my husband for the agency that was such a pivotal part of my ministry journey.

Also, many of the students I work with will be there and are getting ready to be sent all over the world. Such a cool thing to witness!

Pray that we are able to get out of the way and let God use us this weekend and for the hearts of all the students preparing to go. The nations are ready and waiting!

Time is marching on

March is almost over, which mean 2013 is almost a quarter of the way through. Life is moving so fast. I haven't been updating much but I have been creating a lot and living a lot. Below are some highlights of my life lately:

• I had my 5th TMJ arthroscopic surgery in January
• We celebrated 2 years of marriage
• David was ordained a deacon at our church
• I've fallen more and more in love with my job
• We lead a time of worship and prayer every 3 weeks at our church
• Anticipating the return of new Doctor Who episodes
• Lots of hand-sewing and knitting
• Realization that my jaw isn't recovering and I need arthroplasty
• Chuy, as always, makes life just a little cuter
• I've embraced a deeper fondness of fashion
• We feel more drawn to missional living and doing life with a community
• We are also hooked on New Girl and I want to be Zooey Deschanel

David and I are also learning to really embrace who we are as a couple, as people, and as the artwork God created us to be. I read this quote on Kristina's blog and I just absolutely love it:

"Embrace the uniqueness God placed within you.

If you can do that, you'll give the world a beautiful gift."

SO GOOD. I've personally really learned to embrace my own uniqueness and not hide it or try to make it more than what it is. God created me in a very particular way and I shouldn't try to be someone else. He already created someone else, there's no need for me to try to reinvent that. Simple.

Since no post is complete without a picture or two here are a few of life lately.

In Fredericksburg celebrating our 2 year wedding anniversary

loving my pup.

playing with some new hair styles.

David leading worship while I recovered from my surgery.

happy puppy.

learning to appreciate beauty in the most mundane things.

no explanation needed.

silly sisters.

my man can drive a bus.

the two most important men in my life.

stage before Mania Marathon 12/13

I'm more active on instagram on a daily basis so feel free to follow me there: @randamocity

In Exile

Below are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. The words are just so true to how I feel about this life vs the eternal life I will have later with Christ. I love my life, where I am, who I do life with...but I'm just passing through on a journey to get closer to God and spend eternity with Him. Thrice does a great job expressing exactly how I feel about this. :)
I am in exile, a sojourner
A citizen of some other place
All I've seen is just a glimmer in a shadowy mirror
But I know, one day well see face to face

I am a nomad, a wanderer
I have nowhere to lay my head down
There's no point in putting roots too deep when I'm moving on
Not settling for this unsettling town

My heart is filled with songs of forever
The city that endures when all is made new
I know I don't belong here, I'll never
Call this place my home, I'm just passing through

I am a pilgrim, a voyager
I wont rest until my lips touch the shore
Of the land that I've been longing for as long as I've lived
Where they'll be no pain or tears anymore

My heart is filled with songs of forever
The city that endures when all is made new
I know I don't belong here, I'll never
Call this place my home, I'm just passing through
In Exile | Thrice

day 30: my God

Finally, today I am thankful for God.  I'm so thankful for His grace, mercy and forgiveness in my life.  He is the core of everything I am and everything I choose to do.

Thank You!

day 16: my job

baptist student ministry

I am so so so thankful for my job.  I work at the Baptist Student Ministry on the University of Texas campus as the office manager.  I love being here.  My co-workers are amazing people of God and encourage me daily.  It's also fun being around college kids all day, they can be pretty funny.

I felt a little lost when I quit my last job with no leads to a new one, but I knew I needed to leave when I did.  It was just the right time for me to pursue something new and focus on where my heart really was.  I was able to put more focus on our wedding for a few weeks, and then enjoy just being married for a few months.  The four months I was unemployed were freeing and relaxing for me but I know they totally freaked out David.  Those months were definitely a bonding time for us and we both have a better understanding and stronger faithfulness in God. 

I was sure God would provide, and He did!  This job fell out the sky and right into my lap.  It was a big change going from a corporate office of 60 people to a small ministry of 4 regular staff members.  I've had ministry and church jobs before and they have always been my favorite, so I knew I would love it here.

Not only am I thankful for this job but I'm so thankful for God's faithfulness and that He always has us in His hands.

the power of Your name

surely children weren't made for the streets
and fathers were not made to leave
surely this isn't how it should be
let Your kingdom come

surely nations were not made for war
or the broken meant to be ignored
surely this just can't be what You saw
let Your kingdom come
here in my heart

i will live
yo carry Your compassion
to love a world that's broken
to be Your hands and feet
i will give
with the life that i've been given
and go beyond religion
to see the world be changed
by the power of Your name

surely life wasn't made to regret
and the lost were not made to forget
surely faith without action is dead
let Your kingdom come
Lord break this heart

i will live
to carry Your compassion
to love a world that's broken
to be Your hands and feet
i will give
with the life that I've been given
and go beyond religion
to see the world be changed
by the power of Your name

Your name
is a shelter for the hurting
Jesus Your name
is a refuge for the weak
only Your name
can redeem the undeserving
Jesus Your name
holds everything i need

Hawaii

I'm not sure how much I've talked about it on here but I'm going to Hawaii this summer with some high school seniors and college students at my church. I'm pretty stoked about it to tell you the truth. While there we will be working with the pacific islander people who immigrate there to work in the tourist industry, and often live up to 20 to an apartment. We will also be helping out with the Baptist World Alliance Congress. We will get to experience worshiping with Christians from over 150 different countries all over the world...awesome!

I have to raise a good amount of money to go, most of which I have not raised yet. I'm not worried though, I have faith God will provide...He always has :) The total cost fro travel, airfare, room and board and meals is $1500. So far I have $190 in my account at church.

I just sent out letters to most of my family and family friends asking for prayers and any monetary contribution they feel led to give. I also decided to make some cute canvas tote bags to sell as a way of raising money for the trip. 100% of the money I get for these bags will go straight to my account for the trip this summer.

They are made from beige canvas lined in a fun bright Hawaiian floral cotton. The top-stitching on the outside matches the floral fabric. I also hand painted flowers on the outside in coordinating teal, green and gold.


You can see by the magazine pics how big they are. I bought enough materials to make 24 bags, but as of right now I've made three. If any of you would like to order one let me know and I'll start cranking them out.

I decided to set a price of $25 for each bag, or a donation amount you feel led to give for one of them. With each bag I will also include a prayer card with specific requests for our trip this summer and the people groups I will be working with.

If you'd like to order a bag you can comment here or email me at randamocity@gmail.com. Mostly I would love your prayers! Going on any length of mission trip is hard but rewarding work and only possible with my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ lifting me up from around the world :)