Parable Of My Life

I am building a house, and hired the best contractor there is. He listened to my ideas and dreams, while giving his improvements. Then He draws up the plans for my dream house. After the planning is done, final decisions are complete, and blue prints laid out before us, we start working on it. It is a complex and difficult house to build, but I know it will be worth it. With  the best Contractor's approval and my dreams how can this house go wrong? The starting process takes longer than expected. The rain keeps coming making major delays. However, with some patience and hard work the house comes along. It is almost complete when it happens. Out of no where The Contractor says he can  make my house better. While we can use some of the aspects of the present house The Contractor's house is different so some of my house will have to go. He says, “It is totally your choice and your house, but if you trust me we can make something better that will benefit you more and everyone else that comes to your house.” At first I said, “What is wrong with the house we both are making from my dreams and your blue print? Why wouldn't you tell me this when I asked your advice in the beginning?” He replied, “First you never asked for my advice you asked for my approval.” He continued, “Nothing is wrong it could just be better. And I didn't tell you in the beginning because while you were worried about the house being built I was enjoying building the house with you.” I told God to make His house. His dreams will become mine and I will try and see His perspective. The house will get built no matter what, I will enjoy the time I have building the house with The Contractor.  

My God. My Healer.

This story starts with my friend and me lifting weights in the gym at Central Bible College. I knew the exercise would make my body sore because I was out of shape. However, I wasn't prepared for the three days I experienced next. They were filled with laying on the couch not being able to move because of the excruciating pain in my arms and legs. After this one incident, I began having continual pain in my arms and legs that worsened after any movement. I scheduled an appointment with my doctor, who referred me to a couple specialists. They eventually decided after numerous tests that I had hyperactive thyroid, which must be causing the pain. 

The summer after I graduated from Central Bible College my thyroid specialist put me on medicine that slowed my thyroid down to a stable level, and gave me pain medication for when the pain was to bad to function or sleep. The thyroid medicine seemed to help ease the pain, but it didn't fully take it away. I started the Chi Alpha internship at University of Louisiana. Sometime during it I started noticing my back hurting worse and worse. 

When I finished the internship and moved home to raise my budget my Mom noticed the how much pain I was in. She made me go to the doctor. They did an MRI on my back and discovered I had rheumatoid arthritis in my lower and mid-back. They put me on medication for the arthritis and gave me muscle relaxers to help me get more than the usual 4 hours of sleep I was getting. I was told by my back specialist I had the back of a 40 year old. I was still in so much pain that after going grocery shopping I would be on the couch unable to move for the rest of the day. I knew God was going to heal me, but didn't know when.

My great Aunt told me I needed to read the book Christ the Healer by F.F. Boswell. As I began reading the book I meditated on the scriptures and thanked God for my healing. After a prayer meeting at Oologah Assembly, I felt God telling me to stop taking my medicine because He had healed me. So that is exactly what I did. Praise God, I have not taken my medication and not had pain for two months now! I canceled my physical therapy that my specialists had started me on! I also canceled my appointments with my specialists, since I have no reason to see them any more!

"God Dreams"

Dreamers. They fill the pages of Scripture. Men and women who loved God, and God blessed them with a dream. Moses' “God dream” was a land of freedom flowing with milk and honey. Abraham's “God dream” was having descendants as numerous as the stars. Esther's “God dream” was safety for the Jews. Jesus' “God dream” was conquering sin and death. However, all the dreamers throughout Scripture share in the fact their dreams came with journeys; whether, learning to trust while wondering aimlessly, learning true sacrifice, or feeling completely forsaken in a desperate hour of need.

According to Hebrews 13:8, our God is the same yesterday, today, and forever! Our God still gives His people dreams, but also still teaches us on the journey to our dreams fulfillment. Are you listening for God to give you a dream unobtainable by man's standards or knowledge? Or has God given you a dream and God has you on the journey to it's fulfillment? The journey to the fulfillment of a "God dream" isn't easy, but when our "God dreams" come into fruition it is definitely worth it!  

God has given me the dream of students, both American and International, at The Ohio State University having their worlds changed by forming a strong, lasting, life changing relationship with Jesus Christ that will cause their dreams to change and others to see Christ through their words and actions. God is teaching me patience, trust, and faith now as I am journeying through support raising. Being a US missionary, I must raise a budget to be ministering on my mission field, and still have 38% of my monthly budget left before I can be on campus ministering. If you have already joined my support team with prayers and/or monthly/yearly financial support then I want to say thank you for investing in my “God dream.” If you would like to join my support team with a commitment of prayer and/or financial support please let me know by phone call, text, email, or facebook. 

With all my heart.

                                                                 Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT)

A glimpse through my eyes looks like Proverbs 3:5 and 6 right now. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Well heart in verse 5 in the Greek is the word "leb," and defined as: inner person, self, the seat of thought, mind, will, or heart. Since God knows my "leb" better than I do, when I trusted it to Him, He called me to be a Chi Alpha Campus Missionary. I have given up leaning on any of my own understandings. (I thought I would be at The Ohio State University already.) I am praying that I live each day in His will. I know through His promises that He has already laid out a path before me.

God showed me an amazing vision the other day to go along with this promise. I was sitting at church praying about my budget, and God's timing being done. I told God I trust Him, but really want to be on campus discipling students and sharing salvation with them. I want to be fulfilling the calling He placed on my heart to be a part of college students lives being changed by God's grace. I want to see students give up getting drunk, re-marital sex, addictions, unhealthy relationships, and selfish living. Then God showed me His hand placing pieces before me that were forming a path. He said, "I lay each single piece of the path before you to walk in my will."

I still need 32% of my budget to be on The Ohio State University Campus working on staff with Chi Alpha as the women's and international student pastor. That is 27 people giving $25 a month for me to have complete budget to be on the college campus mission field reconciling students to Christ. If God is tugging on your heart about reaching college students and you are interested in more information of how to partner with me please contact me on facebook or email. If you are already partnering with me in financial support or/and prayers thank you. God is going to use us to bring college students to Christ from all over the world. 

Here to Serve,
Vanessa Taylor

The Ohio State University
Chi Alpha Campus Missionary

Matthew 6:25-34

     For the last 3 1/2 months I have been support raising to be able to join Chi Alpha Campus Ministry on The Ohio State University this fall. My next several posts will focus on testimonies God has blessed me with during this time. This post is about the direct testimony of what happens when we don't worry and trust God and His provision.
     I started my journey of support raising with a confidence in God's will for my life and His provision to get me there. God gave me the amazing opportunity to coach Kelly, an intern this year, as she support raised over the summer. I was reaping what I was sowing. The more I encouraged and strengthened  her in her calling to be doing the internship, support raising, and faith in God's provision the more I felt encouraged and strengthened myself. Then I felt an attack of the Devil come on me. He started playing the "what if game." What if God didn't want me in Ohio yet? What if I don't get my money in time? What if I am not doing my part to raise my budget?(The Devil attacks in many ways including our mind and emotions.)
     My pastor, Kent Jensen, has been preaching a series every Wed. night on Ephesians 6, about taking up the entire armor of God. I began quoting Scripture every time a "what if" came into my mind. I would say, "Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world." I would tell God, "your will and timing not mine Lord." God's ways are greater than our ways, and God's timing greater than ours. God has been faithful, as always, and I am growing stronger in my relationship with Him through this experience of support raising.
     At the beginning I raised 20% of my budget. Then God blessed me and I received faith promise forms for 35% of my budget. Today I am at an amazing 60% in faith promise of my complete budget. I know that God is my provider and I will have my complete budget and be on The Ohio State University campus changing the lives of students for Christ. Thank you for those of you who have partnered with me in prayers and support.

                                                                           

No Timing Like God's Timing

Hey friend, family, or acquaintance. I have made this blog to give you glimpses of life through my eyes. I am praying these glimpse will help give you an idea of what is happening in my life, give you better understanding of exactly how God is using me, encourage you in Christ, and maybe even teach you as God teaches me. This first post will be focusing on what I am currently doing right now, trying to raise my budget to be a Chi Alpha Campus Missionary at The Ohio State University this fall. Being a full-time US missionary I am required to raise a budget that will help with ministry and living expenses; such as, gasoline, rent, food, bills, and etc.

God has called me to this amazing mission field of 56,064 students with the label of being the 3rd largest university in the United States. Students go to college and are searching. They are searching for identity, wisdom, meaning, and who/what will be their god. Some will choose money, some will choose themselves, and some will choose a human being to be their god. However, I am praying to be able to represent and show them the love of one who is greater than all of these other gods. To show them the One that has changed my life, and forgiven all my sins. The One who loves me no matter what! The One who gave his life on a cross and took all the punishment and torture I deserve! The One who gets me through every day and who I live every day for! I cannot wait to be on the campus meeting students. Learning their stories and sharing mine with them. Showing them God's love and teaching them about who He is. But I cannot get there without first having my budget raised.

God is already moving through this season of support raising this summer. I have had the wonderful opportunity to share with others testimonies of last year while I was completing a Chi Alpha internship at the University of Louisiana. I also have been able to coach one of my friends as she raised support for her Chi Alpha internship this year.This is not all God has done this summer. God yet again showed me that while we might think something is insignificant or chance He has purpose for everything.

Part of completing the Chi Alpha internship last school year was to take some classes. In one of our classes I had to practice preaching. One of my sermon was on faith and another sermon I chose trust. I am sure God was smiling as I preached because He knew something I didn't, that my faith and trust in God would be stretched and strengthened through this season of support raising.

Like I said previously I cannot do this on my own. I need those who believe in college students coming to Christ, believe in the gifts God has given me, and/or the ministry that God is giving me to partner with me.  Time is of the essence, at this time I still need supporters willing to commit to $20-$100 monthly. God is faithful, and I know he will provide the miracle I need. He might be wanting to use you to help provide it. If you have any questions please feel free to message, email, text, or call me. Thank you to those who have already partnered with me. You are in my thoughts and prayers.