Compassion

Have you ever wondered why there are so many bad things in the world? Why does aids exist? Cancer? Murder? And being a "good Christian" of course God didn't make them happen, but if God didn't, why does He let them happen? 

I wonder this.

This week we had these questions and challenges about the Character of God and today we watched a documentary on a missionary, Mama Heidi. She lives in Mozambique with her husband and kids and felt that God called her to bring the native children "home," to take them in and care for each of them. She has 500 children.

So back to the first couple questions, why does God "let" bad things happen.

To answer simply, He doesn't. There is sin in this world. When Adam and Eve partook in sin they allowed room for satan to do work, they allowed room for brokenness, injustice, pain, and hurt. Then Jesus came-He took on all of this sin and pain and made a way for freedom. Now the question becomes not why does God let these things happen but why don't you do something about them? 

What if He created you to bring justice in this world? 

What if He created you to cure a disease? 

What if He created you to make a home for orphans who are starving, abused, and have nothing? 

What if He has called ALL of us to look at the person in front of us and say "I love you because He loves me?" What if He is asking us to lay down comforts, selfishness, and pride so that He has room to take hold of our hearts to break them for His lost children? 

Our lives were not meant to be "convenient" it wasn't convenient for Him to die on the cross. It wasn't convenient for Him to live with the poor and sick. It wasn't convenient for Him to make Himself human to show us an example of how to live. It was inconvenient, yet He did it, perfectly. He did it with compassion, with a broken heart for His people who were and are still looking for an answer, looking for help. Can you see that there is more to life than what we are taking a hold of? He's offering life and we are taking hold of a life that's full of insatisfaction. 

What are you breaking for? Are you breaking for anyone or anything? There's a world out there that needs us. That needs your gifts, your talents, and most importantly NEEDS Jesus. If your heart isn't breaking cry out to Him and say "Father break my heart for what breaks Yours, I want more!" 

I just did. I need more of His heart, I want my heart to be so broken for people, to crave justice and love for people that everything else in comparison looks like trash. I want Him to love so much through me that it flows out in every single conversation I have. 

I want compassion. Do you?

Newie Life

...and we made it to Newcastle!

School officially started today and it has been great! I've had the opportunity to meet my leaders, the staff, and the rest of the students-all I can say is I am blessed. All these people simply love Jesus, it's beautiful to see all cultures come together to glorify Jesus. The base itself is beautiful, it's actually a little  cold here in Aussie but it's getting into their winter so soon it will be warm, yay!

This morning we started with base worship and the first song was Oceans...I was really excited! Jesus has been moving so much already, through my classmates, my leaders, words that God is giving random people, it's seriously awesome.

I do have a quick prayer request, I'm pretty under the weather, very bad sinus' and it's really distracting, prayer for healing would mean so much!

Thanks y'all!

We made it!

Sorry I have yet to write here, it has been a crazy past few days, but we made it! It was a long plane ride, but 25 hours later of traveling, we are in Sydney.

We (Emma, Sydney, a girl that we met up with at the LA airport and is doing a DTS at our Newcastle base, and I) are currently staying at the Sydney Island Breeze base before heading to Newcastle tomorrow and I am so grateful we could stay here with such kind and welcoming people.

When we arrived on Friday it was early in the morning so we had to stay awake all day to adjust to the time change...we made it to 7pm, good enough! We slept very well.  On Saturday morning we were lucky enough to tag along with the Island Breeze team and go to Featherdale Wildlife Park where we got to pet and feed Kangaroos, see Koalas, and experience the Aussie wildlife! Needless to say, it was awesome! Afterwards, Emma, Sydney, and I got to explore Sydney. We road a train into the City and found out when we got there that 1.5 million other people were there as well to see ships in the harbor, it was quite the adventure! We were able to see the Sydney Harbour and the Opera House, both so beautiful, and we basically got to live the city life, it was an awesome experience. But over these past three days, this morning was my favorite, we were able to go to Hillsong Church. The main Hillsong team is actually in New York right now for a Hillsong conference so it wasn't the typical set up, but was still so cool to be apart of. The service began with worship which was incredible, then the kids came out and gave us a little example of what they do in kids service by putting on the bible story of Noah. Lastly, they had a guest Pastor, Robert Madu, from Texas speak. The message he gave was about Comparison.
He started out with the question "Who are you racing?" As in who do you look at to compare yourself too? What person are you racing and trying to beat? As these questions were asked I immediately thought of a few people i'm trying to "beat" in life and thought why do I do this, why do we as believers try to measure ourselves to each other? When we are running the race for Jesus our eyes are suppose to be fixed on Him, not looking at the person to our left and right. Something Robert said was "Comparison will consistently cloud the work God is doing in your life and the purpose for your life." This is what Satan does to us, one of his biggest tricks is to get us to compare ourselves to others, that's why he fell in the first place, he tried to compare himself to God instead of glorifying God. We need to call him out, we need to say "No, I'm not going to compare myself to her/him because I am a masterpiece, I was made specifically, intricately, and with a purpose by my Creator." When we compare ourselves to others we are looking at God and saying "What you made isn't good enough" and who are we to tell God what He created isn't good? But what He made is good. When He creates He creates with a purpose, for a purpose.
All I can say is, I was challenged, but it was so good to hear and be challenged with, I pray you are as well, that the next time you look to that person do not let envy and pride sneak in, do not let satan get victory over who you are and who your identity is in, it's in Jesus, not in anyone else. Simply, Jesus.

Here we go!

I can't believe the time is finally here, I'm leaving for Australia at 4:30pm today. I feel like I've been preparing for forever and now it's time.

These past few weeks have been crazy; getting everything I need, packing, making sure my phone and bank companies know where I'm going, and so on. But the hardest has been seeing people for the last time for a while. I don't do "goodbyes,", I do "see you laters." But , even the "see you laters" have been tough. Out of all the craziness that has gone on while getting ready, I have never felt so loved. From prayers to notes, to phone calls and encouraging texts, to meet ups and meal dates-I have so much peace leaving because of the supporting community I have at home. I know that these people are next to me even when I'm halfway around the world. So, thank you. Thank you all that have supported me in any way, I truly feel loved and blessed.

A few things that would really help if you prayed for within these next 3 days: First, that everything will go smoothly getting through the airports ( that our bags and all of our stuff will make it there safely), flying, getting to the place we are staying in Sydney and getting to Newcastle. As well as healthiness. Airports aren't the cleanest of places so we definitely need some armor for that. And above all that we will be reminded why we are doing this. As I have been preparing it's been very easy to get caught up in the business an lose sight of why I'm even going. And anything else y'all fell needs to be prayed for is welcome.

Here are some ways of communication if you would like to stay in touch.


POSTAL ADDRESS:Autumn Gwaltney (make sure to put my last name, there is another Autumn on the base, how crazy!?)
C/- YWAM NewcastlePO Box 162The Junction  NSW  2291AUSTRALIA

Email:
autumngwaltney@yahoo.com

And feel free to Facebook inbox me any time!

I don't know how easily I will be able to reply but I will try my best! Thank y'all!

Here we go, our adventure awaits!

Follow Me

     There is a pattern of these two words in the beginning of Mark and throughout all the other gospels, thus it must be important. As I read through these first chapters, for a bible study, I start thinking through what these words, "follow me" mean to the core.

     In Mark 1 Jesus sees Simon and Andrew and says "follow me, and I will make you fishers of men," "immediately they left their nets and followed Him." Jesus then sees James and John with their father and again "immediately he called them and they left their Father." Reading on into chapter 2 of Mark, Jesus calls Levi "sitting at the tax collector booth" and He says to him "follow me." "He rose and followed Him."
     ..."follow me." I'm in awe as I read about these men and their obedience.
     The words, follow me, in greek is akoloutheō, which means "to follow one who precedes, join him as his attendant, accompany him" also "to join one as a disciple, become or be his disciple"-we are called not to just to sit behind him and tag along but we are suppose to assist Him in utter obedience, as the disciples did.
     So what does this mean for us? For myself? What questions arise when we think of these two simple words?
Am I following Him? Am I immediate to follow Him, ready to go at any moment He calls me to?Wherever and whenever He calls me? Am I willing to give up my job like Simon and Andrew? Am I willing to give up my family like James and John?
...where am I called to follow, to assist, right now? 

The beginning of my Junior year I asked Jesus "What do you want me to do after High School?" and expecting a few school names to pop up, His response caught me a little off guard, He said "Follow Me" and that is where the YWAM journey began...

We have been asked to follow Him-we listen, we wait, and we are ready to go.

Setbacks, but our God is faithful

Today after a little but of confusion we figured out that I'm actually in need of about $2,000-$3,000 more, when we thought that amount had been covered. Even though it's a setback it's minor compared to His promises, I know that He will provide!

This isn't the only obstacle that has come up lately, which clearly shows that satan is working really hard to mess things up and get at me. My friend Emma, who's going with me, and I are in major need of prayer against his attacks. It's definitely common, while getting ready to go on any mission trip to start having doubts about what God is doing, and we have both had a few of those. Please joins us in prayer against satan attacks, in prayer for the rest of the finances to come through, and for our thoughts and minds to rest in our all knowing God. He is bigger, He is stronger, and we have faith even when oceans rise.

Why am I surprised?

On the first Sunday of each month my pastor asks for everyone who has a birthday within the next 30 days to stand and say what they want for their birthday. It can be anything! People have asked for things from babies, cars, and good health to legos and puppies. And as crazy as it seems their typically answered.
Today was the first Sunday in September and people did the usual routine, they stood up, said what they wanted, then people gathered around each of the individuals to pray for them. As this was going on I began to remember what I asked for back in May-for all my YWAM funds to be raised...and guess what, He answered it. During this time today it was like this weird epiphany I had, "Oh my goodness, that's what I asked for, and He raised them, not just that amount but an abundant amount, more than I asked for!" I got so excited.
Why am I surprised? Not that I should have this casual attitude about it, but at the same time He asked me to go of course He is going to provide a way.
He did provide away, and that was through you. Ya'll, I can't even begin to explain my gratitude toward each of you. He used all of you, wether you gave directly through finances or through prayer, You are apart of this mission trip as much as I am. My God is abundant, He rejoices in making a way, He delights in it. I am so grateful. Grateful for my King that gives His children abundant blessing, not because He has to but because He wants to, for people like you who say yes to Him, and simply, for this opportunity to go on this trip and to give God glory!

I want to share a song with y'all that I have been obsessed with lately. I listen to it on average 5 times a day! The music is good, but the words are breathtaking. It is so powerful and it reminds me of what He has called each His children to do, to let Him lead them to where their trust is only in Him.

Here it is: Oceans

You call me out upon the waters
The great unknown where feet may fail
And there I find You in the mystery
In oceans deep
My faith will stand

And I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Your grace abounds in deepest waters
Your sovereign hand
Will be my guide
Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me
You've never failed and You won't start now

So I will call upon Your name
And keep my eyes above the waves
When oceans rise
My soul will rest in Your embrace
For I am Yours and You are mine

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior

I will call upon Your Name
Keep my eyes above the waves
My soul will rest in Your embrace
I am Yours and You are mine