His strength shown in my brokeness

Thank you to those of you who have chosen to support me with your prayers! I can't tell you how important your prayers are as I prepare to leave for training in a week and a half and France in two and a half months!

This week I have experienced God grace and seen his love at work in unexpected places! This week he spoke to me through the death of a friend, Linda Graf. Some of you had the honor and blessing of knowing Linda, but for those of you who didn't. Linda Graf was a wonderful God-fearing woman who dedicated her life to telling others of the salvation of Jesus Christ. She went to Mexico, Thailand, and many other places including areas in Phoenix spreading the Good News she knew was more important than her own life.

On Thursday I attended her funeral. Linda impacted many people, from all areas of the world, and many of them came to the WG to honor her life and love for Christ. The mike was opened for people to share their memories of Linda, and I was so blessed by people's stories. The one common thread was the importance that Linda put on prayer, praying with everyone she came into contact with. Many stories where told about how she was willing to abandon her own identity to touch the hearts of those around her. And as I sat hearing the ways in which Linda blessed those around her, God began to speak to my heart.

Is my heart prepared for the calling he has placed on my life? Do I put others and Christ in front of myself? Is my life a testament to Christ at all times (even when there is no else around)? All questions that I must answer myself and when I've discovered the answers, ask God for forgiveness for my inadequacies. In my broken and humble state God encouraged me with a few verses:

Ezekiel 18:31- Cast away from you all your transgressions which you have committed and make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!

Psalm 51:17- The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a
contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.

God doesn't see brokeness as a weakness, instead it is a time when He can step in and make you strong! God overall is preparing my heart for the adventure coming in the next 2 years.

Prayer:

God please fill my heart with love for the lost who need the hope found abundantly in your love. Ephesians 1:18

Lord, protect those traveling to Richmond for training in a week and a half and those personnel that are currently leaving for areas all over the world. 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3

Prince of Peace, please grant your peace to the family of Linda Graf as they go through this time of change and sorrow.

Thank you again for your prayers. If you have anyway I can be praying for you, please let me know! You can leave it as a comment to this blog, or you can email me at godlymelody@hotmail.com. I leave you with one final verse:

Psalm 19:14- "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer."

I love you all! May God Bless you and keep you!

Courtney

P.S. You can now access my blog by going to http://www.godlymelody.com/

My first post

Welcome to my Blog! This will be the way I will be communicating with you, my prayer supporters throughout my time in France. During my 2 years in France I will use this space to share experiences, blessings, praises, and prayer requests. I will also try to share pictures when possible and maybe even some videos.

I am so thankful that all of you have chosen to partner with me in this new calling for my life. I am already seeing how important your support will be. Those of you who have been praying me through this process have been such an encouragement to me. I will definitely miss all of you here at home, but I know that in spirit and through prayer you will be right there with me as a fulfill God's purpose for my life in the next 2 years.

Well, this is just a short post to welcome you. I am not sure how many more will follow until I start training in October. But please look for an update around the end of October or beginning of November.

As for now, I am already seeing the many distractions that Satan can throw in the way to get in the middle of myself and Christ. Please pray that God will give me a desire to be in His word daily and that he will clear a way through these distractions.

Also, some of these distractions can be attributed to the many things I have to accomplish before I leave. I am trying to remember that "I can do ALL things through Him who strengthens me." ~ Philippians 4:13. Pray that God would help me to manage my time and anxiety as I try to balance getting ready and life.

Finally, please begin to pray for the people of Marsielle. The city is a place where religion is not seen in a positive light and the students are not open to being told that Jesus Christ is THE WAY. Please pray that God would prepare the way for myself and my teammates. Pray that God would open hearts and prepare their minds for the conversations we will have. Pray that God would use us to speak to their hearts in a way that they can identify with.

Thank you prayer supporters! Your prayers are greatly needed.

"Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love" ~ Ephesians 6:24

"Que Dieu donne sa grace a tous ceux qui aiment notre Seigneur Jesus-Christ D'un amour inalterable." ~ Ephesiens 6:24

Courtney