January 2009 Updates and Big News!

The Time Has Come

Since I moved here in July of 2006, I knew God would bring this season to an end when the time was right. Each year, as it came time to renew or terminate my commitment with WGO, I fervently prayed and asked the Lord for wisdom and discernment. Each year, He provided an answer.

This year was different. Beginning in May of 2008, I was seeking the Lord and His face concerning what to do in June of 2009, as I knew that a decision would need to be made by the end of 2008. At the end of 2008, I felt a peace about not knowing which way I would go, but I still didn’t know what to do. I rested in that peace and continued to ask the Lord for His wisdom over the Christmas vacation.

Two Words: Be Faithful

The time had come and gone to decide and I still didn’t feel a firm answer from the Lord. The ministry asked for my decision. For the first time, maybe in all my Christian life, I felt the Lord saying: “Shelly, just make a decision. You can go either way, just choose one and be faithful.” Two key words stuck out to me: be faithful. At this point, I knew that either way: stay or go, just be faithful. Be faithful.

So, I have chosen to continue my life in the United States starting in June of 2009, which is when my current term with WGO ends. My emotions vary. I am very excited at the opportunities that have presented themselves back in the States. My heart breaks to leave this ministry, at least for a time. I do see myself continually being involved, be it through short-term trips, or financially giving and prayerfully supporting this ministry. Please continue to lift up this ministry in your prayers. Pray that God will send someone to fill my shoes. Pray for a peaceful time of transition for those here as well as for me.

Academic Success

I have watched so many of my students grow academically. I can remember one student in particular. She came to me with poor reading skills and a true lack of Phonics knowledge, therefore, impacting her reading, writing and spelling. I knew that she would be coming through my class. At the time, I had the option to move on with my current class, therefore, not having her in class. It would take a lot to bring her up to speed. I really didn’t want the extra work. It was recommended that I stay at her grade level and help bring her up to par. I did. In the course of one school year, she went from making D’s and F’s to making the A/B Honor Roll! Her academic goal this year is to make the A Honor Roll and she is well on her way! Praise God!

Three Years of Giving
God has continually confirmed me and blessed me with finances. Even over this past year, I have gained more monthly supporters than ever before. In the past, I have depended mostly on “special gifts” and the monthly gifts subsidized the financial reserve from special gifts. Each month, the ministry deposits all of my monthly support into my checking account and then, that which is given as a “special gift” is added to the monthly gifts to help me have enough to meet my approved budget each month. This year, about half of my budget is covered by monthly gifts, the other half is covered by the “base” that is built in my account.

Finishing Strong: I Need You
I need you to know that my financial reserve account is running low. Right now, there is enough to cover one month of my budget. What does this mean? This means that, without my monthly supporters, the finances will run out after February. But, it also means that with my monthly supporters giving faithfully each month, through June, and with the rest being subsidized by the reserve account, I can make it about three more months. The timetable does not match up: three months is April. I am committed through the end of June.

To make a complicated thing simple: I want to finish strong! I believe that God will provide for me to finish out the time that I’ve committed here, but I will need your help. If you give monthly, thank you so much! Please help me finish strong by giving monthly through the end. If you give special gifts, and maybe you’ve been waiting to give, I ask you, please give now. I need about double of what is currently in my reserve account. Whatever is leftover in my account, the ministry will give to me over three months after I’m gone to help with the transition and to lessen worry of immediate need for finances. Remember, you can give online at www.wgoreach.org or mail a check made out to WGO to the address in the bar on page one, designating the check to “Medlock fund.”

I know that you probably have questions about what I will do. I don’t have exact plans yet, but I’ll be glad to share with you ideas that I do have. Shoot me and e-mail: Shellymedlock@gmail.com and I’ll fill you in!

Thanks for taking this journey with me. God has made a difference through me. He has recently revealed that to me through the words of those I’ve been with over the past three years. Without you, and your belief in this ministry and mission, God would have had someone else to be His hands and feet here. Instead, the blessing is all mine, and what a joy it has been!

Be Blessed in Jesus-

Shelly

What do you think about most?

Just recently, I was chatting with one of the teenagers that God has so graciously placed in my life. (I learn a lot from them.) While we were talking she shared something so profound, that one of her friends said to her: 

Do you love God? they asked her. 

She answered yes. 

Do you love (fill in your blank--thing of this world)? they asked her. (They filled in the blank for her, but for her privacy I'll withhold it.)

She didn't answer yes.

Do you think about (fill in your blank--thing of this world) more than you think about God? they asked her. 

When she was sharing this story with me, and we got to this part, she just smiled. We both knew the answer. NO, of course she didn't think about God more than this other thing. 

So, what's my point? That teenagers can teach us so much, if we just stop and choose to listen to them? Nah, that's not my point, although, it is a very relevant and valid point. 

My point is: what DO we think about most? Do we revel and joy in constantly enjoying the presence of our Heavenly God, our Savior and Messiah, Jesus Christ? Probably not. 

I believe that it takes special attention and focus to really keep Christ at the forefront of our thoughts, but once we are able to do that (not that I have master experience, some weeks are better than others) anything BESIDES Him becomes so trivial and not of much importance. 

Does it make you a "better Christian" if you do and are able to do this? Does God love you any more? to that: a big BOLD NO! God loves you despite what you do or are, but we will probably be able to enjoy HIM if we are able to embrace this truth and discipline. 

So, as you go about the rest of your day, focus on what you do focus on, and, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, do your thoughts revolve around our only reason for life: to Glorify His name and worship Him in all we do? (1 Corinthians 10:31).

Now, this leaves us something on which to ponder. 

A God without Need

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything."

Acts 17:24-25

As I was reading this morning, this passage hit me so strongly. Paul comes into this city and finds idols. It's not the presence of idols that stuck with me, it's what Paul's response was. Look at it: Paul tells them that he "perceives that they are very religious" but he also goes on to point out that their statues of gods are attributed to the "unknown god." 

"What, therefore, you worship is unknown to you" are his exact words, well as exact as the English language is able to translate it. Thought provoking. Put yourself in their shoes and what would that make you think.

I think I would think: hey, he's right, I don't even know this god that I am worshipping.  But, even more than that, I'm entirely smitten by Paul's words in verses 24-25: 

"The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind, life and breath and everything."

I see Paul making this statement in such a way that makes me consider how the worshippers of the "unknown god" believed about their god: Maybe they thought that they owed him something.

How entirely liberating is it, knowing and believing that we don't OWE anything to our God? We can't serve him in a way to GIVE Him anything, yet He actually allows us to be involved in all that He does for our simple blessing and by His grace we get to see the fruit of His Spirit through our works. We GET to serve Him, but not in a way that makes Him a better God, but in a way that allows Him to form us more in the image of Christ. 

Cool hu? I thought so.  

reading books

I never wanted to become one of those bloggers that blogged like once a month. At one point in time in my blogging career, I was so discipline and posted blogs very regularly. 

I could make all sorts of excuses, but I won't.

So, I'm reading four books right now. Crazy! In high-school and college, I didn't enjoy reading at all! I wonder why? Maybe b/c someone was asking, or rather, telling me to do it. Who wants to do what they are told? No one, but through discipline, we can learn to do what we are told or asked. Isn't more fun when you are asked to do something, rather than demanding it of you?

So, just today, I realized all the books that I am currently reading. Call me a bookworm and I'm ok with that. Not much else to do up here, on this mountain. I love to read though, I really do. If you are looking for some good books, join me in reading:

1. Of Mice and Men (it's for teaching school, but still a classic)

2. Same Kind of Different As Me (modern-day autobiography, also which I am using in school)

3. They Like Jesus but Not the Church (don't get all defensive, now - all you church goes, it's a real eye opener and in-sight to the up and coming generations (mine) thoughts about Jesus and the Church: they like Jesus and the man He is (was) but the "church" has left a bad impression on them. We've got to put this to an end.)

4. Twilight - saw the movie last night with the girls and now I'm reading the book. Note to self: always read a book first. It's just not the same having seen the movie. 

Anywho, there's a blog for ya!