my life as a reflective, appreciative, free girl.

so as you may or may not know, im heading to Guatemala next week for a missions trip. Im pretty super excited about it! I have been thinking a lot lately about stuff and how blessed we are to live where we live. Sometimes I wonder why God chose me to grow up in Canada when I know there are other people living in other countries that make less than $2 a day. I am so fortunate and blessed, sometimes we take it for granted. Wait...let me rephrase that...we most of the time take it for granted. Just think as you climb out of your warm bed after a cozy dreamy evening of sleep and hop into the shower, put on your clothes and groom yourself...there are people who wake up after sleeping on a dirt floor all night, sometimes with their animals sharing their hut, no blankets, no running water,and the same old clothes they have worn every day. And yet we complain when we dont have enough money for the newest ipod or computer or whatever. How greatful are we really? Sunday was the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted church and this is something that is near and dear to my heart even as the day approached I couldnt help but think about freedom and how much we just go on about our lives. I mean there is people here in North America who will skip church for various reasons such as laziness or offence, and yet there are countries where people risk their lives to go to church and hear about God. People who hold prayer meetings in various places always changing for fear of being discovered. Men are killed, women are raped and all because of their desire to worship God...how naiive we are! How selfish we are! How uneducated we are! I dunno...I want to make a difference and if prayer is all I can contribute than it will be that, I feel like I need to do more. God has put this burden on my heart, not so I will be ashamed but so I will look at my own life and realize that God blesses us for the purpose of us being able to bless others. One step at a time...I want to know I am living up to my full potential. There is a list, called the Global Rich list, and when looking at it, it shows me that I am in the top 12% richest people in the world!! I feel inadequate somehow, like I should be doing more. I pray God uses me in every way possible. It just takes a heart of obedience and a heart of willingness. Step out in faith......afterall,can we not relate? Are we not all in someway the persecuted church? Think about it...afterall the bible does say i n John " I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you". Persecution has many faces, some more severe....but we never should sit back and think we will always have it perfect.