...was a very LEGIT experience!
Hey all!
Thank you so much to all of you who supported me in this trip to South Africa. All the emails and fundraiser invites and collecting $ (over $4500 in less than 3 months) paid off! I still can't even believe that it came and went so quickly, but I do know that what I experienced - I will never forget. The biggest thing that I took away from this trip was about what it takes to reach a heart - The greatest tools this summer was sharing my testimony and taking the time in sharing the gospel with people. God helped me frame the gospel around what the people were going through at that moment.
This summer was full of moments where God's heart was lived out through us missionaries. And because it is so hard to wrap up an experience like that into words, I put together a blog, some photo albums, and also a video to try to share a glimpse of what your prayers, giving, and support helped me accomplish this summer!
Enjoy the links below for video, photos, and more from this summer! (please feel free to forward or pass along)
Love you all!
Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReGj-GaP3-A
My Overseas Blog : http://rhemmaoverseas.blogspot.com/
Photos: South Africa - Ministry
http://s941.photobucket.com/albums/ad258/MissRhemma22/SOUTH%20AFRICA%20-%20MINISTRY/
South Africa - Safari and Lion Park
http://s941.photobucket.com/albums/ad258/MissRhemma22/LION%20PARK%20AND%20SAFARI/
Friday, August 27, 2010
Being informed...
..keeps you LEGIT...
I came across this article this afternoon and found it very interesting.
This research shows that 3 out of 4 teens identify as Christian but less than half actually are passionate about their faith... here is what the researche...r found was common in those teens who were devoted Christians....
"No matter their background, Dean says committed Christian teens share four traits: They have a personal story about God they can share, a deep connection to a faith community, a sense of purpose and a sense of hope about their future."
We need to instill more passion in our teens and pray for the leaders in the churches to give these teens MEAT - they are done with the milk - they want more than we think they do.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/08/27/almost.christian/index.html?iref=NS1
I came across this article this afternoon and found it very interesting.
This research shows that 3 out of 4 teens identify as Christian but less than half actually are passionate about their faith... here is what the researche...r found was common in those teens who were devoted Christians....
"No matter their background, Dean says committed Christian teens share four traits: They have a personal story about God they can share, a deep connection to a faith community, a sense of purpose and a sense of hope about their future."
We need to instill more passion in our teens and pray for the leaders in the churches to give these teens MEAT - they are done with the milk - they want more than we think they do.
http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/08/27/almost.christian/index.html?iref=NS1
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Reaching out to people...
keeps you LEGIT...
Yesterday while waiting for the bus to Borders, I decided to ask the girl next to me which bus she was waiting on. She told me the same one I was waiting on and we just began talking. She is a PhD student and just moved to my city last year. After getting on the bus she decided to stand up front next to me so we continued our conversation. I told her about my mission trip this summer and we kept the conversation going until we parted ways when I went into Borders.
Meanwhile, another girl who was on the bus ride, who I noticed was up front in the bus as well entered into Borders. While in line to get a Chai Creme Iced Latte, I told God, 'I wish I would've reached out to her as well...' He told me I still could and began to tell me about her being in a place where she was starting to doubt God. He told me to tell her "If you are thinking about giving up on God, don't. He loves you and He hears you.." Of course this is a mouthful so I decided to not go speak to her because I was waiting on my drink (and scared to really make a step to reach out) and she was in the checkout line.
So I get my drink...and notice she is still in the check out line. I decide to stand outside to wait for my ride that was coming to pick me up, but notices she doesn't come out. I didn't think anything of it and soon decided after waiting for a bit, to go back inside until my ride called me.
When inside I chose to go sit down at some couches in the back and read over my lesson for Celebrate Recovery that I would be teaching on that night, as I head to the back, I see the girl from the bus again! I sat on the other side at a small table so as to not look so awkward, but God kept telling me that she was thinking about giving up on believing in HIM. He kept probing me to talk to her, and I kept resisting. I was like "God this is weird now, because there were other people around and she was reading" Anyways...I was trying to read the lesson and noticed I couldn't focus...in that moment I realized that God wasn't going to let me out of this easy. So me and my Chai latte went over to her couch. I introduced myself and got her name. Then I proceeded to tell her, "I'm waiting on a ride, but before I leave, I wanted to let you know that God loves you and if you are thinking about giving up on HIM, DON'T. I dont' know where you stand in your faith, but I felt that for you -that God wants you to know that HE is real" (whew-now it's all over...NOT)
She thanked me and began to open up about believing in a higher being - like God or goddesses and other religions. She said that she was confused on what to believe. At this moment I realized that I couldn't leave so I began asking questions to try to figure out why she was searching in all these other places and came to find out that she didnt' like how the bible made women seem weak. I began to talk to her about the Proverbs 31:10-31 woman who is valued and called blessed by her husband. How she goes out and considers property and buys it. At this point, I'm on my knees in Borders looking up at her in the chair pouring out God's heart for her and how He is the one true God.
She was very receptive but I had to catch my ride so I ended up getting her info to contact her more because she was open to talking more about God and how He wants to reveal HIMSELF to her.
I left very encouraged and satisfied because I believe God is working on her heart and He let me be a part of that. I also plan on contacting her within the next few days and perhaps she would be open to meeting at Borders to finish our conversation.
All things are possible with God!!! I'm ready for a supernatural FALL here in Bloomington, IN.
stay legit peeps,
Rhemma
Yesterday while waiting for the bus to Borders, I decided to ask the girl next to me which bus she was waiting on. She told me the same one I was waiting on and we just began talking. She is a PhD student and just moved to my city last year. After getting on the bus she decided to stand up front next to me so we continued our conversation. I told her about my mission trip this summer and we kept the conversation going until we parted ways when I went into Borders.
Meanwhile, another girl who was on the bus ride, who I noticed was up front in the bus as well entered into Borders. While in line to get a Chai Creme Iced Latte, I told God, 'I wish I would've reached out to her as well...' He told me I still could and began to tell me about her being in a place where she was starting to doubt God. He told me to tell her "If you are thinking about giving up on God, don't. He loves you and He hears you.." Of course this is a mouthful so I decided to not go speak to her because I was waiting on my drink (and scared to really make a step to reach out) and she was in the checkout line.
So I get my drink...and notice she is still in the check out line. I decide to stand outside to wait for my ride that was coming to pick me up, but notices she doesn't come out. I didn't think anything of it and soon decided after waiting for a bit, to go back inside until my ride called me.
When inside I chose to go sit down at some couches in the back and read over my lesson for Celebrate Recovery that I would be teaching on that night, as I head to the back, I see the girl from the bus again! I sat on the other side at a small table so as to not look so awkward, but God kept telling me that she was thinking about giving up on believing in HIM. He kept probing me to talk to her, and I kept resisting. I was like "God this is weird now, because there were other people around and she was reading" Anyways...I was trying to read the lesson and noticed I couldn't focus...in that moment I realized that God wasn't going to let me out of this easy. So me and my Chai latte went over to her couch. I introduced myself and got her name. Then I proceeded to tell her, "I'm waiting on a ride, but before I leave, I wanted to let you know that God loves you and if you are thinking about giving up on HIM, DON'T. I dont' know where you stand in your faith, but I felt that for you -that God wants you to know that HE is real" (whew-now it's all over...NOT)
She thanked me and began to open up about believing in a higher being - like God or goddesses and other religions. She said that she was confused on what to believe. At this moment I realized that I couldn't leave so I began asking questions to try to figure out why she was searching in all these other places and came to find out that she didnt' like how the bible made women seem weak. I began to talk to her about the Proverbs 31:10-31 woman who is valued and called blessed by her husband. How she goes out and considers property and buys it. At this point, I'm on my knees in Borders looking up at her in the chair pouring out God's heart for her and how He is the one true God.
She was very receptive but I had to catch my ride so I ended up getting her info to contact her more because she was open to talking more about God and how He wants to reveal HIMSELF to her.
I left very encouraged and satisfied because I believe God is working on her heart and He let me be a part of that. I also plan on contacting her within the next few days and perhaps she would be open to meeting at Borders to finish our conversation.
All things are possible with God!!! I'm ready for a supernatural FALL here in Bloomington, IN.
stay legit peeps,
Rhemma
Thursday, August 19, 2010
God's plan...
is so LEGIT!!!
Yesterday, I was feeling discouraged about my current "job-less" situation. I've been applying everywhere but have yet to hear back from many of the employers. Yesterday while thinking of the financial bind this is putting me in...God simply told me --
I HAVE A PLAN
This was so liberating for me and it really calmed me down. I immediately envisioned an image of a man going to the father of the woman he wants to propose to and saying: I have a plan - this is just like Jesus going to heaven to prepare a place for us! God had it all planned out of how our lives would play out and this reassured me that He knows what He is doing.
If men here on Earth know how important it is to have some sort of game plan for proposing to their future wife as well as how they are going to provide for her, how much MORE does Jesus have a plan for our life! HE is the plan! and He is preparing a place for us in heaven right now for us!
I've heard many times that 'God has a plan for [your] life' and even have gotten really encouraging words from people about what God spoke to them about me, but there is nothing like hearing it from HIM:
I HAVE A PLAN
I truly believe He has a plan and I believe that all that I have to do is sit back, seek HIS KINGDOM first and be surprised at what He has planned for me!
As I wait for the job, please be in prayer with me that I continue to stay in God's will for HIS timing and that I do not get discouraged. Also, recently through this short article --> http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/county-council-enforces-temporary-hiring-freeze/ <--
- I realized that many of the positions I am applying for may be affected by a hiring freeze that Monroe County Council has enforced in many organizations while working on next year's budget - Please be believing with me that this hiring freeze will be lifted soon and that I will begin to hear back from some jobs soon!
Thanks y'all,
Rhemma
Yesterday, I was feeling discouraged about my current "job-less" situation. I've been applying everywhere but have yet to hear back from many of the employers. Yesterday while thinking of the financial bind this is putting me in...God simply told me --
I HAVE A PLAN
This was so liberating for me and it really calmed me down. I immediately envisioned an image of a man going to the father of the woman he wants to propose to and saying: I have a plan - this is just like Jesus going to heaven to prepare a place for us! God had it all planned out of how our lives would play out and this reassured me that He knows what He is doing.
If men here on Earth know how important it is to have some sort of game plan for proposing to their future wife as well as how they are going to provide for her, how much MORE does Jesus have a plan for our life! HE is the plan! and He is preparing a place for us in heaven right now for us!
I've heard many times that 'God has a plan for [your] life' and even have gotten really encouraging words from people about what God spoke to them about me, but there is nothing like hearing it from HIM:
I HAVE A PLAN
I truly believe He has a plan and I believe that all that I have to do is sit back, seek HIS KINGDOM first and be surprised at what He has planned for me!
As I wait for the job, please be in prayer with me that I continue to stay in God's will for HIS timing and that I do not get discouraged. Also, recently through this short article --> http://indianapublicmedia.org/news/county-council-enforces-temporary-hiring-freeze/ <--
- I realized that many of the positions I am applying for may be affected by a hiring freeze that Monroe County Council has enforced in many organizations while working on next year's budget - Please be believing with me that this hiring freeze will be lifted soon and that I will begin to hear back from some jobs soon!
Thanks y'all,
Rhemma
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Where am I?
oh yea...back in Indiana
So readjusting after South Africa is proving to be harder than I originally thought. I'm finding myself still looking at pictures and videos from my trip (still working on my slideshow,etc) and ultimately trying to relive memories.
But when is it too much? It's been a month today since I got back and now I'm pushing the limit on how much people even want to hear about the trip. Do they still care? Should I move on? How do I move on....
I am in the process of applying for jobs and this is draining. I can honestly say that I've never been as crunched for time as I am now. I am in a position where God has to be in the plan because without HIM my world will literally fall apart.
Besides the basic necessity of needing a job to pay my rent amongst other bills, I am feeling bored with my time -- which used to sound appealing -- going all day with absolutely nothing to do -- but now -- it is stressful. I'm constantly thinking to myself - should I be doing something? - do I have a meeting today? and it's driving me crazy. I find that I'm getting more easily annoyed...and it's causing me to feel as if I made the wrong choice by staying in Bloomington. [Of course, this is not true because I do believe God wants me here but it's hard to remember that sometimes]
My life has been a blur and crazy since I left South Africa, and part of me believes I never broke up with South Africa...maybe I need to let go that my time there is gone so that I can move on to this next part of my life. I'm constantly thinking of where I want to go next [not that there is anything wrong with that] BUT it's distracting me from the NOW.... I have moments where I wish I would've stayed, which wouldn't have been God led but fear-driven because if I stayed then I wouldn't have to deal with the real life challenges I'm facing HERE AND NOW... I know that I can continue to pray for those people but my heart keeps drifting to more missions and reaching more people in areas of the world where the gospel is not being preached....this is tearing into my heart.....
[insert awkward transition phrase here] =)
Anyways, there is no way to appropriately end this blog, so this is all my rambling for right now - just thought I'd share a piece of my heart today as I continue to stay legit in my walk with Christ by keeping it real!
Love y'all!
-Rhemma-
So readjusting after South Africa is proving to be harder than I originally thought. I'm finding myself still looking at pictures and videos from my trip (still working on my slideshow,etc) and ultimately trying to relive memories.
But when is it too much? It's been a month today since I got back and now I'm pushing the limit on how much people even want to hear about the trip. Do they still care? Should I move on? How do I move on....
I am in the process of applying for jobs and this is draining. I can honestly say that I've never been as crunched for time as I am now. I am in a position where God has to be in the plan because without HIM my world will literally fall apart.
Besides the basic necessity of needing a job to pay my rent amongst other bills, I am feeling bored with my time -- which used to sound appealing -- going all day with absolutely nothing to do -- but now -- it is stressful. I'm constantly thinking to myself - should I be doing something? - do I have a meeting today? and it's driving me crazy. I find that I'm getting more easily annoyed...and it's causing me to feel as if I made the wrong choice by staying in Bloomington. [Of course, this is not true because I do believe God wants me here but it's hard to remember that sometimes]
My life has been a blur and crazy since I left South Africa, and part of me believes I never broke up with South Africa...maybe I need to let go that my time there is gone so that I can move on to this next part of my life. I'm constantly thinking of where I want to go next [not that there is anything wrong with that] BUT it's distracting me from the NOW.... I have moments where I wish I would've stayed, which wouldn't have been God led but fear-driven because if I stayed then I wouldn't have to deal with the real life challenges I'm facing HERE AND NOW... I know that I can continue to pray for those people but my heart keeps drifting to more missions and reaching more people in areas of the world where the gospel is not being preached....this is tearing into my heart.....
[insert awkward transition phrase here] =)
Anyways, there is no way to appropriately end this blog, so this is all my rambling for right now - just thought I'd share a piece of my heart today as I continue to stay legit in my walk with Christ by keeping it real!
Love y'all!
-Rhemma-
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
I CAN and I WILL.. activity
So I was encouraged by an activity I participated in on a womens prayerline and decided to try it a different way.
Preface:
You are so much stronger than you think you are! You CAN be everything God says you are; you CAN do everything Jesus says you can do; and CAN be free from everything Christ died for! So my question is: what "CAN you..." today? Leave a comment....
I, Rhemma Payne
CAN live a life free from sin
CAN be set free from ALL fears
CAN refuse to participate in gossip
CAN choose to guard my eyegate from traps
CAN be physically, mentally, emotionally pure in my thoughts, actions and speech
CAN have healthy godly relationships
CAN have clean and lust-free thoughts
CAN share the gospel
CAN win souls for Christ
CAN have compassion for others
CAN forgive those who have hurt me
CAN be forgiven by those I've hurt
CAN break the cycle of shame and guilt in my family
CAN receive household salvation and Pentecost
CAN see God break fear in my family
....put your list on your fridge and ask yourself for each one- "are you willing?" we have the free will to not only acknowledge that God has given us the authority to be and see these things, but will we do it? When you have decided, put "I WILL.." in front of each one.
Say aloud and watch what God does in your life...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Preface:
You are so much stronger than you think you are! You CAN be everything God says you are; you CAN do everything Jesus says you can do; and CAN be free from everything Christ died for! So my question is: what "CAN you..." today? Leave a comment....
I, Rhemma Payne
CAN live a life free from sin
CAN be set free from ALL fears
CAN refuse to participate in gossip
CAN choose to guard my eyegate from traps
CAN be physically, mentally, emotionally pure in my thoughts, actions and speech
CAN have healthy godly relationships
CAN have clean and lust-free thoughts
CAN share the gospel
CAN win souls for Christ
CAN have compassion for others
CAN forgive those who have hurt me
CAN be forgiven by those I've hurt
CAN break the cycle of shame and guilt in my family
CAN receive household salvation and Pentecost
CAN see God break fear in my family
....put your list on your fridge and ask yourself for each one- "are you willing?" we have the free will to not only acknowledge that God has given us the authority to be and see these things, but will we do it? When you have decided, put "I WILL.." in front of each one.
Say aloud and watch what God does in your life...
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
My OVERSEAS Blog...
Hey followers!!
Top of the mornin' to ya! Haha...this is just a quick post to ask you guys to follow my second blog- As I will be updating this one more than likely from overseas from South Africa! I have more on that blog about the South Africa trip and would love to hear your feedback and comments about my posts as I prepare these last couple of days.
I did a tester today on my iphone with a wifi signal and so that should work when overseas!
here's the address
http://rhemmaoverseas.blogspot.com
Enjoy and Have a great summer everyone!
Top of the mornin' to ya! Haha...this is just a quick post to ask you guys to follow my second blog- As I will be updating this one more than likely from overseas from South Africa! I have more on that blog about the South Africa trip and would love to hear your feedback and comments about my posts as I prepare these last couple of days.
I did a tester today on my iphone with a wifi signal and so that should work when overseas!
here's the address
http://rhemmaoverseas.blogspot.com
Enjoy and Have a great summer everyone!
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Addressing the Past....
...keeps you LEGIT!
Today, as I was cleaning through my trunk of junk (haha) I found so many old things that I've kept throughout the years. I got this trunk the summer of 2003 in preparation of my college years and in order to keep valuables locked in it. Now after 7 years of moving this trunk from here to there and so forth, I have decided that since my college days are over, I should tackle the haunting task of emptying out this trunk and moving ON!!
It's interesting, to say the least, to see what I considered valuable over 7 years. From beanie babies, to bills, to old school papers, and pictures. It was all considered valuable at one point, but as I move to this next stage in life--It needs to be cleaned out!
To go about cleaning this trunk out, I find it necessary to go piece by piece with a garbage pile, shred pile, and keep pile. You would be amazed at how much you can find out about yourself after reviewing 7 years worth of valuable "junk" =)
What started as a minor task of simple sorting turned into a major task of addressing my past. Some positive memories were displayed in birthday cards, high school pictures, etc. Some negative memories though, seemed to shift my mood-- Drastically....
I came across a selection of my writing that did not please me. It shocked me back into my frame of thinking and caused me to reflect and address this part of my past.
This particular selection of writing was during a period of my life when I was not only depressed, but extremely open and graphic about my thoughts and feelings.
Even reading snippets from each poem, and short story, enraged me. Perhaps, an overreaction, but it still angered me to see myself in this light! I wrote sex stories with vivid and profane language that would definitely SHOCK most people I know now. I even began to remember how I was about to work on publishing some of my short stories and poems with another female author so some of my work (under my tag name "GhettoluvChild" had art work done for them by a friend.
Although, I know that these stories no longer represent me and my character, it still angered me. I didn't want to recognize this part of my past and I didn't want to address it. However, God does not want us to hide from those things that we once were but to address it in order to move on with our lives. When thinking about my mind frame during that time, I began to rejoice in the fact that I was lost, but now am found! All of a sudden the miracle of the death of my old self began to be revealed! Praise God for sorting through this junk, because it gave me a revelation of who I once was and who I am now! The fact that this old life and memories shocked me should only cause me to BOAST IN THE LORD. Like many old church sayings, "Look what the LORD DONE DONE!!"
It makes me want to shout and proclaim to the world because this is hard evidence of my old life and my thoughts and actions now are the complete opposite. There was obviously a shift and I thank God that every lie the enemy told me then has been exposed and I'm FREE!! Not only did addressing that I was at one point "LOST"..I also was reintroduced to my passion for WRITING...
I've always enjoyed writing and being creative with my expression and it saddened me that I stopped writing. Lately, I've been trying to keep a journal but it never lasts long. Sometimes I feel as if there is nothing to write about. I've lost this passion because of how the devil perverted it in my past and changed it into something that I would not be proud of - BUT God ...
God is restoring this passion for creativity and it is reflecting a life devoted to HIM. Finding these poems and short stories also helped me address this lost love for writing. I was so open and free when I wrote and God has that for me now. This time, my work will reflect godly character and be used to edify, strengthen, and exhort! I understand that I can redeem this passion and use it for GOOD! Maybe I will still publish a book of short stories with GOD inspired life stories!
So to encourage you all, as we spring/summer clean out our trunks o' junk, don't simply discard, but address the things that you are letting go of! Then, get ready to move forward to a new day of fresh revelation of God's will for your life!!!
"HAPPY ARE THE PURE IN HEART" MATT 5:8
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Having a church home....
...keeps you LEGIT....
Part I
(check out these two video blogs) --they both get cut off at the end, but i'll make the next ones better...
Peace
part II
Being still in God's presence....
keeps you legit!!
Today, (tuesdays) are my official days of rest. No class, no internship, no other responsibilities. For this reason - I made a point to read my WORD early instead of waiting until I got too busy... After reading the Word, I wanted to go on about my business, but for some reason was led to play this song by Matt Gilman -- Holy ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=atGUMMJzoMI )
First i watched it on youtube from the Onething Conference in 2008, then I played the cd song and put it on repeat... as I was trying my best to carry on with my day, my thoughts stopped and realized that God is HOLY... it seems so simple but it hit me and i fell on my knees - clenched my chest and cried out to God... I realized that He was a good dad..and that all the things i've been avoiding stepping into - the things HE has placed on my heart...that HE was faithful to see them through.. I knew it was a wrap for me watching tv and going into autopilot... God in that moment told me to give HIM my Tuesdays!
This is the time of the week where I have no time committment-- nothing to rush off to-- no one to go visit or meet with -- basically NO excuse for not spending time with HIM. I turned on the IHOP prayer room and began to worship God and pray along with their prayer themes. I then laid down and played a cd (Best of IHOP prayer room) and listened until I fell asleep. It is soooo awesome being alone with God with nothing going on in the back of your head.
I am going to work on honoring this. Tuesdays alone with Jesus! It's a DATE!!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Having a mentor.....
keeps you legit...
I have a mentor (or what we call at my church, discipler) that definitely keeps me LEGIT! When sharing my walk with her it creates a place of transparency, humbled heart, and self-reflection--- So necessary in my walk with Christ!
I met with my discipler a couple of weeks ago and tons of emotions that I had no clue were in me came pouring out - with just a simple question - I came to realize that I still need to work through some things that I was avoiding.
It through me for a loop that I had all these emotions that i was unaware of in me but having a place to talk on a regular basis is awesome! we may think we have it all together but God knows where we need to be touched on a deeper level!
It's awesome to share this with someone who has your best interest in mind. My discipler is awesome and she is very sincere when she prays with me! Her time is set aside for me and it is evident that she is engaged when we speak.. This is very important when looking for someone to disciple you. Please pray about it.. your best friend may not be a good discipler for you (maybe accountability partner- i'll speak more on this later) Find someone who has endured some stuff, not a rookie Christian who is still struggling with you. This is not to put anyone down but you want to go to someone who has some things figured out so that you can draw from them! God is a great matchmaker when it comes to this-- seek HIM and ask HIM and He will lead you to the right match!
Everyone go and get a discipler --- NOW..
but seriously... DO IT...