Decisions


      This week at the Orphanage we have been telling the story of when Jesus called his disciples for the first time. And when the kids are asked what they think the families of the disciples said in response to their statements that may of sounded like, " hey, I'm quitting my job as a fisherman and I am going to follow this dude named Jesus around..." haha, those kids can say some of the strangest things, but in response to this question they all seemed to think that it would be crazier to not follow Jesus. 
It may not be normal but there is something about following Jesus when he calls that even when people think you are crazy for quitting your day job to be a follower, going against the norms of society to obey God, you feel peace even in the midst of crazy, and I am sure that is how the disciples must of felt-- peace. I mean who else could of turned their day around by telling them to cast their nets to the other side? God knows are needs, and he does call us to do crazy things-- Moving to a 3rd world country anyone? The point is though, he knows our needs and he really does know what is best for us AND he wants us to be obedient when we hear him call, feel His peace!
             I am excited to already see ways that I am growing as a person since coming to Ukraine.And excited to see how God is so great at equipping me for those  "for such a times as this" moments. There is always room to grow, but it is important to be grateful for those moments in life that have made you who you are today, because God uses those moments to bring himself glory through us! But being reminded that even the Bible stories I know by heart can still speak to me in new ways and that I will always have new things to learn and  I will always be challenged in new ways to grow and serve the Lord to prepare me for the next moment and the next! Never a dull moment--
The God we serve is so BIG and loving, but He has high expectations from us! And the more I study his word, the more I realize that I am nothing and God is everything! I can do nothing on my own strength. Its so easy to get wrapped up in what talents I have, what gifts I have to offer those around me.. but the truth is, without God, those gifts are nothing. Without God, my life does not have purpose. So my life should constantly reflect an effort to make God the center in all I do contrary to the human flesh, natural sinful desire to do what I want, to gain what I think I need, or deserve. 
     So I've been humbled lately by the child like faith of the kids at the orphanage. God is teaching me so much lately and I am grateful for his love and grace and forgiveness when I do not have child like faith and I complicate things! I love seeing the kids grow and learn-- and that these kids will have a seed planted on the foundation that God loves them above all else, and that he hears us when we talk to him, and that he talks back! 
  
But Please Pray for these kids we work with that they will continue to grow in their
knowledge of the Lord! And that they will be protected from the evilness the world offers them... 
    And Please Pray for me--- lots of opportunities are opening up as winter begins to fade. I will be saving all those details though for my "6 month mark" blog that is coming soon! 
( crazy to think that 6 months have already gone by! Wow)

 And A Side Note:
one of the things I am praying for right now is monthly support. 


     *This month my support has been down, and I believe this is because I do not have enough people committed to giving each month. I hope that you will prayerfully consider how you can help me to make ends meet? The more I am here, the more needs I see and the more I would like to be able to do. So if you have a church, Sunday school class, Bible study group, circle of friends that you could talk to about becoming a monthly supporter- that would be so great! If groups come together and each person gives a little, a lot can be done and God will bless and multiply! A little goes a long ways and the consistent monthly giving will bring freedom in the ministry here, and open so many more doors to spread the Good news!


If you have any questions about how to give, check out www.radicalfeet.weebly.com for more information 
or email me at: chelsey.ledford23@gmail.com


So that is all that is on my mind this week! I hope that you find encouragement to seek God in all you do. Thank you for reading this blog and taking an interest in Radical Feet and me. Your partnership is what makes it possible for me to be here and that means the world to me, so again THANK YOU!
                                   
Come back next week for picture updates=)


StayClosetotheShepherd#

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