Follow My New Adventures....

My life has taken a turn to be seriously counted in to what God has for me. I am only moving when He says move and only going where He calls me. I want to purposefully live surrendered to God and His plans for me.

I've loved sharing what God is doing in me and through me here but what I am doing now is flowing straight out of being 100% counted into the purposes of God and where God is taking me as I choose Him. 

So for now my life happening's and God's happenings in my life will be shared here!  

You can also follow this link...

http://hannahcarrigan.wordpress.com

Success

"To laugh often and love much

To win the respect of intelligent people

and the affection of children

To earn the appreciation of honest critics

endure the betrayal of false friends

To appreciate beauty

To find the best in others

To leave the world a bit better

whether by a healthy child,

a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition

To know even one life has breathed easier

because you have lived.

This is to have succeeded."

Get Up

Sometimes I get tired. Sometimes I am confused. Sometimes I feel like I cannot see what is in front of me. Sometimes I am just completely overwhelmed with life.

I've realized those are just feelings - feelings that pile up - feelings that if not put in the right place become what lead you. 

There is little consistency in my life right now. I am not in school. I am not working a normal job. I don't have anything that is weekly scheduled. I do work, but it is random. I have plans, but they are occasional. The people in my life are all at a different place than I am so what I really feel is loneliness - because of the inconsistency, and the lack of schedule, and the road I walk alone. 

There is no self pity in this place. I think I asked for it, honestly. I prayed that He would use me for something great - that my life would glorify Him. I asked for God to "lead me where my trust is without borders." I still desire that. It has just been hard - lots of lonely roads and trials without explanation. It is just where I am. 

God opens doors and He speaks. That is consistent. He is always there. 

So you know God has called you. You know He has a plan. When you question it and when it gets rough, get up. Don't lay there thinking about how tired you are, how foggy your mind and your heart are, or how you have no idea what the next thing will look like. Your mind will become more foggy. Take captive your thoughts.

Keep going. Keep trusting. Take a walk. Drink a glass of water. Eat fruit. (I was trying to get practical. I promise it helps.) The point is do something that makes you feel better. 

It will get better. I'm saying this for me and for you. 

To Know and To Be Known

This morning I was thinking and praying and praying and thinking. Aware of the happenings all around me right now and the calling I feel so strongly on my life I can't help but be a little overwhelmed. Overwhelmed because I want to be obedient. I want to listen and respond. I want to fulfill that calling. All of those desires can become a burden. I try to figure it out and how I can make it happen on my own. 

I had been convicted by that. I was losing the purpose. The things and the stuff and the doing became more important than the being. In my conviction I knew my eyes and heart needed a shift. I needed to focus on the One who calls me rather than the calling itself. The more my life becomes about the calling and not my Creator, the more I will lose the purpose and passion. 

He has called me. He has given me promises. Above that, though, He gave me a clear and specific word as I walked into this season; he pointed me to a scripture that I was to live by. It says, "You shall hear a voice saying 'this is the way, walk in it.'" 

So I determined to only move at the sound of His voice. When He says move, I will move. And I won't move until I hear His voice. 

As I have walked that out the past few months He has taken me in and out of many experiences. It is not necessarily how I would have chosen to do it but I knew I was to be obedient. 

Now God has placed opportunities in my path. He has opened doors and allowed me to walk through them. They aren't paths that have every answer clearly laid out. They are adventures that require trust; that require me to remember that He is going to speak and make it clear to me what I am to do. He has promised a harvest. That is a BIG deal. I know the harvest is coming. I subconsciously try to make it come and think about what I can do to bring the harvest. I can't do anything though. I can only prepare. What He has promised, He will do.

Back to this morning... With those revelations from above I was thinking about how to walk that out. How to trust Him. How to "seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness" because in doing that "all these things" will be added to me. I know I don't have to worry about tomorrow. He holds my tomorrows. 

This morning in my heart I was reminded where my focus needs to move and where it needs to stay. When my gaze is set upon Him, everything else dims. The importance of it all fades because of who He is in my life. 

Then I heard this scripture... 

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’" (Matthew 7:21-23)

I want to be known by Him. I don't want to be so consumed by the works that I miss Him. So I will choose to seek Him and not the doing. I want more of Him and His presence. I want Him to know me. He desires relationship and so do I. 

It is my desire to be so consumed with my Creator that the calling comes naturally. 

Where He Is Taking Me Now

A new adventure is ahead of me so I guess it's about time I get on here and update again. The past couple of months have been a transition time for me. Even while it has felt inconsistent there has been a purpose to all that I have done. Now, though, I'm moving into more of the calling that connects so perfectly to my heart and ignites my passion even more.

My heart is for people. I want to love people, help people, and serve people. That is how I want to spend my life. When an opportunity comes your way that aligns so close with those desires how can you not take it? 

My good friends, Chris and Amber White, started Count Me In over five years ago. Their ministry is directed towards the next generation; they want to raise up leaders and empower young people to operate in the gifts God has placed in them. Because of that they started putting on a youth camp in Kenya, Africa. Each year it grew and more of the country was impacted. God has expanded their ministry through people in Kenya who caught the vision and wanted to run with it. God also opened the doors for them to open up a youth conference in the USA. Their heart is larger than where they have been able to impact but as God opens doors and brings provision they will be able to fully walk out what God has put in their heart. 

Last summer I participated in the USA youth conference. A couple of months later in August I was a part of the team to go to Kenya for two weeks of ministry on the streets, in the orphanages, and with the youth from all over the country. My heart was changed and captured. As the months have passed I have been able to see more and more into the heart behind Count Me In. It isn't just about a camp or a mission trip to Africa. They love people. They want to see people come off the streets. They want to share hope. 

That is where my heart is. I want to be a part of making a lasting change. Count Me In is an avenue that God has provided for me to do that. 

I am now an intern with Chris and Amber at Count Me In and I couldn't be more excited for the journey ahead. I do not know exactly what it will look like but I do know their hearts are for more of Jesus and I couldn't think of anyone I would rather partner with to be His hands and feet.

This is a journey that I've been anticipating for a while. Being a part of an internship like this does mean raising support for myself. I will be able to share my story and give others the opportunity to partner with me as I partner with Count Me In. I am excited to see how God works and provides for this season of my life.