The Details: San Francisco

We are loving every minute of San Francisco from Golden Gate to China Town, we especially love the cable cars, all in all the vacation has been wonderful and I'm so thankful I was able to come with these wonderful girls and experience so many new things! 

Since we got on the plane in Houston I have been praying over our trip. Praying for protection, for wisdom, and for guidance. There is something I always pray over myself and others anytime I pray, it's always this, "anything the devil meant for harm will be used for my good" (Gen. 50:20) however, I realized today, that I've prayed this for years because I've heard it for years and I've always had a general understanding of what it meant but not a full understanding of how it could be a helpful prayer in my life... until today! 

Today was our "tour San Francisco" day, we had one day and an entire city to see! We started with a cable car ride down to Fisherman's Wharf  and Pier 39

(we loved the cable cars!)

Then we made our way to Ghirardelli Square got a piece of chocolate.

Traveled down the "Crooked Street"(Lombard St.)… climbed backed up the "Crooked St." (I about died). 

We then went to China Town got souvenirs and had an amazing lunch and a great experience. 

Finally we made our way to Golden Gate Park stopping to see both Nob Hill and the "Painted Ladies" (who were under construction)

Now if you've ever been to Golden Gate Park then you would know that it's full of amazing things to see, and you would also know that it is HUGE, just HUGE! All these things are very spread out, we knew we couldn't do them all so we went to the closest attraction to where we were and then sat down on a park bench to google where we should go next so we didn't waste our time walking around lost! We were closest to the California Academy of Science, so we walked over to the park benches and sat down, I sat my shopping bag at my feet and made a phone call and did a few google searches to figure out which way to go next. We decided to just walk because I didn't find anything helpful. On our way out of the Academy court yard we passed a woman sitting on a bench who needed "one more quarter for a cab fare because she had lost her wallet" I smiled gave her the only lose dollar I had and we continued our walk. After walking for 15 minutes or so we decide to rest on another bench, we sat there and rested for about 20 minutes and then we quickly got tired of the park and decided Starbucks would be our next move. Google was taking us to the closet one to our then location, google estimated it to be a 14 minute walk (what google doesn't tell you is that walk may be up a very steep, very tiring hill) we had walked about 10 minutes toward our destination when I realized I no longer had my shopping bag.

Now it's important to note that this bag held not only my souvenirs from China Town, it held the only pair of sandals I brought with me to California. Earlier that day I had bought a pair of high top American flag converse to help fight the cold by keeping my feet warm, 

these shoes did not match what I was wearing, and they do not match any of the clothesI brought to CA but they were warmer, fairly cheap, and the only shoes I saw at the time so I didn't care if they didn't match for one day, but these were now the shoes I was going to be stuck with for the rest of my trip. My Calvin Kline sandals that I love were in the bag with the China Town souvenirs that was now no longer with me. Also in that bag was my all day Muni pass that allowed me access to all of San Francisco forms of public transportation, which keeps me from having to walk miles up and down hills... my fate was now to walk and to wear American flag high top converse for the rest of my time in CA.

I was crushed! We had gotten a very long distance from our last park bench stop and there were tons of people around that area. However I serve a big God who can do anything so I prayed, I ran and I prayed. I ran up hill 😳... I then ran out of breath, so I switched to power walking, praying, and panting! But god can do anything and I just knew that the bag would be sitting there untouched. When I finally arrived back to the bench there was no bag and many people. I walked away resigned to having lost my souvenirs, my shoes and my day pass forever.

I realized then that I might have left it at the first bench we sat on, but I knew if I had there's no way it would still be there so I wouldn't make Gaëlle and Louise have to walk back that much further with hurting feet for us to find my bag that had, more than likely, already been taken. But, because they are amazing they encouraged me to go look anyway, so we headed that way with little hope in finding my bag. Losing the bag would not ruin my trip, but it would put a huge bummer in my day, I could afford to lose those things but I was still very sad to!

When we arrived back at the Academy we took a short cut through the court yard to the bench where we had been sitting earlier. I was leading the way but from the distance I could tell there was no bag, my bag was bright red and would have been easy to see. However, I wanted to go all the way to the bench just to make certain, as we are cutting through the courtyard Louise stops us and says the lady we had spoken to earlier was at a new bench and she seemed to have a red bag stuffed inside a larger black bag. Because it can't hurt anything I head over to check it out and talk to her, as I get close I realize it was my bag! I politely informed her that the bag was mine and that I would like it back, she gave it to me willingly letting me know "she was keeping it for the owner." Everything was just as I had last seen it, I was so great full, I thanked the woman and let her know she was an answer to my prayers, she asked us for more money and gave us a new story as to why she needed it I reminded her we had already heard her first story and given money then, she let me know that she had given that dollar away to someone who needed it, so with a smile on my face, I let her know that I did not believe her but that we would give her the money anyway because I was so happy to have my bag! I thanked her again and we went on our way with my bag and my bus pass in hand.

As I was leaving I kept thinking of how God had answered my prayer even through my panting and running he answered my cry "please help me find this bag Lord" but as I thought about how he used this woman to do it, it hit me as odd, this woman had clearly meant to keep my bag, with no intention of finding its owner, that's when Holy Spirit pointed our that the prayer I cried while running to where I had last seen my bag was not the prayer he answered, it was my first prayer, the prayer I prayed before we left Houston and many times since, "that whatever the devil meant for harm would be used for my good". This woman she set out to take something that didn't belong to her but all she managed to do was keep it safe until I could get back to it!

The Holy Spirit spoke a few things to my heart about my God that day. One he is always many steps ahead of us! This woman was sitting in this park on the same day at the same time I was there. If my bag had been picked up by anyone else they would have walked off with it and I would have never seen it again, but this woman picked it up and she stayed in the courtyard long enough for me to see her with it. She had also moved benches, and the new bench afforded us a perfect view to spot the bag (if she had been at the other we might have missed it). God was so many steps ahead in orchestrating this for me. I can have peace because he handles the details of my life! The second thing the Holy Spirit spoke is that God cares about the things that we care about, like I said earlier I could have afforded to lose that bag but it would have made me very sad to do so, but he set all of that up for me even though the bag didn't mean my safety but merely my comfort, he cared because I cared and I love him for that! I was almost torn to pray to find it, the thought came to mind "you lost it, because you were careless it's gone and now you want God to fix it for you?" For a moment I thought he wouldn't help me because it was my fault.... But how beautiful to know that he already had! While I was thinking I didn't deserve his help in this, my bag was waiting for me by divine providence. I know it was just a bag but I will forever cherish the lessons I learned about the one in whom my soul delights!

A New Day

Our front yard, bathed in sunlight (Dayton, Tx - Oct. 2013)

           Have you ever noticed that the sunshine never looks more beautiful than right after a rainstorm. The past few weeks here in southeast Texas have been weeks full of rain, hot sticky rain. Rain that brought mud, mosquitoes, and minor floods, rain that went on for weeks, only allowing us to see the sun in short doses before reminding us who was really in charge. The rain disrupted and dictated our lives, it told us what we could wear, what activities we were allowed to do, it interrupted our T.V. and our internet, it affected where we parked and how we got from one place to the next, our lives went on even through the rain, but they weren’t the same, we were limited to the dictation of the rain.

The picture above was taken a day after the rain finally dissipated and the sun came out to shine, what a beautiful difference the sunshine makes! I realized, standing in my front yard gawking and the beautiful sight above, that in the weeks of rain I had forgotten how beautiful the sunlight was. I knew I didn’t really like the rain but it was just rain it was no big deal I could live with a little water on the ground, life went on. It wasn’t until this sight caught my breath that I truly understood how much I need sunlight! It was a new day the rain was gone and the sun could now shine! But what if the rain had never left, what if the sun was never able to shine again?

For the past four months I have been in a personal rainstorm, I have lived with a cloud all my own that has followed me around keeping me company during my daily activities. Now maybe storm is a strong word, if I was a forecaster I would call it partly cloudy. It wasn’t enough to notice or complain about, but it was enough to keep me from fully enjoying the sun. In prayer this morning I was asking God, “what is going on with me, why do I feel less valuable, less worthy... less loved,” that's when the Lord revealed this cloud that has taken up residence in my heart, this filter through which I view the world, my life and myself.

So I did what I always do when the Lord reveals a mess in my heart, I asked him for help! I want this cloud/filter gone! I only want to see with his eyes and hear with his ears! So the Lord did what he always does when I ask him for help, he showed me the way. I now know how to fight this battle, and the weapons I need to be armed with. I am tired of this cloud, Jesus came “so that I might have life and have it to the full”, not so that I could live under a cloud of demeaning dictation. I was made with a purpose, I was bought at Calvary, I have been branded by Christ, and today I have been given a mission! It will take commitment, it will take sacrifice but I know the result will be stunning! It’s a new day, the cloud is gone and the Son can now shine!  

My mission today is clear... TO BE LIGHT!

HOME

Well I have officially made it through my first week of living abroad, it has been exhausting, exciting, terrifying and extremely sad all at the same time! I can say that I love London more than I thought I would, and that I also miss home more than I thought I would. However, God is an amazing God who knew exactly where I would be and what I would be feeling when I arrived, and I am so grateful to say that he met me here! From the moment we stepped off of the plane our team has been walking in favor, we made it through customs in a breeze, we met really polite people while traveling through the tube stations (with heavy bags and holding up traffic). I encountered many incidents throughout London that day that really warmed my heart and left me with a hopeful outlook of the two months I'll be spending here, and I can't thank God enough for that (he knew I needed it). And to top that off he set me in the best possible host home that I could have asked for! I was so thankful for all that God had done for me that day. However, when I was getting into the nice cozy bed I will call mine for the next two months, it hit me, I'm really here, I'm really away from all my family and familiarity and this is my home for the next two long months. . . At that thought I started crying!! Really what have I done and what was I thinking? I'm alone in London, I'm living as a guest for two months and that thought terrifies me! Thankfully God knows the end before the beginning, and he wasn't at all surprised by my fears, he was ready and waiting. I brushed back my tears of fear and opened my bible and began to read. The bible has always been what I read to study, or to learn, but this time it was so much more than that, it was HOME! I can't tell you how incredible and meaningful that time with God was for me, I literally felt like I was home! Here I was crying because I was afraid to be lonely and all the while God is trying to tell me "hey you are not alone! Wherever I am there your home will be" What an amazing God! He was all over that day even when I wasn't quite paying attention, it was like he set up these moments for me and all I had to do was walk into them, and then later I realized that was him and that was for me! I am so excited about these next 8 weeks I get to spend with my God, and the wonderful things he will show me along the way, it helps to know that home will only ever be a prayer away! 

Fundraising update: WOW!

As of last Friday I had only 2,000 of my 6,000 dollar goal and I leave in 3 weeks... Talk about scary!!! I was beginning to fear that I wouldn't reach my goal in time! I knew better than to dwell on that thought, so I've been speaking all the truths of the word of God. God is my provider, TRUE, nothing is impossible with God, TRUE, when doubt wanted to creep in I just reminded myself what I knew to be TRUE about God! 

From Friday to Sunday I raised almost 3,000 dollars in partnerships! I know AMAZING!!! :-) God is so GOOD, I was completely blown away by his faithfulness, I knew God could do it, but to see it happen was an amazing thing to experience! I am so thankful to all who have given it truly means more to me than you will ever know! Im not sure that I will ever be able to express to you all that your gifts have meant to me but I know that I will try! I now have only 1,500 dollars left to raise, I know God will provide and I can't wait to see this journey though! If you would like to donate to my remaining fund you can follow the link below, any amount will help a great deal, and any amount will reap a blessing for you and your house, "a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over"(Luke 6:38). My prayer for all of those who have sown into this mission trip is that God will release blessing upon you and your house that you do not have room enough to contain! I love you all! 

God Bless! 

-Tayler 

Tayler's Mission Support!

London!

 I started this blog to keep everyone informed of the work God is doing in my life here in Texas and while I will be in London. I know no better place to start this record then from the very beginning.

 About a month ago I had been conversing with a friend of mine on this incredible urge I had to just pack up and GO! I was willing to go anywhere, I even contemplated selling my car and backpacking somewhere (I seriously doubt I would have lasted one hour)! I knew I would have loved to join a mission but I had no knowledge of any missions that I could hook on to, so I did what any normal American would do when their knowledge of a particular subject reaches an end. . . I googled and I found GEM! The GEM staff got back to me the very next day, we spoke about me and what is going on in my life and about GEM and the impact GEM is helping make in London, after that call I was hooked! I had first called to just inquire about a two week long trip over the summer but during my call I was offered an internship position in the UK! :) I'm pretty sure I walked around in a dream state for the next two weeks. I have been in love with the idea of travel my entire life, and here I am getting an opportunity to go and truly experience another City in a way I've never experienced anything before, on my own! 

 After the initial excitement wore off it was time to really get to know GEM and my possible work place ministries. After being completely satisfied with what I saw in GEM I filled out my paper work and picked a ministry. Choosing one was no easy task, my idea of ministry formed from 24 years of church in the bible belt was completely blown by just reading the list! They have the most bizarre idea of church, church in a coffee shop, church in an art gallery, and the strangest of all, church in a pub! How was I ever going to choose from that list? However, God in his infinite wisdom began to work on my one track mind and open my eyes to see what he was doing through these ministries. To understand the need to think outside of the box in London you would have to understand London. London is a city full of diversity, many different types of people with many different interest, ethnicities, religions, and life choices. Church and God are irrelevant to most Londoners, it is very different from here at home where most people would claim to know and believe in God even if they don't attend church regularly. Here many people may make life choices that are contrary to the word of God, but these same people will quote bible verses on Facebook, get tattoos that claim Jesus is Lord, and they will even turn to church when they hit life's hard times, but how do you reach a people who don't even have God on their radar? The ministries of London have had to step outside of the norm, they have had to reach people right where they are and they do this by leading with love! 

 The most powerful and unfathomable force in this universe is the Love of God! The bible tells us the two greatest things we can do is to love God and to love our neighbor. When we put our love in God he in return teaches us how to love like he does, and out of that love comes forgiveness, confidence, peace, and prosperity. Gods love is what sets Christianity apart from any other religion in the world. there has been no other God who has loved like ours, sacrificed like ours, gave like ours, and forgave like ours, what an amazing God we serve! And what an amazing ministry tool he has given us, we don't need great words to introduce others to Christ we need only to love! But how do you open the opportunity to love on the unsuspecting stranger? That is what I want to learn in London, this is their ministry, to make inviting spaces where people can relax and connect with their ministry team and experience the selfless love of God! I am excited about many things I will experience during my time in London, but none more than the learning I will be doing while I am there! 

 However, I have much fundraising to do and not a lot of time to do this in. This is by far the biggest step of faith I have ever taken! To step out and trust that God will provide is a hard thing to do. It requires me to make myself vulnerable and trust that God will provide. I am beginning to understand the need of the body of Christ in a new way, I have done the math and all it takes to fund my trip is for 150 people to donate $40... Unfortunately, I absolutely hate asking people for money because I know many people hate to be asked, so here I am vulnerable knowing the only way to reach my trip would require people to give and that thought can be discouraging, but then the Lord reminds me that my trip is not in anyone's hands but his, and he will provide the givers! I pray for those who are willing to invest in the kingdom of God, break throughs and blessing come through giving, it is the only time in the bible where God says "test me, and I will open the flood gates of heaven." So my journey begins here, in the step of faith that fundraising is, I am so excited to see God move in this! To those who will give I want you to know you are an answered prayer, I will be praying for you and I know that God will pour out blessings on you and your house!

 Thank you from the bottom of my heart!

 -Tayler

if you are interested in giving you can do so by following the link below!
http://fnd.us/c/1Vbt1

Why "Tayler Made?"

A guest speaker at our church recently gave me a word that God had shown her for me. She said to me that my name was not a coincidence but that my name held fast to God's design for my life and that just as a tailor makes a suit to fit the measurements of a specific person so has God done for the ministry that he has called me to. She explained that I would not be able to wear other people's ministries and they would not be able to carry mine, because the calling that God has placed on my life has been "Tayler Made" for me and me alone. 

My hearts desire since I first fell in love with Jesus at 14 was above all to be relevant in the Kingdom of God! Jesus is by and large the most important person in my life, he has saved me, shaped me, given my life meaning, filled me with hope, kept me safe in the storm, his love truly is a life changing love, and my desire has always been to be used so to spread that love! However, I began to fear that I was never going to be anymore than what I was right now, God had plenty of workers he didn't need me too especially when it seemed all I did was fail! 

How amazing then was this word that God had sent to me through another person, not only did God see my fears, but he heard my cries! How awesome that he thought not only to tell me that he needs me and I am relevant but that he's actually designed a calling just for me and me for it! When I look at my life it is easy to be overwhelmed by all that is wrong in me, but how beautiful is it to know that when God looks at me he sees all of my potential! 

"Tayler Made" means more to me than just a cute name that I received through a prophetic word, it is a reminder of Gods love for me! It tells me that God knows even the little details that make us who we are and the life he gives us will be a reflection of that knowledge! What a beautiful "Tayler Made" life that will be!