The Ultimate Romantic Gesture

Read this today and was overwhelmed at the passionate love my God has for me! Be encouraged!

Jesus's death was the ultimate romantic gesture of the most pure and perfect love imaginable. Imagine Christ down on one knee, showing you His bloody, nail-scarred palms, saying,

"I did this for you so that I could set you free from sin and death, transform you from a beggar into a royal princess, and make you My own for all eternity. I did this so that My life could invade your being and consume every aspect of your existence. Every moment you are awake, I desire to reveal more of Myself to you. Come away from sin, selfishness and worldly pursuits. Come away to My beautiful land. Let My life sustain you through richer or poorer, through sickness and health, through all of lifes's ups and downs. The most glorious romance of all time awaits you. All you have to do is take My hand and say YES!"

That, sisters, is what HE alone can offer you and how He fulfills your heart. May we pursue Him as He is constantly pursuing us! Praise Him!

living outwardly.

I was so humbled to get to meet these precious faces this past summer while in India. These children are all orphans that live in a special children's home specifically for HIV positive children.I saw this specific group of children different times this summer as they came to our clinic twice for their checkups and I visited the home once. They are taken care of, loved and guided by some amazing houseparents that are just breathtaking to watch. David and his wife Sylvia are true examples of what it means to count everything the world offers as garbage in exchange for a sacred call. Their lives just ooze with the Gospel.


I watched as they fed, bathed and held these children with a love so mesmerizing that it could only be from Christ. I saw them trust the Lord to provide all that was needed when they truly didn't know where the money would come from. I listened to them testify to God's faithfulness in their life.

The Lord has been teaching me more and more what it looks like for me to live my life outward. Meaning that part of living a life fulfilled by Christ is being others-centered. In America, we are dangerously preoccupied with ourselves. God has not called us to make our lives about making our own ambitions and dreams come true but to be poured out sacrifices for His Kingdom. It's pretty hard for me to be concerned about my future or plans while I'm holding an HIV positive orphan who has never known what it's like to be loved by a family before.

When I was in high school, a very wise friend told me,
"Forget the American dream. Join the God dream."

I have never forgotten those words and the narrow path they challenge me to walk. It is a challenge to myself and to you to remember that your life is not your own. It has been bought with the price of the very blood of Christ.

No matter what job or career or place He has in mind for you, the call is the same. To lay down all your pursuits upon the altar and allow Him to make you a living sacrifice. He has given everything to us, will you give everything to Him?

Make Your Summer Count!

As a college student, you have a two-month span of time to do with whatever you choose. Why not use that time to make an impact on a hurting world and reach them with the gospel of Christ? You may be thinking thoughts like, "I'm not qualified to do that," "I can't afford something like that," or "My parents would never let me." Well, let me just tell you that the Lord took those "reasons" of mine(really, they were excuses) and tossed them out the window. I am so thankful that He is still in the business of taking simple, ordinary human beings and using them to do extraordinary things for His Kingdom! I can't get over that! It's amazing! I was amazed to see Him provide thousands of dollars over the past five years to place me exactly where He wanted me. That's something that only HE could get the glory for!

There are so many ways that you can serve through GO NOW Missions whether it's for two months or two weeks!
-Men are needed to fish alongside fishermen in Senegal in order to bridge relationships with them to share the Gospel!
-Teach English and play sports with university students in Central Europe to share with them where true Love is found!
-Use your love of backpacking, white water rafting, paintball and other outdoor recreation in a unique way to reach others through an Outdoorsmen Church in Montana!
-Be a part of planting churches in San Diego, California!
-Love on orphans and meet their needs in Honduras!

These are just a few of the opportunities there are! Go to GONOWMISSIONSto see a COMPLETE LIST of SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES and start the online application! Applications are due February 1! Remember that He doesn't call the qualified but qualifies the called!

If you have questions about mission opportunities you can come by the BSM on campus in January or feel free to message me!

"I believe that in each generation God has called enough men and women to evangelize all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call. It is man who will not respond!" -- Isobel Kuhn, missionary to China and Thailand

it's been a long time comin'....

After a long period of absence I'm returning to the blog neighborhood. I have felt the Lord telling me to pick this up again and honestly, I haven't been too fond of the idea. Because you see there's this little thing called pride and to say I struggle with it is an understatement. And when people start to like what you write, what you say, the pictures you take, how cool you are or whatever, it can be a not so good thing for your heart. Or in my case, it can be flat out dangerous! But I feel that this is for a much bigger reason than I can see right now so here we are! Well, can I just say that He has been so sweet to me lately! Lots of things happening with the end of the semester and He has met my every need!! Praise Him!



One of my biggest joys in life is getting to share and study the Word of God alongside some pretty amazing ladies and this past semester has been no exception! Looking into the book of Hosea and seeing pretty much the Gospel of Christ laid out before me has been pretty incredible! I am suuuuuuuper pumped about what He's pushing me toward for next semester.

I think there is a real problem with modern femininity today, to put it bluntly. One of my favorite authors, Leslie Ludy, addresses this a lot(check her out!). As little girls, we dreamed of becoming princesses and being swept off our feet by our prince. We looked at the world with innocent eyes and knew it was our playground. We knew that we were treasured, valuable and beautiful. Maybe this was your thoughts as a little girl or maybe the experiences of your childhood were quite the opposite. Whichever it is, somewhere along the way, the message of this world got in the way. And we believed it and gave in to its alluring invitation. As a result, we as women have looked everywhere except toward Jesus Christ to fulfill the deepest longings of our heart. We try desperately to meet our need for love through flings with guys, our popularity, the pleasures of pop-culture and the approval of the world. But it is He and He alone that can satisfy those longings. I think it will be a beautiful thing for a group of imperfect sisters coming together to learn and find their security and identity in Jesus Christ and discover Him as the True Prince and Lover of their soul.



He has been dealing with me personally alot lately about my selfish pursuits and asking me to lay those down in exchange for a sacrificial life poured out for the least and lost around the world. I can tell you that so far, it hasn't been easy but it was the best trade of my life! It's my prayer that as His followers we would see what He is asking of us and give it to Him freely and joyfully. What this world has to offer pales in comparison to the joys and pleasures that are in Him!



Elisabeth Elliot said, "The preoccupations of young women-their looks, their clothes, their social life-don't seem to change much from generation to generation. But in every generation, there are a few who make other choices." I don't know about you, but I desperately want to be one of those few!

"For such a time as this..."

Spring is finally here! The warmness has found it's way back to the canyon and I am loving walking outside in a t-shirt and flip-flops!
It has been a wild semester already! The Lord is teaching me so much! Specifically about my own weaknesses and sinful nature! But He has also restored the joy of my salvation and given me a renewed hope!
I have a few prayer requests for you! Myself, along with many other college students, are preparing to serve over Spring Break at South Padre Island for a week! The Lord has given us so many opportunities to show His love to students that are seeking fulfillment in things that don't truly satisfy. Pray for us as we finish final preparations, for financial provision and that our hearts are clean before the Lord. Pray for the students that go to the island to party, that their eyes would be opened to a God who heals, rescues and restores!

"And when He comes, He will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like a deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams will water the wasteland." -Isaiah 35:5-6

Home From Nicaragua

As the summer is winding down, I am thrilled to share with you how the Lord worked in my life and in others as I served in Nicaragua in July. I, along with a team from Living Water International, set out for Central America to share the love of Jesus Christ with the people we encountered. We also had the opportunity to drill a water well at an elementary school and teach hygiene to the women and children of the community.
Our week began in the community of Telica, just outside Leon, Nicaragua. We fell in love with the people who warmly welcomed us into their community, especially the children. The drilling process was underway and we began our lessons with the women and children and had a lot of fun doing it! As we worked, the people of the community worked right alongside of us. We were so humbled to see their love and appreciation. We felt as if we were being used as the Lord’s hands and feet to communicate His love to them in real, tangible ways.





Our time with the children and women was precious and so purposeful. We communicated basic hygiene such as hand washing, disease prevention and simple medical practice. The women of the community warmly received these lessons as well as the spiritual lessons that we shared. The children were also excited to learn new ways to stay healthy and play a few games in between! The Gospel was presented many times and was well received.
As we sought to make the most every opportunity we were given, the week went by very quickly which was expected. The Lord taught us a few things about His plans when we were not able to find water by the end of the week. Although we were disappointed for the sake of the people of the community, we knew that the Lord could see much more than we could. The people of Telica remained hopeful and so appreciative of all the hard work that was put in that week despite the results. We were also encouraged to know that Living Water will be going back to that community after we have left and will work until they find water.
I was so blessed by the people of Telica and by what the Lord taught me that week. I was encouraged by knowing that we never know what our part is in the spiritual harvest. Sometimes, we are the planters and other times we water the seeds that are planted (1 Corinthians 3:6). I am so excited for the day when we get to see all the fruit of our labor.
I want to thank you so much for your vital part to this ministry. Your prayers and financial giving enabled me to serve and answer the call that that the Lord has given me. Also, I thank you on behalf of the people of Telica. Even though separated by distance, you were such a blessing to those people and I know that one day in heaven you will get to meet each and every one of them. Know that you are continually in my thoughts and prayers!

digging wells, yummy mangos and a little Espanol!

My second semester here at West Texas A&M is just flying by! Classes have been going great as well as ministry with the BSM here on campus and my job as an after-school tutor at an elementary school. God has been working many things together to bring me to what He has in store for this summer. Even I am not sure of all the details, but He definitely is and that is more than enough for me.
He has closed many doors and opened a few unexpected ones! I have had to let go of my plans and let Him lead. He has given me the opportunity and the heart to serve in Nicaragua, Central America for a short time this summer. I was assigned to Nicaragua as a student missionary through GoNow Missions, a missions organization for college students through the BGCT. The dates of my trip are July 11-19, 2008. We will be working alongside an organization called Living Water International. We will be working to share the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ by digging/repairing water wells in various villages and teaching health education. My personal role on our team will be teaching basic hygiene to the women of the village. This is an amazing opportunity as it will allow me to build a foundation as I prepare to be on the medical mission field one day!
I am sharing this with you so that you can fervently PRAY for the team and I. This is not a culture that I have experienced before so I know that God has a lot to teach me in the process. Please pray for me as I prepare with my Spanish speaking skills and for the people of Nicaragua to be thirsty for the true, Living Water! Also, if you feel led to give financially to help send me, I would be very grateful. Thank you for partnering with me in missions this way. I pray that you will be encouraged and blessed because of your sacrificial giving.
Many of you have been walking this journey with me since 2006 and I have been so blessed by YOU! Words cannot express my deep gratitude for how you have continued to support me as I have followed Him to the nations! Please know how much I value your friendship and appreciate your faithfulness. I will be keeping you updated on how God moves in the coming days and all he does while I am in Nicaragua. Again, thank you for your love for Christ and your love for those who do not yet know Him!

Serving Him,
Angela Banks