I Need You!!

I need you to partner with me. 
I have this amazing opportunity to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus in 11 different countries over the course of 11 months with The World Race.
I need your prayers.
I need your encouragement.
I need your support.
My blog, http://brandiwilcox.theworldrace.org/ has more information about me, The World Race, and what I will be a part of. Check it out!
The cost of this missions trip is $15,150, which sounds like a lot, but a donation as small as $20 can go a long way. Would you partner with me in ministry to go on The World Race? 
Stop what you are doing right now and pray. (I know you really don’t want to stop and pray, I mean I normally don’t do it when people tell me to, but literally stop what you are doing and pray for God to lead you in knowing how you can support me.) If he has led you to support me financially go here https://www.adventures.org/give/donate.asp?giveto=worldrace&desc=For%20Brandi%20Wilcox&tuid=10233314.
May the God of this Universe that we know, love, and serve bless you for your financial contribution.
I NEED YOU!

Your Sister In Christ,
Brandi :)

Mark 10:21

Mark 10:21 "Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."

The two piles of clothes that I am selling or giving away to a Non-Profit organization in Angola.

Since I have been reading the book, "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns I have felt God calling me to get rid of all of the clothes that I have in my dorm room that I never ever wear. These clothes are from high school and they do not fit me now nor are they modest. God has changed my heart and my passions since coming to college. In high school I felt that I was defined by my clothes. I literally went an entire school year without wearing the same shirt twice. I have over 400 t-shirts in my dorm room right now. I do not wear more than 40 of them. I am not defined by what I wear, nor am I defined by my possessions, but I am defined in my Savior, Jesus Christ. Mark 10:21 has really just been laid on my heart and I can feel God telling me to just get rid of all of these things. 


Matthew 6:21 "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."


Where is my treasure? Is it in all of these clothes that I have prided myself in owning? Is my treasure in all of the things I own here on earth? Is my treasure in my past and how I have overcome? Is my treasure in the relationships and friendships I have? Or is my treasure in Jesus Christ, the One who created this entire Universe & created me and said that "it was good?" I'm pretty sure I know where my treasure should be. Selling all of my clothes is me moving one step closer to putting my treasure in Jesus Christ.


What does God expect of me? Everything


I can't just sit here in my dorm room and not give everything to Jesus. I need to surrender it all to Him. A complete surrender to Christ is definitely something God has been showing me. I need to lay down my past and take up the cross. God wants it all from me. If I want to be a missionary full-time I can't be lugging around all of this stuff everywhere I go. I don't need it, but I am positive there are people in the Angola, IN area that could use these clothes.


Luke 6:46 "Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord' and do not do what I say?"


If I were to truly sit down and read my Bible every single day (something I have been failing at doing) and truly listen to what God is calling me to do, then I would be changing myself daily. I have felt this urge to get rid of my clothes, but why has it taken me two months to do it? Is it because I was "busy," or is it because I was not being obedient to God's call in my life? I'm pretty sure I was not being obedient because I could have taken two hours to clean out my closets. 

Isaiah 6:8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

I am being sent. I am being sent to the place God has called me to: Nairobi, Kenya. I have given up my treasures here in the US to go and be the hands and feet of Christ. Is God calling you to go somewhere? Is God calling you to go and be His disciple here in the US or overseas? Is God calling you to be used by Him, to be stretched and molded to be more Christlike? Are you saying "Here am I. Send me!" Or, are you hesitant to do what God is calling you to do?


Now, here comes the fun part, what is God calling you to do? Is He calling you to get rid of all of your possessions, all of the things you are holding onto? Is there somewhere you have your treasure laid that needs to be refocused to have your treasure in Christ? Are you willing to give God your everything; your time, your possessions, your money, and ultimately your life for the cause of Christ? What is God telling you to do, but you are resistant and not willing to do? Is God calling you somewhere that you are hesitant to go to?


My prayer for you is that you will seek the Kingdom of God and that Jesus Christ in all of His glory will be revealed to you.


In Christ,
Brandi :)

The Hole in Our Gospel

I have been reading a book called "The Hole in Our Gospel" by Richard Stearns. A few of the main questions posed to the readers in this book are: "What does God expect of us?" and "Are you willing to be open to God's will for your life?" Richard, the author, was the CEO Lenox, a fine China company. Needless to say, through this position within the company, he was making a lot of money. In the book he discusses how he went through an interview process with World Vision to potentially become their President. Richard did not want to leave his CEO job and become the President of World Vision. The board at World Vision literally felt God calling Richard to the position. Patience had to be key with these people as they went through the waiting process for Richard to open his doors and let God take control of his career path. Richard became the President of World Vision and since then he has traveled all over the world sharing the love of Jesus with others.

This book states that our Gospel, the Gospel of the life of Jesus Christ, has a hole in it. Jesus called those 12 disciples to go out and proclaim the Name of Jesus to the everyone. Jesus has called us to ask God to send out workers into the field. This "field" is the world. The world includes those living in the slums in Africa. The world includes that friend you don't talk to anymore. The world includes your family. The world includes every single person you encounter every single day. This "hole" is the urban poor. Luke 4:18-19 says "He has anointed me to preach the good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor." GOD has called each of us to preach the Gospel to the poor. Those homeless people you see on the streets, Jesus wants you to reach out to them. Africa, a country that has a lot of poverty, God wants people to go there and preach the Good News. Where has God called you to share Him?

My professor gave me this book because it talks about having compassion for the poor and ministry oversees. This book is breaking me. It's breaking my heart for the ministry that I will be a part of in Nairobi. It's breaking my heart for the many, many children all over the world that don't have a drop of water to drink let alone a hot meal to eat. It's really made me wonder where I am going to be after I graduate. Has God called ME to be one of these people to go out and proclaim the Good News to the poor? Is God showing me my brokenness for the poor for a reason? These are questions that will be answered in time. 

There are a lot of things in this book that have really stood out to me and made me think and question where my heart is right now. Granted, I am only on page 106 in the book out of 300 pages, but I have been learning so much through these pages. Here are a few quotes that have really hit home with me

"To be a disciple means forsaking everything to follow Jesus, unconditionally, putting our lives completely in His hands. When we say that we want to be His disciple, yet attach a list of conditions, Jesus refuses to accept our terms. His terms involve unconditional surrender. 'Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?'" (page 39)

"Here is the answer to the question, what does God expect? 

• We are to love God.
• We are to love our neighbors.
• We are to go and make disciples of others who will do the same." (page 68)

"God can't give you the blessings He has for you until you first put down the other things you are clutching in your hands." (page 89)

"Two thousand years ago, the world was changed forever by just twelve. It can happen again." -Richard Stearns (page 5)

"The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet." -Frederick Buechner (page 36)

"Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." (Mark 10:21) (page 37)

"Let my heart be broken by the things that break the heart of God." -A prayer by Bob Pierce, founder of World Vision (page 9)

"He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." -Micah 6:8 (page 53)

"For the follower of Christ, anything that becomes more precious to us than our relationship with the Lord becomes destructive." .... "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:21 (page 43)

"Christ has no body on earth but yours,

no hands but yours, 

no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which

Christ's compassion for the world is to look out;

yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good;

and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now." -Saint Teresa of Avila (page 13)

The GOD of this universe is calling each of us to proclaim the Gospel to not just those around us, but the poor across this universe. What are YOU doing to share Christ's love to others? I'd like to encourage you to go out and purchase this book. I guarantee it will change your perspective on the world. Pray for God to guide and direct you to share the Gospel where you are. Pray for God to give you the boldness you need to proclaim the Good News. 

Be blessed, my friends.

In Christ,
Brandi :)

God Speak

I'll be honest, there has been a lot of "stuff" going on in my life. Some bad stuff, but lots and lots of good stuff. God has given me so many different opportunities to share my life, heart, and vision with others. These conversations have been a huge blessing to me. 


Yesterday, I went on a 3 hour road trip with Megan, one of my friends, just to go to Cici's pizza. On our way there we were able to sing Jesus music and to get know one another more. It was such a blessing to be able to spend time with her. We went to 3 different book stores searching for what I like to call "Jesus books." We successfully found everything at the first stop. At the Bargain Bookstore, I found a God's Word translation of the Bible and since I had given away my other copy, I purchased this one. Little did I know, this Bible was going to be a huge blessing to me and Megan. On our ride back to campus, I was reading through different topics within the passages of the Bible. Here's what the topics look like:

Not too long, or too short, but very convicting. We read through about 6 of the topics and with every one that I read, I could feel God just telling me, "Brandi, listen to me, for my paths are straight. Do not put ANYTHING before me. Give everything to me because I love you more than anyone."  This is what I like to call "a stab in the heart" when God tells me exactly what I need to hear. I hate when He does that, but I love it so much. I think it so awesome how God was able to convict me of what was going on in my very own life through this new Bible. I'm sure I will be learning more and more from this Bible! The best part was that it was not only convicting to me, but it was to Megan too. This opened up doors for us to share about our struggles and things that we were letting control our relationship with Jesus. I was so blessed by our conversation and being able to encourage her on ways I have dealt with some of the very things she is going through. We decided to stop at McDonald's before we got back to campus and dig more into the Bible. We were sitting their reading through passages and I was practically screaming at my Bible and at God for how convicting these things were. One of the ladies that worked there approached me and asked if God was trying to tell me something. In my fit of rage, God was able to bless me because I was able to talk to this lady about Jesus. I shared with her about some of the things God was teaching me and how He was leading me to go to Kenya this summer. She is a leader over the youth at her church and it was awesome to have her encourage me. What a blessing!




I know work in the cafeteria on my campus and I have been able to share with my coworkers about my trip to Mexico that I just got back from. Also, I have been blessed with the opportunity to share with several of my coworkers about my trip to Kenya and my passion for it. It has been a huge blessing to be able to share Jesus with these people. I don't know where any of them stand with their spiritual walk with Christ, but I am trusting that He will use me to continue reaching out to them. 




Right now, I will admit that I am very, very stressed from having two jobs, 18 credit hours, a leader in CCH, preparing two speeches for CCH, and raising support. BUT I know that God is my provider, my healer, my love, my everything. I know that there is no need to worry or stress about any of these things. God is really stretching me with my time management. I am a Junior in college and I still don't know how to manage my time wisely. I still spend a lot of time on facebook. I still procrastinate my homework until the very last minute. The best part of it all is that God is teaching me to rely on Him more with the busy schedule that I have. Everyday I am walking by faith and trusting that His Will will be done. 


Kenya Update:
I have raised $1,755.03.
I still need $3,916.97.
God is faithful, and He has provided me with so much thus far. 
I'm placing every single dollar in His hands and I know that He will provide.
If you would like more information about my trip, check out my $5,672 blog. 
If you still want more information after reading the blog feel free to email me at telltheworldthatjesuslives@hotmail.com


In Christ,
Brandi :)

My Life Journey to JESUS

After posting the A Broken Family blog, I feel led to explain a little more of my family situation with you. In the process of sharing my family situation I will share with you how I have come to know Jesus! :) Yay! [Oh, and bear with me this is a LONG post, but it's my testimony, so it's not going to be short with how much God is doing :) ]


During the fall of 2007, my senior year of high school, I was struggling a lot. I was struggling with having suicidal thoughts. I was struggling with fitting in within my family of 4. I was struggling with being accepted at school. I was LOST. I had told my parents that I was suicidal and they didn't think twice about it. After telling my parents that I was heartbroken that they were not going to do anything about it. I was mad that my own family didn't care that I was suicidal.


In December of 2007 I was talking to my best friend on the phone. I told her that I couldn't take it anymore. That I couldn't take the way my family was treating me and how much they were bringing me down. My mom ended up waking up and asking me who I was talking to and I told her it was my best friend Lindsey. She proceeded to start yelling at me and telling me that I was really different ever since I started hanging out with Lindsey. I just felt attacked. I felt like my family was accusing me of doing all of these things that I have never done. I was the Assistant Director of the Fall Play and would constantly be at my high school working on the set. My family thought I was doing something else. I told Lindsey that I couldn't take it anymore and that I wanted to leave. After I got off of the phone with Lindsey I started pulling all of the clothes out of my closet. I was preparing to move out. I found trash bags to throw everything in. I didn't know where I was going, but I knew I would be going somewhere. That night I cried myself to sleep because I was scared and worried of what was to come.


The next morning I wake up to my mom and brother talking. The next thing I know, my brother had unlocked my door, threw me from my bed and restrained me on the ground while sitting on top of me and restraining my hands above my head. He verbally threatened me and told me that I was causing the family so much anguish and hurt. I couldn't breath because of the way he was sitting on me. I was frightened that he was going to physically abuse me. Eventually, I got him to get off of me.


Things were quiet and I decided to go get a drink of water from the kitchen. My mom followed me into the kitchen. Then, out of nowhere, she came at me restraining me by the collar of my shirt. She said "I don't care if I go to jail for this, it is worth it." I PANICKED! I went for the phone to call 9-1-1. While I was trying to get to the phone my mom was still holding on to me restraining me from much movement. I made it to the phone and dialed 9-1-1. My brother disconnected the phone before the call was put through. I didn't know what to do I was lost and helpless. I went to the other end of the house to the only other phone in the house to call 9-1-1. My mom was still restraining me by my collar and screaming at me. I made it to the other phone, dialed 9-1-1, somehow my mom and I ended up on the ground, I shouted "HELP ME" into the phone, my brother disconnected the phone again. I got up, and my brother and mom proceeded to tell me that life was going to be a living HELL for me for doing that. My brother reconnected the phone, and there was someone from 9-1-1 on the other line and I took the phone from my brother. The lady on the other end told me that there should have been a sheriff deputy pulling into my driveway at that time. The deputy told me to go out to the car while he talked with my mom and brother.


Some time later he came out. He didn't ask me what happened. He didn't ask me how I was doing. He TOLD me that I just needed to suck it up for the next 5 months and stay with my family. I was hurt! What just happened and why was this person not going to help me? The sheriff left and I went back inside my house, grabbed my stuff for school and left. I found my best friend Lindsey and told her to come with me to our teachers room so that I could tell her what happened. I just told my teacher that my mom had come at me and told me "I don't care if I go to jail for this, it's worth it." Immediately she took me to the guidance counselor and sat me down so that we could discuss what had happened.


I sat with my guidance counselor and teacher and told them what had happened. During the conversation my teacher realized that I had marks on my neck. Upon examination, I had several marks all over my body from what had happened that morning. The Deputy that came to my house that morning came to my high school. I shared with him my side of the story of what really happened. He asked me why I didn't share with him what had happened that morning. I told him he never gave me a chance to. After he saw the marks on my body he informed me that I had no choice but to press charges against my brother and mom. The restraining order would last at least 3 months or until the case was solved. At that point, I was homeless. My teacher, counselor, and I sat through possible scenarios of where I could live temporarily until I found a permanent home. I ended up staying with my friend Lindsey and her family. I didn't understand what was going to happen after all of this. I stayed with Lindsey for two weeks until I moved in with my friend Heather Hobbs and her family permanently.


The Hobbs family were really inviting. They knew I was going through a lot and they were there with me every step of the way. God had a plan in me living with them. Before moving in with the Hobbs family, I had never gone to church regularly, but I started going every week. I didn't willingly go to church, but I was forced to go (& today I am thankful that I started going to church then). I didn't really listen to the messages or pay attention to what was going on around me, but God was still working in my heart. The Hobbs family provided me with a home and a loving family that was there to support me. They helped me pursue my life-long dream of going to college. I stayed with them until the day I left for college on August 23, 2008.


I went to college 4 hours away from my hometown at Trine University in Angola, Indiana. 4 hours away from the drama. 4 hours away so that I could start a new life. A new life is what I started! The second day I was on campus I went to a worship session with the only Christian organization on my campus called Christian Campus House. Worship was good and I thought that I could get to know a lot of people through the organization. I started attending everything that dealt with CCH. I met my first college best friend Sarah at that first worship and we grew closer and closer as the year progressed.


Around the middle of fall semester it really hit me that people in CCH were different than me. It really hit me that they had something that I was missing. One of the senior girls in CCH named Erica was very blunt with me one day and asked me why it is that I cursed. I had no response. God spoke to me through her and from that day until now I have stopped cursing. That one step, has started a changing trend. I have changed so many things in my life since that day. During Christmas break I returned to the Hobbs house and I was reading a book called "Velvet Elvis" by Rob Bell. This book really touched my heart it shared the Gospel with me and helped me to realize I had a hole in my heart that could only be filled with Christ. I accepted Jesus into my heart!! :)


After Christmas break I started seeking God more and learning more about the story of Jesus. I met with my campus minister Travis and he helped me seek God to heal all the hurts and pains from others in my life. He encouraged me to forgive everyone for the things they have done to me that have hurt me. I wrote a list of ways people have hurt me and through a process of a couple of weeks I forgave every single hurt on the list. I forgave my brother, my mother, every single person that has ever hurt me. On my first missions trip to Dungannon, Va I felt God calling me to share with others that I had accepted Him into my heart and my life. On March 13, 2009, I was baptized! That moment I could not explain how I felt. God was soo good and I was so excited to be starting this journey of loving and serving Him.


On my way back from the trip, I called Denise Hobbs and told her that I had been baptized during the trip. She wasn't excited, she didn't even seem to care. She only wanted to know who had baptized me. Did that matter? No. For someone that has grown up in the church, I thought she would at least be excited for me.


That next summer I applied to be a missionary at Cedar Point and tell others about the amazing things God has been doing in my life. I found out that evangelism is not the easiest thing to do, but I knew that God was teaching me how to do it that summer. I was planning on going home after Cedar Point before returning to school so I texted Denise and told her when I would be coming home. She told me that home was in a different place and that her and Jamey had split up about 5 months ago. WHAT? I was 4 hours away and I had no idea any of this was going on. I knew that they were having problems, but I never knew that it was that bad. I went to Denise's condo for a couple days. It was awkward. It was really awkward. I didn't feel like I was at home, I felt like Denise didn't really care about me anymore. I felt like I couldn't even call that condo "home." I came back to school for RA training feeling very weird about what had happened a couple days before. I didn't really think about it much because I had to get into school mode.


God had been laying on my heart for a while that I needed to reconnect with my real mom. I didn't know how I was going to communicate with her or what I was going to say, so I just prayed about it. Eventually, in October, God led me to write my mom a letter in the mail. I told my mom that I was sorry for everything that had happened and that I had forgiven her. I told her that I have grown so much. That I have grown independently and that I have found my identity in Christ. I told her I wanted her to be a part of my life again. I prayed over the letter before I sent it in the mail.


On October 31, 2009 I received a text from my cousin Courtney (who is the only family member I stayed in contact with during this time) and she told me that my mom had received the letter and it was the best thing she could have ever received. God knew this was the perfect time for us to reconnect. I could not have been any more happier at that point. God had placed my mommy back in my life!


During Christmas break in 2009 I met up with my mom again for the first time in two years. This meeting was in God's perfect timing. It was not easy. It was one of the hardest things I have done to approach my mother who I had not seen in two years. One of the first things she said to me is that she just wanted to move on and put the past in the past and have a relationship with me. God answered my prayers! I was so excited to just move forward and have a relationship with my mom!


During this same Christmas break chaos occured at Denise's house. Things really blew up between her son and myself. I truly felt out of place at her home. I didn't even feel like I could call that place home. I ended up coming back to campus a week early and staying at one of the sorority houses. The entire 4 hour car ride back to my school no words were said except for at lunch, which if you know me it is really hard for me to keep quiet for 5 minutes. There was a lot of animosity between myself and Denise. In February, I emailed her about my tax forms and getting them done in time to get a grant from the school for $1,000. Basically, the conversation ended up leading to her saying that she regretted taking me in and she couldn't have said no because she would have felt bad. The conversation ended with her telling me to have a good rest of my life and that she did not want to be a part of it. I was homeless, again!


Broken and unknowing of what God's plan was for me, but still trusting Him, God led me to be a missionary with Campus Crusade for Christ for the summer in Wildwood, NJ. This would provide a home for me to go to during the summer, a place to grow closer to God, to share Christ's love, and make money with a summer job. God provided. He not only provided  me with a home for the summer, but He provided me with over $3,000 in support so that I could spend the summer telling others about Him. God is so awesome. During the summer God really laid on my heart that being an evangelist is what I am called to do. Telling others about Jesus comes so naturally to me and I am able to open up to anyone. I'm excited for my future missions to glorify God's Kingdom.


This year God has been blessing me with so many things. With the prayer room I have found another spiritual gift that God has blessed me with. I have been able to draw closer to God and to truly rely on Him to heal my heart from things in the past. He has showed me that my heart needs to fully seek Jesus and not be so stuck on the things of this world. I have applied to be a missionary in Kenya or Indonesia for next summer and I am really excited for the potential opportunity to step out in faith and share Christ in a different country. Oh, and just so you know, God always provides a home for me during breaks from school. In a week I will be spending 3 weeks with Jamie, the girl who has helped in the development of the prayer room/meetings, for Christmas break. God is good. I think one of my next blogs will be about a conversation I had on the boardwalk in NJ with a girl named Miranda. Until then, God bless you.


In Christ,
Brandi

You Are More

God has laid the song "You Are More" by Tenth Avenue North on my heart this week. The song has come up on my iPod at least 3 times a day. If you have not heard the song, then go to this link and watch it on YouTube. Honestly, you have to watch the music video, don't just look up the lyrics or listen to the song because the music video just makes the song 100 times better. 

   

The chorus of the song is---

You are more than the choices that you've made,
You are more than the sum of your past mistakes,
You are more than the problems you create,
You've been remade. 

Wow! WE ARE MORE! God made us NEW when we accepted Jesus into our hearts! All of those things that are in the back of your head, all of those mistakes you made, the times you let your sinful nature take over your actions, NONE of those matter. We have been REMADE! Hallelujah! I have been brought to tears several times while listening to this song. God is reassuring me that everything in my past does not matter. Jesus died on that cross for me. He died so that I could be made new. He died for me. He died for you. No matter how far away from God you are, He is one step away. My prayer is that everyone who reads this blog would realize that everything in their past does not matter because God has made us new. 

I know that God has a plan in my brokenness for this song. I hope I can really truly believe that the price has been paid for the things that I have done. Sometimes I get so caught up on what could have been or what should have been, but I can't do anything about it. I must move forward and know that God has forgiven me. I don't deserve any of this forgiveness. None whatsoever. BUT God keeps giving it to me every day. Why does He treat each of us so good? I can't get over how awesome our God is. The fact that God forgives us sinners that do things that don't honor Him every single day, but He's always there telling us to follow Him and He will provide a way. 

God's plan is perfect. Jesus is perfect. We are NOT perfect. We need Jesus. We need Jesus every day. We need to pursue a deeper relationship with Jesus so that we can get to know Him more. We need to truly believe in our hearts that God is our healer and our protector. We need to be reassured that we are remade in the image of Christ.

Remember, the God of this universe loves you SO much!

In Christ,

Brandi :)