If the next flight

Malaysian Airlines flight MH370 disappeared in the Indian Ocean. AirAsia Indonesian flight QZ8501 disappeared somewhere in the Java Sea.

The loss of an airplane with its passengers and crew is truly a devastating tragedy.

If the next flight you took disappeared over the ocean would you be ready? The loss of life is tragic, but even more tragic is the uncertainty of what will happen when you die.

The uncertainty of death is made clear in the Bible, after we die we will spend eternity in either heaven or hell. God doesn't want anyone to perish in hell (2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slack concerning His promises, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us. not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."). But we are sinners and deserve death (Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,…” Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death…”). Because of the great love God has for us, He sent His only Son to die in our place (John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”). Jesus died on the cross for our sins, and then was raised to life the third day. He defeated death and hell and sin (1 Corinthians 15:3-4, "...that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures and that He was buried and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures."). You must believe that Jesus died for your sins (acknowledging to Him that you are a sinner and repenting of your sins), rose again in victory, and is your Lord and Savior (Acts 16:31, "So they said, "believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved..." and Romans 10:13, "For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."). Jesus is the only way to heaven (John 14:6, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father but by me.”).

I know that Jesus died for my sins on the cross, He paid the penalty for my sins. He died to give me life. Without Him I am nothing. I know that because of what He has done for me, when I die I have eternal life with Him forever. There is no uncertainty in death for me. As a believer I can be sure that when I die I will enter into eternity with Christ Jesus our Lord. There is no uncertainty and there is no fear in death for me. And in Him I find peace and hope and comfort.

Don't live another moment in uncertainty. 

He knows

I walked up to the Liberty monogram today. Situated at the top of Liberty Mountain, it can be seen from anywhere on campus. From down below it is an impressive LU covering the mountain, but when you reach the top and look down on the monogram it looks like a random pile of rocks and dead bushes and its impossible to make out the LU.
Sometimes when we look at what we've been doing it looks like a pile of random events and experiences. And sometimes it is hard to understand how it could ever fit together. But God sees the big picture, He knows how all those seemingly random experiences work together in His perfect plan. Just like the monogram, we have to remember that even though it looks random up close, God has perfectly orchestrated where each rock and bush are placed to display a beautiful picture.

safety the turnbuckle

Coffee

A day in the life at AMTS.

Tensiometer to check  cable tension

Woke up today at 0530. Had a half cup of coffee and one of my roommates krispy kreme donuts while I read my Bible. Get backpack, water bottle, and of course a travel mug of coffee. 0640, outside the weather wasn't so bad and don't think anyone could be more excited to see clear car windows, no condensation and no ice! Study up for our quiz in airframe electricity, cramming all knowledge about batteries, generators, and alternators. 0740 class starts off with some Romans 2. 0800 quiz time! 0830, find some partners and get started on a generator. 1120, lunch time! Main campus classes were cancelled at 1300 due to election day? AMT students continue working! 1200, rigging time.! The elevator travel is out of limits, maybe the cable tension is better. Now how do we get to the cables to check the tension for the elevators? Get the tail cone! Never been so happy to see a inspection plate under the tail end of an airplane, a climb through to the end of the tail over cables did not seem like an exciting task. Now to figure out a way to tighten the turnbuckle. Check the tension, way to tight! Still could use some  loosening. Perfect! No time to safety the turnbuckle?! Clean up the shop ready for tomorrow. 1540 time to leave for the day. Time for dinner and homework. Thank God for days off work!

Turnbuckle 

I could sum up my semester

In case you were wondering what I have been doing since getting to school I thought I would give a quick update on how things have been going this semester!
I could sum up my semester in three words: church, work, and maintenance.
I started the Aviation Maintenance Technician program (AMTS) at Liberty, changing gears from flying airplanes to working on airplanes. Liberty is one of the only schools which offers this program as a one year course, so it is essentially a two year certification process jammed into one year of work. This means that from 0740 until 1540 for five days a week we are under FAA time, with four sessions of either lecture or projects every day. There are 23 students total in my class and after spending eight hours a day, five days a week, sitting in a classroom together we get to know each other very well! On a normal week we will have a quiz or a final every day with homework throw in for fun! It is a difficult program, but very rewarding. Being a pilot makes understanding some things a little easier. I have come to accept the fact that AMTS will be my life for the next year!
I work three nights during the week and all day Saturday. God definitely had His hand in allowing me to get the job through a friend and I am so thankful to have it! With my schedule it is a blessing to be working at a job where I have very flexible hours!
Sunday is my only day away from work and school. I have come to really understand the meaning of a day of rest! Every Sunday I pick up my sister from her dorm on campus and we drive to church together. We go to the early service and then head downstairs to work with the preschool kids. My classroom normally has about 20 kids between the ages of two and three. It makes for an exciting hour and a half! I love being at church and forgetting about my homework due or the quizzes coming up. Whether in the service listening to amazing Biblical teaching and worshiping with the church family or downstairs in a classroom entertaining 20 preschoolers, it is nice to get away from a busy schedule! And I am so thankful that I have that time to spend with my sister! God has blessed me by placing me where I am and every week I am challenged to living a godly life in Christ!

I would love to hear how I can pray for you or what has been going on in your life lately! Email, facebook, or text!

Our natural state

The airplane graveyard

Corrosion is defined as the process by which a refined metal reverts back to its natural state. Once corrosion is allowed to begin, it eats away at the airplane like a cancer. If left unchecked it will destroy the airplane. At most airports there is a spot on a ramp nicknamed the graveyard. The graveyard is where airplanes are left to sit and corrode. After a few years of corrosion being allowed to take over, the airplane can no longer fly. Not because the parts are bad, but because it is so corroded inside and out that it is no longer airworthy. 

Free from corrosion 

Sin in our lives works the same way. It causes us to revert back to our natural state: our old sin nature. If left unchecked it will destroy our lives, eating away at us until we are no longer able to fly. The way that pilots and mechanics prevent corrosion is by constant cleaning and inspection inside and outside of the airplane. The parts most susceptible to corrosion, such as the landing gear, engine exhaust areas, and recessed/hidden areas, are constantly checked by maintenance to ensure that the parts are free from corrosion. Seaplanes, which are in constant contact with marine water,are checked daily for corrosion. We need to treat our lives the same way, finding where we are most susceptible to sin and constantly checking to ensure that we are free from sin in those areas. Inspecting ourselves and cleaning ourselves inwardly should be part of our daily routine. Washing ourselves in God's word and in His truth. Keeping ourselves clean from the sin that will destroy us. Planes that are inspected and cleaned look beautiful as they fly through the sky, the sun shinning off their wings. Planes can do a lot more work when they are free of corrosion just as we can do more for God's Kingdom when we are free from sin. 

Fuji T-34

And there is hope for us when we examine ourselves and realize that we have allowed sin to begin its destructive work in our lives. Corrosion can be removed by scraping it away or tearing out a section and replacing a part. Its not easy to free an airplane from corrosion, but with careful perseverance an airplane can be restored. This airplane is a Fuji T-34. It was shipped from Japan to America in 1971. For years it sat at an airport, unable to be flown. A mechanic friend of mine worked on restoring the airplane to its former glory and in 2007 flew it for the first time since it had left Japan. With careful work he was able to make it beautiful again. God can do the same for us. He takes us out of the airplane graveyard and cleans all the corrosion off, giving us new life in Him. We will always have a tendency to return to our natural state, but by careful inspection and cleaning we can prevent sin from destroying our lives. 

A necessary evil?

Coffee.

I always said I would never get into that life. I think that every time I have ventured out and done something different, people have told me that I would become a coffee drinker and that I wouldn't be able to survive without it. I held strong against the pressure and laughed in the face of fate and never became a coffee drinker. Because not only did coffee make me feel sick, it also tasted horrible. So why would I drop to that level? No, I was happy with my tea and my hot chocolate.

And then Aviation Maintenance happened. Now in our 9th week of school I have come to the decision that I will grow to enjoy coffee, love coffee, and will not be able to survive without coffee. I have come to the conclusion that in order to stay awake through four lectures within an eight hour period every day five days a week, coffee is a necessary evil.

Although I can't say that it will never happen (now that I have begun drinking coffee... I don't know what isn't possible) but I am not a coffee drinker, rather I simply drink coffee. Its a survival tactic that I have come to accept. And over the course of the next ten months in A&P school I expect to drink a lot of coffee and do a lot in the way of surviving. (as long as the coffee doesn't kill me first...)

Our identity is found in Him and Him alone.

He leads us down a path

           I decided to change the name of my blog from "Flying for Him" to "Living for Him" for one reason: it doesn't matter what we are 'do' for God, it matters if we live for God. He doesn't care what we do or how well we do it, rather He wants us to live in a way that brings glory to Him.
           I love flying, but being away from it for so long and seeing just how much I miss it has made me realize that instead of finding my identity in my flying I have to focus on what really matters: who I am in Christ. I know that I need to find my identity in Christ, but it is hard to change my focus from what I want to do for God to what God wants me to do for Him. I think I get so set in what I think of myself and of what I can do that I forget that God doesn't care what I am doing or where I am going just as long as I am living my life for Him. I have to begun to recognize what really matters in my life, what God is doing through me, not what I am doing for God. When we give everything up to Him, He is able to lead us where we have never imagined. It reminds me of the song "Oceans" by Hillsong. Asking God to lead me deeper than my feet would ever wander on my own, to a place where my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior, In Proverbs 16:9 it says that a man's heart plans his way, but God directs his steps. We can plan all we want, but it is God who will lead us.
It is not about who we are or what we have done.
                  Our identity is found in Him and Him alone.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.
The only way to describe the excitement and terror of the early aviation industry.

Sometimes I wish I lived in the time of the early exciting adventures of the brand new aviation industry, a time when it took only a few hours and a few dollars to become a certified pilot. Some pilots didn't even have a certificate, they just flew! A time when your first solo was possibly your first flight. A time when aviation had just emerged from the minds of brilliant men to become a reality. Aviation changed the course of history, it changed the military, the civilians, and most importantly the mission field.
We live in amazing times of aviation technology. I love flying. Every airplane has its own name, its own personality. If you fall in love with aviation, there isn't anything that could take you away from it.

step out of the daily routine!

I am either at work or in class for 8 hours every day Monday through Saturday.  And with work and school I don't end up with much time for doing anything. Some days I come home from a full day of class and just collapse on the couch, watching TV with my roommates before I have to leave for work. Other days I just go right into homework and study for the finals and quizzes I will have the next day.

But now to the point of all this. With being this busy every week I have realized just how important it is to prioritize our time and give up a day to God. In Genesis, God set aside day seven as a day of rest. He didn't take that day of rest for Himself, our God neither slumbers nor sleeps (Psalm 121:4)! He took that day as an example for us! In the business of our lives, we need to set aside a day of rest to pause and reflect on God. A day to step out of the daily routine!

I believe that it is important to be a part of a church, to faithfully attend the church service every Sunday. This allows you to grow in your relationship with God and with other believers.  It is so refreshing to be able to sit in church every Sunday with my sister, who also goes to Liberty, a hear a message from the Bible. That auditorium is not my classroom that I am in for 40 hours a week, it isn't my desk at work, and it isn't my kitchen table surrounded by homework. It is worth waking up early, picking up my sister, and heading to service! And God is always there to teach me and convict me through the message my pastor gives. I am hoping to be able to start serving in my church and become an operational part of the body of Christ, rather than a silent bystander. This would allow me to spend my Sunday serving God and learning from God! I hope and pray that God opens this door of service for me and my sister!

I never realized just how awesome it is to be a part of a church family and go to church faithfully every week, no matter how early I have to wake up on my only day off! When my Saturday was taken away because of work, Sunday became my refuge!

Take that day of rest God has given to you and use it for His glory! It is amazing what He will give you in return!

Do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men

Colossians 3:23 - 24, "And whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not to men...for you serve the Lord Christ."

No matter how insignificant your work seems, do it with excellence. Everything you do is for the Lord and not for man. We are here to serve Christ and to give Him glory. We need to show those around us that we are here for God and will prove ourselves worthy of any work we are given. And work with joy! Because whatever you are doing, God has given it to you to do! Serve God in everything you do!

My Trip to Brazil!

Mission Aviation

Airplanes were made for a purpose, and that ultimate purpose was so that we could further God's kingdom. Without aviation, mission work around the world would be hindered. Why do I want to become a part of the mission aviation work? Because I want to change lives, make an impact, and further God's kingdom. To proclaim His love to those who have never heard the gospel. To support missionaries in their work for the Kingdom.
Next time you see an airplane remember that its ultimate purpose for being created was to be used on the mission field. And when you hear the sound of an airplane engine and propeller remember that it is a sound of hope to many people all over the world.

Prayer Letter 2014

A second year of university is now behind me; it has been a busy year and has gone by quickly. One thing I have learned about life since coming to university is that once you think you have figured things out, everything will change. Only God knows where I am heading and what will happen next. The only thing I need to do is follow wherever He leads with complete trust in Him. It is all about letting go and letting God. This year has had its ups and downs, but God has continually blessed me by all the opportunities and experiences He has given me.

 

I accomplished two milestones in my aviation training this year, bringing me two steps closer to the mission field. On December 11, 2013 I flew my first solo flight, one of the most exciting experiences of my career! And on February 28, 2014 I passed my FAA check-ride and became a certified Private Pilot.

During the year I have been able to connect with several mission aviation organizations and have talked with many different missionaries. Our mission aviation group, of which I am on the leadership team, went down to visit the JAARS base in Waxhaw, NC. JAARS is the transportation and technology side of Wycliffe. It is always great to be able to go down with other students who are passionate about missions and see what God is doing around the world through JAARS. During Global Focus Week at Liberty I met with one missionary who has been serving with JAARS for 40 years, first as a pilot and now at their base in NC. It was awesome to see his heart for serving God!

             As a part of the mission aviation club, I also had the exciting opportunity of attending Sun N’ Fun in Lakeland, FL. Sun N’ Fun is the second largest airshow and aviation expo in the world and people from all over the world come to enjoy the daily airshow, the aviation displays, and the connection with fellow aviation enthusiasts. I went down with a professor and two other Liberty students to represent the mission aviation side of Liberty University as a part of IAMA, International Association of Mission Aviation. We were hosted by MASA, Mission Aviation Support Association. It was amazing to see churches from all over Lakeland coming together for the week to give us a place to sleep for the week, provide us with everything we needed, and to feed us three meals a day. It was amazing to see what God could do at the airshow through everyone working together.

 

During the week JAARS was able to perform in the airshow twice, telling everyone what JAARS does, presenting the gospel, and inviting them to visit our tent. MAF dedicated a Kodiak airplane for service in Indonesia. And many of us were able to talk to people passing through of why we were there representing the mission side of aviation. During our time there I had the chance to meet Steve Saint, son of Nate Saint a missionary pilot in Ecuador until he was martyred by the Auca Indians. Nate Saint is one of my aviation heroes and has an amazing story and being able to meet his son was incredible! Such a wonderful man and of course his company was there with their flying car, the Maverick. I had the chance of meeting many missionaries with amazing stories to share and encouraging words to give. I was truly blessed by God through the people with whom I was able to spend time.

Through the advice of many missionary reps I have been able to talk to, I have decided to start A&P School in August (Aviation Maintenance). The AMTS program will take a full year to complete and I will have an associate’s degree from Liberty and an A&P license from the FAA once I am done.  After finishing I will go back into working on my Bachelor’s degree and finish my flight training. I am looking forward to this new step and am excited about learning aviation maintenance. 

 

Before starting AMTS I will be spending a busy summer away from home and Lynchburg. After a brief time at home I will be heading to Ohio to work at Pleasant Hill Outdoor Camp where I will be on program for one of the camps. I am looking forward to the opportunities God will give me during my time at camp. I pray that God will use me and the other staff to reach our campers with the love of Christ. On July 31 I will be heading back to Lynchburg directly from camp. In Lynchburg I will be meeting with my global team and we will begin our journey to Brazil. Although our trip was delayed due to bad weather in Brazil, my team and I are looking forward to serving God through our time in Brazil and seeing what He has in store for us. I know that God does everything in His perfect timing and I see this delay as a sign that God has greater plans for us going in August. Because we are leaving later, if you would still like to support my team, let me know and I can give you the information on how you can help.

Thank you for your continued support, encouragement and prayers,

                                    Tirzah