“I want to know Christ…Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.”
(Philippians 3:10,12-13)
Early last spring in Central America I felt that the Lord was stirring something deep inside of me that I was unable to explain. I could not put words to what I felt in my Spirit and it would have been premature to verbalize what I couldn’t yet understand, but I knew it was big.
My last few months on the field were fantastic for so many reasons, as they were months that were marked by the Holy Spirit. I was figuring out how to flow in my giftings and truly reached a communion with God that was completely new to me. It was a time where I felt I was finally hitting my stride and LOVED every minute of the Race. I loved my teammates, I loved my role as leader, I loved our ministry contacts, I loved the brothers and sisters that we met everywhere we went; I was learning to love like Jesus loved.
I sat at Final Debrief in complete disbelief that it was all coming to an end just about the time I was figuring it out. Jimmy spoke to us about finishing well and his words will forever echo in my mind: “Some of you may feel like you are being interrupted”; he had no idea that was EXACTLY how I felt! It was like pause had been pushed on the remote and I was heartbroken.
Don’t get me wrong, I was so excited to return and see friends, family, and supporters and my welcome could not have been better. I have never felt so loved and it was absolutely glorious, but there was still that stirring in my Spirit I could not explain. There was still something unfinished that I knew God was doing.
Two and a half months later the stirring is greater than ever and God has given me opportunity to push PLAY and see if I can’t get one step closer to knowing Him more. I hope to write about the decision-making process more here later, but for now I am thrilled beyond belief to invite you to join me for another year on the OCTOBER WORLD RACE!
“By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward-to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back” (Philippians 3:13-14 MSG)
I am deeply committed to the vision of raising up THIS generation of leaders and young people. I am deeply committed to following the commands of Jesus and being His hands and feet in so many places in the World. I am deeply committed to sharing with all of you the awesome things He is doing in the hearts of people here and in the Nations.
There are so many more details to share with all of you and I will do so in the coming days, but for now I have an overwhelming sense of awe and thankfulness. Awe that the God of this Universe would invite me and all of you to partner with Him, and thankfulness for His goodness in our pasts and His faithfulness in days to come. We love you Lord!
