The World Race is halfway over!! I cannot believe from this point on I have less time remaining on The World Race than I do at the start of the race! I remember when my blog site first went up in May 2012 I had 223 days left until I leave for The World Race!! I do have a countdown which is now a count up clock for how long I have been on The World Race!! Wow!! Time is flying!! I will be back at home before I know it!!
I remember the person I was back at training camp until launch. Some of the things which described me at this period were:
Let's start of by saying I was a person who was very sensitive to accepting what the world calls criticism or what The World Race calls feedback. If I was doing something wrong or not like Christ and a person told me this I would think you're crazy or you don't like me. One of my current teammates told me the person I was at training camp wasn't very teachable.
The second thing I expected from my squad and people back at home was to be well received at all times. I wanted everyone on my squad to like me, to think I was the best, and when I wasn't feeling good to encourage me and tell me what I wanted to hear to give me a quick boost so I can feel good. This is what we call a people pleaser! I wanted everyone to think I was da man!! One of the ways I did this was when I was down instead of turning to God first I would turn to my friends at home or some people on my beloved M-squad who I knew would give me encouragement right away to fill my emptiness. Ladies do a great job of telling men what they want to hear to make them feel good about themselves! Being real!! I have struggled with this for many years of my life to have acceptance from women instead filling the emptiness with Christ alone!!
The third thing is so laughable and dumb now but I used to get jealous and a little envious if someone had more Facebook or Instagram likes than I did! Oh M-squad you remember this about me very well! I put my self-worth into Facebook world!! Wow!!
The fourth thing was I was a little envious of people who were getting in their support faster than I was at the time. Wow someone was all about themselves instead of preferring others and being happy for their blessings from God.
The fifth thing was if someone told me something like Blake you're the most popular person on M-squad which I had people tell me this at training camp. I had a hard time believe this in fact I took this like no I'm not your just saying this because this is what I want to hear I don't believe you.
So I go on The World Race feeling pretty good because I left Charlotte, NC felt loved, respect, and I was the strong Christian out of most of my friends.
Then Reality hits hard!! I only put a band-aid on past issues but never dealt with them fully!
In Costa Rica January 2013, God showed me a lesson of I am loved and I am worthy as a Son of God. At the time I didn't feel loved by some of my team or on the squad by some. I was trying to fill my emptiness with people instead of Christ. Christ is the only one who can fill my emptiness all the time and love me for who I am. His love is unchanging no matter what I do!! Pretty awesome!!
In Nicaragua February 2013, this was part 2 of God's love lessons for me. God showed me that my Heavenly Father loves me more than anyone else can! Sorry but no one on M-squad can love me the way Christ can all the time!! A teammate can like me 100 percent one day and the next day they like me 10 percent but Christ's love meter for me is always 100 percent!! So great!!!
In Honduras March 2013, this was my hardest month on the race and I felt like at times I couldn't get along with my team. The reality was I was still at times worried about what people thought of me. In reality was I had to just BE YOURSELF IN CHRIST!! This was the start of my turning point on the Race!!
In Thailand April 2013, Manistry month after the first three months on the race and learning about my identity as a Man of God I went to Manistry month and I felt out of place some because of a bunch of talk about competition. I also had some thoughts of my past creep back in again and the guys told me basically That's it Blake!! Let go of your past!! So the lesson God taught me was Am I being the best Blake I can be for Christ today? This is when I started to take off as a Man of God in the second half of this month!!! Whoohoo!!
In Malaysia May 2013, I was struggling with praying because I felt lead to pray by the Spirit only and not be forced to pray. Well one of my teammates told me to check your attitude towards prayer. So I learned things are not about me it's all about Jesus!
This month in Cambodia the lesson for the month is still in progress!!
The Blake I was at training camp was a very self-seeking approval looking and stubborn in my own ways person!
Now I am a person who is secure who I am in Christ!! I am not looking for people to fill me up by their approval sorry especially to the women!! Y'all can't fill my emptiness only Christ can!! I am a man who knows my leadership gifts and living them out to the fullest and not trying to be someone else just to fit in but just being Blake!! Take it or leave it!! I like who I am in Christ!! III
I am super close to being fully funded!!! 13 days to go!! July 1st is the deadline!!
I need $655 to stay on The World Race!!
Their has been transformation and life changing only Christ can do since I been serving Him!!
Wanna support this ministry go to the support me link at the top of the page or on the left hand side by clicking please support Blake!! Thank you and God bless!! I love y'all!!
M-squad I love y'all and your amazing!!!
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