For the last three weeks I have had the incredible
opportunity to put my jobs on hold and spend time with my brother Kiley and his
family in Indianapolis. He and his wife Nicole have two boys- Kale, 2yrs and
Daxton, 10 weeks. Most of my time was spent chasing and playing with my
precious nephews. I was thrilled to give Kiley and Nicole some childcare and
a much needed date night. Being with them 24/7 like that was a huge blessing
since they live 8 hours away and I don’t see them much.
opportunity to put my jobs on hold and spend time with my brother Kiley and his
family in Indianapolis. He and his wife Nicole have two boys- Kale, 2yrs and
Daxton, 10 weeks. Most of my time was spent chasing and playing with my
precious nephews. I was thrilled to give Kiley and Nicole some childcare and
a much needed date night. Being with them 24/7 like that was a huge blessing
since they live 8 hours away and I don’t see them much.
This is Kale. And he will proudly tell you “I coooooool!”
This is Daxton. Could he be any more precious?
But the three weeks flew by and before I knew it, I was
faced with my first goodbye for the World Race. And it was TERRIBLE. My tears
didn’t stop for the first hour of the drive. All I could think about was how
many times I will have to say goodbye in the next 3 months. I became so
overwhelmed with fear and sadness… how is it going to be possible to leave
every single person that I know and love for a YEAR?
I believe with my whole heart that the Lord has called me to
this. I know that He will provide comfort and peace in my soul over the year.
But it’s still going to be the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
My instinct is this: DETACH. Put some distance between
friends and myself. Keep my heart to myself so I can avoid the pain that will
come with saying goodbye. It’s taking all that I have to relinquish this
control of my emotions and let God take over all of my life- even the parts I
fight to assert my independence upon. I don’t want to wait until June to invest
myself into living in community with others. I’ve been given this amazing
opportunity to share God’s love, power, and glory around the world, but He’s
not calling me to wait for a foreign place. He’s calling me to love now, invest
everything I have in others RIGHT NOW.
friends and myself. Keep my heart to myself so I can avoid the pain that will
come with saying goodbye. It’s taking all that I have to relinquish this
control of my emotions and let God take over all of my life- even the parts I
fight to assert my independence upon. I don’t want to wait until June to invest
myself into living in community with others. I’ve been given this amazing
opportunity to share God’s love, power, and glory around the world, but He’s
not calling me to wait for a foreign place. He’s calling me to love now, invest
everything I have in others RIGHT NOW.
So it’s with tear-filled eyes but a sincere desire that I’m
stepping into what God wants for my life right now. I’m committing to sharing
my heart with you, my friends and family right now, with the hopes that you
will see the Lord at work and experience His love. I commit to pouring out to
you everything I’ve got, even when I’m on the other side of the world. I
believe that God is not asking me to close myself off to the people I already
know and love so that I have my heart to give to those around the world, but rather
He’s going to grow my capacity to love in miraculous ways.
stepping into what God wants for my life right now. I’m committing to sharing
my heart with you, my friends and family right now, with the hopes that you
will see the Lord at work and experience His love. I commit to pouring out to
you everything I’ve got, even when I’m on the other side of the world. I
believe that God is not asking me to close myself off to the people I already
know and love so that I have my heart to give to those around the world, but rather
He’s going to grow my capacity to love in miraculous ways.
I want to pray for you and love you in any and every way
that God would have me, so please share your needs with me. I hope that you
will continue to pray for me over the next few months and also the year that I’m
overseas.
that God would have me, so please share your needs with me. I hope that you
will continue to pray for me over the next few months and also the year that I’m
overseas.
I love you all… really I do!
“Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to
glory.
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will receive me to
glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is
nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and
my portion forever.” Psalm 73:23-26
