How I was called to the mission field.
That is what they would like me to address.
Oh boy… Feel free to grab a snack or some Kool-Aid (I love Kool-Aid!) because
this could be a long one.
When it comes down to it, I feel like this is a
calling three and half years in the making. Beginning in my freshman year of
college, the Lord opened my eyes to see the brokenness within myself and in the
world around me. In my geography classes I was hit with the reality of poverty,
wars, diseases, and all sorts of injustices that plague this world. The Lord
revealed to me the worlds desperate need for His love, the love that saved me
and gave me life. He ignited within me a passion for the unloved to be loved,
the broken to be made whole, the captive to be set free, and the hopeless to
dance in the hope that never fails. Through my major the Lord has been
challenging me to look beyond myself and to see the world through the eyes of
another, giving me new perspectives on life that have left me forever changed.
This has only fueled my desire to be used in bringing the kingdom of heaven to
this earth.
Going to Africa in fall 2009 only affirmed my
desire to live a life of love to the nations. He broke my heart for His people
and blessed me with sweet revelations of His hope that there is more to life
than what this world claims to offer us. Since being back, He has been so
faithful to continue to grow and transform my heart to look more like His.
But His call is so much more than that…
He’s calling me to dream things this world may deem
foolish and impossible. He’s calling me to live lost in reckless abandon for
His holy name. He’s calling me deeper into this love that never fails but is,
in fact, the very fullness of life itself. A love that sees me as I am, in my
weakness and frailty, and still desires to use me for His glory. A love that
considers me worthy even though I’m broken. A love that chases me as I
foolishly wander. A love that conquers all and makes all things new. He’s
calling me to a radiant hope that outshines and overpowers the darkest depths of despair
and depravity. A hope that has opened my eyes to see the kingdom of heaven
invading this earth and the power of redemption that cannot be overcome. He’s
calling me to freedom. Freedom from the bondages of these lies and expectations
of the world that claim I need to be someone other than who I am, someone other
than who God created me to be. Freedom from the burdens of sin that hold me
back from running into peace and joy everlasting. He’s calling me to trust Him
above myself. To trust that His grace is sufficient. That though I will fall,
He will always catch me. Though I will fail, He will never give up on me.
Though I doubt, He will never stop loving me.
He’s calling me to lose my life to find it in
Jesus, more abundant and fulfilling than I could have ever imagined.
He’s calling me to more of Him. He’s calling me to
live this grace-infused life that has nothing to do with me but everything to
do with Him. And there is no other call so worthy or satisfying as living for
the Savior of my soul.
Yeah… I’m not really sure if that answered the
question. Oh well.
Bottom line: It’s all
because of Jesus.
