I think for many racers, Thailand, has been, by far, one of the most loved months.
I would have to agree 100x’s over.
Not only did I get the opportunity to work in an awesome coffee shop, love on university students, and build lifelong friendships, but I was completely wrecked—all over again.
Going into a new month with a new team and an amazing ministry, I asked the Father to show me what He wanted me to learn throughout the month and He simply stated:
I think as long as we live, He will continue to teach us what it means to love more.
“Then He said to them all, “If anyone wants to become my follower, he must deny himself, take up his cross daily, and follow ME”.—Luke 9:23
One of my sweet teammates told me that it was time to take up my cross 2 months ago and I had no idea what that looked like. Ha. I mean, I had heard it said many times before in the church, but I had no understanding of its true meaning until this past month.
It means Freedom.
Freedom from any more comparison. Freedom from placing your identity in anything other than the Father. Freedom from following anyone other than Father. Freedom to be yourself. Freedom to just LOVE. Freedom to realize that it truly is between you and Him and that taking up your cross means leaving anything and everything you ever thought Love was and realizing the Love is right there in front of you, taking up His cross.
—Effortlessly and Joyfully—
Because when you take up your cross to follow the Son—–that is Love.
Take a look at Jesus’ mother, Mary. She took up her cross the day that the angels spoke to her about being the mother of the Son.
What about Ruth, a woman who stood strong by her mother-in-law because she was obedient to the Father.
Then there is Esther, a bold and obedient woman who took up her cross when she was told to speak up in order to save her family.
For me—-taking up my cross is simply loving my Father to the best of my ability and not backing down. It means standing tall and strong in the armor that He has placed me in. Man—it’s so good. My Father is good.
So—Thailand====Freedom, and with Freedom comes learning how love better.
How will you choose to Love today?
