I walked down the hallway of the hotel, the sound of laughter and voices growing with each step. I was so close to being reunited with the people who had already greatly impacted my life; I couldn’t contain the butterflies in my stomach. I walked into the hotel lobby, saw the radiating faces, and ran into hug after hug. With each embrace and smiling face, I felt more and more at home.
These people are
my home.
This is where
I belong.
I sat in a room full of 280 young people busting at the seams with passion. I felt the same strain their hearts felt to simply leave. I listened as beautifully written words of advice, encouragement, direction, and experience were poured into us. I saw the feeding of flames, creating a fire that can’t be put out.
I experienced the mainfest presence of God through worship. I stood in an overwhelming joy that invaded my entire being. I broke under that joy into a smile that couldn’t be wiped from my face. I laughed in the middle of worship at the words “The lamb has overcome. The battle is won.” Because know the whole story.
Jesus is the victor.
He was the beginning.
He is the end.
I realized that there is no life worth living without Jesus. There is nothing that compares to the love of our Father or the joy He brings. Once you truly experience the love and manifest presence of God, there is no better life to live or person to please. So, I choose to make my home in His river. I choose to stay in the river, and I’m confident that nothing or no one will pull me from it.
I was made for the river of His love.
I was reassured by God himself that the access I have to the Holy Spirit will lead me to great things. That my decision to trust Him in every situation and step out in faith, will allow Him to work through me. I am walking with the Kingdom inside of me. The Kingdom is where I set my foot.
I want
Kingdom come.
I now sit on a plane packed with two squads and am overcome with excitement. We are all headed to Guatemala to start off our Race. I believe the Kingdom will invade the country of Guatemala and the lives of the people who reside there. I believe radical things will take place and lives will be changed forever. Lives will be changed for all of their days.
I’m asking for prayer as all of the squads enter the field this month. I’m asking for prayer for a continual confidence in the power and authority that we have through the Father. I’m asking for prayer for the lives that we will each come in contact with – that God will plant the seed and prepare their hearts before we even come to them.
I’m asking you, where is your joy rooted? How are you accessing the Kingdom in your every day lives? Where in your life is God asking you to let Him go before you?
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On another note, communication is a beautiful thing, but it can also be a very real distraction. I believe God is going to use my life out in the world to minister to lives back home. I will try to blog once every one to two weeks, minimum. I will probably have some sort of access to wifi. I will have my computer. I will be capable. But again, this isn’t about me and this isn’t about home. I am preparing to be absent at home, so I can be fully present where I am. The conversations, people, culture, and opportunities won’t be things that come around again. Where I am is where I need to be. I will check emails and text messages from my computer. I would be thrilled to hear from people back home. I may not respond in the normal timely manner, but I welcome all stories, hey-how-are-you’s, and pictures. God is the sole focus of this trip and He is where my focus will rest.
Text messages – 614-653-0412
Email – [email protected]
Instagram – gracealguire
Also: I am currently in Guatemala, but we don’t have wifi where we are staying. This blog is three days late, but bear with me. In a week or two I will post another with updated information on what’s going on and what our ministry is looking like. Much love y’all.
