Abounding (adj.) |??'boundiNG|
very plentiful; abundant
In this season of my World Race journey, I am seeing plentiful, and abundant change.
After spending four months in Central America, eating rice and beans and speaking broken Spanish to the locals became the norm.
I was beginning to feel at home.
Then four planes and 63 hours of travel later, I find myself in Southeast Asia in a new culture and with a new team.
I’ve gone from rice and beans to rice and noodles. From westernized toilets and showers to squatty potty’s and bucket showers. From team Adelphoi to team Abounding.
So much has changed.
Though the changes did not come as a surprise to me, it has taken some time to get used to the newness of things and I have felt a lot of different emotions.
It seems I wasn’t as ready for change as I thought I would be.
When we were serving in Nicaragua, I had a dream one night. In my dream I became a team leader of an all girls team. The dream was so vivid, I questioned if it was a prophetic dream from The Lord because since being accepted to The Wold Race, I had been praying to be partnered with Lighthouse in Action ministries in Thailand. A part of Lighthouse in Action’s ministry is to reach women who are caught in the sex trafficking industry and because of the nature of the ministry they usually request all women World Race teams. Another part of Lighthouse in Action's ministry is supporting these women through their coffee shop – Zion Cafe'.
Helping women realize their worth and being in a coffee shop environment are high on list of things that fill me up!
I thought the dream was a sign that The Lord was answering my prayers and granting me the opportunity to serve in this way.
During our time of debrief in Costa Rica, team changes and ministry partners in Thailand were announced, and neither change was what I thought it would be.
I found myself not on an all girls team and not partnered with Lighthouse in Action.
I felt very disappointed.
It wasn’t until a couple of days later, during our squad’s time of worship, that The Lord impressed upon me to stop being such a spoiled brat!
With tears stuck to my cheeks, I couldn’t help but laugh out loud! God was so right. I was acting like a child upset because I didn’t get my way.
It was this Holy Spirit conviction that shocked me back to life and revived my heart of gratefulness.
I changed the direction my mind was trying to take me and thought, Seriously, Jessica. You are living a life that many people only dream of. You are going to Thailand! You are going to serve God’s people! Don’t let change and disappointment distract you from your purpose.
If you are like me and are sometimes averse to change when things don’t go the way you expect them to, be encouraged by the One who never changes. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. (Hebrews 13:8) He is a constant you can depend on.
Pray this prayer of David aloud with me:
Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life, for I am godly; save your servant, who trusts in you – you are my God. Be gracious to me, O Lord, for to you do I cry all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you. Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer; listen to my plea for grace. In the day of my trouble I call upon you for you answer me. There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. all the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O Lord that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever. Amen (Psalm 86: 1-12)
