There are many things in life that we anticipate. When we are growing up the list is endless. As a child the joys of life can be as broad as the excitement of going to get ice cream, to having a parent watch you jump off a swing, or the anticipation of waiting for your Birthday to get there faster. Those same things can often be exciting as an adult, too… it just looks different. I still get pretty excited about eating ice cream, and even though my parents don’t watch me jump off of swings anymore, I still anticipate telling them things about my life because I know they’ll be excited and proud of me. As for Birthdays, the getting older part is now just tolerated, but knowing people will be thinking of me and choosing to celebrate my life in different ways is definitely something special that I look forward to. Some gifts I have received over the years have been really thoughtful, and I think like most people, the ones that mean the most are the ones that have thought and love behind them. The car with the big red bow gets a lot of attention on movies or in commercials as being perhaps the most exciting gift of them all. Sometime the person on the receiving end opens a box first which contains a key, and then we see the excitement register on their face as they run outside and see the car sitting in the driveway.
What if we could get the keys to anything in the world? Would you choose the keys to something you couldn’t ever afford, like a big yacht, or a private plane to travel the world in? Or perhaps would you choose to have a key to something sentimental… like a treasure box revealing more about a loved one who has passed, or if you’re a romantic maybe you’d want the keys to someone’s heart. Sometimes in big political gatherings or ceremonies people get keys to a city. What city in the world would you choose? What if instead you could have the keys to an entire kingdom? The most amazing kingdom I know of is not here on earth… it’s the kingdom of heaven. Can you imagine if we could have the keys to that kingdom? Why would the King of Heaven ever offer that key? That’s exactly what He does, though. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN. We can’t even imagine how amazing heaven is going to be, and we have an offer to have the keys to it? If we can get excited about a car, how much more exciting is the Kingdom of Heaven? I would say infinitely more exciting.
We just arrived in beautiful Tanzania, Africa, a few days ago. I was nervous, excited, and curious as to what it would be like here and all I can say is, Tanzania is incredible and I feel so much joy here! Not only do I feel joy in my own heart and spirit, but I can see it in the African people, and our team has a new energy and excitement. Last night at the church that is less than a 1 minute walk from where we live, I heard singing that was more beautiful than anything I’ve ever heard before. I’ve seen African church services on-line or in movies, but to experience it in person is beyond amazing. I’ve already made some little friends at the church, and one of the girls is named Anna. We took a photo and then she wanted to take one of me. I kept getting lower and lower because she wouldn’t hold the camera up any higher so I was laughing as she took it. I know this month will be full of a lot of laughter and smiles!
There are many things in life that we anticipate, and when we are growing up the list is endless. As a child the joys of life can be as broad as the excitement of going to get ice cream, to having a parent watch you jump off a swing, to the anticipation of waiting for your Birthday to get there faster. Those same things can often be exciting as an adult, too… it just looks different. I still get pretty excited about eating ice cream, and even though my parents don’t watch me jump off of swings anymore, I still anticipate telling them things about my life because I know they’ll be excited and proud of me. As for Birthdays, the getting older part is now just tolerated, but knowing people will be thinking of me and choosing to celebrate my life in different ways is definitely something special that I look forward to. Some gifts I have received over the years have been really thoughtful, and I think like most people, the ones that mean the most are the ones that have thought and love behind them.
Many times it's the biggest gifts that get the most attention and appear in commercials or movies. The car with the big red bow is portrayed as perhaps being the most exciting gift of them all. We've all seen it where the person on the receiving end opens a box first which contains a key, and then we see the excitement register on their face as they run outside and see the car sitting in the driveway.
So what it be like if we could get the keys to anything in the world? Would you choose the keys to something you couldn’t ever afford, like a big yacht, or a private plane to travel the world in? Or perhaps would you choose to have a key to something sentimental… like a treasure box revealing more about a loved one who has passed, or if you’re a romantic maybe you’d want the keys to someone’s heart. Sometimes in big political gatherings or ceremonies people get keys to a city. If it were you receiving a key, what city in the world would you choose?
What if instead you could have the keys to an entire kingdom? The most amazing kingdom I know of is not here on earth… it’s the kingdom of heaven. Can you imagine if we could have the keys to that kingdom? Why would the King of Heaven ever offer that key? That’s exactly what He does, though. In Matthew 16:19 Jesus says, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
THE KEYS TO THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN!
We can’t even imagine how amazing heaven is going to be, and we have an offer to have the keys to it? If we can get excited about a car, how much more exciting is the Kingdom of Heaven? I would say infinitely more exciting.
We just arrived in beautiful Tanzania, Africa, a few days ago. I was nervous, excited, and curious as to what it would be like here and all I can say is, Tanzania is incredible and I feel so much joy here! Not only do I feel joy in my own heart and spirit, but I can see it in the African people, and our team has a new energy and excitement. Last night at the church that is less than a 1 minute walk from where we live, I heard singing that was more beautiful than anything I’ve ever heard before. I’ve seen African church services on-line or in movies, but to experience it in person is beyond amazing. I’ve already made some little friends at the church, and one of the girls is named Anna. We took a photo and then she wanted to take one of me. I kept getting lower and lower because she wouldn’t hold the camera up any higher so I was laughing as she took it. I know this month will be full of a lot of laughter and smiles!
June is here, which means several things… we are halfway through the Race, it's my Birthday this month (the 22nd), and by the end of June we have to have all our funds raised to continue on. I still need $1,500 to be fully funded and continue on the Race, and I only have 3 weeks left! So, if you want to give me a Birthday gift that will mean a lot, you can donate any amount to my fundraising account with either credit card or debit card on-line, or you could still send in a check. If I was in the U.S. this month and you'd like to meet up to buy me a Birthday drink or appetizer, would you instead donate even a small amount to help me reach the deadline?
To donate by check:
If you'd like to mail a check, please make it payable to "Adventures in Missions" and write "For Jo Linda Sala- World Race" on the subject line. The mailing address is:
Adventures in Missions
PO Box 534470
Atlanta, GA 30353-4470
To donate by credit card:
Please click "$1,500 still needed, click here to donate by Credit or Debit Card" in the left-hand column~ it's quick and easy to donate!
You will receive a receipt for your donation and gifts are tax-deductible. Thank you so much for your support, you are a blessing to me!
~Jo Linda
