I saw a middle-aged man cry.
I saw a middle-aged man laugh.
I saw a middle-aged man who gave up everything to follow the Lord’s calling.
I saw a middle-aged man chasing after his Father with his whole heart.
I can’t tell you how many times I have heard this story since starting the World Race…..
“I was a successful businessman from the US with anything I could ask for at the tip of my fingers. I had a Jaguar, I went on luxury vacations, I had investments and a hefty retirement, to put it short, anything I wanted I could have. That was until Jesus wrecked my life…..”
But this story hit me different.
This story hit me with the Holy Spirit.
It all started 15 years ago when this man heard a voice telling him to go to Thailand. What the heck was that, he thought. Why do I have this overwhelming urge to go across the world? He had no idea why. The longer he ignored the voice, the louder the voice got, the stronger the yearning got, the more compelled he felt to go.
This man grew up in church, he knew who God was, but he did not have a relationship with Jesus. He always considered himself the black sheep of his family because they all believed in God and he just wasn’t so sure about religion and Jesus. He just didn’t understand, and he especially didn’t understand what this voice was and what the overwhelming feeling was to go to Thailand. That was until he had enough and listened to that still, small voice. He listened to the overwhelming urge. He got on a plane and headed to Thailand, not knowing a soul or why he was going.
He only knew one thing and that was that he was supposed to go to Thailand. That was it. When he arrived, he didn’t know what to do. He thought, What have I done?
For some reason beyond his understanding he ended up at a church. After the service he just stood there thinking, I came all the way here for that? What?!? I made a HUGE mistake. I think I have lost my mind.
Until one man said, “Are you lost?”
His response, “Yes!”
The man asked, “What do you like to do for fun?”
His response was delayed because he thought, Well that is a weird question, why did he ask me that? He wanted to say charitable work, but the only charitable work he had ever done was to donate to charities. He gave 10% of his earnings away to charities every year, but he felt an overwhelming urge to still say his hobby was charity work.
So he responded, “Charity work.”
The man said, “Great, follow me.”
After that his life was never the same. He encountered Jesus through malnourished children’s eyes, through run down schools, through the people that surrounded him, through a community of believers, through encountering the Holy Spirit.
He saw Jesus face-to-face for the first time in his life.
There is something that happens when you see an older man cry, I think it’s called vulnerability. That feeling you get when you hear a story that is so deeply rooted inside of a person, their only reaction is tears. It had been 5 years since he had shared his testimony. He said it is too difficult to do in this country, because it’s against the law, but every day he makes it his mission to share the love of Christ.
It is against the law to share the Gospel.
It is NOT against the law to share Jesus’ love.
He said that when we walked into his life, he was able to see the light of Jesus in our eyes. He said just being in our presence gave him the lift he desperately needed.
God knew what he needed, and He gave it to him.
You see, this man runs an organization in Laos that helps SO many people.
I can’t give specifics, but just know he is doing A LOT of good things in this country.
Like A LOT.
He probably doesn’t get the recognition or credit on this earth that he deserves. He doesn’t get rings for being a top seller or Jaguars for showing how successful he is, but that doesn’t phase him. In fact, he drives his Hyundai 12-passenger van around town with a smile on his face.
Jaguar to Hyundai.
Just let that sink in for a second.
Jaguar to a 12-passenger Hyundai van.
He gave up everything to chase after Jesus.
Sometimes I just have to stand in awe of our Father. He always knows perfect timing, and he knows when you need to walk into someone’s life or have someone walk into yours. He knows when you need to stay home or jump on a plane to Thailand. He knows just what you need to hear, right when you need to hear it. He knows all the small, tiny details of your life that he is putting into perfect order for you. He knows that you are going to stress out about that, because you want to put your own life in order. He knows EXACTLY how you feel right now, in this moment, because Jesus was human too. He knows what you need, right here and right now.
If our new friend wouldn’t have had his successful career making tons of money, he wouldn’t be able to be doing what he is doing in Laos. He needed that career in order to give it all up. He needed to have all the earthly possessions in order to understand what the Lord had in store for him. He needed that period of his life to happen to bring him to that moment of meeting us. God is such an immaculate artist.
Trust Him.
He knows EXACTLY what He is doing.
I’ll leave you with this thought…..
Sometimes you might need a Jaguar, but….maybe you don’t need a Jaguar, maybe all you really need is a 12-passenger Hyundai van.Father,
Let me always know where my true treasure lies, in a place where it will never be taken away. In a place where it will never rot or spoil. In a place where my Father will say, “I am proud of you.” Jesus, be with me as I move into this new season of my life that You have called me to. Take away any fear, stress, anxiety, or worry that I may have in this moment. Lord, show me what You have planned for me and not what I have planned for myself. Take away any sense of pride I have and replace it with your everlasting love, because that is what I thirst after. Jesus show me Your way, show me Your voice, show me You. Help me to live my life with arms wide open and with an open heart. Help me to trust You. I love you so dang much!
In Jesus’ Name,
AMEN!
Please join me in praying for our new friend. Please join me in praying for Laos. Please join me in praying for everyone going through a transitional part of their life. Please join me in praying for the last part of my fundraising to come in. Please join me in praying for my squad as we are in a closed country. Please join me in praying for America.
I love you guys!! Thank you for everything! God is so so so so so dang good!!
