As the time draws near for me to leave on the World Race. I wanted to let you know what God is doing in my life. God is moving, He is active, He is so good, and it is getting noisy around here. To sum it up… my heart’s desire for this race, this mission, this year is this… to fall madly head over heels no holds barred radically undignified crazy in love… with Christ, with myself, and with my neighbor.
Love
the Lord
your
God with all
your
heart and with all
your
soul and with all
your
strength and with all
your
mind’ ; and, ‘
Love
your
neighbor
as
your
self. (Luke 10:27)
The entire law is summed up in a single command: “
Love
your
neighbor
as
your
self.” (Galation 5:14)
Someone recently told me that what he saw in me was a love for God, but that I did not yet love my neighbor as myself. I was insulted, at least that was my gut initial reaction. Then God began to work. I went to church that night, and no kidding, there on the plasma screen was the First and Second Commandments… my friend looked at me with her mouth wide open as I just kept repeating, “that did not just happen, did that just happen, that did not just happen.” When God moves, it gets noisy!!!
My friend was right, I did not love my neighbor as myself. The enemy had attacked and he had a stronghold in my life, one of pride and arrogance, of self sufficiency and control. And so I began one of the most challenging, and yet most exciting processes of my life. I asked God to break my heart for others, to open the doors of my heart, to let me see with His eyes, to love as He loves, and even to hurt as He hurts for his children, for the lost and the broken in the world. Starting with asking Him to allow me to see ME as He sees me, and not the lies of the serpent I have believed for so long.
The process has begun, and it will continue. I ask for your love and your prayers. God is so good, He keeps re-affirming the work He is doing in me, He keeps encouraging me, He keeps taking my hand, and leading me!!!
To all of my friends and family… thank you for loving me, thank you for supporting me and the mission that I am about to embark on! I love you all!!!
A special thank you to MY MOM… Mom, I will never know how many nights you spend on your kness, or with your head in your hands in prayer for me. Mom, just look at your little girl now, and know that I am the woman God created me to be, and that you did an amazing job raising me!!! I love you and I thank you… my warrior sister!!!
Here is a song given to me by an amazing friend (thanks Andre) and it pretty much sums it up for me…
I could travel over oceans, cross the deserts, climb the mountains
Just to share Your story, bring You glory, and win souls for You.
AND I could sing like an angel, songs so humble and so thankful
Full of drama and emotion, so the world would know Your truth.
I could give away my money and my clothes and my food
To restore those people who are poor, AND lost, and down-and-out.
Oh, I could succeed at all these things,
Find favor with peasants and kings,
But if I do not love, I am nothing.
I could live a flawless life,
Never cheat or steal or lie,
And always speak so kindly, smile SO warmly, and go about doing good.
I could dedicate myself to do what everyone else wants me to-
Listen to them, compliment them, say the things I should.
I could show up every Sunday, lead the Choir and Bible Study
And they all might come to know me as a leader and a friend.
Oh, I could achieve success on Earth, but success cannot define my worth
And all these actions, all these words, THEY will not matter in the end-
Chorus:
CAUSE Songs will fade to silence,
Stories, they will cease.
The dust will settle, covering all my selfless deeds.
So as I strive to serve You,
Won’t You make it clear to me,
THAT If I do not love, I am nothing.
Bridge:
AND If I cannot live my life loving my brother,
Then how can I love the One who lived His life for me?
OH, Sent to Earth from Heaven,
Humble Servant, Holy King,
Come to share a story, get no glory, and save my searching soul,
You knew that I’d deny You, crucify You, but nothing could stop You from
living for me, dying for me, so that I would know-
Chorus:
THAT Songs will fade to silence,
Stories they will cease,
The dust will settle covering ALL MY selfless deeds.
But Your life here has made it clear enough for me to see
That if I do not love, I am nothing
Ginny Owens – “I Am Nothing”
As the Holiday’s approach I pray that the Lord be with you, that he draw close you and your families, that you make the time to just rest in His loving arms together!!!
