Wednesday, December 14th 11:07pm
Someone very special to me, wrote me a letter after my last post. He said, "I hope you are able from time to time, to step back and look at the big picture of 1) why you started this adventure, 2) what wonderful memories you will have, and 3) the reality that you will probably never get another chance like this one. Sometimes the day to day difficulties over shadow the big picture, but step back and look at what your doing from the 30,000 foot view."
I read these words over and over as I wondered, when the last time I sat back and felt thankful for the incredibleness of this amazing adventure that the Lord has brought me on? Tonight, under the beautiful stars in Nicaragua I felt the realness of living in this magnificent place. I stared up at the stars reminising of this past year, remembering the moment I told my Dad that this is the passion the Lord put on my heart, remembering the first night I met the man God perfectly made for me, as he welcomed me into a group that is now friends I will forever cherish, remembering stepping onto a plane at LAX and this crazy idea of leaving it all behind for a year with God becoming true, remembering giving up expectations in a hostel in Antigua for the next 11 months, remembering praying over kids in Guatemala in a small chair in the corner of the classroom, realizing that this is what it is all about, remembering learning to live in the moment in Honduras, that it is all about the one person God puts in my path that day, remembering the moment when I realized listening is one of the strongest gifts there is, and tonight I will remember, as the night 10 girls sang in an open field under the Nicaraguan sky realizing there is no where in the world I'd rather be than right here.
I felt the Thankfulness from 30,000 feet…
I'm thankful that He found something in me that was worth saving. I'm thankful that He has given me hope and a future. I'm thankful for His Love, His Grace, and His Mercy. I'm thankful that He is not only my Father, but He is also my Best Friend. I'm thankful that He has given me peace, comfort, and understanding in the moments when I needed it the most. I'm thankful for the vision He has given me for my life. I'm thankful that He has led me to a country where I'm surrounded by amazing people who are full of His Holy Spirit. I'm thankful that He would create a man for me that is so focused on Him, that he inspires me. I'm thankful for the lives of those He has taken from my life. I'm thankful for the difference they made on this earth and the lives they impacted while they were here. I'm thankful not only for His guidance and direction, but for His discernment and confirmation as well. I'm thankful for the spiritual leaders, encouragers, and prayer warriors He has placed in my life. I'm thankful for my amazing family, the constant stronghold in my life. I'm thankful for my amazing church family, the church that Love is building. I'm thankful for my amazing small group, the ones who walk with me. I'm thankful for new friends God has placed into my life and the joyous mystery of what is yet to come. I'm thankful for old friends God has placed back into my life and the unfolding of His mysterious, magnificent plan. I'm thankful for His Holy Word and all that He has taught me the last few years. I'm thankful for the power of His conviction. I'm thankful for His daily inspiration. I'm thankful for His perfect plan. I'm thankful that He knows me better than I know myself. I'm thankful that He is in control. I'm thankful for the valleys where He has grown me and the valuable lessons learned. I'm thankful for answered prayers. I'm thankful for His birth, His life, His death, His resurrection, and His return. There aren’t enough words to describe how Great He truly is, nor how grateful I will forever be. But I trust there will come a day when I can finally give Him the praise He deserves, and I can only imagine what a glorious day that will be!
Thank you for being the man that asks the questions, and reminds me what its all about.
"No place I would rather be, than here in Your love, here in Your love, here in Your love.
Set a fire down in my soul, that I can't contain and I can't control. I want more of You, God."
