God's Canvas
God paints on a canvas that is bigger than any of us can see or imagine. What an awesome God! As an artist, I think as a painter. And then I think of the beauty of the Dominican Republic and I think of God's canvas… Wow! His canvas is bigger than anything I can comprehend.
Let's be honest… I came on this trip with some expectations (even though they said lay down your expectations at training camp… That's hard and I laid down some but not all). Leaving for the world race I was ready, excited, and anticipating what God was going to do. I came into this trip with an attitude of I am going to change the world, starting with this mountain village in the Dominican Republic. I am an action person. I want to be constantly doing something. Down time and me just don't go together. After week one on the race, I felt like I was struggling to make an impact, but I didn't know why… We were doing house visits, children's ministry, healing the sick, and teaching English classes. But still… And my prayer was to be intentional with the people here, be intentional with the time we have in the village, and to take the initiative with serving the community. But this is God's canvas not mine.
I have quickly learned that it's not all about actions. In fact, it's nothing we can do here. Ultimately it's all God. I was reading 1Corinthians 3:6-7… And it says, "I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow." God is the one to change lives, not us. God will make the difference in this community, not us. It's all God!
By today, Wednesday, we had figured out that what we were doing wasn't working. There was a spiritual and physical burden within the group. Ultimately we can't minister to the people, if we aren't right with God first. Because it's God, not us. Once we are right with God; He will lead us to the people. He will show us the way. He will open the doors. And ministry will be for the Lord Jesus Christ, not for us and not being forced. For the first time in my life, I spent the entire day in His Word, in prayer, and in worship. And it feels so good to be refreshed and renewed with the Spirit of the Lord. "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his suffering, becoming like him in his death." Philippians 3:10
But things aren't going to change instantly. In fact, every day I am going to have to learn how to be intentional with God. It's not going to be easy. My personal walk with Christ is consantly in need of growth. God never said this journey was going to be easy. But I never expected to struggle with my expectations and beliefs on month one. God has to do a work in me first, before I can make a difference in a person or a community. My prayer is "Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truths and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." Psalms 25:4-5. I want to hear God's voice and follow in His paths.
Thank you God for painting a canvas that I couldn't think or even imagine… And this is only week two of the World Race.
