Thanksgiving-
American tradition is to cook food, be with family, and eat enough food for about three people, then lay around until you muster up the courage and bravery to go stand in line to get the best deals from all your favorite retailers on black Friday.
This past week, I spent a week apart from the usual comforts of America. I spent my Thanksgiving in Guatemala. I’m amazed that God blessed me enough so that I could have the opportunity to spend my week of thanks with this amazing group.
We were able to spend our week pouring ourselves into the people of the villages we went to. We were welcomed by: smiling faces, lifted hands, dirty feet, little voices, and laughter. These are the things that melt my heart. I love going to a place where language is the barrier, but love is the key that unlocks the gate that stands between the precious people and us. I spent this week basking in awe of our creator. Looking at the sunsets over the mountains, hearing the chirping birds and the howling monkeys. I am amazed that God, the One who made the whole earth and everything on it in seven days, the One who can hold the waters in His hand, the maker of the universe, cares about such a small one as I. What can I do? What do I have to offer? Why does He need me? The thing is, I can’t do anything, I have nothing to offer, and He doesn’t need me for anything, but He chose me. God wants to use me. He has chosen to bless me with the ability to live in America, so that I can live for Him. Mark 16:15 tells us to “GO”, it is not conditional, based on how you feel or what you or others think, it is a command and I plan to do just as I was commanded.
Spending this week in Guatemala has been amazing and I am so grateful I was able to go.
Today I am thankful for the simple things in life.
Laughter | 2-Ply Toilet Paper | Clean Water | Paved Roads | Shoes
There are many more I am thankful for, but if I began to make a list it would go on forever.
Although we didn’t have turkey and pumpkin pie for our Thanksgiving dinner, I wouldn’t trade this week spent serving or my sloppy joe’s for the anything else.
I’m thankful and grateful that God chose me to be an ambassador for Christ, to fulfill the Great Commission and to spread the love of Christ around the world. I have open hands and an open heart ready for the things God wants to fill them with.
Christ is the One I’m living for and the reason I have breath in my lungs. Where He goes I will go, I will follow wherever He leads me.
Yours For Lost Souls,
Steven Phillips
