In classic New Year’s fashion, I’ve been taking some time lately to recount the work God has done in 2010, particularly these last 4 months. I think it’s entirely safe to say I have grown more in these last 4 months than any other consecutive 4 months of my life, which is a pretty awesome realization, particularly with an eye ahead to these next 7 months. It’s times like these I am grateful for my borderline-obsessive journaling habit, which has made for an easy recounting of revelations and contemplations from my time thus far on the race.
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Philippines
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Coming on the race, I thought I was ready for anything. I thought my good Christian resume could compete with the best of them, my checklist had been undoubtedly fulfilled. I had bible studies, discipleship, community, memory verses – my belt was pretty impressively notched. Then I stepped out of my bubble, and into this messy, unfamiliar, dysfunctionally beautiful and beautifully dysfunctional community we call the World Race. Here were people with different personalities, different spiritual backgrounds, different communities, different perspectives. Fighting through my initial reaction of overwhelming intimidation and self-doubt, God opened my eyes to the hopelessly incomplete status of these checklists and resumes I had found confidence in. These are the very works by which man has been yearning to earn standing before God since the dawn of time, and the very religious obligations that were nailed to the cross of grace. It was only fitting that God began His work in me on this race by plowing anew the ground upon which He would yield His harvest, and woe be to me if I wasted this year attempting to produce the rotten fruit of my own ability and effort.
“But he brought us out from there to bring us in and give us the land that he promised on oath to our forefathers.”
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Cambodia
“For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen.”
Having firmly planted my perspective in such undeserved grace, God was able to rise in me a new appreciation of the gifts He has given me in a context that ensures the glory goes only to the One from whom all things come. This month of teaching provided a conducive environment for personal study and growth, including chewing through David Platt’s “Radical” at the beginning of the month and John Piper’s “Think” throughout. Piper particularly helped to affirm God’s redemptive purposes for my more intellectual leanings, while recognizing the crucial place of humility and love in the midst of that. In the midst of explaining sequences and limits to these eager Cambodian students, God gave me a peace about the possibility of teaching upon getting back to the States that I’ve never really felt before, though I’m certainly leaving the door open for further revelation over the next 7 months about my future. This was also the month that I may have annoyed my team in excessive discussion about 500 Days of Summer, but you can read the blog for all of that.
“There need be no incompatibility between the deepest experiences of the Spirit and the highest attainments of the human intellect. It is only required that the Christian intellect be fully surrendered to God and there need be no limit to its activities.” – Tozer, God’s Pursuit of Man, p104
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Malaysia
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
The word of the month in Malaysia was “discipleship.” As I recounted pretty exhaustively over a couple blogs, I was really challenged by our contact to really assess what sent me on the race to begin with and what God really desires in His people. Whether it be high schoolers in suburban Ohio or Myanmar refugees in the heart of Kuala Lumpur, our God is a relational God and is looking for disciples and disciple-makers.
This month ended with my transition into team leadership, which was accompanied by a charge from God through the book of Joshua into a new season of strength and courage. This is definitely a process of stepping into everything God has in store for me and Shabach, but He has already begun equipping me with a new boldness and confidence straight from Him.
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
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Thailand
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
This month of intercession renewed a sense of utter dependence upon the Lord and a new awareness of my own inability in approaching His work. Prayer is such an act of faith, and God definitely strengthened that in me this month, inviting me to participate in His purposes in Phuket by way of standing in the gap. These realizations made way for a new understanding of God desiring my entire life as worship unto Him, and committing every act for the sake of His glory. I was bought at a price, as were my words, thoughts, acts, money, and time; it’s all His for His glory, and what a joy to give it all back to Him.
“You are not your own; you were bought at a price.”
“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing!”
As I’ve said, it’s been an absolutely incredible first 4 months, and a couple days into the new year it is immediately evident God’s work in and through me is far from over. Preparing for a new season on a new continent, the New Year brought with it further transition on the squad. In light of having a few of our squadmates go home from the race, teams were shifted around to keep them balanced out. Janell was moved from Shabach into the new team leader position on Team Shekinah (formerly known as Team Liberators). She will definitely be missed, but we’re all incredibly excited for the work God is going to do through her on that team, especially in this new role as team leader, and we absolutely believe it’s where she should be. Pray for her, that God can be fully equipping her and that He can truly be her strength through it all. Pray also for Shabach, that in our first month alone since both Michael and Janell have left that God is raising us up to fill in for their powerful anointings, and growing us into an unstoppable family.
