The Top Three

All my life I knew the Lord spoke
to people. I read it all through the Bible but for some reason never sought His voice for my life. Coming on the race it was one of the biggest desires,
and it was a struggle in the beginning. I sought it out but I would question
what I heard all the time. But I began to grow. The more that I learned and
knew about the Lord, the more I recognized His voice. Each month it got easier
and easier to know when and what He was saying. Now I am more confident in what
He is saying to me. I am nowhere near where I want to be and it will probably
be something I continue to pursue all my life. But I know the Lord comforts me in the
time of need, gives me encouragement and challenging words for others, he
directs and guides me. All these things through hearing His voice. It is
utterly amazing.

I always knew that I had some of
the gifts of the Spirit but was always scared of the ones like tongues,
prophecy and discernment. Those were things I knew nothing about. Once I saw these gifts in action and sought biblical answers they became more real to me. Besides the gift of teaching and
administration, which I was very confident I had even before the race, I
discovered a bigger gift. I have discernment. While I believe every Christian
possesses some discernment because they have the Spirit living in them, it was
something more magnified in myself. My teammate Kerry spoke this over my life
back in Cambodia. I wasn’t sure what it was at first but continued to seek the
meaning of this gift. There are two parts to the gift that I have discovered
from those who have the gift. One, seeing the spiritual realm in surroundings,
things like demons and angels. Two, seeing what was happening spiritually in
people. I began to notice that I recognized things about people that most
others never noticed. I believe that God was calling me to see the spiritual aspect
to things in people and to call it out as He directs. I have been able to notice things in people that I can
encourage and challenge them with as the Lord has directed me. I can also sense the atmosphere in a room or specifically people and add a balance. I am excited to continue to grow in this and use it for the Lord.

Unity: This passion
works directly along side my gift of discernment. I first really desire to see
unity among the body of Christ wherever I go. I pray the same prayer that Jesus
did before he was betrayed ‘…that they may be one, even as we are one.’ I have
seen disunity throughout my whole life and have experienced the effects that it
has on people. I want relationships, marriages, churches, families and even
friends to live in harmony under Christ. I have really been able to pursue that
desire in many aspects on the race. I am able to use my discernment when it
comes to my team and squad to point out ways that I can push towards unity. I
know this will be a life long passion and always something I will be pursuing. I am filled with joy when I see unity in action or able to help foster it in life.