Today is my birthday. Typically I don’t like to make a big deal out of my birthday and often breeze right past it without a second thought. However, with all that has happened this year and the transitions I am currently walking through, it’s been a very contemplative time. For some of my closest friends, you know how hard it is to get me out of my own head sometimes…
So a little over a year ago, I launched on the World Race just 4 days before my birthday, and now I’m back home. As I read through my blogs and journals (sorry you don’t get to read those just yet, maybe one day…), I realize how much I have grown over the past year. I’m a new man and I praise God for what He did through His son Jesus and how His Spirit has daily renewed me to become the man I am now. It’s been a journey. One that I’m thankful for (most of the time…). I was able to recap with my parents today and our squad literally went through hell at times, but I wouldn’t be where I am now without that journey. So praise God.
With all that said, the last thing I want to do is ride off this high until another year rolls by. God wants to renew us DAILY, and while this year was transformational, who’s to say this next year can’t be just as much? So I’ve been seeking God for my next mission and that’s part of the reason I’m headed back to the Philippines, but there was still more to seek… still more to call out… still more in the distance…
In the design world (which is where my very useful college degree comes from), there’s a new trend out there called “My 365”. This is a year long journey where artists and designers will take on a challenge for a year to produce a new piece every day. I have recently run across two friends that are in the middle of this project. Stephanie Horn is a graphic designer out of Phoenix, Arizona and you producing some incredible work here (http://stephaniehorn.tumblr.com/) and Wayne Franklin is a friend and videographer out of Birmingham, Alabama and you can find his work here (http://wannabef.posterous.com/).
While I love this idea and challenge as a designer, I felt God was calling me to run with this a little differently. After being out of the design world for over a year, I knew my stuff would be a little outdated, and as a writer, I didn’t want to just put up a “thought for the day”. I wanted something more… kingdom oriented.
Then it hit.
In 1 John, we are called to be Jesus and are even said to be the only picture of God’s love the world may ever see.
I’ve been telling my stories and testimonies for a year and it has been an incredible ministry. However, it’s time to shift my focus. God has laid it on my heart to use my writing and story telling and take on this year long challenge. But with a twist. It’s time I stop telling my own stories and give my voice to someone else. First, give it to God to speak life over a new person everyday. Second, to share a new testimony everyday that I have absolutely no claim or stock in. Jesus has done AND IS DOING incredible things in the lives of those around us and it’s time we hear and share those stories. It’s time to celebrate as a body. Truly unified.
So what will this look like?
I’m taking on the challenge to restructure my conversations and not go a single day without speaking of Jesus and the God that saved my soul. These conversations may sometimes be with Christians (who need Jesus just as much daily as anyone, keep that in mind), or with nonbelievers that want nothing to do with religion or the Bible, or anyone in between, and will be centered on the Gospel. With their approval, I’ll tell their story that night on my blog. And over the year, we will be able to celebrate 365 (God willing) individual testimonies and how our God IS working. Part of me thinks this will be an ambitious task, but when I really think about it, is it? Is it that hard to speak of Jesus daily to those we come in contact with? But outside of “scheduled ministry time”, how often do I even make it two days in a row? That’s a convicting thought God has been rocking my world with.
Logistically, I hope to set up a new blog tomorrow (but still link it here) to separate these posts. Thank you so much for your encouragement and support, I can’t wait to see what is to come!
