My journey on the World Race has come to a close. I finished it and have been forever changed through it. God met me in radical ways and enabled me to do this thing. He spoke through countless means, healed hurts in my life I didn’t know I had and broke me of habits I didn’t recognize until my relationships were at stake.
Each month had a theme that God wanted to focus on. Of course, He led me through a lot in 11 months and though one word/phrase bookended each month, there are three overall themes of my entire World Race. Words and lessons I keep coming back to. Words that I will continue to live by. I want to share those with you.
I want to begin by pointing out that the World Race didn’t teach me these lessons. The World Race didn’t change my life. The World Race didn’t make me more like Jesus. My Heavenly Father did all of that. He taught me and changed me. He used the World Race in incredible ways to break me, heal me, get me out of my comfort zone, make me fight, make me rest, and so much more. It was all God and I can only boast in Him.
Opportunities to be Jesus’ hands and feet are EVERYWHERE. Literally, EVERYWHERE. I have had a tendency to make it more complicated than it is. I have avoided it because I was afraid. There’s no reason to be afraid when you’re LOVING someone the way Jesus does. The way we frame it in our heads may be keeping us from accomplishing it. Just LOVE people. Change their day. Show them/Tell them that they are loved beyond measure by a perfect Heavenly Father who gave His perfect Son to take the punishment for our sin so we could then have a relationship with Him forever. This ministry is everywhere. Just use some creativity to see it. Love the cashier at the gas station, the staff at your school, the guy who takes your ticket at a concert. Strike up a conversation in line or with the stocker at the grocery store. Look people in their eyes with Love in your eyes and really see them. Notice them! Lay down your to-do list and spend time talking to someone about their life. Make them your ministry.
Listen. Hear the LOVE your Heavenly Father has for you and let that be the motivation to love others the same way. God, Abba, Jesus, Creator, Father, Healer, whatever you call Him – He loves you more that you can ever imagine. Don’t underestimate that because your very life depends on that. You live differently when you know the Truth of that. You can finally have your true, God-given identity when you are walking in His love for you. You no longer live in obligation, perfectionism, insecurity, but you live out your days with Him as your roots, you anchor. Don’t underestimate it. Find Him in the things you enjoy and let Him blow your mind with all that He is and all He thinks of you.
He will speak to you. He is not silent and He is not far away. His grace (giving you what you don’t deserve) toward you is infinite and does not run out. He will always take you back. He will always forgive you. When He speaks to you, SAY YES. Don’t make excuses. Be available because if you believe His Word is true when it says, “For those who love God all things work together for good, for that who are called according to his purpose,” then know that what He is calling you to might hurt or stir up fear, anxiety, loneliness, but ALL THINGS are for your good (Romans 8:28). So when He calls you into something, whatever it may be, say yes. Say yes OUT OF grace and love, not FOR grace and love.
These 3 themes have changed the way I see the world around me. They are lessons I will take with me for the rest of my days. I hope you have been blessed by these blogs because I have been praying for that.
Thank you to each of my supporters (financial, prayers, encouragements, and readers). I couldn’t have done it without you and your willingness to let God use you. Thank you for saying YES to Him and making me your ministry throughout this year. I am so grateful.
Be on the lookout for my next blog address. New journey, new blog.
Much love to each of you.
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Please consider supporting me prayerfully and financially to attend the Center for Global Action in Georgia, January 2016. I have committed to 1 semester (4 months) and will undergo training, discipleship, and apprenticeship in the Worship track.
You can partner with me financially with a tax-deductible donation by clicking on the “Support Me” tab, which will take you to the website with giving information. If the link is not working, you can donate via Paypal. This will NOT be tax-deductible but will go toward my living expenses while in Georgia. Thank you and God bless!
