Well hey there everyone!!!! It’s been a while (: Honestly life has been a little chaotic the last 3 weeks! I’ll hopefully get around to writing another blog about some of the struggles yet super rad things that have come from them, but Gods still working those things out. The reality is, being a Christian isn’t always rainbows and butterflies. I watched a sermon today while I was drilling holes in the top caps of the handles of jumping ropes. Yep, that’s been some of my ministry the last few weeks but hey, I’ve probably made 1,000 at this point so it’s 1,000 kids that will be blessed with jump ropes! Praise the Lord!
But any-who, I was watching a podcast today by Timothy Keller. What a cool dude! But basically his main topic was God doesn’t promise us as a believer that our circumstances will be easy but he does promise us a good life. This comes from choosing joy even in the midst of the struggle. Choosing to continue to seek Jesus’ face despite the hard circumstances. I stand firm in who I am in Christ even as the hard things try to sweep me away. No, my foundation is strong. This is all an introduction to what I have to say in this blog post, so stick with me!! My point in this overall is, There is endurance that has to take place when living a life for Jesus.
I have been doing daily plans with my best friend Raquel these last few weeks, and we just began one titled: Radical. I definitely recommend the Bible app and looking at their devotionals on there. It’s a cool tool to use to start your day right with Jesus (well with a 12 hour time difference, in Raquel’s case start her day, in my case end it hehe). But this word radical has come up a lot the last week or so. What does it mean to live radically? What does it mean to lay it all down and follow Jesus? Like I said earlier, I’ve struggled a bit the last few weeks! But Jesus has reminded me in some Radical ways, how giving my life to him is not a mistake. That what I am doing and the abandonment of things on this journey has lead me to be the woman I am today. Jesus humbled me last Wednesday, when my old youth pastor from Grand Island reached out to me and asked me to speak through FaceTime to the youth group live. His series was titled: Radical. Jesus affirmed me once again in him reaching out, that what I have done this year has been stepping out of the cultural norm and living radically. I am so humbled. Here are roughly some of the responses I gave to the youth group over FaceTime:
Honestly my relationship with Jesus has become just like a best friend. I always knew God was ever present and always seeking me but throughout Highschool I never really fully pursued him back. Yes, I always wanted to learn and grow, but I never gave him my whole heart and life. Now I’d say, the only thing keeping me from a deep relationship with Jesus at times is lack of faith. There are days where life is just hard. Faith can be hard in the monotonous, day-to-day events. Being a follower of Jesus is not easy. But it is even when I am weak, he is strong. That faith, even if it’s small at times will always be there because he has proved to me time and time again that he chooses me everyday to be his friend. He chooses me to love. He chooses me to fulfill the desires of his heart every day when I wake up. My relationship with him honestly just grows deeper as I continue to acknowledge his presence and how’s he’s doing life with me, as his friend.
I definitely had no idea what following Jesus even meant most of Highschool! I was his biggest fan but although I knew about him, my identity was not fully in him. When I discovered more of who he was and the relationship he wanted with me, I began to actually discover who I am and it became easy to choose to love others. I think the whole reason I decided to be a missionary and travel was because he simply planted that desire within me. I wanted to see all of the other people and places God created. I wanted to get a deeper understanding of his children. I wanted to serve in areas that needed a taste of that unconditional love. And I wanted to truly devote a year to the Lord to grow in my relationship with him. So no, in Highschool I would’ve never expected to travel the globe. But I perused the desires that I believe he planted within me!
Yes, I knew taking a year off was definitely way out of the norm, not only for others, but also for myself. I’ve always been driven in school and wanting to go to college. Even some of my family and friends were questioning the idea of going on this trip. But then something began to change. People around me saw my confidence, my peace and my heart behind going after the desire. I discovered going against the norm is ok. Jesus did it countless times. It’s all about opportunities. Don’t miss them. I’m working at a ministry now here in Thailand that is called Agape Home, an orphanage for kids living with aids. The head lady of the house started this home 45 years ago and she always talks about how she thinks back and wonders what would have happened if she said no to Gods calling to open this orphanage. It was an opportunity that she easily could have missed. I challenge all of you today to not miss those opportunities!! If God is calling you to something, just go for it and follow him. There are way too many amazing opportunities out there so don’t just follow the ways of the world. Honestly each person has a different story, different opportunity and different calling. You can’t go wrong if you are following what you feel in your heart and your heart is for him. So yes it was worth it to me to take this year off—he’s taught me so much in these 7 months so far and I definitely wouldn’t trade it for the world. And there are so many opportunities coming up in the future, like college this fall as I study nursing, or at least that’s the plan right now but who knows with God. Just gonna continue seeking him and he will give me peace about whatever the future holds.
So yeah, like I said, what a great opportunity it was to FaceTime them!!! But it’s even cooler how God used this to remind me of why I take up the cross even when it’s hard. Why I chose to repent, die to myself and follow him. It was by far the best decision I have ever made.
If you are reading this blog and you’ve discovered there is something in your heart that you know is keeping you from Jesus, I encourage you all to choose to die to that today. To say yes to more of Him. He wants you to know you are his child and he loves you. He wants all of you. Despite the hard things life throws at you, you will have a good life if you follow Jesus!!! Feel free to reach out to me if you’re heart is stirring. Love ya (:
