Ingrid Michaelson sings a version of “I Can’t Help Falling in Love With You” that gets me every time. Right here – right in the heart.
I confess, in the past I have been completely obsessed with romance. Hallmark movies were the best, and Janette Oke herself would blush at the number of Christian romance novels I’ve read. (Yes, that is a genre.) I’ve planned my wedding numerous times – once for real (praise God it didn’t happen). I’ve never found myself without a romantic relationship. There was always one in the works, or around the corner. I was cleaning up the heartbreak/aftermath when hope would spring up like a weed – an eternal and infernal cycle.
Until one day.
I stopped. I drew a line in the sand. On one side – heartbreak, confusion, selfish desires. On the other, Jesus holding a life of freedom, surrender and singleness.
I stepped over the line. No more appeasing others or trying to satisfy my own wants. No more manipulation or games. No more wondering if I’m good enough or old enough. No more wondering with anxious thoughts about tomorrow.
I didn’t know this post was going to be about love. I thought I was going to share how my heart has soared for the Nations lately. How my Jesus has filled all my holes and I just wanna tell EVERYBODY (and their dog) about what He did for me. But the truth is, I kinda am. By sharing my story – whether it be about the time that I almost got married, or about that near-death experience I had – I am sharing the ugliest and “honest-est” (that’s a word now) part of myself. Parts that have been broken and mangled and tangled and torn. Parts that have been bruised and ripped up and yelled at and thrown away.
I thank GOD, that is not where He left me. After every season of wandering (or the full-blown sprint, can I get an amen) away from Him, of abuse and heartbreak, He has picked me up. He has coddled my broken and near-lifeless heart, body, and soul. I have heard his whisper. He says, “I love you”.
That’s what I want to tell the world.
I want to tell them I am loved by a God that doesn’t count my mistakes, doesn’t care about my past, or theirs, or yours! He will make good from the bad and from the evil of this broken place. This earth is not our home. We were made eternal like our Father. Our good, good Father. He makes me like new, renewing my mind and restoring my soul to a place of peace. And he takes me back no matter how many times I wandered. Thank God for redemption! Praise JESUS as the One who owed nothing – but paid everything for my debts to be forgotten!!! Forgiven! Freed! I am redeemed. And so are you should you CHOOSE to accept him. The whole world has been invited into a relationship with the loving, living, breathing God. BUT THEY DONT KNOW! We must tell them all!!!!!!! “How can someone believe the truth if they don’t hear the truth? And how can someone hear the truth unless it is spoken to them? And who is going to speak it to them if we don’t send someone to tell them the truth of what Jesus has done?”
I want to tell them what Jesus did for them. It’s too good of news to keep hidden from them! And once they meet Him, they too won’t be able to help falling in love with Him.
Who will I be preaching to?
The Atheist in Spain.
The Muslim in Morocco, Jordan & Cyprus.
The Buddhist in China.
And so many more.
Refugees, business owners, mothers and sons. All desperately need the encouragement, the peace, and the freedom that only Jesus can offer.
Okay, I’m done. If you’re wondering about details of the route me and my team are going on, click this link: https://www.worldrace.org/?tab=routes&subtab=august-2018-exp
If you want to watch an awesome sermon on how sending out missionaries has impact on the world, watch his sermon from Red Rocks, Colorado: https://subsplash.com/redrockschurch/lb/mi/+n8cdf7s
FUNDRAISING UPDATE: I am about $500 short of my May 18th deadline in three weeks! (This is the first of 3 deadlines.) Please pray about partnering with me and partaking of this journey. Please give whatever God puts on your heart (no matter how small, or big!) and watch Him bless it. What an awesome calling God has for us!!!! God is going to bless your obedience, and He loves to out-give the generous. I AM EXCITED TO SEE HOW HE WILL SHOW UP ON YOUR LIVES AND ON THE WORLD RACE!!!
Thank you for your prayers and Support!!
Hannah 🙂
