I had the opportunity this past weekend to go to Greece, Albania, and North Macedonia. It was three days and we were pretty much doing straight evangelism on the streets of whatever city we were in. Passing out tracks and getting in conversations, that was our only goal. Before I left for the trip, I asked the Lord to cast vision for this trip and just asking Him some of what was going to happen. He told me this…
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“there is promised fruit on this trip. You just need to look for it.”
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So, we started our great road trip around these countries. A two-hour ride to the Bulgarian border. A like 8-hour ride to Greece and stop for some evangelism there. The beginning of this trip was hard. I love the travel but when we got to Greece it was hard to get into ministry for me. I felt very impersonable just handing out tracks and I didn’t see how this was producing good fruit at all. Then from there we went to Albania that night, got a hotel, and ate dinner (which wasn’t the best, don’t get white spaghetti it’s not alfredo). The next day we were doing evangelism almost all day in Albania and I was more than excited. I knew there was fruit on this trip, but I hadn’t seen it yet, but I was very expectant.
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That morning in Albania to say I was hangry was probably an understatement. I was mad. I thought this was going to have fruit and all were doing is trying to give out tracks (getting rejected fairly often). It’s frustrating to be rejected doing something you don’t really want to do. It really tests your identity. One of my squadmates, Gel, at one point said, “I really feel like there is promised fruit here and I just have a feeling we’re going to feast tonight.” I felt the exact same thing. This unshakeable feeling that something was going to happen and particularly: we were going to feast.
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As we went through that day evangelism got better. And we were told that we were going to Macedonia that night. Sweet let’s roll with the punches, that’s when the Lord showed up.
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As we drove through the winding mountains and hills of Albania the glory of God was there. In the mountains, in the bodies of water, it was glorious. If nothing else happened all of this trip just riding through this mountain was enough. But He wasn’t done…
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After we crossed the border to Macedonia, we saw countless apple trees. Like thousands. And then we pulled over and me and Ana (one of the missionaries with us) got out and began to pick the apples. When we got back in the car, I got my own apple and took my first bite and the Lord reminded me.
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“I told you there would be fruit. I told you there’d be a feast.”
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I’m blown away at His faithfulness. At His goodness and then the sun sets. The mountains all around us as we drive through the valleys past bodies of water the Lord patiently reminds me how good He actually is. We’re all amazed, and, in my amazement, I pulled out my iPod and wrote this:
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The clouds move to shape to His glory.
The mountains bow before the lamb who sits on the throne.
The trees bend in a beautiful dance outside of time honoring the one who is above all.
His presence is known through a sunset but isn’t defined by it.
He’s greater, higher, holier than anything that could ever be.
This is what experiencing God is made of.
My eyes meeting His and being lifted in complete honor and safety at the Voice of the Lord who says,
“I’ve always been good and always will be. I am Good.”
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Your eyes.
Something that the Lord taught me over the course of this month and in this past weekend is the power of my eyes. Just looking at someone and giving them a smile is more than enough. The Holy Spirit uses our eyes so preciously and longs for others to see Him in our eyes.
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So, as a bit of a challenge, Look at someone today. Peer into their brokenness and let them find Jesus in your eyes. Let them see Papa in your smile and find Him in theirs. A smile goes a lot longer than you may think so smile. Look in someone’s eyes. And let them see yours.
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He’s always there.
