I am absolutely, 100% convinced that the Bible is accurate and truthful. We always read stories about the people the Lord chose to work through and some of those seem a little crazy and far-fetched. The Lord blessed Abraham with a child when he was 90-something? Moses saw a God as a burning bush and then argued with him? David was a man after God's heart yet still committed adultery and murder? And Jonah defiantly disobeyed, hated the people the Lord asked him to love and didn't want them to be saved to understand God's love and mercy, yet God still worked through him and loved him without end?
Through it all, the Lord worked through them. He did mighty things because after a time, sometimes a LONG time, they became willing; willing to look stupid, act a fool, be laughed at, be criticized and ostracized. But, they had a heart willing to do what the Lord asked of them in spite of it all (with the exception of Jonah, maybe). They were willing to be brave, do scary things, go places the Lord said, believe and trust the words that God spoke over through them and over them.
And that's where I'm at and why I'm so glad that the Bible and God are as true today as they were thousands of years ago. I'm glad that the Lord has said he won't leave me, forsake me, ignore me, hate me, punish me… he loves me and knows that I'm a work in progress. By the grace of God I am who I am. Through all my sins, failures, wickedness, and so on… I am where I am today because his grace has sustained me. Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. And I am a wretch, y'all.
As I'm willing to be used, so the Lord is willing to use me. And so I go.
On Tuesday, I leave to go to Georgia for a week and a half to prepare to launch as a squad leader in September. I will be out with a group of fifty 20- & 30-something's who will embark on their own World Race experience.
I cannot explain how humbled and honored I am by this opportunity to walk along side and speak life, truth and love into the men and women the Lord will entrust to me. I am beyond excited and also freaked out by what will lay ahead. Hahaha, there's so much to this squad leader thing.
But I trust that it's not about what I can do, it's about what the Lord can do. He is the one leading me and sustaining me in this squad leader position. It's not about my words or thoughts but about his, about his guiding and his love. I can't live inside of myself and lead well – I need him to be present every moment of every day. And for that I'm excited.
Of course, I can't do this alone – I need all of your help. Mostly, I need all of your prayers. And I need them often. I also need some of your money. Thankfully, this time around I need less than half of the amount of money I needed last time. I'm looking for 6,000 to get me through 5 months on the race and to get me back to my squad for month 8 & 11 debriefs. I also need you to love on and encourage the leaders that I will be leading with. And to pray and support the racers on my squad.
If you would like to donate financially, you can do so by clicking on the "Round 2 is here… Support me" tab.
It's so exciting to think that as a squad leader you all have an impact on my racers. I am who I am because of you, I've been blessed by you all so much and I'm ecstatic to be able to pass the blessings I've received from y'all on to a new generation. Generational blessings, not just for "blood" family!
