This month has been crazy, amazing, joyful, challenging, fruitful, tiring, and yet so purposeful. Doing youth ministry while waiting to launch on the World Race, as been one of the biggest blessings I have ever received. I am enjoying the life the Lord has giving me in the present, and I’m not wishing for August to come any faster. I’m in a place where I can enjoy life everyday, giving of myself to benefit those around me. It truly is an amazing mission field right here in my own back yard.
Mentorship & Discipleship.
One of the blessings God has been doing in my life is allowing me to understand the importance of mentorship and discipleship. The other day I was meeting with a student who has had a difficult upbringing. He said to me one day, “Andrew, I never grew up in a Christian home. I was never taught about God. I know nothing. Would you teach me?” My heart jumped and even screamed for joy when I heard this! What an amazing opportunity I have to disciple this person to grow in knowledge and faith in Jesus! This experience got me thinking. Am I that humble, teachable, and willing to let someone else show me what I don’t know especially in my faith? Are you that willing? What if we went up to those who are father down the road in their faith than we are and asked, “Would you teach me?” The other amazing phrase that has been on my heart came from an engineer as I was beginning to start a bible study for sophomore college men. He said, “Since when has a student ever told his teacher what he wants to learn?” Being willing to have a teachable heart enough to let the mentor teach me whatever he thinks I should know at this current time in my life. By not letting the pride come in to say phrases like, “I already know that” or “I don’t want to learn about that again” is simply taking away from allowing the teacher to teach and allow you to learn. The reality is, we only know what we know and we don’t know what we don’t know. Therefore, the challenge is to be willing to let someone you trust teach you about life, faith, love, relationships, and God.
Generosity.
Christmas is here again. The Holy Spirit is prompting us to give and share our resources, food, gifts, and love with those around us! I was on my way to a Christmas concert in St. Pual, MN last weekend, and on the way I found myself listening to lots of Christmas music. By the time I arrived I was so encouraged I felt moved to want to give gifts to those around me to show my appreciation for them. It was like truth touched my heart and said, “You are blessed to be a blessing” (Genesis 12:2). God has given us all so many gifts, whether that is financial recourses or talents to use, and its crazy how He has given them to us so that we can be a blessing to other people. The music in this Christmas concert was incredible! And it is only because those who were given this gift decided to use it to bless those around them include me.
Time.
Time is an interesting thing to think about. If we never got any older, or if we never died, would time still exist? Where did that come from Andrew? Well, it is a thought that I have been processing over the last couple of weeks. God is outside of time because He does not have an end. He never dies, He never gets any older, He never changes, He is the “I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Now, that affects the way I look at things tremendously. Think about this, when we accept Jesus as our and Savior- from our own sin- He gives us His perfect life and Jesus takes our sinful life. Even though we will not receive Jesus’ life until we die, we can experience salvation, hope, forgiveness, and grace right now through the Holy Spirit. “For He says, ‘At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation I helped you.’ Indeed, the ‘right time’ is now. Today is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2). In the same ways we can pray for healing right now, because whether we receive physical, emotional, or whatever type of healing RIGHT NOW or IN THE FUTURE He will heal us. Because He says, “’He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed” (Isaiah 53:5 & 1 Peter 2:24).
Like I said, it has been a crazy month, but I feel the Lord has revealed so much to me and that means He is preparing me tremendously for the race. Thank you for your prayers in preparation! A praise would be that prayer for preparation is being answered as we speak! Lastly, I want to encourage you to accept those challenges God puts on your heart. Whether that is to find a mentor you trust to teach you, or to give more of yourself-resources, talents, etc., or to step out and pray for someone this holiday season, you will be blessed all the more for following His promptings! I love you all, and thank you for your partnership with me as a take steps toward leaving in August 2017!
Until next time, God bless!
p.s. Here is one more food for thought. The easiest lies to discover are the ones that are the farthest from the truth. However, the most difficult lies to discover are the ones that are the closest to the truth. “And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).
