I am a child of God! I am His masterpiece! He is in control of my life, my plans, and my way! Since my decision to go on the World Race I have been asked many times “Why are you going on the World Race?” Most of the people do not want to hear the words “Because God wants me to.” To be honest I don’t know if that would be a true statement anyways. All my life I’ve strived to follow God in every decision in my life. Anytime I listened to the loud bombardment of advice from people around me and done what I thought I should do because they told me to, I failed! Every. Single. Time. I found discontentment, disappointment, and depression. Then I decided that I was finished listening to people and I put my life completely in God’s hands. What did I find? Joy! Hope! Love! He led me down so many wonderful paths, led me to wonderful people and experiences, and He gave me His heart!
“For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for my sake shall find it. For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” Matthew 16:25-26
What joy is there to find in doing what others want me to do to gain the world, when I could lose my soul in the process? Joy is only found in my life and soul thirsting and following after my Creator! In this day and age I’ve been persecuted for many things that people call foolish.
“but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block, and to Gentiles foolishness, but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For consider your calling, brethren, that there were not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble; but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong, and the base things of the world and the despised, God has chosen, the things that are not, that He might nullify the things that are, that no man should boast before God. But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, that, just as it is written, ‘LET HIM WHO BOASTS, BOAST IN THE LORD.’” 1 Corinthians 1:23-31
Amen! In the day of sexual impurity, even among Christians, I have chosen purity! I am often met with pitying laughs because many, even my Christ believing friends, believe that sexual immorality no longer applies in this day and age. What is my response to this? I follow God! And I tell everyone that I follow God! I want to walk the walk, as well as talk the talk, and if I am claiming to follow Him then I must obey him in every aspect of my life, and He calls his children to be pure, and so I will be! Is it hard? Sometimes. Is it worth it? I whole heartedly believe it is! Another thing that brings me ridicule is also a reason I am pure, I have never had a boyfriend. As a 25 year old woman in the 21st century apparently that is a carnal sin! Yet my Creator has a plan for my life, and even with the sad sympathetic looks and many comments of “well that’s okay, it’ll happen someday” I can have joy in my single life because God has it all under control!! “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and hope.” Jeremiah 29:11
I think the hardest ridicule I have received is the topic of education! Everyone wants to tell me where I should go to school, what I should major in, why I HAVE to go to school! Its overwhelming to be honest! All my life all I’ve ever wanted to do was follow God and share Him with the nations! How that looks I do not know, but God does! And that brings me great comfort! Maybe His plans for me don’t involve a bachelor degree, and that’s okay! Maybe His plans for me include a bachelor degree later in life, and that’s okay! Its all up to Him, and I find great comfort in that! But that answer isn’t good enough for my friends and family, and that saddens me!
Throughout my life I’ve made plans, and then God has changed those plans, only to change my life! In 2007 I applied to two programs, one that would take me to Romania on an internship after high school graduation, and one that would take me just a few miles away from home to Staff at Lakeside Bible Camp for the summer. I was so excited to go to Romania, but alas God had other plans. I was not accepted to Romania, but I did go to Lakeside for the whole summer and I went on a week-long mission trip to California, both which influenced my life greatly!! God was good! While I was at Lakeside I received acceptance to a college I had never visited, that I heard of from a friend, and was 3 ½ hours away from home in Oregon. George Fox University! I was graciously allowed to attend that wonderful Christian University for 3 semesters and my life was turned upside down! I learned so much, grew so much, and met some of my best friends there! I was angry at God for taking me away from that school though so I moved back to Portland on my own decision in 2009 and again God changed my life in unexpected ways drawing me closer to Him, despite my rebellion against Him. I had a life in Portland but God threw me a curveball again and in 2011 I moved back home, only to find two great jobs, I went to Uganda, and become involved in church. I got too comfortable in my life, and decided to quit my café job and stay with just the YMCA, but yet again God had other plans. I was fired from the YMCA, losing a job I loved, and forced to make hard decisions. But God was faithful and had plans for me.
This was 2012 and I had a full plate, trying to decide between school or YWAM! But then God gave me Disney Cruise Line. I never planned it, it happened within 2 months and suddenly I was sailing the Bahamas on a wonderful magical adventure.
My point? God has my life planned out! I try to take control and He just laughs and shows me a better route! So where does that leave me? I had planned to stay with DCL for a year then see where God leads me, that’s when World Race came my way!
I long to follow God, I long to fully and completely trust HIM! I long to know Him better! I long to know the world, to experience what they experience, in hopes that I can experience God!! “Who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus.” 2 Timothy 1:9. This opportunity was opened up to me, so I took it, hoping that God would allow me to go. Applying for the program didn’t mean I would get in, and yet I did! So far I have felt nothing but peace, and excitement for this adventure and so far the doors have not been closed! So until a door closes, this is the path I will take!
I have always had a huge heart for people, and through Christ I long to show them the love of God above all else! On the World Race I will meet people all over the world, some who believe in God, some who don’t, some who have never heard God’s name, some who are new Christians. I will meet poor people, rich people, people down on their luck, others who have just come into their luck! I will find people who are hurting, rejoicing, grieving, or celebrating! God is everywhere! And I can’t wait to see that proven!!! Thank you Jesus for your love! Thank you for filling me with the Holy Spirit! Thank you Father for comforting me all the time!
God is good all the time! All the time God is good!
