I recently was looking back on my Instagram pictures of the past for some Throw back Thursday action, when I came across a picture taken almost a year ago. The picture was from when I was in Seattle and it was my last day there. I had gone to Seattle with expectations, I had a great experience but things hadn’t turned out the way I had anticipated. The last day I sat at GAS WORKS PARK staring at the beautiful out line of the city, laying in the grass as wind slightly brushed my skin. I listened on repeat to Hillsongs “OCEAN” (AKA the lady anthem of the year) and wept as God began to speak to me about the faith walk I would be experiencing.
My ways are not HIS ways & my thoughts are not HIS thoughts. Somehow, some way, in my imaginationed world of glitter and unicorns my expectations always become reality. I have these great expectations of how things should end up. I had expectations at one time of marrying a man who I thought was the one, that we would rock the world of kidmin with our passion for Jesus and our captivating ways of showing kids the love of Jesus. I had expectations once of replaying past regrets and making different choices causing my life to be centralized in a different position, with different relationships. I had expectations that if I showed someone how I felt about them with no filters that they would respond with the same feelings. BUT most of all I had expectations, since I was small of exactly how the story of missions would play out in my life.
In this season I have realized that my expectations had ruled my thoughts, my actions and my decisions. That all became challenged as I entered this faith journey. I am having to put to death my expectations as I step into the unknown.
Because His ways are far more greater then I could ever imagine or dream.
As I approach the journey of THE WORLD RACE, I am learning to throw all MY expectations out the window.
As I embark on an adventure to share the love of Jesus to 11 countries in 11 months, I had originally thought I was going to certain countries and then this year I heard God stirring in my heart to abandon my plan and say yes to what he had in store. Originally I had said “YES” to a route because it had fit my expectations and of course God is shaking that up. SO now I am going to a whole new set of countries with a whole new team:
Colombia
Bolivia
Peru
Ecuador
Thailand
Cambodia
Japan
Malaysia
Swaziland
Botswana
South Africa
This season of fundraising to go on the journey I have had to lay my expectations down. God is bringing the funds from all types of places. He keeps reminding me that the only expectation I should have is that “HE HAS GOT THIS.” So I put my faith in Him and am believing that I will hit the budgets needed for my journey, which at this point I am at 3,010! Which is a miracle! I am thankful for those who have given, both a T-shirt or have prayed for the journey thus far!
$3,500- Due 5/30/2014
$7,500- Due 6/17/2014
$11,000- Due 10/1/2014
$15,500 Plus $752 (Insurance) = $16,252.00- Due 1/1/2015
$1,200- Extra spending for things needed on the journey
These are the due dates given by Adventures in Missions the organization that is over THE WORLD RACE. I am believing that God is going to provide every need!
I put my expectations to death and trust what God is doing. I don’t know how, I may not even see Him moving but I know He is. As I partner with Him to see more people come into a relationship with Him and enter His kingdom, the only expectation I hold is saying “YES” to HIM.
What expectations do you need to put to death?
What faith step is God asking you to say “YES” to and abandon how you thought life would happen?
How can I be praying for you?
<3
Ash
#TeamAsh
“Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders
Let me walk upon the waters
Wherever You would call me
Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander
And my faith will be made stronger
In the presence of my Savior”
-“Oceans” Hillsong
