I turned 27 on the 13th. Wow… I can’t even
believe I’m 27… And I wasn’t looking too forward to the day. It was a
bittersweet feeling, because I would be 27!! And to me, I thought my life would have many other
“accomplishments� by this time.
I process a lot through writing, and anyone who knows me,
knows that it takes me a while to process things, and though I’m pretty backed
up from completely processing the past couple months of the race, I figured
November 12th would be a good day to go back and process the last 26
years of my life.
So I opened up my laptop, and went through all the old
writings I had in there. It’s both pretty amusing and pathetic to look back at
old writing and see how much I thought I knew, and realize how little I really
knew… and know. It seems so silly to read about how much “in love� you can be.
Or how you tell God what you “know” is best.
As I read through so many writings about my insecurities,
closed doors, and heartbreak, I started to see a common thread…I was never sure
why God was allowing it to happen.
In asking that question again, 2 nights ago, I started to
look at every slammed door, and shattered heart, as a potential
road my life could have taken. And I asked myself, if I had walked down that
road, would I have been in Africa today? Each answer led to a solid “no�.
I really felt that God was showing me how every “failed�
attempt, “missed� opportunity, and broken heart was used to lead me to The World
Race for this specific season of my life.
I definitely didn’t see it then, but in hindsight, I saw how
His perfect love was guiding me to His perfect will for my life. Because I KNOW
beyond a shadow of a doubt this is where He wants me.
And I started to think. “Geez, God you loved me enough to
not let me have what I thought was best, and you shut soooooo many other doors
to bring me here… so it must be for some special reason you want me on the
race.� That brought a moment of rededication, and enlightenment “ looking
straight ahead, and fixing my eyes on what lies before� me (Proverbs 4:25). Not
being distracted by anything or anyone else. Not looking to the left or to the
right…. but straight… fixed on the purpose that God called me on the race for. I
don’t want to miss one bit. I “want to obtain all that Christ obtained me for”(Phil 3:12). Especially
for the next 6 months.
It blows my mind to literally see (through laptop writings),
how God’s love has led me to this point in my life thus far . Was it painful…
yes. Was it confusing at times… yes.. But God was faithful to take my wrong
turns and, because of His love, still lead me to the best pathway for me.
I was so loved on my birthday by my team, and my African
brothers and sisters! I got beautiful, meaningful gifts and an African dance
party! Then I got such loving messages on facebook and emails. I felt as if I
was being smothered by God’s love.
But honestly the best gift I got was on the eve of my Bday..
when God finally opened my eyes to
see His faithfulness and love in my life.
Knowing this
truth, gives me such confidence to trust Him even more for this next season of
my life. And that’s what I choose to do. Because I can trust in His love for
me.
“(I) know how much God loves (me), and (I) have put (my) trust in his love.”1 John 14:6
Have you taken time to look at God’s track record in your
life? If you examine it carefully, and honestly… you will see nothing but His
faithfulness and love for you… and in that, you can trust Him for your future.
Here is a link to some of the pics from my time in Malawi so far..(copy and paste)
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?cropsuccess&id=1207557236#!/album.php?aid=2103816&id=1207557236
Agenda: Love,
Bethsaida
Check out this movie trailer my amazing team made for me as a bday present.. I’m so blessed to be with them.
