It’s hard to voice all that the Lord is doing in my small world right now, much less to even consider what He is continually doing in the world around me—in lives that I may never even encounter.
I’m driving to work in the morning and the words “I couldn’t earn it and I don’t deserve it, still you gave yourself away” cross my mind again. Thankfully for the first time in my life my commute is less than 30 minutes, but now I’m seeking after more and more “quiet” time with the Lord outside of my car during the day. “Reckless Love” from Bethel Music truly embodies so much of what God is speaking to my heart right now.
I recently checked off a bucket list item and read an entire book in a day! No need to disclose page counts right? Anyway, Serving with Eyes Wide Open was a gift from my family and in it author David Livermore shares his thoughts on how to do short-term mission work well. I started reading it looking for answers and truly came full circle in understanding how complicated serving in a multi-cultural context is. With the World Race, I will be gone for a year, but it is essentially 11 mini mission trips as each month we will be serving in a different country.
Through recognizing the complexity of cultures, traditions, histories, languages, political landscapes, governments, religions, and global needs I held my hands up to the Lord and asked “What can I even do?” I can’t solve global issues, I can’t bring justice to the oppressed, I have no medical background, I can’t heal people, and in and of myself I can’t even offer hope to someone hurting.
But HE CAN!
Before I ever hop on a plane for the World Race, it is so evident to me that He is EVERYTHING. He is hope, He is life, He is love, He is justice, He is mercy, He is fulfilling relationship, He is healing, and He is my God. He is the reason I can serve and He is the treasure I can give—not only in the mission field but in my life each day. This life, this trip is all about His Kingdom.
In my small group, we read through Isaiah 64 the other day and one voice so beautifully pointed out that apart from His hands it’s just a pile of clay. But with His hands and His gentle movements this pile of clay is becoming a vessel with a purpose connected to its creator. This has truly stuck with me, and is my prayer right now.
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father.
We are the clay, you are the potter;
we are all the work of you hand.”
Please partner with me in praying for my Expedition Team as we share and prepare for this trip. Please pray that God will be glorified in our lives as we continually lay this opportunity at His feet admitting we couldn’t earn it and we don’t deserve it, but we are honored to be used through it. Please pray that God would prepare hearts for us to encounter during our trip and as we get ready to leave. Also, please join with me in lifting up the Syrian refugees around the world.
Praise report, I got a job and am currently working and being challenged and loved in community!
My heart is to continue to share what the Lord is doing and share relationship with you. It’s vulnerable and sometimes uncomfortable to share the real me, but it was never about me—only Him. Please comment and share. This blog is an amazing tool to stay connected through this journey—start to finish.
