I have always had a
big heart for missions. A big thank you goes out to my parents for
bringing me up in a missions-minded home and of course to God who has given me
such a strong passion for people and the world. However, I never thought at this time in my life would I be doing something like THIS…The World
Race. Obviously, God has some pretty crazy ideas for what He wants
my life to be. And I am definitely not opposed to this
God-adventure. 🙂
big heart for missions. A big thank you goes out to my parents for
bringing me up in a missions-minded home and of course to God who has given me
such a strong passion for people and the world. However, I never thought at this time in my life would I be doing something like THIS…The World
Race. Obviously, God has some pretty crazy ideas for what He wants
my life to be. And I am definitely not opposed to this
God-adventure. 🙂
A little over a month
ago (March 9th, 2010 to be more exact), I was sitting on the floor in my dorm
room doing my devotions, crying out to God for peace in my life. I
often sit and wonder if I am doing the right thing with my life–am I studying
the right major, am I at the right university, etc? The stresses of
all of this were overtaking me. I was tired of worrying and stressing over
each of the details of my life. That night, I realized I was holding
so tightly to everything and trying to control it all. I was
clinging to my life with every ounce of my strength. What I thought
were God’s plans, really were my own and I was failing to make my plans work.
ago (March 9th, 2010 to be more exact), I was sitting on the floor in my dorm
room doing my devotions, crying out to God for peace in my life. I
often sit and wonder if I am doing the right thing with my life–am I studying
the right major, am I at the right university, etc? The stresses of
all of this were overtaking me. I was tired of worrying and stressing over
each of the details of my life. That night, I realized I was holding
so tightly to everything and trying to control it all. I was
clinging to my life with every ounce of my strength. What I thought
were God’s plans, really were my own and I was failing to make my plans work.
I
cried out to God in full surrender that night. This was
real. This was surrender in its fullest form. I never
felt surrender in such a more freedom-filled way as I told God how much I desire to
give it all up–my friends, my family, my security, my love life, and so
on–anything and everything that I could possibly give to God. It
was then that God took me over. I was not holding on to any part of
it anymore. My life was ALL His. All of my decisions
and dreams and passions were completely His. And there was peace
overtaking me that I am still not able to describe!
cried out to God in full surrender that night. This was
real. This was surrender in its fullest form. I never
felt surrender in such a more freedom-filled way as I told God how much I desire to
give it all up–my friends, my family, my security, my love life, and so
on–anything and everything that I could possibly give to God. It
was then that God took me over. I was not holding on to any part of
it anymore. My life was ALL His. All of my decisions
and dreams and passions were completely His. And there was peace
overtaking me that I am still not able to describe!
The
pull on my heart about giving up a semester or year of my life for God came
back that night. This tug has been going on ever since high school
for me, but I have never been willing to give that part up of me. I
thought that maybe those thoughts were God’s tugging on my heart to only see
if I was really going to give it ALL up to Him this time. I told God
that I would give that part of me up and go if that’s what He
wanted. I did have some stipulation though.. I told God
that I would go BUT I wouldn’t look into it until someone came up to me
personally and told me about a specific program.
pull on my heart about giving up a semester or year of my life for God came
back that night. This tug has been going on ever since high school
for me, but I have never been willing to give that part up of me. I
thought that maybe those thoughts were God’s tugging on my heart to only see
if I was really going to give it ALL up to Him this time. I told God
that I would give that part of me up and go if that’s what He
wanted. I did have some stipulation though.. I told God
that I would go BUT I wouldn’t look into it until someone came up to me
personally and told me about a specific program.
I
thought I wouldn’t have to worry about that for a while down the road
though. Let me just say that when you give that part of your heart
that God has been waiting forever for, He acts very quickly (Before you change
your mind again probably haha). That very next day, I drove to a
Bible study group that I go to at my church. On my way to the Bible study
I will admit that I had that feeling that something in my life was about to be
altered. I honestly was thinking that it would be more of a
“one night” kind of thing though, not necessarily life
altering. That night after Bible study, I was talking to one of my friends and he mentioned The World Race and that I should definitely look into
it. Haha yeah, that would be my “God-sign” right
there! I sat there with that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach
knowing that God was about to take me for the biggest ride in my life thus
far. I drove straight back to campus and without taking off my
jacket and barely setting down my bag, I grabbed my computer and looked up what this “World Race” was all
about. Long story short, I applied for the program that night (I
know, it sounds so crazy!), had my phone interview the next Tuesday and was
accepted that very next Thursday for the September 2010 race.
thought I wouldn’t have to worry about that for a while down the road
though. Let me just say that when you give that part of your heart
that God has been waiting forever for, He acts very quickly (Before you change
your mind again probably haha). That very next day, I drove to a
Bible study group that I go to at my church. On my way to the Bible study
I will admit that I had that feeling that something in my life was about to be
altered. I honestly was thinking that it would be more of a
“one night” kind of thing though, not necessarily life
altering. That night after Bible study, I was talking to one of my friends and he mentioned The World Race and that I should definitely look into
it. Haha yeah, that would be my “God-sign” right
there! I sat there with that sick feeling in the pit of my stomach
knowing that God was about to take me for the biggest ride in my life thus
far. I drove straight back to campus and without taking off my
jacket and barely setting down my bag, I grabbed my computer and looked up what this “World Race” was all
about. Long story short, I applied for the program that night (I
know, it sounds so crazy!), had my phone interview the next Tuesday and was
accepted that very next Thursday for the September 2010 race.
I
know that my awesome God is going to do crazy things in my life and I am
excited to see where this next adventure in my life will take me! Praise
the Lord!
know that my awesome God is going to do crazy things in my life and I am
excited to see where this next adventure in my life will take me! Praise
the Lord!
