This journey called The World Race is flying by! Somedays it seems to be going by at lightening speeds and other days I can’t believe there are still 7 months left. I mean, we are done with the first leg of the Race. Asia is in our rearview. This Kingdom journey has already transformed my heart in the 4 months since I left all the comforts of home. I’ve learned so much from the places I’ve been, the people I’ve worked with, the team mates I’ve lived life with, the ministries I’ve gotten to serve with, and the cultures I’ve been a part of. I’ve loved the journey so far! It’s only increased my appetite for adventure. I’ve enjoyed going to explore one of the World Wonders in Cambodia at Angkor Wat, swimming in some fresh water waterfalls in The Philippines, Riding Elephants in Thailand, and spending some relaxing days at the beach in Vietnam. In all of the adventures I’ve gotten to partake in there is one that stands out. One that takes the cake. One that is my absolute favorite. One that is the underlying thread that ties it all together. That one thing is Jesus.
Jesus has been my favorite part of every adventure. He’s been my favorite part of seeing the globe. He’s been there through it all. He’s my favorite part of living in community with my team mates, because the changes I see in them are a result of the work He is doing in their heart, and I get a glimpse of His heart though them. He is the best part of community because I’ve been loved deeply by people that seek His heart and we get to see each other through His eyes. He is my favorite part about relaxing days at the beach, riding elephants, and swimming at waterfalls because I get to soak in the beauty of what He has created, what He created for me to enjoy, and I get to connect with Him through His creation. He is my favorite thing about ministry, getting to see the World and people the way He sees them. He is the best part of seeing brokenness, holding the hands of orphans, teaching English, and building relationships with prostitutes, because He is the only hope, He is the answer. He’s been the best part of coming to the end of myself, because even in my failures His love never fails me. I’ve found Him at the end of my rope, and can look back and see how He’s been there the whole time, He never left me. He’s the best part of all that I’ve gotten to see and do. There is no comparison to Him.
As my time in Asia has come to an end and this journey continues to a new continent, with new team mates, new culture, new food, and new climate. I know that He is doing a new thing. After all that He has taught me, all I’ve learned since signing up for the race, all that He has healed in me and freed me from, it’s hard to believe that there is still more! That’s what He’s taught me this month. There is ALWAYS more with Him. He is an endless ocean.
As soon as I think I’ve learned His voice and how He speaks, He shows me another way He is speaking. As soon as I think I’ve got it figured out, He is quick to show me how little I know and how much He has for me. Every time I try to box Him in, He shows me that He is so much more than what I can think or imagine. Each time I think I’ve got a good grasp and full understanding of my Spiritual gifts and am using them to their full capacity, He opens a new door and reveals even deeper truths to me about His character and how I can become more like Jesus.
I think that’s one of the greatest journeys we can partake in; the journey of more. There is always more with Jesus. When we recognize just how deep our depravity and sin goes we NEED a God who’s grace goes deeper still. How good is God that He not only took our sin upon Himself to give us freedom, but He has even more in store for us? As if freedom isn’t great enough, there’s even more! He is not a God that gives us scraps from the King’s table, but He prepares a feast for us with a seat reserved at the King’s table. He doesn’t give us old bread, but He gives us new bread every day. He not only has prepared a perfect eternity for us with Him, but He has endless good that we can partake in now and forever.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:9&10 Paul says “ Now about brotherly love, we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.”
In areas of your life where you know peace and love you can ask for increase because there is no end to the love that God has. In the areas where you don’t know peace and things seem to be chaotic, He wants to take that and give you peace and rest instead. Release your grip of control and let Him have it. As long as your life is in your hands you will only know as much peace as you think you can muster, you will only know rest to the extent in which you are capable, you will only know love to the extent that the human, sinful nature can give it. But, our lives in His hands are limitless. Scripture says that He never changes. If there was room for change, this would mean that He could improve somehow. But, He never changes because He can’t get any better. He’s perfect. His love is perfect and unfailing. His plans for you are good and He has a great purpose. His ways are flawless and without blemish.
So, I’m asking for more. More growth and understanding in the way He loves. More growth in knowing and taking on His character. More encounters in my life that increase my faith and take me to a place of reliance on Him, where my grip of control is released and I find my rest in Him. More encounters with brokenness in myself and around the world, that I may know more of His love and freedom in the trash heaps of my heart. I’m asking for opportunities to live a life like Jesus lived. Going to the outcasts and calling them home, healing the sick, raising the dead, caring for the orphans and widows, discipling the ones His Father gave to Him and being faithful until the end. I want to take on more and more of His character. I want to know more and more of His freedom in my heart. This is not a prayer that comes with rainbows and butterflies. I know it will be hard. It’s not easy to give up control. It’s not easy to look at your trash and allow Him to have it. It’s not easy to come to the end of yourself. But, what I know is that it’s WORTH it. To know Him and be known by Him is worth it all.
There’s no end to the affections that He has for us. Let’s keep journeying. Don’t settle with what you know now, but ask Him for increase and for more. He has plenty and He wants to share it with you.
