Today I had breakfast with a dear friend who’s strength and love for the Lord is beautiful. She asked me how she can be praying for me before I leave. I sat there for a second asking the Lord what I should say. And it just came to mind to remember simply this is about Him. I went on to explain it to her.
These past few weeks since training camp have been so exciting. I left training camp a different person. I felt so much freedom. The transformation began in my heart and not because of my squad mates, the trainers or the Adventures staff but because of Him. God showed up in my life that week. And as I find myself getting ready for launch I hear myself saying how excited I am for Haiti, for the ministry, to see my teammates, or to see my squadmates. Now don’t get me wrong those things are great, but it’s not about those things. This journey is not about those things. I lost that excitement I had at training camp for the work He was going to do in and through me. But that simple prayer request brought it back to the forefront of my mind.
She text me after I left and said her prayers already began for me and in the text it said, “I pray you will be about your Fathers business.” Instantly I felt tears coming to my eyes. {Side Story} Now some of you might have heard about my friend Jose. I traveled with him on my first missions trip to Uganda. This guy was something else and was ALWAYS about His fathers business. December of 2011, Jose was teaching through Luke at one of the churches we worked with. It came to the story of Jesus in the temple as a little boy, and he stopped after this verse to explain what was on his heart:
“And he said to them, How is it that you sought me? Did you not know that I must be about my Father’s business?” Luke 2:49
Jose pointed out how much Jesus was about His Father’s business. He never got caught up in the crowds, or His followers, or His miracles. He went on to share how much we get caught up in other things. We are always focused on what to do next. Or what we can do for God. We get so excited about what is next. We get excited about who is following us. Or who is paying attention to us. But why are we excited for it? What is our drive for things? Is it on ourselves? For our gain? We must be about our Fathers business. We must not lose focus of that.
5 days after this teaching, Jose passed away. I’ll always remember him for this. I’ll always remember the way he delivered this message with such boldness and clarity of mind. God used Him mightily in so many ways in His short life and I am so honored I got to do life with him witnessing it. Every time I think of this verse I think of his heart for God and for His work. He was so kingdom minded. He kept that in the forefront of everything he did.
All this to say. As I leave for launch may I be excited for my Father’s business. It’s not bad to be excited about the other things but they only come because of His goodness. May I be excited for the work He has for me. May I be thankful for all the small fun details with ministries and teammates, but may I never lose the focus of my Father. I want to be about His business.
Jose, thank you for showing me an example of what a Christ follower looks like. Thanks for being a light to my life and always being about the Kingdom. Your testimony and life will always be a reminder to me to live about my Father’s business. I miss you daily.
