As I walk the streets of Kiev, Ukraine I see some of the most beautiful women I have ever seen. Their natural beauty is enhanced by the right amount of makeup, colorful stilettos and trendy coats. Any one of these women could be on the cover of Vogue or Glamour. I look at the women on the subway and notice there is something missing, it is not this season’s Prada purse or Chanel heels. A smile is what is missing. These women are beautiful and succesfull by the world”s standards (they look fantastic, have wonderful and affectionate boyfriends and husbands and “good” jobs). However, you can look at them and see they are not happy and defenitely not joyful. You can see how the strongholds of lust and materialism have tainted their defenition of happiness and joy.
I look at these women and I see me 11 months ago, I was sucessfull according to the world’s standards, fantastic job, nice car and enjoying expensive dinners and vacations on a regular basis…. I had all these things but I was not happy. I have found true happiness and joy this year and it has not always been comfortable or easy but worth every tear that was shed. I have learned the difference between happiness and joy, happiness is based on circumstances like your job or relationships with friends or significant others and true joy comes from walking in your identity as a beloved child of CHRIST. This year, There have been tears and sacrificies, I have had to say goodbye to a man who i loved for 14 years , delete songs off my ipod because i no longer walk in lust and try not to curse( it was hard to let go of Lil Wayne and Kanye), I had to throw out my Sex and the City the Movie DVD and let go of defining myself as the character of Carrie.
GOD has not fully revealed what the next season of my life looks life and to be honest that is exciting because I know He has all the details worked out… I have an easy part ALL I have to do is do what GOD tells me to do. There are no gurantees but CHRIST in this new life…. BUT I WOULD NOT CHANGE ANYTHING !!!!!!! I told GOD in July I am giving my life over to HIM and that I will do whaterver HE calls me to do and go wherever HE wants me to go. One of the best quotes I heard this year was Jesus will cost you nothing (the gift of salvation) but CHRIST will cost you EVERYTHING !!!!!
I am going home in 6 weeks and I am mourning and celebrating the end of this season.. I love the sisters on my team. These 7 girls have laughed and cried with me, sang and danced with me, served Jesus right beside me, watched High School Musical and over 60 other movies with me, they have interceded with me and for me and I have spent 24/7 with them the last 10 months. They have seen me at my best and at my worst. They are my family !!!!! This has been the best and hardest year of my life !!!!I am excited and sad to go home, I am a mix of emotions.
My prayer for the women of the Ukraine is that their lives are wrecked for Jesus like mine was, that worldly beauty and worldy success are not enough for them. I pray they discover true joy and happiness that comes from a life sold out to CHRIST. I pray they are the start of the True Beauty and Joy Revolution in Europe. I pray they not only accept Jesus as their personal Saviour but they go a step forward and live for CHRIST.
