Thoughts from a Guatemalan bench
Expectations are not always met when doing kingdom work. I think its easy to fall into the trap that unless thousands are coming to know the Lord daily that your days are not successful. That the blessings of God are seen in every action/activity you do. Sometimes the gooey, good feeling you get when you go on a week long missions trip is not realistic.
Think about it, if you plant a tree today, do you expect hundreds of fruit tomorrow? Now, I know God has the power to do that, but He also has the power to let things mature in time. That's what I have been wrestling with at times this month.
Signing up for the World Race, the one ministry I was most nervous about doing was teaching, which just so happens to be happening this month. On top of all things we are teaching sex ed. Sometimes ministry is not what you expect it to be. Sometimes the fruits of your work will not be harvested in the time you are somewhere.
So on this Guatemalan bench I ask God,"What is the blessing this month?"
Then it happened.
Five of my teammates turned the corner heading to spend time and entertain the abandoned elderly Guatemalans with guitars in hand and smiles on their faces. That's when it hit me. We need not search for a blessing. We ARE the blessing.
As Christ followers, we are light in the darkness. We are lovers to the unloved. We feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the imprisoned, and give to the needy. We bring hope to the hopeless. We are the blessing.
It is easy to be caught looking for our own blessing because we are in a world that demands a paycheck for our time, a fruit of our labor.
From a bench in Guatemala, my thoughts are this: Our blessing is Jesus Christ. We need no more. In turn, we are the blessings for others. When we serve others looking for our blessing, then we have an agenda. Love others even when it is not reciprocated. Be the blessing to others even if it goes unnoticed to others.
Matt 6:1 Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have no reward from your Father in heaven.
P.S. I need about 5k left to raise to be fully funded. If you have been blessed by my blogs and believe in what I am doing out here, I encourage you to support so that may continue to do the works that God has set before me! Thanks in advance!
