On the Race, there is only so much one can do to be filled spiritually. Yeah you are on a mission trip. Yeah you are serving the Lord. Yeah you are preaching the Gospel. But honestly, sometimes to be filled spiritually has been hard to come by for me throughout the past two months.
Quiet times are one way to be filled. I have found that when I do set apart time with the Lord daily, that this is one way for me to grow and be content in Him. Worship is another way to be filled. I love to put on some music and sing & dance for the Lord -To be joyful and to come into His presence. Community is a way to be filled also. And I think this is where I have been struggling the most.
I am on a team with 5 others. I have a squad of 53. But still I feel alone sometimes. That my growth on this race is entirely dependent on me, when in reality it’s not and it shouldn’t be. Christ gave us community for a reason and community is a big part of growing in our relationship with the Lord. Yeah it is a personal decision to begin and a daily choice to continue, but support is necessary for growth.
Today I felt that support. In church. An English speaking church! (Well bi-lingual, but praise the Lord I understand both.) To be in a setting where I can freely worship. To be able to sing in English (and Spanish). To be able to listen to a sermon where I can understand it all and take a very important message from it (Holy Communion). To feel filled with the Holy Spirit and to be joyful about anything and everything (even with being sick). To be reminded of the sacrifice our Lord and Savior did for us (and ultimately why I am on the Race).
Sitting through church today, I had so many thoughts going through my mind. Just realizing how much I have been missing out on. In Ecuador we had church. Jungle church I guess you could call it. Where the service is simple. Laid out. And there is no rhythm. In Peru we went to a contemporary Spanish church. Which I could understand the sermon and sing the songs, but it’s not always the same. And now going to a service where I am fed, where I learn, and where I can grow is just what I needed.
A refresher. A reminder. A chance to be filled.
And though I know I will not always have the chance to go to an International Church. To have an American pastor. To have a congregation of 50% Native and 50% American. To be able to sing the songs or even understand the words. I have to remember how important community is and how I can embrace whatever community the Lord places around me.
