There are times when I find it so easy to explain how I’m feeling and what’s on my heart, and then, there are times I wish words could even come close to explaining what I’m thinking. I’ve decided, this August, I’m going to embark on the adventure of a lifetime through a trip called the World Race. I want to write this blog to try to explain what I am feeling, who I want to be, and how I want to use my life for others. I want to try and give people a glimpse of my hearts desire, and why I’ve felt lead to do missions.
God’s placed a special call on my life, one that at times I’m not sure I even fully understand. But, what I do understand is that he’s calling me to go. He’s calling me to go to nations, to spread his word, his love, and be a servant.
In August, I will embark on an 11 month missions trip called the World Race. Over the course of the 11 months, I will be ministering and coming alongside people in 11 different countries from Africa, Asia, and South America to share the love of Christ. Missions is something I’ve felt God calling me too for a while now. I remember when I was younger, thinking that I would never want to do missions, but God always has a way of showing me what I think I don’t want, is exactly what he has called me too. I want to embark on this trip because I care about others, I care about eternity. My three biggest passions in life are loving God, loving people, and traveling, so how could I not take this opportunity to do all three?
This past year God has placed the urgency of living eternally on my heart. This life is about action, it’s about love, and it’s about living a life to imitate Christ. It’s about this short time on earth determining our destiny. So I can’t help but use my time on earth to help others and show them God’s love. It seems as if so much of the world is chasing something they will never catch. They don’t know that what they need is Christ, and how are they to know, if we don’t tell them?
2 Timothy 4:2-6 says,
“Preach the word; be urgent in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with all long-suffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts; and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables. But be thou sober inall things, suffers hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill the ministry.”
This call to evangelize is urgent. I want to be living for the day I get to heaven and see Jesus. On that day, I know I will never say I wish I had done less for you. On the day when I see Jesus what’s going to matter is what I did for others, not what I did for myself. I know on that day I would regret not going on this adventure, not loving others, and not trying to help change someone’s eternity.
Some have said I should be worried or anxious about going to strange countries and traveling in the world we live in, but, I’m reminded of what God says in his word, “do not be anxious about anything” “Which one of you can add a day to his life by worrying?” Scripture says the flowers and birds don’t care about anything, but He cares for them, so how much more will He care for me. Too often we (Christians) pursue things the same way as the world, but we aren’t of the world. I want to be a doer of the word, and the word tells us to visit orphans and widows in their affliction. I want to live a life that reflects this. So for me, I need to be faithful to his call by being bold and courageous, by fully surrendering.
As the Lord wills, in August I will be embarking on a trip to love others, to serve God and to fulfill what I think he has called me to. As I embark on what I feel God is calling me too, I would greatly appreciate your prayers. Prayers for direction, patience, peace, and encouragement. I would also appreciate prayers for fund raising. I will need to raise a lot of money to be able to attend this trip, so my hope and prayer is that, as God wills, he will provide. I thank you in advance for your prayers and encouragement as I fulfill what I feel called to do.
This song is close to my heart, it’s my desire for the Lord to be my vision. That I don’t look to riches, or man’s empty praise, but to heaven, to God, and to what matters in this life. As I continue toward this adventure I will sing this song to help lead me in the right direction.
Be Thou my Vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best Thought, by day or by night, Waking or sleeping, Thy presence my light.
Be Thou my Wisdom, and Thou my true Word;
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, I Thy true son;
Thou in my dwelling, and I with Thee one.
Be Thou my battle Shield, Sword for the fight;
Be Thou my Dignity, Thou my Delight;
Thou my soul’s Shelter, Thou my high Tower:
Raise Thou me heavenward, O Power of my power.
Riches I heed not, nor man’s empty praise, Thou mine Inheritance, now and always:
Thou and Thou only, first in my heart,
High King of Heaven, my Treasure Thou art.
High King of Heaven, my victory won,
May I reach Heaven’s joys, O bright Heaven’s Sun!
Heart of my own heart, whatever befall,
Still be my Vision, O Ruler of all.
