I have exactly one month left in Spain and it’s hard to believe. I’ve spent the past five months at G42 Leadership Academy under the authority and tutelage of men and women from around the world who are full of Holy Spirit – they walk in beautiful, humble relationship with the Lord. They are men and women who have truly allowed and continue to allow Christ to be formed in them.
The Lord brought me here to shatter the boxes I’ve used to contain Him and in the process, He’s shattering the boxes I’ve used to contain myself. I am walking away from another season of life forever changed – this seems to be a pattern in my relationship with the Father. It’s beautiful and messy and there’s no place I’d rather be than by His side, in the center of His Love.
The other day in class, we were studying the life of Abraham. The part that stuck out to me the most was in Genesis 13 – it’s a lesson I’ve overlooked many times. To summarize in my own words:
Abram and his nephew Lot have way too many livestock to live in the same land. So, they go up on this mountain, Abram tells Lot to choose whichever piece of land he wants, and Abram will choose from what’s leftover. Lot sees a valley that is lush and “well watered” and chooses the Valley of Jordan, just outside of Sodom. After Lot departs, the Lord tells Abraham He will give him all he can see and reminds him of His promise to bless Abram and all of his descendants. As the story goes on, Lot ends up having to flee his homeland because of the evil that overtakes Sodom and Gomorrah and the Lord fulfills His covenant with Abram.
The lesson I take away from this story is that sometimes the easy way out is actually the dangerous way out. By choosing the comfortable and easy options, I rob myself of the “more” God has for me – I miss out on abundant life when I choose security over faith. Lot saw an option that looked comfortable and easy and it cost him. Abram had faith in the Lord and was willing to pursue the less appealing land because He knew God was faithful.
I love this lesson because it’s exactly where the Lord is leading me in this season. As I began to make decisions about what to do and where to go after G42, it came down to two options: I could head back to the States, put my degrees to use, get a job, and “settle down” or I could walk in surrender and abandonment and allow the Lord to truly lead me where He wants me. The option of going home was incredibly safe and comfortable – I have a home I can live in while I get on my feet and I have family and friends who love me and encourage me. The option of surrender, like Abram’s option, wasn’t as appealing – it required a lot more faith in the Lord.
So… in September, I’ll be headed back to the mission field to lead World Race Gap Year – a nine month mission trip that is the equivalent of the The World Race for a slightly younger audience of 18 to 21-year-olds. At the end of the day, I know the more I give it away, the more I’ll own it and I’m excited to impart what the Lord has instilled in me. It’s going to be hard and it’s going to be beautiful – the Lord is already using this decision of faith to mold and shape me to look and love more like Him.
As I step into this new season of trust, I am asking you to partner with me. In order to lead this trip, I need to raise a total of $5,000. $3,500 goes directly to Adventures in Missions and will cover my lodging, transportation, and food costs for the nine months (September, 2017 through June, 2018). $1,500 goes directly to me and will cover lodging, transportation, and food costs to and from training camp (July) and launch (September). The remainder of the $1,500 will help cover personal expenses while I’m on the field. You can click the “donate” link at the top of this page to make a tax-deductible donation through Adventures in Missions or contact me for more information on how to donate directly to me.
I also want to thank everyone who has supported me over the past few years. Your donations, prayers, and words of encouragement have kept me going. The Lord is so faithful and He has worked through ya’ll time and time again to love me well. I am excited to be stretched outside of my comfort zone again and see the Lord provide in big ways! I love you all and I hope to see as many of you as possible while I’m in the States for a couple months – I’d love to sit down, break bread, and hear about what the Lord is doing in your life.
