Janice Joplin had the same idea as Paul did when he wrote Philippians 3:7-8 "But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ!"
I have found myself in a place of freedom from everything: a job, a house, a career, worldly possessions, and now fully focused on my relationship with Christ. He has replaced the former blessings with fruits of the spirit. Interestingly enough, comfort is not a fruit of the spirit! I was really hoping it would be, as my flesh longs for comforts of all kinds. However, instead of comfort I saw long suffering. Over the past year God has developed that fruit in my life. God delights in a hands on kind of teaching, and long suffering can only be fully understood by experiencing it. I find myself understanding and loving parts of scripture that I used to glaze over before including Job & Psalms. Scriptures are sweeter and times in silence and prayer a necessity with the stoms of life never stop.
My new roomie, Liz, has a plaque in the bathroom which reads "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass…it's about learning to dance in the rain." Over this past year I have developed an entirely different perspective on life and trail and suffering and pain. God works everything for His glory and our good, but it usually isn't the path of least resistance and usually not the path we would choose. As Mary stood by and watched her brother, Lazarus, suffer a terminal illness and die, I'm sure she wasn't thinking it was God's will or for His glory. Jesus loved Lazarus, yet He chose not to come to His rescue becuase ultimately He was glorified by raising Him from the dead. I am so encouraged by that because I know that Jesus loves me, yet He doesn't come to my rescue at times and I must suffer. But I know that I am still in the middle of the story. I will keep the faith, run the race, and carry on KNOWING that God will be glorified!
So, with a bag on my back, the Holy Spirit in my heart, and the world before me, I embark on an adventure the likes of nothing I've ever known. With training camp in 5 days it's on. I'm 39% funded, and trusting God to provide. But faith takes action, so please support me if you can and answer my prayers of being at least 50% funded by launch in September.
