I sat down with a family friend last night and had a great conversation…
He wanted to hear my story, to find out what is going on in my life, to search my heart, and to see if I'm ready for a trip like this.
This conversation turned out to be such a blessing from God in that I received confirmation that YES! I am so ready for this mission trip!
So I decided to share a few exciting things that God is doing to prepare me for this amazing adventure called The World Race!
- Is my heart ready? I know without a doubt that God has called me to this 11 month race around the world. At the beginning of this journey, I really had to pray about whether or not I was accepting this mission trip for the right reasons. I had many conversations with God because I didn't want to be running away from Lake Charles, or a job, or responsibilities. I wanted to know that I was going because my heart was craving to reach out to those in need. This trip is about the mission…God knew the desires of my heart: to travel, to love, to serve, to be challenged, to experience a life outside of my own comfort. So I am happy to say that yes I am ready and I am going for the right reasons.
- Do I support this mission? I have invested my own finances into this and I fully support this mission. There was a time about a few weeks ago when the support raising began, that I felt a little convicted about asking others for money. Not because it can be an uncomfortable task, but because I, myself, had money to give. I have been saving money for almost a year so that I could afford to take time off of work for an adventure like this one. So, as I thought about it and prayed about it, God said "Lindsay you have money, so give out of your own funds and watch me work." I knew in that moment, that I could not ask others for money if I wasn't willing to support this mission through extra finances that God has provided to me.
- Will I put on a "face like flint"? The man I met with told me about how "Jesus put on a face like flint". I actually had never heard that before and so he explained it to me. Jesus knew his mission and his mission was the cross. Flint is the hardest stone, so Jesus' face is described that way because He kept to his mission and didn't let anyone or anything distract him from the cross. As we talked about this, I knew that I needed to fully prepare myself to have a "face like flint" so that I don't get distracted from the mission. I am currently in the process of really diving into the Word so that I will be prepared for whatever comes my (our) way, both individually and as a squad.
I just love how the conversation became an examination of my life and my heart. I was very pumped up and encouraged when I left the meeting because I knew that I was still going in the right direction. The right direction for me is being obedient to God's commands, big and small, and to continue following this path that he has prepared for me!
Be encouraged as supporters that you are praying for and funding a real mission…and I don't just mean me, personally, but that you are supporting a greater cause that is organized to do some awesome work for the Kingdom! WOOHOO! 😀
