“Wow life just happened really fast. The past year has gone by in a streak and the past few months are a blur. God has been moving in the lives of people around me, it’s beautiful to see His hand at work!!”
-mama h
Have you ever had the chance to know or get to be loved on by my mama {mama h}? If not, I hope you seize the opportunity ASAP because she is an incredible human. She will be your biggest fan & your greatest-encourager should you find yourself in a tough part of life. I am thankful for this woman who taught me {by example} how to love Jesus & why doing life with Him is so important.
I think my mom & were driving one afternoon in Albuquerque & she shared with me what the Lord was nudging her to do. The following words are from her mouth & her heart. After she shared this with me in person I asked her to write a blog so I could share it with you 🙂
For reference, my words are in maroon & mama h’s words are in teal
Maddie, when you committed to the World Race I was thrilled you were going out into the world, away from the country you were born in, to serve the Lord. You get to come along side those who are already in foreign places & serve in communities where His love needs to shine. You get to bring hope & my heart is filled with joy!!
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Here is more of the backstory:
A few months ago I was nudged by the Holy Spirit to come along side Maddie in another way besides financial & prayerful support. God was asking me to surrender some of my comforts so I can experience a tiny bit of what she may be going through, while she is away for 11 months. I thought: “I will give up my pedicures” {the one luxury I allow myself – I am not a high-maintenance gal}.
That sacrifice seemed to please God, but I kept feeling small nudges. He asked: “what would you truly miss if you did not have it on a daily basis? Pedicures are a fine sacrifice but dig deep daughter…”
So I prayed on it and thought and prayed some more and I saw one thing in my life I would miss if I did not have it. For me, this is sugar, in any form: candy, cookies, cake, ice cream, etc. What led me to this decision was thoughts about the life Maddie will be living for the next 11 months. I thought: “if she is willing to sacrifice her comforts to serve the Lord, I can come along side her and support her through sacrificing my indulgence of sweets for that time as well.” I think this will give me a better idea of what Maddie’s experience is like on the field as well as draw me closer to my relationship with God.
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So this is what the Lord has laid on my heart to do: give up my sugary friends and stop my pedicures – 10/7/2018 – 8/24/2019. I know He will use this in my life to better me, & who knows, possibly reach others with my new-soon-to-be-found-freedom.
Will you tell me how you hope to see God work when you give up these things? How do you hope to grow spiritually?
Well, by sacrificing these things I am hoping to feel a bit closer to you {Maddie} and have a tiny understanding of what some of these cultures you will be visiting are like, many do not have the abundance we have. I think of when you were born – I feel like I gained a tiny understanding of what Gods love for us really looked & felt like – something I really did not have a clue about. Not sure what I am getting at but I am thinking God will reveal more of Himself to me like He did through your birth.
Any ideas of how are you going to use the money you will save?
I forgot about the money piece, but I believe it will be a full sacrifice, I will make a donation to somewhere God directs me possibly to a place that serves the underprivileged or homeless, maybe homeless kids. The money saved will be put away on a daily basis, depending on my cravings. Whatever that may look like maybe 3$ for cookies, $5 for a pint of ice cream, or $2 for a bag of gummy bears, it will add up 🙂
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Sweet friends & family, this is what it looks like to do the race with me. It has always been my hope to have my people go on this race with me, partnering in the specific ways you feel led. Many of you have already responded: you have donated, you have prayed, you have met with me, you have committed to loving me & my loved ones while I am gone. & let me tell you – gratitude doesn’t even begin to scratch the surface of how full my heart feels when I think about this gift you have given to me. Getting to go on the Race is a gift, a privilege, a honor, & it is as humbling, as it is exciting, as it is scary.
I wanted to share this blog with you because I am wondering if you have felt the Holy Spirit nudge you in a certain direction? Maybe it is to read the bible everyday {two weeks ago I started to read the bible chronologically, I am following a plan that will bring me right through the end of my year on the race}. Perhaps the Lord is challenging you to also give something up {like trading a half hour of TV per day to exercise}, or is He challenging you to add something in {more green veggies?!}? However you sense the Lord is nudging you, it would be my honor & privilege to come along side you in a similar way my mom is choosing to come along side me throughout my race. Please let me know your thoughts & I will absolutely be praying for you in these specific ways throughout the race 🙂
Throughout the year I am going to ask my mom for updates & we will be posting them! {& others, if you choose to join us in this way}. Don’t worry, we don’t expect perfection because we’re all humans 🙂 But knowing the love of Jesus is radical & if we come to expect radical things from Him, we must be willing to do radical things too.
Love,
Maddie
