Here I sit. Overlooking Paris as the sun passes beyond the horizon. The lights come to life and shine as a beacon in the night. There, directly in front of us, the Eiffel tower stands over the city of love. I am still blown away that this is my life. I am in France! My squad and I left Orlando late on the 7th and successfully traversed the Atlantic. We have spent the last day getting familiar with our housing situation and with the local areas and markets. Today we walked around the park and spent time worshiping, climbing trees, getting stuck in the rain, and having conversations with people from all over the world. We met a man from Algeria who will join us in our refugee ministry, a woman from Morocco who now lives in London, many locals who blessed us in different ways. My prayer is that God continues to grow the community and love in this specific area.
My heart is full. I am traveling, living a dream, and about to fully begin a journey with God. Of following where He leads and building the Kingdom. The team’s laughter carries through the small house we are staying in. I can’t help but smile at the beauty around me. Laughter, smiles, joy, peace, and love for one another.
For this we were made. We were made to walk in community with one another and carry our Father’s name into the world. To live fully with passion and purity, friendship and joy. To walk with faith and build with our lives the Kingdom of Heaven.
We were made to Go. I know this is probably really easy to say considering I just left everything behind and am currently overseas starting to travel. But I hope that you also can share in the journey this next year. A call to go. To be intentional with the life God has laid before us. He hasn’t asked us to offer up sacrifices or to have all knowledge of man in the world, He didn’t ask us to do big miraculous things and impress the people around us or build great nations and buildings. He asked us to Love our Lord with ALL our hearts and to love our neighbor:
To loose the shackles of the innocent
Undo the bonds of affliction
Let the oppressed go free
Break every yoke
Feed the hungry
Shelter the homeless
Give to the poor
Clothe the needy
Care for the world
Give water to the thirsty and rest to the weary
To conquer evil with good
Love each other genuinely
Live in harmony
Do all that we can to live at peace
Hold tightly to what is good
Love the foreigner and serve the outcast
To conquer evil by doing good
Walk in the ways of our father
Heal the sick
Cast out demons
Give sight to the blind
Bring light to the darkness
And to Love those in the world around us
We live a call to fill life with abundant fruit and walk in the Spirit wherever we go. Bring light to the world and shine brightly not just as a match in the darkness but as the noon day sun! Shining brightly that ALL may see the goodness and the righteousness of our King! That many might come to know this great salvation we have. That they too might know of the great love of the father and sing praises to our king! Until all the nations call on the name above all names and the communion of the saints is complete! Allons-y! Let’s go!
We just started our work here in France and I pray that all of us and everyone who reads this blog would also make it their hearts desire to commit fully to following the Father this next year. He is on the move, He has prepared the way. Our job is not to figure out every detail and specific or put together some grand plan for our future. Our job is simply to walk with Him, live confidently, and intentionally invest. Be faithful, Be fruitful. For this we were made. Our God is an active and living God who does not sit idly by but steps into the darkness with a cry in His heart to see the grip of darkness loosened in this world. To this I set my mind and my heart. I’m in Paris!
I can’t wait for the ways in which He is about to move this year. We draw alongside and look for what He is already doing so that we can join alongside.
Today, I was hesitant and prayed “what do I do?” the reply was simply to “Do what you have done, and Trust in me that you might walk in even greater things yet to come.”
It’s never been complicated. Seek the Lord, Listen to His voice, Trust, Obey, Live, Love, and Walk in Humility wherever you are and wherever He goes.
So, I look out over Paris, see the Eiffel tower literally sparkling in the night before me and realize that absolutely nothing is different. Yet, everything has changed. I’m still just a man, still just living in the world and the work is still to engage and love people where they are. God is still just and good and powerful and He is still lighting the world on fire and bringing people to Life all around. Yet I’m hearing people speak French around me, walking through streets I never dreamed I would see, and talking to people I never would have otherwise met. I’m in Paris! (don’t worry it will hit me… maybe)
There will be many stories to tell.
Do Justice, Love Kindness, and Walk Humbly with your God… In Paris.
If you want to know more of the actual reasons and details of why my squad is in Paris read this blog by Shea!
With Faith, Hope, and Love
Je Suis Content!
Nathan
We are staying right next to a large park in Paris! There is a hill that overlooks the city and we can see the Eiffel tower. Every night we can come up here to pray over the city. I will be praying a lot for Paris this month, join me in praying for the city of love that God brings His love to this place and His kingdom is built here. Pray for Paris!
