See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms
to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow,
to build and to plant.
Jeremiah 1:10
I read this verse the other day and it reminded me of the World Race. I feel like this verse summarizes my entire year in more than one way as I have learned to walk in the freedom, confidence, authority and truth won for me at the cross. I have walked through the nations as the hands and feet of Jesus. I have found my place in the kingdom of God and found my authority over the kingdom of darkness. I have uprooted the lies I believed about God and my identity in Christ and I have tore down, destroyed and overthrown the plans and the strongholds of the enemy. I have built up the church both physically and through words and encouraging actions. I have spoken truth into the hearts of wounded, lost, confused or insecure hearts planting seeds that will grow within them to become fruit bearing trees in the years and months to come. I have lived out Jeremiah 1:10.
It is amazing to be able to say that and it’s encouraging to know what God has accomplished and continues to work out in my life. What a wild, wild ride. What a priviledge to be the eyes, ears, hands and feet of the church! How blessed am I to recieve such a precious gift? It is beyond amazing and as I dive into ministry here in Moldova I am excited to say that this just might be my best month on the race. Finally, after months of striving for it, I am walking in real freedom and confidence. FINALLY.
When I read this verse I was encouraged to see how far I had come and I was tempted not to think further about it. But then it occurred to me that I was recieving this verse and the call at the end of the race. Why wouldn’t I have found this little gem way back in January before or shortly after I had left? Why now? I’ve thought it through and I have a couple of reasons why I’m reading this now.
Here’s the short list:
-I needed the reminder so that I press into those things specifically in this last month.
-I need to see how far I’ve come.
-It helps me to summarize and fully digest all that I’ve learned this year.
They are all good reasons but I am convinced that God is up to a little bit more than that. I believe that the real reason I’m only now discovering this verse is because there is more for me than just this year. Knowing what I know I cannot sit still. I am once again being called and appointed over nations and kingdoms, to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build up and to plant. My job is not finished, it’s just getting started.
In 5 more days team Soul Graffiti loses two members as Cole and Jamie go on ahead to complete logistics prep. for final debrief. This is the last week that we will get to minister together as a team. More than ever this is the time to pour ourselves out and be all in and we’re going to give it all we’ve got.
I’ll be home for Christmas but in the meantime pray for us and pray hard! We’re just about there and we’ve got to go fast enough to launch each other into the brand new season God is leading us into in month 12. It’s going to be awesome, the best yet, but we’ve got some lessons to learn before we get there and a final sprint ahead.
As always I am so blessed by your support and I can’t wait to catch up with everyone at the completion of this amazing chapter of my life. Thank you all SO much!
