Good Sunday to you all!
I hope you are enjoying your weekend.
I had the opportunity today to share about my journey to The Fountain Church in Bloomer. Bloomer is about 30ish miles from Eau Claire. Pastor Matt is the Pastor of The Fountain. Pastor Matt and I go back. When I was still in High School we both were apart of a small work-out group that met after school, and he also was a pastor at our church in Eau Claire. He felt the call to start a Church in Bloomer, so he left E.C. to become apart of God's movement in Bloomer. It is amazing to see how God is using this man to further His kingdom. The church started out very small, they would meet in the school's auditorium. Now the have there own "home" and they are reaching deeper into the community around them. It was good to see an old friend. It was awesome to see how God is moving. He and his wife Kendra, both have a fire and passion in there hearts to see the community of Bloomer reached by God. And they are doing just that. Thanks for your encouragement guys.
As you all know, I am not much for public speaking. But I do it anyway. I know that people need to hear how God is moving in this life. I know it encourages others and it also allows others to be apart of the journey. I am not sure if all my words came out clear, to me it all seemed like a jumbled mess, but I think God spoke. Even through me. He can take the mumble jumble that came from me and use it. He is good.
Hearing Pastor Matt's message today gave me great encouragement. I am very thankful for the words he spoke. Most of the thinking I have been doing about this trip has been centered around myself. I seem to have lost sight of the mission. Matt's sermon helped me to remember why I am doing this crazy race around the world. Yes, it is going to be a grand adventure, yes I am going to have fun, yes I will grow in my relationship with God, but that is not the reason behind this trip. I go in the name of Jesus, loving people like he does, providing for those who might have a need, and sharing with those who don't know Him, the wonders of a relationship with the Him. That is why I go. I was reminded of the first missionary. Jesus. He came into the world that others would live. He loved, and gave, giving even to the point of his own death. He also never lost sight of the mission. He was so close with His father that he never lost sight.
I have…..no actually we all have the grand opportunity to bring people into a relationship with God. Isn't that awesome?! You don't have to be on the mission field to be a missionary. You are where you are for a reason. disciple those around you.
It is not all that easy thought. Sometimes, like in my case I begin to lose sight of the mission because my troubles seem to take over. I stop thinking on terms of God, and begin to think on my own terms. I try to fix my troubles and I lose sight of what really matters. I am learning that God is the one who will take care of our troubles, we just have to allow Him to. I am also learning that He will. There isn't anything that God, the God of the universe, can't handle. When the focus is moved off ourselves, we can begin to see what this world needs.
I was also reminded of how greatly I have been blessed. I am so thankful God gave me this opportunity. The opportunity to go. He was the one who provided the opportunity, and he waited for me to take a hold of it. I encourage you to see the opportunities around you. Grab hold of them, they are gifts. And thank God for His goodness.
