I have two dates that I will be adding to my long term
memory bank. These dates will mark life changing events that have occurred in
my life. The first date will mark the most important decision I have ever made
in my life. The second will mark a date that my journey starts around the world
on The World Race. I have been waiting for events like these for all of my
life, and within a few weeks they will all come about……
August 29,
2010
The 29th won’t just be your average Sunday. It’s
not just the date of the Southbridge/River Valley all Church picnic. It will be
the day that I completely turn my life over to Christ. It will be the
death of Phil, and the start of a NEW life in Christ. I have decided to get
baptized at the Southbridge/River Valley Church Picnic! There will be a water
baptism service that will coincide with the picnic and that’s when I will be
“born again.” I have never been baptized before and I personally felt that since
I’m going on an 11 month missions trip, it’s a great way to start a new life in
Christ. The World Race is going to be life changing and so I want to start this
new part of my life with a CLEAN slate before God. I feel like this is the
perfect time to surrender my old ways and my old life and fully hand it over to
God. He is probably thinking “it’s about time, junior!” But no, really I’ve
never felt so ready in my life to have God take control.
Being baptized to me is a way of letting go of all the
regrets, the doubts, the chains that have held me back from fully pursuing a godly
life. Yes, I have made some poor decisions in my life, but we all have. God’s
forgiveness is precious and His love for us is everlasting. There’s no point in
dwelling over the sins we have committed because Jesus died on the cross for us
so that we could have forgiveness and freedom. I’m ready to start a new life in
Christ and have my sights set on the Almighty Lord! I couldn’t think of a
better person to hand my life over to than God himself.
What does it really mean to “hand over my life over to God?”
Everyone has their own ideas, but to me it’s trusting God in what He has
planned for me. His time frames are different than my time frames…His are
perfect. It’s having faith that He will be there to pick me up when I have
fallen to hard times. It’s believing that God will always be there to love me
no matter WHAT! It’s faith that He has great things planned for my life.
Jeremiah 29:11 is a perfect example of why I trust God with my all…
“For I know
the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
I remember going through my notes from Church and we just
had a sermon that was solely based on that verse. This verse is a promise from
God. I remember Pastor Darin saying “It’s impossible for God to lie.” Well if
that’s what God said in the Bible, then why the heck wouldn’t I want to turn my
life over to God?! The prosperity may take 70 years as stated in Jeremiah
29:10, but it will come, and it will TOTALLY be worth it!
I also want to share with you part of my Church notes that
pertain a summary of Jeremiah 29:11-13
“I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out-plans
to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope
for. When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I’ll listen. When you
come looking for me, you’ll find me. “Yes, when you get serious about finding
me and want it more than anything else, I’ll make sure you won’t be disappointed.”
I want you to ask yourself what’s holding you back from
pursuing a life with God? Is it because you feel you’ve done too many wrong
things in your life that you feel it’s too late? No, don’t ever think that with
God. Our God is a god of love and forgiveness. We are His children and He truly
cares for us….ALL of us! What’s holding you back from trusting God’s plan for
you? The Bible lays it out that God has plans for you to prosper and take care
of you. God doesn’t lie. Mainly because it’s impossible for him to. So TRUST
IT! I’m guilty of thinking both of these of these thoughts in the past, but it
took some real understanding of what God is all about to get where I am today.
I don’t know who is all going to read this, but if you feel
that you want to know more or just have any questions, please feel free to
email me by using the “Contact Me” link on the left hand side.
Hmmm……that section wasn’t suppose to be that long. I just
wanted to tell ya’ll I was getting baptized and it turned into a mini-sermon J Woops!
Now for the 2nd awesome date!
October 2,
2010
We just got our “Official Launch Date” announcement
yesterday. The S-Squad will all be meeting in the beautiful Los Angeles Airport
(LAX) and boarding a plane headed for Guatemala! It’s so exciting to have a
date to tell people on when I’ll actually be leaving. While it’ll be a happy
day to start the race and see my S-Squad again, it will also be a sad day as I
take last steps on American soil and say goodbye to my family. I try not to think
of what it’ll be like to not see my friends and family for 11 months or think
of what it’s going to be like at the airport the morning I leave for LAX. Tears, laughter, hugs, more tears, smiles, goodbyes, annnnd more tears. I try
to cherish my time left here with the people I love because only God knows what
may happen while I’m gone. Yeah I know I shouldn’t think like that, but it’s
reality. The world is a dangerous place, but I know God will always be there
beside me and also beside my friends and family back home. Thank you Jesus.
As of today I have 39 days left in The States. That’s like
less than 40 days ! J
I feel like I want to leave right NOW, but yet there is so
much to do yet. I still have A LOT to fundraise before I go, I still need to
purchase my international health insurance, do power of attorney, and train
people in to handle my job while I’m gone, and yada yada yada. Yikes! I haven’t jumped into panic
mode yet, but once Sept.1 comes around, I think that button might be pushed! God,
please grant me peace over the preparations I must accomplish before I can go
on The World Race. Amen
I’m still looking for people to partner with me in this
ministry. I have a long ways to go before I hit my goal and could be in danger
of not finishing the trip or worse yet-leaving on the trip. Adventures in
Missions has a threshold for participants in order to leave in October and I am
still under that threshold. I will be putting together some fundraisers
together soon, but if you feel God placing it on your heart to contribute now,
please click on “Support Me” at the top left or follow this link. Donations can
be tax-deductible, so please consult your tax advisor.
Even though I’m still under the threshold of support that
needs to be raised, I’m still going to book my flight to Los Angeles because I
HAVE FAITH that God will provide through great supporters like you.
I.Have.Faith.
