I am writing this from Peachtree City, Georgia!! I am home!! It has been an INSANE year. I can’t believe I am back stateside. There were definitely moments where I couldn’t even see this day on the horizon, and now I have been back for about 3 weeks… crazy.
I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for reading my blogs, supporting me financially, and praying for me fervently. This experience has been one of the biggest gifts I have ever received. So thank you, thank YOU for coming up behind me, believing in me, supporting me- ah I’m beyond grateful.
Being home has been sweet. I have been catching up with family and friends. Reunions have happened on the regular and it is such a sweet season to be a part of. I’m excited for the more to come.
One thing the Lord has been showing me recently (probably like a month before I came home) is how to bring ministry into my everyday life in a practical way.
“What does it look like to do ministry without a ministry host and a schedule?”
One word: LOVE
Just freaking love everybody…
Recognize your desires, acknowledge that they are probably from the Lord, and ask for eyes to see those around you that He is pursuing. Be interruptible. It is seriously the best. The sweetest gift.
Being interrupted by divine interactions, there’s nothing like it. By allowing myself to live outside my box, outside my ‘perfect’ plan, God has given me opportunities with people that have changed my life.
I want to live a life uncomfortable in the name of the Lord.
I want it to be so uncomfortable that I become comfortable in the unknown because no matter what’s happening around me, I am consistently partnering with Holy Spirit.
What a gift to partner with the advocate of Christ, every single moment.
I had the opportunity to hang out with a woman who lives on the streets in Charleston a couple days ago. I was walking with my friends and found her right next to me asking for help.
“Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” Matthew 5:42
An interruption, an opportunity to press in. ah thanks God.
We ended up making our way to iHop and I got to learn about her. I learned why she was on the streets, that she loves the Lord, she has a big heart, and I learned her struggles. We shared laughs together and we also shared tears. She talked about her past, what makes her who she is, and how she has been really hurt by people that ‘love’ her. I couldn’t believe she felt so comfortable telling me all about her life. God told me to just keep asking her questions, let her be seen. So I did and it was so stinking cool. I had the opportunity to encourage her, pray with her, relate to her, and simply love her.
The woman that was serving us overheard our conversation and spoke up. She talked about how she had previously been homeless with her kids and now she is managing iHop. She said,” It gets better.”
Immediately I looked at Tondra and asked her if she heard what the woman said. She did.
What a picture of pursuit. God placed Tondra right where she needed to be, to know she is so seen, so pursued. He is so good. He is always pursuing His people.
I left her and as I was walking away she said she would never forget my face.
What a gift to automatically have the opportunity to click with someone, get on a level relationally that we don’t always have the chance to. See the dark things, but also speak them out and replace them with light, to a complete stranger. What a gift to leave knowing if I don’t see her on earth, Tondra and I will grab breakfast in heaven.
If you feel led, please pray for Tondra. Pray God keeps putting people in her path that see her, pray she gets bumped to first on the waiting list for housing, pray for her health, pray for provision.
So yeah, re-entry is going good…
I would love to see you, catch up, and exchange goodness with you!
I would also love to pray for you, so reach out and lets connect <3
Thank you again for partnering with me in this past year, you helped me answer a call from the Lord that changed my life.
<3,
Ris
