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Yesterday I posted a blog Seth Barnes wrote back in January of ’07 that got me thinking about how I defined myself and where I got my worth from. Needless to say, at that time, it wasn’t from God and I knew it. I wanted to find my hope, joy and worth in the Lord, but i just didn’t know how that looked. Until I found the world race website a week or so later in early February 2007. Then I started reading about these crazy people who were giving up a year of their lives to preach the love of Jesus all over the world. I thought, “What nutballs!”
But slowly their words started to penetrate my soul. I remember reading this blog by Mallorie Miller while I was at the SEC basketball tournament in Atlanta. It was then I started praying crazy prayers like, “God take my life!”
 New Blog Theme It was about a month prior to departure for the World Race, and I was having lunch with friends. I remember looking at them and saying, “This is so much bigger than me. I am in way over my head! In myself, I know I cannot do this…” My mentor, and good friend, replied, “It’s because you’re at the edge of yourself…” That was exactly how I felt. Like I was standing on a huge cliff with everything was was normal and comfortable behind me. I was staring into this huge ravine, knowing that the risk of falling was worth the possibility of soaring. I’m still soaring, but I have come to realize that following Jesus is dangerous. You see, he is always bringing us right back to the edge of ourselves. He is always calling us one step further than where we can go on our own strength and self-sufficiency. That’s where the adventure begins! If “adventure” is lacking in your concept or experience of Christianity, I encourage you to see for yourself. Check out the life of Jesus (you have the options of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John) and decide for yourself. What does it actually look like to follow Jesus?
Are you willing to jump? Into the heart of God… Into the dark and broken places of your own soul? Into the lives of those whom God puts in your path? Into the nations? Into your calling? Into the abundant life to which you are called? Rest assured, friend, wherever you are that, “You will seek Him and find Him when you seek Him with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13.
This blog changed my life! Because it forever changed the way I prayed. Literally, a month later God answered those prayers – HE did indeed take my life. I was fired from Channel 7 and in the mission field with those “nutball” world racers before I knew it!
I thank God that Mallorie was obedient to God’s call to join the race. I wonder what my life would be like now had she not ever joined and in turn never written this blog. Her obedience and her life changed mine. Maybe better put, her allowing Jesus to live through her awakened something in me! Yet, let me try again, she allowed the love and power of Jesus to flow through her life and stir something in my spirit. It’s crazy how God works – her life touched mine and I hope my life has touched and awakened something in others along the way this past year and a half.
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If you are a Jesus-follower, are you living a life of adventure? Does Scripture come alive when you read it (Hebrews 4:12)? Do you battle the forces of darkness in fierce and unyielding prayer (Ephesians 6:10-12)? Do you listen for the voice of your Creator, who so despereately wants to talk with you? Are you praying dangerous prayers: “Christ be formed in me.” “Break my heart with the things that break Your heart.” “Take my life.” Have you committed to following Jesus wherever heleads you, no matter how high the cliff? 
