My journey so far has been fascinating so far. It has changed how I perceive the world, how I view myself, and those both near and far. Furthermore it has changed my outlook on life, and love.
I have felt most loved in the little everyday things. Because it is not the one BIG crazy thing in life that makes us who we are. Rather it is the everyday attitude’s we choose. those moments define us more than anything, because they add up to more than any one moment ever could in life. I have truly learned that if you want to change the world, start by changing your world.
This everyday attitude is what truly speaks abundantly about who we are, what our relationship with God our Father is like, and thus how we relate to the world around us. Remember Love God, Love man. That order is highly important. Because if we do not love others, first from loving/receiving from the Father we inevitably fail, trip, and love from performance/reward based attitudes. Putting the Father and his will first, in my days, priorities, and even when I speak has been what has radically changed how I view the world, my team, myself, and those around me. Which includes the team I am with,myself and those I am called to.
What are some of the changes I have made? Changes such as;
1. Going to bed early enough to wake up and be able to spend time with my Father.
2. Getting up early enough to read about my Father and everything he has done for the world around me.
3. Holding my tongue (even just for a moment) when I find myself leading from my wants, and desires. I have learned how to better filter my thoughts, and judge their fruits.
4. Openly sharing what the Father has put on my heart to share, no matter how that looks, or what it means. It means putting fear of God before fear of man.
5. Finding my secret place first thing upon arriving at a new location, and holding that place as a sacred place.
6. Acting on what I see my Father doing everyday. If the heart rate jumps, so should I jump at the opportunity before me.
7. continually having an open dialog with Father. It is not about “letting him interrupt my day” with his will. but living it everyday. 24/7. (spoiler alert, his will also means resting).
8. When I find myself having selfish thoughts, instead I challenge myself to”prefer” the person before me, and act selfless in some fashion or another.
9. To pray into, and about my team mates daily. This means asking God How he views them, and what I can do today to build the kingdom in the community of hearts around me. (Because I have that authority).This also means sharing words I get, writing notes, loving them through their love language, and saying one off cheesy lines that reminds them of the Fathers love (and my punny humor).
10. To walk more and more daily into who God has called, and created me to be. Because that is his will. Build his kingdom first in your heart, because from that flows your daily actions.
This is not 10 points to becoming a saint…. It is ten things I attempt to do everyday, that has radically changed my outlook on life, the world, and OUR Father. So don’t throw me up on any pedestal too soon. It is scary up there, after all it is a far fall, plus I am afraid of heights.
Now, how has changing my world, and my views changed my everyday? I can walk in love, and Love from the Fathers abundance rather than my own. I can see people, and the world through his eyes, and I get to spend ALL DAY with OUR Father! He has so much to say if we would just listen! Furthermore we get to do cool things with him. What child doesn’t want to learn, build, and fix things with their Father? Not to make cool stuff, or be impressive, but just to spend time with him. Plus OUR Father is amazing, cool, and has a SUPER big imagination. He can fix something 100,000 different ways.
what does my everyday look like? Well being on the road it looks different everyday. The amazing thing about the World Race is that it allows it to look different! So without witting a book about it (gotta save something for after the race). Here is a quick summary of ways I have seen, and spent time With OUR Father, loving, building, fixing, and pulling out lies one at a time.
In north Africa: It looked like going out everyday hitting the streets and fishing for the people God specifically had in mind to help out that day. It meant going and meeting people where they are at, and displaying/ speaking God’s Truth, and love into their lives, if they were open to it. We got to go and first hand tell people, and show them how much God loves them. So much Truth got spoken into many lives because of this! We then got to connect these people to a community where God’s love flows abundantly!
In Greece: It looked like going out on a big Adventure on day 1. Our ministry opportunity fell through a week before arriving. So day one of ministry we decided it was good to let go of what we thought was best and to instead ask OUR Father. Within that day through visions he directed us to an amazing man of peace who is seeking righteousness in his community, through social kitchens, and social houses. Which pulls communities together by gathering people in parks, and squares and cooking meals together, then eating and communicating with one another in order to create peace, love and harmony. They also run a social house where Homeless can do laundry, and shower. We were directed to him through several different visions coming together! We were led into the unknown by OUR Father to make his love known. Also within that day we got connected to a refugee ministry that allowed us to prepare, distribute, feed, and clothe over 1100 refugee’s! We also got connected to a church group that fed Homeless and refugee’s alike.
In Turkey: We had the fortune of having a host who is bringing the Kingdom in at a rate unlike anything I have ever seen in my life. We had the Honor of putting the finishing touches on a Coffee shop that makes extremely high quality coffee. They roast their own beans, and Brew up an amazing cup of Joy. (Because if you are going to do it in the kingdom, do it right, and with excellence). They use that coffee shop to Employ locals, and refugee’s. As well they run an air BnB that reflects a Pinterest dream. In addition to this we also had the privilege of helping run “refugee day” which meant distributing food hampers for over 5000 registered refugee’s, as well as clothing them, and providing medical care for these beautiful souls. In addition to this they teach Refugee woman how to make Turkish wares such as purses, and bags that are beautiful, affordable and fashionable. They believe in enabling people. Not making them reliant on a system. On top of this We got the opportunity to engage and encourage local Christians. One of who’s story I will share at a later time after permission has been given.
In Kyrgyzstan: I was only in Kyrgyzstan for 5 or so days, for debrief and will be returning there for a month, in about 10 more days. However The Father spoke more than he ever has to me, about how he has created me during this time. This is where he modeled what being vulnerable looks like! This is where I began stepping out in my gift more. This is where I have had the opportunity to build up my team in a very real way. This is where I had the Honor of offering healing, and victory to many of my fellow squad-mates. Most importantly this is where I wept with a sliver of the knowledge of how God views me, how much he loves me (which is still too much for my little mind), and what he desires for me. This is where he revealed to me what Sonship is. Oh how he desires us to know what our inheritance is!
In kazakhstan: I just arrived Last night, and it it is already brilliant. This month I will be learning Russian through daily classes as I will need this to pursue his will over the next 2 months. This month I will be hitting the streets again sharing the Good news, as well as visiting the Red light districts here to minister to those involved in human trafficking. On the side I may also have opportunity to visit some local villages with nothing more than OUR Fathers love, and watch lives get healed and transformed. On top of this I have already met people on the street today. As well as receive Vision from the lord about a local whom I plan to pursue and personally explain, and display/ shower with OUR Fathers love. As you can imagine this month will look highly different day to day. Which is okay, because we trust God. He already has shown himself faithful. We entered this nation with no idea where we were going to stay for the night, after our reservation fell through. We were going through customs when we found out. My team leader simply did nothing but trust his heavenly Father, because he said not to worry about it, and I am now sitting comfortably at the nicest Hostel in Almaty, and that’s with a Missionary’s budget. No calls were made to make this happen.Just OUR Father showing us his goodness.
what does the future nations hold? I cannot give you specifics, because I have no idea. However I can tell you that it will be my Fathers will, and it will be BRILLIANT. He has an infinite imagination! I am excited for what the future months hold. Even though I know not, I know I can trust his adventerous plan. I know that If I had not had a change of mind, in so far as how I view the everyday This would not of happened. Some days I have woken up with no idea what is before me. But I can still wake up excited!
This is what my world view has been. Everywhere I go I see MY Father before me. Loving In unheard of ways, in unheard of places. I can only jump with Joy, and do as I see OUR father doing. Because It is great, and brilliant! This is how he made me, great and brilliant. Thus I only want to do what I see my Father doing. May his kingdom come, and His will be done. I am not called to do anything other than be myself, in the places God places me. Being myself means being the light, in a sometimes dark and unfamiliar place. It means being a vessel, and witness to MY Father, and all he is doing around the world.
This is what I have witnessed. That there is not a single place I have been where his love is not. There is not a single place on this planet that his love can’t conquer, that his Hope can’t reach, and that his grace can’t cover. For he is OUR Father, and we are his Children. There isn’t a place he won’t go nor an enemy he won’t conquer for us. So let’s join in on bringing his kingdom, and displaying his love to our Brothers and Sisters.
With all this being said, I would like to note that I am still Fundraising, and am a short 2 weeks away from my deadline. It is my last, and final deadline. So I would like to ask you, and encourage you to take this last opportunity to take part in something Brilliant!
I am $2900 away from where I need to be in two weeks and I know it is God’s will for me to reach it! So take part in something Brilliant! Help fill my need, by pressing the donate button at the top of this page! I know God will help me reach this crazy big deadline in time, and he wants you to do it! Isn’t it brilliant!? He has been faithful in helping me reach every single deadline since I began this journey. I know that this is a great deal to ask for, but I know my Father, and i know the reward is FAR above the sacrifice. Furthermore he is bigger than any obstacle in front of me. including this one.
sincerely,
Tomas Ruhland
my team and I at the opening of the Cofee shop in Ankara Turkey
