My time in Greece has been nothing short of amazing! I am loving all the Father is teaching me, and love he is pouring out on my life. It is nothing short of Incredible.
This month I have had the honor to be involved with several different outreaches. Together my team and I have been involved with things such as:
Organizing and distributing clothes to refugees
Preparing meals for 1200+ refugees
Homeless outreach
Social kitchens
Food distribution for 1200+ refugee’s
Outreach to refugee families/ children
As I prepare to leave Greece I cannot help asking myself the question: have I impacted lives in a positive, proactive way?
But that is a selfish question to ask. It is not about me. I should be asking: have people’s lives been impacted by God’s Love? That loves that abounds in me–have I stewarded that well? Do people know the number one important thing: that God loves them, desires them, and wants to be in relation with them?!
God’s word states in 2 Corinthians 4:7 “But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.”
All strength is in the Lord. When we command healing in a body, it is His power. Similarly, our ability to recklessly love needs to also come from Him for two reasons: firstly, so that we do not burn out, but more importantly, so that His love–rather than ours–is displayed.
We are here to display the love and desire of God for His people. This is what has allowed my team and I to be able to be involved in multiple ministries/outreaches within a single day. We do not just stop after preparing 1200 meals; often my teammates can be found proceeding with the distribution of the meals, and then spending time with those who have just been fed. Getting to know their stories, and ensuring they know their value. Giving them hope, and the knowledge that God knows they are as precious as diamonds, in the eyes of the Creator.
That is only the morning to afternoon; many proceed afterwards onto other outreaches after this. I cannot thank God enough for placing me with people who are as passionate as I am about giving people Hope. For displaying the intense yearning love of the Father.
Have I displayed this love well? I cannot answer that question for myself. However I can say that I have learned to draw my energy and passion for the day from God. I have done my best in pouring that out daily. When my heart aches with compassion, with pain for the burdens and situations of those surrounding me, it shows me God’s heart. Oh how his heart is so burdened for his people! This understanding is what is causing me to push in with all I have and all I am.
All this is for a point. A sad truth that was pointed out to me in month one by someone of great stature in the kingdom. This man of God has spent much time all around the world, going to the most remote areas of the world. Villages locked away in the high mountains, ones lacking electricity, running water and the Gospel. Yet in that same village, that same place that has NEVER heard the name of Jesus, this person was able to enjoy a nice refreshing can of Coca Cola. In spite of the far flung and remote regions of the world he has visited, he has never been out of reach of a Coca Cola beverage.
NEVER BEEN OUT OF REACH OF COCA COLA.
Coca Cola has been around for only 124 years. Yet it has reached further than the Gospel! Coca Cola put out a mandate for every nation and remote area to have access to their product. They put out this mandate, and pursued it with a fiery passion, passing it down to the next generations for years, decades, even into a new millennium. Because they believed in their product and dedicated their lives, and resources to the cause. Because of that, they can say their product has gone to places the Gospel never has. Coca Cola has touched lips upon which the name of Jesus has yet to be uttered.
All this in less than 150 years. So don’t tell me that the Gospel in every nation is not possible in my generation. All it takes is a fiery passion, an understanding of the Father’s love. This is what will heal people’s broken limbs, lives, and relationship with the Father. This is how I desire to go out for the rest of this race. This is April Expedition’s mandate. To give Hope to the hopeless, to utter Jesus to the unknown, to display the Father’s love in unheard-of places in unheard-of ways. To ensure that the world knows the Gospel (translation: gospel = the good news of Jesus).
With this mandate in mind this month, God has directed us in Miraculous ways to men of peace. We walked into this country with no contacts, and within a single day we boldly stepped out. Some of us hopped on a train with no idea where God was taking us, but we prayed, and expected God to show up. We ended up stepping off of the train in a completely unknown neighborhood. When we did this we ended up meeting the one person in all of Athens who runs an amazing program that spreads peace, love, and community in such a radical and unheard of way. Another group got connected with a refugee camp. Another with a homeless/ refugee ministry. Out of all the people in Athens God directed us through visions, words, and prayers to all of these amazing people of peace, who received both us and our message very well. All within a single day!
The Greeks have loved us well. It is amazing to see a nation that is in such turmoil, love, provide and take care of refugees and their growing homeless population so well. Despite circumstances, people who often don’t have much themselves are the ones standing up. They are considering the other human. I will be posting a follow up blog so that I can share some of these incredible stories with you guys! Stories of people bold enough to act,and of God breaking through in incredible ways.
To conclude we need to put Romans 12:9 (go read it) into action. We need to do it with passion, and combine it with a mandate like that of Coca Cola. Because the drink we offer is much more refreshing–and also eternal. Those who drink Coca Cola will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks of the water Jesus gives will never be thirsty again. Jesus’ living water will become a spring welling up to eternal life. It has the power to move mountains, heal hearts, and offer freedom in its fullest. So why would we let Coca Cola refresh the nations?
We need the Coca Cola initiative as Christians. To expend all resources on spreading the product of God’s love. To desire every hidden and unknown village to know God the Father, and his unending unconditional love for all people. Could you imagine what that would look like?! Could you imagine what would happen if we paired the Coca Cola Initiative with the power, grace, authority, and love of God to spread the Gospel to the whole world? What we have is so much greater than a can of Coke. So let’s not be beat by a cold beverage, guys.
