This has taken me much longer to write than I would like to admit. For that I apologize. Please bear with me as I try my best to gather my thoughts and attempt to share what i’m feeling. Takes a lot for me to share so thank you.
That being said this is my first official blog for my world race.
Growing up I’ve always known one thing; that I love to serve and want to serve in anyway possible. Growing up in church I was very blessed to have parents who were always serving and involved in church. I was blessed to have pastors, family, and leaders that I could look up to and in a sense come to admire how they serve others. A true genuine reflection of how Jesus loves and serves.
I recall at a young age while praying at the altar, at a church youth retreat; l asked the Lord to use me and make me His instrument. I didn’t specify in what way I wanted to be used nor set rules, my wishes, guidelines, nor anything of that sort. I simply said, Lord please use me. I vividly remember looking around the room and calling out and saying: “Lord I may not be the best person for this or be a leader, I don’t have the best speaking skills, the best teaching skills, I may not be the most musically talented, I know i’m not the most suitable; but i’m willing. If you call me I will always be willing. No matter the place or time… in any way, shape, or form; I will always be willing to serve so long as i’m serving You and working for Your Kingdom.… Lord I will work the rest of my life simply serving you…. God I just want to be used by You… please use me.”
Shortly after praying said prayer; the preacher came over to me and ministered and shared that God would use me and put me to work for the rest of my days so long as I committed my ways to the Lord…. I remember hearing this and feeling so overjoyed that God had heard my prayer and in that very moment feeling beyond grateful that God would want to use me. (Being older now I also understand that God has a purpose and wants to use us all) In that moment at a young age, that was an answered prayer for me and till this day it’s a moment I cherish. Probably one of my favorite memories from all the youth retreats I’ve been to.
That moment, at that camp, at the altar, praying and feeling like it was just me and God in that room; was pivotal for me. It has led me to always wanting to say yes when it comes to serving. I’ll be honest and admit that there have been times where i’ve said no or done things incorrectly, but for the most part i’ve always said yes to serving. My childhood best friend has always told me I need to learn to say no… and we’ll joke around how it’s something I struggle with because sometimes i’ll stretch myself thin and take on too many things. But how could I say no when God answered my prayers. How could I say no to serving when it is exactly what I asked of the Lord. How can I say no to an answered prayer…
One day in the Bible Institute I remember studying about Isaiah’s Commission and the words in Isaiah 6:8 stood out to me like never before. It was a passage I had read several times before and heard preachings over it plenty of times. However, for some reason that day it just hit me like never before. As I read verse 8 where Isaiah heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” (And in my mind the way I picture this moment) I read it as if Isaiah calls out almost immediately, instinctively, without giving it a second thought, Isaiah calls out and says, “Here am I. Send me!”
And as i’m sitting there reading this and studying it, it’s just impacting me in a way like never before. It took me back to that moment at the altar as a young teen. It was as if it was a reminder for me; of the prayer that I had made. In that moment I closed my Bible and simply repeated the words “Here am I. Send ME.” God if there is anywhere to serve to go and share your Gospel to go and reflect the Love of Christ. To go and simply love on somebody and share with them, whether here with my neighbor or anywhere else; Here am I. Send Me.
Not long after that I was invited to go on my first missionary trip with my church. I’ve always had a desire to serve in anyway possible but that truly sparked something in me. It lit a fire that to a certain extent I had no idea I had. I knew I loved to serve and just help in anyway possible but going on mission trips with my church and just serving and loving and sharing was and has been the start of something that in all honesty I would love to do for the rest of my life.
I’m almost done I promise lol
Why am I sharing all this you may ask? Well… before I answer that I want to share one last thought…
Theres this song that I LOVE!!! The lyrics throughout the song talk about how I just want to be where God is, to be near where His heart is. How there is NOTHING like His love!!!
Then the singer breaks into spontaneous worship and in that moment talks about how the WHOLE world needs to know. How there are so many that don’t know the amazing love of God. AND THEN he closes the song by repeating the same thing over and over again:
“I’ve never known a love like this before, i’ve never felt a touch like this before, I’ve never known a love like this before… What else can I do but fall in love with You!”
To me this expresses how I feel about the love of God… it’s as if they knew exactly how I felt and put it into words. I just want to be where God is, where His presence dwells, and I know many if not all of you reading this can relate and feel the same way. And the words “I’ve never known a love like this before, i’ve never felt a touch like this before, I’ve never known a love like this before… What else can I do but fall in love with You!” is exactly how I feel. What else can I do but fall in love with Jesus!!! Furthermore for me to know God’s love is to share God’s amazing love.
The reason I share this is because, I know Gods amazing love; now I want to, need to share that love. I prayed that prayer saying God just please use me. I called out and said, “Here am I. Send me.” So this is an answered prayer. I’ve prayed about this for a very long time and I know God has confirmed this in my life. With the support of my family, friends, pastors and leaders; I am going on the World Race Mission Trip.
I’ve committed my life to God, and now I have a beautiful opportunity, a beautiful journey, that I get to embark on. I get to go and share the love of Jesus and simply serve. I will be going to 11 different countries in 11 months in the year 2020.
There is much more that I could share and hope to share but for the moment I would just like to invite y’all in prayer and support as I go on this Mission Trip and as I embark in this next chapter of my life. PRAYER IS VERY MUCH NEEDED!
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me, and also I invite you to subscribe to my blog as this is where I will be sharing about my mission trip and the wonderful things God will be doing.
Thank you!
