When God speaks ... loud and clear
Yesterday I was reading my daily sections of my Bible for my goal of reading it in one year. I was reading in Luke, chapter 5... versus 27. It was the first verse for the day and it goes like this:
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
Well the reason this was both awesome and awakening is because it took me back to 2005 when God called me to go on a year long missions trip called The World Race. It was His exact words to me all those years ago and I honestly wrestled with it for about 9 months before I gave in and surrendered to what He was calling me to do. Back then, I had my life in a perfect box. My job, family, friends, car, home, stuff...everything was great and comfortable. I did NOT want to give it all up for some unknown.
2006 was maybe the best year of my life. Going on that trip in full submission to God...knowing it was what he wanted me to do...and really living in it was unreal. It was an experience that I'll treasure forever. It showed me a different side of God's heart I didnt know. His love for the poor, the sick, the outcast... and He showed us how to follow Him and love them too.
I'm so excited that I've gotten back into the Word and am working on praying more and I guess regaining that strong foundation of a relationship with God I had before. Living overseas is sometimes a struggle for me because I dont have my church, my family and friends who encourage and speak truth to me, my mentor, my bible studies...all that stuff. But its also not an excuse either. I have really just been kind of lazy at disciplining myself to keep God at the center of my days. And the silly thing is... I KNOW without a doubt I'm such a happier, kinder, more generous person when I'm giving each day to the Lord.
Something that I'll be forever grateful for is in December of 2009. I heard a man speaking from a video at my church. He was Burundian and desperately needed help with street children. I originally had planned on going to Thailand for the winter to serve but really felt God tugging on my heart for Africa. So in January...i left. My amazing friend Kim went with me and I spent the next 5 months in Africa. We had to go to the U.S. Embassy to get malaria meds and as we are walking in, this blonde hottie is walking out. Long story short, that blondie is now my fiance...2 years later! Two midwest people meeting and falling in love in the middle of Africa... can you say God is AMAZING!!!
So at the beginning of this new year... its definitely in God's humor to throw me the verse that changed my life before. The verse that says "Follow Me." I know He desires for us all to be close to Him and the best part is He never gives up trying. Even when we suck and are lazy. He still loves us. Unconditionally.
I was looking back at my blog from my trip and wanted to share this sentence I wrote. It was like my first or second night into the trip and I was kind of scared.
"Last night I think reality set in. We arrived in a little village over the border and slowly tackled the bumpy roads back to our new home. The building is a part church/ part dorm. As I laid in my sleeping bag, I felt a bit nervous. What am I doing? And then I felt a peace come over me and God reassuring me that He desires for me to grow, learn, and minister on this trip. I just needed to trust."
It encouraged me today when I re-read it because following God is very scary at times when there are so many unknowns. But I know the fruit from trusting Him even in the small day to days is so worth it!
I hope you find Jesus in your days and grasp Him with everything inside of you. He is worth fighting for!!
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