Welcome to my time capsule. 😊 We are traveling back several years to meet a girl much like me, but far younger and more naive. I will be telling you her story through her eyes over the coming weeks and months. I hope you enjoy it and see the many ways her Savior has guided her every step of the way! All of my posts marked with #LaAventuraDeLaVida are a part of this ongoing series.
~ Jan 17, 2014 ~
I’ve been thinking a lot recently about how sometimes we get deluded into complacency because we think that what we’re doing for God is “enough.” We pat ourselves on the back and go about our big “God business” with a satisfied smile, never realizing that our hearts are farther gone than we would ever guess. At the same time, other people look at our accomplishments and feel badly because their list isn’t as long or as impressive as ours. And to be blunt, that’s just stupid, and a lie besides.
Kathy, Barkly, and I sharing the Gospel with our 3rd grade class at Destino the last full day of classes!
A lot of people think that moving to a foreign country to teach (or do medical work, or start an orphanage, or whatever) is the epitome of “Christianly service” and should be applauded politely while eating cucumber sandwiches and whispering how “I could never do that.” Which is totally not right. At the same time, I’ve been reading and listening to a lot of stuff lately that seems to almost look down on what I am currently doing in favor of “missions in the everyday.” And I don’t really think that’s right, either. I firmly believe what I am doing is important. I also am very aware that without the faithful support of my dear church family, there is no possible way I could be doing it.
I want to make something REALLY clear. Just because I moved halfway across the world to a third-ish world country doesn’t mean that I’m a “better Christian.” It doesn’t mean that I’ve “got more Jesus” than anyone else, or even that I’m all that great at listening and obeying in the moment. All it means is that I made a choice, when God said go, to go. That’s it. And ever since I’ve been here, it’s been the same daily struggle I faced at home: to give when He says give; to speak when He says speak; to stay silent when He says to stay silent; and to love always because He says to love always. My directive hasn’t changed, only my location.
Kharis and Ana
I have a couple of amazing friends at home who are being just as faithful in their service as I am: my friend Ana, who at 14 years old single-handedly raised enough money to build a well in Africa just by crocheting hats, and her sister, Kharis, who took over teaching the kids at my church when I left and is doing a wonderful job raising up servant leaders for the Lord. I have a whole church full of amazing people who are working together as the body of Christ to impact their community, faithfully serving and reaching out where God has placed them for such a time as this.
And then there’s me, who I think is learning more than she’s teaching, and seeing how blind she’s been. I have a confession – it’s really easy to get in a missionary mindset that you are doing “enough” for God. It’s really easy to look at the things you have left behind, at the steps of faith you have taken, and decide that you’ve paid your dues to God, at least for the next year or so. But that is SO wrong. Every day needs a reminder of the Gospel, the Good News. Every day needs to start with thanksgiving for the cross, thanksgiving for the risen Savior, and thanksgiving for the gift of eternal life, starting now. Every day is one more chance to conocerle more than yesterday. There are no dues to pay in the Kingdom of Heaven. Only open arms and a race to run – not walk, not stroll, not sit down and watch, but to run. Only one Life to love.
*Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Heb 12:1-2* *“…when they measure themselves by one another and compare themselves with one another, they are without understanding.” 2 Cor 10:12*
Five most recent posts in this series (most recent listed first):
Breaking Bowls - #LaAventuraDeLaVida
Lessons Learned - #LaAventuraDeLaVida
Estamos Cambiando - #LaAventuraDeLaVida
En Orden - #LaAventuraDeLaVida
Más Fuerte - #LaAventuraDeLaVida