This blog is going to be a different style...it's going to be serious tracked. I might become seriously vulnerable after this.
This weekend I take off to leave my comfort zone. I leave for Mexico at 10:55 in the morning. I am loving this feeling of mixed emotions. Actually, I'm not. I feel like I should be taking some kind of emotion control medicine. Sometimes I'm overwhelminly excited, others extremely sad, and most of the time I stay in a state of inadequacy. Though, most of these are different than my norm because I usually am just happy. I wouldn't even say that I am happy, as Christ-followers I believe we have this constant joy in our lives. The reminder of who we used to be and who we are now as well as who we are becoming. I am a fairly flexible person in terms of what I will do, if it involves service I will try my hardest. I do not like being pushed past my capabilities because I fear failure and I do not like to show my sorrow to people, because I do not want to appear weak.
I recently went to my Uncle's church (Harvey Assembly of God) to tell them of my trip and establish my prayer team and raise some funds. When I was thinking of what I was going to tell them, God revealed something to me as I was praying. Whenever I would tell people of my missions trip to Mexico, the most common response I got was, "DON'T DRINK THE WATER"! I mean everyone would tell me that. It's not an uncommon phrase when talking about Mexico, but I guess I expected something different. Then I remembered the story of the woman at the well were she met Jesus. He told her that if she knew who she was speaking to she would ask him to have a drink of the water that will never allow her to thirst again. Growing up in America at the time that I am, water has always been available to me. But in Mexico it's different. They may not have all the things I have (i.e. good running water, an abundant supply of entertainment) but we do share something--Jesus. I may not fix their water problems in the week that I will be down there, even though that might be what they are looking for just like the woman at the well, but I can share with them Jesus and He will be their hope, their future, their all and everything. And through the team's ministry and those who come after us, our heavenly family will grow. And for that I will sacrifice.
As I spend my daily devotional time reading my Bible, praying, and spiritually and emotionally preparing myself for my missions trip I feel different. I feel loved in a time were I haven't felt that lately. I feel as though I have a purpose despite my age, experience, or capabilities. I feel stretched in a good way. I did track for one season (I know, right?!?), whenever we did a really challenging workout coach would always tell us to stretch out. That's an important spiritual lesson to learn: whenever you put in the extra effort in devotion time, you got to learn to stretch your spiritual muscles. Try something. Anything. Serve others, that's a simple one.
I'm not going to lie to you (because going on a missions trip, lying--not a good combo) going on a missions trip is challenging. It's not just deciding then going. Its about the sacrifice. Whether it be financially or whatever, God expects a sacrifice. And more often than not you find yourself sacrificing yourself.
This weekend I take off to leave my comfort zone. I leave for Mexico at 10:55 in the morning. I am loving this feeling of mixed emotions. Actually, I'm not. I feel like I should be taking some kind of emotion control medicine. Sometimes I'm overwhelminly excited, others extremely sad, and most of the time I stay in a state of inadequacy. Though, most of these are different than my norm because I usually am just happy. I wouldn't even say that I am happy, as Christ-followers I believe we have this constant joy in our lives. The reminder of who we used to be and who we are now as well as who we are becoming. I am a fairly flexible person in terms of what I will do, if it involves service I will try my hardest. I do not like being pushed past my capabilities because I fear failure and I do not like to show my sorrow to people, because I do not want to appear weak.
I recently went to my Uncle's church (Harvey Assembly of God) to tell them of my trip and establish my prayer team and raise some funds. When I was thinking of what I was going to tell them, God revealed something to me as I was praying. Whenever I would tell people of my missions trip to Mexico, the most common response I got was, "DON'T DRINK THE WATER"! I mean everyone would tell me that. It's not an uncommon phrase when talking about Mexico, but I guess I expected something different. Then I remembered the story of the woman at the well were she met Jesus. He told her that if she knew who she was speaking to she would ask him to have a drink of the water that will never allow her to thirst again. Growing up in America at the time that I am, water has always been available to me. But in Mexico it's different. They may not have all the things I have (i.e. good running water, an abundant supply of entertainment) but we do share something--Jesus. I may not fix their water problems in the week that I will be down there, even though that might be what they are looking for just like the woman at the well, but I can share with them Jesus and He will be their hope, their future, their all and everything. And through the team's ministry and those who come after us, our heavenly family will grow. And for that I will sacrifice.
As I spend my daily devotional time reading my Bible, praying, and spiritually and emotionally preparing myself for my missions trip I feel different. I feel loved in a time were I haven't felt that lately. I feel as though I have a purpose despite my age, experience, or capabilities. I feel stretched in a good way. I did track for one season (I know, right?!?), whenever we did a really challenging workout coach would always tell us to stretch out. That's an important spiritual lesson to learn: whenever you put in the extra effort in devotion time, you got to learn to stretch your spiritual muscles. Try something. Anything. Serve others, that's a simple one.
I'm not going to lie to you (because going on a missions trip, lying--not a good combo) going on a missions trip is challenging. It's not just deciding then going. Its about the sacrifice. Whether it be financially or whatever, God expects a sacrifice. And more often than not you find yourself sacrificing yourself.
posted by Staci at 5:41 PM
3 comments
