Blog 001
About the in-between. It’s been a long time waiting but I’ve loved the anticipation. It’s like ordering that treat and waiting to have it. 😅
Being one week away from everything I’m waiting to see unfold, I figured I should start by answering the question I loved getting asked the most:
What has the Lord been teaching you in this process?
For those who believe in Jesus, I hope this encourages you; for those who don’t, it’ll all eventually make sense! 😊
I’m so excited about all the tangible ways I’ll get to serve in communities unknown to many of us, but of course, my motivation to go has always been Christ and His transformative work in my life. So here are two things He’s working out in my heart right now:
1: God can do anything!
Literally anything. The longer I sat on this, the more challenged I felt. I remember thinking, ‘sure, I think I believe that’. Then a couple of months ago, I asked the Lord to show me what that actually looks like. That felt like a bold move.
My prayer eventually became, “God, I want You to blow my mind”. Ha! 😂
As humorous as this might sound, I think God was using this desire to unearth some lies I believed and to challenge my faith. I’ve seen miracles with my own eyes and heard countless stories of God doing seemingly impossible things for others, but for myself, well, I wasn’t too sure about that.
Deep down I had this doubt that it would never happen for me and I struggled with the fear of things being ‘too good to be true’. But isn’t it like Jesus to be different than what we thought? Those of you walking closely with me have literally seen the miraculous provision, favor, and timing of the Lord in the last few weeks; the impossible being made possible! And it’s still a process for me. Every day I remind myself: Is anything too hard for the Lord? Is anything too wonderful for Him? No, nothing.
(Genesis 18:14; Luke 1:37)
2: Fruit.
Not the ones we eat 😁; the ones we live out!
Love. Joy. Peace. Patience. Kindness. Goodness. Faithfulness. Gentleness. Self Control. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I’m still working this out, but I’m realizing that Jesus is more concerned about me becoming more like Him than anything I can do for Him or others. From the Garden of Eden, He has desired communion; for us to abide in Him; for us to draw near.
I love the imagery when Jesus says, He is the True Vine and we are the branches; bearing fruit; learning His ways; growing in His likeness.
He’s become the Gardener of my heart; bringing in life and light, restoring what had died, softening what was calloused, mending what was broken, and refreshing the parts that were dry. How sweet it is to be loved by the Father. How wonderful it is to be called His friend.
(John 15:1-17)
Although these two things might seem a little random, I know God is up to something and it all comes together in the end. So I hope you’re encouraged. I hope for now this sort of makes sense 😄 I’m so glad for the way God encourages us when we embark on new adventures with Him! There will be lots of stories and updates to come. But for now, thank you for being here with me on this journey.
Heavenly Father, thank you for the one reading these words. Thank you for peeling back another layer of who You are to us. Thank you for showing us Your ways. May we always trust You with childlike faith. May we never lose our awe and wonder. May we never shy away from the ‘heart’ work. May we desire to be more like Jesus. And may this journey bring You glory. Have Your way in the now, the next and everything in-between.
Amen.