There is no language barriers when you speak the language of love.
Love speaks to the hearts and souls of the people this language is spoken to. It bypasses judgements, it forgives and releases prejudice. Love is a language learned and practiced.
It's much like learning to crawl, and then walk, walk and then run.
The more we speak it the more we become fluent in knowing exactly how to say what needs to be said.
Our words become powerful and gain meaning. .
Life is born from love.
Life was created out of love, for love, and towards love.
All walls fall when this language is spoken with such eloquence, and often times words aren't needed at all. . .
Love is the primary language I want to learn, Love is what I desire to become a student of.
. . . "If I have all the gifts of the world, all the gifts of the Spirit, but have not love, what am I"? What do I amount to without learning the language of love? I am nothing. .
These two months in Swaziland are coming to a close in a about two weeks now, and I can say this has truly been a labor of love.
We've done so much, seen so much, we've watched the Lord heal hearts, reveal darkness and bring light to people, hope to children, comfort to widows. . .
And we've loved. . .
That's the thing I can leave here saying I know we did.
We poured everything we had into this place, into these children.
We loved well.
I truly have been touched by my team, and the kids here at the mission.
You never really know what is going to happen. Tonight I used my medical skills to stitch up one of the kids legs. . he gashed it pretty deep and definitely needed stitches. . . a lot of the team held headlamps-because yep we had to do it in the dark 'cause there was no electricity. The boy was a trooper, and we did a pretty dang good job if I do say so myself.
Just goes to show you never know what you will do with the talents and gifting's God has given you.
This whole two months has been like that. .
God keeps uncovering parts of my heart, showing me ways I can learn love, even when I'm terrified and completely out of my comfort zone. .
He's always there guiding me along to learn love. .
He's teaching me how to let go. .
How to not try an have control over everything, and instead trust in His leadership, knowing full well His leadership is perfect and is without flaw.
Sometimes I'm like Peter. .
He calls me off the shore, out into the waves and I look at the waves instead of Him. .
But like Peter found out, I too found that God is still faithful to grab my hand and pull me close to His side even when I take my eyes off of Him and look at the waves around me. .
Swaziland has been an adventure for sure.
Many waves, and yet many moments His eyes met mine. . .
I'm trusting, and leaning in, learning love and walking on water. . .
Friday, July 17, 2015
Monday, June 22, 2015
You Should Have Seen It In Color
I could tell
you of the beauty my eyes have beheld over the years and how amazing it is the
history in which they hold, the places and moments they have witnessed. I could
tell you how my pictures can’t do the African night sky justice, and I’d love
to tell you of the mountains and their beauty. The splendor of every sunrise
and sunset we see here. I’ve seen the world around me, I have dove deep into
culture, lived in the rough, seen many faces, and tasted many foods, I’ve had
many beautiful moments that my eyes have seen, but here in this place I’ve seen
one of the most precious moments. I didn’t see in color, I saw in black and
white.
Let me tell you of David and Shiloh. Shiloh is our host’s
granddaughter a white South African blonde hair, white skinned blue eyed cute
little girl, and David a Swazi, so dark skinned black genius of a little boy.
David is 8 and Shiloh is 5. I watched David walk Shiloh to wherever they were
going, doing whatever they were going to do. It was one of the sweetest moments
I’ve seen here.
David walked with Shiloh arm around her talking to
her guiding her as a older brother would do. Both these kids have stories.
David especially. David adopted in to the host Charmain’s family as he an
orphan boy became grafted into a home he can call his own, and with a family that
loves him.
Every day I learn from these kids. Jesus said in
Matthew 19:14 “Let the little ones come to me, and do not hinder them for such
is the Kingdom of Heaven, it belongs to ones such as these”. I sat down in
Grassroots with a dear friend right before leaving, and spoke of this moment. This
very moment when I knew it would be the kids I would learn from.
Sure we work. That’s what I love doing too. I love working
with my hands and seeing physical representation of progress and that something
is done, finished, completed. We work hard all day. We do a lot of manual
labor, we clean pig pens out, work in the garden, build fire breaks on the
mountain, level the roads up and down the mountain, we’re running a clinic twice
a week now, and gearing up for house visits as well around in other villages.
All of that sounds very busy, but TIA This Is Africa. Everything here moves at
a much slower pace. We just kind of live in time, not for time. We work hard, we sing, we dance and throughout our day there are these little moments your eyes get to
capture something beautiful like this. You get to watch a sunset, or see the
clouds roll over the mountain peak. You see the stars in the sky and can swear you could just reach out and touch them.
It's in this moment I get to see love displayed
not with veiled lens or prejudice, but simply Kingdom type love. Love that
knows no color, no race. Only heart, only human. A young boy and a young girl,
black and white, Swazi and South African they are teaching me love today.
Take a minute today and look around you. Look around you at how love is displayed to you today. Maybe it's in a sunset, or another person. Maybe it's in your family, your friends or where you work. Wherever you see love displayed today soak it up, take it all in. .
Where do you see love displayed?
Saturday, June 6, 2015
Passport in Paris
We've arrived in Paris!!!
We landed in Paris today, and are adjusting to being 6 hours ahead time zone wise. I've literally almost fallen asleep 3 times writing this out!
We did get to go see some of the most stunning places in Paris due to our long layover, and that was incredible.
We are getting ready to leave tonight for South Africa, and we will be at our ministry site by Sunday morning in Swaziland.
I love this.
I love traveling again.
I love being in airports, getting lost in cities I know nothing about, searching for wi-fi, and enjoying the world around you so much more since you don't have it constantly. . .
I love walking the streets of an unfamiliar city and be-boppin my way through traffic like a boss!
I love talking in a british accent and getting flight attendents and anyone else who will give me the time of day to think I'm from South Africa. . . yeah. . haha . . It's fun!
Listen, This team is hungry.
They are eager to grow, be stretched and work, act, and do life as the body. One body. His hands, His feet. It's exciting to watch this team dive deep, and push past the "small talk" to go into the hard places of their own hearts, and deal with baggage. . .
The Lord is at work in our hearts as we prepare to take a journey up on the mountain.
Literally. . .
We will be tucked away on a mountain in Swaziland, and I know it's gonna stretch us. It's going to stretch me.
Africa can be hard on the heart. Africa is not always hugging on orphans or lions and elephants despite the awesome IG pics you may see from time to time. When given the choice I chose this.
I chose to leave at this time. I chose this way of life. I could be sitting behind a desk, or working my way through college, but I'm not. I'm not knocking any of those things because I do believe in school, and establishing yourself in whatever trade you wish to pursue, but I'll tell you why I chose this. Why I chose Africa. I chose Africa because it terrifies me.
I chose Africa because last time I was here it was far outside my comfort zone. Took me to higher heights and deeper depths that I just could not have reached myself without the struggle bus rolling through my life in that red clay, that my feel will again be marching on soon.
It was a time of surrender then, and not much has changed now. . .
I'm at another place of surrender in my life, and I'm leaning into it. . .
I remember the way the Lord was such a gentleman with my heart. He was so gracious, so kind. He walked me through the thicket hand in hand. . .
A lot has happened in my heart and life to prepare me to go back out on the field. I'm incredibly grateful for this journey, even in times when I don't "feel" it. I'm being stretched, I'm growing. . . I'm in a position that allows me to learn more listening, and how to do life with people in close quarters again. I get to pour into these team members and help empower them, and boy do /I see Jesus. I see Him in them. Their hunger, their passion, their hearts.
I'm so grateful for so many things, and so many people that I do life with. Here now, and those of you at home I love so dearly. I am grateful for this summer-realistic in my thinking that at times this will be hard, but also excited in the fact, that it's these hard times that cause the deepest change, most lasting impact in me and those I do life with, and it causes the most growth in me as I continue becoming the man I desire to be. I'm excited about being out again. Seeing the faces I'll never forget, doing life with these with me now, learning and knowing their stories to the point I feel pain when we separate. . . I'm all in. I'm a mess, and it's perfect.
He has gone before me, and He will be beside me.
I'm eternally grateful for the companionship and the partnership of the Lord's heart in this season and time.
I hope I can update you soon! Stay tuned!
Kingdom Living
-Kingdom -
Know that you are worth the fathers attention. That's the Kingdom. Kingdom living inside you
Give Him opportunity to show up for you
He desires companionship and partnership with you and your heart
That is the Holy Spirit. He the person.
-There may be times you need to get over yourself sometimes and realize you don't have to be a theologian or scholar to come to Him and to walk into kingdom living. You don't have to have it altogether. You don't have to have all the answers or solutions for everyone or for even yourself. "Come as you are" "my sheep will know me by my voice"
Whenever you are called out in this phase and given a new name by the Lord walk in that accordingly.
Believe in who you are and the potential inside yourself
The Lord called Gideon a. Mighty man of valor. Was he feeling like a mighty man of valor? Probably not at the time because he was hiding. .
It's not always about what or how you feel.
Again, believe in who you are and the potential inside yourself. Walk in that whether you believe it or not. Your mind heart and emotions may not believe it yet, but once you start to walk in it the mind heart and emotions will catch up with the action being taken.
It's amazing how much life is in someone who's dying . . Have you ever seen someone when they know they are dying? They spend their last days truly living. Truly live life. Enjoy every second. Grieve yes, there's time for that today, tomorrow His grace and mercies are new for you. There is something to celebrate. Something to rejoice in.
It's love that truly compels change in your heart and the world around you.
We are promised love. That we will be pursued, cared for. Don't walk in an orphaned spirit any longer.
It's not the promise that sustains love.
It's the love that sustains the promise
By you choosing this life your living and how your responding to this season and this time you yourself are already changing the world more than you realize.
I believe It's not this season that will change you, but it's your choice of how you will engage in this season, of how you will respond to this season. That is what will change you.
Cs Lewis said - "we are who we believe we are"
Take a risk with yourself
When Jesus believes in you so much, who are we to say otherwise?
We have enough critics in the world let's be people of life and hope. A people who create a culture of life and hope around us.
So I want to challenge you and encourage you be willing to see beyond yourself because your more than what you think you are.
If something terrifies you go after it.
Sometimes it's the enemy's last weapon -to use fear -it's the last obstacle before great breakthrough.
-Use your voice
What we don't acknowledge the Lord can't heal. What we don't confess the Lord can't redeem. Not because He's incapable but but because He wants us to choose healing, choose redemption, choose freedom.
Your a person of courage.
Not only because of your heart towards ministry but because of how your willing to deal with the stuff inside you. Your willing to go to the hard, ugly, messy parts of your heart and deal with yourself.
-Challenge the Lord as Jacob wrestled with the Lord and demanded His blessing
He's a good father and loves to take care of His children
He's gonna show up
Once we trust God for who He is, we get to experience the Father
Living beyond yourself is scary, but you can do it.
I believe in you
Be a people of courage
Now go, The world is waiting . . .
Know that you are worth the fathers attention. That's the Kingdom. Kingdom living inside you
Give Him opportunity to show up for you
He desires companionship and partnership with you and your heart
That is the Holy Spirit. He the person.
-There may be times you need to get over yourself sometimes and realize you don't have to be a theologian or scholar to come to Him and to walk into kingdom living. You don't have to have it altogether. You don't have to have all the answers or solutions for everyone or for even yourself. "Come as you are" "my sheep will know me by my voice"
Whenever you are called out in this phase and given a new name by the Lord walk in that accordingly.
Believe in who you are and the potential inside yourself
The Lord called Gideon a. Mighty man of valor. Was he feeling like a mighty man of valor? Probably not at the time because he was hiding. .
It's not always about what or how you feel.
Again, believe in who you are and the potential inside yourself. Walk in that whether you believe it or not. Your mind heart and emotions may not believe it yet, but once you start to walk in it the mind heart and emotions will catch up with the action being taken.
It's amazing how much life is in someone who's dying . . Have you ever seen someone when they know they are dying? They spend their last days truly living. Truly live life. Enjoy every second. Grieve yes, there's time for that today, tomorrow His grace and mercies are new for you. There is something to celebrate. Something to rejoice in.
It's love that truly compels change in your heart and the world around you.
We are promised love. That we will be pursued, cared for. Don't walk in an orphaned spirit any longer.
It's not the promise that sustains love.
It's the love that sustains the promise
By you choosing this life your living and how your responding to this season and this time you yourself are already changing the world more than you realize.
I believe It's not this season that will change you, but it's your choice of how you will engage in this season, of how you will respond to this season. That is what will change you.
Cs Lewis said - "we are who we believe we are"
Take a risk with yourself
When Jesus believes in you so much, who are we to say otherwise?
We have enough critics in the world let's be people of life and hope. A people who create a culture of life and hope around us.
So I want to challenge you and encourage you be willing to see beyond yourself because your more than what you think you are.
If something terrifies you go after it.
Sometimes it's the enemy's last weapon -to use fear -it's the last obstacle before great breakthrough.
-Use your voice
What we don't acknowledge the Lord can't heal. What we don't confess the Lord can't redeem. Not because He's incapable but but because He wants us to choose healing, choose redemption, choose freedom.
Your a person of courage.
Not only because of your heart towards ministry but because of how your willing to deal with the stuff inside you. Your willing to go to the hard, ugly, messy parts of your heart and deal with yourself.
-Challenge the Lord as Jacob wrestled with the Lord and demanded His blessing
He's a good father and loves to take care of His children
He's gonna show up
Once we trust God for who He is, we get to experience the Father
Living beyond yourself is scary, but you can do it.
I believe in you
Be a people of courage
Now go, The world is waiting . . .
Sunday, May 31, 2015
There Is No Fear In Love
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we have boldness in the
day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear
in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment, but He
who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved
us.” 1 John 4:17
There is no fear in love
This
statement, this six word sentence rocks me as I read it. I find myself afraid a
lot. I find myself scared of decisions I make all the time. There is just something
about the unknown, and not knowing the outcome of “what if’s”, and “what could
happen” questions that can torture and terrify the human heart. I am human
though. As I read the verse above I see there is grace where I’m afraid. There
is love for me easily accessible even when I am stuck in fear.
I am on
another Kingdom Journey where the Lord is perfecting His perfect love in me. I
can’t love well without His love in me, flowing out of me. I’ve seen the ugly
parts of my own heart as I examine it, study it, and put it under scrutiny with
the scriptures. I am wicked, deceitful and my righteousness really is a lot
like a bunch of filthy rags. I have bad habits, tendencies to fall to things I
thought I conquered myself, and I can be crippled and gripped by fear which
paralyzes my heart to love.
There is
something beautiful in all of this. I’ve come to the realization and the
revelation that even with all that mess, and the mess I am He still loved me
first. He still loves me first.
First and
foremost He loved. . He loves. .
Because of
this, love can be perfected in me.
We are
gearing up to go on a Kingdom Journey so much greater than just a mission trip.
We call it Passport, and in a couple of days my co leader Alyson and I will be
traveling to Swaziland with our team. We will go as messy but beautiful broken
people. Sensitive to the Lord, and His leading. He is leading us into His
perfect love, and love being perfected in us.
Love with no
fear, wrapped up in bravery, surrounded by outrageous courage, and settled in
to He who is love.
Pray with
us, pray for us, for them we are going to, and follow this beautiful Kingdom
Journey into love.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Off the Bow, Away from the Boat, Into the Waters
As I sit here tonight I can't believe my life. I think back to two years ago I was sitting around a table in Thailand among some of the greatest men I've ever known. I think back to those days on the World Race often. I'm always counting the months, and remembering where I was, what we were doing.
I'm fond of memories of the World Race. A 11 month journey, a 11 month mission trip that did more ministry to my heart than I think I could ever "do" for anybody we visited. I saw the world! I dove into many different cultures, I invested in those around me, and never forgot those that were at home. All the while my heart was being wrecked, and radically ruined. Never to be the same, and I had no idea.
It's funny because I remember leaving. Stepping on the plane with tears filling my eyes not sure of what I had gotten myself into, second guessing my choice to just follow the Lord out on this one.
11 months later I was stepping off of a plane with tears in my eyes because I couldn't believe that I had to say goodbye to all of those I just did life with for 11 months. My heart still hurts thinking of how much I miss all of them. I see some from time to time. Many of us stay connected, life is busy we all understand that, but I love slowing down.
Tonight I slowed down. I slowed down to just sit and reflect upon how gracious He has been to me. Africans do this often. They will tell you we Americans are always oh so busy. I think we can learn from them here. We. . . I, need to slow down. I've appreciated slowing down tonight. Whenever I stop, and just sit, reflect upon my life I see His fingerprints all over.
Every time I step out of the boat, He's there, often ushering me out farther into deeper waters, and deeper levels of trust. Every time I lean into Him I always feel that feeling right before your about to fall, and yet He's always there to catch me. . .
I came home from the World Race and knew only one thing. My life as I knew it was over.
My transition back home I didn't speak of much. If anything I can see now I hid. I hid many stories afraid many would not treasure them as I did. I remember always blogging, instagramming, facebooking and all that jazz. I was just tired of everyone knowing every detail of my life, and yet I was the one who was giving all the details. I was hurt people just didn't get it. We were told about people who only had time for 5 min stories of "how was your trip"? or "what was your favorite country"? I never expected it to be hard to deal with that, but then again wasn't I just the same 11 months before? Many didn't understand, but then again some did.
I never became a hermit, but I did become more introverted and more accustomed to having a bit more privacy with my life heart and story.
My transition took some time getting used to, and I had some set backs. School didn't work out for long,. I bounced around from house to house for a bit, and I was very low on cash flow for many months. I kept a bag packed just in case for 3 months, but the Lord is faithful, and He provided such favor and blessing to land me where I am today. I have a job I adore. I am passionate about what I do, and spend many hours working a job that I don't feel like is work. I work with an amazing team of people who I truly enjoy doing life with. This job is my platform of ministry where I am able to speak into peoples lives and help truly change them, and be changed by them.
I also have phenomenal community. I love my little hometown, and the people in it. They are all so lively, and we have such depth, such passion, such a hunger for the Lord and His Kingdom. It's somewhere I'm proud to be, It's somewhere I'm proud to call home. In a way it will always be home, but yet I know I will continue to leave it so I can continue to love it.
Now that statement may take a minute to understand. Let me help sink it in.
As soon as I stepped off the plane after month 11 in Chicago I knew I'd be going back out on the field. I didn't know how, or when, but I knew I'd be going. I knew He would call me out of the boat once again.
. . . Deeper waters
. . . Deeper levels of trust
After two years of patiently waiting I can now say I am returning to the field!
In one month I am heading to Swaziland! I will be in Swaziland serving through Adventures In Missions. And guess what? It's fully paid for! - Whole another story in itself to tell you how amazing He is to provide my whole way. He truly is my provision, and my Shepard.
One great desire of mine is to leave again so I can disorient myself. I enjoy getting back to the heart of people. Getting out of the hamster wheel of running the "American dream", and American living. I'm not all about this "pursuit of happiness" when I know my heart is truly happiest when it's being poured out, given away, and torn to bits and pieces by those I fall in love with. This has been happening all the while here stateside for a whole year now, and now He has called me out of the boat once again. Away from my comfort zone once more to learn love as I did before, and yet all over again. To all things new. . .
It's time I break the silence. It's time I invite you back into the story I'm all wrapped up in. I was away in the Wilderness with the Lord, tucked away in His heart, searching for Him through the thick and the thin of life these past two years. . .
I invite you to follow my journey as I embark on an incredible journey back to Africa. To Swaziland.
We'll talk soon.
I'm fond of memories of the World Race. A 11 month journey, a 11 month mission trip that did more ministry to my heart than I think I could ever "do" for anybody we visited. I saw the world! I dove into many different cultures, I invested in those around me, and never forgot those that were at home. All the while my heart was being wrecked, and radically ruined. Never to be the same, and I had no idea.
It's funny because I remember leaving. Stepping on the plane with tears filling my eyes not sure of what I had gotten myself into, second guessing my choice to just follow the Lord out on this one.
11 months later I was stepping off of a plane with tears in my eyes because I couldn't believe that I had to say goodbye to all of those I just did life with for 11 months. My heart still hurts thinking of how much I miss all of them. I see some from time to time. Many of us stay connected, life is busy we all understand that, but I love slowing down.
Tonight I slowed down. I slowed down to just sit and reflect upon how gracious He has been to me. Africans do this often. They will tell you we Americans are always oh so busy. I think we can learn from them here. We. . . I, need to slow down. I've appreciated slowing down tonight. Whenever I stop, and just sit, reflect upon my life I see His fingerprints all over.
Every time I step out of the boat, He's there, often ushering me out farther into deeper waters, and deeper levels of trust. Every time I lean into Him I always feel that feeling right before your about to fall, and yet He's always there to catch me. . .
I came home from the World Race and knew only one thing. My life as I knew it was over.
My transition back home I didn't speak of much. If anything I can see now I hid. I hid many stories afraid many would not treasure them as I did. I remember always blogging, instagramming, facebooking and all that jazz. I was just tired of everyone knowing every detail of my life, and yet I was the one who was giving all the details. I was hurt people just didn't get it. We were told about people who only had time for 5 min stories of "how was your trip"? or "what was your favorite country"? I never expected it to be hard to deal with that, but then again wasn't I just the same 11 months before? Many didn't understand, but then again some did.
I never became a hermit, but I did become more introverted and more accustomed to having a bit more privacy with my life heart and story.
My transition took some time getting used to, and I had some set backs. School didn't work out for long,. I bounced around from house to house for a bit, and I was very low on cash flow for many months. I kept a bag packed just in case for 3 months, but the Lord is faithful, and He provided such favor and blessing to land me where I am today. I have a job I adore. I am passionate about what I do, and spend many hours working a job that I don't feel like is work. I work with an amazing team of people who I truly enjoy doing life with. This job is my platform of ministry where I am able to speak into peoples lives and help truly change them, and be changed by them.
I also have phenomenal community. I love my little hometown, and the people in it. They are all so lively, and we have such depth, such passion, such a hunger for the Lord and His Kingdom. It's somewhere I'm proud to be, It's somewhere I'm proud to call home. In a way it will always be home, but yet I know I will continue to leave it so I can continue to love it.
Now that statement may take a minute to understand. Let me help sink it in.
As soon as I stepped off the plane after month 11 in Chicago I knew I'd be going back out on the field. I didn't know how, or when, but I knew I'd be going. I knew He would call me out of the boat once again.
. . . Deeper waters
. . . Deeper levels of trust
After two years of patiently waiting I can now say I am returning to the field!
In one month I am heading to Swaziland! I will be in Swaziland serving through Adventures In Missions. And guess what? It's fully paid for! - Whole another story in itself to tell you how amazing He is to provide my whole way. He truly is my provision, and my Shepard.
One great desire of mine is to leave again so I can disorient myself. I enjoy getting back to the heart of people. Getting out of the hamster wheel of running the "American dream", and American living. I'm not all about this "pursuit of happiness" when I know my heart is truly happiest when it's being poured out, given away, and torn to bits and pieces by those I fall in love with. This has been happening all the while here stateside for a whole year now, and now He has called me out of the boat once again. Away from my comfort zone once more to learn love as I did before, and yet all over again. To all things new. . .
It's time I break the silence. It's time I invite you back into the story I'm all wrapped up in. I was away in the Wilderness with the Lord, tucked away in His heart, searching for Him through the thick and the thin of life these past two years. . .
I invite you to follow my journey as I embark on an incredible journey back to Africa. To Swaziland.
We'll talk soon.
Monday, February 10, 2014
Home Sweet Home
So, it took me this long to sit & write. .
I am one to process things rarely through writing, and yet I've had so many people tell me they loved following me through this blog. They would describe stories back to me as I returned home from the Race. They would recount moments with me that were hard like having Dengue fever, or beautiful moments like jumping off the bridge in Nepal, and it depicting something far more than just a physical leap.
The number one question I get nowadays is "So, what's next?"
As I was returning home I dreaded the thought of answering this question.
See I'm a planner. If I could I'd probably plan the next 5 years of my life, but that just doesn't seem to always be the way the Lord works with me. He loves surprising me. He loves showing me that His purposes in my life are to astonish me with His favor & His blessing, to show me I'm a Son, and He is a great Father. He is purposeful with His presence wherever I go, in whatever I do.
Guys to be honest with you as the World Race came to a close in the final months, I really thought I had this whole plan of coming home all mapped out.
My plan was as soon as I got off the Race I was going to go attend a ministry school affiliated with AIM (Adventures In Missions). I was going to attend CGA (Center of Global Action). The course I was looking into taking at CGA was a crash course that dives right into field leadership. It's focus is on community, and how to establish leaders that can lead, call up, & empower others to lead in the mission field. Afterwards my next move was going to be to apply to Squad Lead. Every bit of me wanted to Squad Lead since like month 6 on the Race. I love the platform you have as a Squad Leader to speak into the strangers who become your family on the Race.
As it so happens, plans have changed. . .
The time I have spent with the Lord since coming home has been so amazing! So riveting! I hang on His every word, and I feel so close to Him. I feel His leadership over my life, and couldn't be more thankful for the directions He's given through times in the secret place with Him.
I will never say never to attending CGA or becoming a squad leader for the World Race. I love Adventures In Missions & I absolutely adore the journey I was able to go on with the World Race. I will always keep close contact with Adventures & I'd like to look into short term trips with them in the future. For now though there are other things I'm pursuing that I would love to share with you!
I made it home just in time to spend Christmas with my family. Arriving just before Christmas Eve brought my mom & maw maw to tears as I loved on them & just enjoyed being close to them once again. Missed out on seeing some siblings but saw my brother & sister & loved every minute I got to share with them.
After the Holidays I made the trek back up to ATL for what we alumni Racer's call Project Searchlight. Project Searchlight is basically a celebration of you being home, but also a moment of "follow up" where your coaches, and AIM staff takes time out of their week to help you now take control of your life, after all year being told to give up that same control. We spent all week planning goals, setting up jobs, deciding to decide on where to go next.
Which brings me here. . .
I came home after Project Searchlight fueled with vision & passion. I came home with this drive to see my life have even more purpose than the Race. That's what we want after a journey like that right?
I begin asking the Lord for a platform of where I could speak, preach & teach. Where was it that I could walk out the Kingdom lifestyle in my every day?
The Lord gave me options and some doors closed, and others opened. I found myself home with the wheels rolling, I begin to develop a passion to get back into Fitness training. I begin to desire this to be that platform. The desire to become a leader through Fitness & Health captivated me & made me come alive!
Now this passion developed more on the Race, and so it wasn't something completely new to me, I've done Personal Training before but I was so young at the time, and lacked vision.
Well, I decided to go on a silent fast with the intent to hear the Lord with clarity. After this fast He & I decided to decide. I went after my re-certification in Personal Training, and I did indeed get re-certified. Then I begin my search for possible gyms to take me in or clients to take me on as their trainer. Also, My EMS crew at Genesis EMS took me back part time as they said they would before I left, and so I started work on the Box (ambulance) again.
Through the Lord's leading & networking I now have been accepted & received as the newest personal trainer at our premiere 24/7 gym here in town, Factor X Fitness. I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the people I'm working alongside. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be doing what I love, and seeing the Lord work through the gifting & talents He's given me.
That's not all though. . . not only have I been able to start work, and LOVE what I'm able to do, but The Race and it's journey has inspired me to go to college!
Yep, you heard right! Seeing all the poverty I've seen on the Race, the lack of education, etc, etc . . . it made me thankful for what we have. It made me eternally grateful for the blessings we have here in the States. I have been held back for years because a lack in confidence of myself, a lack of financial means to go to school. Now I do think it was good I didn't go to college at 18 or 19. I was immature, selfish, full of lust and had no vision or purpose for my life. College at that tme would have been a waste of time & money. Just being real I probably would've dropped out an become someone's baby's daddy.
Coming home I finally got fed up with the lies the enemy was spoon feeding me & I just said to the Lord "why not!? you're never too old to go to college right!? And what I don't know I can learn right!?" I have grown so much out of that immaturity, and I purposefully and consistently walk close to the Lord now. I pefer others above myself, and now I have vision and I'm driven.
So, I begin to pray about where to apply, where to go, what to study? I knew right when I saw it! I will be going after my Bachelors degree in Exercise Science.
I've been looking into possibly attending VSU (Valdosta State University). I am currently looking into scholarships, grants, and it looks possible, not only that it looks promising that I'll get in. More to come on that later. . .
So this is life right now. . I am busy as ever, but it's that good kind of busy. The productive busy that you feel like your moving forward in. It's a happy busy knowing I'm releasing the Kingdom as I go in everything I say & do.
I'm so excited about these steps I've taken & I feel proud of where I'm at. I'm so thankful for the Lord's leadership & your influence in my life. The way that each of you followed my journey, how you poured into me. . . how you still pour into me near or far. My community has received me so well here, and I have such amazing community globally now because of the World Race. To friends near & far I say this to you: You are loved dearly & fiercely by me. I pray the Kingdom over you, I pray you carry yourselves as Son's & Daughter's, and I pray that as you walk you release the anointing of our beloved Holy Spirit everywhere your feet tread.
Dev
I am one to process things rarely through writing, and yet I've had so many people tell me they loved following me through this blog. They would describe stories back to me as I returned home from the Race. They would recount moments with me that were hard like having Dengue fever, or beautiful moments like jumping off the bridge in Nepal, and it depicting something far more than just a physical leap.
The number one question I get nowadays is "So, what's next?"
As I was returning home I dreaded the thought of answering this question.
See I'm a planner. If I could I'd probably plan the next 5 years of my life, but that just doesn't seem to always be the way the Lord works with me. He loves surprising me. He loves showing me that His purposes in my life are to astonish me with His favor & His blessing, to show me I'm a Son, and He is a great Father. He is purposeful with His presence wherever I go, in whatever I do.
Guys to be honest with you as the World Race came to a close in the final months, I really thought I had this whole plan of coming home all mapped out.
My plan was as soon as I got off the Race I was going to go attend a ministry school affiliated with AIM (Adventures In Missions). I was going to attend CGA (Center of Global Action). The course I was looking into taking at CGA was a crash course that dives right into field leadership. It's focus is on community, and how to establish leaders that can lead, call up, & empower others to lead in the mission field. Afterwards my next move was going to be to apply to Squad Lead. Every bit of me wanted to Squad Lead since like month 6 on the Race. I love the platform you have as a Squad Leader to speak into the strangers who become your family on the Race.
As it so happens, plans have changed. . .
The time I have spent with the Lord since coming home has been so amazing! So riveting! I hang on His every word, and I feel so close to Him. I feel His leadership over my life, and couldn't be more thankful for the directions He's given through times in the secret place with Him.
I will never say never to attending CGA or becoming a squad leader for the World Race. I love Adventures In Missions & I absolutely adore the journey I was able to go on with the World Race. I will always keep close contact with Adventures & I'd like to look into short term trips with them in the future. For now though there are other things I'm pursuing that I would love to share with you!
Let me take you back a bit to when I first came home. We landed our plane stateside on December 7th singing the national anthem as we landed, and I couldn't have been more thrilled. India was hard, especially hard as it was our last month. Month 11. Yes if you can imagine the difficulties we faced in knowing this was it, we did it, and yet the tears that fell because it was over. Man did we finish well. though. . .
It was hard as people peeled off left & right & we said our goodbyes. I was fortunate enough to be able to spend a week in Chicago with some of my friends from the Race before making the trek home, Friends then volunteered to road trip up to ATL to get me, so then after Chi town I was able to spend a week in Griffin with some lovely friends who served me food, provided a place to rest my head, and be myself. They set the tone for coming home. They spoke life into & over me, and recounted stories with me. It was amazing.
I made it home just in time to spend Christmas with my family. Arriving just before Christmas Eve brought my mom & maw maw to tears as I loved on them & just enjoyed being close to them once again. Missed out on seeing some siblings but saw my brother & sister & loved every minute I got to share with them.
After the Holidays I made the trek back up to ATL for what we alumni Racer's call Project Searchlight. Project Searchlight is basically a celebration of you being home, but also a moment of "follow up" where your coaches, and AIM staff takes time out of their week to help you now take control of your life, after all year being told to give up that same control. We spent all week planning goals, setting up jobs, deciding to decide on where to go next.
Which brings me here. . .
I came home after Project Searchlight fueled with vision & passion. I came home with this drive to see my life have even more purpose than the Race. That's what we want after a journey like that right?
I begin asking the Lord for a platform of where I could speak, preach & teach. Where was it that I could walk out the Kingdom lifestyle in my every day?
The Lord gave me options and some doors closed, and others opened. I found myself home with the wheels rolling, I begin to develop a passion to get back into Fitness training. I begin to desire this to be that platform. The desire to become a leader through Fitness & Health captivated me & made me come alive!
Now this passion developed more on the Race, and so it wasn't something completely new to me, I've done Personal Training before but I was so young at the time, and lacked vision.
Well, I decided to go on a silent fast with the intent to hear the Lord with clarity. After this fast He & I decided to decide. I went after my re-certification in Personal Training, and I did indeed get re-certified. Then I begin my search for possible gyms to take me in or clients to take me on as their trainer. Also, My EMS crew at Genesis EMS took me back part time as they said they would before I left, and so I started work on the Box (ambulance) again.
Through the Lord's leading & networking I now have been accepted & received as the newest personal trainer at our premiere 24/7 gym here in town, Factor X Fitness. I couldn't be more thrilled to be working with the people I'm working alongside. I can't tell you how happy it makes me to be doing what I love, and seeing the Lord work through the gifting & talents He's given me.
That's not all though. . . not only have I been able to start work, and LOVE what I'm able to do, but The Race and it's journey has inspired me to go to college!
Yep, you heard right! Seeing all the poverty I've seen on the Race, the lack of education, etc, etc . . . it made me thankful for what we have. It made me eternally grateful for the blessings we have here in the States. I have been held back for years because a lack in confidence of myself, a lack of financial means to go to school. Now I do think it was good I didn't go to college at 18 or 19. I was immature, selfish, full of lust and had no vision or purpose for my life. College at that tme would have been a waste of time & money. Just being real I probably would've dropped out an become someone's baby's daddy.
Coming home I finally got fed up with the lies the enemy was spoon feeding me & I just said to the Lord "why not!? you're never too old to go to college right!? And what I don't know I can learn right!?" I have grown so much out of that immaturity, and I purposefully and consistently walk close to the Lord now. I pefer others above myself, and now I have vision and I'm driven.
So, I begin to pray about where to apply, where to go, what to study? I knew right when I saw it! I will be going after my Bachelors degree in Exercise Science.
I've been looking into possibly attending VSU (Valdosta State University). I am currently looking into scholarships, grants, and it looks possible, not only that it looks promising that I'll get in. More to come on that later. . .
So this is life right now. . I am busy as ever, but it's that good kind of busy. The productive busy that you feel like your moving forward in. It's a happy busy knowing I'm releasing the Kingdom as I go in everything I say & do.
I'm so excited about these steps I've taken & I feel proud of where I'm at. I'm so thankful for the Lord's leadership & your influence in my life. The way that each of you followed my journey, how you poured into me. . . how you still pour into me near or far. My community has received me so well here, and I have such amazing community globally now because of the World Race. To friends near & far I say this to you: You are loved dearly & fiercely by me. I pray the Kingdom over you, I pray you carry yourselves as Son's & Daughter's, and I pray that as you walk you release the anointing of our beloved Holy Spirit everywhere your feet tread.
Dev
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