Living a life that Matters

This is packing week for India. I see the excitement of the other team members at the team meeting and it is starting to get me excited. But the common thing I am hearing from everyone is how busy they are or how much they have to do before we go. I really don’t have a lot of excuses because I have a weak off to prepare before we leave. I guess I find myself having a hard time focusing. So my being busy is more being too busy in my brain. But aren’t we commanded to go? I think that literally means to get up and go! Abraham was constantly being called to go. That guy lived everywhere .. so did Paul. I don’t think we are supposed to say that I need to wait till I get all the bills paid and take care of this and that, then I’ll be ready to go. I think we are to be ready to go at all times. We are to be prepared to proclaim the gospel everyday – in our workplaces, the store, etc. I think we worry too much. Being a part of God’s family is like being born into a family business. We have work to do and are expected to do it. “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 (NIV)

This mission trip is different from any other trip I have been on. I’ve always had some specific role that I had to do beforehand. Usually it’s the role of team leader. This trip I am just showing up. The cool thing is that God is already doing work in India through Harvest India and we are just joining in what God is doing through them. But because I have been stripped down to the core of who I am, I really feel this is an opportunity for God and I to work through some stuff through this trip. It really has been a tough few months for me having to come face to face with my junk that I have been carrying for so long. But it has giving me the chance to see who I was created to be – a humble servant of God. I sometimes forget that as I get caught up with the busyness of life. I’m really trying to be open minded to whatever God wants from me and to be obedient to that.

“May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine on us so that your ways may be known on earth,
your salvation among all nations. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you rule the peoples with equity and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise you, God; may all the peoples praise you.The land yields its harvest; God, our God, blesses us. May God bless us still, so that all the ends of the earth will fear him.”  Psalms 67 (NIV)

The whole Bible portrays God as a missionary God from Genesis to Revelation. I love this chapter from Psalms and the quote from John Piper “Missions exist because worship doesn’t”. They both go so well together. We aren’t called to show the less fortunate a better way of life. We are called to proclaim the gospel to those that have never heard it. Why? So God can be glorified among ALL the nations and people groups. I love that God has instilled this heart for the nations in me. I never quite understood it when I got back from my first mission trip. But as I am growing and becoming more mature in my faith, I am understanding more of what God is calling me to do. Leading mission trips has become my passion in my walk with the Lord. I love meeting people and sharing my faith, especially to people of different cultures. I am so thankful and blessed that I have the opportunity to go on this trip to India. I am excited to see God work not only through me but also through our team. May His glory shine through us and through Harvest India to those that don’t know Him.