Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (The Message)
The test results are back and there is nothing wrong with my heart. At least medically. Which convinces me even more that it is my heart being stretched. This weekend, our church is holding a missions conference. As usual, I overloaded myself. On Saturday, I will help set up tables and chairs, cook for 600 people and man my own booth about the Pack A Sack program we are starting for our local elementary school. On Sunday morning, I will teach a Sunday School class about Pack A Sack and Guatemala, attend a commissioning service for our Guatemala team and tell a missions story, complete with illustrations, in Children’s Church. While I have always been an all of nothing sort of girl, I have not always been sold out about missions. Just two years ago, I would not attend the weekend’s events. Sure, I would sign up to bring food, but I would have dropped it off at the church on Saturday night and made some excuse about why I couldn’t stay. I would have “accidentally” forgotten to set the alarm on Sunday morning and missed Sunday School and church. Because I really, really didn’t want to hear the missionaries talk and I really, really didn’t care about the Great Commission that Jesus gave to us. Among the last words He spoke to His disciples and the church were the ones telling us to “Go and make disciples.” But, despite His assurance that He would also go with us and give us the power to do what He asked, I wasn’t interested in leaving my comfortable home and my dear friends to go to the ends of the earth. Then, my son challenged me to “rock the babies” and scared to death, I got on the plane for Guatemala. After one week of rocking babies, consoling toddlers, feeding hungry children, I was hooked and transformed into the biggest cheerleader for missions that there ever was. In ten days, I will be back on my way to Guatemala once more. But, God will not letting me rest with that ministry or the one at home feeding hungry children here. Because He continues to stretch me. I am now praying about a mission trip to India. I can honestly say that is the absolute last place in the world I want to go. I’m not a good flyer and that is a long trip. I have weird phobias about germs, food and bathrooms, but, go I will if that is what God asks me to do. I am also searching for a way to get involved in the crusade against human trafficking. Because 27 million people in our world are enslaved. So, what about you? Is God stretching you? Is He asking you to go around the world, or simply to your next door neighbor? Is He asking you to feed children on another continent or at your neighborhood school? Whatever He asks you to do! Do it!
Very well said! I amazed at your stretching!!!! As for me, I am unsure where He is leading me. Still listening.
Like Danielle I'm still listening – take care of yourself though – without your health you can't help anyone else!