I think one of the sweetest things about being on the Liberia team thus far is how frequently it can pull me back into the current of "soul," reminding me of God's irrevocable love and His desire for us to hear Him say our names. I am being invited into community with other followers of Christ who are letting Him lead them all the way across the world, letting Him re-shape their hearts to look like His, letting God's provision melt away their anxious fears. I am being covered in prayer by friends and family members, by leaders whom I trust and adore, and by people I don't even know who have been asked to cover our team as a whole. I get to watch as God writes stories for us to marvel over and tell later. I get to jump on a plane to go wrap my arms around orphans and widows across the planet. I even get to be the scribe who captures it all in sentences, letting other people in on the adventure! Could there be anything more reviving to the soul, anything that better speaks the language of my spirit?
But life almost always provides a contradiction just when you think you're home-free. Keeping back the extrinsic forces of classes, jobs, homework, and relationships feels like wearing a backpack full of bricks while walking uphill and holding a small child: difficult, delicate, and at times devoid of purpose. Adding in the necessary clause, "Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice!" just feels like busywork to the soul that is living only at the speed of life. I know this because, more often than not, I am that soul.
So, I have the knowledge of this beautiful soul-life that's lingering in my peripheral vision, and I have the weary confession of a life that's just too full of things to do. Jesus, what can I do?
1 Peter 5:6-10 (Amplified Bible)
"Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset--rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you."
I have a feeling the answer is in there somewhere, and probably not that hard to find. If you are praying for this team, pray that those emboldened commands would be true for each and every one of us. Part of me feels like it could take a lifetime to cultivate that kind of spirituality, but whom are we talking about here? Scripture says, in not so many words, that God can do in a minute what I could never do at all on my own. Even when it seems like He is a million miles away, my own breath couldn't be closer than He is to me, and His Power is just as perfectly present as His Person. Gets pretty hard to wrap my heart around that one, that's for sure.
Anyway, all of this leads up to what I'm technically supposed to be saying which is that...
We had another meeting! All four teams met together last Sunday night to worship, listen to some great teaching, and have some good team time. Katie led us in worship again, and it was so refreshing. Miles spoke about "the seven opportunities of a short-term mission trip," which is a sort of academic way of saying "all the incredible things we can pray for and set our hearts towards in the next three months." During small group time, each group had all the members share stories about their experiences in life and faith. Our group is the smallest of the four and we couldn't even get to hear everybody's testimony because we were so caught up in listening and talking (and laughing). Overall, the night was a wonderful success.
Pray that every financial need will be met and overwhelmed- that God would more than provide for every person on the team. Pray that He would old up doors for beautiful stories to form in the arena of financial support. This is something I think we forget to do sometimes. We're so bound by the anxiety of trying to get all the money in on time that we forget how effortlessly God can both provide the funds and author a mind-blowing story to go with it. Pray that both of those things take place.
Pray that the Spirit of God would combat all anxiety on our behalves. Worry over money, over travel, over life calling; all of these things are cares to be "cast on Him."
Pray that God would expand our hearts for each other before we are ever sent out to have compassion on other people. Pray that He turns our hearts to feel like His even now in our everyday lives.
Pray that these seven opportunities become realities for every member of this team...
1) the opportunity to expand our spiritual horizons; to minister to God's people in new ways and new places.
2) the opportunity to re-clarify or re-surrender our lives' callings to Him.
3) the opportunity to have our hearts break for what breaks His heart.
4) the opportunity to experience God as a present, active, vocal Father (a provider).
5) the opportunity to grow in our understanding of what it means to be a servant.
6) the opportunity to deepen and sharpen our prayer lives (to pray specifically, and honestly).
7) the opportunity to renegotiate my lifestyle at home (to realize that I am not entitled to everything that I've been given).
That's all for now. Thank you for reading and thank you for praying. :) More soon.
1 comment:
Beautiful! Annie, I'm so proud. Thank you so much for serving the team this way!
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