I have been ‘home’ from my travels for a while now. I had been traveling in areas where I had to consider many factors in how I handle my online presence, hence the changes to the blog website. I spent three months in those travels, figuring out how to put all that I had learned before into practice. I found many areas for me to grow in, and learned the importance and implications of many of the lessons the Lord had been teaching me.
Truthfully I had originally planned to remain in those travels much longer, but quite abruptly one day I got this strong feeling that I should return ‘home’ which seemed to have come from the Lord. I spent about three days testing this feeling with prayer and fasting before discussing it with some trusted people for them to also test it. After all of these things it was decided that it was from the Lord, and a week later I was on a plane. Once here, it was even more clear that it was the Lord’s will. Many things happened that confirmed the importance of my being here.
My time traveling changed me in many ways and that season set in motion many things for me and my destiny along with things here in my community. I learned that ‘home’ is not one physical place for me, but it’s the people, the members of the Body of Christ whom the Holy Spirit has joined me together with. I am grateful for the privilege to continue to work in unity with them for the Kingdom of God, even if we are in different locations. I appreciate that right now we get to work in close proximity. We have all been in a time of major changes and shifting in our own walks and in our community.
My current personal focus: continual pursuit of humbling myself (James 4:10) and increasing what I invest in the secret place of intimacy with Jesus. I always want to be more focused on Jesus, and more in love with Him. Without this, any ministry or act of service is no better than common philanthropy with little to no spiritual benefit:
1 Corinthians 13:1-3
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
I look forward to continuing this journey with the Lord. My coming here is by no means the end, or even a big change in direction. It is an expansion of what I thought was possible. Previously I was tunnel-focused on being in one place for a certain amount of time. This place is still a priority, but the Lord can do so much more in and through me. Not because of my capacity, but because of His. I will continue in obedience by His grace no matter what that looks like. Currently, it is me moving forward in doing the work of the Kingdom here, growing in experience serving the poor and needy and in sharing the Hope that is Jesus all in love.
A couple of weeks ago I was at a prayer meeting, and I was meditating on the Gospel. I was thinking of ways it might be explained to children or to people with no prior knowledge of the Bible or Christian themes. As I thought of different things, a specific theme came to mind and began to unfold into a full picture of humanity and the path of righteousness opened by Jesus:
Of ourselves we are clay pots filled with garbage on a conveyor belt headed toward an incinerator called the lake of fire. Time pulls us toward it with the help of worldly society and its devices along with the nature of our own flesh. Jesus is the path we can step onto to escape this. It takes effort to turn off and to make steps away from destruction toward Him. But when we take this turn, we trade our garbage for His glory. We are no longer filled with refuse, but we are filled with His righteousness. There is no conveyor belt on this path of Jesus. It is a constant interaction: our ears with His voice, our feet in obedience on His path, our lips with His praise, and most of all, our heart with His love. Nothing about this is mechanical or automatic. Outside is the same clay pot (in this life on earth), but inside could not be more different from what it was before. The end of this path also involves the passing away of the clay pot, but with the promise of a new vessel to be illuminated with the light of the glory of God for the rest of forever.
Garbage to Glory
Wretch to Righteousness
Thank You, Redeemer Jesus for this treasure in an earthen vessel.
I pray we all press forward, looking to the Lord for strength. I pray He makes us what we are not, equipping us to do His will beyond our own ability. I pray Holy Spirit will teach us what we don’t know.
Love,
Servant
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