The past two months have almost been surreal in nature. God has changed us in so many ways and shown us different ways to look at His calling in our lives. I am starting to understand how the soon to be disciples "dropped left their nets and followed Him" (Matthew 4:20). The nets are a symbolism of the things that hold you back from being sold out and following Jesus completely.
My (not speaking for my wife although she too has some of the same) nets have been plenty as I live comfortably here in Florida on a farm. We have been attending a church where we felt everyone needed to be hearing the word from 'our' pastor. I have a job that is secure which is incredible in these insecure times. Our daughters and their devoted husbands are close by and well within reach. Yet, with all of this, we have felt 'called out' by God.
Our farm belongs to God. We have determined that in our hearts for years. We have felt the call to develop our farm into a outreach for missionaries to use for training and furlough. It has not gone as far as we dreamed but along the same token, we have hosted several missionaries and learned a lot about different types of farming and animal husbandry. Are WE the missionaries that will use this farm as a primary place of training and furlough?
Due to some external circumstances beyond our control, we no longer attend the church where at the time, we felt that everyone needed to be. Instead, we are attending a much smaller church where the Word of God is preached and indeed feel 'at home' among the people even though we know almost no one.
Wow, how can that be? I'm really starting to understand 'the church'. You see when Paul was writing to 'the church' in Galatia or Corinth, he was not writing to one church. He was writing to the followers of Christ in a region. There would have been many small groups of believers to whom Paul was writing. I have come to understand this lately. Being a believer in Christ and a devoted Christ follower is not about A church but about ministering to His kingdom.
We both work extensively with Operation Christmas Child and Samaritan's Purse. We have also been introduced this past year to the work of Wycliffe Bible Translators and their support organizations such as Wycliffe Associates and JAARS. Our hearts have been drawn towards countries in Africa such as Sudan and Ghana.
God, where are you calling us to go? I now understand that wherever you call us to be, you are already there. The road that you are asking us to travel, your footsteps are there to guide us. God, stretch me out of my comfort zone and into your zone of service and protection. Where you lead, I will follow.
May the following video be your prayer as it is mine.
http://www.tangle.com/view_video?viewkey=c8d315e08ff1ddf7db8f
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment